Small-town Wisconsin high school senior Allison Smith loves her life the way it is-spending quality time with her widowed father and her tight-knit circle of friends, including best friend Marian and maybe-more-than-friends Neil. Sure she is stressed out about college applications . . . who wouldn’t be? In a few short months, everything’s going to change, big time. But when Ally files her applications, they send up a red flag . . . because she’s not Allison Smith. And Ally’s-make that Amanda’s-ordinary life is suddenly blown apart. Was everything before a lie? Who will she be after? And what will she do as now comes crashing down around her?
*This post contains affiliate links, if you choose to purchase EITHER Book of the Month YA or PAST PERFECT LIFE through my links, please know that I do make a VERY small commission off of both links.*
Allison Smith has her whole life planned out, go to college close enough to her home so that she can take care of her father and become a teacher. That is until her whole world comes crashing down around her and everything changes.
I love Elizabeth Eulberg, she has always been my favorite author. Her books Prom and Prejudice, The Lonely Hearts Club, We Can Work It Out, and Better Off Friends are some of my most favorite books that I have read before. And this one was no different.
The writing for this story was fun, easy and grabbed you in from the very first page of the book. I didn’t think I was going to like this one because it was so different than what I usually read of the happy go lucky type of books. But I LOVED THIS ONE!
Ally/Amanda is a strong, independent girl who loves her father and her dog. She is well-liked, incredibly smart and very happy with her small town life. She loves the traditions she has with her father and her friends, but she can’t wait to make more for herself and go to college. Her dad cares for her, works hard and keeps a lot to himself about his actual life which has never been a red flag for Ally/Amanda.
Neil and Marian, two of her best friends, remind me very much of my own best friends. They are always there for me no matter what and I have become a member of their families. The way Ally (I’m just going to call her Ally the whole time its much easier) fits in with her friends families and calls their grandma, Grandma, reminded me of my relationship with my friends grandparents.
I loved how dedicated Marian and Neil are to staying by Ally’s side the whole time.
I really enjoyed this book for so many reasons and it really had me thinking about the different characters and their emotions throughout the book. I really want to know more about Ally’s ending and wish we got an epilogue. Do I smell a book 2?
Past Perfect Life is one of the choices for this months Book of the Month YA! If you use my link down to sign up (with an email address that is NOT affiliated with the regular Book of the Month if you have one) I do make a small commission! And you can use the code WHOA (not my code, its from the website) to be able to get your FIRST book for $9.99!! If you do want to sign up, it would mean a lot to me if you used my link. Same thing if you decide to order it from Amazon, it would mean a lot to me if you used my link to purchase it.
(WARNING: This is somewhat spoilery/ I’m never sure exactly what constitutes as spoilers so here’s that part. You have been warned)
Ally’s dad is someone I wanted to hate. I wanted to be mad at him, but I can’t. But at the same time I am really pissed that he did this to her. But like, he kept her safe and gave her a really great upbringing and she is really happy. She wasn’t living in a box eating once a month. Like she had a good life.
And then we have Ally’s mom. It’s so hard because her mom has been suffering for fifteen years since her daughter went missing. But its very obvious that to Paula, Ally’s mom, she imagines Ally to still be the three year old girl who went missing and is now this perfect version of what she wants. Its so hard because clearly she’s suffering with PTSD but at the same time I wanted to shake her and yell at her, telling her that Ally isn’t the daughter she’s built up in her head to be this perfect girly girl.
Sarah and Craig. Ally’s half-sister and step-dad are two people who I loved. Craig was the voice of reason though out the whole second half, explaining to Paula what Ally needs and how she needs to let Ally live her life.
I loved this book so much. I really want to know more about Ally’s life. I loved this. All the stars.
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