I Am Not Jessica Chen
by Ann Liang
A YA twist on identity, family pressure, and what it means to be seen.
What It’s About
Jenna Chen has spent her whole life feeling second-best.
Her cousin Jessica? Perfect. Top grades, Harvard-bound, gorgeous, admired. Jenna? Artsy. Quiet. Overlooked. So when a wish to become Jessica suddenly comes true, Jenna steps into the life she always thought she wanted. But at cutthroat Havenwood Academy, being Jessica isn’t as easy as it looks. And worse, people start forgetting Jenna ever existed.
She might get Jessica’s GPA, house, and clout, but it comes at the cost of losing herself.
My Take
This was cute. I enjoyed it for what it was. A YA, the writing is straightforward, the characters sound like teenagers, and the story moves quickly.
The big theme here? Pressure. Academic pressure. Family pressure. The guilt of not measuring up. The weight of being "the other one." I think a lot of readers, especially teens in high-pressure households, will feel seen.
There is a bit of magical realism, but it’s not overdone. Just enough to set things in motion. The writing is clean, easy to follow, and the author doesn’t try to over-explain things. It doesn’t go too deep, but it does what it set out to do.
Would I Recommend It?
Sure. For YA readers, especially those who’ve ever felt like they’re living in someone else’s shadow, this hits the right notes. It’s also a good fit for adults looking for something light that still carries emotional weight, especially if you're drawn to themes of cultural pressure and self-erasure.
It’s a familiar story, think Freaky Friday with a very specific cultural lens, but it’s done with heart, and that makes a difference.
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