Book Review – This Is Not the Jess Show

Title: This Is Not the Jess Show
Author: Anna Carey
Published: 2nd February 2021
Publisher: Quirk Books
Genre: YA, thriller

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Black Mirror meets My So-Called Life in this fast-paced, timely YA thriller about separating fact from fiction–and how far we’ll go to create our own version of reality.

Like any other teenager, Jess Flynn is just trying to get through her junior year without drama … but drama seems to keep finding her. Between a new crush on her childhood best friend, overprotective parents cramping her social life, and her younger sister’s worsening health, the only constant is change–and her hometown of Swickley, which feels smaller by the day.

Swickley is getting weirder by the day, too. Half the population has been struck down by a mysterious flu. Conversations end awkwardly when Jess enters the room. And then one day, a tiny, sleek black device–with an apple logo on it–falls out of her best friend’s backpack and lands at Jess’s feet. -Goodreads

My thanks to Quirk books for sending me a copy of This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey to read and review!

I was very intrigued when I saw this book, and I eagerly requested it because I was so intrigued!! I am glad to report that this book is awesome!! It’s a fascinating book which is a real page-turning YA thriller, but also brings up some interesting discussion about rights, and personal privacy.

Jess is basically living her life in high school oblivious to the fact that her entire life is a tv show. Everything that happens to her is watched by millions of people, and the major events in her life are all orchestrated by other people to make the best tv possible.

This book is really fun and interesting, and it is so quick to read! Once you start reading it is impossible to put the book down until you figure out the whole story. There are lots of twists and turns throughout this book, and I flew through it in a day!

Jess is a very fun and interesting character to follow, and although I didn’t find her all that likeable, I did feel sorry for her. When she started to figure out what was happening, and who was behind the tv show, I did have sympathy for her. I have to say that in general there aren’t many likeable characters in this book, but that did not dampen my enjoyment of it! I rather liked reading a book where I didn’t get attached to anyone, it made a nice change!

Overall I would recommend this book, its a unique and fun YA thriller that has plenty of twists and turns, and will keep you engaged until the final page!

If you enjoyed S.T.A.G.S by M.A Bennett or One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, you might enjoy This Is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey.

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