Cracked Up to Be: A Novel

Courtney Summers

Dec 2008 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin

About this ebook

Classic Courtney Summers with a brand new look and exclusive bonus material! This ebook edition of Cracked Up to Be includes updated text, an afterword from the author and a discussion guide.

The high price of perfection is one 'Perfect' Parker Fadley always believed she was willing to pay until the events of a party during junior year fractures the lives of her family and friends. Something terrible has happened and only Parker knows it's her fault. If being a perfect daughter, student, friend and girlfriend couldn't keep her from making an unforgivable mistake, Parker hopes becoming a perfect mess will at least keep her loved ones from discovering the truth. But when the arrival of a curious new student and the unexpected return of an old enemy threaten her tenuous grip on control, Parker must decide just how far she'll go to keep her secret from surfacing.

Also available from Courtney Summers: I'M THE GIRL, the new "brutally captivating" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) queer thriller based loosely on The Epstein case.

Ratings and reviews

A moving and different look at events that happen regularly to teenagers in fiction as well as real life; Summers masterfully cradles characters and events with a realistic out-of-control feeling that is palpable through the main character. An easily relatable and touching read. Almost life-altering.

Dull, boring, convoluted plot...the whole story is a terrible mess. It's very irrealistic and I seriously disliked it.

I love this book. It holds no details and it shows that sometimes the most popular girls are the most demented.

About the author

Courtney Summers is the bestselling and critically acclaimed author of several novels for young adults, including Cracked Up to Be, All the Rage and Sadie. Her work has been released to multiple starred reviews, received numerous awards and honors--including the Edgar Award, John Spray Mystery Award, Cybils Award and Odyssey Award--and has been recognized by many library, 'Best Of' and Readers' Choice lists. She lives and writes in Canada. Learn more at courtneysummers.ca.