"This first novel by Natasha Friend has been well named, Perfect. Both the internal and spoken dialogue have a crisp, real feel. Her descriptions are vivid and fresh. Friend's subtle use of language, her delicate touch, brought me to tears and out-loud laughter. The story line, a girl's struggle with an eating disorder, is aching to be told. Friend shows 13-year-old Isabelle Lee as a member of a family frozen by grief over the sudden death of Isabelle's father. . . . An excellent novel." -MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW


"Isabelle's therapy sessions help explain the disease to readers without seeming didactic. The believable and likable heroine relates many heart-warming moments. . . . Ultimately Isabelle's story will both touch and educate readers." -PUBLISHER'S WEEKLY


"Natasha Friend's first novel is every thing a first novel should be. . . . excellent for teen girls whether they have an eating disorder or not. All girls in this age range struggle with the same issues and will find in this book tools for coping. Friend's treatment of the subject is realistic, never cheesy, . . . funny, and just about perfect. -NEWPAGES.COM


"Clearly and simply written with a nice balance of humor and drama, with insight into the mind of 13-year-olds and how families suffer from trauma, this story can speak to girls coping with their own transitions into adolescence." -KIRKUS REVIEWS


"Eating disorder plots aren't new . . . but Friend tells this more as a family story, bringing a spontaneity and engagement to Isabelle's narration that lifts this above most pointed problem novels. . . . [A] witty and perceptive family drama." -BULLETIN OF THE CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S BOOKS