Planning Perfect
Book: Planning Perfect by Haley Neil
Synopsis:
Felicity Becker loves watching an event come together. Whether it’s prom, graduation, or just the annual Arbor Day school dance, there’s something magical about crafting an experience that people will remember. So when her mom gets engaged, Felicity sees the wedding as the perfect opportunity to show off her skills.
After Felicity’s long-distance friend Nancy offers up her family’s apple orchard as a venue, wedding planning gets even better. But the more time Felicity and Nancy spend together dress shopping and hunting for just-right mismatched china, the more it starts to seem like there might be something besides friendship between them. Felicity isn’t sure how she feels. As someone on the asexual spectrum, what would dating even look like for her? And would Nancy be open to dating when Felicity doesn’t even know what she wants from a relationship?
Suddenly the summer is a lot more complicated. Especially when Felicity finds out that one of the wedding guests is an event planner with a prestigious internship available. Can Felicity wrangle her irresponsible mom, juggle her judgmental grandmother, figure out her feelings for Nancy, and plan the perfect wedding? Or will all of her plans come crashing down around her?
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
My Thoughts: In short, this book is a heartfelt rom-com and charming addition to the genre’s catalogue. In more words, this book is a joy to read and the asexual representation brings a new and refreshing perspective to the rom-com world. I love how this book takes advantage of its immediate rural, somewhat-isolated setting to create picture-perfect adorable outings centered around cafes and mini golf and then grounds itself in the reality of Boston with Felicity and Nancy’s visit to the MFA.
Beyond the romance storyline I loved how this book told a story about doing things simply for fun and because you like to do them, and not because you think they’ll look good on a college application or resume. Felicity runs herself ragged trying to make an event perfect enough to land herself an internship while Nancy faces the frustration of an injury interrupting her pursuit of soccer-related dreams. They both have to take a good look at their futures and decide if they want to go at their passions full bore or take a step back to breathe. We’re in a world where it feels like everyone is monetizing their hobbies and turning their entire lives into ~content~ instead of simply enjoying anything for what it is. Felicity is especially prone to fall into this trap, but she does eventually remember that passions are supposed to be fun, and it’s a reminder that a lot of people need.
The last thing I absolutely need to mention is that despite living in Boston for FIVE YEARS and planning to move back there after I finish grad school, I didn’t realize the streets from Arlington to Hereford were in alphabetical order until this book explicitly spelled it out for me.
Planning Perfect comes out on February 14th and you can order your own copy here or request it from your local library.
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