This Is Not the Jess Show

By: Anna Carey

Narrated by: Suzy Jackson

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’ feet.

©2020 Anna Carey (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

Great story

I loved this! This book had some great twitst and it was a great take on media and "reality" tv over all!

Marginal YA read

At least 50% of the story is a stolen plot almost exactly from The Truman Show just set in the 90s rather than the 50s. I don’t think today’s young adult readers will be attracted to watching a show about being stuck in the 90s since they no longer really watch 80s and 90s reruns of Saved by the Bell and 90210 and Dawsons creek. Once just escapes the show a lot of what happens is rather predictable. I do not believe that 20 years from now we will still be using iPads to do everything. I do believe it’s realistic that we will have self-driving cars.

That ending...oy vey!

I actually enjoyed the vast majority of the book, but the ending was just unfortunate. It was rushed, left so many open plot lines and unanswered questions. Maybe its intended to be a series? If so, I'll definitely buy subsequent books, but Im left a bit disappointed, for now.

very enjoyable YA

I am an adult and I enjoyed this book. Suzy Jackson is a great narrarator.

Interesting concept, but a bit rushed.

I felt that the story was rushed and detail was lacking thar would have made the main character’s journey feel more real. However, it was an easy listen. You don’t have to focus too hard to keep up with everything going on in the story.