(Review) In a Perfect World

In a Perfect World by Trish Doller

Publication Date: May 23, 2017

Pages: 294 (hardcover)

Genre: Young Adult

My Goodreads Rating: 3.5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
Caroline Kelly is excited to be spending her summer vacation working at the local amusement park with her best friend, exploring weird Ohio with her boyfriend, and attending soccer camp with the hope she’ll be her team’s captain in the fall.

But when Caroline’s mother is hired to open an eye clinic in Cairo, Egypt, Caroline’s plans are upended. Caroline is now expected to spend her summer and her senior year in a foreign country, away from her friends, her home, and everything she’s ever known.

With this move, Caroline predicts she’ll spend her time navigating crowded streets, eating unfamiliar food, and having terrible bouts of homesickness. But when she finds instead is a culture that surprises her, a city that astounds her, and a charming, unpredictable boy who challenges everything she thought she knew about life, love, and privilege.


My Review: 

I've been a huge fan of Trish's for a while. Most of her books take place in SW Florida, right where I live, so it's fun to read about your hometown. This book, however, takes place in Egypt. 

Caroline and her family move to Cairo after her mother is hired to open clinic to help people who can't afford eye care. You don't actually see any of Caroline's life before Egypt, only what she's feeling and thinking as she enters the country. Caroline is not afraid to talk about and notice the differences between herself and those around her. She's well aware of her privilege, but doesn't try to use it against anyone. If anything, she's ashamed. 

When she meets Adam things change a little. Adam is the son of the family's driver, but after his father has a heart attack, Adam is now their driver. 

Adam encourages Caroline to see different places around Cairo and experience new things. As he does this, the two grow closer in a very bittersweet way. I say that it's bittersweet because they both know that whatever they have won't last. Their cultures are too different and Caroline will only be staying for a year. 

Despite their time limit, differences, and disapproval of their family, the two try to make it work. Their interactions are cute and simple, not major swoonage, but still...it's nice. A lot of the dialogue is built around politics and current events. While it's appreciated, I think it took a little away from the story. The descriptions of Egypt and the setting was still nicely done, as well as the character development.

I still enjoyed it a lot.