My Perfect Life by Dyan Sheldon

Walker Books, 2011. ISBN: 9781406336825.
Recommended. For those who were desperate to return to Dellwood High after Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, your chance has arrived! My Perfect Life, the sequel by Dyan Sheldon, follows Lola Cep and Ella Gerald on their mission to beat Dellwood's queen bee, Carla Santini, at attaining the role of Student President. But Ella and Lola couldn't be an anymore different pair of allies. Ella Gerard has everything; her own phone, her own television, her own video and even temperature control. Her life is perfect. So it's a wonder to everyone how she can be best friends with the eccentric, outspoken and obstinate Lola Ceps.
When the girls discover Carla is running for President, after many an argument, they finally agree on doing everything they can to ensure she doesn't win the votes of their peers. And so My Perfect Life evolves, with Lola and Ella relentlessly battling against Carla to see who will win the top spot . . . with hilarious consequences! From their posters to their rallies, each girl running for president constantly attempts to better the other, providing the reader with 229 pages of amusement and entertainment as the easy-to-relate to characters embark on their journey to win!
Throughout the novel, the diversities between the two main characters arise and their friendship is challenged. However, they overcome these disputes with the help of their mutual goal, proving that opposites do attract and that friendship conquers all. The novel also explores the road to self-discovery, the importance of self-confidence, and expresses that all it takes to achieve your dreams is trying your best.
Having read this book from cover to cover without putting it down once, I found My Perfect Life to be a light, enjoyable read which stood out due to its unexpected ending!
Lucymarie Silvestri (Student)