What do you think?
Rate this book
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
18 days and 20:05:09
100 copies available
U.S. only
Looks Perfect: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26Win a free kindle copy of this book!
18 days and 20:05:09
100 copies available
U.S. only
What comes between a fashion icon’s perfect image and her genuine self? The perfect stranger—in a sharp and witty novel about identity, performance, and what it takes to make a true connection.
One million people follow Stella Lerner’s every move. And now the buzzy fashion designer is fulfilling her lifelong dream and taking her indie clothing brand global with the help of the industry’s biggest investor. Sounds perfect. Except offline, the optics aren’t so great.
Her relationship with her boyfriend, Alex, is crumbling just as the pressure to curate her image online only builds. Feeling trapped between the picture-perfect life she’s promised her followers and the messy reality she’s facing, Stella anonymously joins a new dating app. Blindr promises deep, private conversations, free from the burden of anyone’s expectations, especially her own. That’s when Stella connects with a stranger called Pineapple who’s intuitive, honest, and empathetic. Stella may be watched by millions, but this man, who’s never even laid eyes on her, makes her feel seen.
What starts as a diversion becomes a journey of radical transformation. As Stella’s search for authenticity intensifies, every chat with Pineapple takes her further down a path she never could’ve imagined.
One million people follow Stella Lerner’s every move. And now the buzzy fashion designer is fulfilling her lifelong dream and taking her indie clothing brand global with the help of the industry’s biggest investor. Sounds perfect. Except offline, the optics aren’t so great.
Her relationship with her boyfriend, Alex, is crumbling just as the pressure to curate her image online only builds. Feeling trapped between the picture-perfect life she’s promised her followers and the messy reality she’s facing, Stella anonymously joins a new dating app. Blindr promises deep, private conversations, free from the burden of anyone’s expectations, especially her own. That’s when Stella connects with a stranger called Pineapple who’s intuitive, honest, and empathetic. Stella may be watched by millions, but this man, who’s never even laid eyes on her, makes her feel seen.
What starts as a diversion becomes a journey of radical transformation. As Stella’s search for authenticity intensifies, every chat with Pineapple takes her further down a path she never could’ve imagined.
- GenresFiction
283 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Jessica Siskin
4 books28 followersJessica Siskin earned her MFA from the New School. She is a former fashion executive and the founder of Misterkrisp, a popular Instagram-based food art business specializing in custom Rice Krispies Treats and social media content. She is the author of Treat Yourself!, a cookbook featuring her inventive food art and edible creations. Jessica lives in New York City.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 3, 2026
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Little A publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
As someone who indulged in Julie Chan Is Dead and fell in love with influencer/ content creation books, I had high expectations going into this. I wanted to see how this would all unfold but going into it, I felt like it was a person just trying to reach a word count and overly expressing about business and content creation. I understand that it builds the story but it felt like it was overdone that I wasn’t getting to know the true character of Stella until 30-40% of the book. It was nice seeing the behind the scenes but like..come on.
There was some complexity behind Stella’s character that I like. Her failing relationship with her boyfriend, Alex that I found empathy in because of her fear of starting over. Her impending doom of not being engaged because others are already there. All of those felt like girlhood and it was fun to read about because it was relatable.
But overall, I had a hard time getting through the book. It felt like I was pushing myself to finish it more than enjoying the reading process.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
Thank you to NetGallery and Little A publishers for the advanced copy of this book for an honest review!
As someone who indulged in Julie Chan Is Dead and fell in love with influencer/ content creation books, I had high expectations going into this. I wanted to see how this would all unfold but going into it, I felt like it was a person just trying to reach a word count and overly expressing about business and content creation. I understand that it builds the story but it felt like it was overdone that I wasn’t getting to know the true character of Stella until 30-40% of the book. It was nice seeing the behind the scenes but like..come on.
There was some complexity behind Stella’s character that I like. Her failing relationship with her boyfriend, Alex that I found empathy in because of her fear of starting over. Her impending doom of not being engaged because others are already there. All of those felt like girlhood and it was fun to read about because it was relatable.
But overall, I had a hard time getting through the book. It felt like I was pushing myself to finish it more than enjoying the reading process.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
August 28, 2026
Looks Perfect is a fun, glossy read about fashion, influencer culture, and the gap between who we perform online and who we actually are underneath it all. Think a modern, doom-scrolling take on the "aspirational career girl" novel, equal parts glittery and anxious.
Stella is a designer-turned-influencer-turned-mogul whose real product, at this point, is herself: every outfit, post, and moment of "vulnerability" is calibrated for an audience. It's a sharp, sometimes uncomfortable portrait of how exhausting it must be to maintain a curated version of yourself at all times, and I found myself genuinely questioning my own relationship to social media while reading it.
The relationship with her partner Alex is one of the book's strongest threads, capturing that particular modern ache of two people who talk constantly without really saying anything to each other, a quiet mirror of Stella's online life, all output and no real connection. The introduction of an anonymous dating app that matches Stella with a mystery man (represented, delightfully, by a pineapple emoji) gives the book its most interesting turn, pushing Stella toward real questions about whether she wants fame or simply to be seen.
That said, the book isn't without flaws. The early chapters lean a bit too hard into industry jargon and influencer-world detail, which occasionally pulled me out of the story rather than into it, and several chapters end on a resolved note rather than a hook, so the pacing sags in places. The ending, too, felt a little predictable and rushed, wrapping things up more neatly than the messiness of the rest of the book earned; an epilogue would have been welcome.
Where the novel really works is in its messier, more human moments: Stella's friendships, her work relationships, and the honest, unglamorous portrayal of someone cracking slightly under the pressure of being "on" all the time. The second half in particular picks up real momentum and had me hooked through the final chapters.
Overall, a witty, entertaining summer read that has real things to say about identity and performance in the influencer age, even if the plotting doesn't always match the sharpness of its social observations.
Stella is a designer-turned-influencer-turned-mogul whose real product, at this point, is herself: every outfit, post, and moment of "vulnerability" is calibrated for an audience. It's a sharp, sometimes uncomfortable portrait of how exhausting it must be to maintain a curated version of yourself at all times, and I found myself genuinely questioning my own relationship to social media while reading it.
The relationship with her partner Alex is one of the book's strongest threads, capturing that particular modern ache of two people who talk constantly without really saying anything to each other, a quiet mirror of Stella's online life, all output and no real connection. The introduction of an anonymous dating app that matches Stella with a mystery man (represented, delightfully, by a pineapple emoji) gives the book its most interesting turn, pushing Stella toward real questions about whether she wants fame or simply to be seen.
That said, the book isn't without flaws. The early chapters lean a bit too hard into industry jargon and influencer-world detail, which occasionally pulled me out of the story rather than into it, and several chapters end on a resolved note rather than a hook, so the pacing sags in places. The ending, too, felt a little predictable and rushed, wrapping things up more neatly than the messiness of the rest of the book earned; an epilogue would have been welcome.
Where the novel really works is in its messier, more human moments: Stella's friendships, her work relationships, and the honest, unglamorous portrayal of someone cracking slightly under the pressure of being "on" all the time. The second half in particular picks up real momentum and had me hooked through the final chapters.
Overall, a witty, entertaining summer read that has real things to say about identity and performance in the influencer age, even if the plotting doesn't always match the sharpness of its social observations.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If you loved to hate The Devil Wears Prada, this book is for you. Looks Perfect is fashion, social media, aspiration, and the uncomfortable space between who we appear to be and who we actually are.
It reads like Virginia Woolf meets Elle Woods with doom-scroll existentialism: thrilling, glittery, anxious, and exhausting—a roller coaster in designer heels.
Stella is a designer, influencer, model, and business mogul, but her true product is herself. Every outfit, post, and carefully performed moment of vulnerability sells the idea that followers can buy a slice of her life. At one point, she says:
“I can’t believe I’m in a place where I have to set reminders for myself to think.”
It made me grateful I’m not an influencer. Who can live up to a cardboard-cutout version of themselves? How do you know who you are when every move is curated for an audience?
I kept reading because I wanted Stella to find solid ground. As Tori Amos sings in “Spark,” "How many fates turn around in the overtime?" I wanted her to find herself—not simply the version she thinks we want to see.
Her relationship with Alex sharpens the disconnect: they can sit at dinner talking without actually saying anything. It mirrors Stella’s online life—constant communication without true intimacy.
The book made me question every post I scrolled past. Who am I online? Are real connections possible in a world built around performance?
“There’s never enough work to go around when we’re all insatiable.”
The shift comes through a dating app that asks one question a day, narrowing its matches until only one remains: an anonymous man represented by a pineapple. When Stella says she wants fame, he tells her:
“What you want is validation, or recognition. You don’t seem to want notoriety.”
You’ll have to read it to see whether she meets Pineapple. But through their anonymous questions and answers, Stella begins to learn that vulnerability is the courage to simply be.
It reads like Virginia Woolf meets Elle Woods with doom-scroll existentialism: thrilling, glittery, anxious, and exhausting—a roller coaster in designer heels.
Stella is a designer, influencer, model, and business mogul, but her true product is herself. Every outfit, post, and carefully performed moment of vulnerability sells the idea that followers can buy a slice of her life. At one point, she says:
“I can’t believe I’m in a place where I have to set reminders for myself to think.”
It made me grateful I’m not an influencer. Who can live up to a cardboard-cutout version of themselves? How do you know who you are when every move is curated for an audience?
I kept reading because I wanted Stella to find solid ground. As Tori Amos sings in “Spark,” "How many fates turn around in the overtime?" I wanted her to find herself—not simply the version she thinks we want to see.
Her relationship with Alex sharpens the disconnect: they can sit at dinner talking without actually saying anything. It mirrors Stella’s online life—constant communication without true intimacy.
The book made me question every post I scrolled past. Who am I online? Are real connections possible in a world built around performance?
“There’s never enough work to go around when we’re all insatiable.”
The shift comes through a dating app that asks one question a day, narrowing its matches until only one remains: an anonymous man represented by a pineapple. When Stella says she wants fame, he tells her:
“What you want is validation, or recognition. You don’t seem to want notoriety.”
You’ll have to read it to see whether she meets Pineapple. But through their anonymous questions and answers, Stella begins to learn that vulnerability is the courage to simply be.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Looks Perfect is a surprising, witty, smart, and thoughtful rom-com for the millennial generation.
On the surface, it offers a delicious behind-the-scenes look at the worlds of fashion, influence, and modern celebrity—a universe that has become so ubiquitous it’s almost easy to forget how recently it came into existence. Set against the rise of the early-2000s internet, the book captures a particular cultural inflection point: when fandom became access, access became intimacy, and the distance between the person watching and the person being watched suddenly began to collapse.
But underneath Looks Perfect is really a coming-of-age story for the digital era. It explores ego and identity, aspiration and self-awareness, the performance of a life versus the experience of actually living one, and what happens when the image you’ve created of yourself, or of someone else, begins to collide with reality.
And then, of course, there’s the romance and a quintessentially satisfying romantic plot line wraps the whole thing in a bow.
The writing is entirely its own: smart, sharp, fast, funny, and drowning in brilliant metaphor. Looks Perfect manages to be both a wildly fun read and a surprisingly perceptive snapshot of a generation learning, in real time, what it means to live and fall in love in livestream. Loved this book!!
On the surface, it offers a delicious behind-the-scenes look at the worlds of fashion, influence, and modern celebrity—a universe that has become so ubiquitous it’s almost easy to forget how recently it came into existence. Set against the rise of the early-2000s internet, the book captures a particular cultural inflection point: when fandom became access, access became intimacy, and the distance between the person watching and the person being watched suddenly began to collapse.
But underneath Looks Perfect is really a coming-of-age story for the digital era. It explores ego and identity, aspiration and self-awareness, the performance of a life versus the experience of actually living one, and what happens when the image you’ve created of yourself, or of someone else, begins to collide with reality.
And then, of course, there’s the romance and a quintessentially satisfying romantic plot line wraps the whole thing in a bow.
The writing is entirely its own: smart, sharp, fast, funny, and drowning in brilliant metaphor. Looks Perfect manages to be both a wildly fun read and a surprisingly perceptive snapshot of a generation learning, in real time, what it means to live and fall in love in livestream. Loved this book!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was such a fun, smart and timely story, and bonus points for the millennial-esque NYC backdrop.
Stella is a fashion designer and influencer with more than a million followers, a growing clothing brand, and what looks from the outside like a completely perfect life. However, behind the scenes, her relationship with her boyfriend is falling apart and she is starting to question whether the life she built is actually the one she wants. Stella joins a dating app anonymously and connects with a stranger named Pineapple, and the story progresses from there.
Given we live in a world where it’s the norm to curate your life for other people to see, this felt like a very timely read. I loved getting the behind-the-scenes look at the fashion and influencer world. It felt like peeling back the curtain from your favorite influencers’ videos.
Jessica’s writing was also very witty and engaging. Stella’s conversations with Pineapple were probably my favorite part of the book. There’s something really compelling about the idea that a person who has never even seen you can sometimes understand you better than the people closest to you.
Overall, this felt like a fun, modern, slightly satirical take on romance and influencer culture.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Stella is a fashion designer and influencer with more than a million followers, a growing clothing brand, and what looks from the outside like a completely perfect life. However, behind the scenes, her relationship with her boyfriend is falling apart and she is starting to question whether the life she built is actually the one she wants. Stella joins a dating app anonymously and connects with a stranger named Pineapple, and the story progresses from there.
Given we live in a world where it’s the norm to curate your life for other people to see, this felt like a very timely read. I loved getting the behind-the-scenes look at the fashion and influencer world. It felt like peeling back the curtain from your favorite influencers’ videos.
Jessica’s writing was also very witty and engaging. Stella’s conversations with Pineapple were probably my favorite part of the book. There’s something really compelling about the idea that a person who has never even seen you can sometimes understand you better than the people closest to you.
Overall, this felt like a fun, modern, slightly satirical take on romance and influencer culture.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Okay, hmmm… I genuinely don’t know where to rate this one. 😂
This book immediately sucked me in, and I was hooked from the start. I had to know where the story was going, which made it a really quick and compelling read.
That said, I really disliked the main character. And honestly, that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker for me (see: Yesteryear 😂), but I did have a hard time connecting with her at times.
I did see the twist coming, but I thought it was executed really well. I’m a little torn on the abrupt ending, though. I think I wanted just a little more resolution.
One thing I really appreciated was the character development. The growth throughout the story felt believable and relatable, and I thought that was one of the book’s strongest aspects.
So overall… I think this was a maybe for me. I was completely hooked, enjoyed the ride, and thought the twist was well done, but there were a few things that kept it from being a favorite.
This book immediately sucked me in, and I was hooked from the start. I had to know where the story was going, which made it a really quick and compelling read.
That said, I really disliked the main character. And honestly, that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker for me (see: Yesteryear 😂), but I did have a hard time connecting with her at times.
I did see the twist coming, but I thought it was executed really well. I’m a little torn on the abrupt ending, though. I think I wanted just a little more resolution.
One thing I really appreciated was the character development. The growth throughout the story felt believable and relatable, and I thought that was one of the book’s strongest aspects.
So overall… I think this was a maybe for me. I was completely hooked, enjoyed the ride, and thought the twist was well done, but there were a few things that kept it from being a favorite.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Little A and NetGalley for the eARC.
This one was completely different than I expected. 3.5 stars rounded up.
I'm not new to the influencer/famous fmc trope, but I think I typically read books where the character is completely unhinged, like off her rocker. This one was way more mellow and grounded. While I prefer to dive into the weird, I have to say this one was written really well.
Stella felt like a three dimensional character that any one of us girlies could be following on socials. I've read other influencer books that tried to do what this one did, but the characters are insufferable in the worst way. This one didn't feel gimmicky or "cringe" and I liked the look at how to become an "it" girl.
This one was completely different than I expected. 3.5 stars rounded up.
I'm not new to the influencer/famous fmc trope, but I think I typically read books where the character is completely unhinged, like off her rocker. This one was way more mellow and grounded. While I prefer to dive into the weird, I have to say this one was written really well.
Stella felt like a three dimensional character that any one of us girlies could be following on socials. I've read other influencer books that tried to do what this one did, but the characters are insufferable in the worst way. This one didn't feel gimmicky or "cringe" and I liked the look at how to become an "it" girl.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Liitle A Publishing for the advance copy. This book was an absolute delight to read. Combining the world of an up and coming fashion designer in the modern world of Instagram, likes, and the pressure of followers as an influencer. Stella seems to have it all. Her style and her designs, along with the "perfect" boyfriend, it's the life she's always dreamed of, or is it? When Stella's life no longer feels like her own she begins to question what's really important and what she really wants. The ending is predictable, but in the way you want it to be. This modern day "You've Got Mail" gives all the same feels.
July 16, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!
This was a super fun, light read. It felt like a modern day version of sex and the city, I enjoyed the focus on fashion and content creation, almost like a novel version of watching your favourite influencer’s day in the life videos. I enjoyed the exploration of a person’s concept of themselves versus how they present themselves online and how jumbled it can become, the pressures of social media perfection and how it impacts how you really feel about yourself. My only criticism is that I found the ending very predictable, but sweet nonetheless. I would have liked an epilogue to find out what happened after! Overall an enjoyable read.
This was a super fun, light read. It felt like a modern day version of sex and the city, I enjoyed the focus on fashion and content creation, almost like a novel version of watching your favourite influencer’s day in the life videos. I enjoyed the exploration of a person’s concept of themselves versus how they present themselves online and how jumbled it can become, the pressures of social media perfection and how it impacts how you really feel about yourself. My only criticism is that I found the ending very predictable, but sweet nonetheless. I would have liked an epilogue to find out what happened after! Overall an enjoyable read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fashion designer. Over a million followers. The perfect life...or so it seems.
In the cutthroat world of fashion, she secretly signs up for a dating app despite having a boyfriend, setting off a journey of self-discovery that forces her to question her identity, relationships, and what truly gives life meaning.
Relatable, thought-provoking, and emotional, this story explores the gap between the life we present to the world and the one we actually want. I really enjoyed this one!
Thank you NetGalley, and Little A for the advanced copy.
Read on release date 10/06/2026
In the cutthroat world of fashion, she secretly signs up for a dating app despite having a boyfriend, setting off a journey of self-discovery that forces her to question her identity, relationships, and what truly gives life meaning.
Relatable, thought-provoking, and emotional, this story explores the gap between the life we present to the world and the one we actually want. I really enjoyed this one!
Thank you NetGalley, and Little A for the advanced copy.
Read on release date 10/06/2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book so much. I found myself totally immersed in the characters’ worlds and thinking about them as if they were people I actually knew. It really makes you think about the world we live in, where our online lives are so carefully curated versus what’s actually happening behind the scenes. It was incredibly relatable, really smart and insightful, and genuinely so funny. I couldn’t put it down.
September 13, 2026
Such a fun read, especially if you’re someone who lives in or is obsessed with New York. There are a lot of cute cultural markers and locations that really put you right in the scene. The main character, Stella, has a great growth arc and you feel really proud of her by the end. It has a lot of rich relationships between her and all the characters that creates a fun dynamic. I didn’t want it to end and I kept making myself put it down so it wouldn’t — a sign I loved it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved reading "Looks Perfect." It's a smart, engaging story about the difference between the life we show the world and what is actually happening behind the scenes. It felt especially relevant in a world so heavily influenced by social media. It was a super fun, relatable, entertaining read - I would highly recommend and would love to read more by the author!
August 24, 2026
SO GOOD. read looks perfect in 24 hours. Couldn’t put it down.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RTC
Review of advance copy received from Author
Looks Perfect is the beach read rom com millennial nyc type of book I’m always looking for. It’s witty and cute and romantic and funny. It touches on personal growth and second chances at love and when they make it into a movie I’ll prob watch it on every flight I take.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews