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Riverbend Friends #1
Real, Not Perfect
Real, Not Perfect is the first book in a series that travels alongside four friends as they deal with teen life in Riverbend, Indiana.
Tessa has lived a trouble-free life as the only child of two loving parents--she is well-liked, gets straight As, is on the competitive swim team, and is active in her church youth group. It's a pretty perfect life! That is, until she comes home from swim practice one day to find that her parents are divorcing. Along with that, her BFF has moved to Florida, and Tessa gets stuck in Intro to Drama--possibly the worst class ever!
Soon Tessa's mom sinks into despair and Tessa struggles with her anger and hurt. Meanwhile, her BFF posts fabulous pictures of her new life on Instagram. Tessa thinks that everyone's posts show lives that are way better than the one she has. Why does it seem like everyone else's life is more perfect than hers?
Tessa has lived a trouble-free life as the only child of two loving parents--she is well-liked, gets straight As, is on the competitive swim team, and is active in her church youth group. It's a pretty perfect life! That is, until she comes home from swim practice one day to find that her parents are divorcing. Along with that, her BFF has moved to Florida, and Tessa gets stuck in Intro to Drama--possibly the worst class ever!
Soon Tessa's mom sinks into despair and Tessa struggles with her anger and hurt. Meanwhile, her BFF posts fabulous pictures of her new life on Instagram. Tessa thinks that everyone's posts show lives that are way better than the one she has. Why does it seem like everyone else's life is more perfect than hers?
240 pages, Paperback
Published April 6, 2021
26 people are currently reading
362 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 4, 2021
Before I start my normal review categories … I’m not this book’s intended audience (it’s a teen girls’ book, and I’m a little older than that), so I’m sure that will influence my thoughts about this book.
Characters: Tessa was a great character. Stephanie Coleman portrayed her in a way that made her seem like a real teen. She went through some really hard times, and her emotions were realistic and relatable. All the side characters added to the plot.
Language: Clean.
Moral: This book’s themes included the deceptiveness of social media, the tragedy of divorce, forgiveness, helping other people, and being honest about feelings.
Plot: Stephanie Coleman kept the plot moving with family relationships, real-life events, and school drama. The school drama did get on my nerves a little. Given that I was homeschooled, I couldn’t relate to that part as well.
Random comments: Since this book is intended for teens, I find it kind of hard to review. The talk of divorce, an affair, and an attempted suicide might be too much for a younger teen. According to the back of the book, this story is recommend for ages 12–16. I’d say it’s probably better suited for ages 15 and up due to those topics. I also felt like a few of the comments leaned a little too much toward political correctness.
Romance: Clean. Tessa liked a boy, and he liked her as well. But everything was completely innocent.
Writing: I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It allowed me to follow the story well, and I didn’t get bogged down with excess description.
Overall: Real, Not Perfect was an entertaining read, and I’d recommend it for teens ages 15 and up.
Characters: Tessa was a great character. Stephanie Coleman portrayed her in a way that made her seem like a real teen. She went through some really hard times, and her emotions were realistic and relatable. All the side characters added to the plot.
Language: Clean.
Moral: This book’s themes included the deceptiveness of social media, the tragedy of divorce, forgiveness, helping other people, and being honest about feelings.
Plot: Stephanie Coleman kept the plot moving with family relationships, real-life events, and school drama. The school drama did get on my nerves a little. Given that I was homeschooled, I couldn’t relate to that part as well.
Random comments: Since this book is intended for teens, I find it kind of hard to review. The talk of divorce, an affair, and an attempted suicide might be too much for a younger teen. According to the back of the book, this story is recommend for ages 12–16. I’d say it’s probably better suited for ages 15 and up due to those topics. I also felt like a few of the comments leaned a little too much toward political correctness.
Romance: Clean. Tessa liked a boy, and he liked her as well. But everything was completely innocent.
Writing: I really enjoyed the writing in this book. It allowed me to follow the story well, and I didn’t get bogged down with excess description.
Overall: Real, Not Perfect was an entertaining read, and I’d recommend it for teens ages 15 and up.
November 25, 2025
This book ended very well and was wrapped up nicely. BUT I love the characters and the story so much that I want—no, need—more from Tessa’s point of view. So imagine how excited I was when I realized there’s a fifth book in this series that’s from TESSA’S point of view! Eeee, I can’t wait!! However, I am still excited to read the second book (which I believe is from Shay’s point of view so that will be interesting). I just love the type of story that this series is—the contemporary, school setting that addresses real, everyday topics with a Christian perspective. It’s relatable. (Kind of like the book Faith Under Pressure by Courtney M. Whitaker.) Anyway, Real, Not Perfect was so so good, and I recommend it 100%, especially if you like contemporary YA!
Language:
Uses of “idiot” and “gee.” “Oh my g*sh” was used once. Mentions of characters swearing/cursing.
Romance:
Clean (for the main character, it didn’t go beyond a crush)
Other:
Mentions some characters drinking, a mention of having the sex talk, mentions of a character having an affair, and a side character attempts suicide.
Language:
Uses of “idiot” and “gee.” “Oh my g*sh” was used once. Mentions of characters swearing/cursing.
Romance:
Clean (for the main character, it didn’t go beyond a crush)
Other:
Mentions some characters drinking, a mention of having the sex talk, mentions of a character having an affair, and a side character attempts suicide.
February 9, 2022
This was AWESOME!!!!! I loved the whole thing!
Spiritual: This is a Christian book so it had church, youth group, prayer, and things like that!
Language: None if I remember correctly!
Romance: No kissing, but there is crushes and stuff like that.
Violence/intense stuff not recommended for younger kids: Divorce (aka *Spoiler* dad leaving mom because he's been with some other lady), attempts at suicide, and some anger sences.
Other: Uhh... Nothing.
Great book and I really recommend it for ages 12+! (girls)
Spiritual: This is a Christian book so it had church, youth group, prayer, and things like that!
Language: None if I remember correctly!
Romance: No kissing, but there is crushes and stuff like that.
Violence/intense stuff not recommended for younger kids: Divorce (aka *Spoiler* dad leaving mom because he's been with some other lady), attempts at suicide, and some anger sences.
Other: Uhh... Nothing.
Great book and I really recommend it for ages 12+! (girls)
September 19, 2025
This book really resonated with me, and I know it was God who sent it my way.
Also note: If I reread this, it may end up with a couple less stars. Some plot details were hard to understand at first. It was short, and realistic fiction, which I don’t read too much of. But it was still an awesome read! If you like books by Robin Jones Gunn, you’ll definitely like this.
REREAD: Still five stars! I can’t believe how awesome this book is. I’ve read through book 7 in the series too, now, and I enjoy all of them, especially 1, 3, 5, 6, & 7.
Also note: If I reread this, it may end up with a couple less stars. Some plot details were hard to understand at first. It was short, and realistic fiction, which I don’t read too much of. But it was still an awesome read! If you like books by Robin Jones Gunn, you’ll definitely like this.
REREAD: Still five stars! I can’t believe how awesome this book is. I’ve read through book 7 in the series too, now, and I enjoy all of them, especially 1, 3, 5, 6, & 7.
July 29, 2023
My goodness, I went through so many different possible ratings for this book, from 1-5. I was definitely not at the mental capacity for this book, due to the roller-coaster of emotions I'd felt before reading it. I hated Amelia, and I wanted to see more of Shay. I hated Tessa's dad.
But it was overall a good book. I would highly recommend it, ages 16+. There were a lot of triggers in it, all that need to be discussed, such as divorce, social media, and suicide.
But it was overall a good book. I would highly recommend it, ages 16+. There were a lot of triggers in it, all that need to be discussed, such as divorce, social media, and suicide.
January 20, 2025
This book was just what I needed. With God mentioned in all the right places, this book was so relatable for a high school girl. It displayed real problems that real people have. There was drama, but the amount that made it real. I absolutely love it and it was such a great read. It really shows how life is very unpredictable but it is all you can do to hold on to God and people you love. The book was real, and perfect.
December 22, 2023
I'll be the first to admit I'm not a huge fan of YA contemporary. I'll also admit that I'm sort of wary of Christian YA contemporary...they tend to run the risk of having perfect characters and preachy plots.
Real, Not Perfect wonderfully subverted my expectations. The title itself describes the characters - realistic ones, not perfect ones. The first book in a series, it hints at autism rep to come in the following books...and I'm pretty excited to see Christian YA with autism rep.
Highly recommend for teens (girls especially) who want a clean contemporary read.
Content:
Major characters are divorced/getting a divorce, a major character has an affair & the girlfriend is pregnant (no details). Mentions of boyfriends. A mention of a keg party. Grief. A side character attempts suicide (barely above a mention). A character is bullied because of her weight. None of this content is detailed.
Ages 14+
Real, Not Perfect wonderfully subverted my expectations. The title itself describes the characters - realistic ones, not perfect ones. The first book in a series, it hints at autism rep to come in the following books...and I'm pretty excited to see Christian YA with autism rep.
Highly recommend for teens (girls especially) who want a clean contemporary read.
Content:
Major characters are divorced/getting a divorce, a major character has an affair & the girlfriend is pregnant (no details). Mentions of boyfriends. A mention of a keg party. Grief. A side character attempts suicide (barely above a mention). A character is bullied because of her weight. None of this content is detailed.
Ages 14+
November 26, 2025
Content Rating: 4/5
Content Notes: There are definitely some content concerns. Mild spoilers ahead!
Theme Rating: 5/5
Theme Notes: The theme was excellent! It dealt with not having to be okay all the time.
Age Rating: 15+
Content Notes: There are definitely some content concerns. Mild spoilers ahead!
Theme Rating: 5/5
Theme Notes: The theme was excellent! It dealt with not having to be okay all the time.
Age Rating: 15+
February 1, 2025
So good! Perfect mix of romance and real life!
April 10, 2021
I’m not an avid YA reader, and I think that has impacted how this book hit me. I struggled to understand the purpose of this story while I was reading Real, Not Perfect. The characters all felt self-centered. No one talked about what was really bothering them, and big feelings about big life issues were addressed by the main character “tucking herself in her turtle shell.” This book is filled with triggers: divorce and suicide being the main ones, and really, they aren’t addressed or handled in ways that I would want to see characters in a Christian book for young adults being handled. The only redeeming character in this story is Zoe who tries to point Tessa, the protagonist struggling through her parents divorce, towards God and offers to help her talk through her emotions. The rest of the story is filled with stuffing feelings, no one truly helping this young girl who is suffering immensely.
Unfortunately, this is not a book I can or would recommend anyone read.
I received copy of this book through NetGalley. This review is my own, honest opinion.
Unfortunately, this is not a book I can or would recommend anyone read.
I received copy of this book through NetGalley. This review is my own, honest opinion.
October 5, 2021
I really enjoyed this book. I was so simple, but it was nice to read and I could feel myself getting sucked into the small town of Riverbend. It was hard to see what Tessa was going through and it felt like everything bad that could happen, did. Divorcing parents, father having an affair, father leaving, father's girlfriend is pregnant, mother is falling apart, father chooses girlfriend over Tessa, best friend moves away, father takes girlfriend on trip Tessa and him were planning for years, best friend attempts suicide, and then to top it all off Tessa is watching her crush go out with someone else even though she likes him.
In the end it all works out, in a manner of speaking. I really loved the friendship between Tessa and Alex. It was wholesome and I enjoyed it all the same. He was there for her, as were her drama 1 friends. It was great to see Izzy, Amelia, and Shay be there for her when Tessa's previous friends moved on and basically ignored her. All in all a pretty good story!
In the end it all works out, in a manner of speaking. I really loved the friendship between Tessa and Alex. It was wholesome and I enjoyed it all the same. He was there for her, as were her drama 1 friends. It was great to see Izzy, Amelia, and Shay be there for her when Tessa's previous friends moved on and basically ignored her. All in all a pretty good story!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 25, 2023
why is this book so short 😫
{Full review to come}
{Full review to come}
December 31, 2023
Great book with real problems! Love all the Jesus!
March 24, 2021
I was so excited when I saw this new Christian YA series was being released! I feel like there’s not a whole lot of YA contemporaries on the Christian fiction market which is a shame since I love them! Real, Not Perfect is the first book in the Riverbend Friends series.
After Tessa finds out her parents are separating, she feels like the nearly perfect life she’s always known is starting to crumble. On top of her parents divorce, her best friend moved away, she’s stuck in a drama class she didn’t sign up for, and the boy she likes sees her as just a friend.
While her mom sinks into heartache, Tessa deals with her anger and hurt. She hides her emotions behind smiles and “I’m fine” but inside, she feels anything but fine. There’s only so much pretending she can do. What if she could embrace that being real is so much better than being perfect?
I really liked this book. While it is sad, it also has it’s light moments that made me laugh and smile.
I really liked Tessa and found her relatable in so many ways. Her struggle with opening up to people and stop pretending that she’s okay is something I could especially relate to. As for side characters, I really liked Izzy, Shay, and Alex, especially Izzy. I’m so excited for her story! As for Amelia, I think she’ll grow on me. :)
I really enjoyed seeing Tessa’s friendship with Izzy, Shay, and Amelia grow. It reminded me that sometimes we’re put in situations we don’t like but a lot of good can come from it, like valuable friendships that can change our life for the better. They were a fun group and I’m so happy they each get their own story!
I also really liked watching her relationship with her mom. I was getting all teared up several times!
This book really shows just how social media can affect you. It’s so easy to forget that people are posting the highlights of their life. You don’t always see the side of their lives that’s less than perfect. You only get a small glimpse but it can make you feel like your life isn’t as great as everyone else’s. So much connection yet it can make you feel even more lonely. I think this is something soo many teens can relate to. I know I could! Tessa’s struggle with this was very realistically done. I felt her struggle.
It also touches on some tough topics like divorce and someone you love dealing with mental illness. While this made it a sadder book, it also makes it real and relatable for a lot of people.
Tessa’s struggles with her relationship with God was authentic and relatable. Her hurt and anger along with her struggle to forgive was very real and I felt it. I teared up multiple times throughout this book, something I didn’t expect to happen.
Overall, I really liked this book! I really liked the characters, and I’m so looking forward to the other girls’ stories!
If you’ve dealt with the struggle to forgive when someone you love hurts you or felt the pressure to act like you’re okay when you’re really not, I think you can relate to this story. If you’ve went through friendship complications or feeling the loneliness of social media, you’ll understand.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
After Tessa finds out her parents are separating, she feels like the nearly perfect life she’s always known is starting to crumble. On top of her parents divorce, her best friend moved away, she’s stuck in a drama class she didn’t sign up for, and the boy she likes sees her as just a friend.
While her mom sinks into heartache, Tessa deals with her anger and hurt. She hides her emotions behind smiles and “I’m fine” but inside, she feels anything but fine. There’s only so much pretending she can do. What if she could embrace that being real is so much better than being perfect?
I really liked this book. While it is sad, it also has it’s light moments that made me laugh and smile.
I really liked Tessa and found her relatable in so many ways. Her struggle with opening up to people and stop pretending that she’s okay is something I could especially relate to. As for side characters, I really liked Izzy, Shay, and Alex, especially Izzy. I’m so excited for her story! As for Amelia, I think she’ll grow on me. :)
I really enjoyed seeing Tessa’s friendship with Izzy, Shay, and Amelia grow. It reminded me that sometimes we’re put in situations we don’t like but a lot of good can come from it, like valuable friendships that can change our life for the better. They were a fun group and I’m so happy they each get their own story!
I also really liked watching her relationship with her mom. I was getting all teared up several times!
This book really shows just how social media can affect you. It’s so easy to forget that people are posting the highlights of their life. You don’t always see the side of their lives that’s less than perfect. You only get a small glimpse but it can make you feel like your life isn’t as great as everyone else’s. So much connection yet it can make you feel even more lonely. I think this is something soo many teens can relate to. I know I could! Tessa’s struggle with this was very realistically done. I felt her struggle.
It also touches on some tough topics like divorce and someone you love dealing with mental illness. While this made it a sadder book, it also makes it real and relatable for a lot of people.
Tessa’s struggles with her relationship with God was authentic and relatable. Her hurt and anger along with her struggle to forgive was very real and I felt it. I teared up multiple times throughout this book, something I didn’t expect to happen.
Overall, I really liked this book! I really liked the characters, and I’m so looking forward to the other girls’ stories!
If you’ve dealt with the struggle to forgive when someone you love hurts you or felt the pressure to act like you’re okay when you’re really not, I think you can relate to this story. If you’ve went through friendship complications or feeling the loneliness of social media, you’ll understand.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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December 3, 2025I was reading this to assess whether or not it was a (potential) good fit for my daughters to read. This book is pretty heavy -- divorce, suicide, mental illness, and WAY too much about social media use (constant paragraphs about what the main character is scrolling through, including Instagram and Snapchat, but interestingly enough, they do not connect this overuse of scrolling to any of the mental health issues occuring). This book is part of a series by Focus on the Family, and I suppose I had higher expectations.
December 10, 2025
My daughter read this one then I read it after. We both really enjoyed it. My daughter loved the subtle romance between Tessa and Alex. It was the perfect amount as to not bombard you with it at such a young age. Mature themes throughout with Tessa dealing with her parents divorce and her friend attempting suicide. Great topics of conversation to have. Loved the Christian themes. I felt like it just ended kind of abruptly. But there are more books in this series. Great book for teens.
August 3, 2021
This was a such a good book! Really encouraged me in my faith and friendships. First book I have read in only one day in a while! I was hooked from beginning to end and could really feel Tessa's emotions leap off the page! Can't wait for the next book to see Shay's perspective!
February 2, 2025
4.75 ⭐️! I really liked it and I want to read the other books now!
April 27, 2021
Major trigger warnings in this story include: divorce, and suicide.
This book made me feel a LOT of emotions throughout the span of me reading it. This has been the first book in a awhile to make me shed tears.
Real, Not Perfect follows Tessa, a Christian teen who’s world just fell apart from her parents’ divorce and her best friend moving away to Florida, all right before a new school year is set to begin. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book since I’m not a Christian myself but I found myself enjoying the religious references that were made.
I feel like this story brings up a lot of topics that I think should be talked about more in literature such as grief and opening up about your inner pain. I personally feel like these topics were handled well, but one thing I didn’t like was how Tessa held all her feelings inside for as long as she did. I feel like it was dragged on for longer than it should have since after awhile it felt repetitive.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review!
#RealNotPerfect #NetGalley
This book made me feel a LOT of emotions throughout the span of me reading it. This has been the first book in a awhile to make me shed tears.
Real, Not Perfect follows Tessa, a Christian teen who’s world just fell apart from her parents’ divorce and her best friend moving away to Florida, all right before a new school year is set to begin. I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book since I’m not a Christian myself but I found myself enjoying the religious references that were made.
I feel like this story brings up a lot of topics that I think should be talked about more in literature such as grief and opening up about your inner pain. I personally feel like these topics were handled well, but one thing I didn’t like was how Tessa held all her feelings inside for as long as she did. I feel like it was dragged on for longer than it should have since after awhile it felt repetitive.
Thank you NetGalley for giving me this book as an arc in exchange for an honest review!
#RealNotPerfect #NetGalley
February 15, 2023
Faith-filled, wholesome story
This book is about a teenager going through a tough time. There are themes like divorce and unfaithfulness. All of it is approached from a Christian perspective.
The book is reminiscent of the Christy Miller series in that it's a faith-filled coming-of-age story. However, this one is updated to include Instagram and the like.
I recommend this to anyone that enjoys good drama and good, wholesome, but not perfect characters. It would be especially helpful to teenagers whose parents are going through a divorce.
I can't wait to read the next book!
This book is about a teenager going through a tough time. There are themes like divorce and unfaithfulness. All of it is approached from a Christian perspective.
The book is reminiscent of the Christy Miller series in that it's a faith-filled coming-of-age story. However, this one is updated to include Instagram and the like.
I recommend this to anyone that enjoys good drama and good, wholesome, but not perfect characters. It would be especially helpful to teenagers whose parents are going through a divorce.
I can't wait to read the next book!
March 10, 2022
I loved this book, it's great for girls who are struggling with family/friend problems. A definite good read.
June 16, 2021
A great teen book about family, relationships, and the struggles young girls can face growing up and why it is important to have a close relationship with God.
Tessa’s life has always been pretty easy; she goes to swim practice, gets good grades and has two loving parents. All of that changes as she comes home one afternoon to find out her parents are getting a divorce and her best friend is moving away. To top things off, she is put in drama, the worst class ever. As Tessa tries to cope with her new family life, her mom gets more and more depressed, her best friend is posting about how great her new life is, and Tessa feels like everyone has a great life except her. Her goal is to convince herself and others that she is fine and nothing is wrong, but it only takes a little bit for her new friends to realize she is anything but fine and they help her discover that it is ok for things to not be perfect.
This was such a great fast read; I loved how real it was (no pun intended). It’s true though, being real and not perfect in this day and age of social media is so hard to do. Everyone tries to put their very best little snap shots up to post for all to see when that isn’t real life. Life is hard and messy and if we realize that and let others see the real life we are living, it will take away the stress and weight of trying to be perfect all the time. Tessa is going through what a lot of kids end up going through these days and to see her angry, hurt and letting her emotions get the best of her at times is what really made this book connect with me. This is the first book in the series about four friends that have different lives but find a way to connect with each other through their struggles and come closer because of it. While Tessa was the main character, readers get to see a small glimpse into the lives of the others that will shine in their own upcoming stories. The fact that Tessa didn’t get the perfect fairy tale ending was something I give props to the author for, very rarely does life give us that fairy tale ending and to see things play out there the way they did is going to be bringing me back for more. I am thankful that teens will have a realistic view of life when picking this one up. I recommend this to young teen girls that are looking for characters they can relate to and want to feel connected to a storyline that is more than just an escape.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
Tessa’s life has always been pretty easy; she goes to swim practice, gets good grades and has two loving parents. All of that changes as she comes home one afternoon to find out her parents are getting a divorce and her best friend is moving away. To top things off, she is put in drama, the worst class ever. As Tessa tries to cope with her new family life, her mom gets more and more depressed, her best friend is posting about how great her new life is, and Tessa feels like everyone has a great life except her. Her goal is to convince herself and others that she is fine and nothing is wrong, but it only takes a little bit for her new friends to realize she is anything but fine and they help her discover that it is ok for things to not be perfect.
This was such a great fast read; I loved how real it was (no pun intended). It’s true though, being real and not perfect in this day and age of social media is so hard to do. Everyone tries to put their very best little snap shots up to post for all to see when that isn’t real life. Life is hard and messy and if we realize that and let others see the real life we are living, it will take away the stress and weight of trying to be perfect all the time. Tessa is going through what a lot of kids end up going through these days and to see her angry, hurt and letting her emotions get the best of her at times is what really made this book connect with me. This is the first book in the series about four friends that have different lives but find a way to connect with each other through their struggles and come closer because of it. While Tessa was the main character, readers get to see a small glimpse into the lives of the others that will shine in their own upcoming stories. The fact that Tessa didn’t get the perfect fairy tale ending was something I give props to the author for, very rarely does life give us that fairy tale ending and to see things play out there the way they did is going to be bringing me back for more. I am thankful that teens will have a realistic view of life when picking this one up. I recommend this to young teen girls that are looking for characters they can relate to and want to feel connected to a storyline that is more than just an escape.
I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
February 2, 2025
The book, “Real, Not Perfect” By Stephanie Coleman is a young adult christian fiction novel. This book takes you through the life of a teen girl named Tessa who had a pretty perfect life until everything she had changes.
“Real, Not Perfect” follows the life of a teen girl named Tessa who lives in Riverbend, Indiana. The author gives you an inside view to the struggles that Tessa faces in her home life, her friendships, school, boys, social media, and her relationship with God. While her world is falling apart around her, she fights hard to keep up appearances that life is perfect. Her Instagram feed doesn’t help either as her world is far from perfect these days, everyone else around her seems to be living their best life with no struggles. With the help from her friends Izzy, Amelia, Shay and Alex she learns that you don’t need to keep up with appearances but that true friends are there for you no matter what. True friends prefer you to be real over being perfect. Tessa also learns about true forgiveness and that God can put the broken pieces of your life back together.
I really enjoyed reading the book “Real Not Perfect.” The author Stephanie Coleman did a really good job of portraying real life situations that are relatable for teen girls like me. The theme of being real with others and not constantly pretending that you are fine is a refreshing thought. Izzy told Tessa “You Don’t need to be perfectly fine. We like you best when you’re real.” I also liked that the author gave a realistic picture of what it looks like to grow in your faith and relationship with God. It takes faith to trust God in the hard times. Life isn’t easy and sometimes it’s hard to see what God is doing and why He would have you go through certain things. I love the example that Tessa’s youth leader Zoe gives her saying “You swam for Kayleigh when she couldn’t do it for herself, Don’t you know that’s what Jesus wants for you in this season of your life? He wants to swim for you.” No matter what we go through, God is there with us through it all. The main character Tessa is very relatable and as a reader you can really feel and understand all her emotions and struggles and all that she is going through. The author does such a good job describing Tessa’s emotions that you can see the pain she is going through.
I really enjoyed this book, it kept my interest the whole way through. I felt that the overall message of the book was relevant to what teens are currently facing. I highly recommend this book, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
“Real, Not Perfect” follows the life of a teen girl named Tessa who lives in Riverbend, Indiana. The author gives you an inside view to the struggles that Tessa faces in her home life, her friendships, school, boys, social media, and her relationship with God. While her world is falling apart around her, she fights hard to keep up appearances that life is perfect. Her Instagram feed doesn’t help either as her world is far from perfect these days, everyone else around her seems to be living their best life with no struggles. With the help from her friends Izzy, Amelia, Shay and Alex she learns that you don’t need to keep up with appearances but that true friends are there for you no matter what. True friends prefer you to be real over being perfect. Tessa also learns about true forgiveness and that God can put the broken pieces of your life back together.
I really enjoyed reading the book “Real Not Perfect.” The author Stephanie Coleman did a really good job of portraying real life situations that are relatable for teen girls like me. The theme of being real with others and not constantly pretending that you are fine is a refreshing thought. Izzy told Tessa “You Don’t need to be perfectly fine. We like you best when you’re real.” I also liked that the author gave a realistic picture of what it looks like to grow in your faith and relationship with God. It takes faith to trust God in the hard times. Life isn’t easy and sometimes it’s hard to see what God is doing and why He would have you go through certain things. I love the example that Tessa’s youth leader Zoe gives her saying “You swam for Kayleigh when she couldn’t do it for herself, Don’t you know that’s what Jesus wants for you in this season of your life? He wants to swim for you.” No matter what we go through, God is there with us through it all. The main character Tessa is very relatable and as a reader you can really feel and understand all her emotions and struggles and all that she is going through. The author does such a good job describing Tessa’s emotions that you can see the pain she is going through.
I really enjoyed this book, it kept my interest the whole way through. I felt that the overall message of the book was relevant to what teens are currently facing. I highly recommend this book, I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
April 29, 2021
This novel kicks off a new YA series published by Focus on the Family geared toward teens facing real issues depression, death, divorce. The main character and a few of her friends are having a crisis of faith as their worlds are spinning faster than they can catch their breaths. How to make things right again? Is that possible? What to believe? How could a Christian man cheat on his family, then seek a divorce without even trying to reconcile. Both Tessa and her mom cannot believe this is happening to them. What to do when bad things happen to good people? What does that look like? How is someone supposed to deal with that and have faith in God?
Zoe is there for Tessa letting her talk things out not, listens and gives a hug and tissues when needed. I loved the transparency of the whole situation. It was not about a list of scripture verses spoken out loud to go for a quick fix to this major blow up. Tessa must face her friends and her father (the cheater) and her hurt feelings. She wanted her father to make things right. Tell her he was sorry. But that isn’t realistic. She soon realizes the only one she can change is herself and it’s ok to take it one day at a time.
I liked the true emotions and struggles shared by Tessa and her mother as their life blows up, and they navigate uncharted territory, trying to keep it real, recognizing that nothing and no one is perfect (including them) This is a great start to a heart-warming, transparent read about tough issues. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
Zoe is there for Tessa letting her talk things out not, listens and gives a hug and tissues when needed. I loved the transparency of the whole situation. It was not about a list of scripture verses spoken out loud to go for a quick fix to this major blow up. Tessa must face her friends and her father (the cheater) and her hurt feelings. She wanted her father to make things right. Tell her he was sorry. But that isn’t realistic. She soon realizes the only one she can change is herself and it’s ok to take it one day at a time.
I liked the true emotions and struggles shared by Tessa and her mother as their life blows up, and they navigate uncharted territory, trying to keep it real, recognizing that nothing and no one is perfect (including them) This is a great start to a heart-warming, transparent read about tough issues. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have received a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org
August 20, 2023
This book leads me through a rollercoaster every time I read it .
Tessa finds out the day after her best friends going away party that her parents are not only getting divorced, but her father cheated on her mother.
And has been cheating on her sense February of that year . (This was like early September late august when she found out )
Tessa then has to deal with her best friend moving to Florida , her dad cheating , and getting his new girlfriend pregnant ,
Plus , her father expected her to be okay with what he did .
He acted like marrying her mother and having Tessa was a mistake and how his girlfriend (his first love from high school) was Gods gift.
A few weeks later , Tessa’s 16 birthday arrives , as a present to her , earlier that year her parents had bought her and her dad tickets to Iceland .
It was supposed to be a big daddy daughter date
GUESS WHO HE TOOK INSTEAD?!
THE GIRLFRIEND .
Tessa and her mother go through the grief of losing their husband and father , Tessa’s best friend tries to commit suicide , the boy she likes takes someone else to homecoming , all while nearly everything else is going wrong for tessa.
This book has a very good storyline , characters , plot, dialogue , and at the end tessa realizes instead of letting her father control her , and letting her anger control her , she wasn’t going to put up with him anymore , she and her mom would be okay,
They are okay .
Tessa finds out the day after her best friends going away party that her parents are not only getting divorced, but her father cheated on her mother.
And has been cheating on her sense February of that year . (This was like early September late august when she found out )
Tessa then has to deal with her best friend moving to Florida , her dad cheating , and getting his new girlfriend pregnant ,
Plus , her father expected her to be okay with what he did .
He acted like marrying her mother and having Tessa was a mistake and how his girlfriend (his first love from high school) was Gods gift.
A few weeks later , Tessa’s 16 birthday arrives , as a present to her , earlier that year her parents had bought her and her dad tickets to Iceland .
It was supposed to be a big daddy daughter date
GUESS WHO HE TOOK INSTEAD?!
THE GIRLFRIEND .
Tessa and her mother go through the grief of losing their husband and father , Tessa’s best friend tries to commit suicide , the boy she likes takes someone else to homecoming , all while nearly everything else is going wrong for tessa.
This book has a very good storyline , characters , plot, dialogue , and at the end tessa realizes instead of letting her father control her , and letting her anger control her , she wasn’t going to put up with him anymore , she and her mom would be okay,
They are okay .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
Man, was this book a rollercoaster in the best way possible! I read it all in a day or two because I couldn't put it down (so far, that's been the case with every book in this series, lol!)
CONTENT: As far as the content goes, this book does deal with some heavier subjects such as divorce (due to infidelity) and suicide, so if you're a parent considering purchasing this book for your teen, I won't give an age recommendation but I advise you to consider whether your child is mature enough to handle those subjects.
CHARACTERS: the author did a great job at writing and developing the main character, Tessa. Additionally, I feel that her thoughts, actions, and way of handling the challenges she faced during the story were all pretty realistic for someone her age, which is something that can be hard to find in this genre. The other characters in the book also had realistic actions, responses, and development throughout the story.
THEMES: The main themes (takeaways) for this book are being honest with yourself and others about your struggles and social media not being a true representation of someone's life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and by the time I'd finished it, I felt as though Tessa was a good friend of mine. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
CONTENT: As far as the content goes, this book does deal with some heavier subjects such as divorce (due to infidelity) and suicide, so if you're a parent considering purchasing this book for your teen, I won't give an age recommendation but I advise you to consider whether your child is mature enough to handle those subjects.
CHARACTERS: the author did a great job at writing and developing the main character, Tessa. Additionally, I feel that her thoughts, actions, and way of handling the challenges she faced during the story were all pretty realistic for someone her age, which is something that can be hard to find in this genre. The other characters in the book also had realistic actions, responses, and development throughout the story.
THEMES: The main themes (takeaways) for this book are being honest with yourself and others about your struggles and social media not being a true representation of someone's life.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and by the time I'd finished it, I felt as though Tessa was a good friend of mine. I can't wait to see where this series goes next!
August 31, 2022
This first book in the Riverbend Friends series jumps right into some difficult situations. Tessa's parents are separating and the chances of them reuniting are dismal. There is a mix-up in her schedule landing her in Drama class instead of an Organic Farming class. And one of her best friends is moving away. With so much on her plate, Tessa feels the pressure to "be okay." That is pretty tough for someone who is just turning sixteen. Early in the book Tessa swims for a girl who is uncertain about getting back into the lap pool. The little girl (Kayleigh) rides on Tessa's back. What if Tessa could see the people around her and their offers of friendship as ways Jesus is "swimming for her?" What a great way to look at those who are the hands and feet of Jesus for others. I also really appreciated the many reminders in the book of the ways a social media feed does not reflect reality and how stalking someone on Insta, for example, can really backfire emotionally. Some really helpful messaging for teen girls. Where was this series when I was sixteen?
September 10, 2022
I definitely really enjoyed the story line of this book and felt some of the events in the book were really relatable. Yet at the same time it did feel a little forced at times, it felt like the author was trying to get so many points across at once that it was hard to focus on what was happening. With this being said, everything the characters went through were very real and I did love how the friendships developed throughout the book. Though I do think it was a little unrealistic at times, I also think it is a good read for girls to see all the different things that everyone around us can be struggling with such as, divorce, relationships, depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Overall I think that this a simple quick read that was enjoyable though I do wish it was longer so that it wouldn’t have been so rushed!
March 12, 2025
I can honestly say, this was a very realistic portrayal of a teenager in the middle of divorcing parents. Honestly, it spoke a lot to my own personal experience as a child of divorce and how my father was the cause and...I don't know, basically the entire time I was feeling all of the feelings LOL I was heartbroken with Tessa, angry with her...I knew all of her emotions personally. Especially with her father choosing his new life over her. That's real stuff right there.
I also loved how God was the center, too. Though she struggled to see God in it all, and at times even questioned if He cared (feelings I also related to), the faith of her friends and family around her was important. This story was heavy, for many reasons, but it was real.
I definitely intend to read more of these in the future! I loved this one.
I also loved how God was the center, too. Though she struggled to see God in it all, and at times even questioned if He cared (feelings I also related to), the faith of her friends and family around her was important. This story was heavy, for many reasons, but it was real.
I definitely intend to read more of these in the future! I loved this one.
July 1, 2025
I loved this book. It reminds me a lot of the Christy Miller books - which I also love.
The book is recommended for 12-16. I am much older than that, but definitely enjoyed the book. I don't know that I would recommend it for 12 year olds though. It deals with some deep topics like affairs, pregnant girlfriends, men and women living together, and attempted suicide.
Tessa deals with some serious stuff when her dad leaves her and her mom for an old high school girlfriend. She feels this need to keep everyone away by going into her hard shell and pretending she's fine. She sees what people are posting on social media, and thinks her life needs to be perfect as well. But she eventually realizes that what people post online isn't always the truth. It's better to be real, not perfect.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
The book is recommended for 12-16. I am much older than that, but definitely enjoyed the book. I don't know that I would recommend it for 12 year olds though. It deals with some deep topics like affairs, pregnant girlfriends, men and women living together, and attempted suicide.
Tessa deals with some serious stuff when her dad leaves her and her mom for an old high school girlfriend. She feels this need to keep everyone away by going into her hard shell and pretending she's fine. She sees what people are posting on social media, and thinks her life needs to be perfect as well. But she eventually realizes that what people post online isn't always the truth. It's better to be real, not perfect.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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