Kendra Bolten knows what it's like to be overshadowed by a sibling. Her older brother, Grayson, is a genius, but his OCD forces him to live life through a series of carefully coordinated routines. It seems as if he can't survive without counting, symmetry, constantly washing his hands -- and the whole family revolving around him. Kendra feels that the only way she can shine in the presence of her brother is to be perfect -- something she has down to an art. She's a straight-A student, has plenty of extracurricular activities, and always makes the right decisions. But when Kendra finds herself the ringleader of a cheating scandal in her Calc class, her mistake could jeopardize the perfection she's worked so hard to attain. For once she knows exactly how Grayson feels when he expresses his wish to just run away from his OCD. Behind the wheel of her hand-me-down car, with Grayson asleep in the passenger seat, Kendra makes a decision. Together, they'll drive away from it all -- get some distance, find help for Grayson, prove that she's still the perfect girl-in-control -- and maybe her colossal mistake will look a little more forgivable.
Eventually though, no matter how far they go, there is nothing for Kendra to do but to face what she's been running from.
This review was originally posted on The Bumbling Bookworm
The synopsis promises "the emotional highs and lows of a complex sibling relationship," and Brown certainly delivers this in Perfect Escape. The older sibling, Grayson, has been living with OCD, depression, anxiety disorders and "God knows what else" from a very young age, far younger than any person should have to deal with these issues. The younger sibling, Kendra, has never felt important enough in her parents' eyes as a result, and she therefore strives for perfection. However, when she begins to struggle at school, she will do anything to maintain that perfect. Scandal erupts, threatening her perfect reputation, and she flees across the country and taking her brother with her (against his will).
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Reading updates
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Started reading
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15 March, 2014:
Finished reading
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15 March, 2014:
Reviewed