Jess Flynn’s junior year isn’t going quite as she expected. It’s far from perfect, as her younger sister Sara hasn’t been well for months. She was diagnosed with a terrible disease in March, and she’s bedridden at home. Jess’s mother spends a lot of time running her home design company, and her father seems . . . distant. But school is still pretty normal, what with her classes and her two best friends.

Then there’s Tyler. Jess has known him since elementary school, been friends with him since she accidentally hit him with a ball, and now she has a big, goofy crush on him. Jess takes extra care to wear something cute on those days she has study hall with him. And she waits for music class, where she gets to see him. Her friends don’t seem all that happy for her. They say that there’s another boy at school. Patrick, the soccer star, who wants to ask her out. But she can’t see herself with him.

Strangely, people start to go missing around town. Half of the kids at school are out because of some mysterious flu. Conversations start getting awkward when she’s around. Jess can’t put her finger on it, but something just seems off. She feels at a loss, like everyone else is in on a secret that she doesn’t know.

And then suddenly, Sara’s health takes a turn for the worse. She’s rushed to the hospital, and Jess is devastated. Its’ her baby sister in the hospital, and Jess doesn’t know what to think. The stress of the situation both overwhelms her and causes her focus to intensify. which makes her realizes that she has more questions than answers. But if she does find a way to get the answers, what will that mean for her the world as she knows it?

Author Anna Carey has crafted a witty, intriguing, fascinating, fun story of growing up in the 1990s, from the Sun-In to the Zimas, from the Blockbuster video store to TGIF sitcoms. This Is Not the Jess Show is a wild ride that makes you wonder what is really going on around you, how much is seen by others, by cameras, noticed by strangers. It’s a look beyond the mirror, a trip to Oz, the change from black and white to color.

I loved this book, from the ‘90s-filled pop culture references through to the end, where everything changes. It’s such a fun ride, with a huge twist that you might be able to guess at when it’s happening, but you’re not going to read about here. I want you to be as surprised as possible. This Is Not the Jess Show is a quick read, with lots of sweetness as well as s level of truth telling that will stop you in your tracks. It’s the perfect escape for a snowy weekend or for hanging on the beach. Just hang on tight, put on some Alanis Morissette, and read on!

Egalleys for This Is Not the Jess Show were provided by Quirk Books through Edelweiss, with many thanks.