‘This is Not the Jess Show’ is an intense suspense and thriller book. The fast-paced YA book is mainly about how far people can go to create their own version of reality. The general themes include childhood trauma, the issue of privacy, and who to trust or not to trust. The main character, Jess Flynn, deals with a new crush, overprotective parents, and a sick sister, while also battling her gut feeling of something being wrong in her small town of Swickley. As the book progresses, Jess sees more ‘clues’ of something being hidden from her; a secret that the whole town knows is being kept from Jess. How far will Jess go to uncover the secret? What will happen to her sister? Why do conversations stop as Jess enters the room? Is Swickley really her home? These questions can only be answered once you read this action-filled book.

Personally, I gave this book a ⅗ stars because I believe that the plot is interesting, but has wasted potential. The book discusses many topics and issues, however, the story could go into more detail about the exploitation of the main character or/and mental health. On the other hand, the book teaches you a powerful lesson about your gut feeling. As the book is left on a cliffhanger hopefully the author will develop the story even more in the upcoming series. I believe that if you like action-filled-chase type books, suspense, and mild thrill then this book is for you!