Blog Tour: “500 Words or Less” by Juleah del Rosario – Review & Giveaway!

About The Book

Synopsis: Nic Chen refuses to spend her senior year branded as the girl who cheated on her charismatic and lovable boyfriend. To redefine her reputation among her Ivy League–obsessed classmates, Nic begins writing their college admissions essays. But the more essays Nic writes for other people, the less sure she becomes of herself, the kind of person she is, and whether her moral compass even points north anymore.

Where to Buy: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Review

500 Words or Less is a novel that focuses on the college application essay that is required to apply to school. Often it takes many brainstorming sessions and some self-reflection (speaking from my own experience). While this book focuses on that aspect of moving on to college, it’s also a powerful and emotional tale about self-discovery.

The main character Nic is sought out by some of her peers to write essays though she’s been shunned/rejected by most in school She seems like the perfect student with the best grades and keeps to her self, but we find out by reading her POV that she is lost and broken. Though she feels no obligation she takes on the task on writing very personal essays all while navigating the loss of her mother, love for her ex-boyfriend, and the emptiness she feels inside.

Getting ready to go to college is a huge step in any students life and it’s a hectic time of big life decisions. I felt that I could empathize with Nic as she (and most of us) tries to find herself along this journey of essay writing. She’s forced to overcome obstacles by not only taking a harder look at herself, but her relationships with people’s she close to. Doing so allows her to heal and move on to her future so she can let go of the past.

This book teaches us that everyone’ is going through their own struggle no matter what their life looks like on the outside. It also shares the message that self-reflection is healing. I loved the writing style and being that the novel was in verse made it that much more powerful. I really enjoyed reading this book and its various narratives, but also it’s inclusiveness of people from different backgrounds, economic classes, etc. I felt that it had a very important narrative to share!

Final Verdict: