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  • Real, Not Perfect by Stephanie Coleman book cover
  • Real, Not Perfect by Stephanie Coleman book cover
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Real, Not Perfect

by Stephanie Coleman

A changing friendship circle and a family in transition

$16.89 USD
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AlbakiReads Editorial

A changing friendship circle and a family in transition

Set in Riverbend, Indiana, the opening Riverbend Friends novel centers on Tessa, whose comfortable routine is disrupted by her parents’ divorce and her best friend’s move to Florida. Adjusting to a new drama class and watching her friend’s polished social-media posts add to her sense that other people have easier lives. New classmates and a steadfast friend become part of her effort to face anger, hurt, and changes at home. The story brings together family upheaval, mental health, complicated friendships, and the pressures of comparison, presenting these challenges through an explicitly Christian perspective on relationships and problem-solving.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teen and tween girls interested in contemporary school and friendship stories
  • Readers seeking young adult fiction that approaches family change and mental health from a Christian perspective
  • Those interested in stories about social-media comparison and changing friendships

Themes

Divorce and family changeMental healthFriendshipSocial-media comparisonChristian faith

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

An authentic, Christian book for teen girls about facing the hopes and heartbreaks of growing up.

Real, Not Perfect is the first book in a YA series that travels alongside four friends as they deal with teen life in Riverbend, Indiana. The novel inspires girls and young women to deepen their relationships with God and solve their problems in God-honoring ways.

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 high school 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? Find out how Tessa's new friends from Intro to Drama and Alex, her true-blue friend, help her discover that real is better than perfect.

  • Book 1 in the Riverbend Friends series
  • Tackles hard-hitting topics like divorce, mental health, and navigating complicated friendships from a faith-based perspective
  • Features relatable, imperfect characters to encourage teen and tween girls ages 12-16
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Customer reviews

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AlbakiReads
Malaika Taylor

I highly recommend to for anyone looking for inner clarity

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Thomas DiMassa

Great service and fast service

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Ella

Great shopping experience! The book arrived quickly, was well packaged, and matched the description perfectly. I would definitely shop with you again

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Olivia

Smooth.