Response to Laurel's "Perfect"

    Several popular quotes came to mind as I began reading this story. First, two words: Mean Girls. I could picture Rachel McAdams stomping down the halls eyeing herself in anything reflective as she did so, completely consumed with herself. The main character's selfish disdain, superficial judgements, and conceited cockiness is quite exhausting. Though her character is a little over the top and possibly a wee bit cliche, I thought Laurel meant to make the main character exactly that, because that's just how the character is. As much as I would like to think that people like her only live in movies, I know from experience with living with a similar diva-like character as a roommate that this is not true.
      I loved how the story was told in third person and yet as a reader, I did not feel as though I was being told even ounce of information and instead Laurel did a great job showing me what was going on, not just stating facts and "she said, he said's." I also enjoyed the italics, allowing us to see inside the main character's mind. Though I would like to see the same changes that the main character goes through, in this case I think it happened rather abruptly at the end. It only took a couple of no-show guys for her to change her entire image and persona that she had been building up since high school. I'm not convinced that she would give up her new identiy so easy, however, I do think the character should go through these changes and have these identity questioning thoughts, but maybe in a more subtle way, implying that she will change back to the shy girl she was. Or even imply that she's going to change back into who she really is by allowing her to have these thoughts of her uncertain identity, but then she brushes it off and fixes her hair in the mirror or something? I'm not sure, but it has lots of potential and I really enjoyed reading it! Loved the characters and the conflicting identity crisis she has in the ending. Great job!