Book Review: You in Five Acts

• Title: You in Five Acts
• Author: Uma La Marche

Review:

You in Five Acts is an excellent book for any teens who are interested in the romance/drama genre, while also having a chance to immerse themselves in the conflicts that come with teenage responsibility. The author of the book, Uma La Marche, has done an outstanding job of constructing a novel that not only appeals to the preferences of Gen Z but also informing the reader of social injustices that exist within our society. Although this book is not something I would typically read, it has impressed me, as I finished the book in a single day!

This book follows five teenagers, each narrating a portion of the novel from their point of view while attending a prestigious art school in New York City. The whole novel is told as a recount of events, eventually leading to a dramatic, tear-jerking close.  Uma La Marche creates a diverse set of characters: Joy, an African-American dancer that is suffering from an ankle injury while dancing for a role that definitively sets up her life. Diego is Joy’s best friend, who has not openly admitted that he is in love with her. Liv is a desperate actress that has a dark secret and Ethan is a somewhat arrogant director that casts Liv in his play for the sole purpose of liking her. Finally, there is Dave, a new student from Los Angeles, well known for starring in the media as a young child.  Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it has some discrepancies. For having such an impactful ending, I think that the ending is so abrupt that it took a while to process the circumstances that led up to it. The book has a consistent pace until the final chapters, in which I felt Uma La Marche set up an ending that specifically wouldn’t lead to a sequel novel. Further, just from the book cover, any person would assume that this novel involves the concept of the performing arts, but this readily fades after the first portion of Joy’s narration. Apart from these issues, the novel does create so much drama and suspense that it’s barely noticeable for some.

Overall, I would rate the book a 4/5 as Uma La Marche is able to send a powerful message through a novel marketed for teens. This was definitely a page-turner and also brings up a conversation regarding race and privilege, which are topics that are definitely prevalent in our society today.

Thank you for a wonderful review! – Mrs. Long