This Is Not the Real World

The gondola glided between buildings, and that same song filtered in right as we slipped under the third arched bridge. It was coming from an upper balcony, where the same violin player sat, his bow gliding back and forth across the strings. Below him, the window was open, and the same man with that same stubby gray mustache was cooking pasta. It wasn t until Kipps pointed it out that I realized he looked exactly like Chef Boyardee. He even had the white hat.
      How much do you think they paid for that product placement? I asked.
      This is supposed to be romantic, Jess.
     I tried not to look at Kipps too much in the simulations, because his features were always a little off from what they were in real life. His nose looked huge and angular, his wavy hair like tiny brown snakes spilling out of his scalp. His left eye always went rogue. Sometimes I wasn t sure if he was looking at me or my right ear.
      But seriously. Italy, the association with the Venice canals and pasta. I bet that spot was as pricey as the Armani one. I pointed to the right but I was a beat early. The gondola took a few seconds to clear the end of the building and then we saw the dark-haired couple dancing in the alley, their cheeks pressed together. In an instant the woman stepped out, spinning once under the man s arm, then pausing to show the long, lacy black skirt to us. Or maybe that s better real estate. It s more front and center.
     The violin music faded behind us, giving way to the sounds of tourists shopping for watercolors on the bridge above. An American woman with overlined lips argued with the seller over two euros. Kipps squeezed my hand, then the scene stopped and the menu came down in front of us. VENICE, ITALY, was highlighted.
      What are you doing?
      You re not into it. Maybe Singapore? He flicked through the list of cities, past Tokyo and

Anna Carey is the author of several books for teens including This is Not The Jess Show, This is Not the Real World, and the Eve trilogy. She lives in Los Angeles.

A romantic near-future thriller. Locus Magazine

Praise for This Is Not the Jess Show

It s a dark and distorted mirror of our own extremely strange times, perfect reading for anyone who wants to feel seen without necessarily needing to be looked at. Shondaland

I read this in a single, compulsive sitting. A fantastically smart, funny, and thoughtful thriller about how our devices manipulate and exploit our closest relationships. Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun Is Also a Star

At once thought-provoking and hilarious, This Is Not the Jess Show is a timely, incisive book so masterfully-plotted you won't want to put it down. Tahereh Mafi, New York Times Bestselling author of the Shatter Me series and A Very Large Expanse of Sea
 
Nostalgic, romantic, thrilling, and with an exciting twist, I devoured This Is Not The Jess Show and didn't want it to end! Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game  

A thrilling and thought-provoking ride. Kirkus Reviews
 
This is Not the Jess Show goes deep in exploring how people live their lives and create their own realities sometimes at a cost. Foreword Reviews

The fast-paced, intricate plot ramps up Jess's paranoia and frustration, both of which are vividly expressed through her first-person narrative. Booklist

A fun and thoughtful thriller; this YA novel will please fans of E. Lockhart and Kiera Cass. School Library Journal

Fast paced and thrilling. Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books