Everyone is familiar with the story of the ugly duckling that turned into a beautiful swan. IF YOU WANT ME is Ms. Perrin's version of this fairy tale.  Overweight teenager Alice Watson is constantly teased and harassed by her high school classmates. She is actually beautiful inside and out, but no one sees past the extra weight except her best friend Marcus Quinn.

Marcus is a jock who has befriended her and now acts as her protector against the mean spirited teens. She shares all their dreams and aspirations with him. Alice leans a lot on Marcus for support, because she doesn't get it at home. Her mother treats her like a redheaded stepchild, never supporting her and putting her down every chance she gets. Alice doesn't feel loved or wanted in her own home. So she puts all her effort into fulfilling her dreams of becoming an actress, even though her mother is against it.

After an argument with her mom about moving to LA to pursue an acting career, Alice flees to meet Marcus.  He reassures her that she's doing the right thing by pursuing her dreams, and then Alice gets the shock of her life. Marcus tells her that he is going to propose to his girlfriend. Alice is crushed.  She realizes that Marcus will never see her as more than a friend. With nothing holding her in Chicago, she moves to L.A. leaving her family and Marcus behind.

When the story begins, it's been 13 years since Alice left home with her mom's last words ringing in her ears. "If you leave this house and go to L.A., Alice, don't come back. You hear me? I'm wiping my hands of you." She left the next day and never returned, until now. Her mom has had a heart attack and the very successful, very beautiful, very slim and very talented actress; Desirée LaCroix is rushing home to be at her mother's side.  The story centers on Alice/ Desirée being back home around all these people who treated her badly growing up. Some wanting to make amends, others who haven't changed. She returns to find a mother and sister who still ostracize her, a niece who worships the ground she walks on and a divorced and angry Marcus. He doesn't understand why his best friend left and didn't keep in touch.

Desirée wants to mend the fences between her mom and sister, but they don't make it easy for her. She's still attracted to Marcus, but vows to keep her distance. Marcus has been burned twice by beautiful women and refuses to let it happen again.  IF YOU WANT ME grabs you from the very beginning. You feel for Alice and all that she has to endure. They say that success is the best revenge and Desirée definitely gets hers. A bit of mystery is thrown into this already laden tale when someone starts to harass Desirée by slashing her tires, making threatening phone calls and feeding smut to the press about her.

The relationship between Desirée and Marcus is strained, but you pull for them to be together.  Marcus puts up a good fight and you just want to smack some sense into him, but it all works out. There is a bit of a lull towards the middle and certain characters' attitudes towards Alice shift without explanation, but I found the book to be very entertaining. In my opinion, this is Ms. Perrin's best work thus far.