Isla and the Happily Ever After
by Stephanie Perkins
8/14/14
Penguin
source: arc from publisher
From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.
Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.
What some cool peeps are saying about Isla and the Happily Ever After
"Stephanie Perkins is the Jane Austen of our generation. Her stories ache, soothe, and leave you breathless with joy; there's true magic in these pages — it's an experience you won't soon forget."
–Tahereh Mafi, author of the bestselling Shatter Me series.
“Stephanie Perkins’s characters fall in love the way we all want to, in real time and for good.”
–Rainbow Rowell, award-winning, bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl
“This adorable YA romance is half New York love story, half Parisian romance, and fully prepared to make your heart melt quicker than a gelato dropped on a sidewalk. Between sexy English expat Etienne St. Clair, and hottie west-coast intellectual inventor Crick Bell, Stephanie Perkins is already the creator of two of the greatest fictional boyfriends we’ve ever had the pleasure of sweating over. But, pssssst, you guys: you know that good things come in threes, right? Which is why we’re so excited for ‘Isla and the Happily Ever After,’ the long-awaited follow-up finale to ‘Anna and the French Kiss’ and ‘Lola and the Boy Next Door.’” –MTV.com
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So much adorableness, so much swoon-worthiness, so much humor, intensely felt emotion, gorgeous settings, and so much more...this is what’s in store for readers of Isla and the Happily Ever After!
This companion to Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, is the story of Isla and Josh (both seen in Anna). A chance encounter over the summer finds these two drawn to each other, and this sweet, yet intense attraction continues as they start their senior year in Paris. From Manhattan to Paris to Barcelona, their epic love story spans countries and continents, but Isla and Josh soon learn that happily ever after isn’t something so simply attained.
Fans of Perkins’ books have come to expect smart, funny stories full of addicting romance and engaging characters, and Isla and the Happily Ever After is no exception. There is so much to love about this final companion and the romantic, electric journey of Isla and Josh. I’d say this book is a bit darker and more intense than its predecessors, with palpable emotions that are felt soul-deep and so beautifully written. Like its companions, the writing in Isla and the Happily Ever After is zingy, smart, full of laughs, and accessible. Never stilted, forced, or unbelievable, Perkins’ storytelling sizzles, dazzles, and is perfectly paced. The hectic streets of Manhattan, the romantic city of Paris, and the utterly stunning sights of Barcelona, provide the most exquisite and fun settings. I fell in love with Paris through Anna’s eyes in Anna and the French Kiss, but I loved re-discovering this breathtaking city through Isla’s eyes and being a part of Isla and Josh’s Paris.
If you’ve read either companion book, then you know Perkins has an undeniable talent for creating charming, endearing, and relatable teen characters (and the most swoon-worthy guys!). Both Isla and Josh are just as wonderful as Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket. Isla is utterly adorable, funny, engaging, and beautifully flawed. This tiny redhead captured my heart and tickled my funny bone. Josh is just as snarktastically witty as he is in Anna and the French Kiss, but we get to intimately know this captivatingly passionate and complex guy in Isla and the Happily Ever After. As individuals Isla and Josh are awesome, but together?! *boom* Fireworks! I love how insanely cute and fun, yet totally natural, they’re interaction always feels, from their sweet friendship, to budding romance, and fiery relationship.
Perkins ability to capture the thrilling, fervent, awkward, utterly terrifying, all consuming essence and act of falling in love, never ceases to amaze me! Isla and Josh’s romance, with all its sweet; sexy; heart-pounding; and heart-aching moments, feels so real and I became completely engrossed and enthralled by it. But, I also love that Isla and Josh’s stories are about more than just each other; they’re also about self-discovery, facing fears, and figuring who they are as individuals.
And of course, the wonderful, awesome, loverly Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket make a superb appearance that readers will adore!
My Final Thoughts: Isla and the Happily Ever After made me laugh and cry, had me flailing and swooning, and, for a few hours, captured me completely. This is a lovely last line in the stunning love letter that is Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, and now Isla and the Happily Ever After!
MY RATING
1 comment:
Thanks for the review! I'm binging on all the reviews that are posted online already, trying to ease my EXTREME anticipation for this book.
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