Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After

By Stephanie Perkins

book rate: ★★★★★ (4.5/5)

from goodreads:

Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last? 

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.

Isla has had a crush on Josh ever since she laid eyes on him on their freshman year. She never thought she had a chance with him, but a late encounter in Manhattan changes everything. Months later, back in Paris Isla may have her dream come true. But not everything is easy. Hearts get broken, tears are shared and dreams become nightmares.

When I bought this book I had high expectations, but while I was waiting for it to be delivered I read some not so good reviews. It didn’t stop me for reading it as soon as I had it. And I’m glad I did, because I loved it! I can’t say what my favourite Stephanie Perkins’ book is; I loved all of them so much!

We had already been introduced to Isla and Josh on Anna and the French Kiss, but we really don’t see much of them in this first book. We know Isla has a crush on Josh and, although Josh appears often, he’s either drawing or making out with his girlfriend. Josh has always intrigued me, and I was so glad to get to know him better. He’s funny, sweet and emotional. He doesn’t hide what his feeling, he’s not afraid to cry or showing vulnerability. He knows exactly what he wants in life but sometimes he tends to be a little immature, but I liked that about him. It just makes his character more realistic. On the other hand, Isla is completely lost. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life, she feels like a blank canvas. She has little confidence in herself and tends to over think pretty much everything.

Once more, Stephanie Perkins creates characters that are both amazing and realistic.

The plot is adorable, the setting amazingly described, the relationship between the characters, whether it is friendship, romance or family is portrayed in a realistic and perfect way. Isla and the Happily Ever After did not disappoint! It was everything I was hoping for, and more! I wished the scene where the characters from the previous books appear were bigger, but other than that I was happy how everything turned out. I highly recommend Stephanie Perkins’ books to every contemporary fan out there. 

Review: Anna and The French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Anna and the French Kiss

By Stephanie Perkins

book rate: ★★★★★ (4.5/5)

from goodreads:

Can Anna find love in the City of Light?

Anna is happy in Atlanta. She has a loyal best friend and a crush on her coworker at the movie theater, who is just starting to return her affection. So she's less than thrilled when her father decides to send her to a boarding school in Paris for her senior year. But despite not speaking a word of French, Anna meets some cool new people, including the handsome Étienne St. Clair, who quickly becomes her best friend. Unfortunately, he's taken —and Anna might be, too. Will a year of romantic near misses end with the French kiss she's waiting for?

After finishing Lola and the Boy Next Door, I missed Anna and Étienne so much I had to reread this book! Just like the first time, I found myself flying through the pages, excited to get to my favourite parts! I read this book in less than 24 hours (I regret nothing!). On the 14th, the first thing I'll do when I wake up is buying Isla and the Happily Ever After!

I think everybody who likes YA has heard about this book, but I still wanted to share my feelings about it.

The plot in this book is very like the plot in other contemporaries, girl meets boy, they fall in love, but for some reason they can't be together. We all know, when we start reading a contemporary, that the characters will, most likely, end up together in the end and live happily ever after. So, in my opinion, what really matters in contemporaries is the journey, the characters and their development.

When we start Anna and the French Kiss, Anna is crying so hard that the girl living next door hears her, she is afraid to order food and to leave campus. By the end of the book she is going to the movies and visiting Paris all by her self. 

Étienne's life has always been ruled by his father and he's to afraid of changes, but then he grows up and stands for himself. 

Once again, Stephanie Perkins creates fantastic characters. They are likeable, you can't help not loving them but they are not perfect. They make mistakes, sometimes they say things that shouldn't be said, others, they don't say enough and they may not always have the best attitude towards some events, but that's what makes them so realistic.

The amazing characters, the simple (but great) plot and the funny writing make this book wonderful and worth reading! If you're a fan of contemporaries you probably heard of Stephanie Perkins already. If you haven't, I assume you've been living in another world and if that's the case you have to pick on of her books right now!

Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door
By Stephanie Perkins

book rate: ★★★★☆ (4.25/5)

from goodreads: 

Lola Nolan is a budding costume designer, and for her, the more outrageous, sparkly, and fun the outfit, the better. And everything is pretty perfect in her life (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighbourhood. When Cricket, a gifted inventor, steps out from his twin sister's shadow and back into Lola's life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.




Lola and the Boy Next Door is one of those cute contemporaries that grabs you right from the beginning and you can't stop reading it! 
I did enjoy this book but not as much as  Anna and the French Kiss. I was so happy to see Anna as Lola's co-worker! I felt like reading Anna and the French Kiss all over again. And I think I will, before Isla and the Happily Ever After is released.

One thing that is constantly present in contemporaries is lack of communication, however, in this book, Cricket is straightforward with Lola right from the beginning.  The main problem was that Lola was not honest with herself.

I loved the characters. All of them, except for Max (Lola's boyfriend) he was an idiot, and Lola was the only one who could not see that. She did annoy me sometimes, she could not see what was right in front of her and she was rude sometimes. But I guess that's what makes this character so realistic, she has flaws and she knows it, she tries to correct her mistakes, and eventually she is able to!

It's an enchanted forest, I'm sure of it. Amid the trees are devilish wood sprites and red mushroom caps with whit spots and faeries tempting mortals with golden fruit. (chapter thirteen)
I loved how Lola described the Muir Woods. It revels so much about her character. She has such a creative way to look at the world and it is reflected in the way she acts, dresses and describes things like the woods. She is such a unique character. I don't think I will ever forget her.

I loved this book and I'm super excited to read Isla and the Happily Ever After! If you like contemporaries you have to read this book, if you haven't already.