Hey, guys! I just finished Isla and the Happily Ever After. Last October at Yall Fest, there was a table with about five different books on it, including this one. I chose it because the title was similar to Anna and the French Kiss which I'd heard was really good. (Great logic, I know.) It turns out that Isla and the Happily Ever After is a sort of spin-off of Anna and the French Kiss. You definitely do not need to read them in order. I didn't, and it was fine, but I would recommend reading it in order because there were a few crossover moments where Anna or some character would show up and quickly leave, where I felt like I was missing a little bit of information. It is a stand-alone book, but if you want to understand all of the references, maybe don't start at this book.
The Cover:
The Cover:
It shows a city skyline, which is a major theme in the book. As a duel citizen to both Paris and America (specifically New York), Isla struggles to find where she belongs. The title also has a rose next to it, which are frequently mentioned throughout the book. It's simple and doesn't have a picture of half a girls face on it, so I'm content. Solid A cover.
Official Description:
Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.
My Review:
This was strictly a contemporary romance novel. It wasn't a book that you finish and want to tell everyone about, but it was the type of book that you finish in two days and makes you feel really sappy and content for the rest of the second day. Isla and the Happily Ever After was cute and sweet and still filled with quite a bit of angst.
The characters were very well thought out. This is definitely a novel carried by its characters instead of its plot. I actually really liked Isla like 90% of the time (very impressive for a female protagonist in my books). She was more than just two-dimensional, which I thoroughly appreciated. Josh was also a cool character, but I wish we could have more of a glimpse into his thoughts. We see a lot of it through the summary of his graphic novel, but I'm left wanting more, especially on his relationship with his family. They were strong, relatable characters.
I have only two minor complaints about this book.
One, the romantic moments were a bit unrealistic. It was fine because the characters acknowledged the stereotypical scenes. Still, when fireworks literally go off when the characters first kiss, it's a bit much.
Two, this relates to a pet peeve of mine. As a junior about to apply to colleges, I am super prone to being able to tell the inaccuracies in the "college process." In this book, Isla applies to only three schools, two of which are Ivy League and the other is the #4 school in France. First of all, honey, chances are you won't get into any of those schools. Give yourself a safety and don't ruin your future. Secondly, I understand the author chose impressive schools to show that the character was smart, but I don't think they understand that the character also needs to act super smart to be believable. And no one wants to read a book about a kid doing Calculus homework until one in the morning. It's a understandable but frustratingly common trope in teen books.
Despite my ranting, I actually really enjoyed this book. If you are in the mood for a romance book, this is a great book to pick up. It's light and a quick read. I plan on starting Anna and the French Kiss as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Phrase:
Rabbits
If You Enjoyed this Book, You May Also Like:
Eleanor & Park
An Abundance of Katherines
Happy Reading!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret
The Cover:
It shows a city skyline, which is a major theme in the book. As a duel citizen to both Paris and America (specifically New York), Isla struggles to find where she belongs. The title also has a rose next to it, which are frequently mentioned throughout the book. It's simple and doesn't have a picture of half a girls face on it, so I'm content. Solid A cover.
Official Description:
Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart.
My Review:
This was strictly a contemporary romance novel. It wasn't a book that you finish and want to tell everyone about, but it was the type of book that you finish in two days and makes you feel really sappy and content for the rest of the second day. Isla and the Happily Ever After was cute and sweet and still filled with quite a bit of angst.
The characters were very well thought out. This is definitely a novel carried by its characters instead of its plot. I actually really liked Isla like 90% of the time (very impressive for a female protagonist in my books). She was more than just two-dimensional, which I thoroughly appreciated. Josh was also a cool character, but I wish we could have more of a glimpse into his thoughts. We see a lot of it through the summary of his graphic novel, but I'm left wanting more, especially on his relationship with his family. They were strong, relatable characters.
I have only two minor complaints about this book.
One, the romantic moments were a bit unrealistic. It was fine because the characters acknowledged the stereotypical scenes. Still, when fireworks literally go off when the characters first kiss, it's a bit much.
Two, this relates to a pet peeve of mine. As a junior about to apply to colleges, I am super prone to being able to tell the inaccuracies in the "college process." In this book, Isla applies to only three schools, two of which are Ivy League and the other is the #4 school in France. First of all, honey, chances are you won't get into any of those schools. Give yourself a safety and don't ruin your future. Secondly, I understand the author chose impressive schools to show that the character was smart, but I don't think they understand that the character also needs to act super smart to be believable. And no one wants to read a book about a kid doing Calculus homework until one in the morning. It's a understandable but frustratingly common trope in teen books.
Despite my ranting, I actually really enjoyed this book. If you are in the mood for a romance book, this is a great book to pick up. It's light and a quick read. I plan on starting Anna and the French Kiss as soon as I can get my hands on it.
Phrase:
Rabbits
If You Enjoyed this Book, You May Also Like:
Eleanor & Park
An Abundance of Katherines
Happy Reading!
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BookshelfSecret
