*This is a book review of Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins.
Quick Facts
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Release Date: August 14, 2014
Genre: Teen & young adult romance
Main Characters: Isla Martin & Josh Wasserstein
Number of Pages: 368
SJ Rating: 93%
The Synopsis
Do you ever have a crush so intense you can’t possibly imagine that person having the same intense feelings for you? Well, such is the case when it comes to Isla Martin, except she does have the opportunity to be with her artist beau Joshua Wasserstein. Is it better than she imagined or does it completely demolish her senior year of high school?
The Good
This is another well-written book by Stephanie Perkins; so much so that I could not stop awing over the shyness between Josh & Isla. Their first date, their first kiss… all the feels. Their 5’1″ and 6’1″ height difference absolutely melted my heart.
Out of the three books, this is the most cliché storyline, so there’s not really much to say.
I also love, love, love that she addresses the stereotype associated with redheads.
When the crossover with Lola and the Boy Next Door was introduced… I ACTUALLY SCREAMED (it was kind of embarrassing). I do wish there was a little more Lola & Cricket, but I am definitely more than happy with what I got, especially with the little character refresher descriptions.
Like with Lola and the Boy Next Door, I love the way she introduced the characters from Anna and the French Kiss (and then later summarizes the plot of that book so Isla and the Happily Ever After could be read as a standalone).
Out of the Stephanie Perkins trilogy, I relate to Isla the most. She develops a huge crush but lets her insecurities get in the way when an amazing relationship begins to develop with the person she likes. Like she says, “But isn’t it better to be honest about these things before someone else can use them against you? Before someone else can break your heart? Isn’t it better to break it yourself?” She feels like she is not worthy of love, which hits too close to home. Again, this is evident when Isla says, “Is it possible that I’m worthy of being loved by someone who I love?”
Very random fact: This is the second book I’ve read where I learned that the DSM changed Asperger’s into High-Functioning Autism.
The Bad
This isn’t anything bad, but with the cuteness overload present, I would love to have read some of the story from Josh’s point-of-view.
The Overall
Again, there’s not much I can say besides Stephanie Perkins has done it again; I finished this book in a flash.
I would definitely read all three of the books in this Stephanie Perkins series again.
Next book to be read and reviewed: Home Body by Rupi Kaur
“How do people even make friends? How does that happen?”
-Isla
