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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
It was ok. I think I'm just older than her target audience so I wasn't impressed.
Again, Jennifer Smith's writing is quality. But her characters are starting to feel very similar. That doesn't mean I don't like them though. I really liked that she put the emails throughout the book.
I liked Graham and Ellie. I liked their story. I felt like Ellie was a pretty realistic character, and she contrasted with Quinn nicely. I think I would have enjoyed her story just as much without the backstory of her father. I would have enjoyed her questioning their relationship for her own sake probably more than I enjoyed the question of her father coming into play.
I also liked the supporting characters. I felt like Quinn was a great contrast and added a good conflict. Ellie's mom also added a good element to the story. The fact that she was so skeptical could have been played off as being concerned for her daughter, again without the history of Ellie's father to consider.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It didn't feel nearly as long as it was, and my students will love it.
I liked Graham and Ellie. I liked their story. I felt like Ellie was a pretty realistic character, and she contrasted with Quinn nicely. I think I would have enjoyed her story just as much without the backstory of her father. I would have enjoyed her questioning their relationship for her own sake probably more than I enjoyed the question of her father coming into play.
I also liked the supporting characters. I felt like Quinn was a great contrast and added a good conflict. Ellie's mom also added a good element to the story. The fact that she was so skeptical could have been played off as being concerned for her daughter, again without the history of Ellie's father to consider.
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It didn't feel nearly as long as it was, and my students will love it.
My sweet daughters love to give me books to read that they have loved... sometimes it's just painful.
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
(As reviewed on my blog, Paper Riot.)
I'm convinced that Jennifer E. Smith has been visiting my teen self in my dreams. Because honestly, how could she know about all those dreamy scenarios I had going on in there? Sitting next to a cute guy on a plane, emailing with a real movie star... who didn't dream about things like that? For small town girl Ellie this is a dream come true, except that she is a lot more down to earth than I would have been in this situation. I liked Ellie. She was smart and capable of handling her issues. I admired her for trying to make her own dreams come true and not depend on others to do so. And I really liked the bond with her mother. Good mother-daughter relationships in books are always a plus.
Graham reminded me of Adam Wilde, but more innocent. More boyish. I like that he was passionate about acting and that he had a pet pig, but I mostly liked him for the emails he sent Ellie. In my eyes, the emails were the best part of this story, and I wish there had been more of them. They showed a side of Ellie and Graham that the rest of the story didn't, and it was such a charming way of introducing us to these characters, and letting us get to know them better. I'm not always a fan of emails and letters in stories, but this was done just right. All in all, Ellie and Graham were just adorable together. This story isn't about a heartbreakingly beautiful love story, but it is a good protrayal of teenage love.
But when I compare it to The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I liked this book less. I think what made The Statistical Probability stand out more was the charm of the 24 hour time span, as well as my connection to the characters. While Ellie and Graham go through similar things, I was more connected to Hadley and Oliver in an emotional way. Hadley's relationship with her parents was rocky, but I was very invested in it. I missed that connection in This Is What Happy Looks Like. While I liked the characters and understood their struggles, I wish it had focused less on the (family) drama and more on the romance. The issues with Ellie's father didn't really interest me, and they felt unnecessary for the story.
So yes, what I'm really saying is that I would have liked more kissing. A lot could have been done with Graham's movie star status that wasn't really an issue in this book, and that was a bit disappointing to me. Regardless, I did like this story. It was light and cute, and the setting (a small beach town in Maine) was a great aspect. I also really liked the ending, even though I don't think it will please everyone. But to me, it made me appreciate this book more. All in all, This Is What Happy Looks Like is a sweet story - a love story light, if you will - and while it's perhaps not the most memorable read, I really enjoyed it.
I'm convinced that Jennifer E. Smith has been visiting my teen self in my dreams. Because honestly, how could she know about all those dreamy scenarios I had going on in there? Sitting next to a cute guy on a plane, emailing with a real movie star... who didn't dream about things like that? For small town girl Ellie this is a dream come true, except that she is a lot more down to earth than I would have been in this situation. I liked Ellie. She was smart and capable of handling her issues. I admired her for trying to make her own dreams come true and not depend on others to do so. And I really liked the bond with her mother. Good mother-daughter relationships in books are always a plus.
Graham reminded me of Adam Wilde, but more innocent. More boyish. I like that he was passionate about acting and that he had a pet pig, but I mostly liked him for the emails he sent Ellie. In my eyes, the emails were the best part of this story, and I wish there had been more of them. They showed a side of Ellie and Graham that the rest of the story didn't, and it was such a charming way of introducing us to these characters, and letting us get to know them better. I'm not always a fan of emails and letters in stories, but this was done just right. All in all, Ellie and Graham were just adorable together. This story isn't about a heartbreakingly beautiful love story, but it is a good protrayal of teenage love.
But when I compare it to The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, I liked this book less. I think what made The Statistical Probability stand out more was the charm of the 24 hour time span, as well as my connection to the characters. While Ellie and Graham go through similar things, I was more connected to Hadley and Oliver in an emotional way. Hadley's relationship with her parents was rocky, but I was very invested in it. I missed that connection in This Is What Happy Looks Like. While I liked the characters and understood their struggles, I wish it had focused less on the (family) drama and more on the romance. The issues with Ellie's father didn't really interest me, and they felt unnecessary for the story.
So yes, what I'm really saying is that I would have liked more kissing. A lot could have been done with Graham's movie star status that wasn't really an issue in this book, and that was a bit disappointing to me. Regardless, I did like this story. It was light and cute, and the setting (a small beach town in Maine) was a great aspect. I also really liked the ending, even though I don't think it will please everyone. But to me, it made me appreciate this book more. All in all, This Is What Happy Looks Like is a sweet story - a love story light, if you will - and while it's perhaps not the most memorable read, I really enjoyed it.
This is such a feelgood book. I absolutely love it, and will read it over and over when I need something to make me smile.
I don't like cliffhangers nor open endings, so I am suffering right now . This one is too open for my taste, hence three stars... for the suffering.
I kind-of like the story, the setting, the plot and, at times, the characters, but both main characters sound awfully adult for a couple of teenagers. They might sound as teens in the dialogues some times and in the e-mails, but the narration was a bit too... I don't know... ¿serious? If it were about two people in the late twenties or something like that, the book might have gained in credibility and I would have grown fond of it and its characters. Now it's just ok. I enjoyed it, because I was looking for something like that, but it wasn't great, and ever if I think [b:The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight|10798416|The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight|Jennifer E. Smith|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337187623s/10798416.jpg|15464655] was good, enjoyable, cute, but lacking, this one is less good, less enjoyable, less cute and more lacking. A pity...
In any case I look forward to reading more by Jennifer E. Smith. I think she can create very cute stories. I hope the next one turns out better.
Spoiler
because I don't know how Graham and Ellie will do in the endI kind-of like the story, the setting, the plot and, at times, the characters, but both main characters sound awfully adult for a couple of teenagers. They might sound as teens in the dialogues some times and in the e-mails, but the narration was a bit too... I don't know... ¿serious? If it were about two people in the late twenties or something like that, the book might have gained in credibility and I would have grown fond of it and its characters. Now it's just ok. I enjoyed it, because I was looking for something like that, but it wasn't great, and ever if I think [b:The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight|10798416|The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight|Jennifer E. Smith|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337187623s/10798416.jpg|15464655] was good, enjoyable, cute, but lacking, this one is less good, less enjoyable, less cute and more lacking. A pity...
In any case I look forward to reading more by Jennifer E. Smith. I think she can create very cute stories. I hope the next one turns out better.
Silly but fun. It was nice to read a fluffy teen romance. It won't stick with me, but it made me feel happy while I was reading it.
I don't really think that this book is what happy looks like, but to each their own.