3.92 AVERAGE


I like Perkins' writing, but the characters in this book are rather immature. I'm not sure if that's because Perkins is trying to portray these teenagers realistically or if it's just me being condescending of teenagers who act as if being apart from their significant other for a few months is the end of the world. It might be both.

I do find Perkins' ability to capture the young adult perspective to be remarkable. I think most people at that age do have a sense that they are the center of the world. Every event is slightly dramatic. Every direction that doesn't go quite as planned is devastating--a scene in their tragic story. I certainly got that vibe from Isla and Josh. However, I couldn't help being slightly exasperated at their childish reactions/behavior. While the two may wish to make the "adults" the enemy, in the end, they aren't. I like that Perkins is able to simultaneously indicate Isla and Josh's feelings of confinement, yet also imply that the adults are really just looking out for these kids. Is this portrayal realistic? I suppose I could argue so.

Overall, the book is well written and has realistic elements, but a large section in the middle may exasperate some. Not a bad conclusion to the trilogy.

*2.5*

Reading Rush 2020


Wow. This series definitely ended on a sourer note than I would've wished. In some ways I liked this one better than Lola, but in others it was so much worse. I was so flipping bored while reading this; I had to actively force myself to continue it, and by the last few pages I just started skimming. The thing is though, Isla and Josh were a better and more interesting couple than Lola and Cricket could ever dream to be, so it just makes this all the more upsetting. I think the biggest flaw was definitely having Isla and Josh get together and 'fall in love' so early on; it felt way to fast and completely unreal, and it made the rest of the book feel lacking. I'm also not a fan of how Isla behaved, and treated Josh during Christmas either. It was so much bullshit, and I just did not feel sorry for her at all. In fact I actively wanted to slap her and tell how stupid she was being. The only truly enjoyable part of this whole experience was getting to see Anna and Etienne get their happily ever after, it actually made me tear up a bit.

I absolutely loved this series with all my heart! This was a fantastic ending to a fantastic trilogy that made me scream with joy and anger and frustration all throughout. Don't doubt me, I did scream too, my brother swatted me upside the head because I did so. I cried, I laughed, and I grinned like and idiot all throughout this wonderful conclusion. The loves that Stephanie Perkins creates are the loves I'm sure every girl/women wants to find in life, and to keep. She wonderfully describes the feelings, both good and bad, that come along with being in love and it is just wonderful to read. YOU ROCK, STEPHANIE. NOW WRITE MORE BOOKS.

Actual rating: 4.75 The only reason I didn't give it a perfect five stars was because their were sometimes I just wanted to shake Isla and scream, "You idiot, he loves you!" Still, amazing story, and I think my second favorite out of the series - with Anna and the French Kiss first and Lola and the Boy Next Door third. And I was so happy to see the other couples - even if it was only a short while. I highly recommend this last installment in the series! (So sad it's over....)

OH. MY. GOD, YOU GUYS. THIS BOOK.

It's amazing. Seriously amazing. I can't remember the last time I loved a book this much, and I am so glad to be excited about a book again.

Isla did this. I love it as much as I love Anna And The French Kiss, and I love that book something fierce.

I just love Isla and Josh together, and I'm so glad we got to back to SOAP and revisit some characters that we got to see a little bit of in Anna. I'm so glad they got their own book and story, because they are perfect together. And they're nearly as adorable as Anna and St. Clair. Nearly.

All I feel like doing right now is squeeing. With lots of arm flailing. This is that kind of book. I'm also that kind of person, and this book just brings that out even more than normal. Just imagine me doing a happy dance.

Especially with the ending. Because OH MY GOD ANNA AND ST. CLAIR GOT ENGAGED AT THE END OF THE BOOK.

WHY IS THERE NOT ANOTHER BOOK? Because I have never wanted a sequel more than I want one right now, just to see Anna and St. Clair get married. I think, of the three books in this "series," Anna and Isla are my favorites. I am thankful that Cricket and Lola and Calliope are what bring St. Clair and Anna back to Paris, but I still much prefer Anna and Isla. (And St. Clair and Josh, of course).

Isla and Josh have their issues, which were frustrating at times, but I also loved seeing how hard it was for them. They have such an intense relationship- it's an intensity we never saw with Anna and St. Clair or with Lola and Cricket. And Isla is such a different person than Anna or Lola- definitely more moody, I think. And much more unsure of herself, which I actually really liked, because I can so relate to her being unsure of what her future holds.

This book is special. REALLY SPECIAL. This is a book you really need to read. It was a long wait for Isla, but it was so worth it. So very, very worth it.

I am glad that things worked out for Isla and Josh, who are are different than I ever imagined they would be when they first appeared in Anna. Who knew that Josh was so talented? I knew it was there, but I didn't realize how much until this book. And Isla...I've already talked about how much I relate to her, and I just love her. SO MUCH.

And I'm actually really glad that the covers were redesigned, because this cover? Something about it makes me think of romance and happy endings and it's just BEAUTIFUL.

Let's Rate It: So...in case you couldn't tell, I LOVED Isla And The Happily Ever After. LOVED. IT. It makes me wish I could give it many, many stars. Officially, it gets 5+ stars!

This was decent, I just think that this type of book isn't really my thing anymore..

I really enjoyed this series. I like how all the books tied into one another and more so in the end of this one. I will definitely look for more titles by Stephanie Perkins.

It was good... not as good as the others though... I was happy to see/read the others though twords the end and what StClair did! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ^_^

THIS WAS SO GOOD. It was the perfect book to pick up at the moment and jump right into after my mini reading slump. But it was better than just a mere distraction or catalyst, it was amazing at telling a story full of love, insecurity, heartache, and life transitions. I absolutely loved every single minute of reading this story and it's so incredibly bittersweet to know that that this series is over. I'm going to miss all the characters and the life they brought to each story.

First off, I heard a lot of mixed reviews about this last book, mainly that it didn't live up to many people's expectations. When it first came out I wanted to get my hands on it, but I was unable to do so. But I always think that leaving highly anticipated things for a later time is a good thing, as you can form your own solid opinions about it. Because, I have to say that having finished this I can surely say that I LOVED IT. I wasn't a huge fan of Isla from previous snippets that Stephanie Perkins gave us. I even remember reading the first couple of chapters online before the release of this, and not being completely into Isla and her character. I have to say that she made me anxious; her awkward, fumbling and constant nervousness made me hesitant towards her character development. I saw her going into the typical story line of the awkward, shy girl who finally gets recognized by the hot guy she's always had a crush on. And sure, that might have happened on the surface, but Isla really got more a more defined personality, one where she was witty, a bookworm, a person who has lived by these certain insecurities about herself her entire life and had to discover on her own how to surpass these.

I also really enjoyed the part with Isla and her younger sister, Hattie. Sometimes people have a funny way of showing want and attention, especially younger siblings, so it was nice to see that Stephanie Perkins took time to make them both come together and try to resolve their feelings. And let's not even get into the amount of FEELS that were felt when I got to the part where all the previous characters from the books got together. That moment was just incredible. It's crazy because I completely forgot for a minute, up until the end, that I was supposed to come across Anna, St. Claire, or Lola and Cricket sometime soon- why you might ask? Oh well, because I was 100% immersed in Isla and Josh. JUST SO GOOD.

Sometimes when I read books I just get this overwhelming sense of hope and inspiration and emotions all rolled into one. And once again, Stephanie Perkins did that to me. Last time I felt this way was with Anna and the French Kiss. It's definitely a toss up between Anna and Isla, as to which one I enjoyed more. Either way, they've both become all time favorites. I can see myself picking this book up again this summer and getting lost in the characters all over again <3
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