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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
4.5 stars!
I have been awaiting this book for a very long time. Anna and the French Kiss was released in December of 2010, and then Lola and the Boy Next Door was released in 2011, but the wait for Isla just kept getting pushed back year after year. I was patient. I am always patient. I read many serial books (or have followed in the past) that take much longer than 3 years for each new release, so while I was eager I was also trusting that it meant that we’d get a really great book.
I mostly wasn't disappointed. I know that didn't sound super enthused, but it’s the truth. If I hadn't started Isla and the Happily Ever After during the work week I absolutely would have finished it in one day, just as I did Anna and Lola, because they’re just that type of book. Each chapter bleeds into the next, forcing you to read more and more until the book just finishes before you know it. I would have done the same with Isla’s story, if not for that pesky thing that adults have hanging around their necks called responsibility. As it was I did stay up until midnight to finish it last night. I plowed through it in just two evenings, meaning after 5pm when I wasn't working.
What made me the most excited for this final installment were the two characters that were its focus. Isla and Josh. Anna and Etienne in the first book were great characters, but Anna was bold and Etienne was outgoing. They were two nice, charming, beautiful people who weren't afraid to attack life. Generally anyway, when you strip away the angst that drove the book. Then, in the second book you got Lola and Cricket. They were bright and strange characters, and they were so much fun to read. I didn't see myself in them at all. This is not a complaint or a critique, because I feel pretty confident that we all read and love stories about people who are not like ourselves. It’s part of the fun of reading. However, there is something to be said for reading a book about someone who reminds you of yourself. Isla was shy, painfully so, like me. I like reading about characters like me. I think it has something to do with self-reflection. I learn lessons from them that help me. Then Josh! Well come on, guys! Artistic, brooding, tall but leanly muscled, slightly a bad boy… check, check, check, cheeeck. Of all of the men in these books, he would most definitely have been the one I crushed on.
Am I rambling? I think I’m rambling now. I’ll get to the point.
I really really liked this book. I swooned, I giggled, I sighed. There were just a couple of things that maybe annoyed me just a tad.
First, what is the point of your child going to school in Paris if you’re not okay with them actually having adventures? Look, I know that not all High Schoolers are trustworthy, especially when they’re so young. However, when you’re halfway through your senior year, and months away from your 18th birthday, what is the harm in taking an overnight trip to another international location nearby? Even if it is with your boyfriend? They’re safe, they’re mature… lighten up. It’s called making memories that last a lifetime. It’s not sneaking out their bedroom window to go make out in some slummy basement. Jeez.
Second, and just as a reminder I am harder on female protagonists (I can not stand irrational girls), there’s this section where Isla loses her mind. Seriously. And the whole time I was very angry. Angry at the world, at the author, at the characters… why do such crappy stuff to people you say you love?! Buuuut, as the story wound to a close I started to understand. Maybe, surprisingly, Isla isn’t alllll that much like me. We have a few things similar, but who we are at our core and how we cope are nearly opposite. It didn't stop me from finally understanding that people handle their insecurities differently. Some bottle them up, like me, and some lash out. It led to reflection… hey, didn't I just mention reflection up there in this review somewhere… and to a character making some pretty gutsy and out of character decisions that I loved. So, I came to terms and I am no longer angry.
All in all, it was great. It was romantic. It was funny. I’m happy that the wait is over, but sad that means The End.
See this and other reviews at Badass Book Reviews.
I have been awaiting this book for a very long time. Anna and the French Kiss was released in December of 2010, and then Lola and the Boy Next Door was released in 2011, but the wait for Isla just kept getting pushed back year after year. I was patient. I am always patient. I read many serial books (or have followed in the past) that take much longer than 3 years for each new release, so while I was eager I was also trusting that it meant that we’d get a really great book.
I mostly wasn't disappointed. I know that didn't sound super enthused, but it’s the truth. If I hadn't started Isla and the Happily Ever After during the work week I absolutely would have finished it in one day, just as I did Anna and Lola, because they’re just that type of book. Each chapter bleeds into the next, forcing you to read more and more until the book just finishes before you know it. I would have done the same with Isla’s story, if not for that pesky thing that adults have hanging around their necks called responsibility. As it was I did stay up until midnight to finish it last night. I plowed through it in just two evenings, meaning after 5pm when I wasn't working.
What made me the most excited for this final installment were the two characters that were its focus. Isla and Josh. Anna and Etienne in the first book were great characters, but Anna was bold and Etienne was outgoing. They were two nice, charming, beautiful people who weren't afraid to attack life. Generally anyway, when you strip away the angst that drove the book. Then, in the second book you got Lola and Cricket. They were bright and strange characters, and they were so much fun to read. I didn't see myself in them at all. This is not a complaint or a critique, because I feel pretty confident that we all read and love stories about people who are not like ourselves. It’s part of the fun of reading. However, there is something to be said for reading a book about someone who reminds you of yourself. Isla was shy, painfully so, like me. I like reading about characters like me. I think it has something to do with self-reflection. I learn lessons from them that help me. Then Josh! Well come on, guys! Artistic, brooding, tall but leanly muscled, slightly a bad boy… check, check, check, cheeeck. Of all of the men in these books, he would most definitely have been the one I crushed on.
Am I rambling? I think I’m rambling now. I’ll get to the point.
I really really liked this book. I swooned, I giggled, I sighed. There were just a couple of things that maybe annoyed me just a tad.
First, what is the point of your child going to school in Paris if you’re not okay with them actually having adventures? Look, I know that not all High Schoolers are trustworthy, especially when they’re so young. However, when you’re halfway through your senior year, and months away from your 18th birthday, what is the harm in taking an overnight trip to another international location nearby? Even if it is with your boyfriend? They’re safe, they’re mature… lighten up. It’s called making memories that last a lifetime. It’s not sneaking out their bedroom window to go make out in some slummy basement. Jeez.
Second, and just as a reminder I am harder on female protagonists (I can not stand irrational girls), there’s this section where Isla loses her mind. Seriously. And the whole time I was very angry. Angry at the world, at the author, at the characters… why do such crappy stuff to people you say you love?! Buuuut, as the story wound to a close I started to understand. Maybe, surprisingly, Isla isn’t alllll that much like me. We have a few things similar, but who we are at our core and how we cope are nearly opposite. It didn't stop me from finally understanding that people handle their insecurities differently. Some bottle them up, like me, and some lash out. It led to reflection… hey, didn't I just mention reflection up there in this review somewhere… and to a character making some pretty gutsy and out of character decisions that I loved. So, I came to terms and I am no longer angry.
All in all, it was great. It was romantic. It was funny. I’m happy that the wait is over, but sad that means The End.
See this and other reviews at Badass Book Reviews.
This book was amazing. They way that Stephanie Perkins brought all the characters from all 3 of the books together was so spectacular. And they was that Isla didn't believe in herself but then found someone who did believe in her making her acknowledge that she is somebody is so relatable and inspiring.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is like Angel food cake. Light and fluffy with not a lot of flavor
WAHHHHHHH OMG THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Honestly I love this one. I don't know Étienne and Anna don't relate to me as much as Isla and Josh. I just love love love this one.
When I read this book for the first time, it was my first Stephanie Perkins book, and I remember falling in love with it. Two years later, and it still fills my heart with so much joy. I love Stephanie's writing, I love her characters, and I love the way she writes about love. Definitely one of my all time favorite books ❤️
Nicely honest portrayal of someone scared to be loved and uncertain about the authenticity of someone's feelings for her. I thought that part was done quite well. It's always nice to see mature thinking in a YA book.
There are a few very minor spoilers in this review, but I don’t think it’ll ruin the book for you.
I’ve been waiting impatiently for Isla and the Happily Ever After to come out because I adored Anna and the French Kiss and loved Lola and the Boy Next Door. Of course, when Isla actually did come out, I was too wrapped up in other novels to actually take the time to read it. But, I’ve finally remedied my situation and read this much anticipated novel.
I was a little worried that my expectations would overshadow the reality of the story. I had heard from so many friends that they didn’t like Isla as much as they liked Anna and Lola (both the character and the book itself). I’m happy to report, though, that I enjoyed Isla just as much as I enjoyed Lola. I, however, didn’t like it quite as much as I loved Anna. (Anna and Étienne’s story is very hard to beat in my opinion).
I loved being in Paris again. While, I enjoyed San Francisco in Lola, I missed roaming the streets of Paris and I was glad to be back in them for Isla. I also loved seeing characters still at the SOAP that didn’t graduate in the same year as Anna and her friends. I especially loved seeing and getting to know Josh better since he was part of Anna’s story.
Josh was just as swoon-worthy as Étienne and Cricket. I loved reading about his art and tried to imagine it in my head. I almost wish Isla would be turned into a graphic novel, so I could get a visual of his art. It was nice to understand his motivations since Anna could only speculate. And, I loved seeing him happy since he seemed so unhappy in Anna’s story.
I really liked Isla. I related to her a lot. I almost felt like Isla’s story was mine, minus the boyfriend in high school and the high school in Paris parts. I’m happy she gained confidence and became okay with herself.
It was so fun to see Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket in this story. Just like it was fun to see Anna and Étienne from a different perspective in Lola, it was fun to see Lola and Cricket from a different perspective in Isla.
I thought Isla and the Happily Every After was a great ending to a great series. I loved seeing all three books come together in the end. It was fun to say goodbye to all my favorite characters. Stephanie Perkins has definitely become one of my favorite authors. And, I look forward to reading anything she writes in the future!
I’ve been waiting impatiently for Isla and the Happily Ever After to come out because I adored Anna and the French Kiss and loved Lola and the Boy Next Door. Of course, when Isla actually did come out, I was too wrapped up in other novels to actually take the time to read it. But, I’ve finally remedied my situation and read this much anticipated novel.
I was a little worried that my expectations would overshadow the reality of the story. I had heard from so many friends that they didn’t like Isla as much as they liked Anna and Lola (both the character and the book itself). I’m happy to report, though, that I enjoyed Isla just as much as I enjoyed Lola. I, however, didn’t like it quite as much as I loved Anna. (Anna and Étienne’s story is very hard to beat in my opinion).
I loved being in Paris again. While, I enjoyed San Francisco in Lola, I missed roaming the streets of Paris and I was glad to be back in them for Isla. I also loved seeing characters still at the SOAP that didn’t graduate in the same year as Anna and her friends. I especially loved seeing and getting to know Josh better since he was part of Anna’s story.
Josh was just as swoon-worthy as Étienne and Cricket. I loved reading about his art and tried to imagine it in my head. I almost wish Isla would be turned into a graphic novel, so I could get a visual of his art. It was nice to understand his motivations since Anna could only speculate. And, I loved seeing him happy since he seemed so unhappy in Anna’s story.
I really liked Isla. I related to her a lot. I almost felt like Isla’s story was mine, minus the boyfriend in high school and the high school in Paris parts. I’m happy she gained confidence and became okay with herself.
It was so fun to see Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket in this story. Just like it was fun to see Anna and Étienne from a different perspective in Lola, it was fun to see Lola and Cricket from a different perspective in Isla.
I thought Isla and the Happily Every After was a great ending to a great series. I loved seeing all three books come together in the end. It was fun to say goodbye to all my favorite characters. Stephanie Perkins has definitely become one of my favorite authors. And, I look forward to reading anything she writes in the future!
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2.5 Stars
Here’s the thing – Stephanie Perkins knows how to write cutesy YA romance. This was easy to get into and to get engaged with the characters. I read it in practically one sitting.
But… unlike Anna and the French Kiss (and slightly less-so, Lola and the Boy Next Door) this story was just missing… something. Maybe it was the lead character, Isla (who made me frustrated 80% of the time). Or the apparent insta-love. Or the lack of plot. While in some ways I enjoyed this book and there were many scenes that were adorable, there just seemed to be a lot lacking. Which is shame.
-
“I am hard on myself. 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?”
Here’s the thing – Stephanie Perkins knows how to write cutesy YA romance. This was easy to get into and to get engaged with the characters. I read it in practically one sitting.
But… unlike Anna and the French Kiss (and slightly less-so, Lola and the Boy Next Door) this story was just missing… something. Maybe it was the lead character, Isla (who made me frustrated 80% of the time). Or the apparent insta-love. Or the lack of plot. While in some ways I enjoyed this book and there were many scenes that were adorable, there just seemed to be a lot lacking. Which is shame.
-
“I am hard on myself. 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?”