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A review by christajls
This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
4.0
This review originally posted at More Than Just Magic
Jennifer E Smith has done again. She written another super sweet, incredibly adorable contemporary romance that makes me believe there’s hope for me and the genre.
There can be no denying it. This book is cute. Like puppies and kitties cute. The whole thing is definitely aww-worthy. From the first few e-mails to the closing scene. Graham and Ellie just have a great dynamic. Their back and forth made me smile and how nervous they were had that distinct ring of authenticity. They felt like real teenagers. Add to that Jennifer E Smith’s adorable turns of phrase and you have a winning combination.
For example, after one of Graham and Ellie’s kisses:
“It was exactly as he’d thought it would be, like the first time and the millionth time all at once, like being wide awake, like losing his balance. Only this time, it wasn’t just him; this time, they were losing their balance together.”
Doesn’t get much for swoon worthy than that.
Like her first book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight this book is about more than just the main relationship. My favourite thing about SPoLaFS was the dynamic between father and daughter, and This is What Happy Looks Like explored that relationship as well. Both books feature absentee fathers – though in different ways. Ellie has never really known her father and that effect that has on her is complicated. I liked that Jennifer E Smith didn’t underplay it. And she did so with neglecting Ellie’s relationship with her mother. It’s not too often you see a real parental presence in Young Adult books so this was a nice change.
As much as I enjoyed This is What Happy Looks Like a part of me does have to admit that I liked A Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight better. Because while it was far fetched you wanted to believe that could happen to you. I remember one time back in university I was on the train and there was a really cute guy reading Sherlock Holmes sitting beside me. I didn’t speak to him but I bet a lot of people have a similar experiences and want to believe they could meet their soul mate in such a way.
This is What Happy Looked Like on the other hand pushed the limits of believability a little too far. Though it was an adorable story I never once thought it could really happen. It felt like a summer romantic comedy you would see at the movies. Silly and charming but not all something I could relate to.
Recommendation: An absolutely adorable story of love and fate that will leave a smile on your face. But read Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight first!
Jennifer E Smith has done again. She written another super sweet, incredibly adorable contemporary romance that makes me believe there’s hope for me and the genre.
There can be no denying it. This book is cute. Like puppies and kitties cute. The whole thing is definitely aww-worthy. From the first few e-mails to the closing scene. Graham and Ellie just have a great dynamic. Their back and forth made me smile and how nervous they were had that distinct ring of authenticity. They felt like real teenagers. Add to that Jennifer E Smith’s adorable turns of phrase and you have a winning combination.
For example, after one of Graham and Ellie’s kisses:
“It was exactly as he’d thought it would be, like the first time and the millionth time all at once, like being wide awake, like losing his balance. Only this time, it wasn’t just him; this time, they were losing their balance together.”
Doesn’t get much for swoon worthy than that.
Like her first book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight this book is about more than just the main relationship. My favourite thing about SPoLaFS was the dynamic between father and daughter, and This is What Happy Looks Like explored that relationship as well. Both books feature absentee fathers – though in different ways. Ellie has never really known her father and that effect that has on her is complicated. I liked that Jennifer E Smith didn’t underplay it. And she did so with neglecting Ellie’s relationship with her mother. It’s not too often you see a real parental presence in Young Adult books so this was a nice change.
As much as I enjoyed This is What Happy Looks Like a part of me does have to admit that I liked A Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight better. Because while it was far fetched you wanted to believe that could happen to you. I remember one time back in university I was on the train and there was a really cute guy reading Sherlock Holmes sitting beside me. I didn’t speak to him but I bet a lot of people have a similar experiences and want to believe they could meet their soul mate in such a way.
This is What Happy Looked Like on the other hand pushed the limits of believability a little too far. Though it was an adorable story I never once thought it could really happen. It felt like a summer romantic comedy you would see at the movies. Silly and charming but not all something I could relate to.
Recommendation: An absolutely adorable story of love and fate that will leave a smile on your face. But read Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight first!