Book Review Isla And The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Synopsis

Hopeless romantic Isla has had a crush on introspective cartoonist Josh since their first year at the School of America in Paris. And after a chance encounter in Manhattan over the summer, romance might be closer than Isla imagined. But as they begin their senior year back in France, Isla and Josh are forced to confront the challenges every young couple must face, including family drama, uncertainty about their college futures, and the very real possibility of being apart. 

Featuring cameos from fan-favorites Anna, Étienne, Lola, and Cricket, this sweet and sexy story of true love—set against the stunning backdrops of New York City, Paris, and Barcelona—is a swoonworthy conclusion to Stephanie Perkins’s beloved series

My Musings

I started to hear about this series on the grapevine but thought their titles were so silly I ignored them until a friend insisted I read them. She was addicted. Reading the blurb on the back with the glamour, the cities and the art certainly appealed so I thought why not?

The characters are very appealing and have a chemistry I don't think I remember this strong since Twilight. Its stirs personal memories or dreams of that elusive bad boy you never got but of course this is a book and has a Happily Ever After.

Isla is in a private school in Paris on the periphery of the cool set. Best friends with a high functioning autistic boy who she subconsciously uses as an emotional crutch while pining after the bad boy boy artist Josh.

After an hilarious first meeting which appeals to anyone who has had a cringing experience whilst desperately trying to impress they waft in and out of each others lives until they finally connect.

Sparks fly and the chemistry crackles. Perkins really knows how to capture the moment of the first kiss, the first spark of passion. You are transported to an idyllic moment that we all wish we'd had. A Secret balcony looking out over Paris. A gorgeous boy secretly drawing you. The heart break of trying to keep someone or let them go. The universal question of who we are and what do we want to do with our lives is also touched on. A mix of questions and dreams we have all had.

This is a very romantic, clever and potent read dripping in glamour with a dollop of angst to keep things spicy. You want to be there and you want to experience their love . I started with this book which is the last of a trilogy so now I will have to take the inevitable 'I told you so' from my friend and persuade her to lend me the first one!

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