aiyaivy's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book so much. It may not be everyone's cup of tea compared to Anna's story and Lola's but I really liked it because I could connect to so many aspects of Isla and her story. First of all, the feeling I got reading this book after a trip to France is amazing because I recognized certain places that Isla and Josh went to such as Notre Dame and so forth. The things they ate became more familiar and the lifestyle that is romanticized is also more familiar. At the same time, I also could relate more to Isla's relationship at times and I understand where her insecurities are coming from.
I liked how this book had parents who didn't have a good impression of her in the beginning and are still pretty neutral to her presence throughout the story. It allows more diversity in girlfriend-parent relationship books. It's not complete hate and it's not complete love.
I laughed so hard at the whole rabbits deal that Isla had after reading Josh's drawing book.
I loved so many things about this book. Barcelona. The tree house. Her room. Everything seemed magical. I loved the characters too because they felt real. Even Hattie who was obnoxious in the beginning came to really be quite a personality at the end. I loved that Isla was very deep and I got a lot of deep moments from it. The romance was also very cute and the lengths Josh went to show her that he loves her and that she's worthy of love was swoon-worthy.
I loved this book so much for those reasons.
As for the problem in the book, it could've been easily solved but I can also understand why there was that problem. It's mostly emotionally and psychologically based and built on insecurity. At the same time, I also liked Kurt. He was a side character but his presence is always there like a best friend should. Sometimes a best friend cannot always be by your side and especially in a case where Kurt is of the opposite sex.
It was also great to see all the characters throughout the series at the end and I loved the situation for Anna and Etienne. It's also really interesting how in every book, the guys are portrayed as perfect. Etienne was like this perfect guy for Anna and Cricket was this perfect guy for Lola. But it's really interesting, because every time you see the relationship from another person's perspective...the guy's not that big of a deal. Etienne is often emphasized for his shortness with Lola and Isla but in Anna's story you don't really notice that he's short because his good traits are more emphasized. And in Lola's story, Cricket was like this perfect boy-next-door...and then you read Isla's perspective and it's like Cricket is some lanky ass stilt-standing skinny giant. So I wonder if Josh is really as dreamy as Lola makes him out to be. It's pretty interesting. LOVE MAKES YOU BLIND. <-- I'm clever.
I liked how this book had parents who didn't have a good impression of her in the beginning and are still pretty neutral to her presence throughout the story. It allows more diversity in girlfriend-parent relationship books. It's not complete hate and it's not complete love.
I laughed so hard at the whole rabbits deal that Isla had after reading Josh's drawing book.
I loved so many things about this book. Barcelona. The tree house. Her room. Everything seemed magical. I loved the characters too because they felt real. Even Hattie who was obnoxious in the beginning came to really be quite a personality at the end. I loved that Isla was very deep and I got a lot of deep moments from it. The romance was also very cute and the lengths Josh went to show her that he loves her and that she's worthy of love was swoon-worthy.
Spoiler
I mean, come on, a boy waits in the snow FOR HOURS for you to finish reading a book that he drew chronicling his 4 years in high school....OMG YES.I loved this book so much for those reasons.
As for the problem in the book, it could've been easily solved but I can also understand why there was that problem. It's mostly emotionally and psychologically based and built on insecurity.
Spoiler
Like they've only been dating for a month and they went to such lengths that involve trust. (SEX)It was also great to see all the characters throughout the series at the end and I loved the situation for Anna and Etienne. It's also really interesting how in every book, the guys are portrayed as perfect. Etienne was like this perfect guy for Anna and Cricket was this perfect guy for Lola. But it's really interesting, because every time you see the relationship from another person's perspective...the guy's not that big of a deal. Etienne is often emphasized for his shortness with Lola and Isla but in Anna's story you don't really notice that he's short because his good traits are more emphasized. And in Lola's story, Cricket was like this perfect boy-next-door...and then you read Isla's perspective and it's like Cricket is some lanky ass stilt-standing skinny giant. So I wonder if Josh is really as dreamy as Lola makes him out to be. It's pretty interesting. LOVE MAKES YOU BLIND. <-- I'm clever.
specialk136's review against another edition
3.0
I know there are lots of people who loved the second book in this series...I wasn't one of them. In this third installment Perkins smartly moves the action back to Paris with characters we know from the first book. It's almost as if Lola and the Boy Next Door never happened.
Perkins' writing is so much fun to read, and she continues in fine form here. There's a very cute scene at the end that you could almost say is "squee-worthy."
But I have to say, I have a few beefs with this book. First: Isla and Josh just aren't that exciting. Isla is a bit of a blank slate and she's just not as compelling as Anna from the first books. We are to believe Josh is dreamy only because Isla keeps telling us he is. Which leads me to my next beef. They get together way too quickly. So fast that Perkins has to manufacture some drama to keep them apart and it rings false. There's no slow build like the previous books.
So, it's a worthy effort that was still enjoyable but lacked some payoff for me. I should also notes that the sexual content ramps way up in this book and there were noticeably more crude references.
Perkins' writing is so much fun to read, and she continues in fine form here. There's a very cute scene at the end that you could almost say is "squee-worthy."
But I have to say, I have a few beefs with this book. First: Isla and Josh just aren't that exciting. Isla is a bit of a blank slate and she's just not as compelling as Anna from the first books. We are to believe Josh is dreamy only because Isla keeps telling us he is. Which leads me to my next beef. They get together way too quickly. So fast that Perkins has to manufacture some drama to keep them apart and it rings false. There's no slow build like the previous books.
So, it's a worthy effort that was still enjoyable but lacked some payoff for me. I should also notes that the sexual content ramps way up in this book and there were noticeably more crude references.
whatanerdgirlsays's review against another edition
5.0
I hope that one day I have even the smallest fraction of talent that Stephanie Perkins has. She has written another completely emotional and heart wrenching and perfect romantic tale with the beautiful Paris in the background. I'm in love. Full review to come
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
3.0
It was maybe not the best idea to read two books like this back to back. In this story we are back at The American School in Paris following two of the minor characters from Anna & the French Kiss. This one is good too but didn't hit me as well as the first and I'm guessing it's because I read them too close together.
This again has a sweet teen romance (with a few racier sex scenes than the other book) and another glimpse into Paris and Barcelona.
I'm saying it wasn't as good but I also read this one in a day or two so, you know, it's still good.
I also have to say that while I was rooting for Isla and Josh the adult in me was horrified by many of their decisions and annoyed by some of the other things we learned about Anna & St. Clair. I know these books are fantasy ideals but still seems like a crazy message to send about young kids.
This again has a sweet teen romance (with a few racier sex scenes than the other book) and another glimpse into Paris and Barcelona.
I'm saying it wasn't as good but I also read this one in a day or two so, you know, it's still good.
I also have to say that while I was rooting for Isla and Josh the adult in me was horrified by many of their decisions and annoyed by some of the other things we learned about Anna & St. Clair. I know these books are fantasy ideals but still seems like a crazy message to send about young kids.
marenkae's review against another edition
2.0
2.5. Hmm. Well...I liked this better than Anna and the French Kiss but definitely not as much as Lola and the Boy Next Door. The beginning of this book flew by pretty enjoyably for me (although it was admittedly way too instalove-y. I know this is primarily a romance book but it was TOO focused on the romance for my tastes, to be honest. But still. I was getting a nice YA contemporary fix which is totally what I wanted.) Things took a nose dive when Isla and Josh were apart from each other and she literally just cried constantly because it'd been five days since she'd seen her boyfriend of a month. I'm not kidding. I wanted to punch her. Then she got even more irritating by just straight up fabricating drama within their relationship and getting upset when her actions had natural consequences. Oh my god, I just couldn't handle it...it was like watching a train wreck. The character growth was completely tell, not show--there was actually a passage near the end of the book where Isla rattled off all her faults and how she had become a better person and I was just like... 'where? when? when did this happen?' because I didn't see the change happen at any point. I don't know. Stephanie Perkins is an author I really want to like because she's lovely in person and her writing has a fantastic effortless flow to it but two out of the three books in this series were driven by mind-bogglingly frustrating conflict and I just can't quite get myself to enjoy that. I also think she has problems fleshing out side characters which is pretty disappointing because they usually have great potential.
amandabraz's review against another edition
5.0
When I began reading this book, it felt like coming home to an old friend. I have read Anna and The French Kiss as well as Lola and The Boy Next Door and they share that common warm, fuzzy feeling.
It was no shock to me that I finished this very quickly, although it was sad to see it end so soon. I'd have loved it to have more and more to read. I can't pick a favorite from the series because they all stand alone so well.
If you love to read about discovering what love truly is and can't resist a well written romantic book, pick up this book! But don't forget to read the previous two, first, so the experience is that much better.
It was no shock to me that I finished this very quickly, although it was sad to see it end so soon. I'd have loved it to have more and more to read. I can't pick a favorite from the series because they all stand alone so well.
If you love to read about discovering what love truly is and can't resist a well written romantic book, pick up this book! But don't forget to read the previous two, first, so the experience is that much better.
faith_the_librarian's review against another edition
1.0
I got 100 pages in and I just could not get into this book. The one thing I really liked about Perkins first two books was how well you really got to know the protagonists. I felt like the only thing that was important about Isla is the fact that she is infatuated with Josh (I'm putting that nicely as other reviewers have called her a stalker) and she's extremely mousy. If nothing else about a main character stands out at that point, especially considering the book is 339, then I can't really see a justification for continuing. Josh isn't much of a compelling character either. He's self centered and manipulative. He has no problem lying to get what he wants and he has the fake artist persona going on. Honestly, I kept wondering why Isla was even attracted to him. Basically, Josh is the complete opposite of Etienne and Cricket. This time, Perkins gives us a love story but without the charismatic and compelling characters that existed in her first two books. I'm rather disappointed as I really loved Anna and the French Kiss as well as Lola and the Boy Next Door. I'm not sure what happened with Isla. In the future, maybe I'll give this book another go but right there are just too many other books on plate to give much time to this one.
shannonsnextchapter's review against another edition
4.0
Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins takes readers back to the School of America in Paris, where anything is possible and the great love of Isla’s life might be just around the corner.
sarahjunebooks's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating 2.5 stars
Anna and the French Kiss was good
Lola was even better
but Isla and the Happily Ever After unfortunately just didn't do it for me.
It was still a light and fluffy fun contemporary but dragged a little for me.
Anna and the French Kiss was good
Lola was even better
but Isla and the Happily Ever After unfortunately just didn't do it for me.
It was still a light and fluffy fun contemporary but dragged a little for me.