Skip to main content

#ReadISLA Review: Isla And The Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3)Series: Anna and the French Kiss #3
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Publication: Dutton
By: August 14, 2014
Pre-Order Campaign
5 Stars!

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.






THANK YOU LAUREN DONOVAN AND PENGUIN TEEN FOR THIS ARC!
*I owe you cupcakes the next time I'm in NYC*

Like most Stephanie Perkins' fans, I have been DYING for Isla and Josh's story and I'm happy to say it does not disappoint!

Isla And The Happily Ever After is intense, heart-wrenching romantic perfection!

I happen to love the original covers for this series and there's a tiny part of me that wishes the tradition had continued IF ONLY so I could catch a glimpse of Josh in all of his artsy broodishness. HOWEVER, the background of NYC and the green coloring is a great choice because it all ties into Isla and Josh's story. <3

This is a companion novel and sure, it can be read as a stand alone, but to fully appreciate the growth these two characters experience, AND to be able to understand the significance of certain things that happen (closer to the end), I think you HAVE to start with the other books first. Besides, they're both fun so why would you want to skip them? 

This one is a little angstier than ANNA and LOLA, but in a good way. Isla and Josh's relationship - the one that finally develops after she works up the courage to speak to him while trippin' on pain killers - is fast, intense and at times, all-consuming. She struggles with insecurities, he tries to fill a void, and together they embark on a journey that spans several countries and a myriad of emotions. They do balance each other out, which is good, but they also allow their feelings for one other to trump everything else--family, friends and school, which us unhealthy.

When circumstances force them apart, Isla and Josh both have to come to terms with the difference between loving someone (ugly parts and all), and loving the idea of someone. I thought this was crucial to their growth as individuals and as a couple. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Kurt because I really enjoyed his character! He was *different* seeing him portrayed in such a positive light was refreshing. 

My only qualm with this story is that as it progressed, Isla and Josh felt less like teenagers and more like adults.

This really is a FANTASTIC ending to the series and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVED the way all three books were brought full circle! ;D

READ IT!!


Comments

  1. Angst....not a HUGE fan of angst...buuuuut I am sure I'll still loge it!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I hated these new covers but they grew on me. Especially when they are all together. I'm gonna have to buy these new cover cause they're so pretty!
    Looking forward to this one!

    ReplyDelete
  3. And by "loge" I totes mean LOVE

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best Of 2012 Blog Hop

  Thanks for stopping by Jenuine Cupcakes! 2012 has been an epic reading year for me and wh ile h aving to choose the BEST of anything is never easy , I pre sent you with a sampling of my Best of 2012. (You'll notice, I've made up a few of the categories to fit my needs but all of these books are fantastic . ) Best Fantasy Shadow and Bone (The Grisha #1) by Leigh Bardugo Best Dystopian/Sequel/People Forgot The MC Was Grieving Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth Best Sci-Fi /A ction /Made Me Beat My Husband U p I n My Sl eep False Memory ( F alse Memory #1) by Dan Krokos  Best Dystopian/Sci-Fi Mashup /I Sa w The Other Hot Boy First Defiance by C.J. Redwine        Best P sychological Thriller /This Book Might Kill Me Be fore It Ends The Evolution of Mara Dyer (M ara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin Best Scared T he Jelly Belly's Out of Me (Because it could happen) Ashen Winter (A shfall #2) by Mi ke Mullins Best Boo

BLOG TOUR: Frazzled by Booki Vivat (GUEST POST + GIVEAWAY)

Meet Abbie Wu! She’s about to start middle school and she’s totally in crisis. Abbie Wu is in crisis—and not just because she’s stuck in a family that doesn’t quite get her or because the lunch ladies at school are totally corrupt or because everyone seems to have a “Thing” except her. Abbie Wu is in crisis always. Heavily illustrated and embarrassingly honest, Frazzled dives right into the mind of this hilariously neurotic middle school girl as she tries to figure out who she is, where she belongs, and how to survive the everyday disasters of growing up. With Abbie’s flair for the dramatic and natural tendency to freak out, middle school has never seemed so nerve-racking! Packed with hilarious black-and-white illustrations and doodles throughout, Frazzled takes readers through Abbie Wu’s hysterical middle school adventures. Amazon | B&N   My Thoughts This book is so freaking adorable! I can't wait to see the finished version with all of Booki's (

BLOG TOUR: Gemina (The Illuminae Files_2) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Welcome to Jenuine Cupcakes, this is my stop on the Gemina blog tour! Gemina (The Illuminae Files_2) Author(s): Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff   Illustrator: Marie Lu   Publication: October 18, 2016 By: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Reader Amazon | B&N | Listening Library | Kobo | Book Depository | Google Play | Goodreads  The highly anticipated sequel to the instant New York Times bestseller that critics are calling “out-of-this-world awesome.”  Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed. The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.  Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling