Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss #3)
by Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Publication date: August 14th 2014
Love ignites in the City That Never Sleeps, but can it last?
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.
-Goodreads description
So, I'm gonna keep this nice and short because really, that is all this books needs. Having read Anna and the French Kiss, I had high expectations for this book. I had been putting it off for waaaaay too long for fear that my unrealistic illusions for this book would be devastatingly shattered.
Boy, was I wrong.
Although I will admit, I didn't always feel that way. In the beginning, I felt like Isla was a pretty arrogant character whose obsession with Josh was kind of creepy, not to mention border-line stalkerish. As I was writing my notes, the excessive amount of stalker-like tendencies were disturbing yet strangely, impressive too. But even I drew the line when she googled his address as an attempt to find him......yeah, no.
Besides that though, I really did enjoy this third and final installment of the series. I think that it added perfectly to the existing two books, adding a certain intensity that was missing and lacking in the previous novels. AND BOY, DID IT GET INTENSE. Josh and Isla had a chemistry that I don't think a lot of couples have anymore. Not only was it a powerful relationship but it also remained believable throughout. There were awkward silences, uncomfortable throat clearing and that's exactly the way it's supposed to be. By doing this, Perkins is able to create such a realistic connection between them that even the reader can feel it in the pit of their stomach. As a bonus too, I don't think I can think of one ass-holish thing that Josh did (at least, on purpose) which in my book, makes him a part of a select few. If only he existed in real life. Sigh.
In terms of other minor characters, Kurt was definitely one of my favorites. Having a mentally disabled character featured in a dominate role is quite uncommon and I was thrilled to be able to observe his interactions with the other characters!
A wonderful book deserving of its praise. One of my favorite YA contemporaries of the Year!
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.
-Goodreads description
So, I'm gonna keep this nice and short because really, that is all this books needs. Having read Anna and the French Kiss, I had high expectations for this book. I had been putting it off for waaaaay too long for fear that my unrealistic illusions for this book would be devastatingly shattered.
Boy, was I wrong.
Although I will admit, I didn't always feel that way. In the beginning, I felt like Isla was a pretty arrogant character whose obsession with Josh was kind of creepy, not to mention border-line stalkerish. As I was writing my notes, the excessive amount of stalker-like tendencies were disturbing yet strangely, impressive too. But even I drew the line when she googled his address as an attempt to find him......yeah, no.
Besides that though, I really did enjoy this third and final installment of the series. I think that it added perfectly to the existing two books, adding a certain intensity that was missing and lacking in the previous novels. AND BOY, DID IT GET INTENSE. Josh and Isla had a chemistry that I don't think a lot of couples have anymore. Not only was it a powerful relationship but it also remained believable throughout. There were awkward silences, uncomfortable throat clearing and that's exactly the way it's supposed to be. By doing this, Perkins is able to create such a realistic connection between them that even the reader can feel it in the pit of their stomach. As a bonus too, I don't think I can think of one ass-holish thing that Josh did (at least, on purpose) which in my book, makes him a part of a select few. If only he existed in real life. Sigh.
In terms of other minor characters, Kurt was definitely one of my favorites. Having a mentally disabled character featured in a dominate role is quite uncommon and I was thrilled to be able to observe his interactions with the other characters!
A wonderful book deserving of its praise. One of my favorite YA contemporaries of the Year!
-Alana,xxx
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