2 Dec 2014

book: isla and the happily ever after by stephanie perkins

I first discovered Stephanie Perkins through the lovely Zoe from zoebee.co.uk. She recommended Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door to me and well, I do love a slushy love story (or two... or three in this case!). Isla and the Happily Ever After is the last of this trilogy and if you've read the first two, you can pretty much guess what will happen in this book.

Picture credit: Booktopia

The blurb for this book reads as follows (credit):

"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."

What did I think of this book? Well, I enjoyed Anna and Lola's stories and although I read this book just as fast as I did the others (two days!), I still think Anna and the French Kiss is my favourite of the three. Although Isla and Josh are likeable enough, I did find Isla a bit annoying at times. The storyline is cute enough and is realistic but I found it a bit bland though that could be explained by the fact that I spent my summer reading thrillers by Gillian Flynn.

Overall, I'd rate Isla and the Happily Ever After at 6.5/10 - it is a nice easy read that has a happy ending (always a bonus) and if you've read the other two novels already, then this is a must-read, even if only to complete the trilogy. Stephanie Perkins is a fantastic writer who knows how to draw a reader in and her books are perfect for the long, winter nights which can be a bit depressing.

2 comments

  1. Anna was my favourite out of the 3 aswell, although perhaps it would be fair to say Etienne is my favourite ;) I agree though, Isla was the weakest out of the 3, but still nice to round off the trilogy.

    Have you read My True Love Gave to Me? Stephanie Perkins edited a collection of short stories by YA authors, I really enjoyed it! Definitely recommend for some lighthearted Christmas cheer ;)

    Thank you for the mention too <3

    Zoe xoxo

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    1. I think my favourite has to be Cricket ;) You're welcome for the mention - I love your blog :) Hope you're good! xx

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