Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3) in The Wide Web of Friends in YA Books

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Isla and the Happily Ever After (Anna and the French Kiss, #3)

Stephanie Perkins

Start date: October 3, 2014

Finish date: October 31, 2014

Discussion: Best Reads (Monthly)

Why we're reading this: BOTM Series continuation
[close] BOTM Series continuation

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Best Reads (Monthly)

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What Members Thought

May 05, 2013 Ally Bryan rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, book-boyfriends, happy-reads-for-after-dystopians, want-her-as-my-bff-protagonist, best-romances-33, books-i-want-to-hug

PERFECT. Review to come (when I'm done squealing and aww-ing haha)

Okay..I have had time to process the amazingness that is Isla and the Happily Ever After. First off, this book exceeded even my extremely built up expectations (a super long wait will do that to you). I absolutely loved everything about it, especially how different it was from Anna and Lola (while still being just what you expect from the amazing Stephanie Perkins). I loved that it started with the couple getting together and the PERFECT. Review to come (when I'm done squealing and aww-ing haha)

Okay..I have had time to process the amazingness that is Isla and the Happily Ever After. First off, this book exceeded even my extremely built up expectations (a super long wait will do that to you). I absolutely loved everything about it, especially how different it was from Anna and Lola (while still being just what you expect from the amazing Stephanie Perkins). I loved that it started with the couple getting together and then showed what happens after the "happy ever after" that Anna and Lola ended with. I felt like this book was the most mature of the series (not saying that it was the most serious - I always think that Lola's story had the most serious story lines over all).

Isla was a great main character and probably the Stephanie Perkins character I relate to the most. Like Isla, I am very shy and also have problems saying exactly what I feel the minute that I feel it. There were two parts of the book that seemed like something that was talking directly to me (which has only happened to me with one other book - Just One Day by Gayle Forman) The first part talked of how Isla loved to read about adventures, but was too scared to actually go out and experience them for herself. The other time was when Isla felt upset and jealous because she didn't have one thing that completely spoke to her and dictated what her job/path would be in life, like Josh did with his art. I liked how Isla was unsure of her future and what she wanted to do with her life because it seemed more realistic to me because not everyone has their entire lives figured out by 18.

Josh was also a great character and love interest. I feel like all of Stephanie's leading men are so perfect and great in their own way that I can never pick just one favorite. It would be easy to say that St. Clair is my favorite because he's the most charming (which was addressed a lot in this book), but I feel that both Josh and Cricket are just as charming, but in a different way. Josh, like Cricket and St. Clair, had his flaws. He is insecure, withdrawn, and a bit too in love with love. At first, I was worried when I saw that he would be one of the main characters in this book because I could never figure him out in Anna and the French Kiss. However, I can understand why I felt that way now and I loved actually getting to know him (and don't get me started on the graphic novel *swoon*).

Isla and Josh were the perfect couple, especially for the final novel in the series. Their story felt the most complete to me because we got to see (aka read about) them falling in love and being together and (some may consider this a spoiler but c'mon) eventually finding their way back to one another. Of course, I was completely ecstatic about the appearances of Anna/St. Clair and Lola/Cricket. Basically (view spoiler) . Overall, this was the perfect ending to one of my all-time favorite series. I can't wait to read more from Stephanie Perkins! I hope she writes more amazing romances, but I am also super excited to read this new horror novel she is writing because she will probably achieve the impossible - making every reader swoon/aww/squeal while reading a book about people getting terrorized. ...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Raihana marked it as to-read

Shelves: cant-wait-to-read, contemporary

Yay! I can't wait for this one!!!
PLEASE COME SOON!!!

I hope its about Isla from 'Anna and the french kiss' :)
Oh and I also hope Josh is in it :) ...more

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Oct 21, 2013 Inah (Fueled By Chapters) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned, contemporary, young-adult, romance, favorites, recs

I鈥檓 feeling really emotional just by typing out this post. I鈥檓 still in awe, in shock, in daze. Whatever you want to call it, I am definitely feeling it right now.

I adored everything about the book. The cover, the story, the characters and their dynamics and personalities. Everything was perfect and just in place.

Back in July when I attended Stephanie Perkins鈥檚 book signing, she had descibed Isla and Josh鈥檚 characters a bit. From the moment I鈥檝e finished reading the sneak peek chapters, I have d I鈥檓 feeling really emotional just by typing out this post. I鈥檓 still in awe, in shock, in daze. Whatever you want to call it, I am definitely feeling it right now.

I adored everything about the book. The cover, the story, the characters and their dynamics and personalities. Everything was perfect and just in place.

Back in July when I attended Stephanie Perkins鈥檚 book signing, she had descibed Isla and Josh鈥檚 characters a bit. From the moment I鈥檝e finished reading the sneak peek chapters, I have decided that Isla was my girl. I definitely got that confirmed during the event.

I definitely loved Isla鈥檚 character. Out of the three, I felt most connected to her. We were definitely kindred spirits. She鈥檚 smart, shy and a bit awkward but she鈥檚 got an interesting personality. I think that a lot of people has got some dash of Isla in their personalities, especially when it comes to crushes. While reading the book, I definitely wanted to high-five her because I most definitely acted the way she did when it comes to my crush(es?). All aspects of Isla鈥檚 character has some kind of parallels to my personality, even when it comes to her insecurities and fears. So I really learned a lot from her story. And thank you for that, Stephanie Perkins.

Josh鈥檚 character is trying to beat out Cricket. Cricket was my favorite among the three but Josh really came so close. I loved Josh. His passion for art and just everything was really moving. He鈥檚 also smart and a bit awkward. I鈥檝e never thought that there鈥檚 more to him being a horny teenager from Anna and the French Kiss (Come on, he and Rashmi were inseparable), so when I heard about this book being about Isla and Josh, I was pretty excited.

I liked Kurt too. His passion for maps and stuff was interesting. Not to mention his whole name is pretty awesome. Hattie was unbearable at first but I really like her strength. She was just adorable at the end. I also liked Gen and her character was cool.

I loved the cameos of Anna, St. Clair, Lola and Cricket. Perfect scene, perfect timing. I鈥檓 not surprised that Cricket was taller than Josh. Hahaha! St. Clair still has his charms. And yes, that one particular scene at Point Zero definitely made my day. I鈥檓 glad Meredith was there too.

Surprisingly, I found myself crying while reading the book. During the first chapters everything was just cheesy, mushy, adorable kind of romance which I was looking for in a Perkins novel. But then when everything fell apart for Josh and Isla, it was just too emotional, because like what I said, I felt so attached and have related to Isla most. First time ever that I cried in a Stephanie Perkins novel.

One of the best quotes? 鈥淭ake a fucking risk.鈥� It applies to everything in life. Also might be one of the coolest pep talks in life and help you find your happily ever after.

TL;DR. Stephanie Perkins did it again! It鈥檚 like she鈥檚 got some kind of magic when it comes to writing novels because it comes out beautiful and realistic. This book is definitely worth the long wait. ...more

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May 01, 2013 Angele | adominiquereads rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, owned-books

This is more of a 4.5 stars than a 5.

As much as I loved the whole story plot, it definitely did not live up to my expectations, especially with Anna being so so so good. Nothing can really compare to Anna and the French Kiss. I still enjoyed the book, but I think the reason why I didn't give it the full 5 stars was that it was a bit too mature for a YA book. Josh and Isla's hormones are all over the place!

But what I loved the most about this one?? THE ENDING! OMG ANNA AND ST.CLAIR!!! *swoons*

I ...more

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Mar 29, 2014 Yelena Bosh rated it really liked it

Almost as funny, heartbreaking and an easy read as Anna and the French Kiss.

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Jan 04, 2011 Carie rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, 2014, favorite-contemps

4.5 鈥� I liked this book MUCH more than the last one, but Anna and the French Kiss is still my favorite :) I did love reading about Isla and Josh, though--their growing relationship was sweet and sexy and awesome! I got a little frustrated with Isla at times in the book, but I liked seeing her and the other characters鈥� growth throughout the story and I loved the ending :) I also LOVED seeing characters from the previous two books again and I ADORED that (view spoiler) ...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Erika B. (SOS BOOKS) rated it liked it

Shelves: ya, sort-of-spicy

3.5 stars!! I will start this by saying I really liked this book! Stephanie Perkins and I are in a reader author love relationship...happily so! I think her stories are ADORABLE! Her stories capture those fun butterflies that flutter when love comes calling. That being said there was just a vague and not describable feeling that I was waiting for but never found. Sorry I can't figure out how to be more descriptive. While my heart still belongs to Cricket Bell I say you should still give this one ...more

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Jan 13, 2015 Michelle rated it it was amazing

again, this was not my favorite of the series. my favorite part of the entire book was the end where we got to see 脠tienne and Anna. this book was still a nice light read that I enjoyed, though. I would definitely recommend this series if you like contemporary romance.

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