Isla Is Coming Readalong / Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After

Posted August 18, 2014 / Book Challenges, Book Reviews, Features / 4 Comments

Isla Is Coming Readalong / Review: Isla and the Happily Ever AfterIsla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Series: Anna and the French Kiss #3
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
Published by Penguin on August 14th 2014
Also by this author: Anna and the French Kiss, Lola and the Boy Next Door, My True Love Gave To Me, Summer Days & Summer Nights, There's Someone Inside Your House, The Woods Are Always Watching
Format: eBook (352 pages) • Source: Purchased
Goodreadsfour-half-stars

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.

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Made by Meg at [cuddlebuggery.com]
The Isla Is Coming readalong kicked off on the last day of July and I decided to take part! Unlike most people participating, I’m reading the series for the first time. (Click on the picture above to read the informational post). I finished Anna and the French Kiss WAY too early and waited to start Lola and the Boy Next Door with the rest of the readers. I finished Lola within 24 hours as well! Of course, the point of the readalong is to gear up for the third book’s release – Isla and the Happily Ever After on the 14th. I pre-ordered it and anxiously awaited for it to come in. It was worth the wait. Without further ado, here’s my final review for the Isla Is Coming readalong! ISLA IS HERE!!!


Review: Oh god, how am I going to write this review without A) squealing and swooning like a child and B) not repeating the lovely things everyone else has already said about this book. This author. This series. IT’S ALL PERFECT. I don’t have any idea how Stephanie Perkins can write very typical young adult romance books but have them be so different, so original, and so amazing. First off, Isla was different because the two characters, Isla and Josh, started their relationship fairly early in the book. It was not about how they came together, but how they stayed together and how their relationship grew. In both Anna and Lola, the couples took some time to get their shit together and make it work. The books were devoted to that general storyline. It was nice to see Isla and Josh get together so early, but that lends itself to problems too. I knew that there would have to be some conflict to give the book some more substance. As much as I would love for them to have no problems and start their happily ever after immediately, it wasn’t super realistic that a relationship as dynamic as theirs not have some problems. I won’t give much away, but when the “conflict” came up, I was pretty annoyed with Isla. She was being whiny and self-loathing; she had absolutely zero confidence in herself. I found myself relating to her a lot though. Even though she was bugging me, I could still understand where she was coming from. (That factor alone is what gave this one 4.5 instead of 5). Regardless, Josh and Lola were adorable. I wouldn’t expect anything less from characters created by Stephanie Perkins. I JUST WANNA BE FRIENDS WITH ALL OF THEM OKAY? Why didn’t I go to school in Paris?!?!?!  Ugh. BUT the reunion between all of the couples/old friends could not have been more perfect. Jesus.

For real though. So worth the wait. I totally teared up. It was a beautiful way to tie everyone back together for the final book. Isla and the Happily Ever After was more mature than the other books. Yes, I mean in sexual ways. Nothing too graphic or inappropriate; just very swoony and perfect. In a lot of other books or contexts, their relationship could come across as that annoying insta-love us bloggers hate so much. It was so much more than that. Isla had been in love with him from afar for so long and their relationship developed quickly but reasonably. Some of their first conversations were so adorably awkward and genuine. I couldn’t be happier with the way this series ended. I can’t get over it. I’m surprised I’m actually able to type my thoughts right now.


Final readalong thoughts: If my other reviews and the MILLIONS of other fabulous blogger reviews for this series haven’t gotten you to read it yet, you’re missing out and you better get going. This Isla Is Coming readlong was a great excuse for me to finally read a series I’ve been eyeing for a long time. I would see the books at B&N and always be tempted, but hadn’t ever heard much about them. This was obviously before I began blogging and saw the many, many positive reviews of the books. When I came across the readalong, I knew it would be the perfect first “challenge” for this blog. It’s been amazing reading all the reviews and following other bloggers during the readalong. Thanks for the support so far, everyone! xo

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4 responses to “Isla Is Coming Readalong / Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After

  1. This book had me squealing/gushing/crying happy tears from start to finish! It was so wonderful and sweet and cute and funny! Great review!

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