Book Review – Isla and the Happily Ever After

Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Series: Anna and the French Kiss #3
Published by Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated on 2014
Genres: Dating & Sex, Friendship, Love & Romance, Social Issues, Young Adult
Pages: 339
Format: eBook
Goodreads

Stephanie Perkins's characters fall in love the way we all want to, in real time and for good.” Rainbow Rowell, Award-winning, bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Fangirl A New York Times Bestseller

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.

 

Lynn’s Review:

Warning: Get out the tissues before reading this book.

Isla and the Happily Ever After is the third book in the Anna and the French Kiss series by Stephanie Perkins. Isla (pronounces EYE-LA) is a senior at the School of America in Paris. She’s at the top of her class, always follows the rules, and spends most of her time with her best friend Kurt. And she’s had a crush on Josh since their freshman year. Josh is an artist, always drawing in his notebooks. All of his friends graduated the previous year. He struggles with following the rules and being lonely. He’s had a few awkward interactions with Isla over the years. And mistakenly believes that Isla and Kurt are a couple. Thankfully, that issue is straightened out, and our two main characters have a whirlwind romance.

I had all of the feels while reading this book.

Well, maybe not disgust. But all of the other feels for sure. I was drawn it right at the beginning, with the very first scene of Isla and Josh meeting at a coffee shop. Isla just had her wisdom teeth removed and is a little loopy. This is the first time the two have really talked. And Josh shares some of his drawings with Isla. After she falls asleep at the table. Josh wakes Isla up, and walks her home. The whole scene was adorable. And set the pace for the rest of the book. The getting together. The being torn apart. The heart-ache. And the “happily ever after”. 

Isla and Josh have a similar interest in graphic novels. Josh has been writing his autobiography in graphic novel form throughout his time at School of America. If there was one downfall to this book, it’s that I didn’t get to read Josh’s final manuscript. I think some of his drawings added into this book would have pushed my rating over the top to a five. 

The other two books in the series are great, too. But you could easily read any as stand-alone. And all the boys are breathtaking. I don’t know if I could pick between St. Clair, Cricket, or Josh. And now that I’ve read all three, I really need more Stephanie Perkins books, stat. 

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