Review: Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

Title: Isla and the Happily Ever After
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Published: August 14th 2014
Source: ebook
Pages: 352
Series: Anna and the French Kiss #3

From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh.

But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever.

Their romantic journey is skillfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new.

REVIEW

Having read the other 2 books in the Anna and the French Kiss companion series, I was super excited to read this but man this had to be my least favourite in the whole series.

The writing was of course amazing, in true Stephanie Perkins fashion, I was completely drawn into the story. However, the plot was very boring and predictable and after the first 50% my patience ran thin and I just wasn't as invested in the story as I wanted to be.

I did not like Isla. She doesn't think before she speaks and she was just way too immature for my tastes. Also, she was very insecure. Obviously this is realistic and normal in real life but she doesn't seem to realise that she is insecure and try to work on it. Instead, she just says the first thing that comes to her head and blames the guy for everything. This is why guys think girls are crazy bitches :P

Josh was sweet and cute but he was rather immature too. I mean if you knew that your girlfriend is insecure would you really show her drawings of your naked girlfriend!?!? Anyway, I didn't really feel like I knew him at all so I couldn't connect with him. They were just apart too much that we didn't really get to see that much of Josh.

Kurt was such an interesting side character but he was so horribly neglected it was so sad. Also, he was completely abandoned by Isla when she got together with Josh. This is not how you treat friends. This issue was brought up but it felt like there wasn't a real conclusion to this, adding to my frustration with Isla.

The romance wasn't ship worthy. I didn't really feel like their relationship progressed from the puppy-love stage and they could've easily solved their argument/issues by simply communicating rather than wallowing in self pity and attempting to seek revenge. Meh. Also, they were SUPER DUPER DRAMATIC about everything UGH no just stop. They had to be separated for 2 months and they behaved like someone was dying or that they were gonna be apart for 20 years. The relationship was just very juvenile and I was laughing and cringing at all the silliness. 

VERDICT

Aside from the writing, there was really nothing much going for this book and while it was cute and fluffy, the characters and romance was very juvenile and seriously got on my nerves.

This series just went downhill from Anna and it is a real pity because I had such high expectations for Stephanie Perkins.

Recommended for anyone that wants to complete the series, if you've not read any of the books in the series, you might just wanna read Anna and stop at there.

Plot: 2.5/5 

Pacing: 2.5/5

Originality: 2/5 

Writing style: 4/5

Characters: 2.5/5 

Feels: 2.5/5
Enjoyment: 3.5/5

Cover: 3/5

Overall rating: 

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Review: On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

Title: On the Island
Author: Tracey Garvis-Graves
Published: August 16th 2012
Source: ebook
Pages: 346
Series: On the Island #1

When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.

T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments -- instead of his friends.

Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.

Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.

REVIEW

I enjoyed this book so much more than I thought I would! I was expecting this to be like the typical adult/new adult that is filled with raunchy sex scenes and I was prepared to DNF it but I wanted to give new adult/adult romance another go since the last time I read one was probably 1.5 years ago. I also thought that the teacher-student relationship would be a total turn off. (p.s. it doesn't really come into play because the plane crashes before Anna actually teaches)

On the Island only had 2 explicit scenes, if I remember correctly, and they were not overdone. What I really enjoyed about this book was that there was so much more to it than just the romance/relationships. It was also about survival, think Lost but without the weird sci-fi elements. Everything seemed very realistic and even though I was just reading about their day to day lives and the occasional near-death situations, it was surprisingly interesting and I finished this entire book in 2 seatings! The writing style was just amazing and it flowed so well with the story.

The only gripe I have is probably the ending of the book. I was really curious about how the whole older woman-younger man relationship issue was going to be resolved but it seemed rushed. We spent years on the island with Anna and T.J and we really got to know them so well but I felt like we didn't really get to see their actual relationship once they were back in the 'real world'. With that being said, there is actually a novella from another character's POV but there are also updates on Anna and T.J. so maybe we could see more of their relationship in the novella?

VERDICT

On the Island has such an interesting premise and it did not disappoint at all! You have to read this just for the novelty. It is so rare for a contemporary romance to be set on a deserted island, featuring a 'cougar' sorta relationship and spans multiple years. A lot more could've been explored with regards to the out of the norm relationship but it was still an interesting insight! Also, there was very little angst compared to many romance books out there, so definitely check this out if you need a little break from the angst :P

Recommended for chick lit or contemporary romance lovers.

Plot: 4.5/5 

Pacing: 4/5

Originality: 4.5/5 

Writing style: 4/5

Characters: 3.5/5 

Feels: 4/5
Enjoyment: 4/5

Cover: 3/5

Overall rating: 

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Review: My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Title: My Life Next Door
Author: Huntley Fitzpatrick
Published: June 14th 2012
Source: Hardcover
Pages: 394

Goodreads | Amazon

"One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time."

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, messy, affectionate. And every day from her rooftop perch, Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs up next to her and changes everything.

As the two fall fiercely for each other, stumbling through the awkwardness and awesomeness of first love, Jase's family embraces Samantha - even as she keeps him a secret from her own. Then something unthinkable happens, and the bottom drops out of Samantha's world. She's suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A transporting debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another.

This book was very average, nothing really stood out for me but there was nothing I really hated. I think the hype kind of killed it for me, I was expecting so much more!

What I Liked

- The couple got together really quickly so there wasn't 30 chapters worth of angst/stupid mind games.

- Samantha and Jase are very mature which is very very very refreshing for YA!

- I loved the Garretts! Each Garrett had so much personality and the younger kids were so adorable, this was a big win for me!

- The Garretts, Samantha and Jase got one star each, they were so well portrayed and I really enjoyed how different they were even though there were so many characters!

It Was Okay

- It was very slow and I got really bored halfway through but Fitzpatrick's writing was pretty decent so I decided to push on hoping that it would get better.

What I Did Not Like

- The plot twist was dramatic for like one chapter and then it just fell really flat. The resolution for it was SO obvious, it was so uninteresting. It was also resolved so damn quickly that I don't get all the drama and overreactions. It was kind of rushed and awkward and it didn't seem to serve much purpose other than for Samantha's mum to redeem herself. If it was meant to be a hurdle for the young couple, it failed majorly. Jase basically forgave Samantha in a heartbeat which was so unbelievable :/

- This novel tried to address too many issues (eg. drugs, alcohol, moral dilemmas, coming of age, family drama etc.) that I felt like it was all touch and go and there wasn't really much of a resolution to a lot of it. This was a major problem for me, My Life Next Door bit off more than it could chew.

- Nan and Tim's character arc never completes I don't really understand their significance in the story. They were just kind of around so that it seemed like Samantha had some friends? And also so that they can shove the addiction side story in, which was so superficially dealt with. We never find out what happens to them in the end.

- I don't get Clay's backstory. It just seemed kind of meaningless, Samantha made us so suspicious of him and I thought he had a super dark secret. Turns out he was just a political asshole. Ummm ok? I think we all knew that the moment he walked through the door.

VERDICT:

This book was very forgettable for me and I don't get all the hype. I tried reading a bunch of 5 star reviews to try and see if I've somehow missed something but nope, I still don't get it. They are way better YA Contemporaries out there. My Life Next Door may be more suitable for younger teens or maybe for people who don't read that many contemporaries?

My rating: 

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Review: To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author: Jenny Han
Published: April 15th 2014
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1
Source: ebook
Pages: 288

Goodreads | Amazon

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the sory of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed.

But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Things I liked:

1) Super cute romance that had me tearing a little at the Peter K parts

2) Lara Jean may seem childish but I feel like she is that way because of her over reliance on her older sister. She never had to really grow up. I thought this was a pretty realistic portrayal of anyone who might be in the same situation.

3) A decent balance between family, school and romance drama.

3) PETER K PETER K PETER K <3 (He was imperfect, making him so realistic!)

Things I did not like:

1) The only real issue I had was Chris, she was pretty much a useless character and I didn't get the best friends vibe from Lara Jean and her so I don't get it. Was it just so that Lara Jean had at least one girl friend? lol

2) A CONTEMPORARY WITH A CLIFFHANGER? That's a first but I am a sucker for Peter K so I am going to get my hands on it!

Spoilery:

A lot of hate has been directed towards the book because of the whole 'liking-your-sister's-ex' drama but she liked Josh before he got together with her sister. And well, at least she tried and is still trying to not act on those feelings (albeit in a weird way).

Verdict:

1) This is not Stephanie Perkins good but it is pretty close! So definitely pick it up if you need a good contemporary fix!

2) I wished this was a longer standalone book, just a few more chapters would have been enough to wrap things up, but oh well! I guess we'll just have to wait another 4 months for P.S. I Still Love You.

3) Also, I feel that everyone would enjoy this book as long as you can cringe at Lara Jean's stupid moves and then move on and cry and laugh at all the cute romance moments. :)

My rating:
Recommended for everyone! :) Esp if you love YA contemporary.

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Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Title: The Summer I Turned Pretty
Author: Jenny Han
Published: August 26th 2014
Series: Summer
Source: ebook
Pages: 276

Goodreads | Amazon

Summary: Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer--they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one terrible and wonderful summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Review: This was an okay read and you would probably enjoy it more if you do not go in with very high expectations. Its a very light and fluffy book, that is a good book to read between heavy scifi/fantasy books. There were some parts that made me go 'Awwww' but not really quite enough for a contemporary romance novel. 

The protagonist, Belly, is a pretty self-centred, possessive and overall childish girl. It was kind of annoying but this is a young adult book so I guess it is kind of a given? :P The brothers were kind of one dimensional in this but perhaps we would know more about them in the sequels! I may or may not be continuing with this series. I will possibly read the sequels if I run out of contemporary books.

I would recommend books by Rainbow Rowell or Stephanie Perkins instead if you are looking for a good contemporary romance novel!

My rating:
Recommended for anyone who is looking for a very light and cute read!

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Review: Looking for Alaska by John Green

Title: Looking for Alaska
Author: John Green
Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Published: March 1st 2011
Source: paperback (borrowed)

Goodreads | Amazon

Summary: A deeply affecting coming-of-age story, Looking for Alaska traces the journey of Miles Halter, a misfit Florida teenager who leaves the safety of home for a boarding school in Alabama and a chance to explore the "Great Perhaps." Debut novelist and NPR commentator Green perfectly captures the intensity of feeling and despair that defines adolescence in this hip, shocking, and emotionally charged work of fiction.

Miles has a quirky interest in famous people's last words, especially François Rabelais's final statement, "I go to seek a Great Perhaps." Determined not to wait for death to begin a similar quest, Miles convinces his parents to let him leave home. Once settled at Culver Creek Preparatory School, he befriends a couple of equally gifted outcasts: his roommate Chip―commonly known as the Colonel—who has a predilection for memorizing long, alphabetical lists for fun; and the beautiful and unpredictable Alaska, whom Miles comes to adore.

The kids grow closer as they make their way through a school year filled with contraband, tests, pranks, breakups, and revelations about family and life. But as the story hurtles toward its shattering climax, chapter headings like "forty-six days before" and "the last day" portend a tragic event―one that will change Miles forever and lead him to new conclusions about the value of his cherished "Great Perhaps."

Review:  Can't believe it took me this long to read this book! The book cover of the other edition (image on the right) made me think that it was a book about something serious and boring, NOT contemporary romance. Contemporary romance always have the same ol' cliched covers ie. girl and boy hugging, heart(s), girl looking sad so I can't be blamed for overlooking this book until now.

There really isn't much to say when it comes to reviewing books of the contemporary romance genre without including any spoilers but I will try my best! The book started off quite slow for me and there wasn't anything special that stood out. It was quite predictable in terms of the romance and the school life in Looking for Alaska. The story really picked up towards the middle when the first prank was being carried out. It got really amazing from After, it was so deep and it revolved around dealing with friendship, love, loss, school and  life in general. It hit really close to home when Miles and friends were talking about finding answers about someone who was already gone. Who hasn't done that when going through the grieving process?

I love coming-of-age novels because it really shows how people deal with problems and situations in life. I thought Miles was the perfect protagonist in this case and his awkwardness and dorkiness really added to the book. 

Looking for Alaska became so philosophical towards the end I had to pause and re-read a lot, in a  good way. It made me think about religion and how we humans live life. I think the wise words in the book alone makes this worth the read. This has become one of my favourite books and I would definitely be getting my hands on a copy! Let me leave you with a short excerpt.

"He was gone, and I did not have time to tell him what I had just now realised: that I forgave him, and that she forgave us, and that we had to forgive to survive in the labyrinth. There were so many of us who would have to live with things done and things left undone that day. Things that did not go right, things that seemed OK at the time because we could not see the future. If only we could see the endless string of consequences that result from our smallest actions. But we can't know better until knowing better is useless." - Looking for Alaska by John Green

 My rating:
Recommended for everyone!

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