Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

"There's no story," I say. "I saw you one day, and I just knew."

STEPHANIE PERKINS NEEDS TO WRITE STORIES FOR EVER. Because they are just PERFECT.

Isla and the Happily Ever After brings the trilogy full circle. The story is once again mainly set at the School of America in Paris and the Paris scenery is just as wonderful as it was in Anna and the French Kiss. However, the book isn’t fully set in Paris. There is a little side trip to Barcelona as well as some time spent in New York City. Stephanie Perkins’ books may just be contemporary romances but the setting always makes things interesting. 

During the first half of the book I was slightly disappointed because everything was just too cliche and they fell in love so fast, I expected more from Stephanie Perkins... But then, she did it like she always does! THIS WOMAN IS A QUEEN!!! She manages to have control over my emotions with her perfect characters and writing, this book was no exception!

What an emotional roller coaster this series has taken me on! I'm crying and I'm hiccuping. and i can't see through the tears. OH. MY .GOD.

You know how Voldermort had 7 Horcruxes? Well that's how i feel about books. Kind of. Its like there are parts of me,of my soul out there, and the more books i read,the better are the chances to find my Horcruxes. This book,this trilogy was that for me. I found a Horcruxe

Maybe the romance moved a little too fast but then I remembered that for the other two books we had to wait until the end for the couple to kiss I get together or etcetera and I was more than okay with it. 

The cameos from Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket were minor but perfect. I expected a bit more of them than I actually got but I was actually okay with that. Their parts in the story were absolutely wonderful. Isla and the Happily Ever After tied things up for all three of the couples and I couldn’t have asked for more from Stephanie Perkins. The brief glimpses of Anna, Etienne, Lola, and Cricket definitely left me with a smile on my face.

I really do think these books have to be some of my favourites and I recommend them to all! Yes, they can be cringy and cliche but wHAT IS NOT TO LIKE ABOUT THAT??? Especially when it is done so well!!

Overall, Isla and the Happily Ever After could not have been better. It’s the perfect ending to this trilogy and it left me eager to read whatever Stephanie Perkins writes next.

*hugs these books tightly for eternity*

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Stephanie Perkins

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

“When it's right, it's simple.” 

Lola is a really cute story: she is a quirky, raised by gay parents, unique teenage girl.

When her first crush and ex-neighbor, Cricket, reappears on her doorstep after two years, things get complicated because Lola already has a boyfriend, Max, five years older than her, much more experienced.

As Cricket slowly worms his was back into her life - and into her heart - Lola will have to learn how to be honest with herself - and she will learn it the hard way.

 As much as I loved Anna and the French Kiss , Lola was better on nearly every level because it felt real. Anna was by no means a fairy tale without the struggle of realism, but there were some elements that took it to daydream level. Paris. Beautiful, charming British boy. The big, dramatic (incredibly swoontastic) ending.

Lola is different. They aren't in Paris, and Cricket isn't a dashing, gorgeous Brit. He's just a normal boy. A normal, awkward, amazingly sweet boy who I can't even find words to describe. (Except for, you know, those...)

Lola and Cricket had me smiling like an absolute dork the entire time. There is no way I could have read this book in public because I swear I was making some laugh-at-me faces. I just adore Perkins' style of delivering a slow building romance that blends perfectly with the flow of the entire story. As a reader, you can't help but fall into the storyline and ultimately resist the coming of the final chapters. It's the type of book you want to continue for endless chapters.

 The main character, who would normally annoy the hell out of me with her obsession with clothes, glitter, tiaras, has a very relatable voice. Reading Lola and the Boy Next Door was an infinitely relaxing experience. This book is filled to the brim with cuteness - cute boys, cute families, cute locations and cute crushes. Perkins' special gift is bringing back the memories of young love and excitements and heartaches that come with it. 

Lola and the Boy Next Door is everything first love should be--painful, awkward, desperate, tender and so, so sweet. 

Realizing this isn’t a coherent review but rather a gush-fest about my book crush, I’ll stop now and just tell you that Perkins fans and YA Contemporary readers are going to enjoy this little gem to the tenth degree.

       

  AMAZON: Lola And The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

“I want to say yes, but I don't want to be with a boy whose heart belongs to somebody else. Just once, I want to be somebody else's first choice”

Sixteen year olde daydreamer Lara JEan has written love letters to all the boys she has ever had crushes on- These are not typical love letters but are more like good bye letters that help Lara Jean have some closure over the boys that broke her heart. When the letters are mailed without her knowledge, she is beyong upset. As her crushes begin to receive the secret letters, Lara Jean must provide and explanation to the boys, and romantic comedy soon begings to unfold..

This was a light, cute read that left me with a smile. It wasn't a book full of twists and surprises and the plot was fairly simple, but I really enjoyed it. It would be a perfect book for a summer read.

It was the first book by Jenny Han I read and I am definitely going to try her other books. 
Lara Jean was so relatable and the love interest IS ADORABLE! The characters have their flaws, but these flaws made them even better. 

The development between Lara Jean and Peter was really sweet. First pretending to date due to circumstances, it slowly turned into friendship until the feelings Lara Jean thought she'd gotten over returned. It definitely wasn't insta-love. There was a small triangle with neighbor Josh and at first, it was hard to choose but Peter won me over in the end. They match each other so well. They’re like opposites, but they balance each other so well. Kavinsky gets Lara Jean out of her safe bubble and really challenges her to live for herself. And Lara Jean keeps Kavinsky grounded and doesn’t take his bullshit. It’s such a give and take relationship, and it’s so wonderful to see. I just wanted more!

I also loved the contrast between the three sisters. Margot was the overly responsible one who acted like an adult most of the time, though she could have her own childish moments. Lara Jean was more immature for her age while Kitty was a mix of the two, she could be a brat at times and others she was very responsible. I also appreciated that their father, a very busy man, was still present in their lives and made an effort to make sure their mother's Korean heritage wasn't forgotten. I loved the relationship between the three sisters so much and found it really sweet and believable.

This is about a 3.7. I read this in one day. I honestly didn't want to put it down and I barely did. The way it ended was not how I thought it would when I started (the ending left me craving for more!), which is always cool. Sometimes with contemporaries I find the mundanity of daily activities in the stories boring, but that didn't happen here. Which was really, really nice.

This book is addictive right from the start, with Lara Jean easily carrying the story through to the end.

To All The Boys I've Loved Before

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

"It's always nice to being wanted.  Even if it's by the wrong person." -Tabitha Suzuma

This is the story of a boy and a girl who fall in love. Lochan and Maya are best friends who have known each other their entire lives and have helped each other and fiercely loved one another through the many brutally painful experiences of growing up.
The thing is, they also happen to be brother and sister, and the unholy mess of the repercussions from their choices looms over this entire story.

The relationship between Maya and Lochan is complicated from the beginning. In my words, here’s how I see it: There’s a line between brothers and sisters. You can tell to each other your most intimate secrets, share a room, even sleep in the same bed for fear of nightmares; each other the half of a whole. But you never become more, because of that line. That label that says Brother/Sister. And that’s okay.

This may all sound so disgusting but I never felt repulsed during the book, and I think this is what made it Amazing. Tabitha Suzuma managed to make their love relationship seem so right and not once did I forget they were brother and sister. It wasn’t like “OMG! I had totally forgotten they were siblings!” No, I was conscious always of what they were and it never felt wrong.

By the ending my heart was beating so hard I thought it would just burst out of my chest, and in the last page it just stopped. I can feel that hollow. My shaking hands. And the amazingness of it all.

Obviously, many will disagree. Some will see this as the tragedy of neglect and abuse. Or a thought-provoking challenge to the parameters we put around “acceptable” love. Or a heartbreaking examination of society failing its young people. Or just a love story. There are plenty of excellent reviews that discuss these interpretations. 

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Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

"It takes a lot of guts to do what she did. To just end it, not knowing what's next? Not knowing if there's anything next? It's easier to go on living a life without any life left in it, than it is to just say 'fuck it' and leave. She was one of the few that just said, 'fuck it'. And I'll commend her every day I'm still alive, too scared to do the same thing." -Colleen Hoover, Hopeless 

This was my first Colleen Hoover book. I know.... GASP! Hopeless was amazingly perfect. I loved it! I am sort of at a loss as to how to actually write a review for this book. First, the book is indescribable. Second, there are so many great reviews out there already. Alas, I will give it a go...... I will try to convey what a beautiful and fantastic experience it was reading such a treasure of a book. 

This is such a heartbreaking story. Yet, it does contain some beautiful moments of joy, swoony love and real honesty. That’s what I preferred the most actually; how honest the main character was with us. She isn't that kind of NA main character that lies to herself all the time and makes us roll our eyes because we obviously know that she loves the guy and, even though she says she doesn’t want him, everyone else knows she does as well. 

To be honest, I found the romance a bit too overwhelming by moments, especially right before Sky and Holder became officially a couple and mainly because the secondary characters started to ‘disappear.’ It’s like the author did want to only focus on Sky and Holder’s relationship but it started to, sometimes, feel cheesy and cheesy romance is not of my favorite sorts. 

Linden Sky's life lacks color. Together with her friend, Six, she lives her life. She was branded school slut because she makes out with different boys, but the only reason she's doing that is because she doesn't feel anything with those guys. Just numbness... And she likes not feeling anything at all. Up until she met Holder... 

Dean Holder
He's got a reputation. Not a good one. Sky knows he is nothing but trouble, but her body doesn't give a shit at all. She's so damn intrigued about him. And, as she gets to know him, she realized that not all rumors about him are true. He's got a hot and cold attitude going on. He's passionate, yet intense. But there's something different about him...and soon, Sky feels...and falls...

And so, their story continues...

This book touched in me so many ways! I bawled my eyes out! 

I spent so much time highlighting this book that I realized it was turning into one big highlight. 

Goodreads: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Amazon (FREE): Hopeless FREE

A Court Of Thorns And Roses by Sarah J Maas

"I love you," I said, and stabbed him. 

I'm not going to explain the plot since I'm late to the party anyway, but I will say this: Beauty and the Beast? Check. Badass, funky and incredibly courageous heroine? Check. Lush settings and well-developed world-building? Cheeeeck. Swoon worthy love interest? Double check. Toe-curling, sigh-inducing and heart-breaking romance? Oh, check. Fae, nightmarish creatures and magic? Check check check. I'm telling you, it had everything a good novel should have and then some! It's SJM after all. 

THIS BOOK. Omg, Sarah, what have you done to me? I'm a puddle on the floor. Hands down, one of my favourite books. I adored every last sentence.

Wow. So I expected to at least LIKE this book because it was written by one of my favorite authors... But I never expected to love it. I mean obviously I was hoping it would be awesome, but Sarah J. Maas has already created an incredible series that I'm so in love with, and I can't expect that she would have it in her to create TWO insanely, amazing series. I'm so impressed with her right now... Seriously... Soooo amazing. It's one of those books where now that I've finished it, I just want to go back and start rereading it because I want to stay in this world a little longer I highly, highly recommend this book if you love fantasy.

I was so worried that this book would have a plot too close to Throne of Glass and that the characters would also bare that same fate... But thank the literary gods above that didn't happen. Yes, Maas still gives us swoon worthy gents and a strong leading fem, but they are not at all like the cast of ToG. Our leading lass is Feyre, and man oh man did I love her. I loved that though she is strong she isn't doing it for herself or because that's who she is, she's doing to because it's what needs to be done. This is what made her character for me. She does everything for everyone and expects nothing in return. Her character starts as a strong huntress and turns into something more. She has the head strong will of a warrior and the heart of an artist. I loved that Maas gave her so much depth and let us get so deep into her brain that her feelings become your feelings. As for Feyre's love interested she gives us the heart twist-swoon worthy-deep-thoughtful-man candy that is Tamlin. Oh Tamlin will have you weak in the knees and have your loins aflame (seriously blushed so much during this book). He literately has so much weight on his shoulders and still stands tall. He is willing to give up everything to make sure shes okay

A Court of Thorns and Roses exceeded all of my expectations, which is saying a lot considering how ridiculously high they were to begin with. I was actually so happy when I finished this book that I actually hugged it

This could have easily stood it's own as a standalone novel. But I'm excited that it's not because I want more! 

Goodreads: ACOTAR by Sarah J. Maas

Love Letters to the Death by Ava Dellaira

“May, I love you with everything I am. For so long, I just wanted to be like you. But I had to figure out that I am someone too, and now I can carry you, your heart with mine, everywhere I go.” -Ava Dellaira, Love letter to the death

WARNING: This book may cause you to spend a whole day feeling down. 

This is honestly a very hard book to review. It brought out a lot of mixed feelings in me. Reminiscent of Perk Of Being A Wallflower, Love Letters to the Death is too beautiful, too meaningfu, and too heartbreaking to describe with words.  

I fell in love with the idea behind this book before I'd even read it. It is written in the format of letters to dead celebrities, in which the protagonist expresses her thoughts and feelings. It all starts with an assignment for an English class, where Laurel has to write a letter to a dead person. Though she doesn't give them to her teacher, she has a notebook full of letters to dead celebrities about her family, friends and experiences at her new school, as well as her sister May who died young

This is a difficult book to read. And not for any reasons except it was dark and it was sad and some of it felt very lonely. I pictured Laurel sitting in her room or at school writing the letters to famous people who have passed, as she is to scared to share her feelings with the living. It carries such a deep message about family and grief and how it affects you on a whole, and how one eventually overcomes that whilst going through a rough journey. Just beautiful.

Having said that, this book really was touching. I don’t know what it’s like to lose someone but the grief in this book is so profound that I know that I don’t want to know. This book really is powerful.

I would highly recommend Love Letters to the Dead to readers who enjoy Young Adult contemporary/realistic fiction, particularly the more serious kind, and coming of age novels.

By the time I post this review, I will have rewritten it a million times and I still won't be able to convey what I really think about it. Take that to mean what you will. 

Goodreads: Love Letters to the Death

I Was Here by Gayle Forman

"You had a pile of rocks, and you cleaned them up pretty and made a necklace. Meg got jewels, and she hung herself with them." -Gayle Forman, I Was Here

Well I wasn't expecting to finish this book in one day but HERE WE ARE.

I love Gayle Forman's writing. Her stories are so powerful and interesting to read about. 

Cody is astonished when she discovers her friend Meg has committed suicide. Meg’s parents ask Cody to go to Meg’s school and pack up her thing, which is where Cody discovers Meg held a very different life than the one she told Cody. Due to a weird phrasing in Meg’s suicide note, Cody investigates the circumstances of Meg’s death and discovers she was involved in a chat room where the participants support other users in taking their own lives. Cody becomes obsessed with one user in particular, and thinks they may hold the answers to her friend’s death

 Suicide is a very popular topic in the young adult genre, and normally a topic I stay away from. But when I saw this book with the pretty cover I couldn’t resist.

The plot was very different and unique and it was really interesting, I had to know the ending. The more I read and discovered, the more I wanted to know. It was fast-paced but had so many intense moments. Most of the characters were realistic and I did like Cody. I wasn't too attached to any of the characters. Ben was one of the characters that I felt wasn't realistic at all. All of Cody's other friends were so real and awesome! But at times, I had to stop reading and take a break from the intense situations. 

I had mixed feelings about this book but I learned so much. It was really different and now I know a little bit about those who deal with depression.  This book was really dark and it's not one of those cute contemporary books. 

Basically, I really connected with this book and loved it. I realize this book might not be for everyone, but as I always say about books, you never know until you try.

Some people who reach out for help sometimes reach to the wrong person or place, and it’s important to remember that suicide is not the answer. It gets better, it did for me, it will for you. No matter how you feel, there are people who care about you, whether you know it or not, whether you believe it or not.

Goodreads: I Was Here by Gayle Forman

The Age of Miracles by Karen Thomas Walker

“And this one fact seemed to point to other facts and others still: Love frays and humans fail, time passes, eras end.” - Karen Thomas Walker, The Age of Miracles

It took me forever to finish this book, and to be honest, I don't really know why. But now I'm here to tell you my opinion.

The main character, Julia, is twelve years old girl like any others. She has plenty of teenage problems that she has to faces. To choose the right shape of bra, deal with her other, prettier classmates and, of course, her first love Seth Moren, who barely knows she exist. Her best friend no longer talks to her, her beloved grandfather disappeared, his dad is cheating on her mom with Julia's piano teacher. Her life can be consider to tragedy. But all this is just background of the biggest catastrophe that can possible happen to human race.

In the beginning it looks like every other day. But it's not. The Earth is spinning more and more slowly. Days are longer, night are longer and people are separated to two groups. Those, who recognize old time, meaning: One day is equal to 24 hours. This group also include Julia and her parents. And then there are those who recognize the new time. Meaning: Days re longer, night are longer and finally the day and night lasts a whopping 72 hours! Those people think that their bodies will adapts. But soon both groups will find out, that none of these works.

Funny, sad, interesting, savvy and sassy dystopian story about world we don't know anything about.

 In the end, you need to think about the book for a while. At the beginning you say: "What the heck? This is the book I spend my money for? No, thanks." Trust me when I say, more you think about the story, more you love it.

Yes, Julia is annoying at the times, she thinks that she ate all the wisdom of the world, doesn't really know about what's going on around her and the biggest catastrophe for her is her unrequited love, but tell me, who twelve years old girl is not like that?

I think, that author could make Julia little older, but in the end is still doesn't matter. Every character is special and interesting in their own way. Mother, whose acting career only includes shampoo commercials, father, gynecologist, who loves both of them, but just want more, grandfather who always talk just about his two years in Alaska, and is getting ready for end of the World, best friend who left, then came back, pretending Julia doesn't exist or little girl who fell in love with a boy on the Internet.

While I was reading the book I had mixed feelings. There were parts where I couldn't take my eyes off the pages, and then there were parts where I preferred to put the book away. But that doesn't mean the book wasn't good.  Or that it was just good.

Like the book says: "An unforgettable novel about growing up in the background of completely changed world"

Goodreads: The Age of Miracles by Karen Thomas Walker