Thoughts: Isla and the Happily Ever After

 My thoughts as I was reading through Isla and the Happily Ever After.

SPOILERS ARE EVERYWHERE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

·         “Three years of desire rip through my body and burst from my lips" *insert laughing crying emoji*

·         “You know my name. You can pronounce my name” Everyone I know can pronounce Isla? No I take that back my sister just came in the room and said ee-la and the happily ever after. *facepalm*

·         Why is her face not puffy from removing her wisdom tooth??? Brochure says that it should be puffy for up to a week. I mean not always, but is Isla one of those non puffers? Sure.

·         She's going to blame her actions on the meds. PS: she did blame her meds

·         Why would her parents let her out alone in Manhattan in her loopy state?

·         Oh okay, she snuck out. How did she sneak out in her loopy state?

·         Kurt. I smell a love triangle.  (post reading revision: Woops there were no love triangles….kinda…)

·         I can never remember American schooling system. What is a sophomore??? Is that the middle one?!? Then what is middle school?!?! Americans, help me!!!

·         I've never seen someone's [fashion] style described as vanilla ever.

·         Okay Kurt is autistic. I guess it's a nice representation but why do movies and books only ever show those on the high functioning end of the spectrum. Autistics individuals are never really the love interest though. Maybe this will change here? (post reading revision: No it did not. Are autistic individuals just good enough for friends and not lovers? )

·         Isla, sorry to break it to you, you're not real but damn I wish my crush liked me back. Wait no, I don't want to commit to a relationship. I TAKE MY WISH BACK.

·         Falling in love on the first date? Is that possible? Or am I just a love cynic?

·         I wish I was six one like Josh.

·         Also, is Josh like a relegated hot guy name?? Are all Josh hot? Are you a Josh?? If you are, call me.

·         Okay Isla is a stalker. But who blames her. I’m sure we’ve all searched up our crush on google before. But not all of our crush’s dad is on Wikipedia.

·         I'm sorry. I apologise. I'm sorry I was so skeptical at the start. It's just love stories, they have so many opportunities for disappointment. But twelve chapters in and I'm enjoying this book…… so far, sorry sorry no more being skeptical.

·         They're not in university. They're still in school. Why did this just sink in? I read the other two books. They're younger than me. I'm so old. Gawdddd

·         They're together...halfway through the book….what horrors awaits me next...it's only half of the book….

·         Josh’s birthday is on October 24thh!!! Woo 3 days after mine!!! But, how does Isla afford an original paitingg zomg.

·         Don't break school rules. Why kids whyyyyy

·         “These small moments are actually miracles”. That's a nice thought.

·         See kids breaking the rules is never a good idea. Listen to Grandma Christine

·         Gosh, “guilty as hell” is a nice line. Just imagine it being used in a movie.

Scene 1

The stark bright white light from the single pendant light hanging in the middle of the ceiling reflects off the large metal. Three chairs surround the table, two on one side and one alone. A single figure occupies the lone chair, her back is hunched and her long black hair drapes over her face - hiding her face.

A police officer walks in, he's in a button down and khaki slacks. He sits in one of the two chairs. He places a file on the table, the edges of a few paper peek out. He smells like cigarettes and coffee.

He rests his hands on the metal table. On his right hand, a gold metal ring sits on his ring finger. His knuckles are bruised and there's dirt underneath his fingernails.

Brooke:

[Clears throat]

So, do you have anything to say?

The figure remains silent.

Brooke:

Look, we have the evidence. Believe it Missy, you are looking at a life sentence.

M:

[Leans in to Brooke and whispers]

Oh really, then what are we doing here...talking. If you do have the evidence, as you claim you do, then lock me up because...

[She suddenly jerks her face backwards, her hair falls back revealing her face. She stares directly into the Brooke’s eyes]

…I'm guilty as hell.

Explosions go off at the right side of the room. Brooke, caught unaware, lurches away from the direction of the explosion. The sounds of helicopter wings beating can be heard. Shouts from men in a foreign language. Another explosion. More confused shouting. Screams.

Daylight streams into the room. Brooke looks up. He sees the wall on the right side of the room has a hole in it. He sees M walking towards the light. More men shouting.

-end scene 1-

I'm sorry my imagination kinda took over there. I love movies and I'm no screenwriter.

·         

Is that blood on page 273. What?!?!?!?!?

·         

OMG more blood!!! What is this? Did someone's nose bleed? Why is it only on the bottom half of the book? I'm beyond creeped out.

·         Kurt’s parents are Mr and Mrs Bacon. AHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

·         She [Isla] just changes her mind like that? Crying her way through Christmas and suddenly it's the new years and she's running to kismet???

·         Awww man I need a happy ending. I love happy endings. God give me a happy ending. I read this book to get a happy ending and I better get a happy ending or I'll cry.

·         Omg I never want to share my favourite things with anyone...what if we break up and every time I think about my ____insert favourite thing here___ it'll be tinged with the sadness of a failed relationship or whatever. That sounds terrible.

·         I feel you Isla. Ugh. No.

·         I hope Josh does not have hypothermia. I don't think lavender is a good colour on him.

·         Yay happy ending!!!

·         Stephanie Perkins is really pretty.

·        The end. It's 12:30am. I’m going to bed. Note to self: don’t start reading books at 10pm. 

REVIEW: Isla and the happily ever after

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

Author: Stephanie Perkins 

Published: 2014

goodreads 

Isla has had a crush on Josh since freshman year. This year, Josh notices her but is their relationship meant to be?

Stephanie Perkins is great at writing fun, easy to read contemporary romances. I finished Isla and the happily ever after in about one evening. It's a short read. Nothing extraordinary but good if you need something to fill a boring evening in. 

I'm not going to lie, the story is fairly predictable. You can always guess where it's going. However, something that set Isla apart from other YA romance novels is that Perkins explores what happens after a two people get together.

If you've read Anna and the French Kiss or Lola and the Boy Next Door, the writing style is not a huge departure from the two books. Personally, I believe that Perkins writing has improved. The description in this book is far superior to Anna. Maybe this is just me but sometimes in Anna and the French Kiss, Anna's descriptions of things/people around her make her seem really vapid? Here, Perkins has really done her research for this book. I'm excited to see how Perkins's writing flourishes!

The two main characters are Isla (duh) and Josh. Both these characters are explored well enough. I would say pretty much the whole book centers around these two characters, so if you hate the characters then there' a higher probability of you disliking the book. Lucky for me, I really enjoyed Isla and Josh! 

Out of Perkins's three protagonist, I find Isla the most relatable. Anna, I found her kind of vapid and bland. (sorry!) Lola was way too over the top for me. Isla is more of your average girl. She's reserved and has no clue what she should be doing in her future. Josh is also more my type of guy. Etienne was just way too charismatic for me. Ha ha. Warning, Josh has that brooding artist persona going on. 

As I've said, Perkins is darn good at writing romance stories. She somehow always manages to get the readers to yearn for the two characters to get together. There was still conflict that the relationship has to go through, but it wasn't soap opera level problems, more realistic in my opinion. The resolution of the conflict at the end was very rushed, I feel like one more chapter would have helped. 

The two main characters are developed enough. However, the supporting characters remain cardboard cutouts throughout the book. Side characters are barely given any time in the story which would explain their lack of character development. I don't even get why certain characters were included. The story would have been fine without yet one more two-dimensional character. 

So, if you enjoyed the two previous books, then you've probably already read this one . If you've been hesitating because you were disappointed with Lola and the boy next door (like me) then give this book a try as I believe that it's much better than Lola. Also, Anna and Etienne are featured much more in this book than in Lola. 

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han (Review)

Last Saturday was such a hot day, it was a top of 42C! One thing about me is that I hate hot days. I much prefer cold days; I like layering up, I like wearing jumpers, I like wearing scarfs and coats, I like having numb fingers, I like wrapping myself in my blanket and reading a nice book. Needless to say, I become a lot grumpier when it's hot out.

I am currently reading the 4^th Harry Potter book. I was feeling overheated and grouchy and didn't want to associate those feelings with the wonderfulness that is Harry Potter. In my mind I was thinking 'So, what should I read then?'. I needed something cute and light to read. If we live in a cartoon world, there would be a light bulb over my head when I remembered that I had checked out To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (goodreads) from the library.

To All The Boys I've loved before was the exact right book I needed to make me less grumpy!!! I honestly love the book so much. Right after I finished it, I decided what the heck let's just re-read it again and that is exactly what I did. Initially, after I read it I gave it a rating of 3 stars but then after a few hours and the book was still in my head, I decided to change it to a 4 stars! I stand by the 4 stars.

Why should you read this books? Well, if you're looking for a:

1. Cute and easy read that can be done in one sitting; and/or
2. Romance novel because this book is a romance novel from start to finish dashed with a little bit of family drama; and/or
3. Book that has Asian characters where their Asian culture are not erased nor are they the sole basis of their entire character; and/or
4. Book that will just make you smile! Honestly, this book made me chuckle!

The basic plot is that Lara Jean (yes they will always always call her by her first name and middle name) writes love letters to, as you can guess from the title, all the boys she has loved before. The letters are a way she exorcises her love for them. One day, it turns out that someone has mailed those letters. Cue dramatic music.
If you are thinking of checking he book out, actually even if you are thinking this book ain't my thing, please please pleaseee read the prologue of this book which can be found on amazon before your write it off completely. The prologue is just beautiful but don't expect that same quality of writing throughout the entire book. The prologue has the best writing in the whole book in my opinion, the rest of the book is just a notch below it.

What I didn't like about the book:

• There were a few underdeveloped plot lines but there's going to be a second book so this might be remedied
• Many characters are well written but there are some who are just cookie cutter characters
• Lara Jean is sixteen. However, there were times in the book where she sounded a little too immature for her age.
• The plot was kinda cliché as well
• I really didn't like the whole dating your sister's ex thing.
  I just cringed every time I read a romantic scene between Josh and Lara Jean
• The main love interest was slightly possessive. What's with YA books and possessive lead romantic interest? Am I supposed to be in love with guys who would rather dominate me than let me be me? However, in this book the possessiveness was really only in one or two scenes.
  When Peter gets mad at Lara Jean because her Halloween costume accidentally matched Josh's. And getting angry at Lara Jean for how she reacted to the whole sex in a hot tub debacle. Totally uncool

What I did like about the book:

• As I've said this book is funny! It made me laugh out loud a few times. There was this line in particular that made me laugh so hard, "Thank God and Jesus for Christmas break". In context, it's a lot funnier.
• Other than the little bit of possessiveness mentioned above, the relationship between the two lead romantic interests was quite healthy
• I enjoyed the main romantic couple a lot. They might make it to the list of my favourite literary couple! If they do, they will be joining the likes of Ron/Hermione, Elizabeth/Darcy, Anne/Wenthworth, Patroclus/Achilles (the song of Achilles one because the Homer one has pederasty insinuation) and Pippin/Merry.
• I'm a sucker for the "I didn't love you at the start but now I think I do' trope.
• I really enjoyed the dynamic of the relationship between the three sisters! I think Han capture that aspect accurately. My younger sister and I have more of a Lara Jean/Kitty relationship. Margot is the kind of sister I wish I could be though.
• I'm going to reiterate: the writing. The book has good writing throughout. The kind of writing that makes me feel stuff in my stone-cold heart.

If you are still on the fence about this book, check out this video that's sort of a fan adaptation/book trailer of this book by the amazing Yulin Kuang.

I also have a little letter of my own to write:

Dear Americans,

Can you please clarify the American Education system to me. What the heckie is middle school? And what is Junior High? And why do you do internship when you're still in high school? What is elementary school? Is it like primary school? What's the difference between junior and freshman, which one comes first?

Another thing that I'm curious about is the clique culture in American High School. Is the whole clique thing as prominent in real life or has that just been exaggerated for the movies? And are guys in the (American) football team really treated like celebrities in school? Do the cheerleaders wear their cheerleading uniform in classes or just when they are cheering?

And, um, when is Thanksgiving? Also, what's up with Turkey and Thanksgiving?

Yours gratefully,
A very confused Australian.