Hi there! I finished out the three companion novels by Stephanie Perkins, and I was a bit disappointed with this one. More to come on that though. It was a cute book, and all three of them together make a great aesthetic.
Here’s some things you may want to know:
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.
Publisher: Speak
Publish date: August 14, 2014 Page #: 339
Edition: Paperback, USA My rating: 3.5/5 stars
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I have to say that I liked this least of the three Stephanie Perkins novels. It wasn’t as developed as the others, and I wish I had gotten to know Isla more beyond her obsession with Josh.
One question that is asked is if you have to read them in order. You may prefer to because they build off each other and there are cameos of old characters in the new books. If you’re curious to know what I thought about Anna and Lola just click their names and it’ll take you to those reviews.
Isla was underdeveloped. I feel like she had so much potential, especially after Anna and Lola. She only thought about Josh and how he affected her and vice versa. It felt like her life revolved around this guy she’d had a crush on for a while. Though this isn’t awful I felt like she needed a hobby or passion. Anna had film, Lola had fashion, and Isla… had Josh. I know part of her story is that she doesn’t have a passion. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life, but I feel like she could have had so much more than just be in love with a boy.
One of my favorite characters was Kurt. He is straightforward and no-nonsense. I appreciate the little details Perkins includes in her writing. Lola had 2 dads. Kurt has high-functioning Asperger’s syndrome. They are never the thing in her plots but they add depth and texture too them that isn’t in your typical contemporary.
Despite my qualms about Isla (and her poor decision making) this was a pretty okay book. It was nice to hear about the other characters and how they’re doing, especially Anna and Etienne. It’s a cute contemporary read if you’re looking for one.
Happy reading,
Sophie 🙂
The Mind of a (Book) Dragon 
I’ve heard a lot of things about this book and the others by the same author. I’ve yet to decided if I want to give them a shot, but this was an awesome review! Loved it!
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Thank you so much! I loved Anna, liked Lola, but as you read, I wasn’t much of a fan of Isla.
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