Rowena’s review of Isla & the Happily Ever After (Anna & the French Kiss #3) by Stephanie Perkins.

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.

I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of this book.  I am a huge fan of this series and I’m sad that this is the last book we’ll be getting from our friends at SOAP. Stephanie Perkins has done such a great job of writing this book that I went into this book with high expectations and I’m so happy to report that Perkins met every one of my expectations.

So in this book, it’s Josh’s turn to get his story told.  If you read the other books then you’ll remember Josh as being the younger best friend of Etiene St. Clair.

Isla has had a fierce crush on Josh since freshman year. She’s miserably watched him and his ex-girlfriend Rashmi make out in the hallways and around school.  She never thought that Josh would ever notice her but when she’s back home in New York over break, she’s delighted to run into him at a coffee shop she frequents.  At the time that she runs into him, she’s high as a kite from having her wisdom teeth pulled but that doesn’t keep her from talking to Josh.  She hangs out with him and then crashes right at the table while Josh is drawing her and Josh ends up paying her bill and walking her home.

Isla was equal parts embarrassed and over the moon over her night with Josh.  She was so excited that she went back to that coffee shop again the next night in hopes that Josh would be there but night after night, he doesn’t show up and Isla goes back to school, a little defeated.

But then the school year begins and Isla and Josh strike up a friendship. They’re in to the same things and a friendship is blossoming.  And the closer they get, the deeper they fall for each other.

I can’t even begin to tell you guys how cute this book is. From the time Josh is brought onto the scene, I adored him. I thought he was the cutest thing in the world and with each turning page, my love for him grew. I loved the way that he fell in complete love with Isla and I loved seeing them fumble around to find their way. There were times when Isla’s insecurities made me want to smack her around but never once did I not like her. I loved seeing Isla grow and learn from living her life, making choices and taking risks. And I loved that through everything that they went through, Josh’s feelings for her were constant and unchanging.

Gah, I grinned my way through this book like a sappy lovesick child but I don’t even care, cause I loved the hell out of this book. Stephanie Perkins wrote a fantastic story about two beautiful kids who found something remarkable and special and those feelings stayed with me long after I finished this book. As much as I loved Anna and the French Kiss, I think this one tops that book on my love meter.

This was the perfect ending to a fantastic series and I’m going to miss these characters (all of them from Anna and Etiene, Lola and Cricket and even Meredith and Kurt) but I know that Stephanie Perkins will introduce some new fabulous characters for me to love. I loved this book.

Grade: 5 out of 5

This book is available from Dutton. You can purchase it here or here in e-format.