Saturday 20 April 2013

#199 Book Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like

This Is What Happy Looks Like
Release Date:9 April 2013
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Hachette Australia
Source: Publisher for Review
Format: Paperback
Where to Buy:  Fishpond | Booktopia
More Info: Goodreads
Summary:
It's June - seventeen year-old Ellie O'Neill's least favourite time of year. Her tiny hometown is annually invaded by tourists, and this year there's the added inconvenience of a film crew. Even the arrival of Hollywood heart-throb Graham Larkin can't lift her mood. But there is something making Ellie very happy. Ever since an email was accidentally sent to her a few months ago, she's been corresponding with a mysterious stranger, the two of them sharing their hopes and fears. Their developing relationship is not without its secrets though - there's the truth about Ellie's past...and her pen pal's real identity. When they finally meet in person, things are destined to get much more complicated. Can two people, worlds apart but brought together by chance, make it against all the odds?
Cover:
SO CUTE! The title font, with the huge yellow 'Happy', the sun background, the guy and the girl holding hands on the boat, they are a great representation of the book! Love it!

Story:

If fate sent you an email, would you answer?

After reading The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight early last year, I was ecstatic when I knew that Jennifer E. Smith had an upcoming novel which sounds just as cute as her previous one. I delved into the book with high expectations but I ended up being slightly disappointed. It's a cute read, but I didn't love it as much as The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

The beginning of this book is probably the bit that I loved the most out of the whole book. It was cute, adorable, lovely and I couldn't stop reading. Why? Well because they were actually a string of emails exchanged between Ellie and Graham who have never met each other before. It was all a coincidence which started with a funny email from Graham to Ellie about his pet pig, Wilbur. Doesn't that sound so cute? A movie star with a pet pig Wilbur? While these email exchanges were so interesting, when the story actually started with narratives from Graham and Ellie, it went downhill for me. There is nothing wrong with the story itself but I guess I found it unrealistic and a bit flat. The romance itself was slightly frustrating at times but it was cute and fluffy!

Characters:
The aspect of the book which actually made me enjoy the story are the characters, particularly Ellie and Graham. Ellie herself is not your typical 'fangirl' who would go crazy when discovering that a famous actor is going to come to their town. She is cool-headed and writes the cutest emails ever! (Graham included as well!) Graham is quite adorable too and I understand the pressure and stress he has because of his job as an actor. The thing I adored most between the two characters are definitely their email exchanges. They are so adorable I wish someone would email me the way Ellie and Graham email each other!

Overall:
If a random stranger accidentally emails you and he is in fact, an actor, what would you do? This Is What Happy Looks Like is a cute and fluffy read even though the story itself wasn't quite as enjoyable as I thought it would be. The thing I loved most about this book is definitely the email exchanges between Ellie and Graham! If you love a fluffy and cute read (plus a bonus addition of a pet pig called Wilbur), then you definitely should check this book out!
4 Forget-Me-Not flowers for This Is What Happy Looks Like! (I guess it's more like 3.5?)
Thank you Hachette Australia for the review copy!

9 comments:

  1. I'm not really into cute and fluffy reads, but I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Celine. If I'm ever in the mood for this type of a novel, I'll have to remember to pick this one up for sure!(:

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  2. Hi Celine! I actually loved this book. So glad you enjoyed it. :) Although I loved it even more than you did. Have you tried The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight?

    Precious @ Fragments of Life

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  3. It's a shame that parts of this fell a bit flat for you after a while, but I'm glad you still enjoyed it overall. I wasn't a huge fan of Statistical Probability, but I did like it well enough and have been curious about this one. Great review, Celine!

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  4. Great review! I have this on my TBR pile and now I am very excited to read it. I read the first few pages and really enjoyed reading the emails between them. I'm glad you enjoyed this :) Thanks for posting!

    Zoe
    www.bookhi.blogspot.com

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  5. I really like the sound of the emails :) It's a shame that it was slightly disappointing, but it still sounds like a quick and sweet book. Great review!

    Mel@thedailyprophecy.

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  6. Love the cover of this one. I've heard some mixed things about this book so far, but that was the case with The Statistical Probability too and I ended up really enjoying it. I completely understand why you were disappointed by the book overall. Hopefully you'll fall in love with her next book.

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  7. It is definitely one I would recommend if you love happy endings, Contemporary YA, and fairy tales, because this has all of those things.
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  8. I have been dying to read this book, but I can't actually bring myself to read it before I read The Statistical Probability. Luckily, I have it on my shelf, so I will be reading it soon.
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