Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins
Review by Ella; dreamer, ski racer, writer, and rock climber. Ella lives in SV, Idaho with her mom, dad, cat, dog, gecko, and fish.
Isla Martin has been in love with Josh since the day she laid eyes on him. The only person she is confident to talk about this with is Kurt, who has been her best friend since they were toddlers. Joshua Wasserstein or Josh is depressed and unhappy due to the fact that all of his friends have just left for college and he feels more alone than ever. After they meet at a café during the summer Isla cannot stop thinking about the handsome artist she ran into that summer.
Josh dives into his artwork and constantly breaks rules, skips school, and seems genuinely miserable. When their senior year at the School of America in France starts, Josh starts to try and forge a relationship with Isla. After realizing that Kurt is Isla’s best friend and not her boyfriend, Josh finds the courage to ask Isla out. It seems like they are each other’s salvation. Josh dives into his art and Isla tries to figure her future out as they fall in love. Then they take a trip to Spain which is against the rules and though their love remains, the rest of their world starts falling apart.
When Josh and Isla are separated from each other Isla becomes insecure and potentially ruins their relationship forever. In this book, we learn about Josh’s true aspirations and deepest feelings and how Isla struggles with her sense of identity.
