Jennifer E. Smith
Contemporary Young Adult
416 pages
Poppy
Available Now
Received from publisher via NetGalley
THE STORY (from Goodreads)
When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs?
MY THOUGHTS
This Is What Happy Looks Like is a beautiful blend of fantasy (of the daydream variety) and realism, playing out one of our recurring girlish musings wherein a beautiful boy from a world of fame and fortune falls for the small town sweetheart. This story could have been complete fluff, full of adorable unrealities and sigh-inducing-but-unlikely-moments, but Ms. Smith manages to imbue both Ellie and Graham with an intriguing authenticity and not-insignificant problems to ensure we get swept up in their lives even if they share so few similarities to our own.
Ellie is cute and endearing with a sharp wit that keeps her from being perhaps too perfect, delighting us from the first page with her online banter as she becomes a pen pal to current Hollywood It Boy Graham. Once she realizes who Graham is and that he is in fact the young man she’s been talking to for months, she doesn’t treat him any differently, quickly picking up their easy communication after her initial shock wears off. She has valid reasons for her hesitancy to pursue a relationship with Graham despite every young girl worldwide wishing they were in her shoes, but she never creates unnecessary drama and always approaches things with him with an understandable combination of wistfulness and wariness.
Graham, for his part, is as equally enjoyable a character as Ellie, charming us as he does her with short bursts of vibrant personality that shine through in each of his emails, and he follows up that effortless charisma with an unexpected and well-executed vulnerability. Graham could have easily been simply a character in a romantic comedy, all star quality and smiles with a hidden sadness underneath, and while that’s exactly what he is, he’s written in such a way that he emerges from the confines of ink, paper and labels to become flesh and blood. He never resorts to whining over the challenges of being famous even as they are made glaringly apparent to us, and he never looks for either sympathy or awe from Ellie, instead always putting himself out there to her and hoping she likes what she sees.
Overall, This Is What Happy Looks Like is a fun, light romance with two protagonists who add a little extra depth to familiar roles and make us fall in love with them all the more as a result. Those readers (like myself) who love their romances to be all neatly packaged at the end may find themselves a touch let down when they reach the last page, but eventually logic forces us to recognize the unlikeliness of a sixteen and seventeen year old finding their forever at such ages. Instead we’re left with the equivalent of a sweet kiss on the cheek – perhaps not the exact romantic fulfillment we might have been wishing for, but yet something that holds a great deal of promise and hope for the future.
Rating: 4/5
More information on Jennifer and her books can be found here:
Oh no… so I was reading your reivew and being all happy and fuzzy and excited and then… I come to the last part where you say something about the end..
ReplyDeleteUgh.
So, I want my Romance HEA and … it just makes me sad that this is not the case here. And yes I know you won't stay together with 16 but.. I don't care in books…
It's not that the end isn't happy, it's just left a little more open. I like to know exactly what's going to happen...maybe an epilogue that shows them a few years down the road you know? I know that's not practical with every book, but I can't help it:)
DeleteThere has mostly been middling reviews for this one and the fact that the ending isn't nice and tidy (the way I like it) makes me hesitant to pick it up. It does sound cute. I do love the sound of a gradual romance starting with emails, because I LOVED You've Got Mail, so I'm still undecided. Wonderful review, Jenny! :)
ReplyDeleteThe emails were flippin' adorable, probably my favorite part:) I think you'd enjoy this one Rachel, it's perfect break from the dark and twisty books!
DeleteI really liked This Is What Happy Looks Like. I also though the characters were great :) Amazing review!
ReplyDeleteYay! So glad you liked it too:)
DeleteIt's nice to see some positive review for this one for a change. I've seen some really bad ratings and I wasn't sure should I read it or not. I'm so happy to see that you enjoyed the story. Great review Jenny :)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was a really fun book. Nothing overly serious or dramatic, just a cute romance:)
DeleteThat sounds like a great book!! Added!!
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! Hope you like it!
DeleteI've read the first couple of chapters of this and loved the email banter! It was hilarious. I can't wait to read the whole book! I like your review. Didn't know about he ending but now I won't be upset.
ReplyDeleteHeather
The emails were awesome:) I wish we got more of them throughout even once they met, but I still really enjoyed this one overall.
DeleteOooh, I really hope I liked this one. I love the sound of it, but I also loved the sound of The Statistical Probability...and that one didn't really work for me (even though everybody else I know loved it!) I'm hoping for better things with this one!
ReplyDeleteI'll be curious to see what you think Leanna! I went in just wanting to be entertained, and this one definitely did that.
DeleteWhile I do prefer a neatly packaged ending to my romances, I can get over it if the rest of the story kept me well entertained. Love that this is your girl-next-door-and-star book! I've always enjoyed those (I mean, who wouldn't want Nathan Fillion or Joe Manganiello to show up at your doorstep & sweep you off your feet? Not this girl!).
ReplyDeleteRIGHT?! I would also like to add Chris Hemsworth to that list of men that need to show up at my door and fall madly in love with me. *dies* He's unnaturally gorgeous.
DeleteThese are sometimes the best kind of book to read. And I adore a good story about a small town girl hooking the big celebrity. Not sure how often that really happens, but I like to think that it does. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure this type of story happens much either, but I love the idea of it. I guess it sort of happened for Matt Damon and his wife. I think she was a bartender:)
DeleteI absolutely loved Jennifer's debut last year and I had this one pre-ordered because of it. I haven't been able to read it yet but I am so glad you really liked it. It sounds like it will be a great read too!
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it! It's a feel good read, and I'm sure I'll reread it when I need a little pick me up:)
DeleteThis sounds like a really sweet read that may be good for the beach, especially since it's a light read. From what I hear Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is a little bit better than this book, so I may start there first. Great review, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI love my happily ever afters and I do hate when it's not FULLY understandable if it's a HEA or not. Sometimes the book makes up for it though. Like The Sea of Tranquility - we can't be exaclty sure it's a HEA in that garage, but we know it's a big step towards it. Anyway, I saw Andrea's thoughts on this one a few weeks ago and she was kinda disappointed since it didn't live up to The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, but since I haven't read either of them I think I'm going to start with this one. I think. I love guys in romcoms and I can't wait to meet this young mister in this book:) Eeek! Glad you enjoyed it, it's one of my many TBR books:)
ReplyDeleteI know it's unreasonable to find your soul mate at such a young age, but it's fantasy so I want it so. However, yea... I do then complain that they couldn't have found it so young. I'm a hard one to please. :) This one tho, might be really good after a dark dystopian. You sometimes just need the light after so much dark. Sounds sweet enough for that! :)
ReplyDeleteJenny, your review just inspired me to create a spreadsheet of book recommendations. I'm calling it "if you want...then you should read..."
ReplyDeleteThis Is What Happy Looks Like is going on there for the next time I need a fun, light YA contemp romance. :)
I should read that other book :)
ReplyDeleteI wasn't too happy with The Statistical Probability, there was something too... naive about it. Not the romance, but the MC's family issues that were resolved far too easily. I'm not sure how this would work for me, to be honest. For one, I'm not a fan of the writing stye, and while I love sweet love stories, the ending probably wouldn't work for me.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad YOU loved it, Jenny! I might give it a try anyway when I find the time.
I'm glad you enjoyed this one so much, Jenny! I'm not sure if it's for me, though. Even though I liked Smith's novel that released last year, it wound up being very forgettable, so I think I'll skip this unless I'm in a mood for fluff with a side of depth. Wonderful review, dear! :)
ReplyDeleteYep I'm like you Jenny in wanting that perfect heppy romance in the end. I'm a little disappointed as it doesnt sound like it will happen with this book but both of Jennifer E. Smith's books sound good so I'm sure I will be reading one soon.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds so adorable, I can't wait to read it! Hopefully I won't be too disappointed by the ending =/ Great review!
ReplyDelete"he emerges from the confines of ink, paper and labels to become flesh and blood"
ReplyDeletethat just makes me want to meet Graham :) and thanks for the warning about the end part of this book, at least I know what to expect, I'm not really into perfect romance but I am actually expecting this book to be light & fun read.
Yeah, I think I'm with you about the end. I wouldn't have minded a totally complete HEA, but the ending didn't really bother me. I just imagine how it ends up. ;) I'm glad you enjoyed this one too! Great review!
ReplyDeleteI have been reading mixed reviews on this one. I probably wouldn't like the end, I get to caught up in the "happily ever afters." Nevertheless, you wonderful review has convinced me this is something worth checking out.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you mentioned the ending. I'd prefer to know about it beforehand! Like yourself, I do like it when romances are neatly packaged (even if it isn't always the most realistic approach). Ellie and Graham sound like characters worth meeting. :) Great review, Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI love how you called it a fantasy of the daydream variety because that's exactly what this type book is. I usually need the neat package at the end like you, so I'm wondering how I'll feel about the end. Great review! I look forward to reading this. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great review. I got my signed book today by her. So excited to read it myself.
ReplyDeleteYes, I felt the same way. It was altogether a pretty enjoyable read! This was my first book by this author, but I was so impressed by the blending of dream and reality, as you put it. Fluff is fine and fun, but I prefer my romance with a bit more depth so I was impressed at the effort the author put into accomplishing that. It wasn't a super special read or anything, but it was good while it lasted! Nicely reviewed (as always), Jenny.
ReplyDeleteThe romance in this one sounds cute. I liked Smith's The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight and want to give this a try. The cover looks like it's a fluffy read so it's nice to know that the characters are well-created.
ReplyDeleteWhat I've read so far of this is really fun and adorable, and I'm thrilled to hear it was a hit with you! While I do like HEA's, I also appreciate open ended realism when it makes sense. I think I'm going to enjoy the rest of this when I'm able to get back to it this week. Fabulous review!
ReplyDelete