Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like

This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date ~ April 2, 2013
Poppy ~ Hachette Book Group
ISBN13: 9780316212823
ARC received from HBG Canada for review

Goodreads Synopsis:
If fate sent you an email, would you answer?
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? 

Sometimes you just need a happy book, one that will pick you up off the ground and set your feet on the ground again. I read This Is What Happy Looks Like while studying for my final law school exams. You know what? No regrets. I wanted a book that would cheer me up, and give me an added jolt of courage.

Jennifer E. Smith's newest book delivered exactly that. Just like there is comfort food, there are comfort books. I began reading this book with that expectation, and I wasn't disappointed. Plus, I really love the movie You've Got Mail which this novel was compared to, so I had to give it a shot!

1. Romance in its simplest form:
   
   The love story isn't an overly complicated one, flush with frustrations and problems. It can seem like a number of YA books include more forbidden romance, so this was a welcome change for me from what I typically read. There's something fresh about this simplicity, and I loved that Ellie and Graham were able to recognize this, too.
   
2. So much more than a love story:
   
   For me, a good romance is just one part of the overall story. I think this is especially true in contemporary books, because too often it seems to me that they focus on the romance and pay very little attention to anything else. The problem with that is that there is the potential to explore so many other ideas, and I love that Jennifer is an author who acknowledges this and incorporates it into her writing. The relationship between Ellie and Graham is incredibly important (and sweet!), but there's so much more to their lives than each other that it was integral to the story that their individual lives be explored as well.
   
3. Quirky, fun characters:
   
   I loved this SO much. Characters need to stand out to me- from each other, from the setting, and from OTHER characters in OTHER books. Graham and Ellie both have their own unique traits, totally uncommon but real enough for them to be believable characters. Their struggles are honest and completely plausible, but they're still unique people. That's a tricky balance to accomplish, but it's successful here.

By the time I finished reading, however, I couldn't help feeling that it was a bit anti-climatic. The hardcover is over 400 pages, but it still felt short somehow. I think that can be attributed to the ease of reading it, while not having too much actually happen.

I also think it helps to go into this book, knowing that you shouldn't expect anything extraordinary but instead more of a quick, sweet read. Because that's exactly what makes it so enjoyable!

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date ~ January 2, 2012
Poppy ~ Hachette
ISBN13: 9780316122382

Goodreads Synopsis:
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?
Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.
Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

OH MY GOODNESS, I just can't even express my undying love and adoration for this one. It's like a cuteness OVERLOAD, and I really don't think there was anything I disliked about it. Because there isn't anything to dislike! It was impossible to put down, and very few books make me as giddy as this one does.

Let me put it this way- 84 pages in, and I already wanted to re-read it. And I hadn't even finished it yet.

1. Love at First Sight:
   
   I can't be the only reader out there who saw the cover, read the description and fell in love with the book right off the bat. Before even reading it. This is the kind of book you buy, devour in a night, then run out to the bookstore to buy copies for all your friends. It is such a fun, neat little story and it was executed perfectly. And no, I'm not someone who buys into love at first sight but Jennifer had me convinced. It was not insta!love in the sense that they obsess over each other, but you could FEEL the chemistry coming off the pages right away. Just one glance- first sight.
2. No really, emphasis on "love" here:
   
   Also, they didn't spend the whole time checking each other out and wanting to rip each other's clothes off. I'm not saying that that kind of romance is bad in books, but I loved seeing how Oliver and Hadley developed their relationship and genuinely cared for each other. It was really, truly sweet.
3. More than just a love story:
   
   However, there's so much more to this story than love and budding romance. Hadley and Oliver are working out some of their own issues when they stumble into each other. And it seems that their vulnerability is what draws them closer than anthing, but it also doesn't shy away from confronting these veyr real issues.
4. Building anticipation:
   
   Jennifer Smith is a wonderful writer; and my favourite part is that she can really pull you into the story for this emotional ride. You're invested in the story as a reader, and she really highlights one of my favourite parts of romance: the build up and anticipation to something BIG. Oh boy, does she ever make us wait for the good stuff.

This is a flawless book which has made its way into my heart, and it's never going to leave. I honestly can't recommend this one enough, and I'm confident this is one book you'll want on your shelf to read over and over again!

Review copy received from Hachette Book Group Canada; no other compensation received. Thank you VERY much to HBG Canada!