If you know anything about me, you know that I am a sucker for cutesy romances that make your heart flutter. So when I came across this book with its cute cover and promising synopsis in the bookstore, I knew I had to get it. 

It's been a while since I actually read this book, so I'm not exactly clear on specific details but I can tell you the one big looming feeling I have left about this novel several months after reading it is DISAPPOINTMENT. I guess I was looking forward to a sort of Anna and the French Kiss vibe where you learn to grow fond of the city along with everything else. Everything else including falling in love with an adorable boy. 
Sure, the boy is cute, but the romance wasn't exactly something to fall head over heels over. Neither was the story arc with the main character. Without going too deep into my own personal life, let me just say that I am shocking familiar with the situation the main character has gone through. While I know that everyone handles their emotions differently, I found Lina's whole attitude in general to be extremely grating on my nerves. 
I don't remember much about Ren, so he's definitely not a main character that I fell head over heels for. I don't exactly remember really disliking him all that much either. He was more a steady neutral I guess. The whole romance though... It just felt extremely rushed. Not in terms of anything happening, but in terms of when one decides they're in LOVE with the other. I mean seriously, how in love can you be about a week in? 
The more I think about it, the more I think this novel has a lot of parallels with Anna and the French Kiss in terms of the love interest plotline. A LOT in common actually. The setting is pretty similar as well, as they're both thrown into school and life in a foreign country and are forced to make new connections and find their own way in a new friend group. Honestly, I may be biased saying this but if you want that sort of slow burn friends to lovers romance thing along with falling in love with a European city-- go for Anna and the French Kiss. It is infinitely better in every way. 
The one thing that could separate Love and Gelato from Anna and the French Kiss is its main storyline about family and finding it. (Though I suppose a big theme of Anna IS family). Dealing with the loss of a loved one and learning to incorporate a new figure into your life. While this plot line was probably the most interesting of the book, it fell flat. And was also extremely predictable.
Overall I'd give this novel 6/10 stars. It did have some cute and fuzzy moments but overall it felt rushed and there were a lot of annoying moments to outweigh the good ones. 

SYNOPSIS: 
​
A New York Times bestseller

A summer in Italy turns into a road trip across Tuscany in this sweeping debut novel filled with romance, mystery, and adventure.

Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father. But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants to do is get back home.

But then Lina is given a journal that her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her mother, her father—and even herself.

People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.

Kirkus Reviews called Love & Gelato “a sure bet for fans of romance fiction,” while VOYA said readers “will find it difficult to put this book down.” Readers are about to discover a new place, a new romance, and a new talent.

SPOILER 

Ugh. Howard was obviously not her father / X from the start. And wow, the amount of ungrateful this girl is to be living in ITALY is shocking. And finally here's one of my notes that just speaks for itself "just finish the journal before making assumptions." 

Thanks for reading, 
Anj 

​I am hanging my head in shame as I write this. Seriously, I am so very far behind on reviews. There are just too many to catch up on. Too many to even put in the title. Here are the mini reviews provided in this post: 
Part 1
Six of Crows & Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo
Catwoman by Sarah J. Maas
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan 
Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Manis Calco 
Foolish Hearts & Famous in a Small Town by Emma Mills 
​
Part 2
It Ends with Us & Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
The Diviners, Lair of Dreams & Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray 
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson 

Yes. It's a lot of books, but not a lot of books when you think of the time period I've read them over. This is between August and January, you guys (with a few books I'm going to try my hardest to give full reviews to in-between. Those include: Kingdom of Ash by Sarah J. Maas, Queen of Air & Darkness by Cassandra Clare & Wicked King by Holly Black.) I really haven't been reading all that much lately. Not because I don't want to, but because my life has been crowded in every sense imaginable. Here's me making an effort to get back on things. (I did just read two books in the span of the last day, so that seems rather promising.) 
WARNING It's been a very long time since I've read some of these, and I did not take excellent notes so.... These may not be the most passionate reviews. I apologize. 
Here we go. 

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
After reading It Ends With Us, I was a little hesitant going into this novel as I wasn't sure I would get what I was expecting. Well, I didn't get what I was expecting but in a different way. I haven't read enough of Hoover's books to make this a definitive statement, but after this one I began wondering if she write light and cute romance books? Because it seems like her romances are more heavy handed. I was especially in need of a light romance after finishing It Ends With Us, and this was not exactly the cure I needed. 
While Maybe Someday is more romantically oriented, it's by no means a light, fun story. It's far more serious, and realistic, in a depressing way-- light rom coms can also be realistic.  
So yes, it was not what I needed in the moment, and also just not the book for me in general. I was expecting some sort of turmoil about the whole best friend and boyfriend being caught cheating thing (not a spoiler, literally part of the synopsis), but instead that's only mentioned a few times. It's much less about a scorned/hurt girl and circulates more around the relationship between Sydney and Ridge. I will admit their relationship is quite interesting, and it was an experience to get to see it progress, and I enjoyed the honesty between the two of them, but altogether not what I was looking for in a novel at the moment. 
At the start of the novel Sydney is moving into Ridge's apartment, as the apartment she had was shared with her best friend... who was sleeping with her boyfriend. Sydney and Ridge then begin to bond over a shared love of music, and feelings begin to stir. Only, Ridge has a long term girlfriend. 
It's an interesting set up, and an interesting story. Just, as I feel like I've said a number of times, not what I was expecting and not what I was wanting. 
The two things I liked the most about this novel are that a. Ridge is deaf, so it's interesting to see how that works into the plot and b. Colleen Hoover worked with a musician on the book, so when Sydney and Ridge write songs together you can literally LOOK THESE SONGS UP and listen to them. That adds an extremely unique and fun experience to reading. All together, not my favorite romance book, but still an interesting read. Sorry to all the hardcore Colleen Hoover fans I'm offending. 6.5/10 stars. 

Synopsis: 

Contains exclusive content: songs from Griffin Peterson 

Sydney is living in an idyllic bubble—she's a dedicated student with a steady job on the side. She lives with her best friend, has a great boyfriend, and the music coming from the balcony opposite hers is fast becoming the soundtrack to her life. But when Sydney finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her, the bubble bursts. The mysterious and attractive man behind the music, Ridge, gives Sydney hope that she can move on and they begin to write songs together. But moving on is harder than she expects, Sydney can only hope…. 

Maybe someday… 

Colleen Hoover draws you in to this passionate tale of music, love and betrayal…

The Diviners by Libba Bray 
I'm not usually an audiobook kind of girl. See, I'm a fast reader, and can absorb novels far, far faster than can be comfortably listened to. But here's the thing, as I am a seventeen year old girl with the heart of a grandmother, I recently got obsessed with knitting and crocheting, and I can't very well read while doing such hobbies. So I decided to try the audiobook for the Diviners, since it's a book that been waiting on my shelf for a very long time. 
At first I found the voices and the pace a bit annoying, but as I got into it more, I found myself constantly listening to the audiobook, and getting through the absurdly long audiobook in a couple days. Not only did I listen to the book when I was crocheting, I would also listen to it while brushing my teeth, getting ready for school in the morning, while driving to the store to buy more yarn, and even while reading other school books (I'm surprisingly good at multitasking.) This was both due to the combination of an excellent novel and also because after getting used to being read to instead of reading, I really got into the whole audiobook format. I would set the sleep timer and go to sleep listening to the book. Really, there was never a quiet moment. If you're too busy to read, I would highly recommend trying the audiobook (or any audiobook)! It's actually quite useful and enjoyable. 
Now on to the actual novel. The Diviners was nothing like I was expecting. The story mainly follows Evie O'Neill, a girl who goes to live with her uncle in New York City in the 1920s after causing a little too much trouble at home. I thought this would be a very serious story with a serious investigation into murder and an Avengers-like come together moment,  it was nothing like that. I don't even know how to describe this book, it's so unique. There's a definite element of horror, like sometimes I deeply regretted listening to this as I was falling asleep. The murder scenes are creepy as what, made creepier by the audiobook since the narrator actual whistles and sings the songs as the murderer approaches. There's also just teen drama going on. Evie's a party girl, she's a flapper after all, and doesn't like to take things too seriously. It's such a strange combination, and yet... somehow it all works. If you're tired of the same old tropes and whatnot, definitely check this book out, because there's nothing like it. 
Evie is truly her own person, I can't think of any other protagonists to compare her to. She's extroverted, stubborn and possesses an overabundance of confidence. She has the special ability to read any object she puts her hands on, which, while some other protagonists might keep their talent a secret, she literally uses it as a party trick. Yeah, Evie is definitely different from any protagonist you might read, but she's not one you'll be likely to forget anytime soon. At first she may come off as frivolous and a bit annoying, but as you get deeper in the novel, you can't help but fall in love with her. 
This is one of those novels that has a whole giant cast of characters with a plethora of POVs. I found that Evie's POV and those around Evie were the most interesting. Meaning that every single time we got to a Memphis chapter, I got a little bored. Sorry everyone who likes Memphis, he's just not all that interesting to me. 
Here's a brief overview of all the characters you'll be meeting

Mabel Rose-- she's Evie's best friend, and her polar opposite. She's meek, quiet and introverted, quite happy to just follow Evie around and live under the shelter of her helicopter parents and silently pine after Jericho Jones. I'll be honest, Mabel is not my favorite character, never has been. In the first book she's okay, but as the series progressed, she became my least favorite and at times I was ready to throw some punches at her. 

Sam Lloyd-- Let's just introduce this beautiful boy as my one true love. Sam is by far my favorite character in the entire series, with Evie coming in as a close second. He's a thief and skilled liar, yet he is also extremely charismatic and his banter with Evie is something I live for. He gets on her last nerve and will poke at her to get a rise just for fun. If that isn't #perfect, I don't know what is. Oh, and he may have a mission and goal of his own along with some surprising secrets... 
​
Will Fitzgerald-- Evie's uncle who she comes to live with. He runs The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition and the Occult-- more commonly known as The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies, which isn't doing so hot lately. Like almost all the characters in this story, he's basically filled past the brim with secrets and backstory, many of which have yet to be revealed. Will is friends with a detective, which is why, when a ton of strange murders occur, Will is brought in to consult. (And then Evie tags along, much to her uncle's annoyance. ) 

Jericho Jones-- this is Will's sort of adopted son / employee. He's a stoic young man of giant stature yet quiet nature who is hiding (shocker) a big secret. Jericho is not my favorite character. He's sweet but when the book is filled with some much more colorful characters, Jericho falls behind in the race for my love. (also I will mention things later in other reviews of the later books). 

Theta Knight-- She's a strong minded woman who doesn't mind causing a bit of scandal-- not nearly as much as Evie does, though. At first when she was introduced, I expected Theta to be your typical mean girl, but instead she and Evie become fast friends. I loved that element of the novel. And yes, she's also hiding a deep dark secret. Theta lives with her best friend, Henry, and I have to say I adore their relationship and wish it was explored to greater depths. 

Henry DuBois-- Not much is revealed about Henry in book 1, other than he plays piano and is gay. He's funny for the tiny bits of time that you see him, and well, he's hiding something too. Shocker. You get to find out a whole bunch more about Henry in book two. I love this guy, can't t really say much more than that, sorry! 

Memphis Campbell-- yup. This is the guy whose chapters I found to be boring. He used to have power, but he lost it after a tragic event in his past. Perhaps one of the reasons I was so bored by his storyline was because it was so detached from the others who I already loved and whose fates were quite intertwined (and I'd argue their storyline was more intriguing as well.) He lives in Harlem with his little brother and their highly religious aunt. He's black, which adds an interesting and sometimes sad dynamic as you see how racist many people were back in the 20s. 

Remember how I mentioned earlier about that dash of horror? More like a heaping of horror. The story starts with some sort of spirit named Naughty John being released, and oh boy, do I wish those dumb kids had left that Ouija Board alone, because Naughty John created some creepyass scenes that will probably haunt my dreams for a long time. The creep factor of this story... Wow. If you get the opportunity, I would seriously suggest audiobooking this one because it elevates the spookiness by so much. Here's something to think about, cheerful singing whilst committing brutal murder... 

Overall, I just highly recommend this book. It's nothing like you're expecting, with a unique and interesting cast of characters and an even more unique story. Still, there were some things that just felt like they were missing. Like there were a ton of satisfying moments and scenes I would've liked to have seen, but they happened without actually being written, like they're mentioned, but we never actually get to be in the scene. The relationships are just assumed, too. Like pivotal moments between characters and just the characters getting to know each other and whatnot is more mentioned than what we actually see. I think the story's strong points are its setting and plot, while its characters' relationships and developing them is a bit of a weakness. (This becomes more prominent in later books.) See, I'm the type of person who wants to be IN the action, not hearing mention of it later! And I also love watching relationships build and seeing dynamic between characters instead of just assuming something happened "off-screen," and that a lot of what these books want you to do. 

7/10 stars. The first book is nothing AMAZING, but it's a really fun read. I was left wanting to see more moments from the "side characters" aka everyone other than Evie, as some of them (Memphis) seemed pointless to the story arc. The novel definitely had a slow side, but it also created an enchanting world. 

Synopsis: 

​Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.

Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.

As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Lair of Dreams by Libba Bray 
Somehow this book is able to take on a completely different tone from the first, yet still be absolutely riveting and sufficiently scary, in its own manner. And dare I say it? I do, I think that Lair of Dreams is even better than its predecessor. Again, I audiobooked this one as I am unfortunately unable to physically read whilst crocheting, which is my latest obsession. 
Going to be real honest here-- I'm writing this part of the review in May when I audiobooked it in November.... Which means it's most definitely not fresh in my mind. 
I don't want to say much, especially because it's been so long that my feelings and thoughts are not completely accurate, but THIS IS A FANTASTIC NOVEL. It was a lot of fun to read, especially if you're curious about the seemingly side characters-- they're main, but were pretty off to the side in book one, meaning Henry, Theta, Mabel etc. Really, Henry's storyline is what drives the book. You get to find out so much more about him, and even get introduced to a new main character-- Ling Chan. She took a bit of getting used to for me, but now I like her-- I'm just not good at adjusting to new things, haha. 
While Henry's storyline really drove the plot, there were plenty of other things going on with the other characters to keep the reader entertained and intrigued.  You dig a lot deeper into Theta's backstory, follow Mabel as her life is completely turned on its head... sorry, not a big fan of her, and MOST IMPORTANTLY get caught up in a whirlwind fake romance between my true love and my fave. Aka Sam and Evie get stuck in creating a fake romance, which is positutely the best thing that could've occurred. Fake romances are cliche, but they're legit one of my favorite things, especially when being run by one of my SHIPS! Seriously, this fake romance was SO much fun because Sam and Evie's banter never fails to entertain. I mean, also they're both perfect, so they perfectly belong together, am I right or am I right? 
Anyway, sorry for the shitty review. Read this book if you liked the first one, but be aware the the tone is very different than that of the first (which still works!) Again, same as with the first book, my biggest issue is the lack of the "people" moments, really seeing a lot of vital moments in relationships and whatnot. It's not insta-stuff seeing as there's a lot going on in the background that you just don't get to see, but I want to see it! 7.5/10 

Synopsis: 
​
The longing of dreams draws the dead, and this city holds many dreams.

After a supernatural showdown with a serial killer, Evie O’Neill has outed herself as a Diviner. With her uncanny ability to read people’s secrets, she’s become a media darling, earning the title “America’s Sweetheart Seer.” Everyone’s in love with the city’s newest It Girl…everyone except the other Diviners.

Piano-playing Henry DuBois and Chinatown resident Ling Chan are two Diviners struggling to keep their powers a secret—for they can walk in dreams. And while Evie is living the high life, victims of a mysterious sleeping sickness are turning up across New York City.

As Henry searches for a lost love and Ling strives to succeed in a world that shuns her, a malevolent force infects their dreams. And at the edges of it all lurks a man in a stovepipe hat who has plans that extend farther than anyone can guess…As the sickness spreads, can the Diviners descend into the dreamworld to save the city?

In this heart-stopping sequel to The Diviners, Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray takes readers deeper into the mystical underbelly of New York City.

An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson 
Gonna be real honest, the first time I saw  this book I was attracted to it because I recognized the cover art's artist. It's the same artist who does Sarah J. Maas works, I think it's Charlie Bowater? But I'm not exactly sure. Then I looked up the synopsis and wasn't exactly hooked, so I continued scrolling.
I actually forget what finally convinced me to order this book, possibly all of the amazing ratings I'd been seeing. For example, one of the reviews I read said that Rogerson was BORN to write, so I figured I shouldn't miss out on the hype and go ahead and try it out. 
Overall thoughts is yeah, it's a fun, light read. Especially if you're a fan of fae, which I am. (fan is a bit of a soft word for how obsessed I am with the fae lol.)  One of the problems with the story is just how short it is-- I literally read it in one sitting. Due to the lack of length, it felt a little lacking in the building of certain aspects. Reading this book was an odd combination of pieces that felt too fast and others that felt way too slow.  The ending especially felt rather rushed-- the magnitude of big threats wasn't felt all that much with how quickly the story wrapped up. 
I absolutely adored the descriptions in this novel, they were very vivid and illustrated. I could really see the world and its characters in my mind's eye. I also found myself laughing A LOT whilst reading this one. I loved all of the intricacies with the fae, like if you're polite to them they HAVE to be polite back. Also, the fae we get to know best throughout the novel-- Rook, is hilarious because of his childish tendencies. Seriously, he just thinks he can has what he wants and throws temper tantrums when he doesn't get them, and while that sounds unattractive, it's adorable and hilarious the way it's shown in the novel. Basically, Rook doesn't know any better when it comes to interacting with humans. Actually, all the fae are very childhish in ways, haha. One of my notes is literally "lol, all the fae are children." 
Another thing that I really enjoyed about this book was Rogerson's take on the Fae, and how, despite all the amazing things in their lives, they're empty inside. They have no emotions, which is something they envy the humans for. They're all not the glamorous beings portrayed in many other fae novels. Instead, they're all vain and glamoured beings-- not nearly as beautiful as they show themselves to be. In fact, these Fae glamour everything, including their food to make their lives seem as perfect as possible. Since they're empty inside, Fae are unable to create, which is why they are so fascinated by humans, and their dabbling in the arts. 
The romance in the book was borderline instalove, which I hate-- because then you get no time to really get attached or root for the relationship. Borderline, not totally. See, the attraction and connection springs up real quick, but the romance such doesn't happen for a long while, so I was pretty excited when the romance kicked in. 
​Again, my biggest issue with the novel was how short it is. I think most of the other issues I have with it come with its length. Like there's this whole larger set up in the background about an issue with the world that I expected to be somehow resolved, but it wasn't, which left me feeling a little disappointed any empty. Also, the plot was rather predicable for me-- all the big twists I saw coming from about 200 pages away (which is about the length of the book. 
All in all, a very enjoyable, light read 7/10 stars. There's a fun romance, and interesting and exciting plot. However, I'd advise not to expect too much depth going into the novel. It's there to tell one story, and it does that job well. It brushes on ideas that hint at greater depth in the world, but those are never truly resolved or used to their greatest potential. 

Synopsis: 
A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.

Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

Once again Emma Mills proves her outstanding ability to write an absolutely adorable romance and story in her novel This Adventure Ends. Mills previously displayed her prowess in her debut novel, First & Then, which was an equally adorable and quirky adventure that I highly recommend if you're in the mood for a cutesy romance. 
Like First & Then, This Adventure Ends isn't solely a romance book. While First & Then concentrated on the idea of family, This Adventure Ends expands its boundaries out to friendships as well. And boy, do I love the relationships in all of Mills' novels. She sets them up in such a compelling and realistic way that it's impossible not to get attached to the relationships, both romantic and platonic. 
While there was a romantic undertone to this novel, it was a undertone. There, but definitely not the most important highlight of the novel. The most important being the friendships made throughout the book. It was very enjoyable watching Sloane, the book's slightly lonerish protagonist, make friends and then watching those relationships build. 
The characters are so genuine and real that it feels almost as if they might step out of the book at any moment. The entire novel, actually, felt very realistic, while also being entirely too cute and adorable to handle-- it's definitely not stereotypical. 
Sloane isn't your typical loaner, at least, she's not the image that pops into my head when the word "loaner" is mentioned. What I mean when I say that Sloane is a bit of a loaner is that she's never really had any close friends. She had friends, but none of them close enough to even make her want to stay in her hometown (city?) of New York when her parents wanted to move right before her senior year. Sloane is funny in a sarcastic, deadpan manner that I appreciate. While she's not exactly the expert on relationships, it's fun to watch her stumble through actually forming real bonds of friendship in her new town. 
Meet Vera and Gabe, two twins who couldn't be more different. Vera is a vivacious, effervescent girl who everyone can't help but love. Meanwhile, the book at first describes Gabe as being "serious." Something that made me a bit nervous because I don't like a very serious guy. Luckily, it wasn't the sort of serious that I was thinking. It actually makes whenever Gabe actually does crack a joke or laugh all the more rewarding. He's a bit socially awkward, which I love. While I love a confidant guy, I also love my socially awkward boys. Really, I guess it's not all that hard to impress me when it comes to book boys, haha. I love these twins, because of their relationships with Sloane as well as their presence throughout the book. Like I said before, the characters are very well fleshed out, and they feel so real... It's hard not to fall in love with any and all of them. 
I'll be completely honest with you, I've had this book sitting on my shelf for longer than I'd like to admit. I actually had it the day it came out (thanks, Amazon prime pre-orders), but did I read it? No. Why? Because well, I didn't really feel compelled to do so. I was worried Mills' magic from First & Then would be lacking in this novel, and also the idea of hunting down a portrait just didn't hook me. Sometimes I just really hate myself, and this is one of those times. Similar to me avoiding reading Better Off Friends, it was really just a dumb mistake. I could've experienced the joy and happiness This Adventure Ends had to share years ago! But I waited until now because... Because I just didn't feel like reading it. Ugh. Why, Anji? Why? I will not make that mistake again and have already bought Mills' most recent release and plan to read it ASAP. 
Anyway, getting off track, I'm giving this book 8/10 stars because I absolutely loved it. It had me cringing at the embarrassing moments, laughing at the funny ones and grinning like a maniac most of the time I was having the pleasure of reading it. (Also side comment-- can we just appreciate how cute and aesthetically pleasing all of the covers for Mills' novels are??) I highly recommend this one, and hope you all enjoying reading it as much as I did! 

Synopsis: 

Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.

SPOILERS BELOW

I love how realistic the ending is. While you would want them to get their painting back... Most of the time, that wouldn't happen. That would've been the "fairytale" ending, and, given how realistic the rest of the novel is, that wouldn't seem right. Also, the painting isn't the point! It's the motivation for finding the painting. 
I also would like to comment on OH MY GOD. Gabe and Sloane. Love their relationship and the slow burn of it. I mean, I knew he was asking her out, but clearly Sloane didn't catch on the first time. And the tucking in part? I was dying from the cuteness there. 

This story seems to be taking the world by storm, due to its recent adaption by Netflix. The story of a girl's first kiss... and the havoc followed by it. What do you do when you start dating your best friend's brother? Well, certainly not what Elle Evans does... 
The Kissing Booth follows Elle Evans, who, up to her junior year, has never kissed a boy. Ever since she was born, she's been best friends with Lee Flynn, they're practically twins. The issue is that she's always had a crush on Lee's bad boy older brother, Noah, and she can never act on that crush because a. it's her best friend's brother and b. he only sees her as his little brother's best friend-- or does he? When Elle and Lee come up with the idea of hosting a Kissing Booth for their school fair, little do they know that very same booth will change their lives. 
Okay, yeah, that was a little dramatic. Let's just say that drama ensures after the kissing booth. 
My usual policy is READ THE BOOK FIRST. Why? Because it's a universally known fact among readers that the book is better than the movie. 
Unfortunately, I did not follow my usual policy for this movie. I was bored, and in the mood for a cute rom-com movie. Plus, I was working on a very, very long project for school and therefore didn't have time to read a book, just needed something in the background. (And I also didn't have the book.) 
I'm not sure if the movie impacted my view of the book, perhaps it set forth a few expectations from me, but for the most part, I think my view of the book was fairly unimpacted. And to just get these words out of the way, I was not a huge fan of the book. I would give it 5/10 stars. There were parts of the book that yes, I enjoyed, but the biggest part of the book-- the romance, was something I just could not get behind. 
The relationship between Elle and Noah in the book was not healthy. Whenever they got into an argument, it was never resolved. Noah would just kiss her and BOOM everything was okay, even when yes, what they were arguing about was perfectly legit and really needed to be discussed. I don't want to be overly "extra" when saying their relationship made me uncomfortable, but, well, their relationship made me uncomfortable. I was waiting for something to be redeeming about it, but I couldn't find anything. Noah is possessive, and while I guess that could seem romantic... It's really not, especially not the lengths he'll go to to protect what's "his." Seriously (slight spoiler here) there's a moment in the book where he may have broken someone's rib. And does he feel regret? None. Why? Because he was "protecting" Elle. (spoiler over.) 
There are plenty of examples of how violent Noah is throughout the book. I guess that also is supposed to make Noah seem dreamy due to his manliness, but really it makes him less attractive in my eyes. He gets rather frightening when angry and is very, very violent. It's discussed in the book that Noah realizes this and thinks he's messed up, but that still doesn't make his actions okay. 
The movie actually toned Noah's violence and anger down, but still, in the movie there are some very clear signs of the relationship being unhealthy. It's really romanticizing violence, and possessiveness. I'm glad they were able to tone it down in the movie, though, because the sad fact of life is that more people will always see the movie as opposed to reading the book.
When comparing the two, it would appear that the story is out of the ordinary in terms of the movie is better than the book. The book just ran all over the place, while the movie (tried to) cut out the extra moments and keep the plot straight. The book's plot is like a roller coaster, just going up and down, up and down. There's so much extra stuff in it that feels unneeded, it felt too long. There's just too much extra stuff in there to add more drama to the story instead of just telling a good story. I think the whole "list" kept the movie more structured, while the book desperately needed some structure.
Between the book and the movie, I actually think the movie was able to improve most aspects of the book. I think the plot was better constructed, and Noah was definitely better in the movie than in the book. Elle's character remained about the same between both. The only thing that was definitely better in the book was Lee's character. 
In the move I found Lee's character to be annoying, and quite frankly, a very, very bad friend. (spoiler for the movie) For instance, he allows Elle to strip on the table. Instead of getting her down, he just looks away, wincing. That's a bad friend move. And then the way he reacts upon finding out about Elle and Noah? Horrible. In the book, he handles it better-- the way you'd expect a good friend would. (spoiler over). 
Book Lee is a much better character in terms of his friendship with Elle in the book. 
My overall thoughts about the movie, it was okay. Good for if you're bored and in the mood for a rom-com. If you don't think about it too much, the movie was enjoyable. But when you think about it, you'd probably realize that the movie is not spaced out well. It's very little build up to the romance, so that it can leave a large chunk of time for drama, and then no time for the resolution so its ending feels rushed. I'd give the movie 6/10 stars, it wasn't great, but it was good for the mood that I was in while watching (or listening) to it. 
Anyway, the Kissing Booth is definitely not my strongest recommendation for a cute romance book. If you're looking for an adorable romance, I would recommend Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins or To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han (Which is also being made into a Netflix movie!!!!). 
Never the less, here's the synopsis: 

Meet Rochelle Evans: pretty, popular--and never been kissed. Meet Noah Flynn: badass, volatile--and a total player. And also Elle's best friend's older brother... 

When Elle decides to run a kissing booth for the school's Spring Carnival, she locks lips with Noah and her life is turned upside down. Her head says to keep away, but her heart wants to draw closer--this romance seems far from fairy tale and headed for heartbreak. 

But will Elle get her happily ever after?

SPOILER

OKAY SO LIKE, ELLE LYING TO LEE WHEN SHE GOES TO PROM WITH NOAH PISSED ME OFF SO MUCH. LIKE DID YOU NOT FEEL ENOUGH PAIN FROM THE FIRST TIME YOU LIED? AND LEE FORGAVE YOU! she didn't learn her lesson and UGH. Don't lie to your friends. 

Anyway, thanks for reading, 
​Anj

Several years ago, when I was a Wattpad fanatic, I started reading this insanely popular book called The Bad Boy's Girl by Jessgirl93. I don't remember much about that book, but I do remember that I really enjoyed it. So when I found out that this book was published? I knew I had to pick it up. 
The Bad Boy's Girl follows Tessa O'Connell, a high school senior content to live her life hopefully flying under the radar. She lives in constant fear of her peers, who bully her mercilessly... That is, until the one person she would've never expected comes back into her life and turns everything upside-down. 
Cole Stone, the brother of the boy Tessa's hopelessly in-love with. He tormented her through her childhood, but now he's back. And he's different. Cole is kind. And he pushes Tessa to be better, to actually live a real life. 
Tessa is a highly relatable character, she's not aloof. She feels real. She's someone the reader can really connect with and understand. And she's funny (as is the story in general.) 
Cole, Cole is basically everything you want in a boy, or I want in a boy. Dark hair sarcastic attitude and a heart of gold underneath all the blunder. What a perfect boy, he proves over and over again how perfect he is through his acts of chivalry towards Tessa. He's back and he's there to prove that he's the one for Tessa O'Connell. 
All in all, this book was a really fun read. It has the components that would win me over in a contemporary novel. Funny, relatable protagonist, bad boy with a heart of gold and an entertaining plot line. The protagonists aren't the only well shaped characters in the story either. No, there are some side characters included who are very well rounded. 
Thing is, the book had such a strong start. The first two thirds of it were fantastic. It was a fun, lighthearted read. Just a book that would make your day better, you know? Aside from having some grammatical flaws, The Bad Boy's Girl was, sorry I'm repeating myself a lot, but the perfect contemporary read. 
And then the last third of the book... This is the reason I'm so conflicted about the story. The ending of a story is really the major thing that sticks with you after you finish it... And the last third of the Bad Boy's Girl was highly disappointing. Actually, the last third of the book really felt unneeded and actually felt more like it was dragging. It kind of felt like it forgot all the side characters and just concentrated on Cole-Tessa and that got... boring. Just the same little things happening over and over and the tension just felt really arbitrary and forced. No, I'm not just upset about the ending because by then I didn't really care that much, plus I've also read the Wattpad version so I know there's more to the story. Basically, the last third of the book kind of ruined it for me. It was forced and just... Meh. I didn't enjoy it. Which is why the star rating is lower than it should be for all the praise I gave for the beginning. 
Would I recommend this book? ... Not sure. See, as I keep repeating over and over. The beginning 2/3s is GREAT. It's the perfect story, it just drags near the end. I want to really like this book, I do... But I just can't get over the ending, I'm sorry. Also the editing is pretty poor-- there are a lot of grammatical errors. But I understand that because I make grammatical errors all the time (I bet there are about a million in this very review), but I would expect it to be a little more clean in a published book. All together I'd give the Bad Boy's Girl 6/10 stars. I've said all I want to say on the topic. Actually, I've just repeated the same thing over and over again. So I think you all know how I feel about it. Sorry this review sucks, I'm just really conflicted over this book and also have a big back up of reviews and it's been a while since I actually read the book. 

Synopsis: 

“Some people bring out the worst in you, others bring out the best, and then there are those remarkably rare, addictive ones who just bring out the most. Of everything. They make you feel so alive that you’d follow them straight into hell, just to keep getting your fix.”
— Karen Marie Moning, Shadowfever

Tessa O’Connell is a girl as ordinary as they come-or so she thinks. Her aim for senior year is to keep her head down yet somehow manage to convince her childhood love Jay Stone to love her back. What she isn’t prepared for is for Jay’s brother, Cole to return to town and change the life she’s always been seemingly content to live. Tall, gorgeous as all hell and a bad boy with ocean blue eyes and the perfect edge of adorability, he was her greatest tormentor, her number one enemy.But the guy that’s come back is like no one Tessa’s ever come across. He challenges her, he tests her limits, he forces her to bring out the girl she’s long ago buried under a veil of mediocrity and most of all he compels her to consider that perhaps the boy that infuriates her to the point of no return might just her guardian angel.

Warning: The story comes with a bad boy notorious for making you swoon, inducing hysterical laughter and making you question whether you could purchase a clone on ebay

Anyway, thanks for reading. I'm sorry my reviews have sucked lately, please bear with me, I've been very busy and haven't had much of a chance to write. Also... Yeah. Well. I'll try to clean them up! 
Love you all, 
Anj

Cute, light and happy, everything you want in a contemporary novel. How do introverts fall in love? Apparently texting. Maybe I should try it out sometime, haha. 
Several years ago when I was super into Wattpad, I started reading this story called the Cell Phone Swap. I really enjoyed it, so when I saw this book, the published version, I just knew I had to get it. And I do not regret that choice in the slightest. 
Extrovert follows Keeley, an introverted girl who's always lived in the shadow of her brother Zach, who's captain of the football team and one of the most popular boys in school. She's never been the star of her family or her school, that was always Zach's place. Then, one day Keeley accidentally swaps phones with someone who happens to be an extremely attractive guy. 
While Textrovert is every cliche put to the max, it's still highly enjoyable. This book doesn't use the cliches in that annoying I've-read-this-one-million-times before way. No, it actually uses the cliches in the way that you can enjoy the classic adorable tropes. Sure, everything was extremely predictable, but aren't all contemporary novels? The fun of contemporary novel isn't the mystery, it's the journey the story takes you on. :Like how much you smile and laugh while reading this book. 
I frequently found myself grinning from ear-to-ear whilst reading this book, as well as squealing from the adorability of it. 
An extra just cute factor of the book is that it's formatted so that the texts sent between Keeley and Talon are depicted as actual texts, which I just absolutely loved. 
Keeley is a relatable protagonist who's easy to sympathize with. I soon found myself falling in love with her, the way she thought and her relationship with not only Talon, but also her brother. Even though Zach is the "star" he still needs his sister, and doesn't want to be separated from her. That pulled on my heart and I just... I love Zach. I love all the characters in this book-- there isn't a single one that I found really annoying, no I liked the way they all fit together. But back to Keeley. She's the perfect protagonist for the story, I loved following her thoughts throughout. She's funny, and over text she comes off as sarcastic and a little confidant, while in real life she's shy and frequently second guesses herself. Tell me that isn't relatable. I can really relate with having a relationship (I'm not talking about boyfriend girlfriend, just a relationship as in a connection between two people) over text/the internet with someone being perfectly okay-- where you can basically tell each other anything, but when we come face to face? It's kind of awkward at first. Neither of us are really sure of what to say to each other, or how to act. So yeah, I really relate to Keeley in this story, and not only because of that. She's just a very likable protagonist. 
Talon is Keeley's love interest. The guy she accidentally swaps phones with. He's the perfect boy. He has his flaws, but that makes him so much more perfect and realistic in my eyes. He's cocky, sure, but he has a heart of gold underneath and really, that's all that matters. I don't really want to give too much away about him. I'll let you fall in love with him on your own. 
I've already mentioned my love of Zach, he's so sweet and my heart frequently twisted for him in this story... I'm actually maybe crossing my fingers for a spin-off/ companion novel following Zach. Yeah, that's how much I love this character. 
All in all I would give Extrovert 8/10 stars. It was everything I could want in a contemporary novel, sweet romance with heartstoppingly cute moments that had me squealing loud enough to scare my cats, funny moments and lines that had me laughing hard enough to scare my cats, and characters that are so easy to grow attached to that my heart could barely handle it. (Yeah, could't relate that to my cats, sorry.) I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy some good, cute, light romances as well as some well-used cliches. 

Synopsis: 
​
Summer is nearly over and Keeley is about to start her senior year when disaster strikes: she picks up the wrong cell phone by mistake. 😞 Just her luck that it belongs to Talon, a totally arrogant jock 🏈 who’s just left for football camp—with herphone. Keeley doesn’t know him, but they’ll need to rely on each other to forward their messages for an entire week.

Talon is so full of himself, but Keeley quickly discovers he’s funny, too—at least his texts are. 😅 And he listens to Keeley—which is more than anyone else does. Texting Talon, she can be more than just the quiet twin sister of a popular boy. Texting Talon, she can be the outgoing person she’s always wanted to be. Soon the two are falling for each other, hard.

But when true identities are revealed and secrets are exposed, will Keeley’s feelings stay the same?

Anyway, thanks for reading <3
Anj

Did you know you're more likely to be struck by lightning than win the lottery? Maddie isn't much of an impulsive character, but on a whim she buys a lottery ticket... And then Maddie's life gets turned upside-down. No, she didn't get struck by lightning, she won the lottery. 
Like many of Kasie West's books, Lucky in Love is stock full of cliches, but that just makes the story all the more adorable and enjoyable. 
Maddie, the main character, is someone who likes to be in control. She has a perfect plan for her future... but her life is thrown into chaos when she, shockingly enough, wins the lottery. I enjoyed Maddie's character. She's practical, for the most part, and I could relate with her determination. Though, yes, she could be naive at times and the way she was spending her money drove me a bit crazy at times, it was all good. I still really liked Maddie's narrative, she's part of what made this book so good. 
Maddie's love interest is Seth, a wannabe filmmaker. He's a darling sweetheart. Very lighthearted, he and Maddie made quite the cute pair. 
Maddie's friends, Elise and Blaire, were good characters as well. They were well rounded, not flat like the side characters in West's last novel, By Your Side. These girls have their own personalities that you can really picture while reading this book. 
Same with Maddie's family, yes, they could be insufferably irritating at times, but they felt like real characters, which was another aspect of why this book was so good. The characters felt real. 
All in all, I would give Lucky in Love 7/10 stars, it was a great romance. Really cute, though I wasn't invested enough in the romance to squeal a lot while reading it, I still found myself smiling while reading certain pages. I recommend this book if you're looking for a feel good, cutesy novel, also if you haven't read any other of West's books, they're fantastic. I especially recommend P.S. I Like You and The Fill-In Boyfriend. They're cliche and that's what makes them such cute reads. 
Synopsis: 
​
Can’t buy me love…

Maddie’s not impulsive. She’s all about hard work and planning ahead. But one night, on a whim, she buys a lottery ticket. And then, to her astonishment--

She wins!

In a flash, Maddie’s life is unrecognizable. No more stressing about college scholarships. Suddenly, she’s talking about renting a yacht. And being in the spotlight at school is fun…until rumors start flying, and random people ask her for loans. Now Maddie isn’t sure who she can trust.

Except for Seth Nguyen, her funny, charming coworker at the local zoo. Seth doesn’t seem aware of Maddie’s big news. And, for some reason, she doesn’t want to tell him. But what will happen if he learns her secret?

If you've ever wondered what might happen if you were trapped in a public library with a mysterious brooding boy who may or may not have a checkered past... Well, this book may answer that question. By Your Side is written by Kasie West, one of my favorite romance authors. Her books are filled to the brim with cliches, but the fun kind, not used in an annoying way. 
By Your Side follows Autumn Collins who, as previously mentioned, gets trapped in the library for a weekend with the school's mysterious bad boy, Dax Miller. On the outside, it would seem that Autumn is your typical popular girl. She has a ton of friends, and the perfect boyfriend-ish figure. On the outside, Dax is your typical delinquent character. He's been to juvie, and keeps to himself. Frequently skipping classes and scaring everyone else enough to stay away from him. 
Of course, everyone is a whole lot deeper than how they appear on the outside. That made these characters more interesting to follow, especially since their problems seemed to compliment each other (what good couple's don't?) 
All in all, By Your Side is a very quick read, and a good romance. I couldn't help but be attached to the other guy-- Jeff, as well. The characters are fairly interesting, but for the most part this book didn't quite do it for me. It didn't have me squealing in excitement or adoration over the heartstopping romance like some of Kasie West's other stories. Still, it was a good read, just not my favorite. I would give By Your Side 6.5/10 stars. It was good, just nowhere near great. I wasn't exactly attached to the characters in any way, or their relationships. But I still did find myself tearing my eyes away from the book in the awkward moments, which means I could feel some of the emotions of the book. 
While the main characters are fairly well rounded, most of the other characters are VERY flat. I guess there wasn't enough time to characterize any of them. Some of the parts of the book just seemed unnecessary, like they're just there to add length. That is, the book still was very quick. I would definitely recommend some of West's other books more than this one (P.S. I Like You, On the Fence, The Fill-In Boyfriend etc.), it still was a good read. 
Synopsis: 
​
When Autumn Collins finds herself accidentally locked in the library for an entire weekend, she doesn’t think things could get any worse. But that’s before she realizes that Dax Miller is locked in with her. Autumn doesn’t know much about Dax except that he’s trouble. Between the rumors about the fight he was in (and that brief stint in juvie that followed it) and his reputation as a loner, he’s not exactly the ideal person to be stuck with. Still, she just keeps reminding herself that it is only a matter of time before Jeff, her almost-boyfriend, realizes he left her in the library and comes to rescue her.

Only he doesn’t come. No one does.

Instead it becomes clear that Autumn is going to have to spend the next couple of days living off vending-machine food and making conversation with a boy who clearly wants nothing to do with her. Except there is more to Dax than meets the eye. As he and Autumn first grudgingly, and then not so grudgingly, open up to each other, Autumn is struck by their surprising connection. But can their feelings for each other survive once the weekend is over and Autumn’s old life, and old love interest, threaten to pull her from Dax’s side?

"Sometimes the people who mean the most to us, like our family, do things that make it difficult to love them, but we do anyway because that's what love is." 
Awe, imagine running into a handsome boy, spending the evening with him and then finding out he's part of one of the most famous bands in the world. And then that he wants to see you again. Having trouble seeing it? Well, Paper Hearts will help you out with the imagery, because that's what this book is all about... or at least that's how this book starts out. 
Paper Hearts is the second book in Ali Novak's Heartbreak chronicles. The first book was called the Heartbreakers, following an aspiring photographer, Stella Samuel, as she accidentally falls in love with the Oliver Perry, the lead singer in the world famous band, The Heartbreakers. If you haven't read that book yet, I highly recommend that you do. It's an adorable, quirky read that will have you squealing from joy all the way through it (that is, if you're like me and you squeal when you're reading basically anything good in a book.) If you're interested, go check out my review on it. 
Paper Hearts follows Felicity, a hardworking girl who just happens to run into Alec Williams, a member of the Heartbreakers-- possibly the most famous band in the world. She and Alec immediately hit it off, which is how he ends up helping her chase down her runaway sister. Yeah, sorry if that was bad, I don't know how to explain this book without spoiling it. 
This book includes a cute romance and an impromptu road trip-- what's not to love? Oh, and don't forget an adorable boy. It's been a while since I read The Heartbreakers, but I do remember seriously enjoying this book, so of course I ordered this book when it came out. While I was reading the Heartbreakers, I had certain expectations from reading the Wattpad version of it. Those expectations left me a little disappointed when some things didn't happen (JJ and Cara, anyone?). I had no expectations for this book because I never read The Queen of Hearts on Wattpad. 
I actually couldn't tell you which book I like more, because I love the characters in the Heartbreakers and I love the romance as well, but I think Ali's writing has improved in Paper Hearts and the plot of Paper Hearts is so well thought out... I can't decide! Also it's been a while since I read the first book (it's sitting right next to me at the moment), so I couldn't provide an honest, unbiased opinion since I just read Paper Hearts. 
Anyway, my point is both books are fantastic and I hope all of you romance lovers will pick them up. There are some cliches but who doesn't love a good cliche? There's a good and bad way to use cliches, and these stories are the good cliches. 
I'd give Paper Hearts 8/10 stars, it was a fantastic novel. One that, like the first book, had me squealing in delight, so much so that my cat got freaked out and ran from my bedroom, but hey, it was worth it. One of the most exciting things for me while reading Paper Hearts was seeing the other Heartbreakers as well as Stella. I was waiting since the beginning to run into the other boys and when we finally did !!! I was seriously excited. Don't get me wrong, I did really like the characters introduced in this book, but seeing old (old being I've already met them) characters just made my heart jump with joy.
My one little eh about this book was how quick everything went. It didn't quite feel like instalove, but the attraction between Alec and Felicity sparked up very quickly. Sure, there can be attraction at first sight, but they seemed to develop a deep connection with each other very quickly. And the looking back, I realize that most of the book happened in a couple days making the romance look a whole lot more rushed and quick. Like to me, that definitely wouldn't be love yet. Still, it was only a little problem. Not one that irked me throughout the entire book, I actually really enjoyed it mostly while reading it. Just sometimes when the drama would go down I would think hold up, how long have you two known each other? 
Alec is very sweet, but then again I already knew that from my previous experience with both versions of the Heartbreakers (the Wattpad and the published version). It was nice being able to spend more time with him in this book. He's the quiet, not brooding but deep one. While the shy type isn't exactly my type when it comes to books (except in real life I've been known to like shy guys so...), I couldn't help but swoon a bit over Alec in this book. He's just such a sweetheart. I always enjoy seeing the Heartbreakers around each other-- they're just so cute and fun together. 
Felicity, I didn't mind her. It's not like I absolutely loved  her character, but I understood where she came from, and why she did the things she did. She didn't annoy me, but I just didn't love her. All in all, I think she's a good match for Alec. She's very hardworking and diligent, which I appreciated .
"Hatred takes up more space in your heart than you realize, and it doesn't leave room for things like love and joy." 

Synopsis: 
"I'm sorry," he said, slowly untying the ribbon that held his mask in place. "It's just-I didn't want you to think of me any differently." 
Somehow I kept my mouth from falling open. I knew his face, but my mind couldn't accept that he was the person looking down at me. 
"My real name is Alec."
Felicity has her entire future planned. Ever since her older sister ran away, she's had the full weight of her mother's expectations on her shoulders. So she works hard to get straight As and save for college. 
Except sometimes the best things in life are unplanned-like when Felicity meets a handsome, masked stranger while she is volunteering at a charity masquerade ball. She never thought he'd flirt with her. And she certainly never thought he'd turn out to be a member of the world-famous Heartbreakers band, Alec. 
Then Felicity uncovers a shocking family secret. Suddenly, she, Alec, and her two best friends are off on a road trip to find Felicity's missing sister. And she's about to discover that unexpected turns have a peculiar way of landing her right where she needs to be...

(Also just side note about the tagline on the front: HOW IS ALEC THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HELP HER FIND HER SISTER? He has a car, but yeah.) 
Anyway, thanks for reading, 
Anj

Looking for a sweet book that will leave you in a sobbing puddle on the floor from the sheer adorablilty? Always and Forever, Lara Jean is the book for you. The third book in Jenny Han's addictively charming To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy, this book is sure to keep you enraptured in its cute, yet relatable story.
Three years ago, I was shopping around in Target and came upon a book with an impossibly adorable cover. I'd never heard of it, but I bought it just for the cover. Later that summer, I actually got around to reading the book. And I absolutely loved it. I found its protagonist, Lara Jean, to be relatable and easily sympathizable, and I found the conflict to be entertaining. I enjoyed the characters and the different relationships, and when I finished? I just started over again.
Then two years ago the second book, P.S. I Still Love You came out, and yep. Han still had the ability to hit very close to home with her writing and just, whack my heart to death. Is this a sad series? NO! Haha, I don't want to leave that impression of that at all, it's actually very cute and light. It just is so cute that it leaves me feeling very... wanting because I WANT BOYS AND A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THIS! Actually, who doesn't?
Anyway, my point in this little story is, if you haven't read the first two books yet, what are you doing? They're so cute and lovely there's no way you won't become as in love with this series as I am. All of them give you that warm, fuzzy, happy feeling because of their cuteness.  Also, don't continue reading this review because I'm about to start spoiling the first TWO books, so if you haven't read them yet, you should.
On to this book. OH MY GOD. This book was just as perfect as the last two. The characters are just so real. Except not, because Peter is too perfect for this world. Honestly, even from the first page and a half I was sucked into remembering how happy this series makes me. But seriously though, I'm not sure if I'd be able to find a more perfect modern day interest than Peter. He's a LAX BRO who's an actually nice guy. He sees when Lara Jean wants to leave parties and takes her home-- even if he doesn't want to leave. And he read a book series for her. HOW CAN--? Sorry. He's just too precious for this Earth.
I try not to go too much into my personal life in reviews, but I have to bring it up in this because I just have to. I relate so much to this series. Minus the part about letters being sent out and having boys fighting over me. Haha. See, Lara Jean's mother is dead, so's mine. And then, actually there's a ton of stuff, but I'll just bring up why the whole lax bro thing hit me so hard. There's this one guy that I have a thing for-- and he's a lax bro. In my school, lax bros think themselves a big thing, and they're kind of jerks. So Peter being a perfect boy and a lax bro? Ah. Swoon.
Anyway, back to the book. The characters are just so real, they all have their flaws and that just makes them all the more lovable. Not just the characters, though, the situations they're put in feels so real and relatable, too. So not only are these books the epitome of adorable and goals, they also feel like they could actually be obtainable, they're not just that romance book you read because it's a far off dream, they feel like they could actually happen (minus the part about the actually likable lax bro (and by likable I mean decent)) 
I was in kind of a book hangover after reading A Court of Wings and Ruin, and there is no better cure to a book hangover than one of the books in this series. You really can't help but fall completely in love with all the characters. It's just... I don't know why other word to describe it other than adorable. Everything is just adorable. And cute. And perfect in an imperfect way. 
Alright, here's what I have to say to you if you've already read the first two books and are debating on whether or not to read the third-- WHY ARE YOU DEBATING AT ALL? PICK THIS BOOK UP IMMEDIATELY, it's so happy and adorable and perfect, I promise you won't regret it. 
Anyway, here's the synopsis: 

Lara Jean’s letter-writing days aren’t over in this surprise follow-up to the New York Times bestselling To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and P.S. I Still Love You.

Lara Jean is having the best senior year a girl could ever hope for. She is head over heels in love with her boyfriend, Peter; her dad’s finally getting remarried to their next door neighbor, Ms. Rothschild; and Margot’s coming home for the summer just in time for the wedding.

But change is looming on the horizon. And while Lara Jean is having fun and keeping busy helping plan her father’s wedding, she can’t ignore the big life decisions she has to make. Most pressingly, where she wants to go to college and what that means for her relationship with Peter. She watched her sister Margot go through these growing pains. Now Lara Jean’s the one who’ll be graduating high school and leaving for college and leaving her family—and possibly the boy she loves—behind.

When your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

10/10 stars. This book is a piece of art, honestly. I don't think there will ever be a time that this series will ever not make me completely, blissfully happy while reading them (while also depressing me a little just because I'm single and bitter.) 
​Anyway, I hope you all read this one! 

SPOILERS BELOW 
Um. Well, here, I'll be honest with you, I actually read this book almost a month ago and don't have that much of a recollection of things that I actually wanted to discuss other than how perfect Peter is. He's perfect, anyone want to fight me on that? No one? Good. He's a lax bro who will leave parties early when it looks like his girlfriend is ready to go and HE READ A BOOK SERIES FOR HER. Do boys get any more perfect? Oh, and also he's in it for the long haul, not just for sex. Yeah, no. Boys do not get more perfect than that. 
​The college situation was one that did actually feel like a real one. There are no guarantees on anything when it comes to colleges. 
Um. Oh, I really liked seeing John, even if it was for a split second because he's just also perfect, but in a different way from Peter. Funnily enough, I completely forgot about Josh until I went back and reread the first two books because he's hardly even mentioned in this book. Which is kind of sad, because it's a reminder that some people who are always in your life can cease to be in it at all. 
The one little thing that I noticed but didn't necessarily have an issue with, just that I noticed was that all the books basically have the same thing with Peter and Lara in terms of relationship and breaking up. They break up (or something like that) near the end, and then at the very end they kind of get back together (they don't exactly get back together at the end of the first book, but it's alluded to.) 
​

Anyway, thanks for reading this review. I'm sorry that it's choppy, I wrote the first half a month ago and didn't bother to reread it before writing more, so I'm sure I repeated myself a lot. Sorry. 
​-Anj