Well, I knew it couldn't last forever... Everything I've read lately has been amazing! I was overdue for an "average" read. Disclaimer: This book has two companion novels set before it, but after reading the FAQ on the author's website and seeing that she herself said it was not necessary to read those before reading Isla, I made the choice to go ahead and read it. I picked up this book in the bargain section of Books-A-Million which was why I bought it "out of order." Did this have an impact on the level of my enjoyment? I honestly don't think so. The characters from the previous novels are mentioned briefly in this one, but not enough that I feel I missed anything significant.
So, here we go...
1. Characters: Let's just jump right in. The thing I did enjoy about this novel was the main characters. The love interest was cute and the characters seemed to complement one another well. They were a believable couple. I also really enjoyed the protagonist's best friend, Kurt. He created a depth to the novel that I feel was lacking elsewhere.
2. Story: Here's where it tapered off for me. I whipped through the first half of this book fairly quickly, but I feel like it climaxed too early. The second half of the book did not flow (in my opinion) as well as the first half, and by the end I was kind of just ready to be done. I did enjoy the setting of the story (who doesn't love reading a book set in Paris??), but I wish I felt more continuity with the storyline.
3. Author's writing style: Though I enjoyed the written dialogue and the protagonist's inner thoughts (she was pretty funny, honestly), I just did not feel that the story itself was well-developed. Great characters, great setting, potential to be a great contemporary read, but instead I felt it was very average. I'm not sure I would read more from this author unless I found her other works for a bargain.
4. Overall rating: 3 stars. As I said, there were aspects I enjoyed. I do not feel strongly enough one way or the other to recommend or not recommend. I think that if a reader is in love with European adventures and enjoys cute conversation, they could really enjoy this book. Though it was not my cup of tea, particularly when it comparing it to my favorite contemporary reads, I still think it was okay. I have to say, this really disappointed me, but maybe my hopes were too high? I've seen this author's work all over the place and seen tons of praise for it, so maybe I expected too much from it based on the hype. But, it is what it is. If you need a light, quick read, give it a shot.
5. Similar reading: The books featured below have similar premises. I would recommend them to anyone who enjoyed this book or enjoys contemporaries set abroad. You can click each image to visit their respective Goodreads pages.
So, there you have it. This was not a fun review to write, but it was an honest one. To see what I'm reading next, visit my Goodreads page.
So, here we go...
 |
| Click the photo to read the full synopsis on Goodreads. |
1. Characters: Let's just jump right in. The thing I did enjoy about this novel was the main characters. The love interest was cute and the characters seemed to complement one another well. They were a believable couple. I also really enjoyed the protagonist's best friend, Kurt. He created a depth to the novel that I feel was lacking elsewhere.
2. Story: Here's where it tapered off for me. I whipped through the first half of this book fairly quickly, but I feel like it climaxed too early. The second half of the book did not flow (in my opinion) as well as the first half, and by the end I was kind of just ready to be done. I did enjoy the setting of the story (who doesn't love reading a book set in Paris??), but I wish I felt more continuity with the storyline.
3. Author's writing style: Though I enjoyed the written dialogue and the protagonist's inner thoughts (she was pretty funny, honestly), I just did not feel that the story itself was well-developed. Great characters, great setting, potential to be a great contemporary read, but instead I felt it was very average. I'm not sure I would read more from this author unless I found her other works for a bargain.
4. Overall rating: 3 stars. As I said, there were aspects I enjoyed. I do not feel strongly enough one way or the other to recommend or not recommend. I think that if a reader is in love with European adventures and enjoys cute conversation, they could really enjoy this book. Though it was not my cup of tea, particularly when it comparing it to my favorite contemporary reads, I still think it was okay. I have to say, this really disappointed me, but maybe my hopes were too high? I've seen this author's work all over the place and seen tons of praise for it, so maybe I expected too much from it based on the hype. But, it is what it is. If you need a light, quick read, give it a shot.
5. Similar reading: The books featured below have similar premises. I would recommend them to anyone who enjoyed this book or enjoys contemporaries set abroad. You can click each image to visit their respective Goodreads pages.
So, there you have it. This was not a fun review to write, but it was an honest one. To see what I'm reading next, visit my Goodreads page.
Comments
Post a Comment