happily ever after and everything in between

“You know that because you asked me out, you’re the one who has to pick the place, right?” The two of them pick out their future and Josh convinces Isla to take risks, to plan for a future with him instead of one she isn’t sure about. The relationship between them blooms quickly, the two running around museums and kissing with a backdrop of fireworks, hanging out in Isla’s treehouse – Josh painting and her reading or studying – taking a weekend trip to Barcelona just to be alone together. But he starts seeking Isla out, the two start dating and both their lives seem to be perfect. All of Josh’s friends have left school and gone off to university, he broke up with his girlfriend and he is on his own in Paris, at a city at a school he doesn’t want to be at. But this year is different, this year she finally catches the eye of Josh, the boy she’s been secretly hiding a crush on for years now.

She attends her classes, eats her meals with her only friend Kurt, and keeps her head down. Isla is back in Paris for her senior year at the School of America in Paris. I didn’t find myself annoyed by the back and forth between them, but at the same time it wasn’t just Isla and Josh in search of their happily ever after but Anna and Étienne, and Lola and Cricket. I instantly loved Isla and Josh and though their relationship wasn’t easy their problems were not due to lack of communication. It seemed like the characters had grown up a lot since the first book, and the story had improved as well. Of all of the Anna and the French Kiss books I think this one was definitely my favourite. “It’s midnight, it’s sweltering, and I might be high on Vicodin, but that guy – that guy right over there – that’s him.

This review may contain spoilers for previous book(s) in the series. Their romantic journey is skilfully intertwined with those of beloved couples Anna and Étienne and Lola and Cricket, whose paths are destined to collide in a sweeping finale certain to please fans old and new. But as they begin their senior year in France, Isla and Josh are quickly forced to confront the heartbreaking reality that happily-ever-afters aren’t always forever. From the glittering streets of Manhattan to the moonlit rooftops of Paris, falling in love is easy for hopeless dreamer Isla and introspective artist Josh.

Happily ever after and everything in between