ISLA this time with SPOILERS

Lauren620 · August 2014

I'm so glad I got right into Isla last night when I got home from work. I didn't stop until I finished and I'm so happy I was able to. I'm just going to make a list because it's early and I don't think I can make a readable post otherwise.

I was beyond giddy during their first date. It was just too sweet and perfect and I absolutely loved all of it.

There was definitely more sex in this book than the others. I thought it was well written and pretty hot, but I sometimes feel a little weird when there are descriptive sex scenes in YA. At least Josh turned 18, right? I am probably just turning into an old lady prude.

I was so so so mad at Isla when they were in the car leaving the gala. But it turned into some serious sadness because that just broke my heart and then I started thinking about how real a situation like that is. Where I let my emotions carry me away and feel so insecure about myself. I thought Isla was very relatable in her self-doubt and insecurity, and it really hurt to see Isla and Josh go through that.

I feel like I will be in the minority here, but I didn't love the end with Anna, St. Clair, Lola, and Cricket. This is probably my one and only hang up with this book. I know Stephanie wanted to tie it all in together and there had to be a way to get Josh back to Paris, I just didn't love this part. It was so small though, that it really doesn't change that I loved this book.

I also couldn't believe Isla let the whole interview on national television thing go so easily. I understand why he did it, but a 17 year old (or really even the current 29 year old) me would have a really hard time just accepting that he said he didn't have a girlfriend. I don't know, I guess she made a big deal out of other things, but that struck me as something I would absolutely lose my shit over. She was upset and she did talk about it with him, but I am not always know for my rationality in emotional or stressful situations.

Overall, I loved it. I love how Stephanie Perkins takes me to a place where I want nothing more than to be in Paris at 17 and wildly in love for the first time, or even how I want to take MH back to Paris now so we can spend time together in one of the most romantic cities. I'm just swooning all over the place with this book.

packfan20 · August 2014

Lauren620 said:

I'm so glad I got right into Isla last night when I got home from work. I didn't stop until I finished and I'm so happy I was able to. I'm just going to make a list because it's early and I don't think I can make a readable post otherwise.

I was beyond giddy during their first date. It was just too sweet and perfect and I absolutely loved all of it.

There was definitely more sex in this book than the others. I thought it was well written and pretty hot, but I sometimes feel a little weird when there are descriptive sex scenes in YA. At least Josh turned 18, right? I am probably just turning into an old lady prude. This bothers me a lot in most YA books but I know I'm already an old lady prude. I don't know why it HAS to be addressed. Can't something be left to the imagination?

I was so so so mad at Isla when they were in the car leaving the gala. But it turned into some serious sadness because that just broke my heart and then I started thinking about how real a situation like that is. Where I let my emotions carry me away and feel so insecure about myself. I thought Isla was very relatable in her self-doubt and insecurity, and it really hurt to see Isla and Josh go through that.

I feel like I will be in the minority here, but I didn't love the end with Anna, St. Clair, Lola, and Cricket. This is probably my one and only hang up with this book. I know Stephanie wanted to tie it all in together and there had to be a way to get Josh back to Paris, I just didn't love this part. It was so small though, that it really doesn't change that I loved this book. I did love this. I thought it fit perfectly into the story and wasn't forced. I DIDN'T love Anna and St. Clair getting engaged. They're 19. That didn't need to happen.

I also couldn't believe Isla let the whole interview on national television thing go so easily. I understand why he did it, but a 17 year old (or really even the current 29 year old) me would have a really hard time just accepting that he said he didn't have a girlfriend. I don't know, I guess she made a big deal out of other things, but that struck me as something I would absolutely lose my shit over. She was upset and she did talk about it with him, but I am not always know for my rationality in emotional or stressful situations. Yup, agreed. I wouldn't have been able to let that go.

Overall, I loved it. I love how Stephanie Perkins takes me to a place where I want nothing more than to be in Paris at 17 and wildly in love for the first time, or even how I want to take MH back to Paris now so we can spend time together in one of the most romantic cities. I'm just swooning all over the place with this book. Me too! How would you rank the 3 books?

Lauren620 · August 2014

@packfan I think that if Anna and St. Clair didn't get engaged that part wouldn't have bothered me at all.

I feel like I need to reread them all before I definitively rank them, but it's really close between Lola and Isla as my favorite and then Anna.

packfan20 · August 2014

I don't think anyone NEEDED Anna and St. Clair to get engaged. The fact that they are still together is all that matters.

Anna is still by far by favorite. I was in a silly school girl book stupor after that one. Then Isla. Then Lola.

I was going to reread Anna and Lola before Isla but August came around too fast!

Lauren620 · August 2014

Also, I am kicking myself for not dating at least one artist in my life so that he could paint me a beautiful scene like the one from the treehouse or, you know, paint on me $:\$ ">

Adjudi-Kate · August 2014

I thought this was the funniest of three. I was laughing out loud at a bunch of parts. "Listen. I like you, and you like me, so let's go find a secluded park and touch each other."

And I thought when Isla saw the drawing Josh did of her in the rain, it was a pretty hot moment.

The characters were extremely relatable to me and their reactions to situations seemed very plausible.

hopecounts · August 2014

I really liked it!

The engagement didn't bother me too much, but more than one of my sorority sisters got engaged around 19/20 (graduating and marrying at 20/21) so it's something that doesn't seem that unusual to me. Not saying I think it's smart just that it happens and in a YA novel it's cheesey but kind of works.

Overall loved Isla and the way she was written, very real and I liked the character a lot.

As the Mom of a kid on the spectrum I thought the presentation of Kurt was pretty good.
The HFA= Asperger's is inaccurate but the actual presentation was pretty good for a teen who falls on the mild side of the spectrum.

SnShne322 · August 2014

As soon as I got to the engagement, I knew this would be your hang up. It was most definitely mine too. I liked everyone coming to Paris, but the engagement felt unnatural. I feel like we got so much more Anna and st Clair than Lola and Cricket. I know it's only natural, but since I have the lovely reminder of the former, it's clouding my love for the latter. I know I went into it ranking Lola first. I loved these characters, but I think I rank this one as the weakest. It's not really fair to say that though since I really did enjoy it. @lauren620

Lauren620 · August 2014

@SnShne322 There was more Anna and St.Clair and just a tiny blip of Lola and Cricket. I know that St. Clair was Josh's best friend and that is a big reason why it was like that, but it mostly felt like they were there so we know they got engaged. I was happy with their happily ever after as it was and like you said it felt a little off/unnatural to me too.

I also went into this one with Lola as my favorite, but I really did love that this story felt like it focused on Isla and Josh. There wasn't any other girlfriends or boyfriends that played a huge role, I know there was some about discussion about Rashmi, but she wasn't actually present.

Even though I'm not sure I'll be able to pick an absolute favorite, I think trying to will just be my newest excuse to read them all again

Jen748 · August 2014

I'm in the minority, but I liked the proposal, but I was also engaged at 19, so that wasn't weird for me.

I LOVED that this one was much more with the SEXY TIMES than the others. This one was perhaps the funniest for me, and I really enjoyed how it was just mainly Isla and Josh, without other boy/girl friends.

I reread Anna earlier this year, but I need to reread Lola to get a ranking.

MrsJenE · August 2014

Just finished and I need to get my thoughts together, but here is what's currently sticking out in my mind:

1. The sexy time didn't bother me. Sometimes I read a YA book and think, "NO! NO FADING TO BLACK!" I'm glad this one didn't. Maybe I'm about to sound like an afterschool special, but they were being safe and making a point about being safe. Not such a bad message.

2. Not crazy about the engagement at all. That's probably my biggest hangup about this book.

3. Overall, LOVED THIS BOOK. I couldn't stop reading it. I'd give it about 4-4.5 stars.

4. My ranking: Anna, Isla, Lola.

jackiback · August 2014

lol, I haven't read all the replies yet, but I just finished this book 10 minutes ago and couldn't wait to read this post.... and I think my feelings are exactly opposite of @lauren260 's

I really did like this book a lot and I gave it 4 solid, shiny stars.

Here are my thoughts, also in list form:

-The biggest thing that kept me from giving this 5 stars was that throughout the whole book, I was waiting for Isla as an independent, standalone person to be revealed. I felt like we only saw her as a sister, friend, girlfriend, daughter- we only saw her in view of these other people around her and because of that, she did feel, even at the end of the book, like a cardboard cutout. In the end, they talk about a blank canvas and how she is that and... ok? I get that kind of- but even young girl unsure of her future has SOME kind of personality and individuality. I thought that was missing here and I was bummed because Anna and Lola were such incredibly real characters to me.

BUT, here are my raves:

-I actually loved how the sex scenes played out. Teenagers who are reading this know that sex is a thing and if they have watched TV have seen more sex than this- I love how it was treated as exciting and a big deal but not THE BIGGEST THING TO EVER HAPPEN. I was also (for reasons I can't put my finger on) happy that they weren't both virgins. I don't think every book has to be "the book with the message about the important stuff" and I liked that this one was just like "oh, we were crazy about each other so we hooked up and it was hot. Boom. Now we're still doing normal things."

- For me, the last 4 or 5 chapters was the strongest part of the book. I thought that seeing Anna and St Clair and Lola and Cricket again was so exciting that I had actual tears. It was just so fun and I felt like I was with old friends.

- I had no problem with them getting engaged at 19. I think that in their book and again in Lola, we get to see that their relationship is serious and thought out and it doesn't seem crazy to me for them to get engaged.

-The Treehouse? OMG, I love it. Also, the graphic novel stuff? Yes, please. I want to read Spaces so bad

I love a good graphic novel memoir and I got giddy just reading about it. I need to see Josh's art!

My ranking: Lola, Anna, Isla

Young_Love · August 2014

I was SO happy to see the whole gang at the end that I got all choked up. But I'm also super meh about the engagement. I know SP got engaged at 19, and her books have always been about how you can find that lasting love as a teenager. BUT...in real life I am firmly in Team What's The Rush and was actually kinda disappointed that they got engaged. (But I'm also the person who tells my students to wait as long as possible before getting married. LOL)

Anyway, the fact that I am disappointed that fictional characters got engaged because there is no freaking hurry and they have a lot of living to do should tell you how invested I am in this series.

packfan20 · August 2014

Young_Love said:
I was SO happy to see the whole gang at the end that I got all choked up. But I'm also super meh about the engagement. I know SP got engaged at 19, and her books have always been about how you can find that lasting love as a teenager. BUT...in real life I am firmly in Team What's The Rush and was actually kinda disappointed that they got engaged. (But I'm also the person who tells my students to wait as long as possible before getting married. LOL)

Anyway, the fact that I am disappointed that fictional characters got engaged because there is no freaking hurry and they have a lot of living to do should tell you how invested I am in this series.

Ditto. All of it.

Lauren620 · August 2014

@jackiback‌ I love that we found opposite ways to love the same book.

I thought the sex scenes were really well written and I agree with @MrsJenE that they were safe. I guess that maybe I was shocked, not necessarily in a bad way, of how differently sex was addressed in this book. Maybe that was what threw me off? I mean, now or 10ish years ago, I would be down for great sex in a hotel room in Barcelona so it's not like it isn't realistic.

Lauren620 · August 2014

Young_Love said:
I was SO happy to see the whole gang at the end that I got all choked up. But I'm also super meh about the engagement. I know SP got engaged at 19, and her books have always been about how you can find that lasting love as a teenager. BUT...in real life I am firmly in Team What's The Rush and was actually kinda disappointed that they got engaged. (But I'm also the person who tells my students to wait as long as possible before getting married. LOL)

Anyway, the fact that I am disappointed that fictional characters got engaged because there is no freaking hurry and they have a lot of living to do should tell you how invested I am in this series.

Sometimes when I read newer, contemporary YA, I think about how I would have reacted to the same book as a teenager. That might be weird, but I can't imagine what having wonderful YA like we have now when I was younger. Anyway, I just think of how impressionable I was and how this is targeted for young adults who are also at a really impressionable stage in life. Some people are genuinely ready at 19, but I think most are not. I feel like this sounds crazy because it's fiction, but it's something that is being made so glamorous to these teenagers when I just don't think it should be. Who didn't dream of falling in love with the perfect person in high school and getting engaged the year after graduation in the most perfect way ever? Ok, so I'm sure a lot of people didn't, but this hopeless romantic definitely did. I guess it's like He's Just Not That Into You with whole being the rule and not the exception to it. Anna and St Clair are the exception to the rule, not the norm.

I am also far too invested in all of this.

sfgiantsjo · August 2014

I agree with @jackiback on this one. I did love the book. But it was missing...something. And I think that something was Isla's character. I feel like she was just there to fall in love with Josh. I can't imagine her as a person. She likes Josh...and comic books? Oh, and eating, sort of? I was hoping as the book went on she would find herself. But, she really was that blank slate. And she remained that way. So, unfortunately, I don't love her the way I love Anna and Lola.

That being said, I still loved the book. SP can write the heck out of first love.

My order: Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna, Lola, Isla.

MrsJenE · August 2014

sfgiantsjo said:

I agree with @jackiback on this one. I did love the book. But it was missing...something. And I think that something was Isla's character. I feel like she was just there to fall in love with Josh. I can't imagine her as a person. She likes Josh...and comic books? Oh, and eating, sort of? I was hoping as the book went on she would find herself. But, she really was that blank slate. And she remained that way. So, unfortunately, I don't love her the way I love Anna and Lola.

That being said, I still loved the book. SP can write the heck out of first love.

My order: Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna, Lola, Isla.

I guess I thought that was realistic and sent a message that it's okay to not know what you want to be, where you want to go, and what your true interests are.

Many days, I feel like I'm still a blank slate.

sfgiantsjo · August 2014

MrsJenE said:

sfgiantsjo said:

I agree with @jackiback on this one. I did love the book. But it was missing...something. And I think that something was Isla's character. I feel like she was just there to fall in love with Josh. I can't imagine her as a person. She likes Josh...and comic books? Oh, and eating, sort of? I was hoping as the book went on she would find herself. But, she really was that blank slate. And she remained that way. So, unfortunately, I don't love her the way I love Anna and Lola.

That being said, I still loved the book. SP can write the heck out of first love.

My order: Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna, Lola, Isla.

I guess I thought that was realistic and sent a message that it's okay to not know what you want to be, where you want to go, and what your true interests are.

Many days, I feel like I'm still a blank slate.

I can see that. It's just not as fun to read (for me). It is definitely realistic, and not a bad message. I think Isla could not know who she is, but maybe explore it more? She thought about it once or twice, but mostly in relation to Josh. She was getting there at the end. I just wanted more, I like strong and quirky characters.

jackiback · August 2014

I think you can be a blank slate and still have.... a personality? That's not really the right word because I did appreciate her snark, but even people that don't know what they're doing in the future have some sort of individuality in the moment.

It's funny because I have a "friend" that is just like this- I have known her for 6 years and we hang out pretty often because our sons are the exact same age, but I feel like I still don't know her. She's so kind and easy going, but there is just nothing that makes her HER, if that even makes sense. I have known her for years and couldn't tell you what would be a fun day for her or what would make her laugh until she cried. I sometimes get frustrated because she just has a wall up and it makes it hard to really invest in her or get close.

I feel like Isla had that exact problem, except we were in her head, so certainly we should have been able to form some kind of emotional connection. For me, that was just not there. Not that I didn't like Isla as a person or anything, but I just felt like there was a disconnect for me.

MrsJenE · August 2014

jackiback said:

I think you can be a blank slate and still have.... a personality? That's not really the right word because I did appreciate her snark, but even people that don't know what they're doing in the future have some sort of individuality in the moment.

It's funny because I have a "friend" that is just like this- I have known her for 6 years and we hang out pretty often because our sons are the exact same age, but I feel like I still don't know her. She's so kind and easy going, but there is just nothing that makes her HER, if that even makes sense. I have known her for years and couldn't tell you what would be a fun day for her or what would make her laugh until she cried. I sometimes get frustrated because she just has a wall up and it makes it hard to really invest in her or get close.

I feel like Isla had that exact problem, except we were in her head, so certainly we should have been able to form some kind of emotional connection. For me, that was just not there. Not that I didn't like Isla as a person or anything, but I just felt like there was a disconnect for me.

I can see that.

ISLA this time with SPOILERS

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