We are in week three of the #Read ISLA campaign! I’ve been having so much fun going back and revisiting Stephanie Perkins’ books in anticipation of Isla and the Happily Ever After! Last week (while I was in Boston on vacation!) we focused on the Isla chapter sampler and promoting the #ReadISLA tag on social media. I encourage you to use and follow #ReadISLA. It’s the perfect place to discover fellow fans eagerly anticipating Isla and the Happily Ever After!
For this week we’re going back to the beginning and revisiting Anna and the French Kiss! If you haven’t re-read Anna recently I HIGHLY RECOMMEND doing so before you read Isla and the Happily Ever After. I’m so glad I did! I have vague recollections of Isla being mentioned but forgot where, when, and why. Also, Isla brings us back to SOAP (remember what that stands for? if not, re-read Anna!!) and there were many little details that were throwbacks to Anna. I would have completely missed them had I not re-read the book!
Never read Anna and the French Kiss?!? You are in for a treat! Check out a free digital sampler here. Long time fan? Did you know Steph Perkins has deleted scenes from Anna on her blog?!?! Like, whole chapters!!! Check them out!
As I was thinking about the first time I read Anna and the French Kiss I realized it was way back in 2011. But there are some books that just stick with you. Anna is one of those books for me. It certainly doesn’t feel like three years since I read it for the first time!! You can check out my review here. It’s actually one the few reviews I’ve written that I can read and not cringe! Here’s an excerpt that remains true:
This review was incredibly hard to write. Every time I sat down to start it I’d pick the book up and get lost in rereading my favorite parts. Turns out basically the whole book is my favorite part so that was a bit distracting! As I sit here now I have moved the book to a shelf downstairs and will not allow myself to go look at it. The fact that I had to put the book on time-out to write my review should tell you how deep my love is for it!
Whenever I even talk about the book with someone I want to pick it up and re-read it! It’s just that good. Seriously. In fact, I recently asked a friend if she would be able to illustrate a quotation from the book for me. I’m moving soon and my new-to-me house will finally have an office/library space! I want to decorate with posters and such from my favorite books. Clearly Steph Perkins’ books need to be represented. We spent a crazy amount of time just going back and forth with the many quotations we love. Finally I settled on one and my friend created this:
Isn’t it amazing?!?! Yay for having insanely talented friends!!!
Don’t forget! Follow and use #ReadISLA on social media! Also, if you want some fabulous Anna/Lola/Isla swag and a chance to get one of the awesome tote bags pre-order your copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After from a participating bookstore.
Ahhhhh! I can’t wait for you all to read Isla and the Happily Ever After! In the mean time, I’d love to chat with you about Anna, Lola, and/or your excitement for Isla! Leave comments here or catch me on twitter at @hmz1505!
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