This Is What Happy Looks Like By Jennifer E. Smith

[amazon_link id=”B00ABLJ4FU” target=”_blank” ][/amazon_link]’This Is What Happy Looks Like’ is the second book by American author, Jennifer E. Smith.

Ellie and Graham meet one evening, when Graham accidentally emails her looking for walker for his pet pig, Wilbur. The two 17 year olds then strike up an relationship over the Internet, even though they live on the opposite sides of the country and don’t even know each others names. Through a series of funny and poignant messages, they make a connection, sharing their most intimate secrets and fears. But they don’t tell each other everything, Graham doesn’t know about the secrets in Ellie’s family tree and Ellie is oblivious to the fact that Graham is a teen movie actor living in LA. But when the location for Graham’s upcoming film falls through, he sees an opportunity for them to take their relationship from on-line to in-person, managing to get the production relocated to Henley, Maine, where Ellie lives. But can a star as big as Graham have a real relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie’s mom want her to avoid the media spotlight at all costs?

So far 2013 has been a great year for books, I’ve read some wonderful ones that me smile, laugh and occasionally wipe a tear away but none of them captured the refreshing innocence that Jennifer E. Smith has portrayed in this beautiful tale. This story is a wonder to read, seen from the eyes of two teenagers as they accidentally stumble across one another through the Internet and immediately discover a connection.

Ellie and Graham, are two of the most sweetest characters that I have read in a while. I loved the vulnerability of each other, as they embarked on this unlikely relationship even though it felt like the odds were against them. As I read further into the story, like Ellie I found myself for the young movie star, a gentleman at heart, he put the older characters to shame with his quiet and brooding chivalry meanwhile Ellie’s fierce independence and love for poetry made for interesting reading.

‘This Is What Happy Looks Like’ is a wonderfully written story, filled with sweet characters, settings and dialogue, it is a simple love story that captures the innocence and excitement of the first taste of love beautifully and truly makes you appreciate and reflect on the simpler things in life. A recommended read for all ages!

You can buy [amazon_link id=”B00ABLJ4FU” target=”_blank” ] This Is What Happy Looks Like on Amazon [/amazon_link] and is available from good bookshops.