Wicked Review: This Is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith

Published: April 2, 2013

Publisher: Headline

Acquired: Paperback

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Graham Larkin accidentally sends an email to Ellie O'Neill about his pet pig. They began sending witty emails and formed a friendship over the Internet. But they don't know each other's real names.

Ellie lives in Henley, Maine. She's oblivious about who's she corresponding with until he drops by her hometown to film a new movie. Graham wants to take their online friendship in person.

Can Graham succeed into taking their relationship to a new level?

What does happy look like? That was the question that went through the whole book. It was a melting pot of sappy and beautiful plots between the two characters. I think this is what made the books so appealing to others.

Graham is such a sweetheart and at the same time he has his fears as well. Being thrust in the spotlight at a young age, he is suddenly alone. He finds it hard to find true happiness. His parents are so distant and his friends have their lives as well. He only has his pig Wilbur and his pen pal, Ellie.

Ellie on the other hand has one secret; she's an illegitimate daughter of a senator. She dreams of enrolling at Harvard's poetry summer classes. But it costs a lot for her.

The only flaw I see here is when Ellie started lying to her mom about her 'scholarship' to Harvard's poetry class and to her friend Quinn about Graham. See, I am not a big fan of lying. Who is, anyways? But then, I know Ellie has a reason.

It's everyone's dream to become so close to celebrity. But obviously, only a handful of people can be with close proximity with a celebrity. I don't think I can even blink if Benedict Cumberbatch or Tom Hiddleston or Zac Efron is in front of me. I think I would die.

This is a very good light read. It short yet it makes my heart flutter.

Jennifer E. Smith is the author of The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, The Storm Makers, You Are Here, and The Comeback Season. She earned her master's degree in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and currently works as an editor in New York City. Her writing has been translated into 28 languages.

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