My CBR holiday gift exchange package arrived at just the right time when 
Alex, Approximately was exactly what I was in the mood to read. A young adult romance with emotions running high, life lessons, and swoony romance was just the thing to get me out of my post-Christmas funk.
Essentially, this book is a modern, young adult take on The Shop Around the Corner story, but different enough that it doesn’t feel like a perfect retelling. There were little nods to its origin, but also some great surprises along the way that keep this story feeling fresh and new.
Mink and Alex are usernames for two friends on a film discussion forum. It’s clear to both that they like each other, but they’re separated by an entire continent. Except that Bailey (Mink) is moving in with her father who lives in the same Californian town as “Alex.” She keeps it on the down low because she doesn’t want things to be awkward and she’s hoping to scope out the situation without a ton of pressure. Things do get awkward when she meets Parker, a surfer who she immediately dislikes, but then things start to heat up with.
I think you’ll know ahead of time if you’ll like this one. It has some improbable plot points and backstories, but if you’re generally okay with other young adult stories with similar issues, you’ll find this to be as cute as I did. If those sorts of tropes drive you crazy, maybe stay away from this one.
This is one of the books on my “Best of 2017” list. It just really worked for me on a lot of levels. I need to read more Jenn Bennett now.
Ooh, what else is on the Malin Best of 2017 list? Did you do a post on it? I kind of disappeared for the back end of 2017.
I’ve assembled my “Best of 2017” list (ten books from 2017 – ten books from other years), but I haven’t gotten round to posting my “Year in review” over on my blog yet. I should be able to get it done by the end of the weekend (it’s going to take a while, as I’m also going to use it to link up all the reading challenges I did).
I got a bookstore gift card over the holidays and I think this has just been moved to the top of my to-buy list
I hope you like it! It was a lot of fun. I stayed up way too late to finish it and paid a serious price the next day LOL
I’m trying really hard this year to mostly only read books I already own, but y’all are making it very hard for me with your reviews of books I will probably love. Just so you know.
If I buy it today (which I’m thinking, yes) I’ll send it to you when I’m done. I love getting books in the mail from the book exchange, so why not have that feeling all year long???
Oh, that would be excellent!
I’m done and ready to send it. I think I have your address around here from the book exchange…
Yay! Maybe when I am done I can pass it along to someone else, and it can be a traveling book! That would be fun.
Bookish friends are dangerous for the pocketbook!