This was definitely not as I expected. I was surprised, apparently, since I thought that I would be bored with this book. I thoroughly admit that I'm not much of a Meg Cabot fan, although I have read a couple of her books, and my favorite would be all three books of Queen of Babble, of course. But still... As much as I think she has a good writing style, some plots of her books don't really engage me as much (e.g. Size 12 Is Not Fat and Size 14 Is Not Fat Either) even if I do enjoy them as a light read to pass the time... Though, when I picked this book up on yet another sale stand, I thought that I wouldn't find this so engaging, but the summary at the back did trigger my interest (and because it was on sale for thirty bucks), so I bought it. And once I began to read, I thought it was fun how it was all put together. This wasn't a typical book written in first person... The story was simply told through a set of the main characters' personal diaries and e-mails. It was absolutely fun and refreshing. I seriously never thought to do or have a book that way! So yes, kudos Meg Cabot! You really thought outside the box! The story flowed in a steady pace - not too fast, not too slow, since the characters are spending a week in Italy, and the story does revolve around that. Jane Harris is a comic strip cartoonist, and her best friend, Holly Caputo, was eloping with her doctor boyfriend, Mark Levine. Jane was at the airport and met Mark Levine's best friend, Cal Langdon (first, without her knowing since Holly and Mark were late), who she thought was a completely anal-retentive guy, because he did act that way at first. So when her best friend arrives with Mark, she was completely surprised that this Cal guy was actually his best friend. As she tried to make a conversation with Cal, since they sat together on the plane, she was irritated with the fact that this guy absolutely did not believe in true love and marriage, etc. So that's how he story began to take off. They absolutely hated each other, even if I liked Cal Langdon's character. Sure, he may seem anal-retentive, but he was a journalist after all, and travelled around the world, staying in different areas (some known and not-so known), before moving on to the next. But of course, as they spent the week together with the couple that's about to be wed, they began to fall in love. I mean, you know what they say, "There is a thin line between hate and love" - and this completely applies to this book. As much as I couldn't put this book down, I was a tad bit disappointed how it ended. It felt so abrupt. Like, okay, he got the girl, he admitted his love for her, and she accepted because he did this grand gesture, they have sex - the end. I wish we managed to see a little more. But I guess it doesn't really have to be necessary because she was done writing on her personal diary, etc. Still... The characters were great and very entertaining, especially how they sent e-mails to each other, and what e-mails they received from work, friends, and family. I definitely liked how it was written, probably because it was so distinct with how the characters talked and thought. And I definitely think that this is a perfect read for an afernoon in the sun... Four stars, it is!
okay so i usually love meg cabot books but this one was just...2.5 stars because it was okay. like i did like it at points and it was funny. i also love wondercat and the drawings! and her cat is called The Dude which is so cool and also really cute and her love for cats is awesome but Jane is meant to be an adult like in hier mid twenties or idek AND SHE IS ACTING LIKE A 15YR OLD?! also like a 'typical dumb american tourist' ???!!!like i'm all about pop culture and tv shows and fashion but she has no care for culture or politics and is happy being ignorant?! and making assumptions about other cultures smh NOT TO MENTION ALL THE SLUT SHAMING!!! also it's that typical boy and girl hate each other but secretly love each other and fall in love and there were some really cute partsyeah it's predictable but it was quite funny and cute. and holly and mark awww. =)i love when she's emailing the boy looking after her cat because she misses her cat so much.also i guess it's one of those yes two people can be very different and fall in love and sometimes you can't help who you fall in love with. i hope the next book she writes in this series is better...i think it will be since she has developed as a writer and a person so hopefully her characters will be better. Happy Reading! =)p.s these are really quick reads since the novels are written in emails or journal form.
Do You like book Every Boy's Got One (2015)?
ATTENTION Ms. Cabot!!!Talking foul about Bangladeshi garments (even if it was to prove Holly's stupidity) is so not done. If you had to use this particular example to show Holly's 'i-don't-live-in-this-world-with-normal-people' then you should've at least clarify the matter in the end or somewhere along the book because I wonder how many readers got baffled by this particular information and will now pass their life without knowing any better.FYI: Bangladesh has THE BEST garment industry in the world, and it's not surprising to find cloths labeled 'Made in Bangladesh' in most of the world's hi-end fashion stores.
—Nadia (Potato On A Stick)
No one would be able to call Cabot’s books high literature, but that doesn’t mean in any way they aren’t enjoyable. She has a great way of writing in a somewhat non-traditional manner. In some books, (Princess series) she writes as if the main character is writing in a diary. In some it’s emails, and in some it is texts. This book combines a great deal of her previous ventures. We get receipts, PDA messages, texts, emails, and journal entries…spread out from four to six or seven people.This story, while the usual girl-hates-boy-falls-for-boy plot set-up, also includes another minor love story in that of the best friends of the main characters. The two main characters – Jane and Cal – are asked to accompany their two best friends – Holly and Mark – as they elope in Italy. The only trouble is, Jane is afraid this is a set-up with Cal and takes an instant dislike to him. Cal thinks Jane is crazy. He also doesn’t believe in love or marriage. Begin tension and hilarity. Add to this every possible hindrance to the wedding of Mark and Holly and you have yourself a story.As I said before, I’m not going to claim this as high lit. It is fun to read though, for a break. Especially when one of the other books you’re reading is “War and Peace.” I already know how the story is going to end, and don’t expect any big surprises, but it’s always fun to see just how the story gets there.
—Sarah
Ahhhhh... meh. Meg Cabot's female lead voice sounds just the same as ever, while the voice of the male lead sounds very... unrealistic. The two protags fall deeply in love after four days. A quick and entertaining read, and I'd read it again, but only because it's the sort of easy-to-get-through chick lit you can use as brain bleach rather than than the sort you read because a) you like it, and b) it's intelligent, fascinating, and you care about the characters.Actually, while it was hard to believe that the protagonists were transcribing everything down longhand as it happened, I did appreciate how Meg Cabot made it more convenient for them to be sending emails and so on to each other rather than talking aloud. Just thought I'd put that out there.
—Liz
