Review: Solid 4 star read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 25, 2014
Isn't She Lovely caught me off guard. I was expecting a cute little play on Pygmalion like I've read or watched a hundred times before. But the story of Ethan and Stephanie was so much more.The story centers around two people taking a summer film class at NYU. And when I say two people, I mean a guy and a girl who are complete opposites. Stephanie is a 'goth' girl who has a troubled past and keeps her emotions to herself. Ethan is the typical rich frat boy who puts on the charm. They are paired up for a project and thus the plot thickens. Ethan needs a girlfriend to bring around his parents and Stephanie needs a place to stay... so they strike up a deal and Stephanie's makeover from dark chick to perfect girlfriend opens up both their eyes.I really loved the pacing of the story. There was no insta-love with these two. There was a grudging acceptance of their situation and from their the attraction grows. The charade they play becomes the thing that brings them together but could ultimately tear them apart.Ethan was a great character because he had charm and personality, but also flaws and insecurities. He's bottling up his emotions because of things he's witnessed in his family and his love life. He can be oh so sweet, but then he acts like a typical rich kid and its so hard to reconcile the two parts of his personality. Stephanie on the other hand is a hard chick who doesn't know how to deal with the tragic things that made her the way she is now. And the ultimate question continues to run through their charade... Does Ethan want Stephanie just the way she is, or is her makeover the only way he will be with her?I am so glad I got the chance to read this book because it was just what I needed... a break from the angst ridden crazy that I've read lately. There was definite conflict, but it was so fun to read. Lauren Layne did a fantastic job with this and I can't wait to read more from here.