by Jenn Bennett
April 4, 2017
391 pages
Goodreads Summary:
The one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.
Classic movie fan Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online as Alex. Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.
Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new archnemesis. But life is a whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever it is she’s starting to feel for Porter. And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.
The one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams—she just doesn’t know it yet.
Classic movie fan Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online as Alex. Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.
Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life—or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth—a.k.a. her new archnemesis. But life is a whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever it is she’s starting to feel for Porter. And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex…Approximately.
Review
Jenn Bennett is an author I know I'd always follow after reading her first contemporary YA novel, The Anatomical Shape of a Heart. She's able to infuse so much emotions and meanings into her writing. Alex, Approximately was no different.
The movie quotes at the beginning of each chapter were brilliant. They give a little hint as to what's about to happen in the story. Super relatable. It was fun to recognize some of those movies as ones I've watched and loved. I also now have a list of classical movies, such as Philadelphia Story and North by Northwest, that I want to check out!
Bailey and Porter are two teens who have both been through traumatic events at a young age. As a result she keeps to herself while he covers up with crude remarks and banters. Despite their total opposite behaviour, the two couldn't have been a better match as evidenced from their online communication (which were all anonymous). Without knowing they already knew each other, the two slowly but surely fall in love in real life.
Ms. Bennett nailed it with another swoony couple! After their initial less than ideal meeting, Bailey and Porter blew things out of the water by, among other things, facing off against burglars together and sharing their love for moon muffins. Respectable interactions all the way! I didn't love Porter's reaction when he found out Bailey's online identity but he got extra points for paying attention to all the little details about her. I swoon~
There was some excellent parenting in Alex, Approximately. Porter's parents were protective of him but gave him the trust he deserved. Bailey's dad was always helpful and gave his daughter the space she needed. Their rapport was always very sweet. I would've loved to see Bailey's mom but I understand the logic behind why she wasn't quite present in the story.
Doubly cute with an emotional intensity, Alex, Approximately will have you swooning all over the place. I need more Jenn Bennett in my life!
P.S. I feel like this would've been a completely different story had we not known Alex's identity from the beginning. I wonder if Ms. Bennett always meant for us to know? And if so, what was the reasoning behind it??
I'm so glad you liked this one! It's a fav of mine!
ReplyDeleteAND YES, OH MY GOSH! I kinda wish we hadn't known who Alex was all along! I think it would've added a completely different element to the story!
Awesome review!
Thanks so much Brooke! I'm almost tempted to ask the author if she could write a version where we don't know XD But yes Jenn Bennett is definitely a must-read author!!
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