I received this book for free from Won in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett Published by Simon Pulse on April 4th 2017
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Source: Won
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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.
Why oh why did I wait so long to read this?! Alex, Approximately was one my my most anticipated reads earlier this year and I stupidly let it sit on my shelf month after month until now. I’m so very thankful I finally picked this one up because once again Jenn Bennett has written a novel to fall in love with!
Bailey has moved cross country to live with her father after things get a little tremulous with her mother, a fact Bailey has chosen to keep a secret from her online movie fanatic friend, ‘Alex’ who just so happens to live in the same town as her dad. Bailey is a private person who hates confrontation and anything that makes her uncomfortable and awkward. And honestly, I’m not sure I’ve ever connected with a character more. So when she meets Porter who is very in your face and loves to tease, I immediately understood her initial reservations. But man does he grow on you! The story follows Bailey as she tries to figure out who ‘Alex’ is in the real world while slowly opening herself up to Porter and discovering the type of person he is and who she wants to be with.
This story made me so happy and giddy. I adored the evolution of Bailey and Porter’s relationship. All the bantering and teasing that becomes friendship and so much more by the end. There are a few secrets they need to work through as well as some drama that unfolds in their wake but I just loved everything about these two. There was the perfect amount of angst, drama, smiles, laughter and swoons. Jenn Bennett is easily becoming an author on my auto-buy list and I vow not to let another novel of hers sit so long on my shelf. I can’t wait for what comes next! Don’t be like me if you haven’t read this one yet. Pick up a copy ASAP and get to reading!
Sam@WLABB
Yeah! I am glad you liked this because I LOVED it so much!!! I will read anything Bennett writes and has written after reading this. This was fun, but also had some emotional bits, and it left me quite happy. Great review!
Sam@WLABB recently posted…Blog Tour: The Chaos of Standing Still – Jessica Brody
Sara @ Forever 17 Books
She is absolutely on by auto-buy list of authors!
Nina
Wow! I do the same as you, buy the book and don’t read it for months and months. 🙂 I haven’t heard of this book before, but your enthusiasm makes me want to read it!
Nina recently posted…Goodbye NOVEMBER & Hello to DECEMBER 2017
Sara @ Forever 17 Books
I do that more than I care to admit. So many books sit on my shelves waiting. I try to be good about not buying them right away but alas… lol
Maria A. Malaveci
I have heard so many wonderful things about this book. It looks like I need to move it up on my reading list!