When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O’Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.
Then Graham finds out that Ellie’s Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media’s spotlight at all costs?
Graham Larkin, a normal kid unexpectedly “catapulted into the limelight” with his first big movie role three years prior, feels alienated and lonely in spite of his huge fan base, entourage and hangers-on. He loves acting, but he craves that real human connection he had before fame found him, and he can’t seem to find it in the spotlight. Just the opposite, Ellie has grown up in a small town protecting a secret that has the power to damage multiple lives, and so avoids drawing too much attention to herself. When a twist of fate, in the form of a mistyped email address, leads to an ongoing email correspondence between Graham & Ellie providing them an outlet to just be themselves, Graham becomes determined to meet this girl whose emails have become the highlight of his day. But when Ellie discovers her mysterious email penpal (and the guy she’s starting to seriously crush on) is none other than Hollywood superstar Graham Larkin, she’s torn between keeping her secrets and giving into her desire to be with the boy who’s been haunting her thoughts and her inbox.
Graham broke my heart with his loneliness and charmed me with his quick humor and genuineness. Likewise, I admired Ellie’s spunk and how grounded she is. Their’s isn’t a romance that moves mountains or “burns down the world,” but rather it’s wonderfully cute, fun and lighthearted, while also exploring some deeper issues as Graham and Ellie learn things about themselves and each other as a result of their budding relationship. It’s the kind of book that makes one sigh happy sighs, swallow back a few tears, and eventually close the book with a contented smile on one’s face.
Overall, This is What Happy Looks Like is a sweet, refreshing story of appreciating happiness where you find it and of the beauty of first love.
Author: Jennifer E. Smith Title: This is What Happy Looks Like Published: April 2nd 2013 by Poppy Format: 416 pages; hardcover Website: www.jenniferesmith.com Source: Library My rating: 
Happy Reading!
Oh I want to read this book so bad! But.. I think I read somewhere that the ending is rather real instead of being overly romantic? That’s not something for my romantic heart!
It is a little more realistic, or maybe “bittersweet” is a better word? But I view as more hopeful than anything else.
I actually read the free download of the first 3 chapters and was completely hooked on it.
Can’t wait to buy the full book! As much as I love all of the “happily ever after’s” out there, I’m happy to hear that it’s more on the realistic side.
Isn’t it adorable? I hope you are able to pick it up soon and finish it! And yes… (ok, I’ve been trying to think of something non-spoilery to say about the ending and HEA’s, but can’t so…)… and yes. lol
I’ve seen this book, but hadn’t heard much about it. It actually sounds like one I may like.
I think you just might
Aww, this does sound like a sweet book. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thanks! Sometimes it’s nice to have something to break up the heavier reads, and this fit the bill