Review: Happenstance by Jamie McGuire

What is this? Another review, on the same day? Why yes my lovelies, yes it is. What can I say? I have some catching up to do!

I'm sure you all know by now, I am one huge ass Jamie Mcguire fan. I am not ashamed to admit that I'm a total fan girl when it comes to this lady. I sit and clock watch, counting down the seconds whilst syncing Mr Kindle to see if the book has been downloaded yet. It happened with Beautiful Disaster, it happened with Walking Disaster, it happened with Happenstance, and you got it, it's gonna happen with Beautiful Oblivion.
**Sighs**. Maybe I need to join a therapy group for this? Or not ;)

Now, I've seen some pretty pissy reviews. Oh yeah, I busted out the italic right there for a reason. See, you cannot call these things reviews. Nuh uh. It says right on the cover that it is a novella.Meaning, short. Meaning less detail. Let's admit it, it's true, it's acceptable. So why do people still feel the need to point out how short it was? Okay, I agree, I totally could have gone for some more Weston, I freakin love the guy, of course I want more of him. What I cannot deal with is people saying shit like "it would have been five stars but I'm only giving it three because of the length".  I mean, seriously? And you know these are frequent readers. You know they know the difference. **Pulls angry face**. GAH!  Total touchy spot for me right there. I cannot understand why people do this. And I'm only a blogger! Authors, you all deserve gold star stickers and lollypops.

Okay, I swear, my mini meltdown thing has passed. I'm gonna review in

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Why hello there! You have reached CJ's Book Blog, the safe part of the review. Thank you for your patience and I hope you enjoy the rest of this post. Hee hee. 

Happenstance had be laid awake at night trying to sort out my crazy ass emotions. I had finished the book earlier in the day. I had hours to sort my shit out. Clearly, I failed. I didn't know what to think, hell, I still don't. I liked Weston, but I also wanted, no, needed him to sort his shit out. If you have read my other reviews, you know I despise live triangles. Now I'm not saying there is one, or any cheating, but it hints at it. Does that make sense? Nothing actually happens, but it totally could have if Easter had agreed. Maybe. Gah! See, this dude has me so confused I don't even know what the hell I want to say anymore. Okay, deeps breaths CJ. Focus. What does McGuire have for us this time?

#1 New York Times Bestseller Jamie McGuire returns to self-publishing with this page-turning YA account of Erin Easter, one of three Erins in the small senior class of rural Blackwell High School who not only share a first name, but also their birthday. Easter, raised by a neglectful single mom, keeps to herself and admires Weston Gates from afar. The other Erins, Erin "Alder" Alderman and Erin "Sonny" Masterson are the darlings of the community: daughters of the two wealthiest families in town, best friends, cheerleaders, and everything Easter isn't--and they never let her forget it. Alder has even claimed Weston since the 8th grade. 

Weston is a well-liked star athlete, and the son of two prominent attorneys. He struggles daily with the pressures of living up to his family name and secretly empathizes with Easter's feeling that she belongs somewhere else; in a different life. Not until he begins sneaking nights out with Easter does he gain the courage to buck expectations and acknowledge his feelings ... both for his future, and for her. 

A shocking tragedy rocks the tiny town, and Easter's life is turned upside down in the best way possible. But when the truth is revealed and everything she thinks she wanted falls into her lap, life only becomes more complicated.

We all expect things to feel slightly rushed with a novella, and it's acceptable pretty much all the time, because usually, authors do a damn good job. I can't say this felt rushed. We get to see the main characters relationship develop. We still get the good and the bad. Granted, it doesn't have that oomf that full length novels do, but still, it's there. It's a beautiful story. The ending, now that was a little crazy. I still don't know what to think of it. See, I want more. I want to know what happens next, I want to know if Easter suddenly becomes Queen B or if she shies away from everything even more. I just want one big fat HEA.

My overall rating for this is 4. Purely because of the ending. The writing itself was beautiful as always though! All you Travis Maddox fans, get on this! Say hello to another McGuire man ;)

(Random Note: How beautiful is the cover?)