Books like Isla and the happily ever after

A dreamy, passport-stamping romance that explores what happens after the initial spark fades and the real work of loving someone begins. These 12 books are the closest matches in mood, pace and themes, with what each one shares with Isla and the happily ever after.

dreamy
swoony
atmospheric
tender

01
Anna and the French Kiss
Stephanie Perkins
A cinematic, banter-filled love letter to Paris and the dizzying, agonizing thrill of an all-consuming crush.
Shares:
- swoony
- earnest
- romantic
- coming of age
02
Forever Princess
Meg Cabot
A hilarious, swoon-worthy, and deeply nostalgic victory lap for anyone who has ever felt like a disaster trying to figure out their future.
Shares:
- earnest
- romantic
- hopeful
- first love
03
Lola and the boy next door
Stephanie Perkins
A vibrant, costume-filled exploration of first love and second chances that feels like a warm hug on a breezy San Francisco day.
Shares:
- earnest
- first love
04
Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Jenny Han
A warm, bittersweet embrace of a story that captures the terrifying, beautiful precipice between childhood and whatever comes next.
Shares:
- earnest
- romantic
- first love
05
Her Royal Highness
Rachel Hawkins
A cozy, banter-filled sapphic fairy tale set against the misty backdrop of an elite Scottish boarding school.
Shares:
- swoony
06
The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Jennifer E. Smith
A cinematic, twenty-four-hour whirlwind of serendipity that feels like a cozy, transatlantic hug.
Shares:
- earnest
- romantic
- hopeful
07
The boy-oh-boy next door
Rita Miami · 1993
A nostalgic dive into the dizzying highs and mortifying lows of a neighborhood first crush.
Shares:
- earnest
08
The Summer I Turned Pretty Trilogy
Jenny Han
A sun-drenched, nostalgic dive into the messy, bittersweet ache of growing up and falling in love at the beach.
Shares:
- earnest
- romantic
- first love
- coming of age
09
Once and for all
Sarah Dessen
A sun-drenched, bittersweet summer romance that explores the messy collision of wedding-day perfection and real-world grief.
Shares:
- earnest
- romantic
- hopeful
10
Princess Mia
Meg Cabot
A hilarious, heartfelt deep dive into the messy reality of teenage heartbreak and the awkward journey toward self-discovery.
Shares:
- earnest
11
Second Chance Summer
Morgan Matson
A bittersweet, sun-drenched summer of rekindled love and inevitable goodbyes.
Shares:
- tender
- earnest
12
Once Upon a Time
Shannon Hale
A sparkling, pun-filled romp through a magical boarding school where the children of legends decide whether to follow the script or write their own.
Shares:
- earnest

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