Alex, Approximately - Book Review

 

Alex, Approximately

by Jenn Bennett 

What is it about:

Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “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 arch-nemesis. But life is 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.

What did I think of it:

This is a really fun read.

Basically this is a Young Adult version of You've Got Mail, which in turn is a remake of an earlier story where two people connect by phone/email/messenger/whatever while they are not able to get along elsewhere.

And I will confess: I'm totally here for that particular trope and have been ever since seeing an old movie where two people have crossed wires with their phone and don't know they're neighbors. I can't remember the title or much from the overall plot, but since then I live for plots like this.

And this book delivers. I was hooked from the start and kept reading to see if Bailey will figure out who Alex is or if she will remain clueless while she gets closer to Porter.

I loved the setting and all the characters. Porter can be an ass at times, but he isn't afraid to apologize and do better. Bailey makes a lot of mistakes as well, but also grows and learns. I rooted for them to get their happy ending.

All in all just the story I was hoping for.

Why should you read it: 

It's a very enjoyable and fun YA read.

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