bookoala
Written on Nov 18, 2020
Life is a whole lot messier than the movies...
Bailey Rydell has found the boy of her dreams. They share a love of films and talk all day - Alex is perfect. The only problem? They haven't actually met...
When Bailey moves to sunny California to live with her dad, who happens to live in the same town as Alex, she decides to track him down. But finding someone based on online conversations alone proves harder than Bailey thought, and with her irritating but charismatic (and potentially attractive?) colleague Porter Roth distracting her at every turn, will she ever get to meet the mysterious Alex?
One of MTV UK's 35 hottest YA Beach Reads for Summer 2017
"An irresistible tribute to classic screwball-comedy romances that captures the "delicious whirling, twirling, buzzing" of falling in love." - Kirkus, Starred Review
"If you like Rainbow Rowell, Jandy Nelson and John Green, then you are going to want to check out Jenn Bennett." - Sugarscape
"A charming read, and uplifting story and a Hollywood ending worth staying up for" - Culturefly
A modern-day YA reminiscent of You've Got Mail, Alex, Approximately, is a story of summer, first love, and hidden identity.
- ISBN10 1471161536
- ISBN13 9781471161537
- Publish Date 6 April 2017 (first published 4 April 2017)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 19 March 2021
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Simon & Schuster Ltd
- Imprint Simon & Schuster Childrens Books
- Edition Export
- Format Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
- Pages 400
- Language English
Reviews
pagingserenity
Written on Apr 27, 2020
maggiefan
Written on Apr 5, 2020
Kat @ Novels & Waffles
Written on Jan 24, 2020
THINGS I LIKED:
✔ It's a "You've Got Mail" retelling! HECK TO THE YES. Give me all the 90's Rom Com retellings!
✔ This is the perfect summer-time read, with Cali beaches, bonfires, and surfing galore! Considering it's now the middle of winter here in Japan, this was a great way to fight off the freezing weather and live vicariously in a world of ocean waves and hot afternoons in the sun. ☀️
melanchalina
Written on Aug 12, 2018
9 из 10
Жанр: YA, современный любовный роман
POV: 1 POV, от первого лица
Геометрия чувств: прямая
Отличительные черты: милый роман, анонимная переписка, "кто ты?", ненависть/любовь
РЕЦЕНЗИЯ:
Очень милая и простая история, от которой я получила истинное наслаждение. Сюжет незамысловат и довольно прост, о девушке и парне, что давно переписываются онлайн, но когда Бейли приезжает в город своего интернет-знакомого, то… не рассказывает об этом. Испугавшись разочарования и того, что встреча лицом к лицу все испортит, девушка решает тайно разыскать «Алекса», посмотреть на него издали и тогда уже принять окончательное решение.
Но все эти планы отодвигаются после того, как Бейли вынуждена приспосабливаться к жизни в новом городе, учится ответственности, справляться с новой работой и разбираться в своих чувствах ненависть-притяжение к одному из своих новых коллег Портеру. Но, в конце концов, одно накладывается на другое и все события переплетаются в единый клубок.
— А знаешь чего боюсь я?
— Чего?
— Я боюсь, что слишком в тебя влюблюсь и что потом, побольше меня узнав, ты поймешь, что заслуживаешь лучшего, и променяешь меня на парня более стильного и элегантного, разбив мое сердце.
Мне книга понравилась и даже очень. Она наполнена той самой атмосферой, что так присуща романа Уэст и Мэтсон – легко, мило, но при этом местами грустно и трогательно. Здесь и приятные, совершенно не раздражающие герои, и незамысловатый, но при этом цепляющий сюжет. Роман наполнен морским ароматом, беззаботностью юности и духом перемен.
Персонажи, сюжет, стиль подачи, романтическая линия – все на высоте, ни разу за все время я не заскучала, а лишь наслаждалась каждой страницей. Очень и очень душевная и теплая история.
Читала много различных комментариев, где люди (по непонятной мне причине) называли героиню глупой и недогадливой. Как бы да, она не гений и читатель легко сложит одно к другому, но чего вы ожидали от мимишного романа не рассчитанного на глубокий смысл? Да, героиня немного наивна, но меня это никогда не раздражало, это было… уместно и даже мило. В общем книга отправляются в список любимых, а чуть позже я ее перечитаю.
Sarah Says
Written on Jun 18, 2018
Leigha
Written on Dec 5, 2017
The sixteen-year-old girl in me is screaming, weeping, and squealing all at the same time. This novel is everything my heart desires – the perfect combination of character development, heartwarming romance, and atmospheric setting. Alex Porter and Mink Bailey are flawed characters, each struggling with their own traumas and uncertainties. Part of the novel’s charm is watching these two people grow into better version of themselves. I always understood their motivations, even if I didn’t agree with them. Their sardonic, often flirty banter gradually increases as the romance grows between the two. It’s such a super sweet romance it makes freshly baked chocolate chip cookies look like rocks.
The secondary characters are just as important as the main characters. The friendship developed between Bailey and Grace is one of my favorite aspects of the novel. We need more believable representations of #ladiessupportingladies. And didn’t you just cheer when Grace calls out Bailey’s behavior of putting Porter before their friendship? Romances are important, but so are friendships. The parents involvement in their children’s life is a refreshing change of pace too.
The sense of place is just as strong as the character development. Every single detail is precious, whether it’s the idealistic town square, the whimsical boardwalk, or the zany museum. It combines several ethnicities and cultures to create a multicultural landscape. It feels real and alive in a way most books do not. Do not be afraid, people – representation is present and accounted for in this novel.
Finally, I absolutely adore classic films. It’s been such a joy showing my husband some of my favorite film pieces, including The Philadelphia Story and Bringing Up Baby. This book was destined to be a joy to me because it included throw backs to one of my passions. I hope you take some time to look into these films if you’ve never seen them. You might be surprised.
tl;dr An adorable contemporary romance full of character growth, believable relationships, and classic movies.
kimbacaffeinate
Written on Sep 8, 2017
- I loved the setup for ALEX, APPROXIMATELY and I am glad I went into this blind without reading the synopsis. Bennett breathed life into the premise and indeed delivered a heartfelt coming of age story that was refreshing and original.
- Bailey "Mink" Rydell was such a breath of fresh air. She is starting over when she moves in with her Dad, after a very traumatic incident on the East coast. Bailey sees this as a chance to grow and be the person she wants, rather than simply standing on the sidelines or running away. She is adorable, awkward and very real.
- Portor was a teenage girls dream guy. He is swoony with his facial scruff, shyness and over the top lines. Every time he was present I just couldn't help but smile. I loved how patient he was, and he made both Alex and I laugh with his quizzes, thoughtful gestures, and adorkableness.
- Secondary characters from the old man at the museum to Grace, Bailey's new friend added depth. I adored Grace and would love to see a story dedicated solely to her. Diversity, parental involvement, frank discussions, and reliable role models made this a win. The story was balanced, for instance, Bailey's Dad is very involved, and her mother not so much, but it was addressed and not as a poor reflection of who Bailey is.
- The romance was realistic from misunderstandings to open honesty. This novel is sex-positive, from discussions beforehand to birth control. It touches on masturbation, self-discovery and doing what is right for you. I would not hesitate to allow my young teen to read this, and would enjoy the conversations it brought forth.
- The story offers depth and is the perfect coming of age story. For fans of the movie, "You've Got Mail," you will adore the chapter intros and references to this film and more. Bailey is a movie buff, and I loved discovering all the hidden and not so hidden references.
- The California setting screams summer, beach, and sun. From the surf shops to local food carts you'll feel transported by Bennett's visuals.
- I saw a little of myself in Bailey. She is the type of character you can relate to, in fact, many of the characters were. Bennett made them all realistic, but not cliche' and it is what made the story come to life.
- Amy Melissa Bentley was the perfect narrator for Bailey's story. She nailed Bailey from her mannerisms to her feelings. She enhanced awkward moments and tender ones. I felt her panic, joy, and uncertainty. Her male voices were well done, and I swooned over Porter. ALEX, APPROXIMATELY, was made for audio.
Audiobook provided by the publisher. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer
liz089
Written on Jun 8, 2017
girlinthepages
Written on May 29, 2017
So very long story short, Bailey has an online ~thing~ with a dude named Alex (of course they're both using screen names because #internetsafety) and then she moves out to California to live with her dad and meets Alex IRL except she doesn't realize it's him- she just knows him as Porter Roth, surfer/beach bum/museum security guard/general pain in her behind. Hilarity and angst ensues as Porter and Bailey go from frenemies to an item without realizing that they've been talking, and continue to talk, online.
Things I Loved:
The California setting was on point. Coronado Cove is based on Santa Cruz, and I think Jenn conveyed the vibe really, really well. It made me want to visit a coast I already live on, haha. I loved reading scenes in all of the settings from the cold and calm beaches to the boardwalk to the quirky museum (California is full of them, it seems- I was getting major Winchester Mystery House vibes from the museum they work in). The spot on California setting is why the novel made my list of notable reads set in the golden state post before I had even finished the book.
The family dynamics played a huge role in the novel in addition to the romance. While it did feel long at times, clocking in at almost 400 pages (which is long for a standalone contemporary for me), I appreciated that the author took the time to flesh out the families of the protagonists. Bailey's CPA dad warmed my heart with his corny dad ways and Porter's family supported each other unrelentingly.
I loved the movie references. Porter and Bailey are both huge classic film aficionados and so there is a quote from a movie at the beginning of each chapter. I'm not a huge film buff myself but I thought it was a fun touch and it was fun to anticipate how the quote was going to foreshadow what happened in the upcoming chapter.
The romance won me over. I did NOT like Bailey and Porter's interactions for the first half of the book. I'm not a huge fan of the hate-to-love trope because it honestly can really serve as an excuse for the characters to treat each other horribly and set really bad relationship examples. Treating someone like dirt isn't sexy. However I think given the circumstances the author really took the time to show the subtle progression from disdain to friendship and eventually to romance, and there really were some heartwarming moments between the two of them (such as when he helps Bailey recover an item that was stolen from her that's very near and dear to her heart). By the end of the book Bailey and Porter also had serious chemistry and I was really, really rooting for them.
Things I Could Have Lived Without:
The pacing. The book takes a while to set up Bailey's move out to California, starting to work at the museum, her quest to find Alex, etc. and for a while I was just super unengaged. I don't think I started really caring until the 200 page mark when Porter's character and family history starts becoming deeper and plot elements start clicking into place, and there's more than just extremely hostile interactions between them.
The heaviness of the plot. For some reason, this book has several really intense subplots. On the one hand, I'm generally not a fan of the ULTRA fluffy contemporaries so I appreciate a good dose of drama or intensity, especially if it can tie back into the romance. However, there was just way too much going on and I think the ending felt too dramatic and over the top. I think the story could have focused on half the amount of intense plot devices and still worked.
Overall: Alex, Approximately took a while to win my heart, but when it did I was a sucker for Bailey and Porter's relationship. I loved the family dynamics, the coastal town setting, the quintessentially California vibe, the classic film references, and the feeling that I really got to know and care for the characters, which doesn't always happen when reading a stand alone novel. I'm secretly hoping for a sequel because I need more Porter in my life. Thank you to this novel for proving YA contemporary romances aren't completely lost on me.This review was originally posted on Girl in the Pages