Review- Happenstance by Jamie McGuire

Goodreads Summary:

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. Erin Easter, raised by a neglectful single mom, keeps to herself and admires Weston Gates from afar. The other Erins, Erin A. and Erin M. are the darlings of the community: daughters of the two wealthiest families in town, best friends, cheerleaders, and everything Erin Easter isn't--and they never let her forget it. Erin A. 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 Erin Easter's feeling that she belongs somewhere else; in a different life. Not until he begins sneaking nights out with Erin does he gain the courage to buck expectations and acknowledge his feelings ... both for his future, and for her.

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

REVIEW:

I was a little sad to know that Jamie McGuire wrote a novella that wasn't about Abby and Travis, but at the same time, I was very happy to know that Jamie McGuire wrote a contemporary novella anyway. I've been a fan of the author since I read and loved to bits Beautiful Disaster, Walking Disaster and A Beautiful Wedding, so obviously, I was pretty excited to read Happenstance, which for me, was an absolutely great novella that I ended up loving. Not as much as the Beautiful series, but I loved it nonetheless. 

Being a novella, I don't really feel the need to delve into the story as one thing will lead to another and I might just end up saying more than necessary. All I'll say is that the novella is both a light read and a serious story at the same time. There are aspects to it that will make one feel all cute and cuddly, and at the same time, certain aspects that'll make one feel disappointed and depressed. It's full of emotions and Jamie McGuire portrays her characters and their situations in such an impeccable manner that it's hard not to feel with them whatever it is they are feeling. 

When it comes to our protagonists, Erin, the female protagonist, was a really nice and sensible girl who has been through a lot and her tolerance and strength make her an amazing person. The hero in the novella, Weston, was an absolutely wonderful person whose company I thoroughly enjoyed. A sprinkling of other both fantastic and not so fantastic characters, the immense importance given to family and a warm small town set-up make Happenstance a very cute story. 

I would say that Happenstance falls somewhere in between Young Adult and New Adult, in the sense that it will be enjoyed by readers of both genres. The lightheartedness make it a simple and sweet read but the focus on self-identity and self-discovery appear to make it lean more towards a mature and serious path. Anyhow, all that aside, Happenstance is a lovely read for when you're in the mood for something light that has you thinking about it long after you put the book down. I'm looking forward to all that's next in the series.  

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