Goodreads Summary:
Erin Easter was now Erin Alderman, because Erin Alderman was dead.
In the second installment of this USA Today bestselling series, follow protagonist Erin, a high school senior in tiny Blackwell, Oklahoma. After a terrible accident leaves two classmates dead, Erin learns that she was switched at birth. Shortly after, she moves into the home of her true parents, Sam and Julianne Alderman, transforming Erin over night from pariah of Blackwell High School, to the only child of one of the most affluent couples in town.
Also being pursued by her childhood crush, Weston Gates, the dream she once had is now reality. But when Erin stumbles upon secrets that gives her the answers she’s been searching for, she also finds a truth she never wanted to know.
In the second installment of this USA Today bestselling series, follow protagonist Erin, a high school senior in tiny Blackwell, Oklahoma. After a terrible accident leaves two classmates dead, Erin learns that she was switched at birth. Shortly after, she moves into the home of her true parents, Sam and Julianne Alderman, transforming Erin over night from pariah of Blackwell High School, to the only child of one of the most affluent couples in town.
Also being pursued by her childhood crush, Weston Gates, the dream she once had is now reality. But when Erin stumbles upon secrets that gives her the answers she’s been searching for, she also finds a truth she never wanted to know.
REVIEW:
I absolutely enjoyed Jamie McGuire's Happenstance 1. For a novella, it was an enjoyable and very touching read. For all the bitterness that was the protagonist Erin's past life, there was a jar full of sweetness waiting to be opened when it came to her new life. I was looking forward to reading Happenstance 2 because, like it is with most good novellas, just one short and tiny story isn't enough and you have to know more.
Happenstance 2 was a good read, but just not as good as the first book. The first novella ended on a hopeful note and the second started on a very positive note. But towards the end, I felt like I had to know more. The storyline was a complete high school drama and I've read lots of those before, so there was nothing new plot wise. The characters, however, were really good and well developed.
In Happenstance 2, Erin moves to her new home with her actual parents and leaves her shattered past behind. It was nice to see her adapt to her new and fancy lifestyle. I liked how genuinely surprised and grateful she was as a person. I liked her parents as well. I did think that the family- even with their messed up situation- was too perfect, but oh well, I'll take it. I wasn't as big a fan of Weston, the love interest, in this novella as I was in the previous.
Like I said, the end of Happenstance 2 left me wanting more, but at the same time, I felt it was way too familiar and typical. I have no idea if there are more novellas in this series, but I would like to read them. Jamie McGuire tells good stories and I'm all up for more short stories from her, but maybe something that isn't like something I've read before.
RATING:
Sorry to hear this didn't meet your expectations, Sarika. I too, enjoy novellas, but sometimes it's hard to pull off a satisfying story in a short amount of pages. Wonderful review! :)
ReplyDeleteAw sorry to hear this one wasn't up to your usual standard for Jamie McGuire, because I know how much you love her. But it definitely sounds like even if this one wasn't perfect, she will likely have many more absolutely amazing reads for you at some point :)
ReplyDeleteIts good that this was still a good continuation and read, but it's a shame it wasn't as great as the first one. One thing I can say for sure is that the cover is gorgeous!
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