Alex, Approximately
By Author / Illustrator
Jenn Bennett
Genre
Adventure
Age range(s)
11+
Publisher
Simon & Schuster Ltd
ISBN
9781471161537
Format
Paperback / softback
Published
06-04-2017
Synopsis
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.
Reviews
Alice
When she moves across the States to live with her dad, Bailey has a plan - to seek out the boy she's been chatting with, and falling a bit in love with, online. The only problem? She doesn't know his real name, nor what he looks like. While she finds her feet and gets to grips with her summer job, Bailey's search for Alex begins, but then she meets Porter and her plans for the summer begin to go awry... Why does she feel so attracted to someone so infuriating...? This is a perfect summer read, it breathes sunsets on the beach and oozes small town charm. The author has said it was inspired by the film precursor of You've Got Mail, about twisted identities. As the reader, you soon put two and two together and this is part of the fun of reading Alex, Approximately - knowing what the characters don't, yet. What really drives the story, though - apart from wanting to know at what point the penny will drop for them both - is the zinging dialogue between Bailey and Porter, which is clever and great fun and helps develop each of the characters. The teenagers have had troubled backgrounds and as their pasts are gradually revealed, we're reminded - like the characters - to never judge by appearances. If you're concerned at all about the story's message of meeting up with online pals whose real identity you don't know, this is carefully handled by the author and the safety message is strong. I should also mention the film recommendations that come fast and furious throughout the book - this is a great story for those who love film, or who might be inspired to go and watch some of the classic movies the characters recommend. A wonderfully enjoyable read. 400 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Alice Short.
Suggested Reading Age 11+