Meant to Be By Lauren Morrill

Julia is going on a class trip to London, alone.  Well actually she's going with a whole group of people but her best friend isn't going and everyone that is knows her as "Book Licker".  That's ok because she is here to LEARN.  As long as everything goes as planned Julia will be just fine.  She's packed more books than clothes, and she's ready to get the most out of this educational experience. 

But pretty much right away, things don't go as planned.  First she gets paired up with Jason, the class-clown type who loves breaking all the rules.  Julia is a rule-follower, so you know this is going to be bad.  But Jason actually gets Julia to loosen up... and even though she's stuck on the idea of a childhood crush (Mark) being her Meant to Be, she starts texting with a guy she supposedly met at a party.... and her London adventure begins!


So Julia is a super uptight nerd-alert type, and at first I didn't think I was going to be able to take her.  Especially when she started throwing out the "MTB's" (teen talk at it's finest).  But as the book went on the girl actually changed.  She became fun.  And Jason did that.  After that first party, she became less-annoying Julia and more London-Julia.  I liked the evolution, and the foreign-country setting made it believable.  What better time to let loose than on a dream vaca?  I thought the Jason character was sweet at times, but other times just a little too rude to be so easily forgiven.  I wish he was more balanced because I didn't 100% root for him.  Without giving away the ending I wanted to tell you guys that even though you kind of know where it's headed, there is a twist at the end ...and I kind of celebrated a little when I got to that point because I really hate when I know what's going to happen.

The setting is what made this book.  It was great reading about them running around London going to these museums and historic places, but then sneaking off and going to places like a skate-park or parties or pubs.  I am really starting to love books set in Europe!   I also liked the flow of this book. It was a fun, light, easy read. More of a beach read than anything else.

Now: The cover!!  From what I've seen this cover is really popular.  I can see why, it's so pretty (even though the 2 people on there look like they are 25 not high schoolers).

Overall:  For fans of YA Contemporary or if you just need a break from all that end of the world stuff that is running rampant in YA right now, you should read this book.  If you liked Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins... you'll probably be into this too (although none of the boys in this book is as hot as Etienne, but who is?).

Add it to your To-Read List!

My Rating:

How I got this book:  Thank you Netgalley
Date Published: 11/13/2012 ---THAT'S TOMORROW!!