Classic movie buff Bailey “Mink” Rydell has spent months crushing on a witty film geek she only knows online by “Alex.” Two coasts separate the teens until Bailey moves in with her dad, who lives in the same California surfing town as her online crush.
Faced with doubts (what if he’s a creep in real life — or worse?), Bailey doesn’t tell Alex she’s moved to his hometown. Or that she’s landed a job at the local tourist-trap museum. Or that she’s being heckled daily by the irritatingly hot museum security guard, Porter Roth — a.k.a. her new arch-nemesis. But life is whole lot messier than the movies, especially when Bailey discovers that tricky fine line between hate, love, and whatever-it-is she’s starting to feel for Porter.
And as the summer months go by, Bailey must choose whether to cling to a dreamy online fantasy in Alex or take a risk on an imperfect reality with Porter. The choice is both simpler and more complicated than she realizes, because Porter Roth is hiding a secret of his own: Porter is Alex … Approximately.
In this delightfully charming teen spin on You’ve Got Mail, the one guy Bailey Rydell can’t stand is actually the boy of her dreams — she just doesn’t know it yet.
Alex, Approximately Review
Alex, Approximately has been on my radar for a long time. I’ve heard so many great things about this book and Jenn Bennett in general. I’m SO glad I finally got around to reading this book. I absolutely adore it.
Alex, Approximately follows Bailey, a film lover who chats online to a boy named Alex. She ends up moving to California to live with her Dad but doesn’t tell Alex that she’s now living in the same city as him. Little does she know that Alex is closer to her then she thinks!
I just absolutely adore all of these characters. Bailey is hilarious and is just so witty. I think her love of films is adorable and I thoroughly enjoyed all the movie references and quotes throughout the book.
Her relationship with “Alex” is super sweet and I love that she’s unaware that she’s around him all the time. Porter is a really enjoyable character and I think his dynamic with Bailey is great. The whole premise is actually super sweet and it definitely has that enemies to lovers trope that’s addictive.
One thing that I find amazing about Jenn Bennett is her ability to write such realistic characters. I honestly just felt like I was surrounded by them and could totally relate to them. This is SO necessary in YA and I’m so glad it’s the case with this book!
This is my first Jenn Bennett book but it honestly will not be my last. I absolutely love her writing style and I definitely could have read this book in one sitting, it’s just that good.
Quite honestly, I could gush about Alex, Approximately so much more but I just want to dive into all her other books now! I cannot recommend this book enough. GO READ IT NOW!! ✨
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.5)
Favourite Quote
Sometimes you have to endure painful things to realize that you’re a whole lot stronger than you think.
About the Author
Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult books, including: Alex, Approximately; Starry Eyes; Serious Moonlight; as well as The Lady Rogue. She also writes romance and fantasy for adults. Her books have earned multiple starred reviews, won Romance Writers of America’s RITA® Award, and been included on Publishers Weekly Best Books annual list. She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.
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Buy Alex, Approximately
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Do you love Alex, Approximately too? Who is your favourite character? What’s your favourite Jenn Bennett book?
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