Seriously, sweetest ending to the sweetest series I have ever read. Lucy's life has turned around since EWY. Her relationship with her family is better, she's got the perfect boyfriend, and only the occasional jealous girl is mean to her at school. But she and Justin are not in the clear yet. His dad is in a position of power and public speculation. Such is the world of politics. When Justin refuses to sell out for his father's campaign, things get dirty. Questionable photos are leaked to the press, leaving he and Lucy to navigate the waters without the trust of their families. Innocence is proven, but it's not an easy road.Justin eventually brings his father back to the lighter side of things, and decides nothing is worth being without Lucy. He sets out to win her back. And his methods are absolutely adorable.Once again, I was reminded of the struggles and triumphs of my own high school days, not at all similar to these two, but Lizzy has a style of writing that leaves you with no choice but to travel down memory lane. I absolutely adored these books, and cannot wait to read more from this author. I thoroughly enjoyed Effortless with You and fell in love with Lucy and Justin's story, so I couldn't wait to read Perfectly Messy and see how things worked out for these two. Effortless with You was a delightful treasure in a sea of YA books available, demonstrating the talented writing of debut author Lizzy Charles, and she further demonstrates her talent in Perfectly Messy, holding the reader captive as the story unfolds. Lucy and Justin have gone through some difficult situations and things finally seem perfect for them, until they aren't. Faced with not only the challenges normal teenagers face in life and relationships, they are also faced with the fact that Justin's father is in the public eye and the negative press that that sometimes includes, especially when your perfect world begins to fall apart.I love Justin's character. He is a hottie, but more than that, he is a real stand-up guy that has a good head on his shoulders and is responsible, yet still manages to be a dreamboat. When pressures from family, school, his dad's political race, and being a good boyfriend mount, he kind of crumbles and doesn't handle things too well. I got really aggravated with him, but that is a good thing, because it just made him seem more real, and though heartbreaking, watching him grow into the guy he becomes is so worth it. Lucy's character is much more mature in this novel, almost too understanding at times, but then that fiery side comes forth and she manages to stand up for herself showing the tough girl she really is, while igniting that spark in Justin that spurs him on to realize what he wants and needs in life, and what he needs to do to get it. To make a contemporary romance shine brighter than the others these days is quite a feat, and Perfectly Messy is definitely one of those books that shines bright and makes you take notice. The story is well written, keeping your attention from beginning to end, causing the reader to love and root for the characters, cheering them on to the finish line so they can find their happily ever after. The romance aspect is done really well, and the characters....well, Justin has definitely got the swoon factor down pat. If you are a fan of YA contemporary romance, then Effortless with You and Perfectly Messy are two books that I would most definitely recommend and are well worth making the time to read, perfect for young adult readers and those of us who are young at heart.
What do You think about Perfectly Messy (2014)?
This was a nice easy read. I do however think I preferred the first one to this.
—Uyecik
This book was totally swoon-worthy. That's all I have to say about this.
—PorcelainWings
