“Alex, Approximately” by Jenn Bennett • Book Review

Published: 14 April, 2017 by Simon Pulse
Format: Paperback, 388 pages, English

“Sometimes you have to endure painful things to realize that you're a whole lot stronger than you think.”

★★★★ (3.8 / 5) Overall, this was a really enjoyable story for me. There were things I really enjoyed about the story and the characters, and the author's writing style felt smooth. But there were still predictable plot points and some elements I wish had been different.

Keep reading if you don't mind spoilers and if you want to see all my thoughts on this Young Adult contemporary novel.

!! WARNING !! There are spoilers ahead!

summary.

If you've read the book, you can skip this section. Our story follows Bailey, a 17-year-old girl who is eager to move away from her mom and step-dad (in Washington, D.C.) and live with her dad in a coastal city in CA. Meanwhile, she's been chatting online with a boy (@alex) she met in a film buff chatroom who lives in the same city and has been begging her to visit him in the summer. Bailey hatches a plan to move without telling him so she can find out who he is, make sure he's not a psycho, and surprise him at the end-of-summer film festival he invited her to.

Disaster strikes when she starts her summer job at a museum and starts falling for Porter, the museum security guard (who also happens to be 18, a surfer, and incredible hot). They bond over their trauma-ridden pasts and grow closer as Porter's ex-friend and drug addict, Davy, shoots guns, steals scooters, throws tantrums, and all around wreaks havoc on their summer. Since they fall head over heels, they help each other cope with their own versions of PTSD, and they get their happy ending when it's revealed that Porter has been @alex all along.

characters.

Primarily, we focus on two characters: Bailey (@mink) and Porter (@alex). A few minor/secondary characters worth mentioning are: Bailey's newfound friend Grace, Porter's haunting ex-friend Davy, Bailey's father Pete, and a security guard at the “museum” at which the teenagers work named Pangborn.

I fell in love with the characters right from the start! Bailey and Porter specifically both have trauma in their past, and I felt like there was good pacing bringing this to light. Plus, I feel like each of their forms of PTSD and coping methods were handled pretty realistically. Bailey can't stand being near guns or even watching films with gunshots (totally understandable), and Porter is petrified of being near a shark—even with a glass wall between them—and takes a long time to feel comfortable surfing again.

What I like about the rest of the cast of characters was their slight unconventionality. I adored how the security guard was smoking pot on his breaks and no one minded, and I really appreciated Grace's straight-talk with Bailey when she was feeling neglected as a friend. This was a good contrast for the more stereotypical archetypes of our two main characters (and love interests).

sex, drugs & violence.

*SPOILER ALERT* Yes, they have sex. But I think it was really well handled. Nothing was too graphic, the actual sex acts were all very consensual and lovely, and sexuality was handled much more honestly than most contemporary novels do. Full disclosure: Bailey masturbates and Porter actually reminds her that if she wants to stop in the middle, it's completely OK (and why wouldn't it be?).

There has been a lot of debate about the handling of drug abuse with Davy's character. On the one hand, I understand where people are coming from about portraying addicts like problems who should have all the blame for their struggle. But on the other hand, I have family and friends who have been or are addicts, and I completely understand the frustration Porter feels. Especially as an 18-year-old boy who has been devastatingly damaged by his friendship with Davy, I can't help but feel like I would think the same way in his shoes. Could Bennett have handled it differently to make a point? Maybe. But I think this maintained authenticity.

I have mixed feelings on the violence. On the one hand, the traumatic experiences and Bailey's general feelings towards violence and violent people made sense. But at the same time, was it OK that Porter went batsh*t on Davy at one point? I don't know. I think it got a little out of hand, and Bailey seemed a little too OK with it—both with Porter's outburst and with the climactic hostage situation. I just feel like Bailey should have been way more panicked, maybe to the point of paralysis. Then again, if she and Porter weren't as brave as they were, they probably would have died, soooooooo I guess it's fine. . .

final thoughts.

There has been a lot of debate about this book being a retelling of “You've Got Mail," the wonderful feel-good film starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan (5 years after their on-screen couple debut in “Sleepless in Seattle”). I personally love that film and enjoyed the ​similarities. But what was really missing for me was the online chatting. I wanted so much more tension with Bailey being in the same city as @alex without him knowing, and that could have been played out if there were more (and deeper) messaging sections throughout the book.

My last question: “I am Mink. Hear me roar.” Why? Why is this here? There was a reason her online name was @mink, but I feel like it didn't have enough significance for it to be her mantra or power-nickname or whatever you want to call it. That whole last chapter didn't do it for me. . .personally.

are you still reading?

If so, can we be friends? LOL. But in all seriousness, I hope my opinions and thoughts here are helpful—or at least interesting. I'd love to hear what you thought of the book! Comment on this post below or DM me on Instagram @daniellebrownwrites. Happy reading!