Quotes from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I am hard on myself. But isn’t it better to be honest about these things before someone else can use them against you? Before someone else can break your heart? Isn’t it better to break it yourself?”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Phones are distracting. The internet is distracting.The way he looked at you? He wasn't distracted. He was consumed.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“St. Clair clears his throat. 'My fiancée and I are headed out for a celebratory dessert. I'd ask you all to join us, but I don't want you there.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“There's no story,' I say. 'I saw you one day, and I just knew.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Do adults realize how lucky they are? Or do they forget that these small moments are actually small miracles? I don’t want to ever forget.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I’m…getting there. I’m beginning to think that maybe it’s okay to be a blank canvas. Maybe it’s okay that my future is unknown. And maybe,” I say with another smile, “it’s okay to be inspired by the people who do know their future.” “It goes both ways, you know.” I link his icicle fingers through mine. “What does?” “Artists are inspired by blank canvases.” My smile grows wider.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“What are you working on?" I ask.
"The last page." He gestures towards the table, where a pencilled sketch is being turned into inked brushstrokes. It's a drawing of us, in this café, in this moment.
I smile up at him "It's beautiful. But what comes next?"
"The best part." And he pulls me back into his arms. "The happily ever after.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“You forgot to call,' he says.
I throw open my arms. He pulls me into them, and we kiss, and his lips are cold, and I think he's crying, and I'm definitely crying, and I pull back to say, 'I am so in love with you, Joshua Wasserstein. Of course I'll wait for you.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“St. Clair gets a crush on Anna. He's torn between her and Ellie, and he spends so much time running between them that he hardly has time left for Josh. And the more time that Josh spends alone, the more he realizes how alone he actually is. All of his friends will be gone the next year. Josh grows increasingly antagonistic toward school, which makes Rashmi increasingly antagonistic toward him, which makes him increasingly antagonistic toward her. And she's upset because Elie dropped her as a friend, and Meredith is upset because now St. Clair likes two girls who aren't her, and Anna is upset because St. Clair is leading her on, and then St. Clair's mom gets cancer.
It's a freaking soap opera.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“St. Clair waggles his eyebrows at Josh, but the moment he sees that I've caught him, his expression changes to a flirtatious grin. "Aw, mate," he says to Josh. "Admit it. You couldn't resist me."

Josh relaxes into a smile. "You're like a gorgeous little bonbon."

"Delicious in every way," St Clair says.

Anna rolls her eyes. "Wait until you try his creamy centre.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I'm the last one in the dark, until- suddenly- it happens. St. Clair removes something from his pocket. And then he gets down on one knee.
Anna's entire body lights with shock and joy and love. She nods a vigorous yes. St. Clair places the ring on her finger. He stands, she throws her arms around him, and they kiss. He spins her in a circle. They kiss again. Deep, hungry, long. And then he turns to us and waves- with the biggest smile I've ever seen- clearly aware that we've been standing here the whole time.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“You know that because you asked me out, you’re the one who has to pick the place, right?”
Throat. Dry.
Dry throat.
All of the dryness in my throat.
“Whatever you suggest.” He grins. “I’ll say yes. You’ll definitely get a yes. If that helps.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Josh bear-hugs St Clair. "I'm sorry you're off the market."

"Don't tell Anna, but I bought one for you, too," St Clair says.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Josh grins. "Just give me your hand."
"W-what?"
"Your hand," he repeats. "Give it to me."
I extend my shaking right hand. And-in a moment that is a hundred dreams come true-Joshua Wasserstein laces his fingers through mine. A staggering shock of energy shoots straight into my veins. Straight into my heart.
"There," he says. "I've been waiting a long time to do that."
Not nearly as long as I've been waiting.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Umbrellas are so small and sad and easy to forget.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I've always thought the best relationships are those that are as happy and content in silence as they are in action [...]”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I can’t imagine Josh falling for someone vanilla.
Not that Josh would ever fall for me.
But I wouldn’t want to ruin any chance.
Even though I don’t have a chance.
But just in case I do.
Even though I don’t.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I like stories of adventure. Especially if there’s some kind of disaster involved.”
The eyebrow remains arched.
I laugh. “I read the ones with happy endings, too.”
Josh gestures towards my shelves. “You read a lot.”
“Safer than going on a real adventure.”
Now he’s the one who laughs. “Maybe.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Take a risk. Take a fucking risk. If you keep playing it safe, you'll never know who you are -Josh”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Kismet is closing.”
“What’s Kismet?”
“Fate,” he says.
“What?”
“The name of the cafe.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“I smile up at him. "It's beautiful. But what comes next?"
"The best part." And he pulls me back into his arms. "The happily ever after.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“SPACES... BREAKS...TO CONTEMPLATE THINGS... TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S IMPORTANT...”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“Josh grins. It’s wide and relieved and reveals a rarely seen pair of dimples. I could live inside those dimples for the rest of my life.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“You know, If you weren't tiny, cute and remarkably innocent looking I'd be running away right now. This feels like the set-up to some torture porn.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“We're enveloped in pitch black. "Wait here," I whisper.
"Are you getting your ax?"
"Handcuffs."
"Kinky. But, okay, I'll try it.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“How does one proceed in a situation like this? If only the discovery of mutual admiration could lead promptly into making out. If only I could say, 'Listen. I like you, and you like me, so let’s go find a secluded park and touch each other.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“It’s midnight, it’s sweltering, and I might be high on Vicodin, but that guy - that guy right over there - that’s him.
The him.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“We straighten , bu our snickering is barely contained as we attempt to focus our attention on a picture of a discarded Coke can. "This guy's lady love is kind of a slob, don't you think?" he whispers.
I cover my mouth with my hands again.
"A reaaaaaaaal litterbug."
"Stop it," I hiss. My eyes are watering. "Ohmygod look at this one! How did he get her toenail clippings?"
"If you were my girl," he whispers, "I'd take creepy pictures of your trash when I knew you weren't looking."
"If you were my girl," I whisper back," I"d put the creepy pictures in a foreign museum so you wouldn't know that I take creepy pictures.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

“The lines are careful. They reveal he pays attention. People don’t think he does, because he daydreams and skips class and neglects his homework, but when I see his drawings, I know they’re wrong.”
― Stephanie Perkins, quote from Isla and the Happily Ever After

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