With Love, Ella
by Alexa Randolph
Publication date: December 12th 2017
Genres: Adult, Contemporary

Cover This cover is cute and gives me the feelings of summer. It makes me think of a chicklit. Those covers are cute and colorful.

Plot Ella has a good life going, a  good event planning company with her mother that’s doing good, an amazing athlete boyfriend and it seems like life is going smooth. Her boyfriend has been her best friend for quite some time, they’ve known each other since they were kids. I love this in books when the couple are two people who have known each other forever. It took me a bit to get in to the writing style of this book, I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it just wasn’t smooth for me. It felt like things were repeated at times or were being said to make sure we knew something was going on. For example, Ella stated she had a headache quite a few times in the beginning of the book in places where it seemed a bit weird to announce that all of a sudden. Also, sometimes we got another POV, but it wasn’t always clear from the start that it changed. Other than that, it really is a beautiful story. When Ella finds out she’s really sick and it’s not just the flu her life is turned upside down. I loved that everyone stood by her and fought with her every step of the way. Her amazing friends and family did everything they could and when she was cleared they made sure to celebrate life to the fullest and made sure that was done for their parties before the wedding and her honeymoon. Unfortuantely, more devestating news follows short after, it was handled in a beautiful way. The author put us on a emotional rollercoaster and I say it says a lot when an author can make me cry while reading. Even though it isn’t fun when you’re on a train going home after work, haha. I read this book in one day and while it didn’t have the typical happily ever after, I think the author ended this book beautifully. She shows us life doesn’t always go according to plan, but that it doesn’t mean you won’t have any more good things in your life.

Characters Ella is a succesful young woman who has life going the way she wants. She’s happy with her job and wants that to go as good as possible. This means she even works more than she needs to, wanting to make sure her employees know she’s not afraid of putting in the work. Ella is with the love of her life and sees her future with him. When she finds out she’s sick it’s devestating. Will she even be able to get married? I thought she was really strong and even when it got tough she still decided to fight. When she is cleared of cancer she’s very grateful. I love that Ella really celebrates life after that. Even when a little while later, things take a turn for the worse, she fights in her own way.

Daniel is a young professional football player and is living his dream. Playing for a great team and being together with the love of his life. I thought it was interesting in this story that it seemed like he was more sensitive about wanting to spend time with Ella. A lot of the time it’s the woman who is the one who seems to need or want that more. It was a nice change to see a guy loves a woman so much he wants to see more of her. Daniel is an amazing boyfriend and wants to be there through it all when Ella gets sick. They even have to force him to go to training. Daniel listens to Ella’s wishes and just wants to see her happy. He is very strong for her even though it’s hard for him to deal with as well. He’s sensitive and loving and isn’t afraid to show his feelings.

Both of them also have amazing friends and family and I loved how much they were involved in their lives. They were there through everything and wouldn’t see it any other way. It was nice to see how involved they were. Definitely a group of friends and family everybody deserves!

There is a tour giveaway available for the readers in the US and Canada (sorry for the international readers, it’s not hosted by us). You can win a signed copy of With Love, Ella. If you want to enter, click the link. The giveaway ends April 26th!

Once again, I would like to thank Xpresso Book Tours and the author for giving me the chance to read and review. Of course I’m not the only stop on this blog tour. If you want to check out the rest, click here. The links will be updated everyday, once the posts for the tour are online.

While this book was something I wasn’t expecting, it was a beautiful book. I will give one last warning to make sure to have tissues ready while reading this book. I needed them a few times. What was the last book that made you cry?