Smart Girl (The Girls, 3) Paperback – January 26, 2016

Finally, Smart Girl is here and, like any good little bibliophile, I planned out what I was going to read around the release of this book so I could start it as soon as it showed up on my Kindle! Just like the other books in Rachel Hollis's The Girl's series, it was intelligently-written, hysterical, and made my heart melt. I loved getting to know Landon in Party Girl, Max in Sweet Girl, and now Miko in Smart Girl. If you've read the other books, one thing I would like to point out is that this book is just slightly different and I think that has to do with the personality of the protagonist. In Party Girl, the book's tone was fun and loud, like Landon. Max is grumpy so Sweet Girl's tone reflected her personality a bit. In Smart Girl, there are a lot of quotations and references to classic literature as well as some modern-day literature and I loved that! Miko's personality is more contemplative and she is a hopeless romantic so Smart Girl isn't as fast-paced as Party Girl; however, there are several hilarious scenes that made me laugh out loud. One of the things I love about Rachel Hollis's books is that they are intelligently-written chick lit and are filled with a lot of witty banter. It makes me enjoy the story more when I don't have to pause for spelling and/or grammatical errors."You have the biggest heart of anyone I know. I just worry that that means there's more of it to get easily broken."Miko Jin is an interior designer, a hopeless romantic, and extremely smart. She and Landon met while working for Selah Smith Events, way back in Party Girl, and branched off to form their own event-planning firm. Miko also loves to read and enjoys quoting scenes and lines from romance novels or anything with a romantic scene. She wants to make her own happy ending and is determined to use tactics that often work in novels to make Liam Ashton fall in love with her. She creates a list of items that she plans to use to draw his attention to her, which is hilarious. I especially loved the purse scene, as I'm sure most people do, and laughed so hard when Miko says, "It's from Target!" Trust me, it will make more sense when you read it. Miko is determined that one of her strategies has to work and sometimes it was frustrating to watch her throw herself at Liam when he wouldn't reciprocate. Nonetheless, I love the way the book ended and feel it wraps up just as it should have."Life isn't a fairy tale, Miko. It doesn't end the way they show in books or movies. The hero isn't always kind; he doesn't always love you back, no matter how much you wish he would!"I absolutely love The Girl's series and it is one that I would reread, which says a lot about the books since I have so many on my TBR list and don't often reread books. You don't have to read them in order or read all of them to enjoy Smart Girl but, to get the full effect, I would recommend starting with Party Girl. While you're at it, be sure to read Party Girl's First Date, a novella about Landon and Brody's first date. Smart Girl was funny, smart and extremely enjoyable and I am sad to be finished but I love the way it ends. I highly recommend reading this book! Now, every time I go to Target, I won't be able to control myself when I stroll past the purse section. :)

Oh my gods! I loved this book! It was so fun and smart! ;) Miko Jin is quirky and confident in herself. She's equally as confident in her ability to make play boy, Liam Ashton fall in love with her. As the synopsis says, sure, the two of them are polar opposites, and yes, he seems to be dating someone new each week, but Miko concocts a plan based off of the fictional love stories she's so well attuned to that is sure to work! Or so she thinks. The "plot twists" and quirky moments fit the story perfectly. I laughed and awed and loved all the book references as a true book nerd myself. I was scared for Miko as her friends kept warning her that she was going to get herself hurt, and she did. But she had the best group of friends, the best family, and most of all the best heart. Miko Jin knows what she wants and goes for it. There are lessons to be learned in this book and fun to be had. Check it out! It's definitely one for the favorites shelf.

The author of this book, Rachael Hollis, is a blogger that I follow and this is how I was introduced to this series of books. This book, Smart Girl, is the third and final installment of the series, and can be read by itself.In Smart Girl, readers learn more about the third and final character in this group of friends, Miko. Miko is a brilliant, savvy designer in LA. She falls in love with the hero and heroines of her favorite romance novels. It is safe to say that she has fallen in love hundreds of times, but in reality, she has fallen in love once with a blond haired, grey blue eyed, broken, top of the line business owner, Liam. Liam has been on Miko’s radar for a year and vice versa, but for a different reason. Miko brings the romance escapades that she has fallen in love with into her ‘relationship’ with Liam. Will she be able to romance Liam the same way Anastasia Steele attracts Christian Grey or how other character heroines attract their hero?This book is an exceptional read – the book and I have a love, hate relationship. Throughout the book, I am rooting for Miko to stand up for herself and learn to love herself. Each time that you think that this is the moment, you are let down. I was reading this book in the lunchroom at work, and I bounced my fist onto the table and said “damn it” because of my disappointment. I did not realize that I did this until I looked up at my co-workers who were also eating their lunch. This is an example of how enthralled I was with the read. As a reader, I was laughing very hard in parts. I was able to see myself in Miko’s character. I think that there are times in everyone’s life that they wished that they had more confidence and control over a situation. This is how I was able to relate to Miko.In the end, Miko’s adventure unfolds and this is where the story should have ended. It would have been appropriate to have the final chapter of the book dropped. And this is why I cannot give it a five star rating. I have never read a book that I was so captivated in.