This Is What Happy Looks Like (2013) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Characters/People edit see section history

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• Ellie O'Neill: 16 years old; born in DC; lives in Henley, Maine with her mother; works in a sweet shop and at her mother's gift shop; red hair and fair skin and tall; best friend is Quinn
• Quinn: Ellie's best friend--since "forever;" they tell each other everything;
• Graham Larkin: 17 years old; accidentally sent an email to the "wrong" person (turns out to be Ellie); they end up corresponding back and forth anyway (both look forward to the emails); he has a pig, Wilbur; he lives in California; he wants a happy life; intentionally made his movie film in Henley because he wanted to meet Ellie--his new pen pal
• Olivia Brooks: co-star on the movie set; seems to always find trouble; typical bad-girl movie star
• Devon Alexander: guy Quinn and Ellie know; has loved Quinn almost his entire life
• Wilbur: Graham's pig; reason Graham and Ellie "meet"
• Margaret Lawson: Ellie's Mom; came to Henley to escape DC
• Mick: director of Graham's movie
• Harry Fenton: Graham's manager; worried about Graham's image--or the image he should attempt to portray
• Jaspar: part Graham is playing in the movie
• Zoe: part Olivia is playing in the movie
• Meg: Add a description of this character.
• Senator Paul Whitman: gossip has it that he may run for president of the USA
• Rachel: Graham's publicist
• Joe Gabriele: owns the Lobster Pot restaurant in Henley; does not like paparazzi any more than Graham does--helps keep them away while Graham is there
• Ahab
• Dorothy
• Dad
• Paul T. Whitman
• Jasper
• Bagel

Quotes edit see section history

• “There was a world to be built right there on the page, and Graham didn't look up again until he'd finished.”

• “Doesn't something have to be valuable first? Before it can be ruined?”

  Graham

• “Anything can be ruined.”

  Ellie

• “It was exactly as he'd thought it would be, like the first time and the millionth time all at once, like being wide awake, like losing his balance. Only this time, it wasn't just him; this time, they were losing their balance together.”

  Narrator

• “The same thoughts kept tumbling around in her head, like clothes left too long in a dryer. he was too big a star. His life was too different. He'd be leaving soon. He'd hurt her. But at that moment, none of that seemed to matter. She simply wanted to be closer to him.”

  Ellie

• “Once something like this is out there, you can't take it back.”

  Maggie

• “...he felt stunned by how quickly the whole thing had unraveled, the end coming before the beginning really even had a chance to begin. His poor telescope heart--that fragile, precious thing--would have probably been better left in the box.”

  Graham

• “Ellie was too far away to hear what they were saying, but even from a distance, there was something striking about see Graham like that, all focus and intensity. It reminded her of that day at the beach, when she'd emerged from the grove to see him with new eyes, when Graham Larkin the movie star fell away, and all that was left was the boy with a smile that seemed intended only for her.”

  Ellie

Setting & Locations edit see section history

• Henley, Maine: Ellie's hometown; her mother and she moved here (from DC) when Ellie was four years old
• Ellie's home: small cottage that needs some renovation--but they have more love than money
• the Harbor: movie set is here for much of its shooting; Ellie and Graham run into each other occasionally here
• the beach: Ellie and her mother have a private beach they like to go to get away; Ellie takes Graham here; Ellie and Graham consider it their get-away too
• Lobster Pot: best town restaurant; Graham and Quinn almost eat dinner here; Ellie and Graham eat dessert here
• Chez O'Neill: "restaurant" at Ellie's home
• movie set: this is where Graham is often
• Go Fish: name of the lobster boat used for the movie; Ellie and Graham take it for a "spin" too

First Sentence edit see section history

Table of Contents edit see section history

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

• A Journey: Grahams physical journey to see/meet Ellie; Graham's hopeful journey--his family coming to meet (and be with him--reunited with him) him on-set; hopeful journey of Graham and his family reuniting as a family rather than a 3 strangers; Graham and Ellie's journey to becoming more than email communications; journeys of love; journeys of the heart; journeys of renewed friendships between Quinn and Ellie;
• Love and relationships: Describe this theme.
• Love of Family
• Heart: Graham finds the mishapen rock (not quite a heart shape) and places it in pocket for safe-keeping then he accidentally drops it (after spending time with Ellie), places it in his pocket again, and tells himself not to lose it (symbolizing he is falling--losing his heart to--for Ellie); Ellie sees him with the heart rock and sees him place it in his pocket--perhaps symbolizing that he already has her heart in his pocket. * Ellie's mom makes heart-shaped pancakes after their fight--symbolizing the importance of family love
• Secrets and lies: Ellie and her mother's long-lost secrets; Ellie's mother's secret; Elllie's secrets from Quinn; Graham's secrets from his family and their secrets from him; the inescapable distance that secrets cause/keep
• Antique telescope: Graham's father owned this telescope but only used it once a year--otherwise it sat on the shelf collecting dust and age--symbolizes love/heart: able to see the stars and the magic created by those stars--but only when used; can't see the magic if it's only polished but not used; becomes rusty, old, musty, when something is never used--symbolizes the importance of showing love to loved-ones so that the magic remains--stays in working order

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Jennifer E. Smith (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

This novel is full of wonderful themes: importance of friendship, family, and young love. Clean and wholesome.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Dating & Intimacy › Fiction
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Family
• Books › Teens › Social Issues › Being a Teen

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