Books Like This Is What Happy Looks Like
People have been looking for meaningful connections since the dawn of time, so it is no surprise that the internet has become another tool to do so. While online dating has made it easier to find partners with common interests it is also easier for people to be misleading about their appearance or personality. Because the internet has been such a disruptive force compared to the traditional way of meeting romantic partners it is also the subject of many movies and novels. For example, in This Is What Happy Looks Like an email that was accidentally sent to the wrong person kicks off an unlikely friendship that blossoms into love. For more stories about people meeting online and then facing the challenges of carrying the relationship over to real-life check out the following books like This Is What Happy Looks Like.
Love @ First Site
by Jane Moore
Jessica Monroe knows firsthand how dishonest people looking for love on dating sites can be. The 34-year-old protagonist of Love @ First Site by Jane Moore was perfectly happy being single, but her girlfriends did not approve of this choice. Instead, they signed their spunky, sweet-natured friend up for a hot singles website, which results in a series of disastrous dates. Some potential suitors, such as Simon, seem dreamy over e-mail but ditches her with the bill during their dinner date. Others, like Graham, describes himself as a "Ferrari driver" but turns out to be a car salesman. However, just as Jess is ready to give up on online dating a new mystery suitor appears in her inbox.
Virtually Yours
by Sarvenaz Tash
In Virtually Yours by Sarvenaz Tash, it is an NYU freshman named Mariam Vakilian that tries out a new virtual reality dating service. She hasn't dated anyone in the five months since her high school sweetheart Caleb broke up with her and had an expiring coupon for the service, so she gives it a shot. However, the service then matches her with three potential candidates, one of which is none other than Caleb. To complicate matters further, the other match, Jeremy, also happens to be her new best friend in real life. Mariam is left having to decide whether to trust her heart or the app.
Love Virtually
by Daniel Glattauer
Just like This Is What Happy Looks like, Love Virtually by Daniel Glattauer begins with an email that was sent in error. Leo, who receives the email from an unknown woman called Emmi politely replies, which is all it takes for a mutual spark of interest to develop between the two. As the tension between them continues to simmer it seems like an in-person meeting is just around the corner. However, while the prospect of meeting face to face both excites and unsettles the two, they keep putting off the moment. The two are not sure if their feelings for each other will survive the test of a real-life encounter and even if it does, what about the fact that Emmi is actually happily married?
The Lost & Found
by Katrina Leno
The Lost & Found by Katrina Leno is the story of two teens named Frannie and Louis. The two of them met online when they were still very young and have been pen pals ever since. However, despite this long friendship, they have not met in real life and don't even know each other's real names. One of the things that they bond over is the fact that they both have a mysterious tendency to lose things. When Frannie and Louis both receive surprising news in the mail they go on a road trip to Austin, Texas, where they look for answers and each other.
Alex, Approximately
by Jenn Bennett
In Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett, Bailey Rydell believes that she has found the boy of her dreams. Not only does she talk to Alex all day, but the two of them share a love of films. However, as perfect as she believes Alex is there is one slight problem, she has never met him. Things change when Baily moves to California to live with her dad. Finding herself in the same town as Alex, Bailey decides to track him down, but this proves to be difficult as all she has to go on is online conversations. Complicating things even further is her irritating yet charismatic colleague, Porter Roth, who also distracts her at every turn.
Goodnight Tweetheart
by Teresa Medeiros
Goodnight Tweetheart by Teresa Medeiros stars a bestselling author named Abigail Donovan. Despite almost winning the Pulitzer Price and walking away with Oprah's stamp of approval Abigail spends most of her time hiding in her expensive New York City condo. Abigail is not impressed when her publicist drags her into the world of social media, but instead of the online trolls she expects to find, she encounters a quick-witted English professor named Mark Baynard. While Mark travels the world in search of adventure Abigail begins to fall for him, which has a positive impact on her writing and life. Things go well until Abby makes the discovery that Mark is hiding a secret that could change his and her life forever.
