***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***
Fairytale meets feminism in Luci Adams's Not That Kind of Ever After, a frothy adventure of one woman’s journey to claim happily ever after in times of serial dating, swiping right, and the quest to find your soulmate.
Bella Marble’s life isn’t what she imagined. Instead of an author, she’s a receptionist at a small press. Instead of happily married, she’s single, and her lovey-dovey parents are divorcing. And to top it off, her best friend of twenty-nine years, Ellie Mathews, is moving out and marrying the heinously boring Mark. (He’s not worthy of her. No one could be). Bella feels rudderless, only slightly soothed by time spent with Ellie’s (not hot) brother, (he’s not hot) Marty (okay, he’s hot. But he’s also the aggravating brother she never had—right)?
When Marty recommends Bella stop looking for “the one” and just have fun, Bella finds a new, empowered side of herself. But when she posts a fairy-tale retelling of a disastrous one night stand on a storytelling app, all of a sudden, Bella has become @B.Enchanted. And she’s gone viral.
Now, Bella’s in a fight with Ellie, her new roommates are so, deeply, weird, and the pressure is mounting to find new fairy tales to write about—but she’s got to live them first.
“As side splittingly hilarious as it is empowering and emotional, Not That Kind of Ever After is a sparkling debut.”--Helena Hunting, bestselling author
Not That Kind of Ever After by Luci Adams is a cute romantic comedy about a woman who wants her own fairy tale.
Story Recap:
Bella Marble is an aspiring author, but the closest she comes to writing is being a receptionist at a small publishing company. Her tidy life is starting to unravel. Her parents are divorcing and her best friend, Ellie is marrying Mark, and moving out. She finds some solace with Ellie’s brother Marty but still feels her life is out of control.
Marty tells her that she should stop searching for the one, and instead spend some time just having fun. When she goes on a disastrous one-night stand, she writes a fairy-tale retelling of the night on a storytelling app. The story goes viral, and Bella feels the pressure to keep writing stories about dates gone bad.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this fun story and found it very entertaining. I like stories like this where the main character grows and becomes stronger. I didn’t like Bella much at first, but I don’t think we’re supposed to like her much in the beginning. She’s self-centered and immature. But, through the book, she grows and becomes more self-aware and mature.
I found the book funny at times, and sometimes emotional as well. I enjoyed all the bad dates and felt empathy for Bella for having to go through such a tough time to find her prince charming. And although she was immature and annoying at times, I did grow to enjoy her antics and was rooting for her to find her own happily ever after.
Recommendation:
I recommend Not That Kind of Ever After to anyone who enjoys romance. I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Luci Adams
Luci Adams started out working in tax before moving into copywriting, creating social posts for Apple Music, and assisting with Amazon and BBC productions at Working Title Television. She now works as a senior analyst at The Guardian by day and writes uproariously funny and inventive rom coms by night. Not That Kind of Ever After is her debut novel.
This sounds fun! Like you I enjoy when the main character has character growth and strength and I like that while you didn’t like Bella at first by the end you did.
The bad dates thing sounds like it could be really fun, but maybe the character made it not so fun at times? At least that is what I’m guessing from your review. I am still going to keep my eye out for this one at my library. Those bad dates and writing about them caught my attention enough.
Janette
Lovely review Wendy. I do like it when characters grow especially if you don’t particularly like them at the start. The UK cover made me smile but I think I would prefer to own the US version.
This one is on my TBR as well. Not sure I like the UK cover though, maybe the colors are off. If it was brighter, the frog might be cute too! Great review!
I agree with Tessa – making fairy tales out of bad dates is hilarious. I can see how Bella wouldn’t be very likable at first. Glad she had some character growth. Nice review, Wendy!
This does sound like a fun one, in spite of how the main character comes off at times. I love that she makes fairy tales out of her bad dates. That’s too funny!
I do like the sound of this one and hope to get a copy to read or listen to. I think I like the US cover better. Wonderful review, Wendy.
This sounds fun. If character makes me laugh with his/her antics I would be fine with the immaturity. I absolutely love that cover. Great review!
Oooh, I don’t think this one has crossed my radar. It sounds pretty cute! I do like both covers, but there is something about that UK one!
Isn’t it cute? The frog with the little tongue!
It is so cute!
This sounds wonderful! I love to hear that the main character is someone you can root for because of her growth throughout the story.
Hey!
Great review, the book sounds interesting!
sincerely,
Samy
Thank you, Samy
This does sound lovely but fun, great review 😊
That would be awesome to rewrite a bad date for real. Glad to hear you enjoyed the story!
What a fun story! Excellent review Wendy!🤗📚☕💜
I’m glad Bella grew on you as the book went on. This sounds like a fun read.
This sounds fun! Like you I enjoy when the main character has character growth and strength and I like that while you didn’t like Bella at first by the end you did.
The bad dates thing sounds like it could be really fun, but maybe the character made it not so fun at times? At least that is what I’m guessing from your review. I am still going to keep my eye out for this one at my library. Those bad dates and writing about them caught my attention enough.
Lovely review Wendy. I do like it when characters grow especially if you don’t particularly like them at the start. The UK cover made me smile but I think I would prefer to own the US version.
The US cover is nicer. The story sounds fun.
I really like the US cover for this one.
This one is on my TBR as well. Not sure I like the UK cover though, maybe the colors are off. If it was brighter, the frog might be cute too! Great review!
The U.S. cover is probably more true to the book, but I love the U.K. cover. It makes me smile!
Good review, Wendy! I think I like the US cover best.
Great review! It’s always nice to see growth in the characters.
I felt the same way about this book Wendy! I like the US cover better.
I agree with Tessa – making fairy tales out of bad dates is hilarious. I can see how Bella wouldn’t be very likable at first. Glad she had some character growth. Nice review, Wendy!
Thank you, Teri. This book really did have some hilarious moments.
I like that Bella’s character grows (and grows on one) as the book proceeds. Great review, Wendy 🙂
Thank you, Mallika.
This does sound like a fun one, in spite of how the main character comes off at times. I love that she makes fairy tales out of her bad dates. That’s too funny!
Thank you, Tessa.
Great review, Wendy! It’s really great that there was actually character growth in Bella. That’s really important for me as well with characters.
Thank you, Stephanie
A great review. It sounds like an interesting book. I like it when a character grows on you.
I like the US cover best.
Have a great week!
Thank you! I like that US cover best too
Yay, 2 book covers to choose from. Today I like the US cover best.
Yes, I like the US cover best too