I love fairy tales and this is a great retelling of a familiar fairy tale with a new feel. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I love fairy tale retellings and this one was one is beautifully done, the characters are great and I loved that it stayed true to the Cinderella fairy tale.

You can find this review and all of my others over at www.readbookrepeat.wordpress.com

Charlotte Kingsbury is down on her luck, she has just received her hundred and eightieth (or round about) rejection letter from her dream agent, she is vowing off writing forever, as what idiot continues to do something that brings them nothing but heartache and pain. But when her best friend Anders appears in her doorway and tries to inform her that ice cream is not a proper meal, she has a spark of epiphany, while before she's written what she loved - Fairy Tales - she has the greatest idea for a non-fiction book. When this book ends up published, Charlotte thinks that all her dreams have finally come true, but what she finds is a PR firm that is telling her to change her clothes, buy new furniture and stop looking like an unwashed swamp witch while she's lounging around at home. When she becomes friends with an author who takes her under her wing, she begins to realise that maybe she wasn't so bad how she was, but will this revelation come in time to save her budding relationship with best friend Anders?

Sometimes all you need is fluff. Contemporary, roll your eyes, predictable, happy ending fluff. And this was just what I needed I think. It was a quick and easy reading story about an author who is down on her luck after her millionth rejection of stories that she pours her soul into and who accidentally hits it big with a random idea after she's eaten a pint of ice cream and had a cry to her bestie. When the PR firm begins to want to make changes to her life, herself and her overall image, she just goes along with it, because being a published author has been her dream since she was a child, I'm not gonna lie though, it did annoy me a bit.

Okay, so first off, this is toted as a Cinderella retelling, it's honestly not. The only thing remotely similar to Cinderella is that her mother (who is her biological mother by the way) is a bitch to her, but ends up not being so bad in the end, so I guess, even that isn't remotely like Cinderella. So I'm not a hundred percent sure why this was likened to the fairy tale of Cinderella because I feel like it robs the story of it's own ability to stand on it's own two feet and be the light, entertaining read that it is.

Charlotte's character did sing to me a bit because I'm an aspiring author myself, so I can understand the want to have something you've worked so hard on be published, though, let's be real, I'm no where near that stage yet because I keep rewriting and reworking until I end up with a completely new concept to begin with and have to start all over again. But she resonated me anyway, is what I'm saying. So I can kind of understand her being pliable enough to run with what the clause in her contract said and what the PR company wants to do, but it still irked me a bit. I'm not sure if it's because I've always been unapologetically myself and never felt the need to change myself when someone says I should. I just don't understand why you would let someone completely dictate your life to you, even for a short few months. It made Charlotte come across as a push over which I felt was a bit of a let down. Anders is a cool character, though I honestly don't understand why he stuck around like he did. Their relationship was incredibly awkward at the beginning, and it wasn't so much romance, as putting the feelers out, so it was a little bit cringey at times, though I thought the ending was cute. The supporting cast were well written, though Charlotte's mum annoyed the tripe out of me, but I think that was the point.

The story itself, I feel, kind of acts like a warning to authors, beware clauses in contracts that give a PR company the right to make you buy new furniture. And also, be yourself, and self publishing isn't a bad thing, so maybe that might be a better avenue for you to take? Being rejected isn't so bad, and shouldn't be taken so badly, I mean, J.K. Rowling was rejected ten times or something before someone picked up the Harry Potter series *shrug*.

I honestly don't have too much more to say about this one if I'm honest. It was a light, easy read, contemporary romance about an author, it was fluffy. It wasn't outstanding but it was terrible. What can I say, sometimes you just need a bit of fluff.

I had a little trouble getting into this book. I couldn't see why Charlotte and Anders weren't already an item, so I set this aside to come back to later.
The story had charming aspects and is worth the time to read.

I received an ARC from the publisher.

4.5 Stars

This is a contemporary romance by Julie Wright.

This book really sucks you in and lets you get your mind off your troubles for just a little while.

Basic premise: aspiring author finally writes something worthy to be published and she lets the social media aspect over rule her heart. This is a friends to love romance. The relationship is very special and when it turns into more feelings, this is when Lettie tries to push Anders away a little to make it look to the world like she is a single girl.

You knew almost from the beginning that Lettie’s giving into Toni the PR gal would come back to bite her at some point. The climax of this was pretty good and I really enjoyed myself while reading it.

I always like a happily ever after tale. This one really tugs at your heart strings.

If you like this type of book and want to read a good friend to love romance, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Ever since I took a German Fairytales course in college, I've looked at retellings, particularly of the Grimms' tales (or the tales they helped popularize), in a different light. I've also been looking to expand my reading, especially now that I've graduated. So I was, of course, excited to be asked to join the blog tour for Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me by Julie Wright.

The book follows Charlotte Kingsley, a struggling writer who suddenly hits it big and gets a huge book deal. With the deal, however, comes a stipulation: a PR manager who dictates some major changes to Charlotte and her media presence. All in the name of sales, of course. She goes from struggling writer in an apartment filled with thrifted finds to a sparkling clean, inspiring self-help author. But all of this change is not so positively received, particularly by Charlotte's best friend-turned-boyfriend Anders. (Official summary can be found at the bottom of this post.)

The book was a relatively quick read, although the pace does drag in several places and does take a while to get into. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is looking for some light romance, as I actually found that the romance isn't actually the central part of the book. I was pleasantly surprised by that and think it strengthens the book and the author's message. And I actually found that most of the plot build up in the book, although maybe supposed to be centered around the romance, really isn't revolved around Charlotte and Anders's relationship.

There's a lot going on in the book, from the publishing aspects to family drama to Charlotte's budding (I guess?) relationship with Anders to Charlotte's own internal struggles. I think these were all fairly well-balanced and in a refreshing way for a Cinderella retelling. That said, I don't know that I would really consider this a Cinderella retelling or even a Cinderella-type tale (it's okay if you don't know what the latter means, but it's something we spent a lot of time talking about in my German Fairytales class). I don't think it's a bad thing other than that it's advertised as a retelling. There are certainly elements that I can see were pulled from Cinderella, or rather from fairytales in general (particularly the Grimms' tales and the Disney adapted tales), but unless I knew this was a Cinderella retelling, I would not have pegged it as such. I would venture to say that in trying to make the story modern, it lost a lot of the connection to the original tale. I think the story could have been made modern without getting rid of the heart of the tale, which I do believe is what happened.

While there's a lot to the story that I thought could have been improved upon (pacing, characters, dialogue, how race/ethnicity is handled (especially with Kat and Anders), stakes), I think the strongest part of the book is the central conflict between Charlotte's "real" self, as defined by those around her, and her constructed, PR-directed self. It seems so relevant in the day and age of people talking about authenticity on social media/online. It seems so relevant to anyone on social media. It seems so relevant to anyone who has struggled to strike a balance between different parts of themselves, who has struggled to figure out who they are as they change and grow. Charlotte's revelation at the art gallery near the end of the book really struck me and caused me to pause while reading. Because it's exactly where I feel like I've been at in life but especially in regards to my social media (mostly Instagram) presence. I don't know how accurate the publishing portions of the book are (though, from my knowledge of the YA book industry, this seemed like a stretch and not super true-to-life), but the culmination of everything to that scene and to Charlotte's realizations by the end of the book were possibly the most real, most well-written parts and arcs of the entire book. It's what made the book really come together for me and made sticking with it so worth it.

Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me isn't a book that asks to be taken too seriously. It's a quick, light on romance romance novel. It doesn't necessarily even realize its strongest parts, but they come together and make the last third or quarter of the book really engaging and worthwhile. The book is great in particular, I believe, for the true young/"new" adult audience--those in their 20s and 30s. It hits at insecurities and challenges that I think are particularly found in people in that age range--coming from someone who is still only 22 hahaha. I don't think this book will be for everyone, but I did find it enjoyable and would again recommend it for young people (young women?) in their 20s and 30s or for those who are struggling to fill the distance between who they are trying to be and who they were and struggling to figure out who exactly they are right now.

I was so excited to have another book by Julie Wright. She just has such a witty and fun writing style I always look forward to reading books by her. Glass Slippers Ever After and Me is a slow-burn best-friends-to-something-more romance that will leave you with a smile on your face.

This one is a modern-day Cinderella re-telling with our heroine, a writer named Charlotte, who goes by Lettie. (Being a writer myself, I identified SO MUCH with a lot of Lettie's thoughts and feelings about the business.) She goes on such a twisty-turny journey not only professionally, but personally, and this story will give you all the feels from tearing your hair out in frustration to swooning with aww moments. This book has all the emotions.

Charlotte has a best friend Anders who is so supportive and kind and while it seems obvious to us he has feelings for her, it really isn't to Lettie. She is focused on her dreams and doesn't want anything to mess up their friendship, though she is jealous when Anders seems to be serious with another girl. The push and pull between these two for the entire book will push all the reader's buttons and frankly, there were times when I wondered if they would ever be able to find a happily-ever-after!

There is a lot for them both to work through, especially as Lettie's life begins to change and she's trying to be everything to everyone. I loved Lettie's sister Kat and how she was there just when she was needed. What are sisters for? Really, all of the characters in the secondary cast were stellar. Ms. Wright adds so many layers to the lives of these characters that they truly feel real and someone you would want to be friends with. My only complaint was that the beginning was a bit slow, but I'm so glad I stuck with it, because the rest of the story is so worth it. Lots of great little messages of what's truly important in life and having the courage to be who you really are. Loved it. Can't wait for the next Julie Wright book!

I'm sorry to say but in my eyes this is an awful attempt to be a book that's funny and romantic. I put it down, I couldn't care less for the characters.

I can't help myself...whenever I see a new book coming out by Julie Wright, I get really excited and can't wait until I can read it! I've loved how her last three books (this one included) have connected with famous people/characters. The first of the three was about Jane Austen, then Audrey Hepburn and now Cinderella.

Charlotte Kingsley is an author. She just needs her big break with a big publisher. But unfortunately no publisher wants her books. Until she writes her Cinderella nonfiction, then her life changes drastically.

Charlotte was such a fun character. She was so easy to connect with because she seems like a real down to earth, struggles and all, type of character. She has her dreams and hopes. She has her family life struggles. And she has the guy next door/best friend whom she kinda likes. All of these character aspects wove such a great story. I didn't want to put it down. I would even turn on the audio when I was driving around and my daughters were hooked. They were a little frustrated they were only getting bits and pieces of the story but don't worry, they remedied their problem by going and listening to it themselves. I love that they love reading as much as I do and we love a lot of the same books!

Just like in Cinderella's story, Charlotte has plenty of ups and downs and has to navigate it all. I loved the chapter headings. They were fabulous and great advise. Each heading is a little snippet from Charlotte's best selling book. Great advise for us all.

And, just like in Cinderella's story, we have a sweet love story. I thought it was darling. A best friends to more story. These two were far from perfect and had struggles that popped up, just like in a real relationship. I really enjoyed how the author had them work through their different struggles. And I especially loved the ending.

If you're a Cinderella fan like myself, this was a fun spin off story about the truths of life and finding your own Ever After.

Content: Clean

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

Fun read! I love the grownup Cinderella story! I enjoyed the story between Anders and Lettie, their friendship, their relationship, and the way they had to grow.

Lettie has to figure out what she really wants in life and it is entertaining to read as she figures it all out.

First sentence: My fairy godmother was all talk and no action. Like the tooth fairy, she was definitely not someone I could depend on. I had a sneaking suspicion the two had run off together a long time ago and were now downing drinks with umbrellas while they lounged on a beach somewhere exotic and peaceful.

Premise/plot: Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me is a light-hearted romance novel. The heroine, Charlotte Kingsley, is a writer. Her dream is to be PUBLISHED of course. But after yet another brutal rejection (all rejections are brutal no matter how civil the wording), she writes a NONFICTION self-help book instead of another fairy-tale romance. That book, the "rant" as her neighbor believes it to be, is NOT rejected. But the terms under which it is published leave a little to be desired. For Charlotte will have to BECOME the person people expect her to be. Her Swedish neighbor, Anders, is NOT pleased that his absolute best friend (and possible love of his life) is changing EVERYTHING about herself in order to fit a mold that the publisher dictates. Everything from who she can friend or follow on social media, what she can post, what she can share, how she dresses, who she can be seen with, the furnishings of her apartment. It is all so EXTREME. Is she losing herself to get the happily ever after ending that she's always wanted?

My thoughts: I am Team Anders on this one. I don't know if I was supposed to be. Oh, it's fairly obvious that Anders is the love interest. But when it comes to all the changes they are demanding of her--from her--I am Team Anders. It seemed all kinds of WRONG that a writer would have to essentially change everything about herself in order to be liked by potential readers. I hope this aspect of the story is pure FICTION. I would hate to think that this kind of thing happens in the real world.

As for the romance, I definitely enjoyed this one.

BOOK REVIEW⠀
BOOK: Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me
AUTHOR: Julie Wright
@scatteredjules

This book really made me think about what people will do for careers and the importance of being true to yourself. The style of writing made me fall in love with the characters from the beginning. The irony of wanting a fairy tale, getting it, and then realizing what you really want is at the forefront of this story. If you are an aspiring writer, this is also a really good cautionary tale.

A fun, whimsical, and heartwarming read. If you like rom coms, you will love this book. I cannot wait to read more by this author!

Short Synopsis (from Goodreads):
When aspiring author Charlotte Kingsley finally gets published, she thinks all her dreams have come true. But the trouble begins when her publicity firm reinvents her quirky online presence into a perfectly curated dream life. Gone are the days of sweatpant posts and ice cream binges with her best friend, Anders, replaced instead with beautiful clothes, orchestrated selfies, and no boyfriend. Only, that carefully curated fairy tale life is ruining her self-esteem and making her feel like a fraud.

When a bestselling author takes Charlotte under her wing—almost like a fairy godmother—she helps Charlotte see the beautiful person she already is and the worth of being authentic. But is it too late to save her relationship with Anders? The clock is quickly ticking towards midnight, and Charlotte must decide between her fairy tale life and the man she loves, before he's gone forever.

I received this book for review purposes from NetGalley. ⠀

I love Cinderella stories and this one is a fantastic addition! Compulsively readable.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

Charlotte Kingsley’s dream of being published is finally coming true. However, there is a catch- in her order for to be more “marketable” she will need to change almost every aspect of her life, including her new relationship with long-time friend Anders.

Feeling like a fraud, Charlotte is afraid her life is starting to fall apart when a fellow author steps in and shows Charlotte who she really is. Someone who is talented, beautiful and amazing in her own right.

Filled with fun, real feeling characters, “Glass Slippers Ever After and Me,” is an enjoyable read.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book.

At first, I started reading it and couldn't get into the story. First person narration is not my favorite. I put it aside for a few days and then started it again. This time, it got me interested and I finished it fairly quickly.

Charlotte is an interesting character. As a writer, I could relate through some of the things she was going through. After one more rejection for her latest fairy tale, she writes a non-fiction book that is actually accepted by an agent. Suddenly, her writing career takes off.

Anders is the sweetest guy. He's the downstairs neighbor and is best friends with Charlotte. From the beginning, you can see he feels more than friendship for her, but she doesn't see it until he gets engaged to his girlfriend. Then Charlotte wakes up and realizes she loves him.

I was annoying to read how easily Charlotte went along with what her publicist wanted for her and I could see the disaster coming a mile away.

Adding to their families to the mix, and all the complexities they bring, enriched the story.

The ending was perfect.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Such an emotional read! I just love the way Julie writes a strong and beautiful romance between characters. From a clean romance to cute banter to scenes full of tears, Julie grips you from beginning to end. This re-imagining to Cinderella definitely sweeps you off your feet. It does start off slow, but it builds up to a perfect end.

Charlotte Kingsley is an aspiring author who goes through many changes throughout this book. She wanted to succeed so bad, but in doing so she made mistakes and hurt a few people along the way. Charlotte is a talented writer, but the world just isn't what she thought it would be. I enjoyed going on the journey with her to find true love, happiness and understanding what's real and what's fake.

Anders is such an amazing love interest. His love, loyalty and care for Charlotte was definitely scene in everything that he did. He always tried hard to be there for her no matter what. I loved his background -- he's Swedish -- because it added so much depth to the story in an interesting way.

The romance was beautiful because Charlotte and Anders started off as friends so they had a pretty solid foundation to work with. The growth they both had together was amazing! It made for an even sweeter end for them.

I definitely enjoy Julie Wright's writing style and how she takes classics and fairy-tales and blends them into a modern world with a twist. Definitely would recommend her books to anyone looking for clean contemporary romances.

A cute modern retelling of Cinderella. Lottie was a cute and likable character. A sweet and easy read I can share with my teens.

Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me by Julie Wright is a delightful contemporary romance, that I really enjoyed. Charlotte Kingsley is finally getting published after all the rejection letters. The problem is her publicity firm is giving her a makeover. This book was a quick read, perfect for a relaxing read. I recommend this book, and will be reading this author again.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you.

Charlotte Kingsley is beyond thrilled when her book gets published. It’s not exactly the type of book she wanted to write, but she’s getting published and that’s all that matters. Or so she thinks. Her new publicist is totally remaking Charlotte’s personna which includes keeping her distance from her best friend, Anders - just when their relationship is about to hit a new level.

As Charlotte gets swept away by her new life, she realizes she’s not as happy as she thought she should be. With a little help from a new friend, things begin to fall in place.

This is the second book I’ve read by Julie Wright and I enjoyed this one very much. It’s a “feel good” type of book that makes you both laugh and cry. The characters are realistic. I really cared what happened to Charlotte. She felt like someone who could be your best friend.

I found myself cheering for Charlotte and wanting her to get her happy ending. The book moved along at a steady pace. It's filled with humor, romance and even a bit of drama. It was the type of book that made me smile and brightened my day.

Julie Wright is definitely becoming an author I'm on the look out for.

I received a digital advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really just didn't love this book. I'm not exactly sure where the disconnect happened for me, but I just seem to connect with any of the characters in this book.

I thought the premise for the story was great it was cutesy and romantic. I feel like this might have been geared towards a different age range than myself.

The writing style was good, I really enjoyed how descriptive the author was.

Thank you for allowing me to review this title.