Member Reviews

I would categorize this book as a clean, contemporary, chick flick romance. I was 25% into this book before I became interested . I seriously almost stopped reading a couple of times. I also had a hard time seeing the Cinderella reference .I’m so glad I stuck with it, it got so much better. . I ended up finishing it in one day. This is a story about Lettie, a writer, who is trying to publish a book. But no book deal came. When finally it seems her fairy god mother granted her wish. Everything starts to fall into place and fall apart at the same time. There is romance, humor and building one’s self esteem. It also deals with family relations work and social media issues. In the end it was pulled together very nicely and had a fairytale happily ever after. #Glassslippersamdme #Netgalley

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Charlotte (Lettie) has dreamed of being a published author for a long time. But no publisher seems to want her fairy tale stories. So she finally has the idea to write a non-fiction called The Cinderella Fiction with lessons we can learn from that tale.
As her friendship with her downstairs neighbor/hot paramedic Anders starts to blossom into more, her life is about to be flipped upside down. She needs to "improve" her social media presence (demanded of her by her new publicist) to be in line with her book.
Will this help or tear apart her own fairy tale story?
I loved Lettie and Ander's relationship. They do so well as friends and even as they see each other through different eyes. Anders is such a caring person as seen in his relationship with his grandfather and as a paramedic. Lettie has a special bond with her stepsister, Kat, and does her best to help them both in relation to their mother/stepmother.
Great modern Cinderella fairy tale that isn't to be missed.

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I love the cover of this fun, contemporary romance and the story in under the cover.

Charlotte (Lettie) wants to be a writer and after so many rejections when her dream finally comes true after she writes The Cinderella Fiction she can't believe it. She's got the agent she's longed to work with, and a publicity firm to help promote her and the book. The only problem is they're changing everything from what Charlotte wears to the furnishings in her apartment, and calling her Char. At first Charlotte accepts everything they tell her to do, but when they want her to appear "flirty and single"she questions how that would affect book sales. Her boyfriend (and best friend) Anders doesn't like the Char persona with the expensive designer clothes, and perfect hair and makeup. He misses Lettie who wore jeans and a t-shirt, her hair in a messy bun and minimal makeup.

Lettie and Anders hit a rough patch when he has his photography exhibit. The argument they have following the exhibition is so real when Anders tells Lettie "You sold you out. You let a hashtag replace your humanity. You let these people tell you that you aren't good enough without some smoke-and-mirrors nonsense... and you actually believed them. You bought into the lie that you're not good enough." I felt that argument as if someone had punched me and knocked the wind out of me.

When Anders goes to Finland to care for his ailing grandfather Lettie has a much needed conversation with Lillian (her favorite author and now mentor/friend) and realizes the ball is almost over, midnight is approaching and she's going to lose what she cares about most.

I love Julie Wright's books but it's always hard for me to put into words what I like about them. Here's my attempt. This book was so realistic--the events in it could completely happen in this day and age. We all know many social media posts are set up and people don't actually look or live like that all the time. I loved Anders--he's sweet and just the best kind of friend. The argument he and Lettie had before he left for Finland was so authentic. I loved that Lettie had a mentor in Lillian and that she followed Lillian's advice. I liked Lettie's relationship with her step-sister Kat and that she just called her her sister without putting the 'step' in there. I loved the quotes from The Cinderella Fiction that were at the beginning of each chapter. I loved that Lettie learned to be herself and people should like her for herself, not some superficial image.

This was a wonderful read and if you haven't read any books by this author you should. Her characters are real and funny. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for allowing me to read this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are my own.

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Really liked the relatable characters, the read was fun and the deep moments were great to reflect on my own life. Really enjoyed this book and the ending was fantastic.

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A different and unique take on a classic type of story. The characters are interesting and at times there is unexpected humor. Not your typical romance. I wasn't sure when I first started the book if I was going to keep reading. I'm glad I stuck with it. I will try this author again.

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Charlotte is eccentric, but instantly relatable. Julie wrote her in a way that allows you to see Charlotte's growth and internalize it.

The relationship between her and Anders was more of a plot motivator than a driving force and that worked really well for this story. I especially appreciated the completely lack of cattiness between the two. The relationship supplemented the story without overwhelming it.

The author states in the acknowledgments that the book is not autobiographical, however "there were times where it felt like it might be a smidge more true" than any other book she'd written. I have to admit there were times while reading that I felt the author was talking more than Charlotte was and it pulled me out of the story.

However Charlotte's emotions were tangible and real allowing the reader to be pulled right back in. I freely admit it wouldn't have been so poignant if the author hadn't spoken from experience and from the heart.

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Unfortunately, I was unable to get into this book. The characters were two-dimensional and the story didn't seem all that original. I read the first two chapters and it just didn't hold my attention. Since I didn't finish it, I will not post a review publicly. I'm sure there are readers out there who will enjoy it.

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This book will make you laugh but also give you pause to look at your own life and if you are living behind a mask.

After years of rejection, Lettie has had a book accepted to be published and her life is about to turn upside down on all fronts. She has a tenuous relationship with her mother, she has a stepsister that she adores, and a hunky paramedic neighbor that is about to become more than just friends.

Lettie is probably like most of us, comfortable in her skin but has yet to have her dream of being a published author of fairy tales come true. It is only when she writes a self-help book called The Cinderella Fiction, that her dream comes true. But the sacrifices she will have to make nearly ruin her life. You probably have read stories about people that seem to have a "perfect" life via social media but have learned it is all staged. That is what happens to Lettie but not by choice, it is forced onto her by her publicist. I get that the publicist is trying to help improve her image so that when her book is published she seems authentic. But what she has Lettie doing going against her normal nature and this causes rifts with her stepsister, Kat, and her now boyfriend (and neighbor) Anders. Lettie has to go on her own journey to find herself and thankfully she does in the end.

I admired Lettie for pursuing her dreams but I don't think she was very confident which is why she found herself in the situations she was in throughout the book. But a book without some angst wouldn't be as much fun to read. The witty banter between Lettie and Anders had me laughing. The book was about soul searching, not only for Lettie, but for Anders too. I think even Lettie's mother learned a few things by the end, not only about her daughter but about her stepdaughter too.

There are so many great lines in this book and here are just a few of my favorites (and I have quite a few!):

"What? You think every time I say I don't believe in marriage, a married couple drops down dead?"

"What happened? I have a shovel and a pretty decent knowledge of the surrounding woods If she broke your heart, all you have to do is say the word."

"I don't know. Maybe if a member of the Mafia murdered someone on a couch, they'd need a quick replacement."

"You know, when I was a kid and we'd first moved to the States, my parents told me that the ice cream truck music only ever played when the truck had run out of ice cream." "You have nothing to say to that?" "I'm paying my respects to your stolen childhood with a moment of silence."

This was a fun book and we give it 4 1/2 paws.

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I usually do longish reviews but I am unfortunately on a time crunch. So, short, sweet and to the point it is. Glass Slippers, Ever After and Me is a cute, reminiscent version of Cinderella but without most of the pit-stops exchanged for some new ones. If you're looking for a by the book/tale version this isn't quite it. The writing alone will keep you happy until the very end. It is a unique approach to an old overused tale!

Absolutely recommend.

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This story drew me in immediately. How can it not when it starts out with "My fairy godmother was all talk and no action?" Lettie is quirky, kind of a hot mess, and was so much fun to get to know. I'm always a sucker for best friend romances, so this was right up my alley. It was fun watching her relationship with Anders develop into something more, although it happened a lot quicker than I thought it would. It wasn't insta-romance, by any means, it just happened much earlier in the story than I originally thought it would.

I must admit, I was kinda horrified to read about all the things her publicist was expecting her to do. Is that normal for authors? I sincerely hope not, because that would be awful.

This is one of those stories that I stayed up way too late reading, and that's always a sign that I loved it. I highly recommend it.

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I completely adored this book! I love fairy tale twists and this was SO GOOD! I loved the inspirations of the "Cinderella advice" found at the beginning of each chapter-- those were SO FUN! The story line is captivating and kept me reading long past midnight :)

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What happens when your dream-come-true strips away the things you already loved about your life? When Charlotte (Letti) Kingsley is finally offered the book contract she’s strived toward, it comes with conditions she never expected.

Charlotte is a character I wanted to both shake and hug at different times during this book. As she embraces her new image, some of her missteps with the important people in her life are cringeworthy.

This neighbors-who-are-friends-who-become-more tale is a very loose spin on the Cinderella story that is humorous, angsty, and pure Julie Wright brilliance.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

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Romance, clean; Contemporary
Clean romantic re-imagined Cinderella story with a contemporary setting. Charlotte, and aspiring author, has had multiple, myriad rejections of her manuscripts, but supported most importantly by Anders, her best friend.
As Charlotte experiences success for a different approach to writing, the publisher makes her into something she really isn't. As the myriad, and many faceted reinventing of her moves forward on social media and in interviews, she is faced with the realization that she has lost her true self somewhere in the media and publicity frenzy. Her heart wrenches when Anders leaves and she has to decide what is the most important part of her life and her heart-home. Advice from a well-known author helps her with her decision.
Great setting, backstory, and interesting characters. Nora is a perfect fit for this story in terms of how she finds her way into and out of the steamroller of a best selling book and all the publisher machinations. Of course, Anders, her friend, is a perfect H for this. Not overwhelming the story that is also about her transformational moments and her true heart. Lovely, sweet, romantic, but also cathartic as she stays true to her heart and who she really is.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. My opinions are my own.

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I flew through this book! Julie Wright gives such a compelling story the pulls you right in. Her characters are very relatable and entertaining. Anders is the best friend you hope for in a companion and Lettie's emotional journey makes you as a reader asses your own self throughout the story. I loved her selflessness when it really mattered she really did put those she loved first. I want to read "The Cinderella Fiction"! I know not possible, but every quote shared from it was genius and so perfectly laced with the theme of the chapter. I only wish I could hear more certainty about her writing future at the end. Even the questions at the end are so perfect for reflection. As a photographer I know the struggle of keeping a social media page and not wanting to be a slave to it at the same time.

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Glass Slippers, Ever After and Me just didn’t do anything for this reader. I just couldn’t get into the plot nor could I relate to the characters. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

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I loved the fresh approach the author takes in this fun and angsty story about a girl whose dream come true, only it's not exactly right... and it interferes with her new and unexpected dream. The narration of Charlotte's thoughts is highly entertaining, and I loved the balance of humor and depth. Anders is so sweet, and the glimpses into his struggles and vulnerabilities made him all the more real. I absolutely love the neighbor-friends-to-lovers trope, and this one was especially fun. Real world issues and concerns are dealt with in a realistic and flawed way, but the characters learn and grow and apologize and forgive- several times! They handle through new relationship arguments and disagreements in a way that felt authentic- working through pride and regret with love and compassion. It was interesting to see the many people and elements demanding and pulling at Charlotte for her time, attention, and willingness to change and/or stay the same. There are complex family dynamics from both Charlotte and Anders relatives that added depth and perspective. I especially enjoyed Charlotte's stepsister and their interactions. I couldn't put the book down as I read to see how everything would resolve- another midnight finish for me!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

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A beautiful, modern retelling of Cinderella, although plenty of other fairy tales are mixed in. I loved the feel-good vibe early on; it’s part of what hooked me. Then things turned tense and award and I just had to keep reading to see what choices were made. I could not put the story down. The realistic look at what happens when we get swept up in a dream is a wonderful wake-up call to all of us. Another highly recommended book in the Proper Romance Series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own gladly given.

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I was really excited when I saw that this was a retelling of Cinderella, however, I had major difficulty seeing parallels. With all that being said there are a lot of things that this author does that makes this book totally stand on it’s own merit.

This story centers around Charlotte (aka, Char, Lettie), who works for a job she hates and wants to become an author. She feels like she has been rejected for the last time when she basically writes her manifesto. This book quickly gets picked up and a lot of buzz surrounds the release of her new book.

At the same time, her best friend and neighbor Anders, wants to pursue a relationship with Lettie, which she absolutely wants. Charlotte is thrown into a new world, one where appearances matter and that does not totally align with Anders and how he perceives Charlotte should have to act in order for this book to be published. Charlotte has hard choices to make regarding her relationships, her career and what she really wants.

This book had many highs and some lows with it. The first quarter was a bit of a slog, but once I got through that I just enjoyed so much. This to me was more coming of age than a romance. This was a fun romp that is very nice palate cleanser.

Thank you NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Ugh -- try as I might, I cannot like this book! When I read the description, I was super excited. When I received my ARC, I was super bummed.

The story just never got off the ground for me. Charlotte is just sort of blah -- I don't love her. I don't hate her. I'm completely indifferent to her. Anders is okay, but again -- no real connection. Kat, Charlotte's little sister, was my favorite character. She had some life in her!

Not sure what this story was missing, but it was missing for me.

I would try another book by Ms. Wright.

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I really wanted to like this one. While I'm not majorly into Cinderella retellings, this one seemed like it would contain less of an abusive and narcissistic family and contain more of a girl who really comes into her own throughout the story. While those points are true: her family are not completely horrible, though she clashes with her mother and she does come to realize things throughout the book. I just didn't care for what those things were.

The first 10-15% felt like a constant reiteration of author struggles that went just over the line of authentic for my tastes. Then the MC gets a book deal and while I do think that marketing and social media play a large role, especially in today's world, it felt a little extreme to me. The entire plotline of the MC not being able to have a romance felt off to me as well. My work involves a lot of social media and people love a love story. I think they could have spun that relationship in a way that allowed it to exist but caused friction between the couple. That would have felt far more realistic. Especially as the book is a self-help book to your own "Cinderella story" I'm kind of tired of the narrative that in order to be an empowered and independent woman, you have to be single as well.

I felt like the MC was repeatedly given huge pushes, especially from her author friend, in how to navigate the publishing and book release world and the MC ignored her every step of the way. I felt like I had a neon sign in my mind pointing to the correct course of action for the MC and she was like "nah, I'll ignore all the good advice." It was so frustrating!

As the final nail in the coffin, the romance felt so blah and bland and a minor subplot to the story. The only hint we even got of any chemistry between the two of them was the MC's aversion to the love interest potentially getting engaged with his current girlfriend. He came to the conclusion of breaking up with that girlfriend and attempting a relationship with the MC on his own, off page, and then they decided to try it out in a scene that felt so dry that it was like a business meeting. Then the romance featured in very little of the story until the very end of the book.

Overally, I had high hopes but this one just wasn't for me.

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