This Won’t End Well was a great light read about friendship and just life in general! I really enjoyed Annie and how navigates her life after it was turned upside down. I loved being on this poetic journey with her as she grows in so many different aspects!

TO: future readers of This Won’t End Well
From: A very satisfied reader
Subject: four and half stars for This Won’t End Well
I LOVE Camille Pagan. She is very witty and writes fun, lovable characters.
This Won’t End Well follows Annie Mercer and her fiancé Jon. It’s a classic Will they/won’t they scenario.
I found myself really invested in the side characters as well.
I love Epistolary novels, so this was a slam dunk for me.
Thank you #netgalley and #lakeunion for the ARC.

'In reality, I’ve been expecting the best in spite of all evidence to the contrary- including an unshakable feeling that my so-called fiancé would not be coming home tomorrow as he claimed.'

Annie Mercer and her fiancé (French teacher) Jon suddenly no longer seem to be on the same page about their future. Her important work as a chemist has ‘derailed’ after an incident involving her heinous boss Todd (who is way too hands on) , her best friend Leesa thinks every disaster can be cured with rose quartz and essential oil, products Leesa is peddling with serious ‘entrepreneurial spirit’, and Jon has abandoned her for Paris, informing her he needs space from everyone. This space encompasses her the most. Living with her mother seemed like the best thing a loving daughter could do, especially knowing her engagement has given her mom something to live for, pulled her out of her funk. It is also a chance for Annie to figure out her next move. Now, the hunger in her mother’s eyes to see Annie married is too much to bear, especially with Jon running off. Annie is resolved to keep new people out of her life, but her mother’s new neighbor gives her something to distract her, a brief escape from the disaster that is her own life. Cleaning houses for the neighbors is a welcome break from residue anger about what happened in her former work, the perfect way to make money while she maintains her ‘vow of interpersonal abstinence’. Where is the harm in watching a young life blooming?

The new neighbor is Harper, gliding through life on heels and for Annie, ‘watching her makes me feel like life could be easier’, the shame though is Annie’s great brain never ceases to be thinking, chewing on all her problems. If only she could be as carefree. She has had enough drama, particularly the soap opera her own relationship with absent Jon has become. Jon, who won’t even reply to her emails, how is she supposed to have faith he will come back in time for their wedding date, looming awfully close now, when he has gone silent on her? Better to spend her time watching Harper, only to discover someone else is watching the intriguing beauty too. This someone is Mo, the suspicious ‘twenty-something Middle Eastern man’ that has raised alarm for the online neighborhood community. Mo, who catches her spying on Harper. Mo, however, has a purpose in his snooping, after-all it is his job as a private investigator to watch people. As the two get to know each other, he offers her the chance to work alongside him. Why not? It could be fun.

It isn’t long before she is breaking her vow to keep people out. Her relationship with Jon is going through some type of metamorphosis, as he is acting out of character. She knows he loves her, but with all this changing, are they still right for one another? Will the pull of Paris put too much strain on their love? Can she compare to the charms Paris has for her Francophile beloved? Will her best friend ever stop sipping the essential oil Kool–aid (because surely it isn’t Annie who is the problem) long enough so Annie can find comfort and support? Is living with her mother truly just a ‘temporary arrangement’? Should she be enjoying herself this much working alongside Mo? Will she ever confront what happened at the lab, so that she can free herself to make career choices? Will she get on a plane and meet Jon in Paris, when he is back in contact and desperate for her to come and see for herself why he is having a hard time leaving? She might just love France as much as him! Imagine the possibilities!

Annie is in her own way, and it’s fun. You should hate Jon, because is it really necessary to go cold turkey in your relationship because you’re having a ‘France loving crisis’, but he is too mild to offend. Annie is a handful, and of course she can be self-centered in the way so many of us are, the star of our own life and all that, but she makes for a funny little novel. She doesn’t have anything figured out, retiring from her problems seems like the answer, but the fastest way to find yourself a target for more drama is a self-imposed sabbatical from the school of life. She has some serious self-reflection on the horizon, and it’s not just about her love life. Despite her refusal to open herself to new relationships, Mo and Harper may well be the catalyst she needs to get her life back on track, but where it will lead is up in the air.

A fun, fast paced read about sexual harassment, love, career, friendship, family and snooping. It may end well, despite evidence to the contrary.

Publication Date: February 25, 2020

Lake Union Publishing

This is not the typical book I read (I love thrillers) but I’m glad I requested this book! A light read with interesting characters that entertain you.

A thoroughly enjoyable book about new friendships, espionage and finding love. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it

I always know when I read a Camille Pagan book that I will meet some very interesting characters. This was no exception. A fun and lighthearted book with wonderful characters and a fun trip to Paris. Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

When Annie's fiancee up and goes to France and she loses her job , she decides to take a break from people. Only planning to talk to people she already knows, things don't go as planned for Annie! Annie lives with her mom and they get a new neighbor Harper. Harper wants to be Annie's friend. Annie also meets Mo, a private investigator who has a subject in the neighborhood he is keeping an eye on. This was a wonderful heartwarming story about friendship, family, and finding ones true happiness. I loved the characters in the book and felt like I could live on Annie's street and be friends with her and Harper. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

Camille Pagan's books do not disappoint! I love Pagan's writing style. Annie and Jon are engaged, but Jon decides to go to Paris unexpectedly. Annie has a work situation that is causing her issues. How will Annie handle her fiance's absence during this time? Will she stick to her vow of not meeting new people? This was a very enjoyable read!

Camille Pagan never fails to draw me in from the first pages engage me with her characters and keep me turning the pages.Love how her new novel was told through email journal notes .Its fun to be entertained taken out of everyday life a new adventure.I recommend all the authors books for fun enjoyment great characters.#netgalley#lakeunion

Camille Pagan's books are always a fun read, and THIS WON'T END WELL is no exception. Told through the journal entries of protagonist Annie, we follow her journey to self-discovery. I appreciated the themes of introspection while journeying outside one's comfort zone, and I thought telling the story through journal entries helped enhance that theme even moreso than a typical novel structure. Looking forward to Camille's next book already!

A fun, lovable, and enjoyable novel! The characters are charming and quirky, and the story is interesting with an easy flow as the main character has to reinvent herself when faced with unexpected changes. I recommend this book! Thank you to the Tall Poppies and NetGalley for the early reader copy. all opinions are my own.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Things aren't going so well for Annier Mercer. Her fiancé suddenly left for Paris to "find himself" and she just quit her job after being wrongfully accused of sexual harassment. So it's time for her to take a break from everyone, especially new people. But when Harper moves in next door, Annie can't help but keep eye on her; especially after seeing Harper with a black eye and finding private investigator Mo, lurking outside her house. This won't end well, will it?

This was a fun read that gave me Class Mom vibes! It's written in a series of emails, journal entries, and narrative. The emails were my favorite - so much sarcasm and wit - I definitely read them with a smile on my face. She also makes a dig at MLM businesses which made me cringe at first but I thought she did a good job at presenting both sides. I think the book started off strong and then slowed down but picked up towards the end. Overall still very enjoyable.

This was the first book I've read from this author and it was just okay. It was hard for me to get into and the characters didn't keep my attention.

I have read one other book by Camille and was delighted with it, so I was eager to dive into this one. I enjoyed the alternating between emails, diaries and real life point of view, and really getting into Annie's headspace. This was a solid, interesting ride through Annie's job, family, relationships and just socialization that I found fascinating and hard to put down. Great, quick, enjoyable ready and thankful for the ARC!

Camille Pagan has done it once again. I have loved every book of hers that I have read so far and this one just might be my favourite next to Forever Is The Worst Long Time. The characters in This Won't End Well are so endearing, especially Annie, Harper and Mo. I read this book super quickly, and felt so satisfied with the ending, yet disappointed that it was over. I very rarely give a book 5 stars on Goodreads, but this one was a definite 5 stars for me. I will absolutely recommend this gem of a novel to friends and family.

This was such a fun and quirky read from start to finish! I read this on the plane, and it was a great plane read that kept me entertained for hours without being too emotionally draining.

When Annie's fiance unexpectedly moves to France without a warning and she loses her job, Annie decides to shut herself off from the road. After all, you can't be hurt or disappointed by people if you don't spend time with them, right? But after meeting a mysterious new neighbor, Annie slowly starts to reevaluate her priorities and herself.

Oh, this was a hoot! Annie was quirky to a fault, and in many ways reminded me of Nina Hill from The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbie Waxman. This was another book with a strong female protagonist and an entertaining cast of supporting characters. I did not agree with or understand all of Annie's decisions, but I greatly enjoyed her character growth and development. I loved all of the comedic relief sprinkled throughout the novel (those listserve emails were my favorite).

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for this book in exchange for an honest review!

Pagan’s writing is relatable, funny and whip-smart. Her 2019 book I’m Fine and Neither Are You is one of my favorites of the past year. I was super excited to read This Won't End Well and couldn't wait to dive in when it arrived.

This book made me laugh out loud and I just find Pagan’s writing to be so approachable and enjoyable to read. I especially loved the parts about the friend that is involved in multi-level marketing and it was just so spot on!

Although I wasn't sure at first if the writing style would be hard to follow as it is written in alternating chapters of email exchanges, text messages, and diary entries as that isn't my preferred style of narration. It ended up totally working and was part of the quirky charm of this storyline. Pagan is skilled at building multifaceted and memorable characters and I highly recommend this one.

I always get very excited when a new novel by Camille Pagán comes out and for good reason. Her characters are delightfully quirky and highly realistic, and though Pagan writes about serious situations, she does so with a hefty dose of humor. “This Won’t End Well,” Pagan’s latest novel, is all that and more.

The novel’s protagonist is Annie, a dedicated scientist, who likes both structure and the ability to plan ahead. Change is not a good thing for Annie so when her carefully planned life suddenly goes askew, routine becomes more important than ever. Her fiancé, Jon, decides he wants to go to France, but does not want any contact with Annie during the time that he is there. Annie also recently lost her scientist job because of sexual harassment from her boss. Her relationship with her closest friend, Leesa, is estranged and her mother, whom she lives with, suffers from depression and hoarding issues. Fearing any more catastrophes, Annie decides to cut herself off from the world period. People bring about change and change is not what Annie wants.

So must for best laid plans! As Annie takes on a job cleaning houses to generate income, she becomes obsessed with her new neighbor, Harper, and Mo, the private investigator who Annie believes has been hired to spy on Harper. Both Harper and Mo become allies in Annie’s journey to discover that change in itself may not be a bad thing when you have friends along for the ride.

This novel is written in alternating chapters of emails, text messages and diary entries. Sprinkled with plenty of laugh aloud moments (flying dog poo, anyone?), Ms. Pagán writes at a lively pace as she weaves through Annie’s interconnected stories. Just when a reader thinks she might know what could happen next, she is pleasantly surprised to discover that she is mistaken. Annie is very likable as are the majority of the other characters (though I did think her fiancé was a bit of an idiot). For any fan of a well-written story that resonates with the reader long after you finish the final page, I highly recommend this book.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the author for providing me an advanced copy.

I'm something of a geeky girl myself so stories featuring science-driven women are my jam. This Won't End Well explores what happens when hard-headed thinking collides matters of the heart--complicated ones. I loved the multiplicity of relationships at play here: the central romance(s), the friendships, the mother-daughter relationship, and the workplace woes. Pagan handles all these threads like the seasoned pro she is, creating a memorable main character in Annie, keeping the pacing tight (raced through this in two days!), and, most importantly, balancing humor, tragedy, and compassion to deliver a deeply satisfying read. Wonderful!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a cute and quick read! I really liked the writing style and can tell I will probably like some of Camille Pagan's other books.

Unfortunately, I didn't love the central love story here... I didn't really feel the chemistry and didn't understand the abrupt choice Annie makes in the end.