I found this book quick and easy to read through, however did not get the emotional attachment to the main character that I was hoping for.

This one was a quick read, but I struggled to connect with Page, I felt she was a little bit all over the place and it made it hard for me to want to keep reading. She held me back a little from loving the book, although I did like the writing style & premise of the title but I just wanted something MORE.

This was an enjoyable witty romantic comedy. The characters were fun and I especially enjoyed Page’s journey. If you like romantic comedies, I recommend you read this!
Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

DNF (Did Not Finish) @20%. I tried many times to read this but I just didn't like the writing style and couldn't get into the story.

Page thought her life was going fine, that is until her lawyer boyfriend dumps her after she supported him financially through law school. Page is now forced to move to live with her brother Brady in Washington, DC. With no job and nothing to do, Page begins going to the dog park even though she doesn’t have a dog. It’s here that she meets many interesting people and she has no clue how many of them are going to help her change her life.

This book was such a pleasant surprise! I really connected with Page’s character and loved the relationship she had with her brother Brady. This one had me laughing, crying, and smiling throughout! Definitely worth a read and gets 4 stars!

This story was easy to read and sweet. A bit predictable, though I didn't mind that. I did mind, however, that I simply could not empathize with the main character, Page. I wanted to connect to her through her story, but I just didn't feel it. I'm not sure if I would recommend this book to others.

This book surprised me in many ways! A funny premise, the dog park being a saving grace. It was a bit slow at first but then picked up really quickly! I loved the addition of quirky characters and a lighthearted storyline. Good read!

Prior to reading Happily Whatever After, I had never read anything written by Stewart Lewis and I’m even more embarrassed to say, had never heard of Stewart either. It was great to pick up a new author and instantly fall in love with their writing style and tone, through a light-hearted and fun read.

I liked the idea of the book as it combines my love of romance, comedy and dogs into one book. Perfect. Page was, what I feel a typical, yet ideal main character for the book and her growth throughout was nice to follow. The mix of Page’s emotional story masked with humour was something I enjoyed and found to be quite relatable. I’m sure we’ve all had something negative happen and tried to see the funny side, even if it was difficult to. The positive attitude of Page was something that resonated with me and has had a lasting impression, something I feel was needed this year.

I especially liked all the different (and sometimes eccentric) characters Page met at the dog park and the friendships she began to form with them, showing that you can meet new/different people and find friendship in the most unusual of places. I would have maybe expected to have a little more romance, as it did feel a little lacking at times. However, it was a nice and unexpected change from the usual romantic comedy storylines that allowed Page’s personal growth to really stand out, rather than be overshadowed by the romance aspect.

I already have included more books by Stewart onto my TBR list and can’t wait to read them!

Thank you to NetGalley, Stewart Lewis and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review.

3.5 star!

This cute and a little predictable book was a light and fluffy read! I enjoyed Page and her second chance story!

After being dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job, she decides to move in with her brother who lives in Washington DC! In her new home, she kinda refuge in a dog park. She meets many people at this park and her life starts to turn around.

There were a few laugh out loud moments that I enjoyed, so if you’re looking for something fun and not too long, pick this up!

I enjoyed this book! This was a new author for me and I enjoyed it. I thought that book was fast paced and witty. Very cute story.

Happily Whatever After offers a wonderful mix of eccentric, funny and authentic characters that immediately drag you into their world. We follow Page on a mid-life journey after she loses her job and her boyfriend in the same week. She decides she needs a fresh starts and moves to live with her brother Brady. Both share an unbreakable bond and their relationship is both fun and heartwarming to read. A touching, romantic, witty read that is perfect for any romcom lover!

Surprisingly emotional in a story that moves from lighthearted missteps and situations to quite life-altering options and growth highlight this story all brought to us in the character of Page who after a series of life changes finds herself yearning for family and familiar, and heads to her brother’s place in D.C. Hoping to lick her wounds and perhaps find the wherewithal to get her own dreams started with her own business, Page soon learns that sometimes life hands you something you never dreamed of, and you just might find it suits.

Page’s brother is adorable, successful and supportive: but even he hasn’t time to help her to form a new ‘friendship group’ - instead suggesting she take some time, think, regroup and wander about. What Page is thinking she needs is friends, a man and a job – not necessarily in that order, but the local dog part seems to be a good place to watch the dogs (even if she doesn’t yet have one) and maybe meet some people as she’s ‘sorting out’ her life.

What emerges is a group of characters that are clever, friendly, well-drawn and challenge Page’s thoughts about her life, her new direction and exactly what she wants. Soon she’s a regular at the park, people and dogs know her, and she’s starting to think that her feet are underneath her enough to start walking on her newly found path. It’s not always smooth sailing, but the lessons learned, confidence gained and new outlook after having really spent time on herself, and what she wants is a clever read and allows readers to understand her, if not her exact situation – the emotions involved, and leave everyone with a bit of hope and some new ideas for what next.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aM0/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

This was a fast paced, funny and delightful read. It was a refreshing break from life, and I enjoyed myself.

Happily Whatever After was such a sweet read! I didn't expect to be so emotionally invested in the book, but oh well. Books always know how to surprise a reader, right?

Reading about Page was so enjoyable. I loved her positive approach towards life, and how she didn't let failures define herself. Her character development throughout the book was so wonderful to read about. The author didn't sugar-coat Page's honest attitude while keeping the story line realistic at the same time, and I think that made the book so much better for me.

I love a book which features strong friendships - so, I was really happy to read about Preston and Barkley, the friends that Page made while visiting the dog park. This added such a sweet and charming touch to the plot! The comedic timings and hilarious content in the book were spot on as well. I laughed my heart out while going through some scenes :')

Page and Brady's relationship was so heart-warming. It has been a while since I read a book with a close sibling relationship, and I appreciated the family theme of the book!
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If you need an inspirational and uplifting read, definitely pick Happily Whatever After up. :D

I have never cried while reading a book but this book made me teary eyed.
It is a warm, witty ,giggly ,fast paced read. I thought it will be like any 3 star rom-com read but boy I was wrong! It took me by surprise and I absolutely loved reading it, its the first book that made me cry, chuckle, ponder and feel good all at the same time.

This book is about our damsel in distress, "Page" and her life changing through the incredible and mystical phenomena of "SERENDIPITY". I myself am a firm believer in the concept and loved how it was singing its tune all through the story. The story is somewhat cheesy and corny at times but then thats all "fiction" is about right? We all need to dream about the kind of life we want, (almost fairytale -ish) even if it is for a few seconds.

I found Page relatable on some levels and loved the fact that she did not dwell or play victim to her past. For Page, its dogs before people (same for me) and loved her quirky act of visiting a dog park ( though she did not own a dig herself) even when she got a few suspicious stares it did not deter her.

This book teaches us about :
SERENDIPITY
LIFE BEGINS AT THE END OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE
BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS
POWER OF MANIFESTATION
"One needs a good laugh even in the darkest of times."

"WE LIVED ABOVE A BAKERY SO OUR APARTMENT SMELT LIKE BUTTER AND HOPE."
Loved. Stewart Lewis's easy and warm writing style and I am glad to have come across his book. I will definitely read the other books by him.

Thankyou NetGalley and the publisher for an e ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Our main character, Page, is going through a rough patch. She lost her job and her boyfriend....in the same week! She decides she needs a change of scenery, and goes from New York to DC to live with her brother, Brady.

This book follows her path to figuring out who she is in her mid thirties, her family/friend/lover relationships (new and old), and the cast of characters she meets along the way. And dogs. Always here for the dogs!

If you like stories where everything wraps up nicely in the end, this is the read for you.


Thank you to NetGalley, Stewart Lewis, and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book was fab. It’s funny uplifting & sad in parts. But I couldn’t put it down. It flows so smoothly and so light hearted. A must read.

** spoiler alert ** I wanted to enjoy this book. The concept was interesting. But once I got past the first few chapters it was evident that I most likely wasn't gonna love it. But I continued to read it because I don't like to not finish books. Sometimes it takes a while for the book to catch me. This one, obvious from the rating, did not. I think I officially turned off of it when one of the side characters was revealed to be lowkey stalking his ex girlfriend (don't worry - he just misses her 🙄). Page doesn't even care that he was stalking this girl. Probably because Page was stalking her own love interest (and his teenage daughter). But other than the brushed off stalking tendencies inside this book the other thing that stuck out as weird was the whole brother/sister dynamic. Dont get me wrong, I have a close relationship with my brother. But something about Page and Brady's relationship just rubbed me wrong. She wears his clothes, maybe possibly wants to help him cover his possible cheating on his girlfriend, has her clothes in his closet even though she has her own room, etc. There's more that I didn't like but I'll keep just the major two listed because I don't want to give this book a lot of hate.
The concept behind this book was good. I liked the idea and the plot summary which is why I started it in the first place. But I don't think the execution was right. I wish I liked Page more. I wish that I liked this book more. I honestly wished this book was written from Brady's POV. Then I'd feel as if the big twist and conflict would have felt more dire and more central to the plot. It also takes over half the book to get to the big twist and then we only see glimpses of it. We learn more about Page and her handy man than we learn about the twist.

If the author ever rewrites this from Brady's POV (kinda like twilight/midnight sun) count me. I'd read it. But as for now I will not be recommending it as is.

"Everyone is someone's true love."

Wow! I need to stop for a moment and allow myself to draw breath. I feel quite worn out after that rollercoaster ride of emotions and non-stop action!

A great beginning, a totally unpredictable storyline, and an ending I never saw coming, albeit a bit more up in the air than I would have liked it to have been. Who can complain about the format of this book? No boring or conventional around here! Maybe a subliminal portent of a follow-up story being on the horizon?

I really enjoyed Stewart's style of writing: short, razor sharp chapters with eye-catching titles; punchy, witty narrative and dialogue from an unforgettable cast of characters who almost defined themselves and told their own life stories; and a multi-layered storyline full of life, emotions, intrigue and  interest from beginning to end.

I don't think I have ever had the privilege to meet such a powerfully portrayed and eclectic mix of supporting characters before, including Page's disastrous couple of dalliance's with one-night stands. In fact my initial reaction was 'whoa! do people like this really exist in real life, and all in one place?' Then I paused for thought and came to the conclusion that in such a large and cosmopolitan city like Washington DC, this probably is a true reflection of a cross section of the population, with maybe just a smidge of over-egging and exaggeration by Stewart - in a nice way of course!

I really found myself caring about this larger than life, profusion of characters as if I knew them personally and found myself amazed at just how much they took Page to their hearts so quickly, not judging her, genuinely wanting to take care of her and protect her, each in their own individual way. In return, Page also played her part in uniting this small, disparate group of people, who didn't really know one another, their only commonality being their dogs and visiting the 'doggie park', this notion made even more comical by the fact that Page was the only one there without a dog of her own, until she manages to 'borrow' one!

When the chips are down and Page needs to move forward quickly on her plan to open her own gallery, all of her new found friends rally around to offer their help and support and it is only then that both we (and I suspect they also), discover talents many of them never knew they possessed, giving them a real sense of purpose in helping Page see her dream come to fruition. I think they all discovered a true sense of community and belonging, which Page seems blissfully unaware she has played such a huge part in making happen. No more solitary, silent sitting in the doggie park for this little team!

There is also a second, much deeper storyline running in parallel for the main protagonists. One of family ties and values. Of new beginnings and not judging people until you have put yourself in their place and walked in their shoes. The personal struggle and journey of discovering what really matters to you, what you want from your own life and how much you want those close to you to be a part of that new beginning.

Page's bond with her brother Brady is strong and unbreakable, unlike the relationship she has with her widowed, slightly alcoholic mother and Brady's partner Jane. Brady has the same passion for food, as Page has for the arts, but unlike Page who is drifting from day to day, Brady is very self-assured and has channelled his passion into a successful and challenging career. He longs for the time when Page comes to define herself and accepts that dreams in life can and must adapt and change, as he knows that she can be happy and successful, if only she will open up her heart and mind, to let it happen.

However, when things get really tough and Brady is fighting for his very life, it is Jane and Page's mum who rally together and begin making the practical decisions, forcing Page to recognise that she has been too quick to judge them in the past, without asking herself why and on what evidence she has based her opinions. After bearing witness to some profoundly touching, soul searching private moments by Page, we witness her really stepping up to the plate, despite the very draining nature of the challenge, both physically and mentally. She also quickly realises that far from impeding her new self-imposed caring regime, Jane and her mother are more than willing to play their part and in fact Jane's organisational skills, far from grating on Page as they might have done in the past, are just what they all need to maintain a level of calm and structure.

As I mentioned previously, the ending whilst not totally unexpected and perfectly acceptable as endings go, did come upon me quite suddenly as something of a surprise, leaving quite a few loose ends and unanswered questions. I do think there might be real mileage in Stewart pursuing a follow-up story, although I didn't feel short-changed in any way.

From Page once being a very small fish in the very big lake of NYC, to her becoming a big fish in the small and intimate pond of her local community, this read was pure perceptive and intuitive escapism, with some laugh out loud moments, some cry baby sad and emotionally draining times, some life lessons well learned, and many new beginnings and friendships forged.

Definitely a rom-com to escape into, full of heart and humour, and definitely with added pizzazz :

Happily Whatever After is a perfect light read just in time for the summer holidays. Having recently become single myself, this book definitely came into my life at the right time. Page is a wonderful protagonist who shows that it is necessary to go boldly out into the world and strike out on one's own. As a dog lover, I was instantly endeared by the number of dogs that showed up in the book and perhaps made me a little biased in the books favour. Overall, I would happily recommend it but I wouldn't call it a classic.