I was really excited when I was accepted on netgalley to read this book, it was everything I wanted in a story and more.

My first novel by Stewart Lewis and it did not disappoint. Really enjoyed Page and her personality even when at times she could be a bit CRINGE. Your typical rise up from the ashes trope and I loved every minute of it. Great read!

Great book and as a dog lover this book was bound to be a favourite of mines. Look forward to reading more by this author

A book about a fleeing from an old life and starting fresh. One of my favourite type of "girly" books to read. I digged Page, I thought she was fun and a bit of a hot mess. I found her super relatable, i'm pretty sure that if I moved to a new city to start a new life, I would definitely hang around a dog park (dog or no dog!).

This book has it all, romance, finding yourself, illness, disaster, family relationships, friendship as well as dogs and art. At times funny, at times really quite sad and I did really enjoy the dog aspect as I am a dog lover and in my opinion, dogs just don't feature enough in literature.

A great quick read, I read it on the step machine at the gym. I enjoyed the characters and the story line is what you would expect. My only thoughts are that, I did feel there were too many characters and I got a bit confused, and that I found some of Page's behaviours very questionable, but in the book noone batted an eyelid. Maybe they just do things differently in DC!

Overall, a book I would recommend to others looking for a quick enjoyable read with a happy ending. Great for lounging around the pool or by the fire without needing to pay too much attention.

This was such a witty emotional read that I couldn't put down. It starts with Page's life being turned upside down in New York so she moves to DC to live with her charming and successful brother. While there she tries to find the momentum to turn everything around without backpedaling.

What I loved about this book:

1. Page's optimism and resilience was quite inspiring and I absolutely adored her character. While she could be a bit judgemental at times, her honesty was refreshing and I enjoyed her character growth. She was a really well developed and believable chatacter.

2. The sibling relationship between Page and Brady was so heartwarming and was the reason this book was so emotional. Make sure you have tissues near by because I cried my eyes out a time or two.

3. The unique plot of chance encounters at a dog park was engaging and very entertaining.

I really enjoyed this book as I laughed and cried along with Page. If you're looking for a great escapism read, you should definitely pick up a copy.

This was a great story. I loved the friendships, drama, the characters and especially the dogs! It was a quick read and I look forward to reading more from the author!

A charming and easy read. The main character, Page, was relatable in her inability to figure out what she wants in her life. Most of us in our mid-30s are also trying to find our place in this world, and someone to share it with.

I didn't quite understand where the "dark comedy" description came from. I found this book typical of most "chick lit" out there, with the female protagonist and the love interest circling each other throughout the book, before the happily ever after ending.

Despite that, I enjoyed the story, character development and was rooting for Page to succeed.

This is one of those books that just flows so smoothly... it is a light-hearted, fun read and it really hooked me right from the beginning.

The characters are likeable and I felt a personal connection to each of them - so of course, I was rooting for a happy ending for each and every one of them! And of course, adding dogs to the equation is always a winner...

The story is moving and emotional, and adds the perfect amount of humour, and some questionable decisions - the perfect mix to keep a reader entertained.

I will definitely be seeking out more of Stewart's books in future.

Life... Finds A Way. Ok, so I blatantly ripped a line from a very famous franchise that has literally nothing at all to do with this book, but it completely fits. This is a fun, quirky story about how life's seemingly random encounters can turn out to work out quite well indeed, and it does a phenomenal job of making the ride just dramatic enough to twist the heartstrings while ultimately staying true to itself. If you're looking for a more laid back, "oh, this is happening now, ok" level of escapism in these trying times, this is the book you're going to want to pick up. Very much recommended.

An easy, quick, enjoyable read. Happily Whatever After is a romantic comedy following main character Page as she looks for new beginnings in Washington DC, after moving from New York with no job, no boyfriend and no dog, to live with her brother.

The story flowed nicely and kept me interested, but I didn’t really warm to Page and found her to be annoying and judgemental.

I was expecting to either laugh or cry, or both, but I did neither, so I give this book 2 stars as was hoping to feel more emotionally connected to the characters.

A cute book with a slightly darker edge. I enjoyed reading this a lot and really managed to get sucked into the world and what was going on. it was easy to relate to the main character and there were some good escapist moments which I enjoyed a lot.

Are there many of us out there who haven't, at last once in their lifetime, wondered what it would be like to start all over again? Just pack up, move towns and make a fresh start somewhere else, hopefully in a job you love. Wouldn't that be amazing? Well imagine all of that, wrapped up in a lot of emotion, a healthy dose of good humour, some romance and a whole park full of dogs and you have yourselves Happily Whatever After, the charming romantic story of new beginnings from the pen of Stewart Lewis.

Now if you are a keen follower of this blog, you will know that I don't often stray from the dark and twisted path of crime fiction and when, or indeed if, I do, it has to be with good reason. I would say that this book is very good reason. What i found within the pages was a book that made me laugh, smile and completely engage in the life of Page and her mismatched circle of friends and family as she navigates the streets, and dog park of Washington. Newly single and out of a job, she hightails it away from New York to find solace in the company of her brother, Brady who is creating his own future in the shape of a very success bar and restaurant.

Page is the kind of person I can identify with. She's well educated and has her interests - in this case art and dogs - but is kind of drifting through life, not able to find her true vocation or the passion that will allow her to achieve her full potential. I think many of us have been there, settling for a job to gain an income but knowing it's not what you really want to do. Slightly depressed and definitely looking for a ligeline, she seeks solace in a local dog park, hoping that not too many people ask her where her imaginary dog is. They do ... but that's no bad thing as this set her on a journey into friendship, self discovery and maybe, if she is lucky, a touch of that missing romance too.

I really liked the characters that the author has created both in Page and in those that she meets. From her down to earth brother, his well to do girlfriend and through to the people from the dog park, especially Barkley and Preston who seem like chalk and cheese but make a brilliant couple and two very good and kind friends to Page. Then there is Kevin, a man whose awkward outer appearance speaks nothing of his hidden talents. And, of course there is Banana Republic aka Mark. I think we definitely all need one of those in our lives but sadly I'm not sure I'm going to find one down my local canal, no matter how many dog walkers I pass. Add in a bunch of varied and vibrant people to begin to form Page's new network of friends and dates, and you have a brilliant group whose various lives and foibles kept me glued to the story

But it's not all about comedy moments, misunderstandings, missed opportunities and dodgy dates though. There are some real moments of emotion and sadness that permeate the story as Page's brother, Brady, fights his own battle this time with illness. The author has created some very tender and thoughtful scenes between the pair, as well as moments of real honesty between Page and her mother who had sometimes struggled to communicate. So whilst perhaps overly convenient in the way in which everything just falls into place for Page (and yes, I admit it, I am jealous of a fictional character as I'm still trying to get my own act together after xxx years) it still has that air of authenticity and left me pleased that Page found her happy ending.

And there are dogs. Lots and lots of lovely, made, sometimes bonking, always beautiful dogs. They're not without their tear jerking moments too, don't get me wrong, but every single canine personality is captured on the page and just adds to the joy of the story overall. I loved it, and wouldn't hesitate to read more by the author.

If you are looking for a fun, thoughtful, romantic bit of escapism for the summer, this is the book for you. Definitely recommended.

Paige, our main character, has had her life turned upside down. I think this romcom is just what we need in a time like this. It’s realistic, modern, shows we all go through low points, and most importantly shows we can rebuild ourselves as long as we just believe.

If you’re looking for a story that you can truly relate to but still comes out with that happy ending look no further. I’m a new reader to this author and I’ll definitely be looking for them in the future. I’m glad I got the opportunity to read this advance copy and it was nice to not have a completely disney HEA but something a bit more down to earth.

Thank you Stewart Lewis, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the e-reader ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

This story follows Page, a thirty-something woman, who recently moved to D.C. after a break up. She is awaiting her life to start, lacks confidence, and is seemingly lost in life. Page begins to spend her time in the dog park, sans-dog, and the connections she make will shape her life forever.

Happily Whatever After is more realistic and modern rom-com, than the average romance novel. Page's confusion with her life direction is often relatable, and charming to watch. We can all relate to the feeling of meeting someone new, deep dive searching them online, and trying to improve our meet-cute chances of bumping into them. Not to mention giving them cute names in our head, depending on where or how we met, anyone else have people in their phone labelled "Tinder Kyle" or "Coffee Shop Blake"?

At times I definitely wanted to shake Page, through the... pages. I wanted to will her take more control of her life, rather than relying on happenstance. The second half of the book really picks up, and things really start to change for Page. Stick around, and see if Page can lead the life she desires.

Available July 28, 2020.

Star Rating: 4/5 Stars
Reading Span: 2 Days, a fun & easy read! I couldn't stop!
Recommended Beverage Pairing: A dry red wine, preferably a Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon

Happily Whatever After by Stewart Lewis
Source: NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing
Rating: 4½/5 stars

Sometimes in life, the worst things that happen to you are just the gateway to the good things that are waiting on you. Page was pretty sure her life in New York was just what she wanted, a long-term boyfriend, a job in a gallery she loved, and contentment. And then, it all fell apart in a single week. Her boss called her boring and her boyfriend dumped her. With no job, no boyfriend, and no home, Page has no choice but to seek refuge with her brother.

Washington DC is Page’s new home and while she loves spending time with her wildly successful brother, she has no idea how she is going to become equally successful in her own life. With no prospects for a job, let alone a career, Page begins to spend a portion of her days at the local dog park. It doesn’t take long for the regulars to figure out, Page is the only one in attendance with no dog, which, of course causes get speculation. Within a matter of just a few visits, Page has nicknames for all the owners a new friend in the form of a young, attractive man who is attached to a wealthy, older dog owner. Page immediately becomes friends with both men and suddenly her world in DC has opened significantly.

Over the next weeks, Page opens herself up to all sorts of new people, possibilities, and events. She is wowed by some of the people she meets, impressed by others, and baffled by more than a few. Throughout these experiences and events, Page begins to formulate an idea in the back of her mind, what would it be like to open and own her own gallery? Among her new friends, Page has met people who can help pave the way for her dreams, but it will take a load of hard work and effort.

As Page goes about aimlessly living her new life, she begins to notice changes in her brother and his life. His patterns seem to be disrupted, she’s certain he’s having an affair, and he just doesn’t seem his usual cheerful, happy go lucky self. Though he swears all is well, Page isn’t certain, but until he comes clean there’s nothing she can do but live her life and worry. Living her life is exactly what she does and along the way, Page discovers exactly what her path is all while helping her new friends and family alike. The path isn’t smooth, but it does lead Page to exactly where she was always meant to be.

The Bottom Line: This is yet another read whose Goodreads star rating baffles me. I found this book to be a full range of goodness from cover to cover. Though Page initially comes across as flighty and somewhat ditzy, she eventually comes around to the person she truly is, a kind, generous, caring person with a dream that takes all she is to come true. Ultimately, Page’s story is about how hard it is to be an adult. Life doesn’t always go as we plan and when we find ourselves adrift, we have to find a new plan and a new path. Page does that, but not without learning a great many valuable lessons about herself, life, and love. In all, I found this to be a quite good read and well worth the time and effort.

Happily Whatever After was my first Stewart Lewis experience, and what a refreshing one it was! Full of charm, humor, and - like life - a decent dose of unfortunate fear and pain. The characters in this novel are light and charming without feeling false. Makes for a great weekend read!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

After being dumped by her boyfriend and fired from her job in the same week in New York, Page moves in with her brother Brady in Washington DC. There she meets a bunch of dog owners at the dog park who quickly become her friends. She starts having new dreams and learns just how unpredictable second chances can be.

So many things happened in such a short amount of time in this book. That said, I found that the pacing was a little off. A lot of time was spent getting to certain parts of the story, but when they happened they felt quite rushed. The majority of the story focused on Page talking to different people at the dog park.

I really loved Page’s relationship with her brother Brady. It really reminded me of my relationship with my brother. However, I didn’t feel that same connection with the other characters, and I wanted there to be more interaction with the main love interest, Mark.

Overall, I think there were too many characters and too much going on for me to feel connected with the story.

Really enjoyed this book. Steady paced, great characters, I was absorbed throughout. Will be reading more Lewis books in the future!

Page is a thirty something who moves in with her brother when she needs to start over after losing her job and her boyfriend. Replace brother with sister and I could have been in Page's shoes. The main character was witty and I really enjoyed the clever chapter titles.

Happily Whatever After is supposed to be a dark comedy, but I wish it would have had little more of that dark humor. The MC was sarcastic, but I wanted more. This is my first book by Stewart Lewis and I do think the writing is easy to follow, but I'm just not a fan of the plot.

Page just moved to DC from NYC after losing not only her job, but also her boyfriend. She moves in with her brother and tries her hardest to go through these new hurdles. Page is most definitely a dog person and spends most days at the dog park watching other people with their four-legged companions. We follow Page through her everyday life of meeting new friends, love interest and the job market.

"Some of us blossom after the rain."

Page's story is about starting over, meeting new people and having confidence in one's own abilities. I loved the message the book sent and being a dog person myself, I enjoyed the attention all the fur babies got.

Page's relationship with her older brother Brady was beautiful, but her relationships with other people needed a little. I kept on hoping something exciting would happen, but at 56% it was pretty clear that this wasn't the kind of book for me. A lot of the chapters are just about Page going to the dog park and talking to random people she meets. I wanted more interactions with her and Marc because I really didn't feel the love connection at all.

Overall I guess I was just hoping for less fillers and more interactions with everyone.

I received a free advanced copy from the author/ publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.