A heartwarming dedication to family, friendship, and love. This book made me miss New York and Washington, DC even more.

2.75 stars.
It was interesting to see Gabby moving on from divorce, heartbreak and dealing with life. But sometimes i felt it went too quick, and it wasn`t shown everything? Or it lacked something i guess.

36 year old Filipino-American Gaby is navigating the breakup of her marriage to her childhood sweetheart Simon. She enrols on a creative writing programme, finds herself a new job and apartment and plunges headlong into a relationship with her creative writing professor, Colt.

I don't tend to read a lot of romance stories but I liked the premise of this and was hoping for an exploration of Gaby's Filipino-American culture and starting out again in your late 30's. While it was an easy, comforting read I never really gelled with this. I couldn't get invested in the Gaby/Colt relationship which I found actually very uncomfortable given the power imbalance there and there's next to no exploration of that. I did enjoy some of the supporting characters, especially Thomas, and the insight into how Gaby's friendships changed following her divorce. In the end. everything is wrapped up too neatly and there was nowhere near as much attention given to Gaby's Filipino background as I would have liked - there was potential to draw out Gaby's relationship with her traditional mother so much more.

A work of women’s fiction focused on starting over, Gabby is heartbroken after a divorce from her husband of twenty years. When she decides to go back to graduate school and focus on herself, after years of being the person her husband and family wanted her to be, Gabby works to make herself independent. I would have liked the story more if there was not another love interest, which in my mind takes away from the effort of her finding her own way. I enjoyed the bit of Filipino culture, told mainly through food. The book was okay. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

After Perfect is a lovely debut novel portraying life after divorce. I look forward to reading more from Maan Gabriel.
Enjoyable tale!

Thankyou for giving me the chance to read this in advance. Would recommend to all. Easy to read and really enjoyed.

After Perfect was such a pleasant surprise. This is my first Maan Gabriel book so I didn’t know what to expect. I was drawn to the story though as I love that the main character Gabriella is a mestiza, half Filipino and half American, just like my own kids. My husband is Filipino and I am Canadian of Irish, British and Scottish decent. I married into the fabulous Filipino culture 26 years ago and love so many things about it. Especially the food! Pancit, Palabok, lumpia and adobo are all to die for. But I digress.

36 year old Gabriella Stevens “Perfect” life falls apart when her childhood sweetheart and beloved husband of 16 years has an affair and leaves Gabby. Everything that Gabby knows is taken from her. She had to pick up the pieces of her life and begin again and discover who she really is. Gabby heads back to graduate school with a focus on writing. She just so happens to have the most gorgeous professor, Colt, teaching one of her classes. The sparks and chemistry fly between them but Gabby is cautiously optimistic as she knows Colt is a ladies man, with a very troubled past. You will have to read the book to find out what happens. But I have to say there were so many beautiful connections between Gabriella and her parents, and her best friend felicity and her newest friend Thomas. I love how Maan Gabriel explores the idea that a Perfect Life is not real living. That it’s only through heartbreak and struggles, living outside our comfort zone, that one can truly experience an authentic life. Loved this book so much. Thank you NetGalley, Maan Gabriel and She Writes Press for an electronic arc in exchange for my honest review.

A heartfelt book about ending of relationships, starting relationships, and growing independence too. It was a lovely book, with lovely characters. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very different read for me but I really enjoyed it. It’s a finding yourself after heartbreak kind of story. Very emotional and honest with plenty of heartfelt moments about resetting your life expectations when things don’t go to plan.

I really enjoyed the story. Gabby is 36 years old and is freshly going through a divorce. She’s hurt but she’s not sulking in her situation. She knows that she needs to move on, but also recognizes that she doesn’t want to move on too fast. Colt, his name is really cute. “This man is a dream I don’t want to wake up from.” I do like that he cares for her, but it seemed a little too aggressive and/or forced in the beginning. He seemed to be everywhere she turned. I do like that this is an older teacher/student romance (she: 36; he: 30).

I don’t really like Simon, her ex. They have a deep relationship because they were childhood friends, but I don’t like how he treated Gabby and also how his parents blame her for their marriage ending. In addition, I don’t like how Gabby felt it was her fault in the marriage ending. I guess I could understand where she’s coming from, but I don’t like it.

The misunderstanding towards the end between Gabby and Colt was predictable but I appreciate that the author didn’t quickly mend it to get that HEA. I actually respect the way it ended.

The writing was great and had a lot of good quotes. I also like how Colt’s writing lessons/advice make me want to pick up a pen and paper to start writing. “Good writers succeed, but new writers fail trying. Write what you know.”

This was such a lovely heart warming read. It’s about Gabriella who finds herself getting divorced after 16 years, her journey during the aftermath. Her character felt relatable and I found myself rooting for her. Would recommend.

I enjoy this book. In this book, a woman named Gabriella has to get a divorce and find something that she can do for herself. She attends class and has a job. She also ran into some interesting people. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the book.

After Perfect

This book was fast paced and I finished it in two sitings. It was just what I wanted out of the book with the perks of brilliant side characters - love Felicity, Thomas, everyone at Lips and Gabby's parents along with a steamy romance with the gorgeous Colt.

You felt like you were on Gabby's journey with her finding herself, cheering her on from the side lines and wanting to comfort her when something didn't go quite to plan. Gabby was relatable, a normal woman who lost her identity trying to be the perfect housewife. There is mention of a painful secret Gabby went through which I wish was explored, although there was also so much more left open with the future that a possible second book would help answer all the questions.

I also enjoyed the inclusion of the Filipino culture throughout, I thought this just further submerged you into Gabby's life growing up and time with her family and friends.

An enjoyable read that I would recommend.

Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

This story of a woman's self-actualization after divorce is quite unusual. The main character, Gabby, is half-Filipino, and has lived her life according to the advice of her traditional mother - only to find herself divorced at 36, with no career and nothing to show for her life.

After a months-long period of mourning, however, Gabby emerges from her shell and her apartment. She enrolls in graduate school, finds a new home, and gets a job. As she becomes more independent, she realizes that although her husband was the one who left the marriage, she is happier without him. But when Gabby begins a new romance that comes with unexpected challenges, she must be stronger than she thought possible.

My favorite part of this story was the scenes in which she visited with her parents; the author did a great job of showing the love and tension that can coexist between parents and children well into adulthood. I would have liked to learn more about Gabby's marriage; although the story begins as the marriage is ending, the relationship is a big part of who she is and we know little about it. I was less interested in Gabby's new romance, which felt too stereotypical to be compelling.

🔊Song Pairing: Because of You - Kelly Clarkson

💭What I thought would happen:

I thought it would be a story if a woman who got stronger on her own, a Miss Independent post being left behind.

📖What actually happens:

Gabriella is a mother whose husband has left her. She is blindsided as she thought he was her forever person.

She opens herself up to love again with Colt and while discovering this new love, she also discovers herself.

🗯Thoughts:

A beautifully written novel. I loved Gabriella’s story. It was very relatable. Everyone can understand heartache in one aspect or another.

I loved the traditional Filipino culture that is highlighted throughout the story. Plus a huge aspect of who Gabriella is.

The side characters make this book what it is! Would highly recommend!

This one was a really beautiful story about a girl who thinks she found her happily ever after only to have to start entirely over again at an age when most aren’t. She joins a local college and finds a handsome suitor with his own secrets. It was a Greta book that shows it’s never to late to start over and you could find yourself and love I. The place you Leats expect it.

Thank you, Netgalley for approving. I absolutely adore this book and I can't wait for more people to read it. This plot is very well done, I like the characters too, I fell in love with the main character's journey to self-love. Sometimes, you have to make hard choices for your peace of mind. I finished this book in one night because I just had to know how it'd end and I wasn't disappointed. The novel is giving me Colleen Hoover + Taylor Jenkins Reid + Alessandra Torre vibes. This is a wonderful debut and I'm looking forward to work from the author in the future.

This was a story that I think a lot of people will be able to relate to or at least empathise with. It was a wrenching portrayal and a really enjoyable read

The plot is what initially attracted me to After Perfect. Gabby, newly divorced at 36 years-old, must figure out how to navigate life on her own after spending her entire adulthood as a housewife. For the first time, she’s got to grow up and be an independent woman - while also trying to heal from the end of a 20-year-long marriage. Despite this, Gabby works hard to find her own apartment, start a new job, manage a master’s program, and strengthen her personal relationships – new and old.

I will admit, when I first started the book, I didn’t really like it. The writing wasn’t clicking with me and I had trouble understanding Gabby. But over time, as the story and characters developed, I really started to appreciate it.

The characters are my favorite part of this story. They are multi-dimensional, relatable, and lovable, even when they make some not-so-wise choices. Gabby herself is an inspiration. She serves as an important reminder that it is never too late to start over – follow your dreams, find new love.

This a delightful debut from Maan Gabriel. I look forward to seeing what she does next!

TW: Miscarriage, pregnancy, grief, brief mention of parent death, minor body dysmorphia

(Note: I was provided an advanced copy of After Perfect by the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.)

Thanks Netgalley for a arc copy of this book for a honest review..

I enjoyed reading After Perfect I felt like was going on this journey along with Gabriela.






Happy Reading Lisa 📚