*I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

Madison and Lanie are best friends in their first year at university. They work together at a coffee cart and attend classes at a college in Chicago. Madison is a little adrift. She hasn't declared a major, lives in fantasies courtesy of Disney, and just got dumped by her on and off again girlfriend. Lanie has a path. She's been pre-med destined since birth, thrives in academia, and breaks out in stress hives at the thought of being the center of attention. But suddenly, Madison is declared a winner of an all inclusive new debut of Happily Ever Island, Disney's new resort that makes you the center of your favorite Disney story. Madison, being a self entitled "Disney Queen," is thrilled and pulls Lanie along for the ride that Lanie isn't quite sure she wants. As soon as the two start their stories, they begin to drift apart and have two different experiences. Love and a little bit of Disney magic await them.

This book was a very sweet little get away from daily life. Every fan of Disney will wish that they won this trip. Honestly, it was kind of magical to read about. I will say that the amount of Easter eggs and references to movies and the theme parks could be exhausting. There were times that it pulled me out of the story and I found myself skipping through some of them. When it comes to the characters, Lanie and Madison felt like people I knew. They were very well thought out and their story inside of the book really helped them become even more real. I did feel like they were younger than college freshmen. The problems were more adult, but the actions and thoughts felt more juvenile. I think the constant Easter eggs aged it down as well.

All in all, this book was a fun escape from daily life and it was an easy read. I would recommend this book to Disney fans, those who are unsure of their future, and those looking for a little every day magic.

I adored Crystal Cestari's other series, and I absolutely adored this, as well! With the Disney twists, it was cute and it was so amazing! I really can't wait to read more from this author. Highly recommended!

Sweet, swoony, and sparkling with Disney magic! Please create this island, Disney, because it would be a dream come true!

(Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change upon final publication.)

i'm a fan of disney and all and this concept was cute but i expected some drama or mystery in which there was none. i was just a little bored unfortunately. thank you to netgalley for the advanced copy of this book!

"Happily Ever Island" is a cute and quick read. (I finished it in a day). This is a cross between comic-con, meets the Renaissance festival meets a Disney vacation. I kind of imagine this is what it would be like if you could go on that new star cruiser but be Princess Leia. I love that that incorporated a same-sex relationship. If you are a Disney fan and wish that you could be your favorite Princess for the day, this book is for you!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was so so cute!! The first few chapters were a little slow but once they got to the island, I was obsessed and didn’t want to stop reading. The imagery of the island and all of the fun Disney events was the best part of this book! As a Disney super fan, just the idea of a book place like this being real is so overwhelming in the very best way! I think I would struggle a bit with the live action role playing just because I have horrible strange fright but this is one of the only instances where I would want to be pushed out of my comfort zone. Madison & Lanie were also so lovable and easy to root for! Both of these girls were in places in their life where they really needed this vacation and I just loved how they both developed over the course of the week! This book was also one of the only times that I haven’t minded the instalove, usually it’s a total turn off for me but it was so well done for both of the girls! There were definitely aspects of this book that were more “fantastical” than makes sense logically but I think it just added to to fun of the Disney Magic! Lastly, I have never laughed so hard in a book than I did this one. I’m not gonna give any spoilers but just know that “kiss the girl” had me laughing so hard that I actually had tears streaming down my face 😂 I very highly recommend this book for anyone that’s a Disney fan or is just looking for a fun adventure!

Madison and Lanie are two best friends who would do anything for each other but couldn’t be more different. Their first year in college has made them both unsure of their future so they spend their first spring break on Disney’s newest resort, Happily Ever Island, where they get to become their favorite character for a week.

It is no secret that I love all things Disney and this one incorporated that in every way possible, maybe even too much. This YA romance had LGBTQ+ representation and truly encompassed some of the tumultuous feelings we all experience while trying to decide what to do with our lives. Overall, this was cute and cheesy but very much a niche book.

Thanks @netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book! It was so fun, well-writen and refreshing. The whole book was like an ode to everything Disney. The whole concept of an immersive Disney experience was so fun! I loved reading the descriptions of the scenes and the hero moments. If this resort was real, I think it would be the ultimate Disney experience for Disney fans! I also loved all the witty word play to Disney movies and songs. The way the author incorporated them to the story felt natural and made me smile. Also, every chapter started with a name of a Disney song. I also liked watching the characters growth throughout the story. As college students, they were under a lot of pressure. Madison had no idea what she wanted to do for the rest of her life, while Lanie was having second thoughts on whether everything she's worked towards her entire life was truly what she wanted. The island was the perfect escape for them. Madison learned that growing up didn't mean that she had to stop dreaming. While, Lanie learned to let go and have fun. They both learned so much about themselves and each other, while also becoming closer and learning to be more open and better friends to each other. The romance was cute, but it definitely wasn't the focus of the story. However, I thought it was done well without it feeling like an afterthought.

Overall, this book was fun and if you love Disney, then I recommend you read this!

What a way to kick off summer and Pride Month! I was excited to read this title on NetGalley, and I’m so glad I was able to pick it up. This book was full of warm fuzzies and Disney magic. Two best friends off on the vacation of one of their dreams? Figuring out how to navigate adult life and build the life you want? Turning fairy tale dreams into reality? Amazing.

As usual, I loved all the Disney elements of this story and how the characters interacted with them. Madison’s surprise at being able to peek behind the curtain and see some of the inner workings of the magic felt really true to the Disney experience. I feel like Janie’s character was a great outsider perspective, allowing us as the readers to get more explanation of what was happening even if we’re only a passive Disney observer.

Personally, I loved watching both main characters grow throughout the book. I saw a lot of myself reflected in each of them as they tried to figure out what life looked like after their vacation. Like Madison, I wanted to do big amazing things and believe in magic, but I wasn’t sure if I could make it work. Like Janie, I had gone to school with big plans laid out for me, but then realized it just didn’t feel like me anymore.

This book had lots of fun flirty romance, life figuring out, and more and is a great summer read!

Honestly, this was a DNF @30% for me...

Unfortunately, I wasn't super invested in the characters in this story. It was a bit on the nose with all of the Disney references and I couldn't quite get past how young it felt. I typically really enjoy young adult books, but this one just missed the mark for me.

3.5/5 stars

I’ll be honest, I saw that this was a sapphic romcom set on an island and immediately requested it from NetGalley without reading the full summary. If I had read the full summery I probably would have been a bit better prepared for just how Disney centric this book was. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, I know there’s some Disney lover out there who would love it, but it was a bit much for me at times. Also it does take some suspension of disbelief. Obviously this whole island would never be built because it would not be economically feesible.

The first 50 pgs or so where probably the hardest to get through. Madison really annoyed me beginning. But one you get past that I thought it improved quite a bit. I thought the romance was well done and liked the love interests. I also liked both Madison’s and Lanie’s character development over the course of the book.

Now obviously this is being published by Disney, so it’s unrealistic to think that there would be an criticism of the company in this book, but as a queer person I would have liked to see the queer characters in this at least address the fact that Disney has not always been the most LGBTQIA+ friendly company. Between their long history of queer-coding villains and their more recent support of the Don’t Say Gay Bill, I think it’s safe to say that many queer Disney fans will have grapple with their love of the media verse the homophobia/transphobia that the company has displayed at times. But as I said, considering the publisher it was unrealistic to think that there could be discussion of enjoying a fandom even if it doesn’t always support you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a eARC.

I’ve tried several different times to get into this book and I just couldn’t, I’m very disappointed as i love Disney and it seems very fun but just I just didn’t vibe with it.

Happily Ever Island is the book your Disney heart had been waiting for.

Cestari brings us into a magical story filled with beautiful settings and a Disney adventure we all wish we could experience!

Happily Ever Island gets four out of five blue stars in the Then There Were Books review book!

One of the main reasons why I love Cestari's writing is because of the variety of characters in all her books.  I love that none of them feel forced or like they are serving an ulterior motive to the plot-line.  They all fit and flow so naturally with the story and I just love that and I had to say it.

Happily Ever Island brings us two best friends on spring break and both of them are on the edge of losing it.

They are both freaking out about their future, one because she knows how it ends, and one because she doesn't know where to begin.

We have Lanie, a girl that has been told who she will be and how she would get there, from a very  young age. She has followed the plan and she really enjoys part of such plan, but not all of it.

Lately there are things she is not very convince she wants and she is having a really hard time confronting her mother (the creator of the plan) and confronting her own feelings toward what her future is supposed to be.

Then we have Madison. She is your resident Disney girl. She has a very strong connection to everything Disney because of her grandma and because she wants to believe in happy endings, seeing things from a glass half full perspective if you will.

Madison has no idea what she wants to do with her life and she is expected to make that decision soon, yet she cannot come up with something that would bring her joy.

Both college girls are at a standstill and just when Madison thought that at least one part of her life is going well (her romantic life) the girl she likes breaks up with her.

When she is about to have a small breakdown because of it and everything else that is going on in her life, she learns that she has won the trip of a life time.

A trip she had plan to take with Tessa (the girl she liked), and she hopes to win her back with it, but just before she gets to tell her, she learns what Tessa really thinks of her and decides to take Lanie with her instead.

Both girls embark on a trip of a lifetime they get to test Disney's newest attraction where they can become their favorite Disney character along with enjoying fun activities and recreating hero moments of those characters.

Both girls have high and low expectations for what is to come.

Lanie just wants a break and is expecting to clear her head and maybe come up with a plan for what she really wants to do.

Madison expects this trip to be the best thing she has ever experience and help her make one of the most important decisions of her life.

Needless to say, things just don't go according to plan.

With this trip Lanie and Madison really get to challenge themselves in ways they hadn't before.

They truly get  to explore their feelings in a place where they will not be judge for having them and for letting them take control and take decision based on those feelings.

They make some really cool friends along the way who help them come to terms with the direction they might want to take their life on and who might even possibly be part of their life for a long time to come.

The one and only reason why the story does not get five stars is just because of the amount of Disney references. Yes, they are on theme for a story set on a fictional Disney island, but I feel like there could have been a few less mentions of beloved Disney characters, but that is just my opinion.

Cestari brings us this incredibly cute story where dreams and hopes can come true and with relatable characters that make us wish we were teenagers again, to fall in love and to fall in love with life and what the future might bring.

Happily Ever Island is the perfect book for Disney lovers!

Madison is a kid at heart, unapologetic Disney lover. When she enters and wins a trip to the inaugural Happily Ever Island, she is LIVING out her wildest dreams. With lands appearing just like Disney landscapes, characters dressing up and playing actual roles, and her best friend attending at her side, Madison is in Disney heaven.

Lanie is the exact opposite of Madison: she's never set foot on a Disney theme park. Yet, she agrees to attend the trip with Madison. This island adventure is the exact opposite of "part of her world" but maybe she'll let go all her outside expectations.

This read is the PERFECT thing for those who love Disney. The chapters are titled by popular Disney songs and match each character's vibe. I recommend this for anyone who wants to wear their Mickey ears and adventure to Neverland or their local theme park.

Madison, a die hard Disney fan and college student, wins a free trip to Disney’s newest resort. When she convinces her best friend to go, Lanie, who doesn’t really watch Disney movies, isn’t sure she will enjoy the trip. When they get there, they get to spend the whole week play acting as Cinderella and Merida. With some bumps in the road, the girls try to enjoy their vacation.
Opinion
Ok Disney, please tell me that I, too, can spend the week play acting a Disney character. For my first trip, I’d choose Genie (Robin not Will.). This concept is beyond awesome.
Disney fans (fanatics) will enjoy this book. The time and care put into creating the scenes to reflect the actual movies is evident. Throughout the whole book, I was in awe when the island was described or when hero scenes were acted out. This book is just all around fun.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Disney Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

A cute book!

I loved how this book contained so much Disney magic in it. The romance was fun, and so was the plot. I do, however, think the main character Madison was a bit annoying at times. Overall, I liked the book, and it was a cute wlw read, it's a fun read for Disney fans.

This book is adorable. It's a quick fun read that all lovers of Disney will enjoy.

The characters are fun and I enjoyed the opposing viewpoints of Lanie and Madison. Madison is a little annoying at times and definitely reads young but I think it works within the story. Lanie is more relatable and it was really fun to see her get swept away by the Disney magic. I really enjoyed the LGBTQ+ rep and how that was done, it was nice to see the silly Cinderella girl with the long blonde hair lusting after her dream girl while the more down to earth girl with the pixie cut gets swept up by Prince Charming.

The star of this book is the setting and the magic. There are so many Disney references and creates this magical world while giving you just enough behind the scenes stuff and references to animatronics that it feels real. I was totally there for it and it was a great time. The entire island and everything on the itinerary seemed amazing and the book gives just enough detail that that you know exactly what part of the movies they're going for without giving you too much description or making you think about anything beyond the movie.

This book was a really fun read. If you love Disney and want a fun and summery read, this is it.

* I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. *

This book wasn't my favorite, and some of the plot points didn't make sense. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the characters were fun.

If you love Disney then you have to read this book. Cute and quirky Madison is a super Disney fan! She believes she’s one of the most knowledgeable all things Disney person. After a break up with her girlfriend she finds out that she’s won a trip to a new Disney resort called Disney Happily Ever Island where she gets to live out her dream of being whichever princess she chooses. She asks her friend/roommate to go along since she is now single. Her friend is the opposite of a super fan. She’s working hard to become a doctor and doesn’t have time for whimsy but after bombing a test decides to join Madison on her trip for spring break. Once they arrive their Princess personas have them meeting different people and experiencing different things. Maybe they will find love, friendship, heartache, or happiness being a Disney Princess!

Happily Ever Island by Crystal Cestari is an inventive story about a spring break trip to Disney’s newest resort. I loved reading about the characters becoming a Disney character of their choice, and both of the main characters are relatable. The activities at the resort are described in detail, which makes Happily Ever Island jump off the page. Full of Disney references and magic, this is the perfect read for any Disney fan.

For Disney superfan Madison, the chance to spend spring break at Disney’s newest resort would be a dream come true. When she ends up being selected as a winner in the company’s contest, but getting dumped by her girlfriend who was supposed to accompany her just before, she recruits her best friend Lanie to join her instead. However, once Madison and Lanie arrive at the island, cracks in their friendship begin to show. The girls can barely find time to spend together, and Madison finds herself causing a little too much chaos at the resort. As their time on the island comes to an end, Madison and Lanie must discover more about themselves and each other, while also navigating their own cinematic romances.

❀ INTERESTING CHARACTERS

Madison and Lanie are both interesting characters, and I loved their opposite personalities. Madison knows virtually every Disney fact, and she proves herself to be a great problem solver throughout the book. Lanie, on the other hand, is more shy and studious and is unaware of most of the Disney lore. I especially felt for Lanie’s character, as she uses the trip as a chance to take a break from her mother, who pushes her to become a doctor. While Lanie isn’t sure this is the right path for her, she doesn’t have a clear alternative in mind. Both Madison and Lanie are relatable college-aged women, and I loved the realistic dilemmas they face as the story progresses.

❀ VIVID DESCRIPTIONS

One of the strongest aspects of this book is the development of the island itself. As part of the trip, each of the winners gets to choose a Disney character to become over the course of spring break, including dressing up and re-enacting some of the most iconic Disney scenes. Reading about each character’s special moment is so intriguing, and each day’s activities are so vividly described. The author has truly thought of everything, from architecture to food, which makes the island feel like a real place.

❀ A UNIQUE READ

Happily Ever Island by Crystal Cestari is a unique read about friendship and finding oneself. I loved the idea of becoming a Disney character for a week, and both of the main characters are relatable. The level of detail the author uses to bring the island to life is truly impressive, bringing even more magic to the story. This one is, admittedly, pretty cheesy, but once you embrace this, it’s such an entertaining read!