I started this book with such high hopes, but I never felt like I could connect with the characters. I understand the story is about Bella realizing her selfish ways, but she wasn't really a likeable character for me. And for a romance, I would have liked for the start of her HEA to have occurred sooner than the last ~10% of the book. There were definitely some laugh out loud moments for me and I enjoyed the writing style. I think maybe I went into this book with a different idea of how the story would unfold.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to receive an arc in exchange for my honest review! All thoughts and opinions are my own.



I loved the premise- so I was excited to get this one. Sadly, I was left …. Frustrated? The main character is unlikeable for the majority of the book, and the likeable characters aren’t discussed much. The overall relationship in the end isn’t “much”. I just feel like it was lacking.
However, the author writes very well- and I AM looking forward to more works by them, but this book itself just … wasn’t my cup.

I absolutely adored this book! Bella makes mistakes, she gets hurt, she sometimes hurts others. She wants to find love and live her dream as a writer, but feels stuck. While the fairytale dating scene was a little over the top, she felt real to me. I loved her relationship with her bestie which reminded me a lot of me and my platonic soulmate. I wish there was more between her and her love interest. Their scenes together were filled with banter but I would have loved more and more tension between them.

I understand that Bella’s demise and subsequent resurrection was the point of the book…but damn I kinda hated her. All of the men in her life are also the worst - *until* they magically come around and see things exactly her way. A quick read, but not my favorite. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a copy of this story from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh, I feel horribly misled by the synopsis! I have two kind things to say: Marty is a lovely character and it's a readable story (barely).

I spent the first 1/3 of the book trying to decide whether I'd even keep reading. Then I hate-read the rest of it just to see how deep a hole Bella would fall down.

Bella is an awful human. Sure, I get that we're seeing her spiral but her spiraling is so incredibly immature and hurtful. She's selfish, self-centered, and entitled. She seems to think a book deal should just fall in her lap and gets jealous when it doesn't, though she puts in almost no work at first. She's very whiny. I would hate to meet someone who has made it that far in life without growing up even a little.

Her hatred of Mark is undeserved. She's so very disrespectful of her roommates. She uses men as creative fodder and doesn't feel even a little bad about it until WAY LATER than she should. Not even that, she's completely oblivious to her faults for almost the entire book! Nothing could possibly be her fault because her life is supposed to be a fairy tale. Her redemption feels like it happened because it had to in order for the story to keep moving rather than because she actually learned something.

As it stands, I would not recommend this book to anyone.

Bella is facing a series of disappointments, and is finding that life is not all about happily ever after. She begins going on random dates to provide fodder for her new novel, and swears off all real emotion. Just when she starts to get some notoriety, she is faced with a challenge to her integrity. Is it possible for Bella to have real feelings when push comes to shove? I loved this story about Bella!

Bella’s life is not the way she imagined it would be. She is a receptionist at a small press, not an author. Instead of having a fairytale marriage with her charming prince, she's single. Then she finds out her lovey-dovey parents are getting a divorce. Last but not least, her best friend of 29 years Ellie, is moving out of their flat and in with her boring boyfriend Mark. At this point in her life the only person she is slightly soothed by is Mark, Ellie’s not hot brother Marty - well maybe she thinks he is a little hot but he is really the brother she never had. Marty suggests that Bella stops looking for her Prince Charming and just starts to have fun. When she takes his advice, she feels a sense of empowerment she hasn’t felt before. Bella posts a fairy-tale-like retelling of her horrible one night stand on a storytelling app and suddenly becomes B.Enchanted and has gone viral!

This book is your standard good rom-com story! Bella is witty, charming but also a hot mess. The first chapter begins literally with Bella on top and in the middle of what becomes a horrible one night stand. To be honest, wasn’t quite expecting it to be as full as sex as it was. I would say 80% of the theme is bad dates, one night stands and attempting to have sex often. In between those escapades, you also had 3 other story lines in there. One being the relationship with her best friend Ellie. Bella doesn’t think that Ellie’s fiance Mark is the right choice for her so unfortunately they spend most of the story struggling with their relationship. With Bella’s parents getting a divoce, the story also has them popping back in and out and dealing with the pain of parents separating. What I feel like should have been the A part of the story, her relationship with Marty, it was written as it was the least important. When it became time for their relationship to move forward, the storyline was great, I just felt like the other stories got in the way of what it really should have been about. Overall it was a good read. If you are looking for something that is just light, easy reading with short chapters, then give it a try!

Not That Kind Of Ever After by Lucy Adams was a cute and fun read. It wasn’t exceptional but overall I enjoyed it. I’m not a big romcom fan, so I was surprised that I enjoyed this book for the most part. I would have liked a bit more depth, but I think if you’re looking for a feel good romance, this one is for you. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

The fairy tales and the learning about the character were well written but felt like too much of the story. I wanted more of Marty and Bella from the start. Then there was not enough of a transition in their developing feelings. Him going from sleeping with another woman while she was on his couch to wanting only her weeks later was a disappointment.

I went into this wanting to absolutely love it I love fairytale retelling/remixes but I felt like this book needed just a little bit more work. This book started very strong but then dwelled a bit in the middle and don’t get me wrong there were many very funny and enjoyable parts to read but there was a bunch in the middle that dragged for me. Belle had no character development which I found very frustrating has a reader. I found some of Bella‘s choices as a character very frustrating. Overall I did like it, it just needs a little bit more work I would recommend this to some of my friends.
Thank you St Martin press for the arc

I enjoyed the concept of this book. But man did I hate the main character for about 85% of the book. I liked where the story went, but I felt like it took too long to get there. There were a lot of scenes that could have been removed or cut down a lot.

Throughout the book I was not a fan of Bella. Jesus, grow up. Your friend found someone kind, who they love, and your petty and jealous that your not the center of her world constantly. It just feels so clingy and crazy. I liked the story, plot and content. I just didn't like the mc.
I really really don't like how Mark said those things about her deciding what to do you with her body. He doesn't get to have an opinion. Eventually I grew to like him, but it just frustrated me.

To be honest I didn't want Bella to get a happy ending, I didn't want her to win Marty l, I just don't think she deserved it. She's selfish and she realizes it, but then she just continues to make selfish choices again and again after all these big realizations. The fact that her character bothered me so much, and I had such an emotional reaction to her, I think that is a nod to good writing. I would give this book a solid 3.9 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC.

Not That Kind Of Ever After is the story of Bella as she finds herself being forced to grow up through a series of events. She is very immature through her journey, especially for being 29, but does finally come to more mature realizations. It also encompasses several different fairy tale retellings into one book. The book is overall entertaining.

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from St. Martin’s Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Funny, quirky characters in a fabulous book.

This just made my heart happy. I felt so seen and content. This was heartfelt and made me feel like a little girl waiting for her prince. Truly beautiful

I really liked this book. The main character was a hot mess and was so naive but does eventually come to her senses. It definitely wasn’t the story I was expecting, but it was a fun book to read. It was obvious who she would end up with but I liked seeing her go through the process. The MC is annoying but I liked watching her grow. I thought it was a good read. 3.5 stars.

I was asked to review “Not That Kind of Ever After” by Luci Adams. Most of us growing up believing in the fairy tale. Unfortunately, for most of us, it’s a long, difficult road to “happily ever after,” and sometimes, we do not need Prince Charming to get there.

Bella, an aspiring author, is watching her friends couple up. Even her best friend, Ellie, is moving on. Yet, Ellie’s brother poses the question that many of us have asked ourselves: is it possible to happy without a soulmate? Hence, Bella starts writing twists on those enchanted tales and gains plenty of readers—and a few enemies in the process.

I love the concept of a writer finding her voice while rejecting societal expectations. The story did not quite head in the direction I had hoped, but Bella, though flawed, is also quite likable.

This novel was not perfect. I thought it was a bit too long, but at the same time, tried to push the characters forward a bit too quickly.

Three and a half stars.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for the privilege of reviewing this book.

I enjoyed this book, however I didn’t LOVE it. The beginning felt super slow to me and due to that I had a hard time getting into the story. I also had a hard time connecting to the characters. I felt like it just needed a little bit MORE and it would have made all the difference.

I liked the plot of the story and the romance aspect, however I think I was expecting more from the “fairytale” aspect and that left me a little disappointed.

Either way, this was a cute romcom and great for a light read!

I was sent a free book and am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!

"Not That Kind of Ever After" was a decent story. Bella Marble feels stuck in life. Her best friend and flat mate, Ellie, is moving out and has gotten engaged to her boyfriend, Mark, whom Bella has never particularly liked, while Bella has yet to find her Prince Charming, or even a halfway decent guy. Simon, another flat mate, has also started a new relationship with Diego, a gorgeous Spanish musician. Bella's parents have a romantic fairy tale backstory regarding their relationship and the marriage proposal and seem to have the ideal marriage. However, they will soon tell Bella that they are getting a divorce. Bella wants to be a published author, but she is stuck as a receptionist for a publishing company, unable to come up with a marketable story.

At work, she learns about an online site called B-reader, where aspiring writers post stories one chapter at a time and beta readers leave comments and feedback. She decides to give it a try, submitting a story about a very bad date written as a riff on Little Red Riding Hood. She gets some positive feedback and readers interested in what will happen in chapter two, which prompts another fairy tale story about a much more enjoyable evening. Bella decides to continue this theme, but that requires her to arrange dates or romantic encounters that can be portrayed utilizing a fairytale theme, as she feels she has to experience what she is writing about, even though the stories are fiction and embellished. In the process of pursuing a series of one-night stands for her book, Bella will alienate and neglect her friends, including Ellie and Ellie's brother, Marty, who seems always to be available to help out Bella in her time of need.

At times, Bella is incredibly selfish and annoying. However, the story has a good redemptive arc for her, as well as for another character. There are some very funny moments in the story. Bella will get her happily ever after, but it is not what she ever expected.

I received a copy of the e-book via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

⭐️Rating: 2/5
⚠️TW: Cursing, Divorce
❣️Tropes: Best Friend’s Brother, Slow Burn?
Would I recommend this book?: Not really


Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley im exchange for an honest opinion. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!


Review:

The book has a really strong opening hook with great internal dialogue from Bella and setting that tone for the book. However it begins to drag quickly, like the rest of the story does. There was nothing blatantly terrible about the novel but there wasn’t anything good either. Getting through it felt like a fight, one that I wasn’t winning most of the time as I resorted to skimming just to stop myself from quitting.

Throughout the book it felt like there was little positive character development from anyone. Bella, Marty, Ellie, etc. Everyone stayed exactly the same as they were initially set up which doesn’t feel satisfying to read.

As for the actual romance: it was disappointing. Very little solid build up between Marty and Bella. They’re barely friendly and then all of a sudden they have sex around the final 20% of the book. There’s even more of a dynamic set up between Bella, Ellie and Ellie’s fiancée. Both characters lacked growth, both independently and together.

For the most part we watch Bella blossom into the truly horrifying person she seemed to have been the whole time, have a (small) moment of realization and then get ushered into a happy ending.