Book Review: After Happily Ever After (edited by Astrid Ohletz & Alex K. Thorne)

After Happily Ever After is a delightful and innovative anthology that explores what happens after the quintessential "happily-ever-after" in lesbian romances. With eleven stories from nine of Ylva Publishing’s best-selling authors, the book gives readers a chance to revisit beloved characters, while introducing new, fully-realized worlds. This compilation showcases a variety of themes—love, commitment, struggle, and joy—all through the lens of established relationships, which makes it both refreshing and heartwarming.

The stories are varied and imaginative, offering readers a unique glimpse into what happens after the initial spark of romance. Instead of focusing on the thrill of new love, the anthology turns its attention to the evolution of relationships—how love matures, and what challenges come with the passage of time. From lovers navigating career ambitions to others adjusting to quieter, more settled lives, each story delves into the layers of commitment, proving that love can continue to surprise and delight, even long after the honeymoon phase.

What makes this anthology stand out is how it captures the complexity of relationships without falling into clichés or easy resolutions. Whether it’s the slow-burn reawakenings or the daily challenges of navigating love in the real world, each story feels authentic. The authors balance humor, tenderness, and emotional depth with great skill, making each story a satisfying read on its own, but even more rewarding for readers who are already familiar with the characters and universes.

Some highlights include Jae’s contribution, which revisits characters from Under a Falling Star and Damage Control, seamlessly weaving the realities of post-happily-ever-after life with the same charm and emotional nuance that readers have come to expect. Lee Winter’s follow-up to The Brutal Truth is just as sharp and introspective, delving into how the complexities of power dynamics and fame affect a long-term relationship. RJ Nolan brings her medical background to life in the aftermath of L.A. Metro, where professional and personal lives collide in fascinating ways.

Each story can stand alone, meaning that even readers who aren’t familiar with Ylva’s catalogue will find something to enjoy. However, those who have read the original books will get an extra layer of satisfaction as they revisit familiar faces and experience deeper character development.

In a genre often focused on the initial stages of romance, After Happily Ever After offers something different: a celebration of enduring love, of commitment, and of the beauty found in the mundane. It's a love letter to the complexities and rewards of long-term relationships, all while being charming, funny, and highly engaging. The anthology strikes a perfect balance of offering escapism while also being deeply relatable, making it an enjoyable read for fans of lesbian romance.

Overall, After Happily Ever After is a thoughtful, heartfelt anthology that goes beyond the usual romantic tropes. It's a must-read for anyone curious about what happens after the "I love you" and the closing credits, reminding us that love—like life—continues to evolve.

After Happily Ever After is a delightful collection! The diverse voices and imaginative twists keep each story fresh and engaging. Astrid Ohletz and Alex K. Thorne have curated a truly enchanting anthology that beautifully explores love, adventure, and self-discovery. It's a joy to see the characters take on their respective journeys journeys. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good story with a sprinkle of romance! Highly recommended!

This was such a delightful read to get these extra epilogues of some great books I loved to read in the past. Highly recommended.

Total wish fulfillment for lesfic fans
If you've ever wanted a story followup of some kind done with your favorite lesfic couple or to have the focus shift to the secondary characters who shone in their own right in a story of their own, this collection is total wish fulfillment for 9 authors and 11 of their writings. Jae and Lee Winter have two stories each, and of those, one by each author has been previously released as a stand alone short story. The collection is a good mixed bag and best read one story at a time rather than cover to cover in one sitting so each story can be fully appreciated and savored. If you like the characters in a story you can find information about which book or short story they originate from following each story in this collection; that information is also handy for those who have read the relevant stories already and are wondering why this character/these characters seem familiar to you. The latter happened to me a few times as I read thru After Happily Ever After. They're all well written and satisfying reads; only one story (by Cheyenne Blue) left me wanting for the romantic pair in it to have their own book (which I'd happily read if it ever came to be) in order to have more time with them.
The collection is a great introduction to the featured authors as well as characters they've created in the past who needed more time in the spotlight, either as couples at various stages in their relationships or couples to be. If you're wanting a good sampler of lesfic writing either for a taste of a certain author's style of storytelling or to see what kind of story you're in the mood for, flip thru this collection. After Happily Ever After fits the bill nicely as do all the other short story collections by this publisher to date.
(reviewed April 7, 2020)