When Happily Ever After Fails

Thank you so much BooksForward for sending me this absolutely adorable PR package for When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane! This was such a heartfelt & romantic read about finding yourself when you feel like your life is falling apart.

👩‍🏫 Teacher
🎭 Theatre
📚 Literature
💥 Chaos
♥️ Romance
🐾 Bull Terrier
🔔 Philly
❤️‍🩹 Healing

There's something so enjoyable about running across a book at the right moment, I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I have to admit, I had a great time reading it. Not only was the story quick and fun, the pacing was well thought out with just enough drama, humor, and conflict to keep me wanting more. The story goes by fast and it would be a perfect poolside read as it is lighthearted and clever.
Abigail, the main character of the novel, gets a job as an English teacher even though her forte is in art. Nevertheless, she takes on the new assignment in stride and tries to breathe new life into old classics like Romeo and Juliet. When she spurs on conversations about how the students would change the ending, it gives her the idea to take it one step further and put on a production of the newly envisioned classic. She is also working on trying to take her personal life out of the realm of tragedy and into a happily ever after.

Thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress for the opportunity to read When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane. What a fun, and very very cleverly written, novel. I loved it, and adored the characters.

Publishers made this book available to Red Now through NetGalley, and I could not resist reading it. The book's description sucked me right in because I enjoy reading stories about characters who are struggling with life and have a hint of comedy in it. "When Happily Ever After Fails" delivers a wholesome story about being stuck and feeling defined by outside factors but still giving it your best shot. Abigail is a well-rounded character; each chapter teaches different aspects of her personality, such as coping mechanisms, all the personas she brings out to play, and her good-hearted nature. Pop culture references give the reader a feel of her humor and a way to connect with Abigail through literature, TV, and other media. You can expect to see Abigail in different stages of her life as she settles into the ever-changing roles of life, making her as real as possible to the reader.

The overall message of this story is relatable and focuses on becoming more aware of the "now" rather than trying to chase after what we envision to be a happy ending for our lives. This journey is not short of comical inconveniences, surprises, love, death, and growth.
I loved the story's inclusivity through the wide range of characters introduced along with their backstories. This and Abigail's solid characterization made for a realistic world and a cast of characters with which all readers can identify.

Most recommended for a cozy weekend read.

This review will be posted on GoodReads. https://www.goodreads.com/neurotic_bibliophile

Thank you to Netgalley and SparkPress for this ARC of ‘When Happily Ever After Fails’ by Courtney Deane.

Ok Abigail Gardener is one of my new favourite characters. She’s so caring and sweet, I just love her! The journey she goes on trying to find her happy ending/ wondering if she will get one is just so heartfelt. Definitely recommend this book!

Twentysomething Abigail Gardner’s life is circling the drain. Her parents are dead, her “like a brother” is in love with her, and her nascent career as an art teacher was fully squashed by an unfortunate viral incident involving sophomores and Spanx.

But just as that whirlpool feels poised to suck her down completely, she’s granted a second chance: she lands a teaching job at Excelsior Primm, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most prestigious preparatory academies. Only problem is, instead of teaching art she’ll be stuck teaching her least favorite subject—literature—and her least favorite theme: tragedy.

Tired of being stuck in her own tragic tale, Abigail starts rewriting every sad ending she can get her hands on, in and out of the classroom. To her surprise, her life soon starts to resemble the fairy tales she adores—great job, hot guy, a career gaining recognition. But when an unexpected plot twist threatens to derail her happy ending, Abigail begins to realize why these conclusions are so hard to come by.

When Happily Ever After Fail was a fast , flowing ,fun and cozy read. I loved Abigail with whom I mirrored myself quite a few times ,and I also loved her growth and her ability to be able to find her voice! The author was definitely a discovery and I look forward to reading more of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for allowing me to read an ARC of When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane, in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Cute, clever, and relatable; the story moved quickly and thoughtfully. Grief and love are both powerful motivators, and Ms. Deane expressed both wonderfully.

I look forward to reading more by Courtney Deane.