Reviews with content warning for Racism - Happily Ever Afters

Elise Bryant's debut novel is a love letter to romance novel fans and people who struggle with loving themselves, and a 5 star read no questions asked. Tessa is starting at an elite new school, where she was lucky enough to be able to get into their writers program. The only problem? She hasn't been able to write at all since starting! Tessa has become consumed with a fear of failure, and worries that everyone is going to find out she is a fraud who doesn't fit in. Her family is loving and very supportive, but spend most of their time caring for her older brother who is disabled. (I love how the author dealt with Miles, it is so rare to see good disabled representation!) Tessa doesn't want to burden her parents further, and is immensely afraid of disappointing them as well. Her best friend, Caroline, may now be many miles away, but she comes up with a genius plan to help Tessa break through her writers block; fall in love using romance tropes! Sam is right across the street and bakes daily treats for her, but he dresses like a total dork. Luckily Tessa already has the perfect guy in mind, cool and artsy Nico who just so happens to look like a character from a story she is writing. There is only one obstacle, he has a girlfriend! (Who seems like a stereotypical mean girl!) What lengths will Tessa go to get her happily ever after, and get over her writers block? Will she tone herself down and keep quiet in order to stay with the "in crowd"? This book has everything you could want; a black main character, queerness, and disability representation. I really loved the scenes and love shown to Tessa and her hair, especially with her how Mom does her hair to connect with her. While the main character can be a little messy(aren't we all!) you can't help but root for her and her journey to realizing that the most important love story is loving yourself. After all is said and done, I know I will be returning to this author for more books after this fantastic read.

The Cover
I adore this cover! The color pops so well and it encapsulates the feeling and vibe of the book perfectly; a lighthearted story about a girl who spends way too much time thinking. I love how her head is angled up to her day dreams, instead of focusing on what is right next to her, the cupcake! The cover design is by Jessie Gang and the illustration is by Michelle D'Urbano.

Content Warnings

hereforthefunofit's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

This book had me reading like I haven't read in MONTHS!!

Spoiler

Ratings lowered slightly because of how self-love is portrayed as a flip of a switch probably due to the rushing of the narrative in the last few chapters

Content Warnings

champagne_reads's review

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emotional funny hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

From the start I was thinking this was going to be a really strong 4 star read, but the end ruined for me.

From the beginning I was drawn into the story. POC MC with anxiety? Her realtionship with her borther? School that encourages art? Understanding love interest? Sign me up. There were so many moments where I related to Tessa in many ways. She is a person that is hard on herself, but she’s pretty understandable. She is able to get over some red flags, but she is not able to solve a problem even if her life depended on it. That’s what ruined it for me.

When we’re faced with problems near the end of the book THEY DON’T GET RESOLVED AT ALL. There was not any closure. It felt like you turned off a 2000s rom com 10 minutes before the end. I understand that maybe the point was to show the process of learning to love yourself, but with that you just have to solve the problems.

On the other hand, side characters were amazing. The setting is this school for talented artists which includes a whole variety of people (writers, painters, bakers, dancers…). Tessa’s friends were amazing. Sam was amazing. I want a Sam in my life. That is probably what fixed the book for me. Nico was insufferable tho. I think it’s enough to mention that he said he wanted to be like J. K. Rowling and after he was called out he basically ignored it. His whole friend group was awful.

I’m kind of disappointed this didn’t go the way I wanted it to. Anyway it’s still a book I’d reccommend to everyone who’s looking for a fun read with funny side characters, but you’ll lose your nerves.

Content Warnings