“Dramatically Ever After” by Isabel Bandeira is the second book in the series. Here we see Em, super confident and flirty, up against Kris, gorgeous, talented, smart and who Em proclaims her arch enemy, in a speech/essay contest. As Em blows everything out of proportion and plots to throw Kris off his game – she starts to see the real Kris – who might not be so bad after all – or is he playing her at her own game.

All your favorites from the first book are back so you can expect the typical advice and criticism, as well as, the drama that comes with high school. A cute read.

I received this book from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

This is such a sweet little book. It is geared towards young adult girl readers, but it is still a very sweet romantic read

I loved the first book in this series, Bookishly Ever After, and I was super excited to receive a copy of Dramatically Ever After that follows Em's story this time! Unfortunately, I didn't fall in love with this book like I did the last and it had a lot to do with the fact that I just didn't connect with Em. She's the definition of dramatic (it is in the title after all) and right off the bat she would exaggerate/complain about everything in her life, from her long distance relationship to her family. It was a lot to handle when it came to reading from her POV for me.

Once the story begins to pick up by Em and Kris (you might remember him from the last book, he's also Em's school rival in this book) both advancing in a scholarship competition, I started to appreciate Em more. Reading about the competition, how hard she was fighting to make her dreams come true, I began to love her determination and bravery to stand up for the things she wants to accomplish in her life. Yes, she was still dramatic up until the very last page and I didn't fully connect with her character, but I appreciated her in the end.

The competition takes up most of the story, which was fun at times but there were moments when it dragged a little. I enjoyed a few of the friendships that were woven into the story and all of the side characters. I even liked Kris for the most part. The romance wasn't as swoony as the previous book but I didn't hate it. And honestly I can't believe I didn't swoon because I LOVE hate-love romances, but sadly, there were few butterflies for me when Em and Kris were together.

Isabel Bandeira is a fantastic writer and I always enjoy how diverse her books are! I think I would've enjoyed this book a little more if we saw Em more with all of her best friends instead of being away at the competition for the majority of the story.. But it all wrapped up in a sweet way! Em discovered more about herself and walked away a better person.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I wish I was able to fall completely in love with Em and Kris but their story wasn't fully for me. I'm still looking forward to the next book, though! If you're in the mood for a light contemporary or you're a theater fan then I definitely recommend checking this book out!

I love book series where we switch to a different character each book. This book made me miss Phoebe's voice a lot, but it's so great to see Em's story and I can't wait for the third one.

The dynamic between Kris and Em was what really made this book I think. It's so different from Phoebe's story. I also really enjoyed how much the intense field trip to Boston was shown. It highlighted how tied up in her emotions Em was getting, because there just wasn't time to process it while she was going from one conference to the next.

I really liked Em's character as well. She was so driven. I love to read about people who know what they want and are ready to go out and do anything to get it. With actors like Em it can be especially fun because you can see the characters they put on.

I think Bookishly is still my favourite, but this is a very good follow up. I can't wait for Practically Ever After!

This second book in the trilogy follows Em, a friend of Phoebe who was the main character in the first book. Em is in theater and has entered a speech contest in order to win a college scholarship. Her parents want her to go to the college where her mother works, and since her father just got laid off from his job, that is her only current option. She, however wants to go to a college with a good theater department, and will only be able to do that with a scholarship. She wins the contest and gets to spend a week in Boston with the other winners practicing for the final round. Unfortunately, the male winner from her state is Kris, a stuck up boy from her school whom she despises. There is friendship, lots of drama and romance in this fun to read teen romance novel.

I requested this title on NetGalley because I had read the first one and I was satisfied with the reading, even though the stories are not necessarily tied (you do not have to read the first one to understand the others).
I liked this second chapter more than the first one! Probably because it starts with the hatred of the two protagonists and it finishes in a very beautiful love story (I do not know how to resist this cliché), but also because I managed to identify myself in the protagonist Em on multiple fronts.
I never wanted to be an actress and I was never good at speeches but to see the passion that drives her and massive overthinking she does, making her The drama queen reminded me a lot of myself.
I knew from the start that Kris was all appearance (in hating Em) and I could not help but cheer for him at every opportunity! ^^
Strongly in favor of this book are the dynamics between the protagonist and his two friends, I only have two words for it: friendship goals!
Recommended? Yes, this book is beautiful, not too silent and focused on the love story but not too focused on other aspects of the plot too: it is a balanced mix that perfectly fits the idea of the life of two teenagers these days. I hope that this series will arrive in Italy soon.

"I became a character, bur the character was actually me. I'd been so busy pigeonholding myself into characters everyone else believed I was this week that I almost let go of full, three-dimensional Em who had dreams and potential. The Em who could be pretty amazing, in her own way."

The kids from PCHS are back, and this time we are following Em, one of Phoebe from Bookishly Ever After's friends. Super confident and flirty Em has her chance at a scholarship that could help fund and convince her parents to let her pursue her theatrical dreams. Unfortunately, she is pitted up against the one boy in the school who she feels puts on more of a show than she does center stage.

This book was ridiculously cute. It had just the right amount of teenage uncertainty, teenage hormones, teenage maturity, and teenage heartbreak. In the first book, Phoebe drew from the characters in her books to give her confidence. In this book, Em uses her skills as an actress to befuddle the competition, and I just love how we all know that its going to definitely blow up in her face. Fake it till you make it is one of my mottoes, and in this case she literally does.

Em is such a ridiculous girl. Now, despite her feeling that she is pretty much a love guru, it turns out when it comes to her own situations she is as blind as a bat. It was agonizing (in a good way) to read her struggle through her relationship with her hot German boyfriend who no longer lives on the continent while juggling her flirting with the competition and keeping face against the other 100-so competitors. I loved that despite her lack of esteem in her skills, she still puts up a brave face and fights through her situations. She may make some pretty dumb decisions, and oh my gosh, the way she responds about Wil is just so....ughhh how is she so dumb?! But you know what? I know girls misunderstand the way she did all the time, and it was so frustrating (again, in a good way) to read her through it.

Kris. Dreamy Kris. Of course he has to be so freaking dreamy and all around perfect. Good looking, talented, kind, good Samaritan, and incredibly smart. Of course Em thinks he is a fake! At first, I was a little annoyed that he was so perfect too. And though I know as a reader that he is probably supposed to actually be all those things, I couldn't help but side with ridiculous Em and her accusations, thinking, NO ONE IS THAT ANGELIC! I was happy to see that he did actually have faults and his own learning curve when it came to his own actions.

I loved how Isabel Bandeira worked in phrases/terms that incorporate the dramatic aspect.

"I needed Wil's perfect leading man sotic support, the big silent shadow behind me always willing to hold me up."

"We were both actors in this high school drama and our roles were already scripted for us."

"Despite my natural cynicism, hope crept into me and I felt like breaking int a musical number like something out of thirties film."

My guilty read. I enjoyed book 2 as much as book 1. We follow Em this time as she enters a speech competition. It is all pretty standard YA romance do don't expect high literature. But I read it during a day of travel and enjoyed every minute.

Dramatically Ever After was a very cute book! There were plenty of swoons and adorable banter to keep my romantic heart interested in this story. Parts of this book dragged, but it was pretty entertaining as a whole.

One thing that I didn't like as much as I was hoping I would, was the main character. The main character, Em, was just a little too dramatic for my tastes. I know that she was into theater and the title literally has the word "dramatic" in it, but her dramatic antics were a little much to handle at times. Em also tended to exaggerate everything and judge people a lot, which both bothered me. However, all that being said, I did admire a lot of things about Em. I liked how determined she was and how she would do whatever it took to achieve her dreams. It was really inspiring to see her go after her goals.

The romance in the book was a bit cliche, but it was still very adorable. The banter between Em and Kris made my heart flutter and put a smile on my face! The romantic moments were extremely cute, but I do wish there would have been even more romantic scenes in this book. I WANT MORE CUTE SCENES BETWEEN EM AND KRIS, PLEASE.

Also, Kris was an adorable cinnamon roll that I just want to hug all the time.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book! I would have liked a little more excitement in the plot development, but as a whole, this was a quick and endearing read!

3 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. *

I would of giving this book a five star if it wasn't too detailed, when a book is too detailed I just feel like skipping those parts. When an author describes even how sprinkles look in a coffee makes me want to skip that book. I call those fill ins to make the book longer but what kept me reading was the change of heart of our lead girl. Loved that the author changed the course of the romance. It make me appreciate the uniqueness of this book. Other authors would of probably taken the unrealistic route having Mel and her long distance boyfriend fight against the odds and live happily ever after.
Kris was adorable kind of pompous but when I got to read more about him I saw past his I know it all and I can do it better attitude.

Overall I loved the book!
Can't wait to read the third book, I hope they survive another debat/competition trip together.

This book fell flat for me. I didn't connect with the characters, and I didn't enjoy the chemistry between the love interests.
Not for me.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

4 Stars!
The second book in the Ever After Series was a great follow up to Bookishly Ever After. I loved reading about Phoebe and Dev still, although the focus of this book is on Em and Kris. Em loves theatre and acting and is fighting for a scholarship to university, while being chosen as a finalist and spending a week in Boston she finds out her rival from school Kris is going to be there too. I love books that take place out of of the characters comfort zone! The banter between Em and Kris was great and really fun to read. Enjoyable book for YA, would definitely recommend! I'm hopeful there is a 3rd in the series!

I think I overall liked this book better than Bookishly Ever After. For some reason, Em was a lot easier to relate to than Phoebe. I kind of wanted to hate Kris at first but quickly realized that would be impossible. I really liked the speech contest setting.

I kind of wish Em had been able to kick Will's ass in person rather than through chat because he deserved a lot worse than he got.

I hope there will be a third book in this series. I'd really like to read from Grace's perspective as well.

Isabel Bandeira rocks! I read Dramatically Ever After in one sitting! Devoured it and had a book hangover the next day. Great characterization, super fast paced dialogue kept the plot moving forward. I loved Em - she was as real as they get and I work with teens! Kris and Em have skyrocketing chemistry *fans herself* - I just love the friends to lovers stories. Can't wait to see what this author writes next! Highly recommend this book!

Dramatically Ever After by Isabel Bandeira is the second book in the Ever After Series that is scheduled to be release on June 6, 2017 by Spencer Hill Press and is a young adult novel. This book is a follow up to Bookishly Ever After which mainly focused on Phoebe. While Dramatically Ever After is focused on Em. The book continues almost where it left off. Em is in theater because she loves acting, but she also loves history too. She is trying very hard to get a scholarship so that she can attend the university of her dreams. Her mood is dampened when she learns that she is not the only one who was chosen to complete in US Youth Change Council. Kris Lambert the senior class president, also got a spot. Together, they are to spend a week in Boston with the other winners. Can she handle Kris’s big ego? Given their past she does not think much of Kris. However, Kris surprises her by being nice to her and they share a very sweet moments. Will this new found peace backfire for them at weeks end? You will have to read the book to find the answer to that question. I found this to be a sweet, fun read. Bandeira does an amazing job creating the plot line and characters in a way that will leave you guessing from page to page about what will happen at the end!

Dramatically Ever After by Isabel Bandeira

Head over heels for another book by Bandeira! She balances wit, feisty attraction, and realistic teen life for a flawless YA contemporary read! A MUST purchase where YA contemporary romance (Kasie West, Sarah Dessen) books fly off the shelves!

Readalikes: Adorkable by Cookie O'Gorman