This Won’t End Well by Camille Pagan is so funny and witty. Camille is a clever author whose writing style flows well and she always writes engaging stories. I will read anything and everything she writes! My favorite book of hers is Life and Other Near-Death Experiences.

Here’s the scoop:

No new people: that’s Annie Mercer’s vow. It’s bad enough that her boss sabotaged her chemistry career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. But after her fiancé, Jon, asks for space while he’s gallivanting around Paris, Annie decides she needs space too—from everyone.

Yet when Harper moves in next door, Annie can’t help but train a watchful eye on the glamorous but fragile young woman. And if keeping Harper safe requires teaming up with Mo, a maddeningly optimistic amateur detective, who is she to mind her own business?

Soon Annie has let not one but two new people into her life. Then Jon reappears—and he wants her to join him in France. She’s pretty sure letting anyone get close won’t end well. So she must decide: Is another shot at happiness worth the risk?

If you are looking for a book that will whisk you away from real life and leave you feeling pretty positive and happy then this is the book for you. I love books like this in-between heavier reads!

Out on February 25

A main character you can relate to, side characters you end up loving more than you thought you would, some humour, some sadness, some intrigue and some tough decisions.
Annie is not your average heroine, she is a scientist, focuses on facts, and has a policy of not allowing new people into her life. But life isn't a clean lab environment and some people come in and out of your life whether you want it or not.
You don't know what to expect and and half-way through I just couldn't put it down anymore.

THIS WON’T END WELL by Camille Pagán is a touching and heartwarming story of love, family and friendship that captivated me from the very beginning. I really liked the fresh approach of using journal entries, emails and texts to tell the story. Annie Mercer had a perfectly-planned and predictable life, just the way she liked it. Although she had to give up her dream of attending MIT to come home and care for her mother, she has a job she loves and she and her fiancé, Jon will soon be married. Suddenly, her whole life is turned upside down. She is forced out of her job and Jon has suddenly decided he needs time away alone in France to find himself before he commits to their marriage. Even worse is that he doesn’t want any contact from her while he is away. Annie has even become estranged from her best friend. Stunned and feeling out of control, Annie starts a business cleaning the homes of some of her neighbors while she re-evaluates her choices and her future. Although she has sworn off contact with new people, two people come into her life that have her questioning everything she knew before. The entries in her journal and the emails and texts she sends to Jon and the other characters allow the reader to follow her journey of self-discovery and growth. Even though the story touches on some hard subjects, it is told with warmth, compassion and humor. I truly enjoyed this heartfelt and enjoyable novel and highly recommend it! Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

This book has touched me deeply. I’m not good at words, but I’ll try to give it the review it deserves.

Things aren’t going well for Annie, lately. She had been harassed for months by her boss. One day, he tried to go further, and started groping her, so she shoved him away and he fell onto a lab table, causing the destruction of several expensive material. She handed her resignation, because as she explained, she couldn’t stand it anymore.
No one at the company supported her, moreover, her boss claimed that she assaulted him.

Due to the agreement she signed when accepting the job, she couldn’t work as a chemist for, at lest, two years. So, she decided to start a cleaning business. Now, she has some neighbours as clients, although it doesn’t keep her as busy as she would like.

As if this wasn’t enough, her fiancé tells her that he is at the airport waiting for his plane to go to Paris. He explains her that he needs some time alone to get things clear, and he has always wanted to spend some time in Paris (he’s a French teacher). So, he asks her, as well as his family, to not contact him for a month.

Annie has come to the conclusion that people cause pain, and she can’t cope with that anymore, therefore, she decides to avoid people, especially new people. Although, this is not as simple as she thinks at first. A couple of “new people” appears in her life, and she can’t help making an exception. And here is when Annie starts to see the world in a different way.

I loved this book, because I liked Annie from the very beginning. She is quite unique. And when she opens up to people she learns to see things from a different perspective. On the one hand, she realises that people aren’t only the cause of pain, but they are also the cause of happiness. On the other hand, avoiding her emotions isn't the best option either. It's easier to deal with them when you are surrounded by the people who care for you. And as her mother says to her, “emotions can be messy, Annie, but that doesn’t mean you should run from them.”

Finally, I can only say that this book has touched me deeply, because I couldn’t help feeling related to Annie’s idea of avoiding people and trying to run away from her emotions. I’ve been there too, and it seems the perfect solution, but it turns out to be quite the contrary. People can hurt, yes, but some people can make you feel good, and make your life better. Moreover, running away from one’s emotions is tiring, and then you realise that some people can help you cope with them.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

Annie Mercer's life seems to blow up over night when she loses her job and her fiance leaves her a voicemail informing her that he is spending the summer in Paris... without her.... and requests NO CONTACT for several weeks. Annie vows to avoid any new people in her life as she focuses on her new cleaning business. However, when the house next door has a new occupant, Annie's mundane life takes becomes more interesting and is full of little surprises that change her outlook.

This book will be published on 2.25.20.

An enjoyable lighter read! This was witty and completely relatable. It was fun to have a font seat ride as the character navigated her friendships and discovered herself. I snorted with laughter a few times and shook my head at others actions a few times. 3⭐️ Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

Camille Pagan is truly such a talented writer! Her books are consistently pithy, funny, and written with impeccable pacing. THIS WON’T END WELL was no different. I loved Annie, the protagonist, and willingly joined her on her journey to self discovery. I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book. It's fast-paced, witty, and utterly refreshing. Annie Mercer, after a string of less-than-optimal life events, vows that she will let "no new people" into her life. What transpires is Annie's journey to open her heart back up to others. Fantastic character development - so often we are not privy to the inner workings of the protagonist as we should be, but Pagan's Annie is a gem. Highly recommend.

Witty, charming and heartwarming with a great blend of characters and creative mix of writing style. I was looking for a light read between thrillers and this did not disappoint. I was totally engrossed and couldn’t wait to see what the next little hitch in her “plans” would be. Great read!!!! Thanks to Netgalley for the digital ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

No new people: that’s Annie Mercer’s vow. It’s bad enough that her boss sabotaged her chemistry career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. But after her fiancé, Jon, asks for space while he’s gallivanting around Paris, Annie decides she needs space too—from everyone.

Yet when Harper moves in next door, Annie can’t help but train a watchful eye on the glamorous but fragile young woman. And if keeping Harper safe requires teaming up with Mo, a maddeningly optimistic amateur detective, who is she to mind her own business?

She’s pretty sure letting anyone get close won’t end well. So she must decide: Is another shot at happiness with Jon worth the risk?

And what about her growing feelings for Mo and Harper?

I loved the way Annie came full circle in this story. I won't say how exactly - no spoilers - but I will say readers may be surprised, but not disappointed. And the supporting cast in the story are all wonderfully drawn characters who come to life with the pen of the author.

Along with great characters, there's lots of humor in the book. I laughed out loud when Annie met Mo by falling off the wall between her property and Harper's and then tried to explain what she was doing. I also found the tidbits of wisdom worth highlighting and reading again.

For example, when Annie is having coffee with Mo, the second time they've gotten together, he shares an adage that his mother used to always tell him. "What is coming is better than what is gone."

Annie asks him if he really believes that, and his whole demeanor changes. He stops joking around and gets very serious. "Of course I do. Even if I'm wrong I don't want to go through life thinking the worst is yet to come."

Good words for us all to ponder.

And a good book to add to your list.

Annie has a rule “no new people”. But as the book starts she loses her job and her fiancé jets off to Paris to figure himself out without even discussing it with her. What Annie finds is that by opening herself up to new people and opportunities, everything she thought she knew could change and the course of her life could be altered.

This was my first Camille Pagan book and it won’t be my last. I’ve got 2 others on my kindle lined up. It’s a great book about stepping outside of your comfort zone and finding more than you ever knew was possible.

Just finished reading This Won’t End Well. The characters are quirky and the story moves along. The novel’s formatted in a series of journal entries and emails and it really works for the story. It’ll hold your interest and you’ll get invested in the characters. There were a few minor storylines that could’ve used more development, but I still found the story satisfying.

Opening lines:
July 14
To: Jon Nichols
From: Annie Mercer
SUBJECT: What I didn't say.

Dear Jon,
Hello seems like such an innocuous word, but it's really a portal to loss. One minute you're exchanging smal talk with a green-eyed stranger; the next thing you know, five years have passed, that stranger is now your fiance, and he's just informed you that he needs time to get his head on straight before marrying you.
Reason I picked up the book: I've read books by Camille Pagán before, and liked them. She's also a local author, based out of Ann Arbor.
And what's this book about?
An ingeniously witty novel about the risks—and rewards—of opening your life to new people by Amazon Charts bestselling author Camille Pagán. No new people: that’s Annie Mercer’s vow. It’s bad enough that her boss sabotaged her chemistry career and her best friend tried to cure her with crystals. But after her fiancé, Jon, asks for space while he’s gallivanting around Paris, Annie decides she needs space too—from everyone.

Yet when Harper moves in next door, Annie can’t help but train a watchful eye on the glamorous but fragile young woman. And if keeping Harper safe requires teaming up with Mo, a maddeningly optimistic amateur detective, who is she to mind her own business?

Soon Annie has let not one but two new people into her life. Then Jon reappears—and he wants her to join him in France. She’s pretty sure letting anyone get close won’t end well. So she must decide: Is another shot at happiness worth the risk?
Recommended for: Anyone who enjoys a novel about an interesting protagonist.
Favorite paragraph: I waved goodbye and walked to my car. After I closed the door, I looked out the window and saw Mo still standing on the sidewalk. I wanted to soak up the good feeling the evening had left me with. I wanted to tell myself that I had been wrong to swear off new people—and wasn't my friendship with Mo proof of that? But one thought kept rising over all that cheery clamor:

This won't end well.

-AEM
Something to know: This book still has a HEA (Happily Ever After) ending but it might not be what you originally think it will be.
What I would have changed: Nothing.
Overall rating: 4 stars out of 5.
Where can I find this book? Click here to pre-order on Amazon - it will be out on February 25, 2020. It's also free for Kindle Unlimited customers.

Overall an interesting and fun story. A different format and layout. Fun voice as Annie comes to terms with life changes. Enjoyable, but didn’t really feel the romance. May just be me. Would recommend this book and author.

I enjoyed this frank view at marriage after the sheen rubs off. What keeps people together once life and kids interfere? Is it possible to find what brought you together in the first place? I also thought the use of a friend's death from opiods to be a good way to bring this topic to the fore in contemporary fiction. I recommend this one.

I loved this book! What an interesting premise - and I was so happy with how it ended!! I have read books by this author before so I knew to expect something good, but I loved the quirky approach to the specific set of issues explored within this story. Have already recommended to friends!

Yes, it was funny, it was fast paced and enjoyable and finished soooo quickly!
Poor Annie Mercer is dumped by her fiancée who travels to Paris to find himself like young Amy March (I prayed for Annie that he wouldn’t find his own Laurie and engaged with him!)
But this is just the beginning of her problems. She is also sagged from her job. The reason is: sexual harassment. Wow Annie, it seems like so many things won’t end well for you. And wait a minute! Why your new neighbor Harper is black eyed and why a private investigator lurking around your apartment? It’s getting more interesting at each page. So let’s jump in and read more to learn about where Annie’s new life direction is headed to!
This is witty, entertaining, sarcastic reading, captured my interest at the first email part written to the sooner runaway fiancée. In addition to Annie’ s narration, there are journal parts and lots of emails help us catch Annie’s new and complicated life story. This is not only romance or love triangle story. There are so multiple relationships of Annie are told in this story including mom-daughter, friendships, interaction with colleagues. It’s a great combination of tragedy, humor, realism, life choices. You may not want to stop reading and keep smiling.

So this is one of quickest readings. I loved the sarcastic, intelligent tone and I perfectly connected with heroine. The thing I didn’t like mostly is the romance parts of the book. I couldn’t find it believable and real. I don’t think they had any chemistry or intense feelings and I also had some troubles about ending and the choice Annie made. So I cut my points to 3.5 stars but I still round them up to 4 stars because I loved the author’s word choices and creative, original way of story-telling. So I’m choosing to evaluate this as adult fiction novel, instead of romance.

Overall I had so much fun.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for sharing this book’s ARC COPY (made me smile a lot) in exchange my honest review.

This Won’t End Well was a great light read about friendship and just life in general! I really enjoyed Annie and how navigates her life after it was turned upside down. I loved being on this poetic journey with her as she grows in so many different aspects!

TO: future readers of This Won’t End Well
From: A very satisfied reader
Subject: four and half stars for This Won’t End Well
I LOVE Camille Pagan. She is very witty and writes fun, lovable characters.
This Won’t End Well follows Annie Mercer and her fiancé Jon. It’s a classic Will they/won’t they scenario.
I found myself really invested in the side characters as well.
I love Epistolary novels, so this was a slam dunk for me.
Thank you #netgalley and #lakeunion for the ARC.

'In reality, I’ve been expecting the best in spite of all evidence to the contrary- including an unshakable feeling that my so-called fiancé would not be coming home tomorrow as he claimed.'

Annie Mercer and her fiancé (French teacher) Jon suddenly no longer seem to be on the same page about their future. Her important work as a chemist has ‘derailed’ after an incident involving her heinous boss Todd (who is way too hands on) , her best friend Leesa thinks every disaster can be cured with rose quartz and essential oil, products Leesa is peddling with serious ‘entrepreneurial spirit’, and Jon has abandoned her for Paris, informing her he needs space from everyone. This space encompasses her the most. Living with her mother seemed like the best thing a loving daughter could do, especially knowing her engagement has given her mom something to live for, pulled her out of her funk. It is also a chance for Annie to figure out her next move. Now, the hunger in her mother’s eyes to see Annie married is too much to bear, especially with Jon running off. Annie is resolved to keep new people out of her life, but her mother’s new neighbor gives her something to distract her, a brief escape from the disaster that is her own life. Cleaning houses for the neighbors is a welcome break from residue anger about what happened in her former work, the perfect way to make money while she maintains her ‘vow of interpersonal abstinence’. Where is the harm in watching a young life blooming?

The new neighbor is Harper, gliding through life on heels and for Annie, ‘watching her makes me feel like life could be easier’, the shame though is Annie’s great brain never ceases to be thinking, chewing on all her problems. If only she could be as carefree. She has had enough drama, particularly the soap opera her own relationship with absent Jon has become. Jon, who won’t even reply to her emails, how is she supposed to have faith he will come back in time for their wedding date, looming awfully close now, when he has gone silent on her? Better to spend her time watching Harper, only to discover someone else is watching the intriguing beauty too. This someone is Mo, the suspicious ‘twenty-something Middle Eastern man’ that has raised alarm for the online neighborhood community. Mo, who catches her spying on Harper. Mo, however, has a purpose in his snooping, after-all it is his job as a private investigator to watch people. As the two get to know each other, he offers her the chance to work alongside him. Why not? It could be fun.

It isn’t long before she is breaking her vow to keep people out. Her relationship with Jon is going through some type of metamorphosis, as he is acting out of character. She knows he loves her, but with all this changing, are they still right for one another? Will the pull of Paris put too much strain on their love? Can she compare to the charms Paris has for her Francophile beloved? Will her best friend ever stop sipping the essential oil Kool–aid (because surely it isn’t Annie who is the problem) long enough so Annie can find comfort and support? Is living with her mother truly just a ‘temporary arrangement’? Should she be enjoying herself this much working alongside Mo? Will she ever confront what happened at the lab, so that she can free herself to make career choices? Will she get on a plane and meet Jon in Paris, when he is back in contact and desperate for her to come and see for herself why he is having a hard time leaving? She might just love France as much as him! Imagine the possibilities!

Annie is in her own way, and it’s fun. You should hate Jon, because is it really necessary to go cold turkey in your relationship because you’re having a ‘France loving crisis’, but he is too mild to offend. Annie is a handful, and of course she can be self-centered in the way so many of us are, the star of our own life and all that, but she makes for a funny little novel. She doesn’t have anything figured out, retiring from her problems seems like the answer, but the fastest way to find yourself a target for more drama is a self-imposed sabbatical from the school of life. She has some serious self-reflection on the horizon, and it’s not just about her love life. Despite her refusal to open herself to new relationships, Mo and Harper may well be the catalyst she needs to get her life back on track, but where it will lead is up in the air.

A fun, fast paced read about sexual harassment, love, career, friendship, family and snooping. It may end well, despite evidence to the contrary.

Publication Date: February 25, 2020

Lake Union Publishing