This was such a nice read. I really enjoyed our protagonist and her growth of trusting and letting more people close to her. The presentation of mental illness was so refreshing, because it was real and not romanticized, and the author has the ability to reassure you that people will still love you and stand beside you even after they see the full you. The love interest, Jacob, is definitely fictional crush material: he is smart, charming, and he only has eyes for Gaia. It was such a cute dynamic. The story also carries a magical aspect that I found intriguing upon reading the synopsis, however, it made the story confusing, mainly due to the subplots of the dreams that I felt like dragged on too much and I did not quite care about them.

Overall, the story read fast and I quite enjoyed it, however, the insta-love and magical aspect made it a little harder to fall for the book altogether.

Okay, so this one was an interesting mixture of romance and paranormal. It started as a basic romance story and then out of nowhere BAAM! weird stuff starts to happen.

It's a cute book with a creative and imaginative twist. It's filled with heat, smart and sexy arguments, and a little bit of magic.

It has also tackled topics like foster care and mental health. There is a lot of self-reflection with almost all the characters but I couldn't really connect with them much.

This is the first of Beharrie's books I've read, and I will definitely read another! I loved that both main characters in this book are undoubtedly real people, with flaws, problems and anxieties beyond those normally found in romancelandia. The point of view was SO honest that it took me a couple of chapters to adjust, but I felt like I could be friends with these quirky people. If you find magic dreams off-putting then this isn't for you, but it totally worked for me. Thanks to Kensington Books for the chance to read early! https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/2724137-troxelm

I apologise in advance for this review.

I really tried to get into this book a couple of times this past month but I just couldn’t get into it.Therefore I decided not to finish it but stop where I felt like I had a good enough idea what this book was about and it was clearly not for my taste. First of all I don’t particularly enjoy stories within stories which is what this book does. I found it incredibly confusing mixing the characters of the book the main character is writing about and the characters of her actual life. Not To mention that I found it extremely weird that she related to the characters she was writing in such a way the book describes. Also I was just not interested in neither the main story and neither about the one she was trying to write.

I believe I gave it a fair chance but I just couldn’t get on with it and I have a rule that if I can’t if I don’t like it for the first 100 pages then I do not continue with the book so that explains my rating of one star for this one. Surely other people will enjoy it It was honestly not for me.

A cute fast paced romance! This book was so cute and I loved the characters. I would definitely say this is a contemporary romance with just the right amount of spice.

A fast-paced read with a sweet romance, lovable characters, great anxiety disorder representation, and a an enticing concept that's basically similar to reality shifting.

Gaia and Seth were both so easy to root for, and they have a classic reunited friends-to-lovers story. We've got a diverse ship with social anxiety representation and even a panic attack on page that I personally think was dealt with in such a good way. It's an OwnVoices story with an addictive romance mixed in, need I say more?

The only thing that made me not give it a higher rating was the fact that I was in a bit of a book slump while reading this book, and it did offer some good places to stop and continue to get into, but sometimes the side storylines made the main direction of the story a little convoluted.

It's still a solid contemporary romance, and I'd recommend it.

One unexpected kiss . . .
Successful romance author Gaia Anders has a secret: anything she dreams at night is magically written into her bestselling novels. After a lonely childhood in foster care, her dream life is the only one she trusts. Gaia’s waking life just can’t compare—until she gets caught in one utterly surprising, crazy-passionate, real-life kiss . . .

One near-perfect guy . . .
Workaholic businessman Jacob Scott has had a crush on his brother’s best friend, Gaia, since forever—but he never expected to literally share her dreams. Living out their magical nighttime fantasies is explosive, but it’s their waking desire turning his single-minded ways upside down. It’s making him want a future he didn’t think was possible . . .

One dream that could come true . . .
But Gaia has secrets from her past she won't reveal. And Jacob's attempts to keep the peace in his own fractured family puts him up against her deepest fears. Soon, they’re facing hard truths about who they are and what they’re running from. And the only way to break this curse is realizing true love's real-life power . - Goodreads

This was a cute romance. I love it when "unconventional" people build new relationships because the awkwardness is so adorable.

Gaia is complicated and it is interesting reading her perspective because she puts herself in a lot of positions and then backs out when it. This is throughout the whole novel so it gets really annoying. Jacob is an extremely patient man because I would have cussed her out at some point. The thing that bothered me about her the author cleared up at the end of the novel and it made sense. Slight spoiler so I can't get into much more detail than that. I liked Gaia's mindset but I wish the author would have dug a little bit deeper into her childhood as it would have provided more depth.

Jacob was just as complicated but used Gaia to avoid his own issues. Between both of them trying not to acknowledge their personal issues, the book began to get frustrating. The romance of the novel is what broke that up but there was just a whole lot of tease with that. Some good stuff but just a lot of tease.

Overall, the pace of the novel was good. The ending was intriguing and I do want to read book two.

I surprisingly liked this novel.

3 Pickles

I'm generally not keen on magic in books but I knew I'd be in good hands with Therese Beharrie. This is a beautiful book with two complex main characters who need to figure themselves out before they have a healthy relationship. And who doesn't want to experience what it's like to be inside a romance novel?

Thank you Netgalley and kensington books for approving an e-arc of this book!


TW: Social anxiety, on page panic attacks, depressive episodes?? disassociation, discussions about foster care and adoption, talks about deceased parents and orphans


This was absolutely amazing! We have a poc author, poc main characters, the MC is a reader, it takes place in South Africa, Social anxiety and panic disorder rep thats actually accurate, AND ITS OWNVOICES. Not to mention the love interest is a SIMP. And its the best friends brother trope😁 from the moment i read the dedication and authors note i knew id love this book. It not only had me crying but also laughing and squealing with every interaction between the characters.
Im going in for a reread soon because i dont want this story to be over yet:,( ITS SO FRUSTRATING I CANT EVEN HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY UNTIL NOVEMBER AND NO ONE HAS READ IT SO WHO DO I TALK TO? UGH IM STRUGGLING
PLUS I NEED THE SEQUEL RIGHT NOW AND THIS ONE HASNT EVEN COME OUT YET BYE I CANT

And They Lived Happily Ever After by Therese Beharrie comes out November 30th and i HIGHLY recommend picking it ul when it does or preordering now:)

Omg ....this was such a spicy and cute read!

This book goes about a girl named Gaia who was brought up in a foster home.
Gaia is a introverted person who write romantic novels and dreams about them. Her bestfriend Seth demanded that she must attend a party at his house and be more social. However at the party she escaped the crowd and went in a room. In that room she met her besties brother (Jacob) who is two years younger than her and AAAhhh from that part this book got my full attention. That moment was so cute and spicy untill they got interrupted.

Gaia writes novels and dreams about them, so she started to write about Jacob and herself. And when she dreamt that night something unexpected happened which was so confusing and unique!!

I got so many emotions while reading this amazing book! Some parts felt kinda dragged. Anyways i highly recommend this book!!

So excited to give this one a shot! This is a new author for me, and I always feel like when I get the chance to try a new author, I devour their book. Therese Beharrie has written for Harlequin in the past (which is why I'm surprised I haven't stumbled upon her before... we STAN Harlequin).

This book was unique in all the best ways, as I feel like this author has a very distinct voice... the way she uses her words literally paints a story... almost giving these subtle fantasy vibes, even though it's a contemporary romance. Another thing, I feel like an illustrated cover can often lend itself to a "romantic comedy" feel, which is what this book is being classified as. However, I wouldn't call this book a romantic comedy (even though there were comedic moments)... this book covered a lot of deep, series topics and our heroine struggles with some personal issues. However, before the book even begins, Therese Beharrie puts a sort of trigger warning, letting the reader know this book has some deep stuff.

Our book follows Gaia Andrews, a woman with introverted tendencies, and an almost pensive disposition, as she observes the world around her, rather than actively participating,... this stems from her turbulent childhood. Gaia thrives in her literary world, making a living as a successful romance novel author. Part of what makes her books so special, is her ability to reenact her writing inside her dreams. One night at a party, she reunites with her best friends little brother Jacob Scott. Their attraction is immediate, but what further peaks Gaia's interest is the fact that he begins starring in her dreams every night. However, before they can explore this attraction, and the dream dilemma, they must first deal with the baggage in the real world.

As mentioned, there's something really special about this book, as well as how raw both Jacob and Gaia are painted. Obviously this is a romance novel, and a happy ending must persist, but the author doesn't shy away from painting the realities of unchecked mental health. I love that 2021 seems to be the year that authors are creating diverse characters with real world problems, and I AM HERE FOR IT. Besides the story telling ability the author clearly has, I like the way she wrapped this story up. I think it's important we encourage people seeking mental health services, and removing the stigma it. Also, *minor spoiler*, I think there is sometimes mixed opinions on who should do the apologizing in romance when the issue arises. For me, I think whoever needs to take responsibility, as well as learn to grow SHOULD... whether it be male or female (in this case it was Gaia). I also liked how Gemma was introduced and I am beyond excited for her and Levi's story... I think were going to get a grumpy/sunshine pairing.. WHICH IS MY FAVORITE.

As for Seth's part in the story. I understand and appreciate his role in the story, as he was supposed to be a character who showed growth, as well as the importance of EVERYONE being culpable in their own mistakes. And, in the end, he did redeem himself for me as he showed self discovery. However, there were moments throughout the story that really made me cringe. I am giving this romance three stars, because the first few chapters led me to believe the romance would be spicier... (which is a preference of mine)..... and the romance part wasn't really a highlight until the end... it felt more like two people having a self discovery moment, and the love story was a back component.

All in all, I liked how the main action in the story is resolved (when you read it you'll understand), I like that this book was written by a female author of color (because I feel like we should seek to raise all marginalized communities) and our heroine also came from a diverse background, and I like the mild fantasy elements. I suggest you give this romance a try if you want something a little different, that explores the heavier topics. I want to thank Netgalley, and Zebra Books for giving me an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Heat Level: 🔥🔥So excited to give this one a shot! This is a new author for me, and I always feel like when I get the chance to try a new author, I devour their book. Therese Beharrie has written for Harlequin in the past (which is why I'm surprised I haven't stumbled upon her before... we STAN Harlequin).

I’m rating this book 3.5 stars

This book started out kind of fast paced. Gaia was coaxed into attending a party by her best friend Seth. Seth believes that Gaia works too much. He also believes the same for his brother Jacob so he invited them both to his house party.

Gaia and Jacob meet at the party in Seths bedroom where Gaia has gone to escape the party and socializing all together without realized that Jacob was showering in the En-suite.

There was a lot of self reflection in this book in almost every character. It was really interesting to see how they each worked through this.

The relationship between Gaia and Jacob was cute. There was some miscommunication throughout the book and a lot of trust issues but it was nice seeing them help each other work through their issues.

I wish I would have connected with the characters more but it was honestly a really cute book.


Special thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book for an honest review!

I started out enjoying this book.. I loved Gaia's weird sense of humour and bluntness. And Jacobs's shyness and attempts at charm. It was cute. The dream element was even super cool and different.

However, I feel like it dragged halfway through the book. Gaia and Jacob we're playing a are we or aren't we game. And Jacob mentioned on many occasions that Gaia is a distraction yet he always came back. It was super annoying. The sister's bit was a great element that wasn't explored and left unresolved.

A great concept with great characters just a few things not too great.

This book is so cute. I loved how the romance is played out here. The plot was unique and creative and i finished it off in one sitting. It was pretty enjoyable.

While at first I was skeptical, I was pleasantly surprised by the emotional depth and innovation of this book. The main characters magic was a form I had never thought to even imagine. Her magic is not just a device used to move the plot along, but it is her, apart of her. Jacob, was a great balance between the dream partner and a real person. This story address issues like unrealistic expectations, anxiety, foster care, lack of support and great diversity. I overall whished to get a little more background about Gaia’s family, but besides that this book is a definite read! It’s an especially great beach read!

This was such a cute book! Gaia was such a great character and I loved seeing her grow throughout the book, and Jacob was so sweet and thoughtful. I found the romance pretty good as well, I just think it moved a little too fast in the beginning without much of an introduction to the character's former relationship, so it felt pretty sudden to me.

I also thought the plot was a little all over the place, the concept with the dreams was definitely really fun and unique but also quite hard to follow. A lot of the side storylines felt a little unnecessary to me, and I think if there had been a more singular focus on the romance, I would have enjoyed this even more.

Still, I found this really entertaining and it was an enjoyable, quick read.

And They Lived Happily Ever After
Therese Beharrie
Gaia and Jacob
Gaia is a romance novelist with anxiety disorder and a weird tendency: her dreaming and writing are intertwined. When she has an encounter with Jacob, the brother of her best friend, they share an attraction and a kiss and he begins to enter her dreams- as the hero. She shies away from relationships in real life so they work out part of their relationship in the dreams. But both have issues as they fall in love. This book was quirky and endearing- Gaia and Jacob were delightful and oh so appealing. The plot included magic but it was also credible. I would recommend this book to my patrons.

This was definitely a good book ! The love story was very cute, the way mental illness was writing, and the little touch of magic. Only some chapter were a little slow, but the book is very good !

I really enjoyed this book. First of all, the premise is one of my favorites ever. A romance author lives her books in her dreams? Sign me up! Add to that a heroine who has a realistic battle with having (and recognizing) anxiety and a hero who is sweet and loyal and believable? It was a really, really fun read. I'm excited to read it again someday.

I'd have liked to see more time in the dream world. Those scenes were funny and charming, and I think there is so much more she could have played with. Additionally, I was a little confused by the heroine's best friend. How did they meet? What was their friendship like before the start of the book? I'm big into backstory, so that would have filled in some holes for me.

But as a whole, I thought this book was incredibly enjoyable, and I will be recommending it to all of my romance author and reader friends.

And They Lived Happily Ever After by Therese Beharrie is an excellent contemporary romance that has it all: mystery, suspense, romance, chemistry, an excellent character cast, and an added dash of paranormal activity that is nothing short of magic. I loved it!

This book is so unique that any sort of description that I will try here will not be able to do it justice. I was blown away by the special, unique, and extremely addictive and entertaining narrative that the author was able to cook up.

Gaia Andrews is an awesome leading female character. She is independent, smart, ambitious, passionate, and has a flair for the magical realm. Her dreams inspire reality, and in fact have their own sort of reality. I love her wit, banter, and sass. Her inner being just has a fire that one doesn’t see in many novels anymore. And her connection to Jacob Scott is spot on. Their chemistry, connection, dialogue, and pairing is just perfect. I love how they compliment one another, how they improve each other, and their relationship overall. I also like how both have their own complicated pasts and issues that they are working through. It really adds a heavier feel and complexity to the novel that otherwise might not make it what a gem it is today.

I loved this book, hope to see more from this author, and cannot recommend this one enough.

Well done!

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Zebra/Kensington for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.