Cover Image: It Happened One Midnight

It Happened One Midnight

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book is like a sugar rush. Full of magic, romance and sugary sweetness.

The fairy grandmothers are crack ups. The romantic leads are sweethearts and every single character is full of quirk. It's the perfect afternoon read to take your mind off the world right now.

What I liked: The development of the romance, full of fairy godmother and romance novel tropes (if by 34 we aren't married, a fake engagement, one bed, one room!) moves swiftly bringing together two longtime best friends who, with a little nudge, see each other in a brand new light.

What I didn't like: That said, like a sugar rush, too much of a good thing can be overwhelming. Juniper and Tomas are so perfectly perfect looking, perfect at their jobs, perfectly matched. Every character is a manic pixie (maybe literally?) and some literally run on icecream sodas and pumpkin spice. It makes the dialogue a little overwhelming and some moments overly saccharine.

All-in-all, this was a fun read. It looks like it is the third book in the Fairy Godmothers Inc series (though it isn't clear on Goodreads or DeWylde's website), so I'd recommend reading it in order as there are characters with backstories that might help you follow the storyline. I didn't read them and felt like I was missing punchlines.

Was this review helpful?

"If it's not Happily Ever After, it's not over."

This quote is a major theme of the series, and that's part of why I love this series and romance novels.

The fairy godmothers are back and up to their matchmaking schemes. This time, they are setting up their granddaughter, Juniper. And she writes romance novels! I always love when books feature books and authors. The ways her writing and dedications came up in this book were magical. And her match, Tomas, is a hardened divorce attorney who has been her best friend forever. This set-up has everything I love.

Over their friendship, Juniper and Tomas have established a rule that they are always open with each other about what they are feeling. I really enjoyed both characters. She believes in magic. And he believes in true consent and respect. I would have liked more insight into his overall motivation as a character and why he is so cynical.

Following from the series, this book brought in some particularly hilarious, absurd scenes that shine light on social rituals. I laughed out loud so many times. Though I enjoy and recommend the whole series, you can absolutely read this as a stand alone.

Thank you to Kensington and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This is very cute. Sure the problem with the couples is of their own inability to communicate (and that is a massive pet peeve for me) but there was a good HEA and pretty good plot development. There was nothing really groundbreaking or gasp-worthy but it was a cute good story.

Was this review helpful?

“Petunia Blossom had almost reached Peak Fairy Godmother”
“His Juniper was magic that way”
“But there was something special about Ever After”
Sleeping beauty meets Laws of Attraction in a fun , witty and magical romance that involved fairy godmothers trying to do matchmaking for their granddaughter.
Full of the best tropes coming for three uncommon grandmothers who love “one bed trope” , “ forced proximity trope” and “destined to be together trope”.
“We all know that’s your favourite trope”
“Forced proximity was her favourite trope to write about”
It felt like an amazing fan fiction with all fuel best friends to lovers with a bit of spice but at the right time but so fluffy and sweet.
I was laughing half of the time and the other half I was swooning and smiling over those two main characters who are supposed to come together in a world completely ruled by magic but most of all LOVE.
It’s the best book to set you into a winter mood with the right amount of spooky vibes coming from a magical Halloween set …
Apart from the main couple … those fairy godmothers … the best fun I’ve had in quite a long time !!!
“Love is the source of all things, my little darling”
“I can’t be dead inside … If I were I wouldn’t feel this with you”

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed the first two books in the series. Sadly this third installment didn't live up to the rest of the series. I felt no connection to or real chemistry between the two main characters.

Was this review helpful?

This is best of the series this far. Always a sucker for friends to lovers and happily ever after. Fun and a little raunchy.

Was this review helpful?

Fun read in the series. I'm enjoying these books. Romantic and cute. I will read more from this author. Good read

Was this review helpful?

Just like the other 2 books in this series, this one too was filled with magic, love, steam and tons of laughter.
The magical town of Ever After is the great escape & truly thank the adorable fairy godmothers for it.

Was this review helpful?

I have been looking forward to this book for a while and it exceeded my expectations. It’s fun, lighthearted and amusing with plenty of witty banter and quirky characters to make you smile. This book has everything I’m looking forward in an escapist rom com!

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book. The plot was well paced and the characters were well thought out. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Was this review helpful?

I didn't know what I was expecting when I opened this book, I knew I was going to find fairy godmothers and fake fiance trope among Friends to lovers way, but not in this ingenious mix
.
Although this book can be read as a standalone, it is the third book in a series and I would recommend reading the others beforehand so as not to feel left behind by the secondary characters that play an important role in this story.
.
In this Friends to lovers Juniper and Tomas agree to tell their mothers, grandmothers and even their bosses that they are engaged, to ending all attempts to match them. The spark that begins with the first kiss expands when they arrive at Ever After where they must keep the lie for their families
.
On the one hand, these three fairy godmothers have dialogues and moments outside the story and elsewhere, and then Juniper and Tomas's part is full of a perfect friends to lover, steamy situations and this part is so great and beautiful writing that is hard to get enough
.
But matchmaking service is the perfect adaptation for today's fairy godmothers, in fact all the characters in stories are perfectly adapted. I really enjoyed this reading, thanks to Kensington Books Zebra and Saranna DeWilde for give me this beautiful book in exchange for my honest opinion

Was this review helpful?

I want to thank Kensington Books and NetGalley for this eARC. I received this copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thoughts:

~ This is the third book of a fantasy romance series called Fairy Godmothers, Inc. but can be read as a standalone. Very rarely that I thought I needed to read the prequels to understand the context but it did not affect the story or my experience.

~ It was such a whimsical, lovey-dovey, breezy, and angsty read especially for a heavy fantasy reader like me.

~ Each chapter of this book was from either Juniper's POV or Tom's POV that gave you the full picture of the situation which I really like.

~ This book was very tropey with the marriage of convenience/fake engagement trope, miscommunication trope, one-bed trope, and friends-to-lovers trope.

~ Even though I enjoyed the story and it was also very cliche-y that it reminded me of Hallmark movies (Don't get me wrong I love Hallmark movies) like you do not believe in love but finally that person makes you believe in Love or if you want a promotion you need to have a relationship. I can name soo many Hallmark movies with this plot.

~ This book had soo much s3xual tension I tell you. Sometimes it was just a bit too much. Also, one kiss and they start getting feelings of wanting to ravish each other. Oh Please! That wasn't very convincing.

~ Soo many resemblances of fairytales with similar characters and events, like a cross of Snow White, sleeping beauty, cinderella, and many more. There was this one scene that reminded me of Harry Potter's vanishing room.

~ Fav Quote: Follow your heart. Have faith in yourself. Even when it's scary. If this doesn't work out the way you wanted it to, the way we all want it to, then make peace with the fact that it's what's best for you both.

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice Level: 🌶🌶🌶

Was this review helpful?

I can't adequately express how much I've loved this series. I want Saranna DeWylde to write Ever After books forever. This series takes the best elements of Once Upon a Time and romance tropes and keeps things fresh and engaging. Every one of these books has been laugh-out-loud funny, fast-paced, and swoony. They just keep getting better and better, and It Happened One Midnight was no exception.

I adored Juniper right from the opening pages. Her heart, sincerity, and optimism were just perfection – and delightful contrast to Tomas. This world is so immersive. I really cannot gush about it enough.

I can't wait to read Gwen and Roderick's book – and any other Saranna blesses us with.

Was this review helpful?

Was a good read overall. My first by this author and had read the first two books in this series before reading this, to get a better feel of it. Going into it, my expectations were a bit higher and it was fun to start with but started feeling bored at a point. Since I can't un-finish or skim through, it weighed more on me.

The main characters could have been portrayed a bit more stronger and in the middle it felt a bit dragged.

Glad they finally got their HEA.

Was this review helpful?

Juniper and Tomas have been best friends since childhood but the fairy godmothers want to push them together romantically. They hatch a plan to get them to pretend tp be engaged and off they go to visit the ‘grandmothers’ at Ever After. But the plan goes awry- Tomas just can’t believe in romantic love so he goes back to work (as a divorce lawyer). But there is magic afoot. Can it bring him around?
It is a wonderful blend of the real world and the magical fairy tale
world. The characters and the action was engaging and fun. I would recommend this book to my patrons.

Was this review helpful?

DNF at 25%

I just didn't connect with the story or the characters as much as I wanted to. I won't be giving it a rating as I don't think it's entirely fair because I didn't finish. I really did try to go back and complete the book but I just don't think it was right for me.

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for the eARC.

Was this review helpful?

This is a cute series of books. I’m sad that I missed the first two, but after reading this one I will definitely go back and revisit the others in the series.
Premise
Saranna DeWylde brings her trademark mix of quirky charm, sexy comedy, and a touch of magic to the third Fairy Godmothers, Inc. installment, as Ever After, Missouri’s resident fairy godmothers Petunia, Jonquil, and Bluebonnet are doing their best to restore their hometown’s deep well of enchantment by conjuring true love, one happy couple at a time. This time, the godmothers set their sights on their very own goddaughter, a romance novelist whose fib about a fake engagement is about to transform into a friends-to-lovers story worthy of the bestseller lists…
The cover instantly drew me in. It looked like a cute Cinderella esque type story and I was write. I love the unique perspective on how it focuses on on this trip of godmothers out to help others gain true love, but this story is a personal one as it involves on of the godmothers own granddaughter. It’s a really cute haters to lovers type book with a happy ending that will out a smile on your face after reading. Definitely a nice light read that will make you feel warm and fuzzy.

Was this review helpful?

Loved this! I really enjoy this series and this book is a great continuation of the stories; nice to see what Zuri and PC are up to. The story was so much fun; Juniper is so sassy and so filled with love and Tomas is the perfect guy, minus the small non-believing part. And Tomas’s bosses? Nice lawyers. The moms? Adorable. I cannot wait to read the next book!

Was this review helpful?

I love this series; the magic, the love, the HEA’s and, in particular, the characters and the world of Ever After.

Witty writing, a sweet yet spicy love story and three enchanting Grammas make this book an incredibly fun and engaging read. Yet again I finished the story far too quickly and now have to wait for the next title.

Ever After and its inhabitants are charmingly addictive. Read it now, or, for maximum enjoyment read the first two books in the series first.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the first book in this series and it just seemed to get worse as it went along. Was a struggle for me to get through this unfortunately.

Was this review helpful?