*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

DNF @ 30%

While I do firmly believe this book, as with any book, will be for someone it unfortunately wasn’t for me. I didn’t vibe with the writing style, and I found our main character to be insufferable. She was whiny and entitled, and I found myself resenting her rather than feeling sympathy for her. I also think this book took a long time to get going, even at 30% it still felt like it hadn’t gone anywhere.

I think there are other readers out there who will find this humorous and witty, but unfortunately it wasn’t for me.

Luci Adams’s debut novel takes us along Bella’s adventures on the London dating scene that’s full of LOLs and OMGs!

Bella is an aspiring author looking for her fairytale love story but Prince Charming is nowhere to be seen. When she tries too hard to make every date turn into “the One” she decides to take another approach. Why not just have fun instead? This inspires her to start writing about her fairy tale sexcapades on a storytelling app. While she gains popularity, she starts to lose herself and learns that the fairy tale isn’t exactly what she’s looking for after all.

Bella reminded us of our favourite hot mess heroines like Becky Bloomwood and Bridget Jones. They all have a kind heart, good intentions but their lives are a bit of a mess when you first meet them. Bella was no exception and she is lost for most of the book but the journey she goes through to get to where she ends up is very satisfying. She’s unapologetically herself and makes lots of mistakes along the way but she owns them (eventually). She had a lot of growing up to do.

This book is a little less romance and a bit more of a journey of self discovery. We were pleasantly surprised by this book and loved going through this rollercoaster with Bella!

What we liked:
▪️Her lifelong friendship with Ellie & Marty
▪️Endearing/hot mess FMC
▪️Marty! (He needs to be mentioned twice)
▪️Mark (It started out rocky especially during the proposal)
▪️Short chapters!

What we didn’t like:
▪️No real introduction to the FMC before she’s with the Wolf
▪️Would have loved more time with her love interest

The synopsis of this book sounded so good. I was really looking forward to awkward but funny moments with our main character and a realistic take on a "fairy tale ending." Sentence 1 though immediately made me regret trying this book as I did not give my consent to be part of the bedroom scene our MC finds herself part of. It's one thing to write about sex in books when you have some build up and know it's coming, but right from the get go and it's bad sex? No thanks. Very crude in my opinion and it didn't get better from there as the first 4 chapters kept referring to her positioning, bouncing, and hairiness of her rude date. I did try to get past it hoping there would be some redemption, but then realized I just didn't care about the MC after she willingly put herself through that disgusting mess of a night and it wasn't funny. I guess kuddos that his name was Wolf and it was in keeping with the fairy tale theme, but that's all I've got for positivity.

I wasn't sure what to make of this one. I believe it's supposed to be a romance, but it's more of Bella finding herself and her journey to do so.

I found humor, especially in the dialogue. I liked some of the scenes with friends and such. I didn't love any of the main characters. Bella is just a mess, somewhat immature and she doesn't treat people very well, even those she calls friends. She is insensitive. She treats her so called best friend horribly and wonders why she doesn't hear from her.

The dating and writing about it sounded good in theory, but the way she went about it just wasn't for me.

Marty showed promise at times, but other times he was also insensitive. These characters are late twenties and people I know in that age group are more mature.

I enjoy that they showed the character flaws, but felt they were shown so much that they overshadowed the good stuff. I enjoyed the interactions with Marty and her bestie more than the dates and would have liked more of her relationship with Marty.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for both an ALC and ARC of this is exchange for my honest review.

Bella had given up all hope on dating so when she took to Mirror Mirror (an online dating site), she was willing to give nearly anything with two legs a trying chance. That’s when she got set up with Charles Wolf. Not Charlie, not Chip, not Chaz - just Charles….so boring and so serious. It didn’t come as a surprise when Charles turned out to be a mediocre “frog” to the Prince Charming Bella was expecting. Thus continuing her search for “The One.”

In the midsts of finding “The One,” Bella was also in a severe writing slump. When she met Henry Pill, a well-known B-Reader author, she was intrigued by his work and the idea of writing a chapter by chapter book that readers could interact with through likes and comments as the chapters came out.

Here’s the part where Charles Wolf came back into play. She wrote chapter one about her encounter with Wolf and took her own spin on the classic fairytale, Little Red Riding Hood. And there it was, her writing slump was over but that didn’t come without a little something, or shall I say, someone else. Each chapter would be based on a different fairytale and a real life story from her life AKA she was going to be hooking up with different men and crafting the experience into a new chapter for her book.

So Bella was focused on the new task at hand but also very interested in her newest match, “Mystery Man” from the online dating site Mirror Mirror. We are introduced to so many different men in this book that it made the thrill so exciting to see who “Mystery Man” would turn out to be. Would it be her besties brother, Marty or Henry Pill, the latest signed author at her job? Or could it be one of the frat boys from downstairs or Sir Read-A-Lot who keeps commenting on her chapters?

When Mystery Man was revealed, let’s just say I low key saw it coming and was so here for it! Karma is a two-way street and if Bella is willing to use men to create her stories, then why shouldn’t Mystery Man be able to do the same? Mystery Man quickly became just another chapter and Bella’s dating “sexcapade” continued.

And then, finally, we meet the real Prince Charming. For sake of spoilers, I won’t reveal him but it was everything my heart was hoping for and even more! This book was fantastic and I cannot wait to see more from this author!

This one just wasn't for me. I found Bella hard to connect with. The beginning of the book kind of rubbed me the wrong way in making Bella feel like she had to have a man. It's 2023 and this narrative just didn't interest me. There was nothing overly wrong with the book. I could see people enjoying the laugh out loud situations Bella finds herself in. It's entertaining. But I just felt like it lacked a little substance and felt a little redundant.

Thank you for allowing me to read a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

To start off I would give this book an overall 3/5 stars. I thought the storyline was cute and well thought out. However, the reason for knocking the rating down was because it felt predictable and I just really found myself starting to dislike the main character.

Storyline was cute and there were a few moments where I caught myself smiling while reading.

Not That Kind Of Ever After is a charming story about a young woman who is at a crossroads in her life. While everyone is changing and growing up around her, she is at a loss as to what to do next. She continues to look for her own Prince, but only seems to be kissing frogs…so many frogs!

Bella Marble is having a sort of mid-life crisis. Turning thirty, she is nowhere near where she thought she would be in her life at this point. No boyfriend (or husband), not a writer (at all), and living in an apartment with four other singles (not ideal). But at least one of her roommates is her best friend since childhood, Ellie. But her boyfriend Mark sleeps over quite a bit, ugh! And just like that, everything changes.

Ellie and Mark decide to move out and get their own place and become engaged. A suspiciously odd couple move into Ellie’s old room, and Bella still has writer’s block. But after Bella discovers an online site where people write stories which other people read and comment on, she decides to try not only her hand at writing but decides to document her quest to find her Prince Charming. She writes about her not-so-great dates and gives them funny fairy tale headings.

Although her dates do not go too well and she continuously asks Ellie’s brother Marty for help and advice because, well, he is a player, and a handsome one at that, she begins to find she has a following on the site.

Then, her life comes crashing down around her. She and Ellie have a terrible fight and stop speaking. This has never happened before. Of course, the impetus for the fight was Mark, ugh. She then discovers her parents, whose love story has always been the basis for Bella’s Prince Charming, inform her they are getting divorced. Her stories have gone viral, and she now feels pressure to come up with more interesting fairy tales to keep her readers excited. But she can’t seem to find the mojo. Bella’s just tired. Of it all. How on earth does she get her best friend back and prove there is more to her writing than just sloppy dates.

Without Ellie, Bella turns to Marty to steer her in the right direction, only to have everything blow up in her Cinderella face! Can you truly ever find your Prince Charming? Someone who will be there for you forever? Or do you just settle for someone less. Sometimes wishing for something so desperately and getting it is far worse than what you had. Especially when the one person you’ve counted on since you were young is not by your side.

Not That Kind Of Ever After is a hysterical, empathetic look at dating, trying to change your life, trying to become a real adult and hopefully learning a few lessons about life and love.

Thank you #NetGalley #St.Martin’sGriffin #LuciAdams #NotThatKindOfEverAfter for the advanced copy.

Frothy and funny. Bella is a mess who eventually gets herself together to see what was in front of her all along, and it was fun to witness everything that went left along the way. The fairy tale elements were a lot of fun!

Bella has always wanted a romance like her parents - a full, pre-woke Disney, sweep you off your feet romance with her very own Prince Charming. But as life around her continues to change, and she’s even further from her dream of being a writer, she thinks that maybe she’s just in a different fairy tale. And if she wants to be a princess, she’ll have to leave her best shoe behind(I was going for a “best foot forward thing, but it didn’t work, so just ignore that 🤣)

This was pretty fun! I can’t say that I’ve read a ton of books that started with the main character in reverse cowgirl(but I won’t be able to say that in the future!) Bella was a selfish character, and needed to work through her own fears of impending change in her life. Her desperation to find “the one” and then her obsessive need to do more things for her book made for an interesting character arc.

I saw Marty as the fairy godfather, as it were, because he always seemed to know exactly what she needed to feel better. His kindness was on display whenever he was on page, even with Bella calling him an arsehole and commenting on the amount of hookups he’s had. I knew I loved his character when I read about his flat filled with cozy, grandma-like decor - like a cup of tea as a room.

I know it was iconic, but I’d be happy to not have any more HP references in books - there were at least 4 that took me out of the story a bit, because they could have been described in a different way quite easily.

I can see why Bella’s writing was so popular, and I would definitely read the smut she writes in this book 😂

I thought there was some really good character development as the story went on, and I genuinely enjoyed all the shenanigans that happened while she looked for fairy tale inspiration. What a riot!

Not That Kind of Ever After is a stand-alone contemporary romcom. The storyline is a little choppy but overall it's a cute read.

The FMC Bella is her own worst enemy. While everyone seems to be moving on without her, she doesn't do much to help herself. Once she does finally get ahead she’s prone to self sabotage.

This is the author’s debut novel and I would be interested in reading more of her work in the future.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press (St. Martin’s Griffin)!

Thank you for an advanced copy of this book!

I was really looking forward to this book, and for the most part, I enjoyed it! The story had funny elements and was pretty entertaining. I also thought the dialogue/banter was well-written! I do feel like this is less of a romance and more of a women's fiction book, though.

I liked the story, but I wasn't a big fan of Bella. I definitely identified with some of her hang ups, but she wasn't a very likable person. She also wasn't always a very nice person, and I just couldn't get invested in her sadly. I just felt like she was insensitive and a horrible friend. I don't mind an unlikable character, but I do mind a mean character...and I felt she was mean at times.

I don't think this was a bad story, but that maybe I'm just not the target audience. I was expecting a bit more romance, and I really got a women's fiction book...which is cool, because it's still a decent story. Just not one I think I'll reread or buy for my shelves!

Thank you again for an advanced copy!

Star Rating: 3⭐️

Not That Kind of Ever After by Luci Adams is a delightful and captivating love story that takes time to unfold. The supporting cast is equally impressive, with each character deserving or their own novel. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a heartwarming and charming romance that will leave you feeling satisfied and content.

I do not like giving negative reviews but this just wasn't it for me. I try to think about the right audience for the book and if maybe I was just not in it but I can't really think of who this book would be for. It was almost a DNF for me and I tend to push myself to finish books even when not enjoying them (I do need to stop doing this though). It was very disappointing because I had this on my most anticipated releases list and it did not deliver what I was expecting.

The female main character was one of the most annoying characters I have read in a long time, I don't like being rude as I know this is someone's passion and dream but I just have to be honest. The plot did not make a whole lot of sense to me, the FMC was very childish and difficult to read about, I tried to love it but I couldn't.

The way the FMC expressed her feelings towards her best friend borderlined obsessive and crush-like instead of an actual healthy friendship. She hated her best friend's fiancee over what? No reason, whatsoever. This made the plot and reasoning for her actions feel so pressured and not plausible at all. The FMC literally wants to go and sleep with other people to prove him wrong? Are you ok? Basing life choices like this to spite your best friend's fiancee? Sure.

All of a sudden she realizes she had feelings for her bffs brother, that might as well have been her brother since they kind of were almost family at this point. No hint whatsoever and they were a thing. So many things did not make sense, the characters were not likeable, the plot was not there, I tried to think of something I liked about it but nothing really comes to mind.

I was living for all of the classic fairytales!!! While it was predictable, I didn't mind because it was still pretty cute overall! Bella was charming and relatable and overall I thought this book was fun, enjoyable and ridiculously sweet!

Bella Marble wants to be the princess in her own fairy tale. She works for a small press but isn’t the writer she dreams of being. Her soul mate and best friend Ellie is moving out and getting married. And her parents HEA is now ending in divorce. Life isn’t going the way she wants. Ellie’s brother (hot) Marty suggests she stop looking for Prince Charming and live her life. Her retelling of a one night stand on a story app ends up going viral making her want to look for other dating fairytale romances to write about.

This is all suppose to be fun and playful and the fairytale tie ins are fun to some degree. The book begins with her having a cringe one night stand with a hairy Charles Wolf. The payoff joke being she takes his red hoodie. Get it. She’s got a Red Hood and has been riding the Wolf. That’s the level of humor in the book. And Bella is the epitome of self absorbed immaturity. She judges everyones appearance, clothes and ways that they speak. She does get some minor character growth after 85 percent of the novel but by then I didn’t care. I give her a few points for truly caring about Ellie but she doesn’t treat her well either.

The best thing I can say about the book is the cover is cute. I wish I enjoyed the story more. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

So many things are changing for Bella. Her best friend is getting married. Her parents are getting divorced. And she's still on the hunt for her Prince Charming all while trying to kick off her writing career. After one horrendously hilarious one night stand, she pens a quirky story in a fairy tale spinoff which goes viral, and she is suddenly on a mission. However, that mission could lead to everything turning upside down.

Luci Adams is a brilliant story teller. Her characters could be your best friends. There are laugh out loud moments, but there are also some very cringe moments. Bella has all the best intentions, however, she is only human and royally makes a mess of her friendships and life much like we, the normal, everyday people do. Although we might not handle ourselves exactly how Bella does, there is a lot of emphasis given on how we can forgive, repair relationships, and move on. That is what makes this story golden.

Get ready for staying up late, laughing until you can't breathe, and perhaps shed a few tears. Not That Kind of Ever After wraps up all the feels and leaves you glorious smile.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

Rating: 4/5
Pub: 3.14.23
I received a copy of eARC for my honest opinion.

In this book you will meet Bella who is a receptionist at a small press, but she has always had the dream of being a writer and being noticed by “The One” but after her life is turned upside down, she decides to take her own life in her own hands and tries something new, and hopefully it will pay off.

I thought this book was cute, it was a little different than the other Romcoms I have read, and I think that is why I liked it so much. It was a little darker than your normal light fluffy romcoms and talked about topics you might not see much in them. I thought Adams did a great job with her world building, the plot came across clear and not confusing, the characters were well developed and the characters growth throughout the book was done beautifully.

Bella goes through a hard time with her life changing, losing her best friend/roommate because she is about to move in with her boyfriend, not having the job that she really wants, having to deal with some crazy new roommate and just trying to figure out her own life and dating. I found Bella to be relatable. I know that change is a little hard for me but it was the whole what am I doing with my life and the dating to find Mr. Right to be the most relatable. When Bella submits a chapter of a story she wrote about her dating life she thought she might have a few followers but instead she becomes huge fast and the fear of losing followers makes her take higher reckless risk in her dating life to continue making those chapters and let me tell you a few of those were crazy experiences and I loved how she would change the nights with them to write her next chapter of her fairytale dating. I was, however, cheering Bella on throughout the book. I am happy that she finally took some great advice from a great friend and realized what she really had and what would really make her happy.

I will be recommending this to anyone who loves RomComs, a fairytale dating app, horrible dates, and of course a happy ending.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this book

"Not That Kind of Ever After" by Luci Adams was a great read! The main character, Bella, is a bit lost and not satisfied with her life. She wants to be an author but isn't making progress on that. Until her best friend becomes engaged and Bella gets a wild idea. She starts to write about her dates and compares them with fairy tales. This takes off and Bella starts doing crazier things to get the stories. Until life hits her in the face and she realizes what is there in front of her. If you like romance and fairy tales this might be the book for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for a free ARC for my review.

This was a very interesting read, not what I expected at all, but was refreshing. Written in Bella's point of view as she works through her life's changes and challenges.

Bella's personal drama and emotional struggles are palatable at times. With a will to continue on through messy situations, sometimes Bella's choices just make it more complicated. I almost wanted to look away or cringe at a choice, or shout "No, don't do that", but needed to continue on to see how it pans out, and its worth it!

Filled with entertaining encounters, the kind you gossip to your best pall about, I found it had to put this book down. The impacts of social media and stress were really well described here too. The strength of friendship shown here is heartwarming.

Overall a cute and entertaining read that I would recommend to others.