You will be entertained by this book. It’s one of those reads that’s just cute and fun. It makes for a light read when you need one. The story flowed easily and smoothly. I Will definitely read one of this authors books again.

Thank you so much BooksForward for sending me this absolutely adorable PR package for When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane! This was such a heartfelt & romantic read about finding yourself when you feel like your life is falling apart.

👩‍🏫 Teacher
🎭 Theatre
📚 Literature
💥 Chaos
♥️ Romance
🐾 Bull Terrier
🔔 Philly
❤️‍🩹 Healing

This book was an interesting one, it lacks the level of engagement that held you captivated to its pages. For me, it was not very entertaining.

There's something so enjoyable about running across a book at the right moment, I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and I have to admit, I had a great time reading it. Not only was the story quick and fun, the pacing was well thought out with just enough drama, humor, and conflict to keep me wanting more. The story goes by fast and it would be a perfect poolside read as it is lighthearted and clever.
Abigail, the main character of the novel, gets a job as an English teacher even though her forte is in art. Nevertheless, she takes on the new assignment in stride and tries to breathe new life into old classics like Romeo and Juliet. When she spurs on conversations about how the students would change the ending, it gives her the idea to take it one step further and put on a production of the newly envisioned classic. She is also working on trying to take her personal life out of the realm of tragedy and into a happily ever after.

Thanks to NetGalley and SparkPress for the opportunity to read When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane. What a fun, and very very cleverly written, novel. I loved it, and adored the characters.

Publishers made this book available to Red Now through NetGalley, and I could not resist reading it. The book's description sucked me right in because I enjoy reading stories about characters who are struggling with life and have a hint of comedy in it. "When Happily Ever After Fails" delivers a wholesome story about being stuck and feeling defined by outside factors but still giving it your best shot. Abigail is a well-rounded character; each chapter teaches different aspects of her personality, such as coping mechanisms, all the personas she brings out to play, and her good-hearted nature. Pop culture references give the reader a feel of her humor and a way to connect with Abigail through literature, TV, and other media. You can expect to see Abigail in different stages of her life as she settles into the ever-changing roles of life, making her as real as possible to the reader.

The overall message of this story is relatable and focuses on becoming more aware of the "now" rather than trying to chase after what we envision to be a happy ending for our lives. This journey is not short of comical inconveniences, surprises, love, death, and growth.
I loved the story's inclusivity through the wide range of characters introduced along with their backstories. This and Abigail's solid characterization made for a realistic world and a cast of characters with which all readers can identify.

Most recommended for a cozy weekend read.

This review will be posted on GoodReads. https://www.goodreads.com/neurotic_bibliophile

This was a beautifully done novel, it had everything that I was hoping for from this type of book. It uses the fairy tale element perfectly and enjoyed how Abigail works to rewrite her current situation. Courtney Deane does a great job in creating a realistic story and characters. I'm glad I got to read this and enjoyed reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and SparkPress for this ARC of ‘When Happily Ever After Fails’ by Courtney Deane.

Ok Abigail Gardener is one of my new favourite characters. She’s so caring and sweet, I just love her! The journey she goes on trying to find her happy ending/ wondering if she will get one is just so heartfelt. Definitely recommend this book!

Twentysomething Abigail Gardner’s life is circling the drain. Her parents are dead, her “like a brother” is in love with her, and her nascent career as an art teacher was fully squashed by an unfortunate viral incident involving sophomores and Spanx.

But just as that whirlpool feels poised to suck her down completely, she’s granted a second chance: she lands a teaching job at Excelsior Primm, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most prestigious preparatory academies. Only problem is, instead of teaching art she’ll be stuck teaching her least favorite subject—literature—and her least favorite theme: tragedy.

Tired of being stuck in her own tragic tale, Abigail starts rewriting every sad ending she can get her hands on, in and out of the classroom. To her surprise, her life soon starts to resemble the fairy tales she adores—great job, hot guy, a career gaining recognition. But when an unexpected plot twist threatens to derail her happy ending, Abigail begins to realize why these conclusions are so hard to come by.

Very fun story!

We follow Abigail, a relatable, clumsy and incident prone young teacher as she begins a new job with an incredibly intimidating boss. We've all been there! Expecting to use her passion for arts, she finds she's tasked with sixth grade literature filled with nothing but sad classics. She is "volun-told" to lead a theater event with the students where she's inspired (after having more than her share of tragedy in her personal life) to have the group re-write the ending to one of Shakespeare's tragedies and turn it into a happy ending.

Abigail seems to grow and mature through the story, and her relationship with the handsome soccer coach was well written. This was a quick read, perfect in front of the fireplace!

Thank you to NetGalley, SparkPress and Courtney Deane for the ARC copy! Available on/around April 9, 2024.

I really liked the idea of this book. The premise of re-writing a tragic ending into the happy ending we crave, and maybe even manifesting a similar outcome in your own life as a result? That is an uplifting and inspiring notion. And it is charming how the re-write was done (and then performed) by Abigail’s students, who are earnest and endearing middle-schoolers.

Abigail’s interactions and experiences with her students are among my favorite parts of this novel. The caring and concern for her students really improves Abigail’s character. An improvement I appreciated as I struggled to like Abigail at first. I found her to be too judgmental, borderline mean (mostly in her head) and lacking in respect for other people’s boundaries. She does have self-awareness in these moments; and since she is working through grief, public humiliation and perceived failure, it makes sense that she would display some negativity. Also, she is not alone - most of the characters are unaccountably rude. This lends realism and complexity to this novel that is atypical of the genre – especially when the title invokes images of fairy tales. She is not a Disney princess, and I really think this novel is better for it. She is relatable, and I really began to root for her and cheered her successes.

This is a well-crafted, fun and easy read. It is a solid debut that makes clear that Courtney Deane is a real talent and I look forward to reading whatever she writes next. Thank you to NetGalley, Courtney Deane and SparkPress for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

When Happily Ever After Fail was a fast , flowing ,fun and cozy read. I loved Abigail with whom I mirrored myself quite a few times ,and I also loved her growth and her ability to be able to find her voice! The author was definitely a discovery and I look forward to reading more of her books!

Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for allowing me to read an ARC of When Happily Ever After Fails by Courtney Deane, in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Cute, clever, and relatable; the story moved quickly and thoughtfully. Grief and love are both powerful motivators, and Ms. Deane expressed both wonderfully.

I look forward to reading more by Courtney Deane.

*** I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.***

⭐️ 3.5 Courtney Deane has written an easy read with a relatable main character, a hint of grief, and a burst of inspiration that demonstrates happily ever after is what you make it.

After a disastrous wardrobe malfunction had Abigail abruptly leaving her last teaching job, she is surprised to receive an email from Excelsior Primm, one of Philadelphia’s oldest and most prestigious preparatory academies. Armed with her portfolio and box of art supplies she heads to the school to interview with the judgmental and sarcastic Headmistress. Only then does Abigail find out the opened position is not for an art teacher, but instead a liberal arts teacher.

Introducing her class to the classic story of Romeo and Juliet sparks a discussion that has them wondering, what if the stories they are reading didn’t end in tragedy? What could the characters have done to differently to get their happy ending? As the students rewrite an ending for their play Abigail strives to overcome her own personal tragedies and find her happily ever after.

Thank you NetGalley!