A review, in two parts:

Part One: The actual book

I really, truly loved this book. I wasn’t expecting to come across my first 5-star read so early in 2025, but this book really resonated with me. Good writing, I find, will often articulate a feeling I haven’t yet been able to put words to, and this book did that several times. I loved the contrast between the frivolity of common romance tropes and both of the main character’s grief. There was so much in this book that could have become cheesy, but instead had a surprising amount of depth.

Amelia’s journey was inspiring, especially her resolve, in the end, to be okay, regardless of how things work out with Nathan. If I have any issue with this book, it’s that I wish we’d seen a little bit more of Nathan’s emotional journey.

Part Two: The other reviews

I was initially skeptical about reading this book because of very mixed reviews. As best as I can figure, the bulk of Maisey Yates' body of work has been Harlequin-type category romance. Not my cup of tea, but I’m not here to say what other people should or shouldn’t read. It’s just not for me. However, if I were a previous fan of this author and expected another category romance, I could see the confusion.

This is solidly a contemporary romance, more in the style of Abby Jimenez, Annabel Monaghan, etc.—NOT category romance by any means. So yeah, if I were expecting a fairly formulaic, short, sweet, and to-the-point romance, I’d be confused. This book has depth. It’s melancholy. It deals with some heavy subject matter. I cried, but I also felt inspired.

This departure from her previous sub-genre makes me wonder why this author didn’t release this book under a different pen name. Is this going to be a permanent shift for her?

So, to sum up: Awesome book. Confusing choice to release it under the same pen name was hundreds of category romances.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Montlake for this book, provided in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This was SO much more than I was expecting. An incredibly deep story between two author MCs, FMC owns a motel where MMC is a guest. While Amelia’s internal monologue was long, I think it was necessary to truly understand her perspective. This is a romance, which leans more towards literary fiction in my opinion. I loved the supporting characters, the old ladies had my heart.

I felt like my frontal lobe fully developed while reading. The character growth was 10/10. I’ll definitely be reading more from Maisey Yates.

Overall I enjoyed the book, however it dragged a bit for me, some of the monologs went on far too long. Both characters are writers and I liked that.
The FMC talks about meeting a word count in the book and this book also felt like the author needed to meet a word count, a little editing could have helped.

OK. Wow. I've read this author before and have loved her books. I was looking forword to this book and then I opened it. SO. MANY. NEEDLESS. WORDS. I almost quit mid-way through the first chapter. I put the book down for a day or two and crept up on it again. Finished the first chapter and began the second. That one was a bit better, although the dialogue was drawn out.

I don't like to not finish a book I've begun and especially an author I've enjoyed before, so I pushed on. About mid-way through the book, the pace picked up and got much more interesting. Emotional trauma and excruciating loss in the past for both main characters allowed this reader to understand where they were coming from and the things that terrified them. Getting those issues out in the open and facing thier fears helped the story.

I absolutely LOVED the matchmaking tricks of the geriatric set who live at the motel! So much fun and some laugh out loud moments. Three stars because the first part of the book was so unglued.

I wish I had a different word for it but- cute. It's kind of fun but mostly just a cute book to read for some light fun

I don't know how she does it, but with each novel she writes, Maisey Yates just gets better and better, especially at character development--if I was still teaching English, I'd use this novel as an example of how to create and build characters so empathetic and so well developed, who, by the end of the novel, seem as if you've known them forever. This was an amazing, unforgettable, 5-star read.

First the triggers, a hero widowed way too soon and trying to deal with his grief, a heroine who found the man she loved cheating on her, and, as if that wasn't enough, a miscarriage and the emotional devastation and grief that followed it. However, I wouldn't recommend taking a pass on this novel because of these triggers; since the manner in which the main characters deal with these issues is what makes this such a standout read.

Amelia needed a new start after the man she loved cheated on her, and who was also emotionally absent when she loss the little girl she was carrying 3 weeks before her due date--the reason why they couldn't save her is the one glitch I found in this novel. She bought a run-down motel in a small town and refurbishing and running it kept her grief at bay, as did many of the elderly, long-term residents she came to learn from and love. .Her other therapy is writing romance novels. under a pseudonym.

Then, one day, a man checks in--he's gorgeous but emotionally and verbally distant, and he spends his first 2 summers there, barely communicating with Amelia or anyone else. He turns out to be a bestselling author, living there under a pseudonym, and it's Amelia who recognizes from the photos on his book covers, but it's not until his third summer there, and a surprise check-in at Christmas when their relationship begins to develop and does it ever!

Having myself experienced grief and loss at a very early age firsthand, this novel rang so true to this reader. The journey from grief to healing is a long, slow, and painful process, and while the pain of loss changes over time, living and dealing with it and it's something Ms. Yates demonstrates so poignantly, since so much of the novel and our understanding of the issues these characters are dealing with through their own inner dialogues. I also found the fact that Ms. Yates is herself a novelist gave us additional insight on the process of writing as a form of therapy for both her characters.

At the center of this wonderful novel is the process of healing and daring to have hope for the future that both of her main characters slowly come to understand, and that the older and wiser, elderly motel residents encourage it. And don't we all have hope for our own futures? I know I do, and because of that, and how brilliantly and deeply Ms. Yates portrays these characters is the main reason I strongly recommend reading this novel. It's a gem of a read, from an author I've met and have been reading for some time. This may just be her best novel yet.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

Happy After All is the first book that I read by author Maisey Yates. I like discovering new authors and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Amelia Taylor is the owner of The Pink Flamingo motel in Rancho Encanto which is home to several feisty women in their 80's and 90's as well as others. Nathan Hart is a curmudgeon who appears yearly to work on a book he is writing.
Amelia is attracted to Nathan who does not reciprocate. Instead, he seems to be irritated by her attention.
As the story unfolds, they discover that they each have personal wounds that need to be dealt with.
It is interesting to read Happy After All to find out how each learns to accept and resolve their own emotional wounds. The characters are relatable.
I recommend this book.

Flirting with womens fiction, a tiny bit.

Still plenty of steamy times and enemies to hooking up.
Amelia is running a motel and a also a romance writer.
Nathan checks into room 32 and piques Amelia's interest.
I had a hard tine getting into Amelia's head and her first person narrative.
Packaged like women's fiction, first person like YA, but still a romance.

A very quirky and angsty book that had me intrigued from the start. I liked seeing the main characters grow with one another and take that risk for each other.

I do think at some points the writing lost me but not enough to not enjoy it.

I liked the breakdown of how romance novels work and how the author used it as a framework for the novel. At times it dragged on and was a bit angsty for my taste but I enjoyed Amelia’s growth and perception. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy After All by Maisey Yates was such a fun book. I had a hard time putting this one down. Don’t miss this one.

The plot had potential but it felt too long winded. There were too many words for not enough plot. There were moments that were good and some heavy editing would have made this an amazing book that talks about grief and giving love another chance.

Happy After All by Macey Yates left me feeling a bit… meh. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a cute story, but it didn’t quite sweep me off my feet. Honestly, I think this could have worked better as a novella with some trimming of the plot, but it still had its charming moments.

The story follows a romance author who crosses paths with a grumpy yet undeniably handsome man. Add a sprinkle of past heartbreak that fuels his brooding vibe, and voilà—you’ve got yourself a classic romance setup. It’s sweet, it’s predictable, but it’s also just… fine.

Thank you to NetGalley.com for allowing me to read this book.

Oh Maisey, you know how to write a gosh darn love story! This book just was absolutely darling. I devoured it! I could not put it down. Get ready for a fun ride with this one.

I enjoyed the concept of two different genre of authors writing and falling in love. Of course I wasn't sure if it was going to end up that way. This book was a lot about the towns people and then second about the two main characters. I read it during a snow storm which was prefect because part of this book takes place over the Christmas season.

Already one of my favorite books for 2025. The characters fit together in this story so well. I enjoyed their banter and back stories. I love this cover. The colors make me happy. I think Yates did a great job with Happy After All. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

3 ⭐️ I really liked the concept but I had a hard time getting through the book! It was just a little too wordy and long winded.

3 stars for "Happy After All", but mostly because I identified with leaving L.A. for the desert and really liked the quirky retro motel setting. But like other reviewers, I felt this was just way too slow and really dragged and I think a lot of it just needed cutting and better editing. I did not mind the trauma discussed as most people over young adulthood have baggage, but others may disagree. So, overall a mixed review from me. Many thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for the "read now" advance copy - greatly appreciated that

I have a few issues with this one. First, it's just too long in my opinion. There is so much inner monologue that just made the story drag. Then we get to the second half and it's suddenly one big trauma dump. Add in, there was no content warning about the grief and loss of an advanced pregnancy (in the past, but heavily talked about). It just went downhill for me.
In the beginning, I enjoyed it. It was cute and had potential. It just sort of went off the rails and my interest in the main characters dwindled.

This book truly had it all! Maisey Yates was a new author for me, thanks to NetGalley. It was quirky, intrigue-filled scenes paired with sharp, witty dialogue/banter, and emotionally charged moments of grief between Amelia and Nathan. Their chemistry was evident on every page. With Amelia and Nathan's shared history as writers with deeply hidden tragic pasts, making this an instant page-turner.
Adding to the charm are the long-term elderly residents of a roadside motel, whose meddling brings humor, warmth, and heartfelt wisdom to the story. Their advice and reflections are beautifully woven into the plot, delivering moments of profound insight. Great cast of characters.
The balance of emotional depth, compelling revelations, and an overarching sense of hope make this one a 5 star for me. It is one of my favorite reads this year. If you're looking for a story that will make you laugh, cry, and believe in second chances, this book is an absolute must-read!