There are no fairy tale endings in middle school. Or are there? Greta Starr is feeling overwhelmed, under-prepared, and inadequate in seventh grade, especially compared to her friends. When a magical girl offers a solution to make all of Greta's problems disappear, it's a tempting idea. But, as anyone who's ever read fairy tales can guess, there's a catch involved--and a pretty sizeable one at that. Readers will be rooting for Greta all through this well-written, funny, and wise middle-grade novel.

Indian in the Cupboard meets Grimms' fairly tales in this enchanting story of middle schooler Greta who receives a cuckoo clock as a gift, only to discover not only that one of the clock's figurines is alive, but that there's a fantastical world inside the clock where she can escape all her troubles. But once she makes the choice, she can never return! Loved watching the story unfold as Greta struggles with changing friendships, discovering her talents, and even a budding romance.

Seventh grader Greta Starr receives a special gift on her twelfth birthday: a unique cuckoo clock that brings a troublesome living doll named Lulu into her life.

The cover of the book, which features a colorful illustration of a girl (Greta) sitting on the bottom ledge of a chalet-style cuckoo clock, is what initially drew me to this story.

The blurb was interesting, the characters and setting seemed believable, and I most enjoyed the beginning of the book which included a family trip to Germany with some descriptions of German culture.

Best suited for middle school readers.

Christy Ottaviano Books
Little, Brown and Company
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Hatchette Book Group
August 19, 2025

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#Brightbookreviews #netgalley

This is a new take on a clock and fairy tales. The descriptions really make you feel like you can see these characters and this clock.
This story will let kids use their imagination as they read this story.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Enjoyed reading Melissa's sophomore novel. This felt like a modern day reimagining of a Grimm tale, filled to the brim with middle school drama. This tale had everything from friendship breakups to lies gone very wrong. A creepy doll with an intriguing offer makes everything... scarier? Worse? A fun read for kids who love grounded fantasy with a hint of horror and a lot of Verlegenheit!

Another wonderful book from Melissa Dassori! She has such a big imagination. My middle school self would have LOVED this story (and my adult self did too). I don't want to give away any spoilers, but this story swept me away and I loved every twist!

Greta Starr just turned 12, and she feels like she’s too grown up for fairytales. But when a distant relative sends her a cuckoo clock as a birthday gift, Greta learns that the magic of Grimm’s fairytales is more real than she thought. And the girl from her cuckoo clock (who is more alive—And quite a bit more trouble—than a cuckoo clock carving should be) offers her a chance to leave the troubles in drama of real life behind and live forever in the magical fantasy world inside the clock.
Greta is navigating the complicated relationships of middle school, and she’s trying to find her “thing” (the one thing that makes her special, like her best friends’ talents in athletics or acting), she wants to become a star reporter for the school paper. But trying to find the best stories to showcase. Her voice is more difficult than she expected. So she gives the news a little “push” to set stories in motion. But this little “harmless” manipulation backfires on her, and Greta is left feeling alone and out-of-control when it hurts her best friends and gets her kicked off the school paper. That magical life inside the cuckoo clock is looking more and more inviting…
This book is super-relatable for anyone who has ever felt like they are not quite as special as everyone else. And readers may find their own spark as they cheer Greta on in her search to find her unique voice.

Greta deals with a lot as a new seventh grader: she struggles to come up with news article ideas for the school paper; she feels overshadowed by her two closest friends, an athlete and a musical theater star; and she's navigating a crush. Oh, and she's also hiding an enchanted doll from a magical clock that offers her an option to escape into a magical fairy tale world. In this endearing tale, readers will root for Greta to figure out how to live her best life without resorting to magical dreams.

Getting lost in the woods is a lot like being in middle school. It's easy to lose your bearings, to forget where you came from, and who your most trusted travelling companions are. In Melissa Dassori's eagerly anticipated second novel, GRETA EVER AFTER, Greta Starr, 7th grader and budding journalist, learns the hard way that shortcuts don't always save you time, and that a fairy tale ending is not all it's cracked up to be.
A wonderful contemporary tale infused with a touch of magic and wonder, this is the perfect read for middle grade readers to get lost in!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown/Christy Ottaviano Books for the opportunity to read an EArc!

Coming-of-age meets fairy tale in Melissa Dassori's charming second novel, GRETA EVER AFTER.

Seventh grader Greta Starr is struggling to find herself. Her friends seem to have it all figured out, but Greta hasn't yet determined what her niche might be. Is it the middle school newspaper? This year's musical? Add to those everyday worries the fact that the clock Greta received for her birthday from a relative in Germany turns out to be inhabited by a magical doll named Lulu. Perhaps Lulu will help solve Greta's problems... or perhaps she'll only create bigger ones. For as Greta observes... there's something a little 'Grimm' about Lulu.

Fairy tale magic is expertly sprinkled over the real-world magic (and mayhem) of middle school friendships and first crushes in this clever exploration of the tightrope walk of growing up. It's a perfect balance for middle grade readers, who have one foot in childhood and one foot in the grown-up world.

The newspaper headlines that flash through Greta's mind are shared with the reader to great effect, and the messages in the school musical (Sondheim's Into the Woods) are a pitch-perfect parallel to Greta's story. Young readers will see themselves lovingly drawn in Greta as she navigates the perilous waters of middle school.

Hooray for this second magic-tinged contemporary from Dassori!

My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown / Christy Ottaviano Books for the eARC.

Middle Grade perfection! Cleverly told, this story has friendship struggles, self-created problems, a bit of magic and whimsy, plus the undercurrent of the "grimmer" side of fairy tales. I related to Greta thinking in headlines and enjoyed watching her foray into journalism. I loved it!