Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to preview this ARC read. This book had me intrigued the entire time. It starts off running and doesn't stop giving you unpredictable twists and turns.

Never, Ever, After....it is just as it seems. Yining a clever mind reader has scammed the wrong person. When guards are alerted of her and her aunts thievery Yining is faced with a choice to run and have help of a mysterious stranger promising to repay the dept or be seized and put to work in the mines. Since wprkomg in the mines is a death sentance a bargan with a stranger named Jin seems like a no brainer. However, using her scamming skills is just what Yining has planned to avoid repaying her debt.
On her way home after making her deal she is presented with a ring that will seal her fate. If she takes the ring she is promised things she has only heard of in fairy tales to refuse the ring means she will continue to live life as she has scamming others and with an abusive guardian. With one impulsive decision her fate is sealed. With the ring comes a grand turn of events presenting Yining with opportunities she never dreamed of having. Yining grows to learn the truth of her past but has a hard time letting go. While some of her choices have made her a captive in ways to a destiny she is not interested in living she is reunited with her stranger, Jin. While Yining is living a new cush life her and Jin strike yet another deal. Jin needs her to obtain a special treasure and she needs him to escape a life she is not intersted in living. Nothing will stand in the way of Yining and her freedom. Come along while Yining and Jin while they work together to save thier kingdoms and change thier fate.

Glittering and gorgeously done, Sue Lynn Tan’s NEVER EVER AFTER is compulsively readable. I fell head over heels for the world building and character development, all beautifully packaged in a book that enraptures you from the very first page.

Wow-the way she seamlessly blended different fairy tales together in this book was chef’s kiss! I don’t care for love triangles, but this one had me intrigued! I love how the fmc was never a victim but always powerfully in control of her actions. The ending had me on the edge of my seat also. This is a must read!

Firstly, thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for giving me the opportunity to read an e-ARC of this book.
I have really loved everything that Sue Lynn Tan has written. This new book is geared towards young adults and the tone is definitely a bit different than her previous books that are written more for adults. The language is a bit simpler and the writing less lyrical. But it was still just as good!
This books starts off as a Cinderella retelling, but quickly branches into its own story. It gets dark, it gets suspenseful, and I really enjoyed the blossoming romance between Yining and Jin (not really a spoiler because you can totally see it coming the second they meet).
I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to the next book in this new series!

Sue Lynn Tan has done it again. A tale of fate, of family, and of magic, Never Ever After delivers on all fronts. Yining, our protagonist, is a young girl orphaned and looking for a better life than the one of poverty and cruelty subjected by her step-aunt. Jin is a mysterious figure from a land afar, teasing and alluring yet willing to do anything for his homeland. Prince Zixin is a walking contradiction and full of secrets and a haunted past. Together, these characters help form the story and deliver a delightful read with a unique magic system. 5/5 stars.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion. Never Ever After goes on sale in September of 2025.

I really enjoyed reading this book! The author did a fabulous job with keeping the story interesting and flowing. I never really liked books that drag on but this book never did! The characters were very unique and I really enjoyed there journey. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!

Thank you to Little Brown Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for the ARC. I was excited to learn about this new title from Sue Lynn Tan, Never Ever After is an immersive and sometimes cheeky Cinderella inspired young adult fantasy. I enjoyed Yining as the street smart protagonist, who can take care of herself, thank you very much. There were some parts that felt a bit rushed, but overall, I greatly enjoyed this and will read the next in the series!

This is such a beautiful fantasy mixed with fairy tale (reimagined?). Cinderella was one of my favorites growing up but this was 10 times better than I could have ever imagined. I am excited to buy a trophy of this when it comes out 😍

I loved The Celestial Kingdom Duology, was a little underwhelmed by Immortal but this book brought back the excitement I had reading DOMG. This book had that lore, the Chinese mythology tie in, a sprinkling of Cinderella which I am always a sucker for. The prose and imagery was beautiful, as her books always are and I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
The characters were complex and nuanced and I think when SLT has more time to breath her writing into a story she really shines in pacing and plot and twists and romance. The characters and stakes were introduced and fleshed out in a way that did not feel overwhelming to the plot.
I can't wait to see where book 2 takes us and book 1 won't even be out until later this year