I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Admittedly I am not a huge fan of the original Peter Pan, at least the Disney movie. (Gasp! I know, I haven't actually read the original book). But I have loved all the adaptations of the original that I have read. I loved experiencing Neverland through Wendy's eyes both youthful and matured. I loved the way the book makes you wonder who the real villain is in this story. The complexity of the relationships between the characters. The draw between wanting to stay young and growing up, what is the true adventure? I loved it all. I would very much recommend this to anyone and everyone who loves a great adventure.

This charming tale gives Wendy the ever after she deserves!

I loved how the story shows the changes in perspective between adults and children.

I loved the quotes starting each chapter as well as the blend between Disney & J.M. Barries' versions. Returning to Neverland but as a grown woman really had me pondering life. I cant believe got old... 😳

Perfect for fans of Peter Pan, retellings & those that may have gotten older but never grew up!

Peter Pan has always been my favorite book, and is the reason I became an author. I’ve read the original am by JM Barrie 15 times and it never fails to take me back to my childhood and that magic I felt as a young girl. Wendy’s Ever After took me back to that place and it was such an amazing thing! I was absolutely obsessed the whole time. I love the twists with the characters and the island, but at the same time it stayed true to the world and people Barrie created.

I loved the addition of Liam! I wish it had all been a little longer and that the romance between him and Wendy had been stretched a little longer, but all in all it was absolutely amazing ❤️ currently recommending all my friends preorder this bad boy.

I loved the new story, "Wendy’s Ever After." It captivated me with its blend of Regency romance and adventure. The opening scene takes place in a beautiful ballroom, which sets a lovely tone. The story also explores some intriguing mysteries and a darker side of Neverland, which kept me engaged. There were plenty of surprising twists along the way, and it was great to see all the familiar characters back again. I especially liked learning more about Peter Pan and Captain Hook. It was a delightful experience getting to see how Wendy's journey continues. This book is perfect for readers ages 13 and up!
I received a complimentary e-copy of this book and read it with pleasure. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review. Thank you, Shadow Mountain Publishers, Proper romance and NetGalley.

I wanted to love this one, but unfortunately it was a mixed bag.

I loved Liam, but Wendy and Peter were frustrating characters for me to read. I loved the idea, but overall it was hard to get into.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain for the chance to read an advanced copy.

What happens when we grow up? Wendy Darling ( yes, that Wendy) is forced to ask herself that question. At 18 her mother believes it is time for her to join society. Enter newcomer Liam Blackwell. There is something familiar about him that Wendy can’t quite put her finger on. Soon, she finds herself fighting to save Neverland- but can she fight her attraction to Liam? A new, darker take on the familiar Peter Pan story, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Charming story! This was so nostalgic for me to read of Wendy returning to Neverland. She had longed to go back and continue with Pan where they left off, and she was not ready to get married as her mother desired. I could almost hear the characters’ voices (as per the Disney movie) as Wendy slowly came to realize how much she had matured and Pan had not. One of my favorite parts was learning the backstory between Peter and Captain Hook and how they became enemies. Wendy and Liam had such chemistry at the ball, and as they came to realize there is always two sides to every story, they worked together to find a solution to help Neverland recover from its ills. Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing, I received a complimentary ARC copy with no obligation to post a positive review. The thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wendy’s Ever After is a compelling new take on Peter Pan. Written as a YA, there are plenty of themes that will leave the adult heart pondering and wondering. It explores the idea of being present, here and now, while realizing things behind are not always as they seem and things ahead are not yet defined. Many elements of Neverland are just as we remember from the original story, but there are some twists and turns that bring some new dimensions. I do love that Wendy’s daring and protective nature has remained intact. She is feisty and sassy and still acts like, well, a mother. Even though she’s not quite ready to be a mother, she has great capacity to love and care for others. Her new friend challenges her to examine long held belief and offers new possibilities if new versions of the truth are indeed true. Julie Wright always impresses me with her writing and her apt ability to capture the issues many of our heart’s wrestle against. There is always light at the end with hope infused throughout. I enjoyed the adventure back to Neverland and highly recommend to others.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This whimsical journey Wendy takes back to Neverland as an adult is a fascinating study of contrasts between childhood and adult perspectives, between perceived and accurate reality of memories and motivations, between desires to have things stay permanent and desires to progress and grow. I enjoyed Julie Wright's story and the direction it ended up going. The twists and turns fit the subject matter, but were delightfully unexpected.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

This was a fun read!

For a YA audience, I’d say this was an enjoyable, spice free, intriguing retelling on the classic Peter Pan. As an adult reading YA, Wendy did feel more immature than I typically enjoy, but it never crossed into annoying behaviour. I may have found a couple fight scenes hard to believe, but this is fantasy, haha, and we live for the unexpected!

The romance was sweet, and Wendy and Liam had great chemistry. Neverland is different than the world we remember as kids. But it’s still an adventure waiting to happen on the second star to the right and straight on till morning.

Also, the cover hooked me! 😍 Gorgeous!

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

This was a interesting look on the Peter Pan story years after Wendy and her brothers go to Neverland as children. I liked the character building and interactions. This story really showed there are always two sides to a story. The way this book told the different sides of the characters stories was clever and interesting.

Bridgerton meets Neverland is a captivating tale 5 years post events of the Darlings escapade with Peter Pan. We always dream of returning to neverland, a place frozen in time. But we change, we grow up. But is growing up not its own adventure?
Wendy's Ever After explores that longing to return while also grappling with grief and moving forward. It shines a new light on Neverland in the eyes of an adult that I felt reflected accurately on myself and my own experiences. It helps that Wendy had some romance to help her along the way but she maintained her independence as well which I appreciated.

Neverland will always be a sort of home to me and I will always love it. Just as I love and cherish all the iterations that's Peter and Neverland have gone through.

3.5/5

Julie Wright’s Wendy’s Ever After imagines what comes after Neverland, as Wendy Darling steps into adulthood with memories of flying, fighting pirates, and a boy who never grew up. Now a debutante in Edwardian London, Wendy’s polished life conceals a restless heart still haunted by Peter Pan.

When a mysterious stranger with a familiar spark pulls her back to a fading Neverland, Wendy faces a world changed—and a choice between clinging to the past or embracing a new, tender love. The story blends gentle romance, grief, and growth with subtle nods to the classic, delivering a clean, thoughtful YA tale perfect for younger readers.

While some magical elements and side characters could be deeper, the real strength lies in Wendy’s emotional journey—her courage to choose her own path and find wonder in growing up. Wendy’s Ever After is a charming, bittersweet coming-of-age story about holding onto magic without getting stuck in childhood.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

3.5/5 stars

Have you ever wondered what happened to Wendy once she left Neverland? 'Wendy’s Ever After' takes that question and spins it into a nostalgic, romantic adventure.
This book captured my attention quickly in the start. It was hard not to fall in love with Wendy and the mysterious Mr Blackwell. Their banter was witty and their chemistry was off the charts. It was so easy to fall in love with their dynamic, and for a while, I thought this book would be an instant favourite.
But once the story returned to Neverland, it didn't quite land the same. I loved the plot and the little nods to the original tale, but Wendy and Liam’s relationship didn’t quite pull me in the same way. The conflict resolved too easily, and I never felt any real stakes. By the time everything was neatly tied up, I realized that while I enjoyed the journey and wanted to root for their love story, I wasn’t fully invested.
Still, for anyone who loves a bit of Peter Pan nostalgia with a romantic twist, this book offers a fun escape. Even if it didn’t completely steal my heart, it was definitely a charming read.

"Wendy Darling is drawn back to Neverland, torn between childhood memories of Peter Pan and the mysterious young man who now stirs her heart.

Wendy Darling has grown into a stunning young woman. Her days are filled with social gatherings and elegant balls, but her nights are alive with memories of fighting pirates, soaring through the skies, and other wild escapades through Neverland with Peter Pan - the boy who never grew up.

When Wendy meets a handsome and mysterious stranger, there's something about him that feels familiar yet elusive. His eyes sparkle with a mischief that tugs at Wendy's heartstrings, reminding her of Peter. Intrigued and a bit unnerved, Wendy finds herself inexplicably drawn to this handsome young man and soon finds herself back in Neverland.

Caught between the allure of her past and the promise of the future, Wendy must navigate a perilous new journey, rediscovering the courage and wonder that once defined her youth. As she battles old foes and forges allies with new friends, Wendy is torn between her memories of a boy she once loved and the man who has stolen her heart."

Ever since I saw Hook I've been more than a little obsessed with Wendy growing up...

In Wendy's Ever After by Julie Wright a YA story takes on a journey back to Neverland. Just imagine if Wendy had the chance to go to Neverland and see Peter Pan again and Captain Hook wasn't always such a bad guy and someone had it out for Peter to destroy him.

Our story starts with Wendy being eighteen years old and she is not satisfied with her current life situation. She is still grieving the loss of her father. then Wendy and Liam are then transported to Neverland and when they get there Neverland is much different than Wendy remembers. Wendy has to find Peter Pan before Captain Hook does.

I was overall quite impressed with this book. Is it perfect? No/ It's tame which is ok for YA. The character development needed more maybe. The story is good don't get me wrong but maybe for a younger YA audience this may be just enough. However the story is enjoyable.

I received an arc copy from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing in exchange for my honest review.

A fun twist on the story of Peter Pan showing a 'what could have happened' after. I really enjoyed the magic and mystery along with the darker side of Neverland. There were some pretty good twists and turns and all your favorite characters have returned. Anyone who enjoys fairytales will love this story. The deeper dive into who really is Peter Pan and Captain Hook will keep you on the edge of your seat as well as wondering with Wendy about what she really wants in life.

This is a cute YA novel! I have always loved Peter Pan and Wendy Darling and have always tried to find books written about them, so I was so excited for this one! I loved the story telling and the twists and turns added to the story of Peter Pan. It was everything I was hoping for!

QUICK STATS

𝑅𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔: ❤️❤️❤️/5 (3.5/5)
𝑻𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒔: Story Retelling, Enemies-to-Lovers, Strong FMC,
𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸ℯ ℒℯ𝓋ℯ𝓁: N/A
𝓣𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓰𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓼: Mentions of Death, Brief Scenes of Violence

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"Wendy's Ever After" answers the question of, "What happened to Wendy after Peter Pan?" The story follows an older Wendy as she meets Liam Blackwell, a mysterious man whose intrigue leads her to Neverland again. I love a good adventure story and Wright doesn't disappoint with the stakes and passion that Wendy's determination and Liam's strength and charisma bring to the page. There are lovable side characters and twists you don't expect coming!

CHARACTERS

WENDY: Wendy is the protagonist of the story. She's fiercely independent, in control of her faculties, and loyal to Peter and her family. She's a well-rounded, dynamic character who struggles between growing up and wanting to be young again, as well as her tumultuous relationship with Liam. I loved Wendy's strength and independence, and she was a character who had her flaws. I wish we'd gotten to understand more of her past relationship with her family and particularly Peter Pan, because they seem glossed over and only brought up during important moments.

LIAM: Liam is a secondary character in the story and Wendy's love interest. His character is deeply rooted in loyalty to the people who supported him, but I liked that he began to learn that loyalty to a person doesn't always mean you should agree with everything that they do. Liam's relationship with Wendy is sweet and I wish I got to see more of them in London! I also wish we got a better understanding of Liam's scar. He explains how it happens, but it's never brought up again, even when they meet the reason behind the scar. I wish there had been more of an explanation there.

PETER PAN: Peter Pan is the former titular character of the original story. He's childish and stubborn and his feelings for Wendy vary from seeing her as a mother to wanting her to stay as someone akin to a lover? Peter's role in the story is still ambiguous to me. To some, he's the antagonist. To others, he's a hero. I wonder if Wright did this on purpose to show that there's no 'right answer' to Peter's character. I found myself leaning on both sides, but mainly the antagonistic side. Even though Wright shows us the good he did, on a broader spectrum, it still seems antagonistic. I did love his banter with Liam, though, and how through it all, Peter still cared for Wendy and accepted her.

CAPTAIN HOOK: Captain Hook is another character in the story, written mainly as the antagonist, but he does have his moments. As expected, Wendy despises him, but when the reason for his behavior comes to light, it's a bit hypocritical how she easily forgives the others who were affected by the same "plague" that Captain Hook is controlled by (it's not quite a plague, but I can't spoil anything 😅); however, she still maintains her animosity to Hook. I think it sort of pushes Wendy's character development back when she doesn't even acknowledge him.

THE PLOT

I LOVE a good adventure story, and Wright doesn't disappoint in Wendy's journey to find her Happily Ever After. Reading about her reuniting with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys as well as the journey with Liam was exciting and page-turning; I read the entire book in one sitting! I will say that I found the descriptions to be a bit too lengthy at times and it made me briefly detach from the story. Another thing I noticed is that Wright tells the reader much of what is happening instead of showing them. While this is common in 3rd person narrative, I wish, when reading about Wendy or Liam's inner turmoil's, Wright would show us how they were feeling. There were also places where there were choppy sentences, where names were repeated twice when they could have been replaced by a pronoun.

Watching Wendy and Liam's relationship grow and develop, helping them not only grow as people but as a couple, was really heartwarming to read about! This is exactly the kind of adventure story my younger self (and even me now) loves! I wish we'd gotten to see them more in London, perhaps see Wendy's mother's reaction to her and Liam. Both their ages are ambiguous, but I'm assuming that Wendy is around 18, with Liam being close to her age. What I felt was lacking was when discussing their backstories. Liam and Wendy share similar griefs, but there's not really much mention about that after making them bond in the beginning of the story. I wish we'd gotten more depth about what happened, particularly with Liam, as his backstory is vague and leaves a lot of loose ends.

Another part of the story I enjoyed but felt was left on a cliffhanger was the part about the shadows. It seemed to be a major plot point, but the ending was left ambiguous, and I can only wonder now who was behind it and why. I never watched the original Peter Pan, nor am I aware of the story, so I'm not sure if there's truly not an answer to the question behind the shadows. I wish there was more clarity with that.

THE SPICE

Apart from kissing between the two main characters, there is no spice in this book, which I think was a good decision! Not only is it YA, but I don't think anymore spice would have worked within this fast-paced story. That being said, I LOVED Liam and Wendy's chemistry. It was palpable and clear as day!

THE TRIGGERS

There aren't a lot of triggers in this book, but there are mentions of past grief and loss, as well as brief scenes of violence. Please keep yourselves safe and check the author's list of triggers before reading ❤️

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Overall, I absolutely loved this book! This is a book I plan to have in my hands one day because it was incredible! It brought me back to my youth and gave me a book I wish I'd had years ago. The plot moved along smoothly and the characters were all dynamic and memorable. Overall, an incredible book from an incredible author!

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for giving me a digital ARC copy of this book! I am leaving this review voluntarily

Imagine if Wendy had the chance to go to Neverland and see Peter Pan again. What if Captain Hook wasn't always such a bad guy and he was just hardened by the death of his relatives. What if someone had it out for Peter to destroy him.
Our story starts with Wendy being eighteen years old and she is not satisfied with her current life situation. She is still grieving the loss of her father and it doesn't help that she has all these suitors begging for her hand. One night she goes to the ball and she meets a mysterious yet handsome young man named Liam. However, after the ball is when things start to go south.
Wendy and Liam are then transported to Neverland and when they get there Neverland is much different than Wendy orginally remember. However, the only plan Wendy has to find Peter Pan before Captain Hook does.
I was overall quite impressed with this book even though it was meant for someone much younger than me. Wendy feelings about marriage in the beginning of the book were indeed justified. I was hoping she would have ended up with Liam but then I remembered that Jane's father is named Edward so that wouldn't have worked. Although I would like to read a book about Wendy meeting Edward.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.