Wendy’s Ever After by Julie Wright was an enjoyable coming of age book for young adult readers. I greatly enjoyed this return to Neverland through Wendy’s eyes and her new grown up world collides with her childhood fantasy. I give this book 5 stars. I received a complimentary free copy of this book from the publisher.

Thank you to Shadow Mountain Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC of this. I have loved Peter Pan since I was a little girl. The nostalgia for me was wonderful. I appreciated the setting being after the original adventure to Neverland with Peter. Incorporating a ball, new characters in the regular world, and finding love and trust -Wendy is searching for her way and how to find the balance of what was and what is and "growing up". Giving up and exchanging growth and maturity with a better version of yourself and to progress yourself and being more compassionate. Plus the dynamic of Captain Hook and the island's magic with Tinkerbell, the mermaids of Mermaid Lagoon.

Perhaps the thing that I loved the most is the concept of loss that was intertwined in Wendy's Ever After. Originally J.M. Barrie experienced loss of his older bother and a theme of loss intertwined and continued in this book. This was filled with emotion, a touch of romance, and learning to find the balance of magic and what it means to grow up. I do think that anyone who enjoys fairytale retellings will enjoy this book, I sure did!

Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Julie Wright’s “Wendy’s Ever After” is a nostalgic, gently romantic reimagining of what happens after Neverland—when Wendy Darling has grown up but hasn’t quite outgrown the magic, mischief, or heartbreak of her past. With elegant prose and frequent nods to both J.M. Barrie’s original and the Disney adaptation, this story offers a fresh take on Wendy’s ever-complicated connection to the world beyond the second star to the right. This is a very clean and safe YA book, perfect for younger YA readers and MG readers as well.

Now nearly 18, Wendy is a sought-after debutante in Edwardian London, caught in the glittering swirl of high society. But behind the perfect posture and poised smiles is a young woman grieving her father, practicing swordplay in secret, and still dreaming of a boy who promised her forever but never came back. When she meets a mysterious stranger at a masquerade ball—a man whose charm and mischief recall Peter Pan himself—Wendy is pulled back into the world she once thought she’d left behind.

Neverland, however, is not as she remembers it. The island is sick, the magic is fading, and the boundaries between memory and reality blur. Caught between the echo of her childhood dreams and the thrill of a new, grown-up connection, Wendy must choose: between the boy who broke her heart and the man who might mend it.

Where “Wendy’s Ever After” succeeds most is in its emotional maturity. This isn’t just a fantasy adventure—it’s a story about growth, grief, and perspective. Wendy is given agency and depth as she grapples with loyalty, love, and loss. The romance is sweet and slow-burning, with a surprising love interest (not Peter, and thankfully not Hook either). Liam, the newcomer, is an intriguing character who brings a fresh dynamic—though I think that he would have benefited from more development and his own point of view, especially given his important ties to Neverland.

The plot unfolds at a steady pace, with enough tension and mystery to keep you engaged, though some aspects—especially the villainy of Captain Hook and the island’s magical decay—are a bit underdeveloped. There are hints at deeper lore (like Hook’s connection to Peter and the symbolism of the crocodile’s death) that feel tantalizingly underexplored. Wright seems to aim for a tone that honors the innocence of the original while allowing space for Wendy to grow into someone who chooses her own path, not one written for her by Peter, Hook, or anyone else.

Overall, “Wendy’s Ever After” is a thoughtful and whimsical return to Neverland, full of heart and gentle romance. While it may not pack the emotional punch of some other reimaginings, it offers something softer and no less important: a coming-of-age story for a girl who once flew, who learned to land, and who now must decide whether—and how—to take flight again. Fans of clean fairy tale retellings will find this a charming addition to their shelves.

To anyone who's wondered what happened to Wendy in the Peter Pan story, this is the story to read. This book was a delight from start to finish. It grapples with childhood and growing up. There is a kind of peace and hope that growing up doesn't mean loosing your younger self, but rather discovering parts of yourself you didn't know existed.