I was drawn to this title because of the book's cover. It's gorgeous and appealing. The story is just the same. The action is believable, and the setting is perfect. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed how Johnson crafted each character and storyline. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Muse for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

NOTE: This is the U.S. version of Johnson's "The Happiest Ever After" published in the U.K. last year.

So full disclosure: I am a total Milly Johnson fan. She is my favorite modern author and each of her new books is an automatic buy for me. I usually buy e-books but with Milly, I buy the hard cover because 99% of the time it is so worth it. Yes, her writing is that good so excuse me while I do a bit of gushing...

This story was SO good! I loved Polly and I loved the twisty-turny plot. I loved Marrielle, Teddy, Flick, and the rest of the supporting cast of characters. I roared with laughter at the "Daily Trumpet" typos as well as Johnson's snarky turn of phrase while describing the self-centered and selfish characters who I enjoyed hating.

There were heartwarming scenes of friends and family supporting each other, a sweet, slow burn love story, and a wonderful, satisfying HEA.

A smattering of f-bombs.

I cannot wait to read this again and also listen to the audio book.

Another enjoyable Milly Johnson book, great characters lovely setting what's not to like. Just could not put it down. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Cute premise but kinda forgettable…

Okay, so The Accidental Rewrite was a solid “it’s fine” read for me. I can totally see why people love Milly Johnson, I mean, there’s a cozy, comforting energy to her writing that feels like a warm cup of tea on a rainy day. And the idea of waking up as your fictional alter ego?? Sooooo fun. I was so here for the Overboard vibes and the chaotic memory-loss twist, I remember watching the OG Overboard movie with my grandma when I was little and then we would watch all the remakes together during weekend visits, so this felt very nostalgic for me.

Buuut the execution didn’t totally hit for me. It took a while to get going, and even once it did, some parts felt repetitive or overly drawn out. I wanted more oomph, more tension, and less internal monologue. Polly (or Sabrina? lol) had potential, but she never fully came alive for me like I didn’t always connect with her decisions, and sometimes she felt more like a plot device than a real person.

Also, this definitely leaned more women’s fiction than rom-com, which isn’t bad! Just not what I was expecting based on the cover and the blurb. The romance with Teddy was sweet but pretty surface-level. Like, I love a good slow burn, but this was more like a simmer that never quite boiled.

Still, it had its moments. The setting was charming, and I did smile a few times at the quirky side characters and small-town chaos. It’s giving “comfort read on a sick day” energy. Just don’t go in expecting fast pacing or a ton of romantic tension.

Final verdict: not a flop, not a slay. Just mid but like, cozy mid. I think if you also have a soft spot for the Overboard movie(s) you should definitely pick this up for the vibes.

Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.