Not That Kind of Ever After: a disappointing modern take on classic fairytales

 Not That Kind of Ever After by Luci Adams is one woman’s journey to claim her own happily ever after in the age of dating apps and the quest to find your soulmate. Life for Bella Marble is not what she imagined. Instead of being a published author, she is a receptionist. Instead of being happily married, she is single and her best friend, Ellie Mathews, is moving out and getting married! Feeling adrift, she spends some time with Marty, Ellie’s aggravating but oh-so-hot brother. When Marty challenges Bella to stop looking for “the one” and just have fun, she finds a new side of herself. After posting about a disastrous one night stand in a fairy tale style, she has gone viral. Now the pressure is mounting to write more of these fairy tales, but can she write one without living one? Can her soulmate already be before her eyes?

Even though this story is described as “Fairytale meets feminism,” I was intrigued by the premises of modern day fairy tales. However, this story was a disappointment from the opening line. The story is broken up into seven parts with a total of 100 chapters! Groan! Granted the chapters are quick but they're almost too quick. Once you get into the chapter, it’s over. Then there’s Bella. How can we cheer and root for a character who introduces herself with this opening “It came, unlike me, while I was riding backward cowgirl on what must have been the hairiest man in London.” Ummm, what?!? The story doesn’t get better from there. Bella is completely unlikeable. She is judgmental and has an inflated ego. She wants to be the next Bridget Jones. Another groan from me.  Overall, I did not enjoy this book. I would not recommend Not That Kind of Ever After. 

Not That Kind of Ever After is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook