Disclaimer: I received this book in a sub box from once upon a book club. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Happily Ever Afters

Author: Elise Bryant

Book Series: Happily Ever Afters Book 1

Diversity: Mixed couples, Mixed main character, disabled brother, gay couple

Rating: 5/5

Recommended For...: romance readers, ya readers, contemporary fans

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Publisher: Blazer and Bray

Pages: 384

Recommended Age: 14+ (romance, microaggressions, racism, HP talk)

Synopsis: Sixteen-year-old Tessa Johnson has never felt like the protagonist in her own life. She’s rarely seen herself reflected in the pages of the romance novels she loves. The only place she’s a true leading lady is in her own writing—in the swoony love stories she shares only with Caroline, her best friend and #1 devoted reader.

When Tessa is accepted into the creative writing program of a prestigious art school, she’s excited to finally let her stories shine. But when she goes to her first workshop, the words are just...gone. Fortunately, Caroline has a solution: Tessa just needs to find some inspiration in a real-life love story of her own. And she’s ready with a list of romance novel-inspired steps to a happily ever after. Nico, the brooding artist who looks like he walked out of one of Tessa’s stories, is cast as the perfect Prince Charming.

But as Tessa checks off each item off Caroline’s list, she gets further and further away from herself. She risks losing everything she cares about—including the surprising bond she develops with sweet Sam, who lives across the street. She’s well on her way to having her own real-life love story, but is it the one she wants, after all?

Review: I really enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed the story and I thought that even though it was more of a romance book than what I would have usually read that it was very well grounded and didn't get as crazy as some romance contemporary ya books do. The characters were well developed and made very sound decisions throughout the book. The book also did well in talking about the experience a Black girl has in this world and with love. The book wove in talk about racism and microaggressions. It also talked about Black hair and styling, which was really cool. The main characters parents are a mixed couple and she has a disabled brother and I loved the inclusion of those characters because even today we don't see a lot of mixed couples in different media formats and we don't see a lot of children with disabilities either. The book also did well with the world building and the pacing.

The only issue I had with the book is that I am definitely left wanting more and while I don't like the Harry Potter talk in the books I loved how the author wrote them and included their problematic nature and the main characters disapproval and confused feelings about it and she who must not be named.

Verdict: highly recommend!!