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lindoforbes's review against another edition
Published January 4, 2022
YA Romance, 320 pages
Standalone
1st POV
Bechdel Test: Pass
Does it bang? No
Representation: N/A
YA Romance, 320 pages
Standalone
1st POV
Bechdel Test: Pass
Does it bang? No
Representation: N/A
ljreads08's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book! It follows Lenore, Tessa's best friend (from Happily Ever Afters) as she navigates the summer after high school and her tricky, mostly disappointing love life. This book was honestly swoon-worthy! I felt butterflies in my stomach several times while reading and that only happens when a book is so well-written! In the beginning I thought it was going to follow one of those tired "fake dating" tropes but my girl Lenore told Alex, "nah, fuck that" when he suggested it. I think I feel in love with this book right then. LOL It was funny, it was tender, it was dreamy. I also loved how it didn't get to deep into racism, etc. - it was simply a story of successful, smart black people living their lives and loving each other. It was a great escape.
Thank you Goodreads for the advanced copy of this book!
Thank you Goodreads for the advanced copy of this book!
blodeuedd's review
3.0
Lenore is an artist, but she is not really sure where her place in the world is. Yes she is going to NYU, but to study what? What does she want to be? And her family is constantly pressuring her. She has to do better, be better, because being black she will never get the same chance as others.
And we als get to see what that pressure does to her, and her brother. Though her kid sister seems to be a genius who will probably thrive under any pressure.
But besides generational pressure there is also romance. And a Mediterranean cruise!
Lenore meets Alex. The perfect boy (according to her parents), and she is so annoyed with him (I did not get why, like give the kid a chance.) So she is annoyed with him, they become friends, and they become more. But can she give him a real chance cos of heartbreaks in the past? It was a sweet romance, yes every this is true love stuff.
I enjoyed it, it handled a lot, but it handled it well. I also got really curious about the first book where her friend finds her perfect one.
Good narration. She did well with male and female voices and it worked so well.
And we als get to see what that pressure does to her, and her brother. Though her kid sister seems to be a genius who will probably thrive under any pressure.
But besides generational pressure there is also romance. And a Mediterranean cruise!
Lenore meets Alex. The perfect boy (according to her parents), and she is so annoyed with him (I did not get why, like give the kid a chance.) So she is annoyed with him, they become friends, and they become more. But can she give him a real chance cos of heartbreaks in the past? It was a sweet romance, yes every this is true love stuff.
I enjoyed it, it handled a lot, but it handled it well. I also got really curious about the first book where her friend finds her perfect one.
Good narration. She did well with male and female voices and it worked so well.
hisparks23's review against another edition
3.0
Meh.
I do think this was a refreshing take on the black YA novel world. I haven’t read much about upper class black families and found that refreshing. I liked the cruise ship aspect of this and really adored Lenore’s younger sister.
Alex was very sweet, but kind of bland and felt like a caricature of that kid who has everything figured out. He just never felt “real” to me. And I never really bought the romance between him and Lenore. It just seemed convenient “insta love,” which isn’t my favorite trope.
I haven’t read the first one in this series, which I know focuses on her, but I also found Tessa super obnoxious. Like give the girl a break about romance! Maybe if I had read the first in the series I would’ve understood her character better and this would not have been the case.
I understand the author’s intentions for doing so, as it’s made pretty clear in the book, but I had a really hard time getting past the concept of parents forcing their 18 year daughter to choose her life’s career path with such an extreme ultimatum. I think the resolution of this aspect of the storyline was done well, but I wish it hadn’t existed in the first place.
I do think this was a refreshing take on the black YA novel world. I haven’t read much about upper class black families and found that refreshing. I liked the cruise ship aspect of this and really adored Lenore’s younger sister.
Alex was very sweet, but kind of bland and felt like a caricature of that kid who has everything figured out. He just never felt “real” to me. And I never really bought the romance between him and Lenore. It just seemed convenient “insta love,” which isn’t my favorite trope.
I haven’t read the first one in this series, which I know focuses on her, but I also found Tessa super obnoxious. Like give the girl a break about romance! Maybe if I had read the first in the series I would’ve understood her character better and this would not have been the case.
I understand the author’s intentions for doing so, as it’s made pretty clear in the book, but I had a really hard time getting past the concept of parents forcing their 18 year daughter to choose her life’s career path with such an extreme ultimatum. I think the resolution of this aspect of the storyline was done well, but I wish it hadn’t existed in the first place.
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5 stars
I did like this book, although not as much as the first one. I absolutely adored Lenore: her personality, struggles and issues she's dealing with. I felt really connected with her and her family as well. I like how the author brought out their family dynamics and tensions. I wasn't a fan of the romance. On paper Alex was perfect and that's my problem. We don't know much about him emotionally and internal;;y so he just seemed like the nicest, sweetest and perfect person. Also oh my god they fell in love so fast?? It just felt really realistic and too nicely wrapped up and unnecessarily cheesy at some points. But it's still worth a read if you enjoyed Happily Ever Afters and its cast :)
I did like this book, although not as much as the first one. I absolutely adored Lenore: her personality, struggles and issues she's dealing with. I felt really connected with her and her family as well. I like how the author brought out their family dynamics and tensions. I wasn't a fan of the romance. On paper Alex was perfect and that's my problem. We don't know much about him emotionally and internal;;y so he just seemed like the nicest, sweetest and perfect person. Also oh my god they fell in love so fast?? It just felt really realistic and too nicely wrapped up and unnecessarily cheesy at some points. But it's still worth a read if you enjoyed Happily Ever Afters and its cast :)
sincerelyadi's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings if you struggle with emetophobia, but cute story nonetheless!
laylabetweenthelines's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
“I was scared you were going to change your mind. Scared that I'm too much and also not enough at the same time.”
I picked this up completely unaware that it was a companion novel to Happily Ever Afters (which I also really enjoyed), so that was a pleasant surprise! Further, I think this book really confirms that I am a big fan of Elise Bryant's writing/voice. I look forward to reading more from her.
I picked this up completely unaware that it was a companion novel to Happily Ever Afters (which I also really enjoyed), so that was a pleasant surprise! Further, I think this book really confirms that I am a big fan of Elise Bryant's writing/voice. I look forward to reading more from her.