A review by readerforlife
Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book could quite possibly be the best book of 2021 for me. It's got all the fluffy romance stuff, but also a lot of substance. It somehow manages to have every romance cliche but in a way that is both original and important. I loved Sam, Lenore, Theo, Miles, and Caroline. They each added something different to the story and made it something truly special. The voices of each of the main characters are so distinct. They all added something completely different to Tessa's life and story. It speaks to Elise Bryant's skill as a writer to have these characters each be memorable and unique. Tessa made some bad decisions in this book, clearly, but you do understand her motivations enough to know that she both accidentally finds herself in these situations, and is actively making decisions that put herself in said situations. I also loved Tessa's relationship with her mom, and how it showed that two people who love each other and want more or less the exact same things can still have conflicts. I also loved that this book shows two true things at once: That no matter the support system, anxiety can still be overwhelming and feel unovercomeable and that support systems are important and powerful for helping with anxiety. 
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