Not That Kind of Ever After by Luci Adams - #bookreview

I want what all those Disney princesses had before the producers and writers got better and found independent non-male-orientated storylines. I want a good, old-fashioned man to sweep me off my feet and make me feel like royalty, but I'm living in the twenty-first century so I also want a man who treats me with respect and admires my strength and talents for what I'm worth whilst he rides me off into the sunset...

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Once upon a time, in a flatshare south of the river, there lived an aspiring author names Bella Marble. Above all things, above her wish to be a writer, above absolutely anything and everything, Bella wants to find love. But one fateful week changes everything.

When her best friend moves in with the most boring ogre in history and her perfectly paired parents tell her their own love story is coming to an end, Bella's illusions of finding 'the one' shatters.

With the help of her very own knight in shining Armani, Bella ditches the fairytale and decides it's time to write herself a brand new kind of happy ending. And while London may be fresh out of Princes, it's got a surplus of frogs - and as Bella learns, kissing frogs can be extremely fun.

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This is a highly humorous book in which we observe the protagonist, Bella, pursue her dreams of a fairy tale romance in the modern world.

From the very first line it is attention grabbing. It is an apt opening line for this book as this dark romantic comedy focuses largely on Bella's sexual exploits, firstly in a bid to find 'the one', and then as subject matter for her own writing.

It was hard not to feel that the majority of Bella's problems were of her own making. However, the writer conveys this in a fun and quirky way. This made the book a quick and easy read and it would make for an ideal holiday read.

Bella was an interesting character to read about. Although, she is thoroughly self-centred, I did develop a soft spot for her and accompanying her along her journey towards self-realisation made this a worthwhile read.

Publishing today, anyone who likes contemporary women's fiction or chick lit will enjoy this book.

ISBN: 978 0349431130

Publisher:  Piatkus

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  464

About the Author:

Leaving LAMDA for Leeds and graduating with a first class degree in Maths, Luci spent her early career torn between creativity and logic until she realised it’s possible to do both.

She started out life in the tax world before swiftly seeing the light. She has since worked copywriting for Apple Music, assisting with Amazon and BBC productions at Working Title Television and now works as an analyst at the Guardian by day whilst writing tales of heartbreak, adventure and truly terrible dates by night.

She lives in leafy St Albans and when she’s not writing, she spends her time drawing, animating and exploring the countryside with her little puppy.

(author photo and bio. info. courtesy of Watson, Little Ltd)

(ARC courtesy of the publisher)