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Chicago #4
What Happened After...
Do you ever read a story, fall in love with the characters and wonder what happens to them after the book ends? Epilogues are nice, but they’re a snapshot in time. Maybe it’s a year after the end of the book or even just six months. Maybe there’s a proposal or a wedding. Maybe a character announces she’s pregnant. Maybe a character just got their dream job.
I write the epilogues in my books mostly for myself because I want to know where they go next. I like to check in on them to find out about those next big steps in their lives. What I’m doing here is adding to their stories.
There’s a danger in this, of course. What if you’re already satisfied with how the story ended for the characters? What if this ruins it for you? That is a risk you’ll have to decide on your own to take. I’m merely providing short glimpses into the lives of my characters beyond their epilogues.
If you plan to read these, please read all the books in the series first. Because the lives of the characters in the Chicago Series are so closely woven together, you won’t want to read the additional content for Eva and Ember, for example, until you’ve read all four of the Chicago Series books.
I write the epilogues in my books mostly for myself because I want to know where they go next. I like to check in on them to find out about those next big steps in their lives. What I’m doing here is adding to their stories.
There’s a danger in this, of course. What if you’re already satisfied with how the story ended for the characters? What if this ruins it for you? That is a risk you’ll have to decide on your own to take. I’m merely providing short glimpses into the lives of my characters beyond their epilogues.
If you plan to read these, please read all the books in the series first. Because the lives of the characters in the Chicago Series are so closely woven together, you won’t want to read the additional content for Eva and Ember, for example, until you’ve read all four of the Chicago Series books.
Kindle Edition
First published August 23, 2018
116 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Pyland
80 books821 followersNicole Pyland is a bestselling author of lesbian romance novels, including No After You, All the Love Songs, and the series like Chicago, San Francisco, Tahoe, Sports, Boston, and more. Since 2017, she’s published over 30 novels (not including her What Happened After shorts), and more books are on their way!
Nicole grew up in Indiana, studying English & Film and then getting a MS in Behavior Analysis and moving to California, working by day as a Head of Training at a start-up. She lives with her wife and their opinionated cat, who spends his evenings helping her write stories by occupying half the chair.
Website: nicolepyland.com
Newsletter: nicolepyland.com/newsletter
Twitter: @nicole_pyland
Facebook: @nicolepylandauthor
Nicole grew up in Indiana, studying English & Film and then getting a MS in Behavior Analysis and moving to California, working by day as a Head of Training at a start-up. She lives with her wife and their opinionated cat, who spends his evenings helping her write stories by occupying half the chair.
Website: nicolepyland.com
Newsletter: nicolepyland.com/newsletter
Twitter: @nicole_pyland
Facebook: @nicolepylandauthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
March 18, 2019
If you loved the books in the Chicago series then this collection of what are essentially epilogues of your favorite characters should not be missed.
After... Fresh Start
With their twins getting ready to graduate kindergarten, Alyssa and Hannah are ready to once again expand their family. While Hannah focuses on getting pregnant, Alyssa begins writing a book about her wrongful conviction.
After... The Best Lines
After both working their tails off, Ember and Eva are getting ready to go traveling for an entire year before committing themselves to having kids when Eva all of a sudden gets offered her dream job.
After... Just Tell Her
Charlie and Hailey have been living in wedded bliss with their two kids and are also looking to expand their family when they are faced with having to move to the other side of the country for Charlie's job.
After... Love Walked into The Lantern
While Lena is dedicating all her time to working for Taft Investments, Summer has also been attending law school. When Summer's brother needs her help she finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place.
It was great revisiting these characters and reading what they have been getting up to. Although each story focuses mainly on the individual couples, their stories are a continuation throughout the entire book. Each couple find themselves facing tricky situations and have difficult choices to make. Luckily they have a tight knit group of friends to get them through the toughest of times.
Get ready to be buried under a ton of character names (including their kids) and read along as things once again get heated in the bedroom .. and kitchen.
Full 4* rating.
After... Fresh Start
With their twins getting ready to graduate kindergarten, Alyssa and Hannah are ready to once again expand their family. While Hannah focuses on getting pregnant, Alyssa begins writing a book about her wrongful conviction.
After... The Best Lines
After both working their tails off, Ember and Eva are getting ready to go traveling for an entire year before committing themselves to having kids when Eva all of a sudden gets offered her dream job.
After... Just Tell Her
Charlie and Hailey have been living in wedded bliss with their two kids and are also looking to expand their family when they are faced with having to move to the other side of the country for Charlie's job.
After... Love Walked into The Lantern
While Lena is dedicating all her time to working for Taft Investments, Summer has also been attending law school. When Summer's brother needs her help she finds herself caught between a rock and a hard place.
It was great revisiting these characters and reading what they have been getting up to. Although each story focuses mainly on the individual couples, their stories are a continuation throughout the entire book. Each couple find themselves facing tricky situations and have difficult choices to make. Luckily they have a tight knit group of friends to get them through the toughest of times.
Get ready to be buried under a ton of character names (including their kids) and read along as things once again get heated in the bedroom .. and kitchen.
Full 4* rating.
August 14, 2020
Please note that there are uses of ableist language in all four short stories.
Oftentimes, I find short stories lacking in plots due to their lengths. But Pyland's final work in the Chicago series consists of four fully fleshed out stories within limited pages.
Some readers might prefer not to have sequels where couples face additional conflicts after their supposedly HEAs, but personally, I love how these post-HEA glimpses help further solidify their relationships. Though short, each couple goes through struggles that urge them for more communication and reevaluation after years of being together and/or having children. Because relationships change over time, with the stories in What Happened After... dealing with new problems as they enter next stages in life, I find the love stories becoming even more believable. Surely, they all have the till-death-do-us-apart kind of relationships.
"After... Fresh Start" - Alyssa starts writing a memoir while Hannah tries to get pregnant for their third child. They have to work through this high stress time and decide what is really important for themselves.
"After... The Best Lines" - Eva and Ember plan to travel for a year during Eva's sabbatical before settling down and starting a family. But Eva has another surprise offer from the department that tampers with their schedule.
"After... Just Tell Her" - Charlie is having trouble working from home after Hailey quits her job and is ever-present with the kids in the house. When Charlie's firm offers her a job on the West Coast, she needs to reconsider her career and figure out her next step.
"After... Love Walked into The Lantern" - Summer once again finds herself dealing with Seth's problems and Lena's patience is wearing thin. Both need honest conversations to move forward with rekindled passion and love.
If you've read the other four novels and don't mind post-HEA stories that involve relationships falling apart with the couples working to fix them and becoming stronger together, this last book is a must-read.
Oftentimes, I find short stories lacking in plots due to their lengths. But Pyland's final work in the Chicago series consists of four fully fleshed out stories within limited pages.
Some readers might prefer not to have sequels where couples face additional conflicts after their supposedly HEAs, but personally, I love how these post-HEA glimpses help further solidify their relationships. Though short, each couple goes through struggles that urge them for more communication and reevaluation after years of being together and/or having children. Because relationships change over time, with the stories in What Happened After... dealing with new problems as they enter next stages in life, I find the love stories becoming even more believable. Surely, they all have the till-death-do-us-apart kind of relationships.
"After... Fresh Start" - Alyssa starts writing a memoir while Hannah tries to get pregnant for their third child. They have to work through this high stress time and decide what is really important for themselves.
"After... The Best Lines" - Eva and Ember plan to travel for a year during Eva's sabbatical before settling down and starting a family. But Eva has another surprise offer from the department that tampers with their schedule.
"After... Just Tell Her" - Charlie is having trouble working from home after Hailey quits her job and is ever-present with the kids in the house. When Charlie's firm offers her a job on the West Coast, she needs to reconsider her career and figure out her next step.
"After... Love Walked into The Lantern" - Summer once again finds herself dealing with Seth's problems and Lena's patience is wearing thin. Both need honest conversations to move forward with rekindled passion and love.
If you've read the other four novels and don't mind post-HEA stories that involve relationships falling apart with the couples working to fix them and becoming stronger together, this last book is a must-read.
April 27, 2022
4 stars
A nice collection of "epilogues" of all the books from Chicago series.
Enjoyable
A nice collection of "epilogues" of all the books from Chicago series.
Enjoyable
August 15, 2018
Update: I really loved this epilogue/goodbye novella we got. It’s not everyday you get these amazing characters and stories and then have an even deeper epilogue than was provided in their designated books already. I really happy and satisfied with this because it definitely marked a complete ending of the series and I cannot wait to see the next world Nicole has in store for us!! Also it’s a huge spoiler alert if you read this before any of the Chicago series books!
YES!!!! I AM SO FREAKIN' EXCITED FOR THIS!!!!!
YES!!!! I AM SO FREAKIN' EXCITED FOR THIS!!!!!
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November 19, 2022What Happened After, Chicago
I love these snippets that Nicole Pyland creates. It's an update on the lives of the couples. It shows the growth of the couples and the friends. I look forward to more books in the future.
I love these snippets that Nicole Pyland creates. It's an update on the lives of the couples. It shows the growth of the couples and the friends. I look forward to more books in the future.
August 15, 2018
Pylands writing never disappoints. This is no exception. I thoroughly enjoy each of her books and I love the characters. When these characters are brought to life you become attached to them in some way and it's hard to just let them go. I really like the book because it's as if you the reader are "checking in" on how their life is unfolding since you last saw them. I loved reading this book, I love all the characters and I wish this series would not end. I love all of Pylands books. I love her writing style, the character development throughout the series, the way that you care about these characters as if they are real. I wish they were because they all would be people I would like to meet. If this is the end of this series I can say that I will miss them.
August 27, 2018
Wrapping up the Chicago Series, four short stories on what happened to each of the four couples.
The book was good, it is even better if you're into babies. But that said, I always enjoy Pyland's stories. This one did not disappoint.
The book was good, it is even better if you're into babies. But that said, I always enjoy Pyland's stories. This one did not disappoint.
August 16, 2018
This was a nice way to close the series. I loved how each story incorporated other couples as it helped the ending provide further closure and flow very naturally. It was a quick and fun read.
November 12, 2023
Perfect set of epilogues for a perfect series. Pyland captured my interest with the celebrities series, had me waver a bit after I didn’t love the holiday series, but the Chicago series is a complete home run. I loved all of the character, the stories, and continued to have an internal battle with myself over which book/couple is my favorite. Melissa Moran was also the perfect narrator. I actually think her lack of narration on the holiday series played a big role in why I couldn’t connect to it as much as Chicago and Celebrities.
I do think I have a final ranking, but it was extremely tough because as I said, I love them all:
1) Love Walked Into the Lantern/Summer & Lena - I love, love, love these two and I wish I could experience this book for the first time again
2) The Best Lines/Ember & Eva - my middle selections will flip flop for years to come, but I have placed this one here because I find Ember to be such a compelling character
3) Fresh Start/Alyssa & Hannah - I adore Alyssa so much, I loved how Hannah was there for her. I also love Alyssa’s mom so much! I placed this as #3 for the purposes of the ranking, but it’s really tied for #2 with The Best Lines
4) Just Tell Her/Hailey & Charlie - this is easily my least favorite from the series, but it’s still a 5 star book. I just connected with the other couples more, but I still adore Hailey and Charlie so much.
I do think I have a final ranking, but it was extremely tough because as I said, I love them all:
1) Love Walked Into the Lantern/Summer & Lena - I love, love, love these two and I wish I could experience this book for the first time again
2) The Best Lines/Ember & Eva - my middle selections will flip flop for years to come, but I have placed this one here because I find Ember to be such a compelling character
3) Fresh Start/Alyssa & Hannah - I adore Alyssa so much, I loved how Hannah was there for her. I also love Alyssa’s mom so much! I placed this as #3 for the purposes of the ranking, but it’s really tied for #2 with The Best Lines
4) Just Tell Her/Hailey & Charlie - this is easily my least favorite from the series, but it’s still a 5 star book. I just connected with the other couples more, but I still adore Hailey and Charlie so much.
December 19, 2019
Good post-epilogue look at the four couples from the previous books and what's going on in their lives a few years later.
My one sticking point in this series that makes me REALLY mad, is what the author chose Alyssa and Hannah to name their twins, because no. It's just horrible and makes no sense. The names may have been revealed in the previous book, but the first part here really deals with that, and why it was horrible. Don't know, not really necessary. Never name your children after people you saw after they were horribly murdered. "Mom, why did you name me Tyler?" "Oh, after a boyfriend I wanted to breakup with, but found stabbed to death, and pulled the knife from his body, and was arrested for his murder." Nope.
Sorry for the rant! Loved the series, but this one thing...
My one sticking point in this series that makes me REALLY mad, is what the author chose Alyssa and Hannah to name their twins, because no. It's just horrible and makes no sense. The names may have been revealed in the previous book, but the first part here really deals with that, and why it was horrible. Don't know, not really necessary. Never name your children after people you saw after they were horribly murdered. "Mom, why did you name me Tyler?" "Oh, after a boyfriend I wanted to breakup with, but found stabbed to death, and pulled the knife from his body, and was arrested for his murder." Nope.
Sorry for the rant! Loved the series, but this one thing...
September 16, 2018
First off, if you have read and enjoyed Pyland’s 4-book Chicago Series, then you will want to read this book. As a reader who loves to immerse myself into the worlds created by authors, I love the idea of taking another look at what is up with the characters after the final words of their initial story were read.
Four shorts that tie all the characters together, Alyssa, Hannah and their children; Ember and Eva, with a new addition to their family; Charlie, Hailey and their children; Lena and Summer, yet follow the individual couples. These are all such well developed characters, they feel like friends you are reconnecting with after a few years. Go get this…you’re going to like the way each story ends.
Four shorts that tie all the characters together, Alyssa, Hannah and their children; Ember and Eva, with a new addition to their family; Charlie, Hailey and their children; Lena and Summer, yet follow the individual couples. These are all such well developed characters, they feel like friends you are reconnecting with after a few years. Go get this…you’re going to like the way each story ends.
June 11, 2022
I always go into these extended epilogues with a bit of hesitation. Each of the couples had a very satisfying epilogue already, but we get a glimpse into a specific time in their future. It tackled a larger issue each of them had to navigate together. The tone was very much the same as if it was part of their book. Hannah and Alyssa showed some struggles for the first time. Ember and Eva dealt with things head on for the most part. Charlie and Hailey had some communication issues but eventually found their way. Summer and Lena had the usual drama that could have been avoided. Goodbye Chicago.
Cliffhanger – no (book #4 in series)
POV - Hannah, Alyssa, Ember, Eva, Charlie, Hailey, Summer & Lena
Cliffhanger – no (book #4 in series)
POV - Hannah, Alyssa, Ember, Eva, Charlie, Hailey, Summer & Lena
August 31, 2018
Very, very well done
I loved this series and welcomed the follow up showing what happened after those stories. I appreciate that the stories were continued a handful of years later, allowing ample development of families and careers for these main characters. I love how these follow up stories show they all still encounter problems in life, but they work those problems out with their partners through communication, compromise and a strong, loving bond between them.
I loved this series and welcomed the follow up showing what happened after those stories. I appreciate that the stories were continued a handful of years later, allowing ample development of families and careers for these main characters. I love how these follow up stories show they all still encounter problems in life, but they work those problems out with their partners through communication, compromise and a strong, loving bond between them.
March 5, 2025
I read this book right after the other books in the Chicago series. I don't think it would be fun otherwise, because you still have to remember the other stories. For me it doesn't add much. It's a bit of a continuation of the same story and also a bit too happily ever after. But of course it is only a kind of sneak peak into the future. Nicole Pyland herself also warns about this in the foreword. But the quality is just good, as I have come to expect from Nicole Pyland.
April 8, 2022
Loved it
I love the way Nicole Poland ends a series. She has a way of winding up each story with a somewhat brief capsule of where everyone ends up. It's satisfying and gives a sense of tying up loose pieces and gives you a good sense of the path each couple will follow. Well done!
I love the way Nicole Poland ends a series. She has a way of winding up each story with a somewhat brief capsule of where everyone ends up. It's satisfying and gives a sense of tying up loose pieces and gives you a good sense of the path each couple will follow. Well done!
January 4, 2019
I'm not really one for short stories, but these are tieing up the ends to the quite superb Chicago series. Well worth the frustration of being so short but as I was genuinely interested in their lives it was a treat. Thank you.
August 24, 2018
Others will disagree I am sure, but I was fine where everything ended. It was fun to peek in on everyone though.
I liked that everything was connected, but each couple got their featured section.
I liked that everything was connected, but each couple got their featured section.
October 15, 2018
Nice
I loved the final stories of how each couple was together. They were so great for each other. There was so much love and they all ended up doing what they wanted.
I loved the final stories of how each couple was together. They were so great for each other. There was so much love and they all ended up doing what they wanted.
January 19, 2019
Very much a Nicole Pyland fan. This was a good end to a great series.
March 7, 2019
Read the whole series really enjoy all of them. This book should have been a little longer though but still enjoyable. Keep up the good work.
July 23, 2019
Fun what-comes-next wrap up to the Chicago Series. A little romance, a little drama, and many many babies.
September 6, 2019
Is it bad that out of the three (i didn’t read Allissa and Hannah’s love story) books of this serie I read, I liked this epilogue book the best?
December 18, 2019
Enjoyed seeing where they all ended up
March 30, 2020
Great story
I have enjoyed this book with all the ladies and there lives as the move on to bigger and better things,how even as life move on they remain friends.
I have enjoyed this book with all the ladies and there lives as the move on to bigger and better things,how even as life move on they remain friends.
August 10, 2021
babies!!!
August 28, 2022
Amazing series
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February 20, 2023a cute little epilogue for the crazy chicago girls!
September 9, 2023
After?
So many babies, jeez! I was okay with the first three “afters” but I enjoyed Lena and Summer the most.
So many babies, jeez! I was okay with the first three “afters” but I enjoyed Lena and Summer the most.
December 2, 2023
Summer and Leba's story does not seem like a satisfying ending
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews