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Happily Ever After
This is a story of a girl who doesn't believe in happy endings. Or happy families. It's the story of Eleanor Bee, a shy book-loving girl who vows to turn herself into someone bright, shiny, and confident, someone sophisticated. Someone who knows how life works.
But life has a funny way of catching us unawares. Turns out that Elle doesn't know everything about love. Or life. Or how to keep the ones we love safe...
Absorbing, poignant, and unforgettable, Happily Ever After is a compelling story of a fractured family and a girl who doesn't believe in love.
But life has a funny way of catching us unawares. Turns out that Elle doesn't know everything about love. Or life. Or how to keep the ones we love safe...
Absorbing, poignant, and unforgettable, Happily Ever After is a compelling story of a fractured family and a girl who doesn't believe in love.
468 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
128 people are currently reading
4768 people want to read
About the author
Harriet Evans
109 books1,201 followersI was born in London and grew up there. I was very bookish, and had a huge imagination which used to cause me to get rather anxious at times. Now I know it's a good thing for a writer to have. I loved musicals, and playing imaginative games, and my Barbie perfume making kit. Most of all I loved reading. I read everything, but I also read lots of things over and over, which I think is so important.
At university I read Classical Studies, which is a great way of finding out that the world doesn't change much and people make the same mistakes but it's interesting to look at why. I was at Bristol, and i loved the city, making new friends, being a new person.
After university I came back to London and got a job in publishing. I loved working in publishing so much, and really felt for the first time in my life that when I spoke people understood what I was saying. Book people are good people. I became an editor after a few years, working with many bestselling novelists, and in 2009 I left to write full time.
I've written 13 novels and several short stories and one Quick Read, which is an excellent way of getting people into reading more. I've acquired a partner and two children along the way.
In 2019 we moved to Bath, out of London, and I am very happy there. We live opposite a hedgerow, and I can be boring about gardening, and there's room for my collection of jumpsuits and all our books. We have lots of books. Apart from anything else they keep the house warm. xxx
At university I read Classical Studies, which is a great way of finding out that the world doesn't change much and people make the same mistakes but it's interesting to look at why. I was at Bristol, and i loved the city, making new friends, being a new person.
After university I came back to London and got a job in publishing. I loved working in publishing so much, and really felt for the first time in my life that when I spoke people understood what I was saying. Book people are good people. I became an editor after a few years, working with many bestselling novelists, and in 2009 I left to write full time.
I've written 13 novels and several short stories and one Quick Read, which is an excellent way of getting people into reading more. I've acquired a partner and two children along the way.
In 2019 we moved to Bath, out of London, and I am very happy there. We live opposite a hedgerow, and I can be boring about gardening, and there's room for my collection of jumpsuits and all our books. We have lots of books. Apart from anything else they keep the house warm. xxx
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 413 reviews
March 18, 2013
For the first time in a long time, possibly ever, I am wondering what to write for my review of a book. I’ve struggled with Harriet Evans’s novels in the past – I didn’t even finish I Remember You – but I like to give authors another chance and I loved the sound of Happily Ever After. I adore books about books, who doesn’t? It’s fabulous. And rare. For most of the novel, the title distracted me, because it didn’t seem there would ever be a happy ending, that Elle was far too cynical about love for it to ever really occur, and I suppose that sort of hindered the book a bit for me, because despite us seeing Elle with three boyfriends, she never seemed particularly bothered about any of them. I was never convinced she actually liked any of the men she was with.
I suppose, though, that after the life Elle has had, it’s fair she’s cynical about love and when we first meet her, as a young girl, all she knows is her parents arguing and her mother drinking. From that point onward, we see Elle’s life, mostly her career it has to be said, as she strives to make it in the publishing industry, from a small independent publisher to a large New York one. The novel jumps about a lot. We see a period of Elle’s life, say 1999, then jumps all the way to 2008 with so much as a by your leave. So the first page set in 2008 makes no sense. It was confusing. It could have done with a better transition. I felt it too just a touch too long to fill in the blanks. It was hart to warm to Elle. Really, really hard. The novel was written in third-person so perhaps if it was told solely from Elle’s point of view it may have been easier, but she was a really cold character.
I wanted to like the book, and to be fair, I didn’t hate it. It just doesn’t seem to have made an impression. Harriet is a fabulous writer, I have no doubt, and I did manage to finish the novel, I was just a bit bored. That sounds awful, I know, but we needed to see more of Elle’s life than just that of career-girl-Elle. I know that she was her career, and that was sort of her anchor, but with so many family issues, it just seems as if nothing was resolved. I have quite a great family, probably the best family a person can ask for, so it was weird for me that Elle’s dad treated her the way he did. He was awful. To his daughter. He whinged and moaned about paying for a flight to New York that was subsequently cancelled. I wanted Elle to tell him where to go, very badly. There weren’t many bright lights in Elle’s life, most were really awful back-stabbing people, and the only character who made any sort of impression was Tom. Tom really was a bright light in a sea of darkness, I thought he got more out of Elle than anyone else in the novel, period.
So, yes, that’s how I saw Happily Ever After. I finished it, which is fabulous. But, I wanted more. We constantly told how Elle has grown up, but to me, better clothes and a change of hair colour does not constitute growing up and because we never actually get to see Elle as she does her growing I still think she’s the girl she was when she first started at Bluebird, her first job. It’s something everyone comments on, but it just never really rang true for me. I wanted to love it, and it was OK, don’t get me wrong, but it did not blow me away. Sadly. I’m actually planning to buy Harriet’s new novel Not Without You when it’s released in March because I’ve read a teaser and it sounds good, but Happily Ever After was only OK. It was just a bit too slow for me.
I suppose, though, that after the life Elle has had, it’s fair she’s cynical about love and when we first meet her, as a young girl, all she knows is her parents arguing and her mother drinking. From that point onward, we see Elle’s life, mostly her career it has to be said, as she strives to make it in the publishing industry, from a small independent publisher to a large New York one. The novel jumps about a lot. We see a period of Elle’s life, say 1999, then jumps all the way to 2008 with so much as a by your leave. So the first page set in 2008 makes no sense. It was confusing. It could have done with a better transition. I felt it too just a touch too long to fill in the blanks. It was hart to warm to Elle. Really, really hard. The novel was written in third-person so perhaps if it was told solely from Elle’s point of view it may have been easier, but she was a really cold character.
I wanted to like the book, and to be fair, I didn’t hate it. It just doesn’t seem to have made an impression. Harriet is a fabulous writer, I have no doubt, and I did manage to finish the novel, I was just a bit bored. That sounds awful, I know, but we needed to see more of Elle’s life than just that of career-girl-Elle. I know that she was her career, and that was sort of her anchor, but with so many family issues, it just seems as if nothing was resolved. I have quite a great family, probably the best family a person can ask for, so it was weird for me that Elle’s dad treated her the way he did. He was awful. To his daughter. He whinged and moaned about paying for a flight to New York that was subsequently cancelled. I wanted Elle to tell him where to go, very badly. There weren’t many bright lights in Elle’s life, most were really awful back-stabbing people, and the only character who made any sort of impression was Tom. Tom really was a bright light in a sea of darkness, I thought he got more out of Elle than anyone else in the novel, period.
So, yes, that’s how I saw Happily Ever After. I finished it, which is fabulous. But, I wanted more. We constantly told how Elle has grown up, but to me, better clothes and a change of hair colour does not constitute growing up and because we never actually get to see Elle as she does her growing I still think she’s the girl she was when she first started at Bluebird, her first job. It’s something everyone comments on, but it just never really rang true for me. I wanted to love it, and it was OK, don’t get me wrong, but it did not blow me away. Sadly. I’m actually planning to buy Harriet’s new novel Not Without You when it’s released in March because I’ve read a teaser and it sounds good, but Happily Ever After was only OK. It was just a bit too slow for me.
June 25, 2015
So I tend to re-read this book a lot because it is a really long book. And I have to say it is not really the romance aspect of this book that causes me to still read it. It is the totally messed up circumstances that are going on in the main character's life that for some odd reason speak to me. Maybe it is because Eleanor is a flawed character that has many regrets. And it was nice to follow a character from the age of 22 to the age of 33 where they were finally starting to get their stuff together. A lot of times it makes me laugh when I read romance novels where the main character is 26 and lamenting that they are not engaged and married with two kids. Who are these people?
In Happily Ever After, we get to follow main character Eleanor Bee from the time she is 22 to when she is around 33 years old. Eleanor comes from a broken home and a mother who she is still making excuses for though all signs points to some serious issues with her mother. Practically estranged from her father and brother she throws herself headlong into the publishing business in London.
It was very interesting to see Eleanor as she was at 22 and to see how different life events had changed her over time. I think of myself at 22 (dumb as hell about a lot of things out there) and now at the age of 35 and wonder why did I find myself always giving other people so many chances to keep crapping on me. And that was what I related to a lot in this book. Eleanor seems to make up a lot of excuses for those around her and is blind to the point that her denial of what is going on in her mother's life was just sad. Eleanor is definitely flawed and that was great to see. I think a lot of times most romance novels make the heroine some perfect specimen that you don't understand how the person just does not have the perfect life.
However, besides Eleanor, the rest of the characters in the book really don't seem as well developed. For as long as this book is you would think that we could get some insight into many of the other characters mentioned. However, except for a few characters, we don't get a chance to follow them and see how they grow over time.
The writing I thought was and is still good. However, I thought the pacing was the biggest problem for me throughout this book. Things take a long time to get explained. We stick with certain plots longer than I think are needed. I think that if some sections of this book were cut out it would have made everything flow much nicer together.
In Happily Ever After, we get to follow main character Eleanor Bee from the time she is 22 to when she is around 33 years old. Eleanor comes from a broken home and a mother who she is still making excuses for though all signs points to some serious issues with her mother. Practically estranged from her father and brother she throws herself headlong into the publishing business in London.
It was very interesting to see Eleanor as she was at 22 and to see how different life events had changed her over time. I think of myself at 22 (dumb as hell about a lot of things out there) and now at the age of 35 and wonder why did I find myself always giving other people so many chances to keep crapping on me. And that was what I related to a lot in this book. Eleanor seems to make up a lot of excuses for those around her and is blind to the point that her denial of what is going on in her mother's life was just sad. Eleanor is definitely flawed and that was great to see. I think a lot of times most romance novels make the heroine some perfect specimen that you don't understand how the person just does not have the perfect life.
However, besides Eleanor, the rest of the characters in the book really don't seem as well developed. For as long as this book is you would think that we could get some insight into many of the other characters mentioned. However, except for a few characters, we don't get a chance to follow them and see how they grow over time.
The writing I thought was and is still good. However, I thought the pacing was the biggest problem for me throughout this book. Things take a long time to get explained. We stick with certain plots longer than I think are needed. I think that if some sections of this book were cut out it would have made everything flow much nicer together.
May 22, 2013
To say I read this book on a whim of sorts is an understatement. When I first read the title, ‘Happily Ever After’ that was almost enough for me to put it back but something about the cover art, a girl standing in front of a bookshop in London, my heart just had to have it. I saw a little of myself in that cover, having done the very some thing when I found the bookshop from ‘Notting Hill’ (1999) with Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant, I just stood there and stared. Anyway, back to the book…
It follows a young girl who wants to move to London and enter publishing, and along the way we meet her friends, her colorful family, and witness her many embarrassing mistakes. It’s a true story about a girl in her twenties trying to make it in the world as a young career women in both London and New York City.
I found myself really identifying with Elle, even more than just the cover art, there was something about her character, her actions that reminded me of myself and it made me simply fall in love with this book. I honestly couldn’t put it down, it’s a great read for a young girl who fills stuck at work or questioning her future or if there’s such a thing as “happily ever after’s” because that’s exactly what Elle does throughout the novel.
Before this book I had never heard of Harriet Evans, but after this I’m sure it’s not the last I’ll read of her. She had a great style and made such well rounded characters I couldn’t help but get emotionally involved.
Definitely recommend this book!
It follows a young girl who wants to move to London and enter publishing, and along the way we meet her friends, her colorful family, and witness her many embarrassing mistakes. It’s a true story about a girl in her twenties trying to make it in the world as a young career women in both London and New York City.
I found myself really identifying with Elle, even more than just the cover art, there was something about her character, her actions that reminded me of myself and it made me simply fall in love with this book. I honestly couldn’t put it down, it’s a great read for a young girl who fills stuck at work or questioning her future or if there’s such a thing as “happily ever after’s” because that’s exactly what Elle does throughout the novel.
Before this book I had never heard of Harriet Evans, but after this I’m sure it’s not the last I’ll read of her. She had a great style and made such well rounded characters I couldn’t help but get emotionally involved.
Definitely recommend this book!
June 13, 2012
I was really actually disappointed in this book. Which killed me because I LOVE all the other Harriet Evans Novels. This story just jumped around far to much throughout the years. I never felt a connection with the main character, found her kind of annoying actually. And didn't even see her connection with main love interest. There was no real plot in the story except that you follow this girl through the years. Which would of been fine expect she is also kind of boring. Love, Always and The Love of Her Life were such captivating books that I couldn't put either one of them down. And while I finished this one fairly quickly, it is only because I wanted to get it over with. Hoping the Next Harriet Evans novel will be like the others and a LOT less like Happily Ever After.
March 17, 2024
Oke ik had dit boek dus bij de bieb gekocht voor echt 50 cent ofzo en ik ging met lezen met echt 0 verwachtingen. Maar dan ook echt 0 verwachtingen.
Het heeft me echt verbaast hoe vermakelijk ik het boek vond. Het was zo leuk om te lezen over het leventje van Elle en over het werken in een uitgeverij. En natuurlijk al dr lovers. Super simpel verhaal maar het was zo'n comforting boek. Uiteindelijk merkte ik dat ik echt ging meeleven met Elle en ik begon dr steeds leuker te vinden. Herken wel wat van mezelf in dr.
Dus zeker 4 sterretjes⭐️
Het heeft me echt verbaast hoe vermakelijk ik het boek vond. Het was zo leuk om te lezen over het leventje van Elle en over het werken in een uitgeverij. En natuurlijk al dr lovers. Super simpel verhaal maar het was zo'n comforting boek. Uiteindelijk merkte ik dat ik echt ging meeleven met Elle en ik begon dr steeds leuker te vinden. Herken wel wat van mezelf in dr.
Dus zeker 4 sterretjes⭐️
March 2, 2012
The choices we makes in the past haunt us forever
Harriet Evans has established herself as a leading author of women's literature. The British writer has already published several books that touch upon the themes of the modern woman's struggle with relationships and love. While this genre is certainly covered by many other authors, Evans is without doubt original and refreshing with her formula-free tales. In Happily Ever After Evans brings us a new story about the perils of being young and searching for a happy ending.
The story is familiar. A 22-year-old named Eleanor Bee has decided that her life is to be a famous writer in London. Unlike her contemporaries she does not believe in happy endings after becoming jaded from the divorce of her parents. As far as Eleanor is concerned the only happy endings possible exist in fairytales. Eleanor sounds like a sensible girl who definitely knows what she wants in life. As our heroine sets out to make her future dreams a reality in the present she moves to London and finds work at Bluebird Books publishing. Her new job brings her the kind of contemporary urban life in London that she desired. And so starts the road to adulthood that includes the typical tales of woe and worry that many 20-somethings must deal with.
Suddenly 10 years have gone by and Eleanor at 32 faces midlife looming around the corner. She looks at how much her life has unfolded so differently than she imagined. It all happened when she fell in love out of the blue in her younger years. Falling in love and realizing how little you know about life makes you worry how unprepared you are for what follows next. The sad thing is that life is a series of events that are tied to the past. Evans makes it clear that as much as Eleanor tries to escape the past it just won't let her get away. This is a common theme explored in so many fiction and nonfiction works but in Eleanor there are some lessons only Evans can tell us. This is a charming book and certainly proves that Evans has much more literary tales still in her to entertain us with.
January 6, 2013
This book sucked.
By reading the teaser I thought that it would suit my general taste in reading material.
However, it was NOT good.
Am very surprised at how many 5 star ratings it has received.
I love books, and never skim them. I always finish reading them.
Well, this is the first book that I gave up reading after 2/3 done because it was so horribly dull and depressing.
I think it had the potential to be good, but it was missing something.
I hated the way the characters talked, using half sentences. They often never quite came out with what they wanted to say, and left me feeling confused.
Ex:
"I'm sorry. I thought you probably...maybe sometimes you thought that it might be - that you might..."
GAH - spit it out already!
The message of the book was also very confusing for me.
What was it about, exactly? Elle was just a very messed up person who slept around, doesn't have any self esteem, doesn't seem extraordinary talented or charming in any way (although people often tell her that she's fabulous, she doesn't believe them... and frankly, I don't believe them either because there is no evidence of it).
She receives mixed messages about her mother. Her dad tells her to leave her mother behind, to be her own person and not tied down by someone's selfishness, alcoholism, and lying.
Her sister in law tells her that her mother is her responsibility.
Elle doesn't know her own mind, and is swayed so incredibly easily by other people's opinions.
Can't bring myself to read the last 1/3 of this book. I don't even care what happens to the characters.
By reading the teaser I thought that it would suit my general taste in reading material.
However, it was NOT good.
Am very surprised at how many 5 star ratings it has received.
I love books, and never skim them. I always finish reading them.
Well, this is the first book that I gave up reading after 2/3 done because it was so horribly dull and depressing.
I think it had the potential to be good, but it was missing something.
I hated the way the characters talked, using half sentences. They often never quite came out with what they wanted to say, and left me feeling confused.
Ex:
"I'm sorry. I thought you probably...maybe sometimes you thought that it might be - that you might..."
GAH - spit it out already!
The message of the book was also very confusing for me.
What was it about, exactly? Elle was just a very messed up person who slept around, doesn't have any self esteem, doesn't seem extraordinary talented or charming in any way (although people often tell her that she's fabulous, she doesn't believe them... and frankly, I don't believe them either because there is no evidence of it).
She receives mixed messages about her mother. Her dad tells her to leave her mother behind, to be her own person and not tied down by someone's selfishness, alcoholism, and lying.
Her sister in law tells her that her mother is her responsibility.
Elle doesn't know her own mind, and is swayed so incredibly easily by other people's opinions.
Can't bring myself to read the last 1/3 of this book. I don't even care what happens to the characters.
July 12, 2021
I really enjoyed this big doorstopper of a book and flew right through it. The book follows Eleanor Bee from her first job as a new grad on into her 30s. She works in publishing, with a career that spans the UK and New York, and I enjoyed the details about her life in the business.
It's not all work, though. The author gives Eleanor romantic relationships to navigate, as well as a complicated family situation and various friendship issues to navigate. I will admit that I found Eleanor's family stressful, but then again it was obvious she did as well. One of the meatier storylines in the book shows Eleanor realizing that her childhood picture of her family members may not have been entirely right, and as she starts to see folks for who they really are, we see her finally finding peace.
There are some humorous moments in the story mixed in with the more serious ones. Eleanor's life gets complicated at times and she makes some cringeworthy choices. Then again, I made cringeworthy choices in my early 20s as well, so I could relate. In a lot of ways, this story felt like a modern coming-of-age tale, and I liked seeing Eleanor growing up and deciding what she really wanted out of life.
It's not all work, though. The author gives Eleanor romantic relationships to navigate, as well as a complicated family situation and various friendship issues to navigate. I will admit that I found Eleanor's family stressful, but then again it was obvious she did as well. One of the meatier storylines in the book shows Eleanor realizing that her childhood picture of her family members may not have been entirely right, and as she starts to see folks for who they really are, we see her finally finding peace.
There are some humorous moments in the story mixed in with the more serious ones. Eleanor's life gets complicated at times and she makes some cringeworthy choices. Then again, I made cringeworthy choices in my early 20s as well, so I could relate. In a lot of ways, this story felt like a modern coming-of-age tale, and I liked seeing Eleanor growing up and deciding what she really wanted out of life.
August 7, 2012
I have two books that have to be returned to the library within a day of each other. I was debating which one to pick up and because of my interest in the London Olympics - the British book won the contest … but for me, did not make it into the medal round.
I had a dickens of time (pun intended) trying to sympathize with the main character … or even like her. I think that is primarily why I didn’t enjoy the book. I think she reminded me a little too much of Bridget Jones - trying to find her way in a publishing firm, drinking too much, making bad decisions, blaming her mum, and hooking up with the wrong guy.
I did like the world of publishing and books and there was a GREAT quote that I had to write down "...isn't that why one lends a book? Isn't it wonderful, to know you've passed soemthing good on?"
I had a dickens of time (pun intended) trying to sympathize with the main character … or even like her. I think that is primarily why I didn’t enjoy the book. I think she reminded me a little too much of Bridget Jones - trying to find her way in a publishing firm, drinking too much, making bad decisions, blaming her mum, and hooking up with the wrong guy.
I did like the world of publishing and books and there was a GREAT quote that I had to write down "...isn't that why one lends a book? Isn't it wonderful, to know you've passed soemthing good on?"
January 30, 2022
3.5⭐ =Quite Good
Plenty of substance to this easy to read love story - not too light and fluffy.
I enjoyed the fact that it was based around books and the world of publishing.
Plenty of substance to this easy to read love story - not too light and fluffy.
I enjoyed the fact that it was based around books and the world of publishing.
February 17, 2019
This book is not of the type that I usually read (but then again - I read books of nearly every type so that is only true because I generally don't have any genre that I usually read) But this genre - romance - "women's literature" - I really very rarely pick up because I usually cannot stand the sappy, cheesy and revolting dialogues and overall romance of them all.
This one appealed to me, though, because it explicitly said it was about a girl/woman who doesn't believe in love but above everything else enjoyed reading and good books. And I am happy to say that I am glad I picked it up! The book was in many ways quite different from what the blurb said but then - the blurb didn't say all that much so it was just more than I had expected, I guess.
While at times I feared that dialogues were going to turn into nauseating scenes the author gracefully managed to change course and even use parts like that in a cynical way. (Still - there were some parts were I felt myself sighing and rolling my eyes - hence the 4-star-review.)
I also found myself laughing out loud and actually gasping - yeah you read that right - and one part of the book that was just such an unexpected plot twist. So it is really not an all she-falls-for-him-and-ends-up-with-him kinda book. At least really not in the stereotypical way.
In short: I ended up not being able to put down the book at all today and can now look back at solid 5 hours of non-stop reading it, all the while falling in love with many of the characters and learning a tad bit about how the publishing business in the UK and US works.
This one appealed to me, though, because it explicitly said it was about a girl/woman who doesn't believe in love but above everything else enjoyed reading and good books. And I am happy to say that I am glad I picked it up! The book was in many ways quite different from what the blurb said but then - the blurb didn't say all that much so it was just more than I had expected, I guess.
While at times I feared that dialogues were going to turn into nauseating scenes the author gracefully managed to change course and even use parts like that in a cynical way. (Still - there were some parts were I felt myself sighing and rolling my eyes - hence the 4-star-review.)
I also found myself laughing out loud and actually gasping - yeah you read that right - and one part of the book that was just such an unexpected plot twist. So it is really not an all she-falls-for-him-and-ends-up-with-him kinda book. At least really not in the stereotypical way.
In short: I ended up not being able to put down the book at all today and can now look back at solid 5 hours of non-stop reading it, all the while falling in love with many of the characters and learning a tad bit about how the publishing business in the UK and US works.
September 9, 2012
The title and cover both implied to me that this was going to be a light piece of chick lit which I do enjoy reading among other genres. In fact, a bestselling author's comment about the book being "funny" helped to clinch the deal when it came time for me to step up to the check-out desk at the library.
I was disappointed throughout the book. It was not the light chick-lit reading that I was prepared for, but something made me stick with my reading. For me, the book was full of darkness and I was embarrassed for Elle and her behavior. It was not until the final few chapters that the book came together and I could appreciate the story of Elle Bee.
At the age of 22 Elle lands a job with a book publishing company in London. She is awkward, naive, careless with her drinking and with her romantic life. I did not like her and it takes her years (and isn't that how we all grow and learn?) to mature and to finally figure out the mystery behind her parents' divorce, her relationship with her brother, and the devastating reason for her mother's behavior. I closed the book finally feeling that Elle was going to let herself live "happily ever after".
I was disappointed throughout the book. It was not the light chick-lit reading that I was prepared for, but something made me stick with my reading. For me, the book was full of darkness and I was embarrassed for Elle and her behavior. It was not until the final few chapters that the book came together and I could appreciate the story of Elle Bee.
At the age of 22 Elle lands a job with a book publishing company in London. She is awkward, naive, careless with her drinking and with her romantic life. I did not like her and it takes her years (and isn't that how we all grow and learn?) to mature and to finally figure out the mystery behind her parents' divorce, her relationship with her brother, and the devastating reason for her mother's behavior. I closed the book finally feeling that Elle was going to let herself live "happily ever after".
January 24, 2015
I really wanted to like this book. The concept of the story I could relate to. A girl who doesn’t really believe in happy endings, happy families and wants to really come out of her shell, prove she’s actually someone. But this disappointed me so much. The main character, Eleanor Bee (Ellie or Elle), was just annoying. She tried to please everyone, but didn’t even think about stuff like a logical person should. There seemed to be far too many love interests for her, and it took away what I was expecting from this story. Although sometimes the language in it, threw me, as I wasn’t expecting it to appear in such a story. I liked the world of books, that appeared throughout the story. That was good. But it wasn’t much else. I like stories to get me addicted, or interested so i want to carry on reading to find out what happens next. Not to just get the book over with.
I won’t knock the writer. Anyone who can get a book published must be good at what they do. I just don’t think this is one of the better stories. However there is one wonderful quote in the whole book
‘Isn’t that why one lends a book? Isn’t it wonderful, to know you’ve passed something good on?’
I won’t knock the writer. Anyone who can get a book published must be good at what they do. I just don’t think this is one of the better stories. However there is one wonderful quote in the whole book
‘Isn’t that why one lends a book? Isn’t it wonderful, to know you’ve passed something good on?’
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November 27, 2014I wanted to like this. I did like parts of it. I sort of fell in and out of liking all the way through. My biggest problem was with the main character. I just didn't like her enough to stay interested. The jumping around confused me to start with - well jumping forward. I get that Ms Evans was showing the heroine's love life -or rather just her life, but I found it distracting. It was obvious who she needed to be with. Lack of communication was a major player and I found it frustrating that for the lack of a few words explanation, her life took a different course. I never understood why she liked Rory or many of her friends come to that. But I though the alcoholism part was very well done. I did understand why she was the way she was and the author did a good job showing how our past defines our future when we let it. I'm not rating it because it doesn't deserve stars - it does, it's just that I can't work out where I'd put it. Would I read it again - no. Would I read Ms Evans again - yes. I've read all her others but this one didn't quite hit the mark for me.
February 23, 2015
Je confirme le coup de coeur. Une très jolie histoire douce amère où l'héroïne doit se trouver elle-même avant toute autre chose. Ellie aura des hauts et des bas mais elle vécut heureuse : p
February 15, 2017
"I just don't like stories where it's obvious who they are going to end up with. Real life's just not like that."
it was ok. really liked the first hundred pages. it felt relatable and nice. the words spoke to ne at sone point. REALLY LOVE THE BOOKISH ELEMENT.
but idk as the plot progresses, it also gets more draggy and i lost interest and yea.....
"I have noticed that when things happen in one's imaginings, they never happen in one's life. So i'm curbing myself."
it was ok. really liked the first hundred pages. it felt relatable and nice. the words spoke to ne at sone point. REALLY LOVE THE BOOKISH ELEMENT.
but idk as the plot progresses, it also gets more draggy and i lost interest and yea.....
"I have noticed that when things happen in one's imaginings, they never happen in one's life. So i'm curbing myself."
June 28, 2023
Honestly had to skip the last few chapters to know the ending.
Strong 00’s vibes but got a bit bored around New York chapters.
Strong 00’s vibes but got a bit bored around New York chapters.
April 2, 2016
I always do this. I always fall completely for the idea of books like this, telling myself that they'll be the perfect comfort read in a time of stress and lack of concentration, and I always end up more irritated than relaxed. I never seem to learn.
"Happily Ever After" is a story about a girl that works in the publishing industry. She is a great reader and refers to many wonderful novels throughout the books – in fact, she reads many of my favorites, adores Jane Austen and Dodie Smith, and yet I didn't like her at all. Elle is a confusing main character – alternating between helpless naivety and conniving coldheartedness. As much as I loathed her insecurity and stupidity in the beginning of the book, I hated her clichéd business-facade in the end. She never seemed believable to me.
And speaking of believability, it was so weird to read about Evans' pseudo-publishing world. Affairs, bestsellers left and right, mysterious "female fiction" and what not. It didn't seem like the publishing industry, it seemed like a kindergarten. Which in some ways it was.
"Happily Ever After" is a story about a girl that works in the publishing industry. She is a great reader and refers to many wonderful novels throughout the books – in fact, she reads many of my favorites, adores Jane Austen and Dodie Smith, and yet I didn't like her at all. Elle is a confusing main character – alternating between helpless naivety and conniving coldheartedness. As much as I loathed her insecurity and stupidity in the beginning of the book, I hated her clichéd business-facade in the end. She never seemed believable to me.
And speaking of believability, it was so weird to read about Evans' pseudo-publishing world. Affairs, bestsellers left and right, mysterious "female fiction" and what not. It didn't seem like the publishing industry, it seemed like a kindergarten. Which in some ways it was.
September 3, 2012
Eleanor (Elle) Bee starts out as a young, klutzy dreamer in need of a job. She desperately wants to get into the publishing industry and manages, through a total fluke, to get an entry level position at Bluebird Books. Her life changes over the years, through her move from London to New York City, varioius relationships and career success. This is the perfect book to curl up with and tune out the world. There's a part of Elle in any young woman who ever felt insecure but passionate in her goal to find the perfect job and perfect relationship -- while not being certain either is really possible. This is pretty close to a five-star book in my book!
January 28, 2020
I couldn’t put this book down.
It’s a really nice and easy read with a few twists in the story that took me by surprise.
Her character is an interesting one and I really liked her rise to success. I felt she deserved it.
It’s a really nice and easy read with a few twists in the story that took me by surprise.
Her character is an interesting one and I really liked her rise to success. I felt she deserved it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 13, 2019
It took me a while to get into, but I found it to be very compelling. I was afraid at first that it was another "adorable awkward young thing gets job, falls in love" standard holiday read, but I forgot how much raw love and pain and emotion that Harriey Evans is able to conjure up. Very wistful and enjoyable, and sometimes shocking and painful. Would recommend for a reader looking for something nostalgic and full of drama, especially for women who themselves are readers. Much better than the average holiday read.
January 9, 2014
http://ilibrisonounantidotoallatriste...
Elle ha sempre saputo ciò che voleva fare nella vita: lavorare nell'editoria. Quando finalmente viene assunta da un'importante casa editrice, dopo decine di curriculum inviati e colloqui disastrosi, in poco tempo riesce a farsi notare, tanto da meritare non solo una promozione ma anche l'attenzione del suo capo, con cui inizia una relazione. I problemi però non tardano ad arrivare: lui si rivela una persona avida e meschina sul lavoro, e il fatto che insista a voler tenere la loro storia segreta non fa che peggiorare le cose. Per fuggire e ricominciare dopo questa grande delusione Elle accetta al volo l'opportunità di andare a New York per un progetto di scambio internazionale. Qui si adatta subito allo stile di vita, tanto che decide di restare. Purtroppo i problemi non spariscono ignorandoli. Che viva a Londra o a New York..
Questo libro, nonostante la premessa molto carina, mi ha molto deluso. Non c'è nulla di originale e la trama è davvero banale. La narrazione copre un lasso di tempo piuttosto lungo, circa dieci anni, durante i quali vediamo la protagonista crescere e buttarsi nel mondo del lavoro. Sebbene sia interessante seguirne la crescita e la partenza dalla gavetta, visto che molto spesso incontriamo le protagoniste dei chick lit quando sono già donne in carriera, purtroppo il fatto che la storia copra un periodo di tempo così lungo è uno dei suoi difetti principali. La narrazione infatti non scorre in modo lineare, ma si sviluppa in blocchi temporali distanti molti anni uno dall'altro. All'inizio incontriamo Elle da ragazzina, poi la reincontriamo quando è una giovane donna, e così via. Questa scelta obbliga il narratore a riprendere le varie vicende per aggiornare il lettore che all'improvviso si trova scaraventato tra nuovi personaggi e situazioni. Sono molte le cose che possono accadere in pochi anni: nuovi amori, separazioni, lutti, nascite.. Ogni volta che inizia un nuovo capitolo è come incontrare un amico che non vedi da molto tempo e ascoltarlo raccontare le vicissitudini accadute nella sua vita dall'ultima volta che vi siete visti. C'è molta più emozione nel vedere sbocciare un nuovo amore o nell'assistere alla morte di una persona cara, che nel sentirsi riassumere questi eventi in modo succinto. Avrei preferito che la storia proseguisse in modo continuo per vedere tutto 'in diretta' e per godermi quelle emozioni di prima mano. Un'altra cosa che proprio non mi è piaciuta è il cinismo della protagonista. Fin dall'inizio è chiaro che questa ragazza è molto restia nel credere nell'amore e nel principe azzurro, ma quando inizia una relazione ci si butta anima e corpo, ama, soffre e vive di questa persona come se il resto del mondo sparisse. Poi però quando tutto finisce, nel giro di qualche giorno è già pronta ad affrontare la vita con un sorriso. La tranquillità con cui affronta la fine delle sue relazioni, in particolare quella con Rory, è davvero irreale. Com'è possibile che nel giro di così poco tempo lei non ne soffra più e che sia perfino felice se lui si sposa? Probabilmente ho provato più rabbia io di lei. Neanche il finale mi ha conquistato: il lieto fine si è fatto attendere fino alle ultimissime pagine e mi ha deluso perchè si è risolto tutto in quel tipo di finale aperto in cui sei tu che devi intuire quel che succederà, un genere di finale che mi da sempre l'idea che l'autore non abbia più voglia di scrivere e voglia sbrigarsela in fretta. Sei tu lo scrittore no? Perchè devo essere io a decidere come finirà? Finisci ciò che hai comiciato come si deve! Un ultimo commento negativo va alla traduzione: viene utilizzata un milione di volte l'imprecazione 'cacchio'. Già mi disturba il fatto che una parola venga ripetuta così spesso, ma se volevano evitare parolacce c'erano tantissime alternative migliori. Chi dice cacchio nella vita reale? Ma questo libro ha anche qualche lato positivo. Anche se sono pochi. Uno, come dicevo all'inizio, è che vediamo la protagonista crescere e lottare per realizzare il suo sogno e assistiamo alla sua ascesa nel mondo del lavoro. E' stato molto interessante vederla alla prese con colloqui e curriculum, è sicuramente la parte più divertente e frizzante perchè le figuracce sono all'ordine del giorno. Mi è piaciuto anche il fatto che il libro sia ambientato nel mondo dell'editoria. La passione di Elle per i libri si respira ad ogni pagina ed è facile per i lettori accaniti immedesimarsi in lei, invidiarla per il suo lavoro e sognare di riuscire un giorno a fare lo stesso. Un'altro punto di forza è lo stile dell'autrice, molto scorrevole e divertente, che rende il libro piuttosto leggero e veloce da leggere, nonostante una mole di pagine superiore al chick lit medio. Questo è il libro perfetto per chi ha voglia di passare qualche ora senza pensare, ma non aspettatevi il libro della vostra vita.
Elle ha sempre saputo ciò che voleva fare nella vita: lavorare nell'editoria. Quando finalmente viene assunta da un'importante casa editrice, dopo decine di curriculum inviati e colloqui disastrosi, in poco tempo riesce a farsi notare, tanto da meritare non solo una promozione ma anche l'attenzione del suo capo, con cui inizia una relazione. I problemi però non tardano ad arrivare: lui si rivela una persona avida e meschina sul lavoro, e il fatto che insista a voler tenere la loro storia segreta non fa che peggiorare le cose. Per fuggire e ricominciare dopo questa grande delusione Elle accetta al volo l'opportunità di andare a New York per un progetto di scambio internazionale. Qui si adatta subito allo stile di vita, tanto che decide di restare. Purtroppo i problemi non spariscono ignorandoli. Che viva a Londra o a New York..
Questo libro, nonostante la premessa molto carina, mi ha molto deluso. Non c'è nulla di originale e la trama è davvero banale. La narrazione copre un lasso di tempo piuttosto lungo, circa dieci anni, durante i quali vediamo la protagonista crescere e buttarsi nel mondo del lavoro. Sebbene sia interessante seguirne la crescita e la partenza dalla gavetta, visto che molto spesso incontriamo le protagoniste dei chick lit quando sono già donne in carriera, purtroppo il fatto che la storia copra un periodo di tempo così lungo è uno dei suoi difetti principali. La narrazione infatti non scorre in modo lineare, ma si sviluppa in blocchi temporali distanti molti anni uno dall'altro. All'inizio incontriamo Elle da ragazzina, poi la reincontriamo quando è una giovane donna, e così via. Questa scelta obbliga il narratore a riprendere le varie vicende per aggiornare il lettore che all'improvviso si trova scaraventato tra nuovi personaggi e situazioni. Sono molte le cose che possono accadere in pochi anni: nuovi amori, separazioni, lutti, nascite.. Ogni volta che inizia un nuovo capitolo è come incontrare un amico che non vedi da molto tempo e ascoltarlo raccontare le vicissitudini accadute nella sua vita dall'ultima volta che vi siete visti. C'è molta più emozione nel vedere sbocciare un nuovo amore o nell'assistere alla morte di una persona cara, che nel sentirsi riassumere questi eventi in modo succinto. Avrei preferito che la storia proseguisse in modo continuo per vedere tutto 'in diretta' e per godermi quelle emozioni di prima mano. Un'altra cosa che proprio non mi è piaciuta è il cinismo della protagonista. Fin dall'inizio è chiaro che questa ragazza è molto restia nel credere nell'amore e nel principe azzurro, ma quando inizia una relazione ci si butta anima e corpo, ama, soffre e vive di questa persona come se il resto del mondo sparisse. Poi però quando tutto finisce, nel giro di qualche giorno è già pronta ad affrontare la vita con un sorriso. La tranquillità con cui affronta la fine delle sue relazioni, in particolare quella con Rory, è davvero irreale. Com'è possibile che nel giro di così poco tempo lei non ne soffra più e che sia perfino felice se lui si sposa? Probabilmente ho provato più rabbia io di lei. Neanche il finale mi ha conquistato: il lieto fine si è fatto attendere fino alle ultimissime pagine e mi ha deluso perchè si è risolto tutto in quel tipo di finale aperto in cui sei tu che devi intuire quel che succederà, un genere di finale che mi da sempre l'idea che l'autore non abbia più voglia di scrivere e voglia sbrigarsela in fretta. Sei tu lo scrittore no? Perchè devo essere io a decidere come finirà? Finisci ciò che hai comiciato come si deve! Un ultimo commento negativo va alla traduzione: viene utilizzata un milione di volte l'imprecazione 'cacchio'. Già mi disturba il fatto che una parola venga ripetuta così spesso, ma se volevano evitare parolacce c'erano tantissime alternative migliori. Chi dice cacchio nella vita reale? Ma questo libro ha anche qualche lato positivo. Anche se sono pochi. Uno, come dicevo all'inizio, è che vediamo la protagonista crescere e lottare per realizzare il suo sogno e assistiamo alla sua ascesa nel mondo del lavoro. E' stato molto interessante vederla alla prese con colloqui e curriculum, è sicuramente la parte più divertente e frizzante perchè le figuracce sono all'ordine del giorno. Mi è piaciuto anche il fatto che il libro sia ambientato nel mondo dell'editoria. La passione di Elle per i libri si respira ad ogni pagina ed è facile per i lettori accaniti immedesimarsi in lei, invidiarla per il suo lavoro e sognare di riuscire un giorno a fare lo stesso. Un'altro punto di forza è lo stile dell'autrice, molto scorrevole e divertente, che rende il libro piuttosto leggero e veloce da leggere, nonostante una mole di pagine superiore al chick lit medio. Questo è il libro perfetto per chi ha voglia di passare qualche ora senza pensare, ma non aspettatevi il libro della vostra vita.
July 21, 2024
A reread but just as good as the first time.
Witty and funny, but also makes me cry. Incredibly well written.
Witty and funny, but also makes me cry. Incredibly well written.
September 9, 2019
I did read the whole book but I found it rather disappointing to be honest.
December 10, 2014
I started off actually liking this well enough, as the set-up was very powerful. I particularly enjoyed Elle’s difficult relationship with her brother – that scene at the start when they’re children is simply brilliant. Sadly, we don’t stay in this childhood moment as we’re quickly tumbled into Elle as a young woman trying to make her way in the publishing world.
Entirely due to the great start, I was prepared to give Elle the benefit of the doubt and kept my determination going for a good 100 pages or so. Gradually it dawned on me that, no matter how much I tried to deny it as a reader, Elle is simply a doormat, and a dull one to boot. Sorry, but she just is. Yes, I know she’s a borderline alcoholic with an alcoholic mother, and surely medically depressed, but every time there’s a crisis she simply just keels over and agrees with whoever the strongest person in any particular scene is. I have to say it’s never her. If you want interesting depressive and/or alcoholic women in your fiction, you’re better off with Marian Keyes. However, there was one moment when I got rather excited because Elle was about to launch into a very justified row with her bitchy boss, but the moment said boss challenges her, Ellie gives in and just agrees. Sigh …
There’s also an allegedly torrid affair between her and another boss, Rory, whom she’s obsessive about but really I just didn’t believe anyone would be interested enough in her to bother. That goes for the on-off relationship with an ex-colleague too – and the moment when she realises (no serious spoilers here) that he’s fathered a child by someone else has to be one of the great clichés of romantic fiction – so clichéd that I couldn’t help but laugh uproariously. Sorry …
Then the storyline jumps again and we’re a few years on and she’s living and working in New York. Sadly she’s not any more interesting than she was in the UK and for the rest of the book, I did even more sighing. The relationships she has with the two possible men she’s supposed to be with are worryingly unrealistic, and indeed neither man is very nice or even interesting. As a result, the ending is nonsensical. Or would have been if I’d cared enough about what happens to her. If the novel had lost 150 pages or so, it might have been better as Elle wouldn’t have been so intensely boring and irritating. That said, the book covers she’s responsible for in her publishing job sound nice – maybe these pictures should have been included in the novel as they would certainly have been more riveting than our heroine. Oh well.
Verdict: 2 stars. Decent enough plot, but a too dim and unlikeable heroine
Entirely due to the great start, I was prepared to give Elle the benefit of the doubt and kept my determination going for a good 100 pages or so. Gradually it dawned on me that, no matter how much I tried to deny it as a reader, Elle is simply a doormat, and a dull one to boot. Sorry, but she just is. Yes, I know she’s a borderline alcoholic with an alcoholic mother, and surely medically depressed, but every time there’s a crisis she simply just keels over and agrees with whoever the strongest person in any particular scene is. I have to say it’s never her. If you want interesting depressive and/or alcoholic women in your fiction, you’re better off with Marian Keyes. However, there was one moment when I got rather excited because Elle was about to launch into a very justified row with her bitchy boss, but the moment said boss challenges her, Ellie gives in and just agrees. Sigh …
There’s also an allegedly torrid affair between her and another boss, Rory, whom she’s obsessive about but really I just didn’t believe anyone would be interested enough in her to bother. That goes for the on-off relationship with an ex-colleague too – and the moment when she realises (no serious spoilers here) that he’s fathered a child by someone else has to be one of the great clichés of romantic fiction – so clichéd that I couldn’t help but laugh uproariously. Sorry …
Then the storyline jumps again and we’re a few years on and she’s living and working in New York. Sadly she’s not any more interesting than she was in the UK and for the rest of the book, I did even more sighing. The relationships she has with the two possible men she’s supposed to be with are worryingly unrealistic, and indeed neither man is very nice or even interesting. As a result, the ending is nonsensical. Or would have been if I’d cared enough about what happens to her. If the novel had lost 150 pages or so, it might have been better as Elle wouldn’t have been so intensely boring and irritating. That said, the book covers she’s responsible for in her publishing job sound nice – maybe these pictures should have been included in the novel as they would certainly have been more riveting than our heroine. Oh well.
Verdict: 2 stars. Decent enough plot, but a too dim and unlikeable heroine
October 14, 2013
Ho deciso che questo libro mi sarebbe piaciuto ancora prima di cominciarlo, o meglio già dalle prime pagine.
L'ironia, in tutto ciò, era che lei sapeva esattamente quel che avrebbe voluto fare!
Lo sapeva da sempre!
Voleva lavorare con i libri, leggere buona letteratura, incontrare scrittori e imparare come si editano i testi, lanciarsi in discussioni...
Sapeva bene che avrebbe dovuto iniziare dalla gavetta e non le importava;
al contrario, era sicura che le sarebbe piaciuto.
Eleanor con un passato difficile, porta dietro di sé un carico di delusioni, una valigia piena di insicurezze che in un primo momento non la portano da nessuna parte. Ma arriva il momento in cui giusto o sbagliato, bisogna reagire. Questo romanzo mi ha incantata sin dalle prime pagine, la vita all'interno di una casa editrice, leggere, correggere, editare un libro, tagliare dove è necessario, è affascinante. Innegabile è la mia personale passione per i libri, e la voglia di conoscere quello che avviene intorno alla costruzione di un libro mi ha fatta sognare a occhi aperti, e spesso mi sono domandata ma sarà davvero così? Eleanor è una ragazzina quando giunge alla Bookprint, la sua carriera cresce, come il suo amore per la lettura e non è mai stanca, ogni cosa anche a distanza di tempo è pur sempre una novità che spesso la porta a dubitare realmente delle sue capacità. Non pensa che l'amore possa bussare al suo cuore e invece arriva, ma si sa l'amore perfetto non esiste, e le paure nascoste sin da quando era piccola emergono, lasciandola sola e rammaricata. Allontanarsi da ciò che più la lega alla sua Londra è un grande sacrificio, ma bisogna farlo. Cosa il futuro le prospetti lei non lo sa però a volte anche le delusioni possono trasformarsi in nuove passioni, basta un invito, un ritorno all'ovile e forse i suoi romanzi rosa possono realmente essere calati nella realtà e vivere un sogno con più leggerezza e meno timori. Un libro pieno di sentimenti, un mondo visto con gli occhi prima dell'innocenza e poi della conoscenza, una crescita che pagina dopo pagina ti porta a vivere pienamente le passioni di Eleanor e di tutti personaggi che la circondano.
http://labibliotecadellibraio.blogspo...
L'ironia, in tutto ciò, era che lei sapeva esattamente quel che avrebbe voluto fare!
Lo sapeva da sempre!
Voleva lavorare con i libri, leggere buona letteratura, incontrare scrittori e imparare come si editano i testi, lanciarsi in discussioni...
Sapeva bene che avrebbe dovuto iniziare dalla gavetta e non le importava;
al contrario, era sicura che le sarebbe piaciuto.
Eleanor con un passato difficile, porta dietro di sé un carico di delusioni, una valigia piena di insicurezze che in un primo momento non la portano da nessuna parte. Ma arriva il momento in cui giusto o sbagliato, bisogna reagire. Questo romanzo mi ha incantata sin dalle prime pagine, la vita all'interno di una casa editrice, leggere, correggere, editare un libro, tagliare dove è necessario, è affascinante. Innegabile è la mia personale passione per i libri, e la voglia di conoscere quello che avviene intorno alla costruzione di un libro mi ha fatta sognare a occhi aperti, e spesso mi sono domandata ma sarà davvero così? Eleanor è una ragazzina quando giunge alla Bookprint, la sua carriera cresce, come il suo amore per la lettura e non è mai stanca, ogni cosa anche a distanza di tempo è pur sempre una novità che spesso la porta a dubitare realmente delle sue capacità. Non pensa che l'amore possa bussare al suo cuore e invece arriva, ma si sa l'amore perfetto non esiste, e le paure nascoste sin da quando era piccola emergono, lasciandola sola e rammaricata. Allontanarsi da ciò che più la lega alla sua Londra è un grande sacrificio, ma bisogna farlo. Cosa il futuro le prospetti lei non lo sa però a volte anche le delusioni possono trasformarsi in nuove passioni, basta un invito, un ritorno all'ovile e forse i suoi romanzi rosa possono realmente essere calati nella realtà e vivere un sogno con più leggerezza e meno timori. Un libro pieno di sentimenti, un mondo visto con gli occhi prima dell'innocenza e poi della conoscenza, una crescita che pagina dopo pagina ti porta a vivere pienamente le passioni di Eleanor e di tutti personaggi che la circondano.
http://labibliotecadellibraio.blogspo...
November 8, 2012
I identified with the main character of this story, Elle, so strongly it was scary. I'm 22 and a wannabe writer currently working in journalism with no idea what to do or where to go next. I found this book because, after spending the summer of 2010 in London, I desperately want to go back and have been devouring anything British. I didn't realize I was looking for this book until I started reading it, and now I count my lucky stars that I did find it.
Elle's life is quite different from mine. She's in publishing. She has a broken home. She's more promiscuous than I am, more hardened than I am and more adventurous than I am. But like me, she doesn't believe a good book necessarily has to be a groundbreaking future classic with some deep meaning that it takes essays and classwork to unearth. That's a type of definition for a good read that I have yet to find elsewhere in the literary world.
To me, this book is not necessarily about the plot; it is about the growth of the character. Elle is far from perfect. She makes mistakes, takes advice from the wrong people, dates the wrong people, falls in love with the wrong city. Those flaws make her more alive. Things don't just magically work out for Elle. She has to work hard to get herself to where she wants to be, and for most of the story, she does not even know who or what or where that will be.
I think that's why I connected with Elle so strongly. She gives me hope that eventually, I'll wake up one day and realize what I want and how I'll get it. I'll have to put a lot of hard work in to get there and I won't often know what I'm doing or why it will help me later on. I'll make mistakes. But maybe, in time, I too will find my happily ever after.
Elle's life is quite different from mine. She's in publishing. She has a broken home. She's more promiscuous than I am, more hardened than I am and more adventurous than I am. But like me, she doesn't believe a good book necessarily has to be a groundbreaking future classic with some deep meaning that it takes essays and classwork to unearth. That's a type of definition for a good read that I have yet to find elsewhere in the literary world.
To me, this book is not necessarily about the plot; it is about the growth of the character. Elle is far from perfect. She makes mistakes, takes advice from the wrong people, dates the wrong people, falls in love with the wrong city. Those flaws make her more alive. Things don't just magically work out for Elle. She has to work hard to get herself to where she wants to be, and for most of the story, she does not even know who or what or where that will be.
I think that's why I connected with Elle so strongly. She gives me hope that eventually, I'll wake up one day and realize what I want and how I'll get it. I'll have to put a lot of hard work in to get there and I won't often know what I'm doing or why it will help me later on. I'll make mistakes. But maybe, in time, I too will find my happily ever after.
November 26, 2014
This wasn't exactly what I expected. I'm starting to think that the first ever Harriet Evans I ever read, was one that was more up my alley.
I did like this, but I didn't love it. Her stories never seem to be a cut and dry happily ever after, which is a little ironic given this one's title. They are realistic, I suppose. They're certainly messy and real life can certainly be that. The thing is, I don't always want messy. There are romance books where I truly appreciate it if it's more realictic than fairy-tale like, but not here.
Also, this was slightly more graphic than I'm used to from Harriet Evans. Unless I'm remembering it wrong, the previous two books I've read by her didn't have explicit love scenes, it was more implied than anything. And obviously I don't mind explicitness, since I read enough books that have a lot more of them than this one did but somehow it just didn't really fit here? I'm not explaining this well at all. But for some reason, it doesn't fit the writing style all that much.
But speaking of which, this is well-written as always when it comes to her. However, I'm still waiting on another book I'll love as much as I did A hopeless romantic. This was better than I remember you, but still not quite there. There weren't enough characters that I loved, and it took me a little while to warm up to Elle as well. I came to really like Sam and Felicity, each in their own way. And I LOVED Tom. A lot. Pretty much from the beginning.
I like stories that deal with a couple having bad timing, and everthing messy that can happen in real life happening at exactly the wrong time. But it just didn't quite get to the point I wanted it to.
I did like this, but I didn't love it. Her stories never seem to be a cut and dry happily ever after, which is a little ironic given this one's title. They are realistic, I suppose. They're certainly messy and real life can certainly be that. The thing is, I don't always want messy. There are romance books where I truly appreciate it if it's more realictic than fairy-tale like, but not here.
Also, this was slightly more graphic than I'm used to from Harriet Evans. Unless I'm remembering it wrong, the previous two books I've read by her didn't have explicit love scenes, it was more implied than anything. And obviously I don't mind explicitness, since I read enough books that have a lot more of them than this one did but somehow it just didn't really fit here? I'm not explaining this well at all. But for some reason, it doesn't fit the writing style all that much.
But speaking of which, this is well-written as always when it comes to her. However, I'm still waiting on another book I'll love as much as I did A hopeless romantic. This was better than I remember you, but still not quite there. There weren't enough characters that I loved, and it took me a little while to warm up to Elle as well. I came to really like Sam and Felicity, each in their own way. And I LOVED Tom. A lot. Pretty much from the beginning.
I like stories that deal with a couple having bad timing, and everthing messy that can happen in real life happening at exactly the wrong time. But it just didn't quite get to the point I wanted it to.
December 30, 2012
This is the third book by Harriet Evans I've read in the past few weeks after discovering The Love of Her Life at the library used book sale for a quarter, and then borrowing A Hopeless Romantic from the library soon after. Her books clearly have a formula--young woman unhappy in love, meets a new man, doesn't trust herself, runs away (often to New York), focuses on work and improves herself, former love returns, and happy ending ensues. This must be a compelling formula for thirty-somethings, but I find myself sad that it takes so much time for her heroines to find their own self-worth and success at love. Also, in all three books, if the man in question had told the heorine how he truly felt about her, the happy ending might have ensued a bit faster. The story of each couple seems to have many lost years.
Having said that, Evan's book as a whole are usually more than just this formula. This book made me think about how much I love to read and what I enjoy reading the most. When a successful Elle says towards the end of the book that she doesn't have time to read for pleasure anymore, it made me so sad. Evans includes quotes from what I assume are some of her favorite British books, like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle, which happen to be some of my favorites as well. And Evan's references to books and authors had me on Goodreads once I finished, trying to figure out if they were real or not. So I'll keep reading her books, looking for what makes them more than just Brit/Chick lit.
Having said that, Evan's book as a whole are usually more than just this formula. This book made me think about how much I love to read and what I enjoy reading the most. When a successful Elle says towards the end of the book that she doesn't have time to read for pleasure anymore, it made me so sad. Evans includes quotes from what I assume are some of her favorite British books, like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Dodie Smith's I Capture the Castle, which happen to be some of my favorites as well. And Evan's references to books and authors had me on Goodreads once I finished, trying to figure out if they were real or not. So I'll keep reading her books, looking for what makes them more than just Brit/Chick lit.
May 26, 2018
This was surprisingly deep for what I considered as a chick-lit novel. Elle is a very ambitious Londoner who is hungry to for her career. Her story feels real to me. The book covers her story from the beginning when she first started out working, sprinkled with life's curveballs such as being in love with the wrong person, competitive "friends", imperfect family relationships, the one who got away and eventually a career that makes you hate what you do and the reason why you started the career in the first place. It feels as if when you got what you wanted on the outside (the best career, fancy clothes, rubbing shoulders with important people), it made you really miserable on the inside instead. Everyone you see asked you if you're truly happy where you are. What do you do? I like how the author focuses on that even if it is a light, chick-lit read. It's a nice reminder that life is just messy that way and sometimes all we need to do is take a deep breath and remember why we liked to do certain things in the first place. I also really liked this book because the main character of the book loves reading and had to move around a lot, never feeling as if she could settle down anywhere. It's something I relate to very much.
"I think sometimes the bits of your life happen in the wrong order, or all at the same time and you waste time feeling angry about it, but that's the way it is, it's real life."
"I think sometimes the bits of your life happen in the wrong order, or all at the same time and you waste time feeling angry about it, but that's the way it is, it's real life."
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