Until the Clock Strikes Midnight

by Alechia Dow

The Good Place meets the Brandy version of Cinderella in Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, a cozy, romantic fantasy from award-winning author Alechia Dow.

Darling is the most talented—and unusual—Guardian to get a chance at winning the coveted once-in-a-generation Mortal Outcome Council mentorship. Getting the spot would mean having the opportunity to shape the future happiness of all mortal realms—if she succeeds at her first assignment, Lucy Addlesberg. Darling thinks it’ll be an easy razzle-dazzle job… until she actually meets Lucy. Her life is a complete mess, from her failing bookshop in her downtrodden village to her doomed flirtation with the princess of Lumina. But if there’s one thing Darling’s good at, it’s a makeover.

Calamity is the most talented—and arrogant—Misfortune of his class. It’s his job to save mortals from their own terrible decisions made in the pursuit of the mythical "Happily Ever After." When Calam is granted a shot at the Mortal Outcome Council mentorship, he thinks his dreams are finally coming true. But first, he must pass the test. It should be easy—Lucy Addlesberg has been unfortunate for years. All he has to do is continue her string of bad luck so she can finally come to terms with reality and settle for a safer, more logical path in life. Yet when he arrives, he finds that Lucy has a Guardian assigned to her too—a chipper overachiever who is as colorful as the magic pouring from her glittery wand.

To thwart each other, Darling and Calam insert themselves into Lucy’s life posing as a betrothed couple. As they try to guide her down what they each see as the best path for her, they start questioning their roles and ultimately what they truly want for themselves... and if those feelings of loathing they have for each other might actually be something more like love.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Cozy Fantasy, LGBT, Retellings, Romantasy

Unknown Binding

Expected publication February 3, 2026

About the author

Alechia Dow is a former pastry chef, food critic, culinary teacher, and Youth Services librarian. When not writing about determined black girls (like herself), you can find her chasing her wild child, baking, or taking teeny adventures.

Reviews

[Mildly Mad Hatter · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 33%
I am so sad! I was really hoping this would be good and I wanted to enjoy it so bad! But sadly, there is content in here that makes it impossible.
The language that I read: 1 f word, 1 s word, and 1 d word.
LGBTQ: lots of it. The main girl kissed another girl, it talks about a story of a lgbtq couple and one of the mainish characters is in a lgbtq relationship. Lots about being inclusive and no gender is disqualified from going to the princesses ball to try and win her hand.
This would have been so good! But as a Christian I can’t support any of this content. Although, I did love the content warning, even though it didn’t mention the lgbtq and language, it did talk about some other things good to know going in. Sadly, I can’t recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this book.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the free Kindle book. My review is voluntarily given, and my opinions are my own.

This was so amazing. Even though this is fantasy, I loved the accurate portrayal of people who want to see others fail. Who will tell you to your face you will amount to nothing. No matter how smart you are, or how hard you try, they are always there. Especially when you are 'different'. Doesn't matter what the difference is. In this book, she's a fairy, and everyone else in the school is a celestial.

There are two separate love stories in the book. Lucy's, which may result in a Happily Ever After (Darling's goal) or an Ordinary Ever After (Calam's goal). Then there is Darling and Calam, which is an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers.

I would recommend this book to everyone who loves fantasy/paranormal rom-coms. Unless, of course, you are a homophobic piece of trash. Then don't read it.

Content warning: Bipolar disorder, intrusive thoughts, "brief self-harm and passive suicidality" (straight from author's content warning).

[ji · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a yes, yes, and another resounding yes for me! i had so much fun reading, much more than i had expected to honestly.

dow’s writing is soft, cozy, and warm to read. i wanted to inhale it at some point because her descriptions were speaking to meeee, especially when food got brought up; i would think, “that sounds yummy. i need to make that.” it’s not the kind of writing i usually encounter, but given how life has been lifeing, it brought me comfort i didn’t even know that i had needed.

even though the plot is pretty low stakes in my opinion, i couldn’t help but become heavily invested. it’s hard not to; the cast is so earnest, lovable, and passionate. both leads, darling and calam, are imperfectly perfect. on their own, they’re intriguing, relatable, but together?? the chemistry was insane. banter was A+++ (i wrote that in my notes, by the way), tension was thick, the push and pull was just right. like RAHHH!!! i could go on and on about them. and on that note: the YEARNINGGGGG. both of them were down bad, but calam??? the amount of highlights i have of him losing his mind over darling is atrocious. i devoured it every time.

i also liked the messaging/parallels in this book, i think its special to be able to read something as whimsical as this, but still relate and see yourself somewhere. there was a diverse amount of representation and i especially appreciated the exploration of darling’s character as a disabled black woman. (i just love darling in general lol)

this story was well balanced, full of life, and was always a fairytale but didn’t stray away from difficult topics that mirrors our reality. things were kept pretty wholesome, and the takeaways in the end are hopeful, positive. if you’re looking for a book that feels like snuggling in a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa this is IT.

you could tell that dow had a lot of fun with this book and she made the story she wanted to tell, not for anyone else. i love how i can feel that through the pages. i look forward to seeing what else she writes in the future.

most of all, i’ll miss darling and calam; you couldn’t ask for better leads. their growth, their banter, their love, their fights even… you’ll catch me rereading this book every time i wish to see them again. <3

~

thank you feiwel and friends and netgalley for the arc!

[BonBon ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I adored this! I was so excited to see a cozy fairytale retelling by Alechia Dow because I absolutely love her as an author and her amazing writing. This story did not disappoint! It’s an adorable and refreshing Cinderella retelling that will be perfect to read in the fall or winter. I can not wait to buy a physical copy 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🖤Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

[Levi Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving
me a free copy in exchange for an honest review. 4.5/5 stars

until the clock strikes midnight is, at its core a cinderella retelling, only from the perspective of two wildly different “fairy godmother” like people. darling is a fairy who believes everyone deserves a happily ever after. calamity is a misfortune who excels at preventing unhappily ever afters. the two of them are assigned the same case, lucy addlesburg. will she get a happily ever after or an ordinary ever after?

this book was such a delightful spin on the classic cinderella tale. i loved seeing darling and calamity’s journeys both as individuals, with each other, and the whole town. seeing darling’s mental struggles portrayed in such a way was a breath of fresh air.
while this was a complete story, i hope we get to see darling and calam together again!

[Fanna]

i just know alechia dow would write something real cute; cozy fantasy is in right hands

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Until the Clock Strikes Midnight" is the cutest standalone YA fairytale retelling for anyone who loves Cinderella.

Darling, a Fairy hoping for an internship with the Mortal Outcome committee, is given one last assignment to prove she has what it takes- namely, a bookkeeper named Lucy who she needs to ensure has a happily ever after. It should be a cinch, but she was not expecting Calamity- a misfortune vying for the same internship whose task is to get Lucy to an ordinary after. Calamity and Darling insert themselves in Lucy's life by posing as a couple, and work towards making Lucy's life better while also helping the rest of the village, and maybe even falling in love.

This Cinderella retelling was a really unique take on the tale! I loved the competition aspect of both characters needing to win the internship for different reasons, and the way they came to understand each other's perspective as well as how they could go about creating ever afters in the future. This was a perfect story for teens, super cute and wholesome, fast paced and engaging. I loved that there were all different types of couples in here (LGBTQ+ inclusive). The main couple was m/f, while there were side couples that were f/f and m/m.

There were just a few things that weren't to my taste- first, a lot of characters were characterized only by their skin color. For instance, multiple times we meet a "white lady" or a "black man" etc with no other characteristics. I think these characters could be fleshed out a bit or at least described in a different way. The second was that I felt the love between the 2 main characters went from 0 to 100% real fast. The author is well aware of this and even has the characters mention it on page, but I still feel the relationship could have been fleshed out a bit more. My last complaint is that the book is dual perspective, but Calamity and Darling had too similar a voice and sometimes I couldn't tell whose perspective I was reading, or who was speaking when they were in a conversation together.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, sweet, fairytale retelling perfect for YA readers!

4/5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review of this delightful tale!

[rachel x]

"The Good Place meets the Brandy version of Cinderella in this cozy, romantic fantasy"

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a PERFECT young adult fantasy book. A Cinderella retelling from the point of view of the Fairy, but she is not alone! She was sent on this mission with a rival who has opposing goals for the girl they were sent to help. A brilliantly told story, I honestly wasn’t sure how it was going to end until it happened! Until the Clock Strikes Midnight is a new favorite for me.

-rivals
-opposing goals
-forced proximity
-one bed
-fake dating
-mental illness representation
-lgbt+ representation

It has it all!! If you love Once Upon a Broken Heart, then you will love this!

Thank you to the author, publishing, and Netgalley for letting me read this beautiful story early! I cannot wait to buy it and share it with my friends when it comes out.

[Alishba · Rating 3 out of 5]

˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ ARC Review ⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚
✩ YA, enemies-to-lovers, romantasy, forced proximity, fake dating, banter ✩
My Rating: 3/✩✩✩✩✩
No spice

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!


This story was incredibly whimsical, magical, and visually stunning. I loved the "laugh out loud" banter between the main characters, and the slow-burn romance was executed perfectly. While the portrayal of friendships and relationships was truly beautiful, the pacing faltered for me toward the end. I found myself losing interest and skimming the final chapters, which is ultimately why I dropped two stars from my rating.

[Lea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ First off thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC of the book. I thought this was a cute retelling of the fairytale Cinderella. Loved the characters and the premise of the story. That there is a bigger picture of how your life plays out; whether it be a happily ever after, an ordinary ever after, a unhappy ever after or worse a miserably ever after. Loved the characters and their roles within the story. There's friendships, romance, magic, some mayhem and a ball. Yeah I would recommend this book to readers who like YA and retellings when it comes out in February 2026.

[Chloe]

This book is an absolute delight. It is sweet and earnest and absolutely unapologetic in the boldness of it's joy. I adored it.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you netgalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for my review !

signed up for the whimsy, stayed for the 1 star homophobic review 😂✨

the premise of this book is very creative, magical, and maybe a pinch too sweet at times. however, i loved the rivalry between darling and calam and all of the side characters that grew along the way.

i was happy with the mental health representation and many of the lgbt characters. both of the main characters are also non-white as are many of the side characters.

i recommend this book to everyone looking to add a little sparkle in their reading line up.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Alechia Dow’s “Until the Clock Strikes Midnight” is a cozy, whimsical Cinderella retelling that feels like curling up under a blanket with hot cocoa. At its heart, it’s the story of Darling, a determined fairy who believes everyone deserves a happily ever after, and Calamity, a misfortune whose job is to prevent unhappily ever afters. When both are assigned to the same mortal case involving a struggling bookseller named Lucy Addlesburg, they find themselves competing for a coveted internship. Posing as a couple while working their magic on Lucy and her town, Darling and Calamity soon discover that their rivalry might just transform into something deeper.

Dow’s writing is warm, soft, and delightfully comforting, with vivid imagery and mouthwatering descriptions (especially when food appears). The atmosphere leans more cozy than high-stakes, but the heartfelt storytelling and lovable characters keep the pages flying. Darling shines as a bold, compassionate, and refreshingly complex heroine, especially in her portrayal as a disabled Black woman navigating both her limitations and her strengths. Calamity, meanwhile, brings sharp banter and reluctant charm, even if his arrogance occasionally grates. Together, their chemistry is undeniable: the yearning, the push-and-pull, and the banter practically leap off the page.

The book also thrives on its inclusivity. Alongside Darling and Calamity’s m/f romance, there’s LGBTQ+ representation with f/f and m/m couples throughout the story. The central themes of love, acceptance, and self-discovery are complemented by thoughtful touches, such as examining how prejudice is taught and how joy can be an act of resistance.

That said, I did find the romance tropes laid on a little thick, with Darling and Calamity’s relationship accelerating quickly. A few side characters felt flat (described more by appearance than personality), and the alternating perspectives between Darling and Calamity sometimes blurred together. Still, the humor, heart, and fairytale magic outweigh these bumps.

Sweet, hopeful, and brimming with charm, “Until the Clock Strikes Midnight” is a refreshing spin on Cinderella that delivers comfort and enchantment in equal measure. Perfect for readers who love romantasy with cozy vibes, tropey fun, and characters you’ll want to revisit again and again.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling is the only fairy in her school, and she is determined to secure a coveted mentorship with the Mortal Outcome Council. Assigned to a mortal named Lucy whose life is teetering on the edge of joy, Darling is prepared to use her skills to help Lucy find her “happily ever after.” Little does Darling know that Calam, a Misfortune, has also been assigned to Lucy for his own mentorship opportunity, and the two immortals have markedly different goals. With only seven days to complete the challenge and a future career on the line, the two must focus if they are to win. But what begins as a caustic rivalry quickly turns into something more as circumstances conspire to bring Darling and Calam into closer collaboration with one another.

This deliciously adorable romantic comedy blends the fantastical with the ordinary in amusing and resonant ways. Told from the alternating perspectives of Darling and Calam, the narrative advances with a brisk pace that makes the time limit of their shared quest even more palpable. Neither character is perfect, and both have flaws that make them at once endearing and recognizable despite their immortal natures. Additionally, each character has altruistic reasons for wanting to succeed in their individual goals, and as a result, neither is the true antihero. While the competition for the mentorship is the primary focus of the plot, however, the simmering romance between Darling and Calam becomes increasingly central, and readers will rally for a positive outcome for everyone.

Deep physical and psychological challenges plague both protagonists, and these obstacles are made more prominent thanks to the first person narrative structure of the individual chapters. A content warning at the beginning of the book alludes to this aspect of the story, and readers with similar experiences will feel seen as a result of the storytelling. Rather than holding them back, the challenges the characters face make Calam and Darling stronger as they aim for success while managing their own intrinsic needs. Quirky humor and lighthearted exchanges balance out these weighty topics, leaving readers with a robust sense of emotional satisfaction at the story’s conclusion. Charming, witty, and thoughtful, this is an enjoyable addition to library collections for young adult readers who enjoy cozy romantic comedies with a touch of whimsy.

[Gabrielle Perna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most adorable cozy romantasy!!!! I enjoyed every single minute of it, and I COULD NOT put it down for the life of me!!! Darling and Calamity were the best characters and rollercoaster to be on. I fell for them so quickly. They were both so different and yet were drawn to one another like moths to the flame. Darling, a faerie, top of her class and most talent Guardian and is awarded the once in a lifetime Mortal Outcome Council Mentorship. She is the only faerie in her school and the only one to have ever done this. Her first assignment is to give Lucy Addlesburg a "Happily Ever After". Calamity, a Misfortune, top of his class and most talented and he is ALSO granted the Mortal Outcome Council Mentorship. Calamity knows going into this he is competing for the mentorship, but the contract is written in a language that Darling cannot read and she ignorant to the fact that this is a competition. His first assignment as well is to make sure that Lucy Addlesburg settles for her "Ordinary Ever After".

What tropes to expect:
-Cinderella Retelling
-Dual POV
-enemies-lovers
-fake relationship
-mental illness representation
-slow burnnnnn
-sunshine / grump
-Inclusive and diverse characters
-Time-limit quest

I really loved this book and Dow's writing. It was so incredibly easy to get into, and it was very fast paced. There was NO spice in this, their relationship was very juvenile and on NetGalley the publisher labeled it as YA. But overall, I really enjoyed the story and the lessons and meaning behind it. I loved how Dow but her own live experiences and mental illness into and it made it feel all that more personal to me as a reader. Darling's struggles often made me cry while reading and my heart hurt for her and how she felt about herself. I loved seeing the friendship and eventual relationship between her and Calamity grow and how he handled her illness.

I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever been told they are too much; Dow, Darling, and Calamity will make you feel seen and loved that is for sure. I cannot wait to read all of Dow's other books after this because I have just discovered her and I LOVE HER!! 10000% would recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Feiwel & Friends for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Arthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine an oooey gooey warm chocolate chip cookie, not with those sugar free miniscule chocolate chips, but one laden with real chocolate chunks, like someone with a real sweet tooth made one.. Imagine you bite into it, savoring the soft chewiness from the brown sugar, the crispness from the white sugar and the glory of the melted chocolate and then, aah then you taste the fleck of salt - sudden, unexpected and yet invigorating the entire experience of being wrapped in a warm hug... that moment when your sense of taste can make you weep at time lost, snuggle cozier into your comforter or just smile at a long forgotten memory, or just inhale the treat...
This book by the talented Alechia Dow is JUST as delicious, warm, salty and ooey gooey melt your senses kind! Be it the protagonists and their challenges or Lucy's dreams, Minerva's wants.. Favie and Mrs Arconia were winners in their small but mighty roles... The tussle between choice, stability and happiness, need and want and ultimately how we strive to break free from bad patterns - all of these are explored in a clean fuss free book which I absolutely devoured!!
Darling Sparkleton and Calamity Blight are two extremes in the magical spectrum - with darling embodying a push for Happily Ever After and Calam nudging clients towards a more stable Ordinary Ever After. The exploration of being seen, choice and community shine bright in this Disney-esque caper, replete with a slew of unique perspectives and internal challenges embodying the real spectrum of personalities and prejudices faced. You cannot help but fall in love...
My whimsical and magical thank yous to Macmillians Children's Publishing House, Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for poofing this ARC! It was a warm hug, a cup of tea, biscuits and a scented candle kind of solace, making me feel the sparkles in the air!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars Rounded Up

“And I learned these things do happen for a reason: Because you bother and care and you try. You interfere. You don’t let fate decide for you; you decide your own fate.”

Welcome to a whimsical, cozy, Disney fairytale of a book!

Darling is a fairy who wants a spot on the Mortal Outcome Council because she needs to make a difference. Surrounded by stuck-up Celestials, she wants to shape happiness in the mortal realms the unconventional fairy way, giving humans more of a chance at Happily Ever Afters. Calamity, who also wants that coveted spot on the Council, is a Misfortune. While Darling’s job is to guide humans toward Happily Ever After, his job is to make mortals eschew an HEA for an Ordinary Ever After (it’s safer that way!) When both get assigned to the same mortal, they find themselves in a frustrating cycle of trying to outwit each other while fighting their own individual battles. But could it be that they offset each other perfectly?

This book NEEDS to be made into a Disney movie! It is a rom-com through and through that filled me with all the warm fuzzies while also getting into some pretty deep themes. The representation of bipolar disorder was done so well, in my opinion, and it really strengthened my sense of how the relationships between characters in the book evolved. The lore of this world was described in full and, again, added to the fairytale vibes. And the banter and romance between our two MCs was so CUTE. Also, top tier LGBTQIA+ representation. I do enjoy a cozy fantasy and, while this veered too much for typical romance to be for me specifically, it was still a delightful book!

Thank you so much to the publisher for this ARC!

[The Atlas of Stars · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley, Alechia Dow, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for an eARC of this!

Brief Overview:
In this Cinderella inspired romantasy novel, Darling, a bright young recently graduated Guardian is up for an internship with the Mortal Outcome Committee. After defying all odds by being not only the first fairy in the Guardianship program in over a century and being the top of her class, she is sent to an assignment that will determine her future. Upon her arrival, she meets Calamity, an equally as bright but arrogant, Misfortune who is up for the same internship. This unconventional pair must compete to determine the outcome of Lucy Addlesburg, a down on her luck bookseller with an uncertain future.

This book had very vivid imagery, our main character's had clear goals and ambitions, the side character's added a lot to the story, and how the story touched on how bigotry is a taught thing. My biggest hang up is that I felt like the author was trying to shove as many romance tropes into the book as possible. It was honestly a bit much. Especially considering that Calamity was honestly not my favorite. I found him to be pedantic and self obsessed.

The best part of this whole story was the level of care that Darling showed everyone. She is bold and kind and wants everyone to be happy. Where some parts of this story dragged, the warmth that Darling brought made up for it.

If you like trope heavy romantasy books, this is absolutely something that should go on your TBR!

[J. Z. Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight is an incredibly sweet, cozy YA fairytale retelling that focuses on "Cinderella's" competing fairy godmothers. Darling, an actual fairy, has been sent to help "Cinderella" get everything she wants for her Happily Ever After. Calamity, a Misfortune, wants "Cinderella" to focus more on what she needs to secure a safe, sustainable Ordinary Ever After.

I loved Darling from the very first page. Optimistic, kind, colorful, and determined in the face of a world that wants her to believe she's "too much," Darling is everything I want in a YA protagonist. Plucky, even.

Calamity grew on me. Often, in opposites attract or grumpy/sunshine romances, the partners feel unevenly matched, like the sunshine is a Manic Pixie Dream Girl and the grumpy is just sort of assumed to be attractive because they're brooding all the time. Calamity isn't like that, though. While he's wary of taking risks, he wants to believe that everyone deserves a chance at happiness, and his practicality keeps Darling safe and warm without ever trying to make her be less.

I felt like a proud aunt kicking my feet and waiting for my favorite niblings to realize they've liked each other all along.

Although the cozy tone and gentle depictions of darker themes pull Until the Clock Strikes Midnight toward the younger end of the YA (or even older MA) age range, there is some light sexual content I would personally not feel comfortable sharing with an 11-year-old. Is that because I was raised Southern Baptist? I don't know, but I'd err on the side of recommending this to readers ages 13 and up.

I received a free eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Caroline (CozyBookTraveller) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until the Clock Strikes Midnight is a Cinderella retelling, told from the perspective of the fairy godmother. Darling is the first fairy to graduate from the Academy as a Guardian. With her being top of the class she is set for a spot at the Mortal Outcome Committee. She only needs to ensure that her assignment receives a Happy Ever After, which would be easy if the Misfortune Calamity wasn’t tasked with the same assignment but to flip the hands of fate in the other direction. The unlikely pair has to work together while also trying to win the spot at the committee.

Darling was my favourite of the two main characters. Not only because of her bubbly self, but also because of her internal battle with anxiety and self-loathing. There’s a journey for her to show herself the warmth and love she shares with everyone else. The small-town cast of characters were charming, if a bit bland. The romance felt a bit too forced between Darling and Calamity, while the love life of their assignment - Lucy - received less focus. It’s not that I didn’t enjoy the pair, I just felt they worked better as simply friends.

If you like fairytale retellings filled with romance in various forms and an easy to read writing style, then this one is for you.
-----
Thank you to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cozy and glittering take on Cinderella from the perspective of a fairy godmother sort of character, except that this fairy just might find love herself...with her competition!

Darling is the only fairy to graduate from the Guardian training program and is determined to prove herself and claim a spot on the Mortal Outcome Council by successfully bringing her assigned young woman to a happily ever after. But when she arrives, she discovers she is competing for that spot with Calamity, a Misfortune assigned to save her from the dangers of a Happily Ever After and instead find stability and survival. Cue classic rivals to lovers story with a twist, and a sapphic Cinderella type character!

This was a little bit silly at times, but fun and whimsical, while also dealing with heavier topics of mental health as Darling deals with a disorder that sometimes leads to spirals of intrusive thoughts, depression, and panic attacks. I think it's an interesting choice to have this bubbly, glittering character also struggle with really dark thoughts about herself and her place in the world. Because you never know what's happening on the inside. Alechia Dow consistently delivers books that blend heavy topics with whimsy, romance, and a gentle touch. This is no different. I received a copy of this book for review via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

[The Bookish Chimera - Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But… conformity's not really my thing, and I’ve never been particularly good at it.”

Reading Until the Clock Strikes Midnight was delicious (yes, like Darling, I have a sweet tooth), and I devoured the book in one go. It felt particularly cozy, and I loved how tales were used in the background, but twisted, to question —especially— free will and what it means to be happy.
The MCs are complete opposites —and complementary— and I got engaged in my reading starting page one, caring for them. Yet, they are anything but smooth. They carry their pasts and traumas, the injunction to comform… and none of them is good at that. That might explains why instead of focusing on only one person’s HEA, despite the competition between them, , they help a whole village (with such great small town vibes). I absolutely adored how Darling’s mental health was represented, as much as the + size rep.
The banter, competition and forced proximity are super fun and create a lovely romance. I loved seeing so much inclusivity, about a lot of marginalized communities.
A read that was fun, light, but also meaningful.

Thank you to the author and Fierce Read for the access to the eARC on NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

4.5/5

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

This book is made for the cozy fantasy romance fans. Make yourself a warm cup of hot chocolate with a tower of whipped cream and plenty of sprinkles, then get comfy under your favorite blanket and enjoy.

The most important takeaway of this story is that you are never too much. Anyone that tells you so isn’t someone you need to keep around. The vibe actually reminded me quite a lot of The Good Place - funny, sweet, and imparting much-needed lessons that left me an emotional wreck.

You know I have to talk about our main couple! Darling and Calam are the grumpy/sunshine final boss, and it’s cute as all get-out. I can’t wait to see the fanart of these characters emerge. The supporting cast backs up the idea that happiness doesn’t exist in a vacuum; if you surround yourself with happiness, it will spill over into your life.

Representation of bipolar disorder is very rare in books that don’t center around the subject, but Dow handles it very well. Darling certainly isn’t perfect - she spirals, she goes overboard, she tries to hide all the parts she doesn’t deem worthy of the public eye - but she also doesn’t let her BPD stop her from achieving her goals. She has a great support system, and never once is her disorder leveraged against her. Most importantly, Darling doesn’t feel like A Character With Bipolar Disorder; it’s a part of her, it’s something that she lives with, but it isn’t her entire personality. It’s a piece of the whole.

This was such a fun Cinderella retelling, and it encouraged me to jump into Dow’s other books that have been on my TBR for ages. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

[Chris G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darling and Calamity are vying for a coveted position on the Mortal Outcomes Council. Both of them want positive outcomes for Lucy, the mortal to whom they are both assigned. Darling is a Fairy who wants to coach mortals in choices that will result in Happily Ever Afters while Calamity is a Misfortune who seeks to help mortals avoid terrible decisions so that they can achieve Ordinary Ever Afters. Lucy runs a failing bookshop in a depressed village; Darling and Calamity have a week to guide Lucy to one of two outcomes. A Happily Ever After will get Darling the Council position while Calamity will triumph if Lucy chooses to settle for the Ordinary. Dow skillfully incorporates and subverts romance tropes, most humorously at a book club discussion meant to stir up customers for the shop. Lucy suffers from a “vacillating disorder,” and as she struggles with emotional spiraling and intrusive thoughts readers will gain insights and coping strategies that may make them feel seen or will help give them insight into the struggles of others. A well-told story, full of thoughtfully-created characters and modern issues that translate seamlessly into a fairy-tale setting. Earc from Edelweiss.

[Rachel Rauch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I LOVED this! I really did. The world, the premise, Darling, the fun silly light-hearted tone of the book that balanced the serious of it perfectly...just...AHHHHH! SO GOOD!!! I did have a bit of a hard time rooting for Calam for the first half of the book. The way he hid HUGE stuff from Darling but also was falling in love with her and ALSO giving fuel to her disorder made it REAL hard for me to be on his side. Especially when it felt like there were times when he wasn't as...dynamic as her. Where he felt VERY selfish compared to how truly selfless Darling felt. But eventually I came around to him a little bit more. Just took me a while to really appreciate his character growth. Anyways, if I could give this 4.5 stars I would but ALAS those don't exist so I hope a 4 star review is good enough. Again VERY good, highly recommend. (And I love the little references, didn't really notice them until they happened twice and then was like "OOOOOH!" but I am extremely looking forward to reading this when it comes out in February!!!)

[Paige Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved the magic and whimsy in this one! Until the Clock Strikes Midnight follows Darling, a fairy guardian to mortals, and Calamity (Calam), a misfortune who guides mortals away from unhappiness. I really liked the corporate/academic style of these characters learning how to make magic and change mortals lives’ responsibly. it was a unique take on the story and very effective.

both characters change and grow throughout the story, becoming better versions of themselves and learning from each other. Darling also struggles with a fictionaljzed version of bipolar depression. the inclusion of this is a powerful tool, especially for teens learning about their mental health and navigating their emotions. there were times when this aspect of the story kind of took over and took the focus away from the setting and focus of the narrative. at time, the conversations being had were a little too on-the-nose.

this novel did a really beautiful job of exploring magic, romance, and happily ever afters.

[TheBookGardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was charming! I liked the world building with all of the different realms and their inhabitants. It was whimsical and fun.

Darling was a fun main character. She had her internal struggles that she tried so hard to not project to her external self which was really relatable to me. It was so sweet when she finally allowed herself to be vulnerable and to show those parts of herself, especially to Calamity.

One thing I will say is this book tries to have so much representation that sometimes it was a bit distracting. Seemingly every character was described by skin color, body size, and pronouns. Now I love love love that the author was very inclusive because we definitely need more of that in the literary world, but I didn’t need to know all of those details about a random character that I would never see again or didn’t speak or really affect the story. I feel like this would have been improved with a show, not tell approach as those facts were pertinent. I do applaud the author for being willing to be so inclusive though!

Overall, a very fun and charming read.

[Jadyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Until the Clock Strikes Midnight, Dow explores the idea of whether it's better to live an Ordinary Ever After rather than risking it all for a HEA and ending up with an Unhappily Ever After instead. The novel is an adorable enemies to instant attraction deal, fast-paced, cozy, and inoffensive. I was thrilled to see Lucy come into her own and push back against some of the more patronizing interference in her choices, and was compelled by the idea of a multiverse in which some places experience magic. Darling's struggles with mental health are an excellent reminder that even high achievers who have beaten the odds might have more going on beneath the surface.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy for review.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Darling and Calamity are both tasked with helping Lucy, only one of them will win the coveted Mortal Outcome Council mentorship. Each of them has a different opinion of how to help Lucy best. As they work to fulfill their task, they are forced together into a somewhat friendship. Who will help Lucy make the best decision and win the mentorship?

I absolutely adored this Cinderella retelling. It was different enough to feel like a unique story, and each character was fully developed and had their own challenges. I especially appreciated the incorporation of bipolar disorder into Darling's character. I can't wait to share this one with students.

Some innuendo and euphemisms, but generally PG. Probably fine for middle school.

I read an ARC from NetGalley.