Mirror Mirror

Whatever After #17

by Sarah Mlynowski

They're going back!

After visiting tons of other fairy tales, Abby and Jonah are returning to where it all began...the story of Snow White! Will they be able to help Snow again?



For the first time, the Whatever After series is going back to revisit a favorite fairy Snow White!

Abby and Jonah are stunned when their magic mirror transports them into Snow White's kingdom. They're back?! This is so cool!

The story picks up where they left Snow White is in charge of the kingdom and the evil queen is locked away. It's so fun to see Snow and the seven dwarfs again. But when the queen escapes, everything goes wrong, and it's up to Abby and Jonah to save the day!

This is an exciting new direction for the beloved series, and comes on the heels of the graphic novel launch (which starts with the Snow White story!).

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Childrens, Fairy Tales, Retellings, Chapter Books, Audiobook

192 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Sarah was born in Montreal, Canada. After graduating with an honors degree in English literature from McGill University, she moved to Toronto to work for Harlequin Enterprises. While she never met Fabio, she used her romance publishing experiences to fuel her first novel Milkrun.

Since then, Sarah has written four additional novels for adults: Fishbowl, As Seen on TV, Monkey Business, and Me vs. Me; the New York Times bestselling middle grade series Whatever After; the middle grade series Upside-Down Magic (with Lauren Myracle and Emily Jenkins); and the teen novels Bras & Broomsticks, Frogs & French Kisses, Spells & Sleeping Bags, and Parties & Potions (all in the Magic in Manhattan series), as well as Gimme a Call, Ten Things We Did (And Probably Shouldn't Have), Don't Even Think About It, Think Twice, and I See London, I See France. Along with Lauren Myracle and E. Lockhart, Sarah also wrote How to Be Bad, and along with Farrin Jacobs, she wrote See Jane Write, a guide to writing. Sarah also co-edited two bestselling charity collections (Girls' Night In and Girls' Night Out), and has contributed to various anthologies (American Girls About Town, Sixteen: Stories About That Sweet and Bitter Birthday, 21 Proms, First Kiss (Then Tell), Fireworks, and Vacations from Hell).

Sarah is also a co-founder of OMG BookFest, a celebration of books aimed at the early to middle grade reader (ages 7-12) that brings together commercial and award-winning authors with underserved local communities for an exciting experience of books, games and activities.

Sarah's books have been translated into twenty-nine languages and optioned to Hollywood. She now lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Reviews

[CookieCat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nooooooo!!!!! (Haven't read yet) My childhood book series is ending.😭 Why?!?!?!?!?!? I have so many happy memories reading this book. It'll be VERY bittersweet reading this whole thing on October 7th (if it doesn't get delayed again).

Thank you, Sarah Mlynowski for this amazing series you have given us, it has helped me through some tough times (even if 16 wasn't great). ❤️

UPDATE: I bought it from B&N todayyyyyy! 😻

[holden caulfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm crying. I bought fairest of all at a school book fair when I was in second or third grade. if it was second grade, that was the year of publication for book 1. this series got me into reading. fairest of all was the first book i read that i could actually picture in my mind.

by fate, I happened to reread this whole series earlier this year. it was just in time for this last one of the series to come out.

now the book series is over! my childhood is over. chapter 17 had me tearing up and so did the last line of acknowledgements. this was a perfect ending. this series will always have a special place in my heart.

[Leila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nooooo! My favorite series has come to an end😓! I’ve been reading the Whatever After books for so long and it made me sad to finish it, but it also made me happy because all the characters got their happy ending and the book was so fun to read! Sarah Mlynowski didn’t fail in writing this last book at all, as usual! I was on the edge of my seat the entire time! I definitely recommend this series for anyone who likes a funny, heartfelt, entertaining, fractured fairytale!

[Sara Moller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember when this series came out in 2012, I was 21 and told myself, I'll read this book because it's written by one of my favorite authors, Sarah Mlynowski.

Turns out 19 books later, this series has now ended with this book and I am so sad because it was SO good! I read every single book and loved them. Highly recommend for everyone of all ages.

Fun, feminist, hilarious, moving, wonderful.
I never miss a book by Sarah Mlynowski and I'm so glad I didn't skip over these. And now the graphic novel series is continuing so it's not goodbye yet! ☺️💙

[Abby Circelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2012, my third grade class went to the library to learn about the scholastic book fair. When nine-year-old me saw the trailer for the first Whatever After book, I knew I needed it. Now, more than ten years later, I’ve bought all the books when they’ve come out, and it’s so bittersweet that this is the finale to the series I’ve grown up reading. This story was the perfect conclusion to the series.

It was such a joy to read these throughout the years, and it was an honor to meet Sarah at Yallfest this past weekend to tell her how much these books have meant to me. I’m already planning to reread the entire series at some point!

[Jeanne Haselkorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is the best for tweens and a bit younger (and my teens also still enjoy it) - perfect wrap up. :)

[Becca Edwards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have listened to all the Whatever After books with my kids and we really enjoyed the series. This last book was my least favorite though. It was very chaotic, there was just so much happening. Way too many characters. Felt rushed and difficult to follow. The series on the whole 4-5 stars, just not this last one.

[Elisabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent ending to this series. I am not the target audience for these but I had so much fun. The audiobooks were truly enjoyable.

[aleena (percabeths version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc!! (maybe)

[frank reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5⭐

i have many mixed emotions.

i'll start with the things i loved:
-seeing Snow and the dwarves again had me so close to crying. the full circle moment of this being the last book and starting like the first was such an emotional but fulfilling ending.
-the overall magical/whimsical vibes just make me devastated that this series is over because its SO GOOD.

things i did not enjoy:
- The pacing was off. the character cameos were too brief and it felt more like "how many characters can i bring back" vs picking a few that Abby and Jonah were really close with to have a couple meaningful conversations/catch ups. The beginning was very well paced and interesting but then there was too much happening that didn't make sense based on our previous knowledge of the characters.
-the plot twists/villain arcs didn't make any sense especially based on actions in previous books.
- perhaps the thing that bothered me the most was Whatever After books always have a central theme/situation that the siblings go through and learn from by the end of the novel BUT this one lacked that. We had one introduced in the beginning but at the end I felt like we lost the message through the final plot decisions. I also felt like if I was 10 and struggling after a move like the kids do at the start of the series, this book would reverse any progress I had made towards adjusting to my new home.

I AM SO SAD THIS STORY IS OVER OH MY STARS. Such an amazing series and I will keep listening to the audiobooks forever!! Despite my complaints with this one, please go read this series. It's so good and so worth your time.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not crying you are 😭

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five stars to celebrate this spectacular series 🩷

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

When Abby and Jonah's parents break the news that the family might have to move back to Naperville after barely a year in Smithville, Abby is devastated. Not only would she miss her new friends Frankie, Robin, and Penny, but leaving their current home would mean leaving the enchanted mirror that housed Maryrose. Desperate to find out their fate, the two call on their favorite fairy and are swiftly whisked away to a fairy tale world, still in their pajamas! Things look a bit familiar, and when they meet some of Snow White's dwarves, they realize they are back in Zamel. Snow and Prince Trevor's wedding is in a few days, so Snow thinks they have come for that, but in reality, Maryrose has asked them to help Gabrielle, another fairy trapped in a mirror, this time by her twin, the evil Gluck, who is currently trapped in the story of Peter Pan. Doing their research, Abby and Jonah discover that they have the best chance of freeing Gabrielle if they can assemble eleven fairies from their previous journeys. While they are inviting these fairies to the wedding, the realize that Prince Trevor is acting very oddly. This is just part of an enormous magical problem they have to solve with the help from characters from their past. Will they be able to free Gabrielle and figure out a way to continue their adventures even if their parents move them back to Naperville?

This was a fantastic final volume in the Whatever After series, which was first published in 2012. Mlynowski manages to tie together both the siblings' magical and realistic journeys, and to reconnect them with pivotal allies from the past. The parallel construction of Maryrose and Gabrielle's entrapment is clever, and there is a bit of a dark turn where Abby finds herself trapped in the mirror! Prince the dog is a steadfast character, and he gets to stay with the children, which was a huge relief.

The magical elements align nicely, and there are some explantions that are helpful if one has followed the entire series. Revisiting the Snow White tale and having Abby and Jonah help with the wedding is a nice touch, as was having their grandmother's fairy tale book feature them in all of the updated stories.

There isn't as much attention paid to Abby's friends in Smithville, but that's understandable since there are so many threads to be woven together to end this tale. It was heartening to see that not only will the children be closer to their Nana, who has stayed in Naperville, but to watch as they start off on a new adventure with her at the end of the book.

While I am not normally a fan of series that last twenty books (including super special editions), each book is rather short, and the stories move quickly. Fans of Baker's The Wide Awak Princess series, Zahler's fairy tale retellings, or Colfer's Land of Stories books will enjoy Abby and Jonah's fractured fairy tale adventures, and revel in this all inclusive finale.

[Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww this story was so cute and heroic!

This book was fast paced and I loved how all the characters from throughout the Whatever After books came together and we as the reader got to see them again. It felt like a reunion lol and made me think about how their lives are now and what they’re doing in their own stories.

The ending however left me wondering and hoping if there will be more books about this series because it felt like a cliffhanger. I know the author said this is the last book in this series but a girl can dream right? All was good besides the ending. It felt very rushed and randomly put together. I wanted to know and read about how Abby’s and Jonah’s last day of school went, how their last summer in Smithville went, how they settled in Naperville again, etc. A lot of scenes were left out from the story and there were a lot of “cut scenes” as in it went from one scene to the next very abruptly. As the last book in the series I was expecting more. However, that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it. I loved this story very very much.

I totally recommend this book to everyone of any ages, even to those who haven’t read any of the other books in the series yet because there isn’t a spoiler for the other stories, well, except the first book “fairest of all.” I’m an entire decade older than the age recommendation for this book and I sure as h*ll enjoyed it 😂😂

[Stephanie P (Because My Mother Read) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4 stars from me but infinite stars from my 6 year old so I'm leaving a 5 star rating.

Read aloud with my daughter.

My 6 year old LOVES this series so much and is constantly rereading it in every format--audiobook, physical, and the new graphic novel adaptions coming out. She seriously just keeps reading them over and over again and doesn't want to move on to new books. So I have to give major props for drawing in the target audience. My now 10 year old read the series so many times as well and read this final installment herself and really enjoyed it.

I haven't read all the books so I didn't know all the backstory to everyone shown, but the author managed to bring back all of the main characters from previous books into the final installment and went out on the series in the most satisfying way for the fans.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my Avenger’s end game.

This book was everything I would have wanted from an ending. Major shoutout to Emily for doing all of the voices! I was nervous for this to be cheesy, but it did not come across that way at any point. I kept pausing the book because I didn’t want it to end. This book truly put a bow on the series and it feels complete.

I read the first two books when I was ten years old. This summer, I made it a goal to read the entire series in anticipation for the finale. After each read, I recorded my thoughts on my voice memos and sent them to my sister. We bonded over our thoughts on each book (and we both agree Princess in the Pea was the best!). I’m excited to record my review for her on this one.

[Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I'm crying!!!! I have adored this series from the very beginning. I'm a librarian and I remember when book 1 came out. I was hooked and I've since read the entire series, recommending it to countless readers and gifting the books to children of family and friends. This final installation is bittersweet and most satisfying. Abby and Jonah go back to where it all began with Snow White, with fun surprises, twists and turns, and lots of characters from the previous books make cameos. So grateful to Sarah Mlynowski for sharing these delightful middle grade books with the world.

[Mira Doan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series means so much to me. I started reading this when I was a little girl, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart. This was the perfect, most beautiful end to a beautiful, magical series. I remember years of reading Abby and Jonah’s adventures and wishing I could be them and journey into different worlds and step into fairy tales too. This series gave me the gift of doing that alongside Abby and Jonah. I love love love Whatever After and will never forget the joy and magic this series brought me.

[Ayesha T · Rating 5 out of 5]

God. How can you even put into words how much a book series can be a part of your life? I grew up reading Whatever After--I have all of the books on a specific shelf and reread them whenever I need a laugh. The characters are so much fun and I'll miss Abby and Jonah's adventures through the fairy tale dimensions, learning and growing and even teaching me new things each and every time. I have nothing but love for these books and I'm excited to reread them all.

[Rubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think this was a cute ending to the series! Sarah brought back many of the characters from the previous books and they handle several past villains as well!
I feel that after all they've been through, Abby was maybe a tad too trusting this time around but its pretty on par with how the siblings have handled their adventures thus far 😅
Absolutely love this series and while its bittersweet that its done, we still have all the graphic novel adaptations to look forward to 😁

[Josie · Rating 5 out of 5]

As heartbroken I am that this amazing series is over. I’ve been following it since childhood and now that I’m in my 20s it’s still one of my favorites to date. That being said, I think the final book was one of the best books in the entire series, it was perfect, the perfect ending to this amazing fantasy world.

[Sarah]

I wrote stuff on sticky notes when I finished this


Why did I always think Prince was a golden retriever

For her last tale SHE is saved, and by those she had helped before—that’s some real fairy tale stuff right there

Did not realize she brought Dorothy too i thought he she striaggt kidnapped Toto lol

[Lzyiiix · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of my childhood series finally had a conclusion!! felt like reading a fanfic in the way that it was kidna plotless but fun to revisit old characters and the references to previous books 🥹🥹 i loved that jax got a redemption while gluck is imprisoned in the mirror. great ending and super palette cleanser :)

[Cassie O'Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

It pains me to write this review, but I just can’t finish this last book of the series. My kids and I have loved listening to each and every book so far, but this last one just tries to do too much and our brains hurt trying to follow all the characters and action. Also, the low point is very very depressing. More so than any previous book. Love this series, but not this last book unfortunately.

[Rissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe this is the last book in this series! I feel like the time flew by! I liked:

1. I still love the characters so much! They're just so fun and I love getting to spend time with them! I can't believe that this is the last book we're spending with them.

2. The plot was still pretty fun and fast paced which I enjoyed! It was so cool getting to revisit a story and seeing Snow White getting married.

I would say that my only complaint is that it did feel a bit rushed and like things resolved too easily but that's expected from the last book in a series.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't read it yet but this series was literally my childhood so I have to read the last one

[Aspen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing final book to such a fun incredible series. I loved it💖

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I saw one plot twist coming. I was surprised by others. A great way to end the series!!!

[River :3 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing ending to my childhood book series 🥺🥹
Dear Abby and Jonah, I will miss you guys so much!
And dear Sarah, thank you for brightening up my childhood! Can't wait to read the graphic novels!

[Katie Wickliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Such a cute, interesting, and well-written series. My daughter and I will miss listening to these books!