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Happily Ever After
Andi Glover loves nothing more than a good book.
Any book in fact because when you’re raised by unconventional parents who think school’s for squares, alongside a deeply conventional sister who escapes home as soon as she can, fiction is eminently preferable to reality.
The only problem is that fiction isn’t the best way to learn about the real world. When Andi starts her new live-in job at Templewood Hall for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her enigmatic son Hugo, it’s tempting to think she’s fallen into the pages of one of her favourite gothic novels.
But the plot twists at Templewood Hall are stranger than fiction and it’s not long before Andi questions if she’s living in a romance novel or a whodunnit. Bumps in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and secrets that have been kept for generations - the mysteries mount up. Then there's the inscrutable gardener who seems to appear when needed - is Andi right to hope for a happily-ever-after end to her story?
Any book in fact because when you’re raised by unconventional parents who think school’s for squares, alongside a deeply conventional sister who escapes home as soon as she can, fiction is eminently preferable to reality.
The only problem is that fiction isn’t the best way to learn about the real world. When Andi starts her new live-in job at Templewood Hall for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her enigmatic son Hugo, it’s tempting to think she’s fallen into the pages of one of her favourite gothic novels.
But the plot twists at Templewood Hall are stranger than fiction and it’s not long before Andi questions if she’s living in a romance novel or a whodunnit. Bumps in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and secrets that have been kept for generations - the mysteries mount up. Then there's the inscrutable gardener who seems to appear when needed - is Andi right to hope for a happily-ever-after end to her story?
269 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 17, 2025
75 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Jane Lovering
52 books230 followersJane Lovering was born in Devon, England but, following extradition procedures, now lives in Yorkshire. She has five children, four cats, two dogs and doesn't believe in housework so the bacteria and dust are approaching sentience and now rank among the pets. Incidentally, she doesn’t believe in ironing either, and the children all learned self-defensive cookery at early ages. She works in a local school and also teaches creative writing, which are extreme ways of avoiding the washing up.
Published since 2008, she writes romantic comedies which are often described as ‘quirky’. One day she's going to find out what that means. Jane is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and has a first class honours degree in creative writing. In 2012, her novel Please Don't Stop the Music won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the RNA.
Published since 2008, she writes romantic comedies which are often described as ‘quirky’. One day she's going to find out what that means. Jane is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and has a first class honours degree in creative writing. In 2012, her novel Please Don't Stop the Music won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the RNA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
February 16, 2025
3.3 Stars
One Liner: Okay... nice!
Andi (Andromeda) Glover has spent her life breathing books. With unconventional parents who live on a bus and travel for a living (successful though), she wants nothing more than a stable home. With no proper education, Andi has trouble finding jobs.
However, when she gets a chance to catalog books in Templewood Hall’s library, she is determined to turn her life into a bookish story. A gothic house with an eccentric lady owner and her enigmatic son Hugo is sure to give Andi her HEA, isn’t it?
However, Andi soon realizes that life doesn’t follow bookish tropes. And the odd sounds in the house might turn her life from classic romance to horror. Amidst the confusion, can she trust the gardener who appears and disappears at will?
The story comes in Andi’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Like the author’s previous book, this too is set in Yorkshire. However, most of it takes place in Templewood Hall.
The descriptions are cool and some metaphors (food-related) were amusing. The overall tone had dry humor which made the book rather a funny read. At no point did I feel scared (I don’t think I was supposed to anyway).
Andi is a quirky protag and not always easy to like. However, her characterization is true to her arc. She lives bookish dreams and wants to align her life to follow some romantic novel but doesn’t succeed. She can be whiny and repetitive (especially about her sister) but we can see her frustration. She just wants a stable and loving home.
There is some romance, though the book is mainly about Andi growing up and realizing life cannot be fiction. There’s a bit of ‘searching for a lost object’ which doesn’t go anywhere in the first half.
The side characters are okay. My favorite is the cat addressed as The Master (no one dares call him by his name which is not revealed). The cat had more personality than most of the characters, followed by Lady Tanith (whose development comes a little too late). However, I appreciate that one of them is partially deaf and it is woven into the narrative.
The middle feels repetitive and boring. In the last quarter has decent progress. There are two major twists (reveals). Both are handled well and don’t seem odd or unrealistic. The second one was easy to guess due to a random dialogue by a character.
The ending is HFN with no epilogue. I would have liked a short epilogue set a year later or so. It might have enhanced the storyline.
To summarize, Happily Ever After is a timepass read with some useful themes but is pretty much a surface-level story. I like it okay, though I did like the author’s previous book better.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #HappilyEverAfter
One Liner: Okay... nice!
Andi (Andromeda) Glover has spent her life breathing books. With unconventional parents who live on a bus and travel for a living (successful though), she wants nothing more than a stable home. With no proper education, Andi has trouble finding jobs.
However, when she gets a chance to catalog books in Templewood Hall’s library, she is determined to turn her life into a bookish story. A gothic house with an eccentric lady owner and her enigmatic son Hugo is sure to give Andi her HEA, isn’t it?
However, Andi soon realizes that life doesn’t follow bookish tropes. And the odd sounds in the house might turn her life from classic romance to horror. Amidst the confusion, can she trust the gardener who appears and disappears at will?
The story comes in Andi’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Like the author’s previous book, this too is set in Yorkshire. However, most of it takes place in Templewood Hall.
The descriptions are cool and some metaphors (food-related) were amusing. The overall tone had dry humor which made the book rather a funny read. At no point did I feel scared (I don’t think I was supposed to anyway).
Andi is a quirky protag and not always easy to like. However, her characterization is true to her arc. She lives bookish dreams and wants to align her life to follow some romantic novel but doesn’t succeed. She can be whiny and repetitive (especially about her sister) but we can see her frustration. She just wants a stable and loving home.
There is some romance, though the book is mainly about Andi growing up and realizing life cannot be fiction. There’s a bit of ‘searching for a lost object’ which doesn’t go anywhere in the first half.
The side characters are okay. My favorite is the cat addressed as The Master (no one dares call him by his name which is not revealed). The cat had more personality than most of the characters, followed by Lady Tanith (whose development comes a little too late). However, I appreciate that one of them is partially deaf and it is woven into the narrative.
The middle feels repetitive and boring. In the last quarter has decent progress. There are two major twists (reveals). Both are handled well and don’t seem odd or unrealistic. The second one was easy to guess due to a random dialogue by a character.
The ending is HFN with no epilogue. I would have liked a short epilogue set a year later or so. It might have enhanced the storyline.
To summarize, Happily Ever After is a timepass read with some useful themes but is pretty much a surface-level story. I like it okay, though I did like the author’s previous book better.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #HappilyEverAfter
January 21, 2025
Quirky story that is not quite a romance and not quite a gothic mystery, this story held my interest as I wondered where the story was headed. Andi has just accepted a job cataloguing a collection of books for a rich woman who lives in an estate. Andi doesn't have any experience but has always loved books. In fact, books were her savior as her parents spent their time traveling in a van for a television show and she was never able to make friends or make much of an life. The author adds some humor to this story and I laughed out loud at the scene where Andi arrives at the estate and is scared by the gardener waving huge shears as he backs into a bush releasing hundreds of insects!
The estate is owned by Lady Dawe who is not very friendly and she lives with her son Hugo who is handsome and who Andi thinks might make a good match for her. There is also a rude cleaning lady named Mrs. Compton, a cat called The Master and a deaf gardener. Andi quickly finds out she really was hired to find some secret diaries which detailed a long ago love affair between Lady Dawes and her late father-in-law.
There is a sense of the gothic with the chapters named for books like "Rebecca" and "The Secret Garden" and the noises and lights that appear to creep around the old estate. There is a side story about Hugo which takes away from Andi's story quite a bit and I wondered why the author included that storyline although it was done in a respectful manner. As Andi works to find the hidden diaries she wonders where she will go next and how the next stage of her life will unfold. I did wish for Andi to find out her passions in life or to at least fall in love, but I did like characters and the ending seemed fitting. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for. copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
The estate is owned by Lady Dawe who is not very friendly and she lives with her son Hugo who is handsome and who Andi thinks might make a good match for her. There is also a rude cleaning lady named Mrs. Compton, a cat called The Master and a deaf gardener. Andi quickly finds out she really was hired to find some secret diaries which detailed a long ago love affair between Lady Dawes and her late father-in-law.
There is a sense of the gothic with the chapters named for books like "Rebecca" and "The Secret Garden" and the noises and lights that appear to creep around the old estate. There is a side story about Hugo which takes away from Andi's story quite a bit and I wondered why the author included that storyline although it was done in a respectful manner. As Andi works to find the hidden diaries she wonders where she will go next and how the next stage of her life will unfold. I did wish for Andi to find out her passions in life or to at least fall in love, but I did like characters and the ending seemed fitting. Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for. copy of this ARC in exchange for a review.
January 27, 2025
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Boldwood Books via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own
“Happily Ever After”, by Jane Lovering, is an entertaining story with apparently ordinary people as leads, some secondary characters with secrets and surprises and a particularly charming and independent cat as a lovely addition.
The unortodox heroine, with her unconventional upbringing and uncontrolable imagination, and the low profile hero are great characters.
I loved how slowly the hero revealed himself – as the hero and as a character – and the slow burn romance, too.
I also liked his pragmatic attitude towards his condition and the realistic way the author handled it. The lack of melodrama is admirable.
Embarassement, inadequacy, shyness – these are things the characters experience and Lovering writes so well about, and always with sense of humor, too.
Although the romance is a bit mild, the story, the setting and the characters are engaging. I loved the cat and the relationship with Andi; I felt the author wrote wonderfully cat’s maneirisms and personalities, and how independent, affectionate and intelligent these creatures are.
So, the end felt abrupt: I would have liked an epilogue to know about The Master’s futur.
“Happily Ever After”, by Jane Lovering, is an entertaining story with apparently ordinary people as leads, some secondary characters with secrets and surprises and a particularly charming and independent cat as a lovely addition.
The unortodox heroine, with her unconventional upbringing and uncontrolable imagination, and the low profile hero are great characters.
I loved how slowly the hero revealed himself – as the hero and as a character – and the slow burn romance, too.
I also liked his pragmatic attitude towards his condition and the realistic way the author handled it. The lack of melodrama is admirable.
Embarassement, inadequacy, shyness – these are things the characters experience and Lovering writes so well about, and always with sense of humor, too.
Although the romance is a bit mild, the story, the setting and the characters are engaging. I loved the cat and the relationship with Andi; I felt the author wrote wonderfully cat’s maneirisms and personalities, and how independent, affectionate and intelligent these creatures are.
So, the end felt abrupt: I would have liked an epilogue to know about The Master’s futur.
February 17, 2025
Something a little different from one of my favourite authors – that’s certainly not the first time I’ve said that, and it’s one of the (many) reasons I love her books. This time there’s a particularly Gothic vibe, a theme that real life can be rather less predictable than books would have you believe, an intriguing mystery, a very slow-burn but authentic-feeling romance – and bags of fun and laughs aplenty throughout.
Living at Templewood Hall and cataloguing Lady Dawe’s neglected library could just have been Andi’s dream job. Her upbringing was rather unconventional (her sister made a stand and walked away, while young Andromeda – her name an indication of her parents’ hippy-dippiness – was happy just to take refuge in the world of books): and life in the converted bus, her parents on another extended jaunt, was just starting to get a bit uncomfortable. And there’s always a chance she might find romance with gorgeous Hugo, the heir to the estate, and live happily ever after as the heroines in the books she loves so often do – but although he’s friendly enough, that looks increasingly unlikely. And she really hadn’t reckoned on her ladyship being such an unstable presence (and demanding employer), the freezing cold, the housekeeper from hell, the starvation diet, the things that go bump in the night, the stinky cat insistent on sharing her bed (but what a great character!) – or the real reason for her employment, a quest that looks increasingly impossible, until it becomes even more difficult. Although she might just find the romance she was hoping for – but not quite where she expected to find it.
The story is frequently laugh-out-loud funny – but not without those touches of particular poignancy the author always does so well. The setting of the neglected mansion is just wonderful, and the character development is excellent too. Andi really is rather less than likeable at first (I worried a little… although I loved her distinctive voice, quirky take on life, and dry humour), but the way she tackles the many challenges in her path see her growing, taking chances, and becoming increasingly sympathetic. But every single character is really well-drawn, and I very much enjoyed the unpredictable twists and turns of the story: the pacing is just right, and the story’s ending is pitch perfect with the real possibility of a happy ever after, but that’s only after an unexpected touch of particularly well-written drama. The literary chapter headings were a nice touch too. And I really must mention again that smelly but wonderfully characterful cat, The Master – I just loved his every intervention, especially when it actually seemed he was very much in Andi’s corner.
This book, I’ll admit, certainly wasn’t quite what I expected it to be – but I also think that’s also why I so thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s different, it’s quirky, it’s as beautifully written as always, with lots of warmth, and it’s tremendous fun – I’d highly recommend you give it a try.
Living at Templewood Hall and cataloguing Lady Dawe’s neglected library could just have been Andi’s dream job. Her upbringing was rather unconventional (her sister made a stand and walked away, while young Andromeda – her name an indication of her parents’ hippy-dippiness – was happy just to take refuge in the world of books): and life in the converted bus, her parents on another extended jaunt, was just starting to get a bit uncomfortable. And there’s always a chance she might find romance with gorgeous Hugo, the heir to the estate, and live happily ever after as the heroines in the books she loves so often do – but although he’s friendly enough, that looks increasingly unlikely. And she really hadn’t reckoned on her ladyship being such an unstable presence (and demanding employer), the freezing cold, the housekeeper from hell, the starvation diet, the things that go bump in the night, the stinky cat insistent on sharing her bed (but what a great character!) – or the real reason for her employment, a quest that looks increasingly impossible, until it becomes even more difficult. Although she might just find the romance she was hoping for – but not quite where she expected to find it.
The story is frequently laugh-out-loud funny – but not without those touches of particular poignancy the author always does so well. The setting of the neglected mansion is just wonderful, and the character development is excellent too. Andi really is rather less than likeable at first (I worried a little… although I loved her distinctive voice, quirky take on life, and dry humour), but the way she tackles the many challenges in her path see her growing, taking chances, and becoming increasingly sympathetic. But every single character is really well-drawn, and I very much enjoyed the unpredictable twists and turns of the story: the pacing is just right, and the story’s ending is pitch perfect with the real possibility of a happy ever after, but that’s only after an unexpected touch of particularly well-written drama. The literary chapter headings were a nice touch too. And I really must mention again that smelly but wonderfully characterful cat, The Master – I just loved his every intervention, especially when it actually seemed he was very much in Andi’s corner.
This book, I’ll admit, certainly wasn’t quite what I expected it to be – but I also think that’s also why I so thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s different, it’s quirky, it’s as beautifully written as always, with lots of warmth, and it’s tremendous fun – I’d highly recommend you give it a try.
February 20, 2025
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc! Finally finished it and the publication date was on the 17th February. This was my first book from this author and I have to say that it was not my favourite. I didn't really like the writing style and I got bored halfway through so I had to push through to finish it. It had its moments but it was not for me.
February 17, 2025
Happily Ever After is a Gothic-inspired mystery with a slow-burn romance that picks up pace towards the end.
Andi arrives at Templewood Hall and is accosted by a rude gardener before she is interviewed for a position that she hopes she'll get because she has no qualifications for anything else and nowhere else to go.
She lived a pretty unconventional life with her parents, moving around regularly and living in a converted bus. An opportunity arises for her to have a more normal life, though I'm not sure her position at Templewood Hall is anything close to normal!
Tasked with cataloguing the many books in Lady Tanith Dawe's library, Andi lets her love of books create a whimsical dream of falling in love and marrying the rather gorgeous son and heir, Hugo. However, she is covertly given the real reason for Lady Dawes' wanting the library organised, and it has a bit of a twist.
Is there romance? Yes, there is, but it doesn't pick up speed until the book's latter pages.
But Andi's love of the classics is evident in her dreams of what might be, and the chapter headings are a great nod to those classics. Some may find Andi a difficult character to like. She doesn't always appear to help herself, but things change as the story progresses, and she has the ending she deserves.
I tell you what, that Lady Dawes - she is a piece of work! A bit deluded!
For me, the hero of the book was the feline, called The Master (we never find out his real name!), who smells of fish and takes a real shine to Andi, being her shadow, trying to sleep in her bed, and even getting her out of some scrapes!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
Andi arrives at Templewood Hall and is accosted by a rude gardener before she is interviewed for a position that she hopes she'll get because she has no qualifications for anything else and nowhere else to go.
She lived a pretty unconventional life with her parents, moving around regularly and living in a converted bus. An opportunity arises for her to have a more normal life, though I'm not sure her position at Templewood Hall is anything close to normal!
Tasked with cataloguing the many books in Lady Tanith Dawe's library, Andi lets her love of books create a whimsical dream of falling in love and marrying the rather gorgeous son and heir, Hugo. However, she is covertly given the real reason for Lady Dawes' wanting the library organised, and it has a bit of a twist.
Is there romance? Yes, there is, but it doesn't pick up speed until the book's latter pages.
But Andi's love of the classics is evident in her dreams of what might be, and the chapter headings are a great nod to those classics. Some may find Andi a difficult character to like. She doesn't always appear to help herself, but things change as the story progresses, and she has the ending she deserves.
I tell you what, that Lady Dawes - she is a piece of work! A bit deluded!
For me, the hero of the book was the feline, called The Master (we never find out his real name!), who smells of fish and takes a real shine to Andi, being her shadow, trying to sleep in her bed, and even getting her out of some scrapes!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.
February 18, 2025
Two and a half stars.
The blurb:
I rarely use the blurb for books - because that's not a review - but in this case I felt it was the only option. This book vaguely reminded me of Northanger Abbey, a naïve young woman with a vivid imagination goes to stay in a stately home and lets it run riot. The trouble is, all of the characters are eccentric, Lady Dawe who is in love with her late father-in-law, her mysterious elder son Jasper who renounced his inheritance, the skittish younger son Hugo, the surly cleaning lady/cook Mrs Compton, and the vaguely threatening gardener. Don't even get me started on the cat ('the Master') who appears to be the only sane creature there. This really is a case of throwing the kitchen sink at a plot with almost every conceivable protected characteristic (if I can put it that way) thrown in. Yes there was some misdirection but also some of it was blindingly obvious to this reader from an early stage.
I've got to say I think I preferred Jane Lovering's earlier novels, I have been underwhelmed by her most recent novels. Maybe I should stop requesting them and accept we have moved in different directions.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
The blurb:
Andi Glover loves nothing more than a good book.
Any book in fact because when you’re raised by unconventional parents who think school’s for squares, alongside a deeply conventional sister who escapes home as soon as she can, fiction is eminently preferable to reality.
The only problem is that fiction isn’t the best way to learn about the real world. When Andi starts her new live-in job at Templewood Hall for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her enigmatic son Hugo, it’s tempting to think she’s fallen into the pages of one of her favourite gothic novels.
But the plot twists at Templewood Hall are stranger than fiction and it’s not long before Andi questions if she’s living in a romance novel or a whodunnit.
I rarely use the blurb for books - because that's not a review - but in this case I felt it was the only option. This book vaguely reminded me of Northanger Abbey, a naïve young woman with a vivid imagination goes to stay in a stately home and lets it run riot. The trouble is, all of the characters are eccentric, Lady Dawe who is in love with her late father-in-law, her mysterious elder son Jasper who renounced his inheritance, the skittish younger son Hugo, the surly cleaning lady/cook Mrs Compton, and the vaguely threatening gardener. Don't even get me started on the cat ('the Master') who appears to be the only sane creature there. This really is a case of throwing the kitchen sink at a plot with almost every conceivable protected characteristic (if I can put it that way) thrown in. Yes there was some misdirection but also some of it was blindingly obvious to this reader from an early stage.
I've got to say I think I preferred Jane Lovering's earlier novels, I have been underwhelmed by her most recent novels. Maybe I should stop requesting them and accept we have moved in different directions.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.
Available on Kindle Unlimited.
January 28, 2025
It was OK, definitely not one of my favorites by the author. I usually love Jane Lovering's books and always look forward to reading them. Unfortunately, this one fell flat for me and I wasn't really invested in any of the characters. The Master was my favorite. He was fat, smelled like sardines and just happened to be an adorable kitty. Everyone else was just there or probably should have been committed. That would be Lady Tanith. She was simply DELUSIONAL!!! Did any of these people know how to function in the real world. Andi blamed her parents and sister for the life she has. Really she's jealous of Judith. Judith spoke and told her parents she wanted to go to school and not live in a bus. Plus, she knew how to change her name into something less stupid. Andi had the same opportunity as her sister but she never spoke up. She just buried her nose in a book and believed she would find some rich guy who would fall madly in love with her. She even took the job with crazy Lady Tanith in hopes her and Hugo would go riding off in the sunset. Unfortunately, she didn't know how much Hugo loved Chanel and so many more designers. Nothing really happened throughout the book. Andi searched the library, moved books around, inputted books into a spread sheet and repeated over and over. I also came to the same conclusion as Andi did about Jay. The book just ends and doesn't feel like there was any conclusion and seemed a bit anticlimactic.
Definitely recommend giving the book a try, it just wasn't for me. I didn't hate the story, just didn't enjoy it like the previous books. Look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely recommend giving the book a try, it just wasn't for me. I didn't hate the story, just didn't enjoy it like the previous books. Look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Boldwood Books, through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
March 6, 2025
It’s hard to pin down exactly how I feel about this book. The story felt scattered at times, with a meandering plot and eccentric characters that didn’t always hold my interest.
Andi, the protagonist, grew up living in a van with her family and has now adopted a similarly nomadic lifestyle. In search of some stability, she takes a job under the pretense of cataloging books at a grand estate. However, the real task—one she must keep secret—is to uncover the missing diaries of the late lady of the house’s former love, who has been dead for 50 years, so they can be published.
Andi’s tendency to get lost in her imagination, particularly her obsession with author Jane Olsen, often places her in dramatic, book-like scenarios—especially when it comes to Hugo, the heir to the estate. Over time, she begrudgingly forms a bond with “The Master,” the family cat who always seems to be underfoot. Meanwhile, her many blunders never go unnoticed by the estate’s sharp-eyed gardener, Jay.
Overall, the novel had its moments, but its scattered pacing and peculiar characters made it a bit difficult to fully engage with.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Andi, the protagonist, grew up living in a van with her family and has now adopted a similarly nomadic lifestyle. In search of some stability, she takes a job under the pretense of cataloging books at a grand estate. However, the real task—one she must keep secret—is to uncover the missing diaries of the late lady of the house’s former love, who has been dead for 50 years, so they can be published.
Andi’s tendency to get lost in her imagination, particularly her obsession with author Jane Olsen, often places her in dramatic, book-like scenarios—especially when it comes to Hugo, the heir to the estate. Over time, she begrudgingly forms a bond with “The Master,” the family cat who always seems to be underfoot. Meanwhile, her many blunders never go unnoticed by the estate’s sharp-eyed gardener, Jay.
Overall, the novel had its moments, but its scattered pacing and peculiar characters made it a bit difficult to fully engage with.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing a free advanced copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2025
I have read several of this author's books in the past, but it was a long time ago 2011/2012. Somehow I have missed out on her more recent publications until now.
'Happily Ever After' has a dreamy heroine, Andromeda who believes that real life is like the books she read during her unconventional upbringing. While cataloguing the vast neglected library in an old and crumbling mansion, she soon learns that real life is somewhat less predictable.
The setting and the characters are all well developed with the story having twists and turns to hold the readers interest. Clever touch is each chapter having a literary reference as a title heading. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with a touch of romance and humour this is a very readable example of the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Jane Lovering for the opportunity to read and review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
'Happily Ever After' has a dreamy heroine, Andromeda who believes that real life is like the books she read during her unconventional upbringing. While cataloguing the vast neglected library in an old and crumbling mansion, she soon learns that real life is somewhat less predictable.
The setting and the characters are all well developed with the story having twists and turns to hold the readers interest. Clever touch is each chapter having a literary reference as a title heading. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with a touch of romance and humour this is a very readable example of the genre.
With thanks to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Jane Lovering for the opportunity to read and review.
https://lindyloumacbookreviews.blogsp...
January 23, 2025
she took too long to figure out what the mistery was and she dares call herself a ‘book lover’, what an insult to the book lovers community.
February 23, 2025
Andi takes a job at Templewood Hall, a job that seems impossible, all while getting to know Hugo and being mistreated by Lady Dawe and Mrs. Compton, the cleaning lady.
This was an interesting book that I cannot really label. It has some romance and some mystery, but is really more of a family drama. It started off slowly, but then picked up about halfway through. Andi is an interesting character and I had a lot of compassion for her growing up the way she did and wanting out of that life. I loved Hugo and Jay, but did not like Lady Dawe at all. In fact, I think she really needed some help for her mental health issues. With that said, it was interesting to learn the characters’ stories and I really wanted happy endings for Andi, Hugo, and Jay. Ideally, happy endings that did not include Lady Dawe. And my favorite character? Hands down, the Master! Best cat ever!
This was an interesting book that I cannot really label. It has some romance and some mystery, but is really more of a family drama. It started off slowly, but then picked up about halfway through. Andi is an interesting character and I had a lot of compassion for her growing up the way she did and wanting out of that life. I loved Hugo and Jay, but did not like Lady Dawe at all. In fact, I think she really needed some help for her mental health issues. With that said, it was interesting to learn the characters’ stories and I really wanted happy endings for Andi, Hugo, and Jay. Ideally, happy endings that did not include Lady Dawe. And my favorite character? Hands down, the Master! Best cat ever!
February 8, 2025
“Real life doesn’t have a narrative”
Andi has always had her nose in a book since she was a little girl. Her parents work in showbiz and are often on the road with their tv show. Andi has lived a bit of a neglected childhood and often found an escape, and the answers to life’s little problems, in the characters and stories in the books she reads… that is until she takes a new job cataloging the library at Templewood Hall, working for Lady Tanith.
Templewood Hall is a Downton Abbey type old stately home which has lacked a bit of TLC over the years. Lady Tanith has tasked Andi with not only tidying up the library but finding the lost set of diaries of Lady Tanith’s now deceased lover.
Since the death of her lover, Lady Tanith has found herself very much stuck in the past unable to move on. This has consequences for the other characters in and around Templewood Hall, including Lady Tanith’s son, Hugo, who Andi strikes up a friendship.
Can Andi find the lost diaries and help Templewood Hall find its magic again?
Note: I received this book for free on NetGalley in return for an honest review
Andi has always had her nose in a book since she was a little girl. Her parents work in showbiz and are often on the road with their tv show. Andi has lived a bit of a neglected childhood and often found an escape, and the answers to life’s little problems, in the characters and stories in the books she reads… that is until she takes a new job cataloging the library at Templewood Hall, working for Lady Tanith.
Templewood Hall is a Downton Abbey type old stately home which has lacked a bit of TLC over the years. Lady Tanith has tasked Andi with not only tidying up the library but finding the lost set of diaries of Lady Tanith’s now deceased lover.
Since the death of her lover, Lady Tanith has found herself very much stuck in the past unable to move on. This has consequences for the other characters in and around Templewood Hall, including Lady Tanith’s son, Hugo, who Andi strikes up a friendship.
Can Andi find the lost diaries and help Templewood Hall find its magic again?
Note: I received this book for free on NetGalley in return for an honest review
February 28, 2025
With all my respect to the author, I find myself cringing so much while reading this book: maybe it's not for me, but I hope for other that they meets their liking
Sorry to say it, but it's a DNF for me :/
Thank you, NetGally, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sorry to say it, but it's a DNF for me :/
Thank you, NetGally, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2025
Jane Lovering’s books are always a pleasure to read and this is no exception. A quirky, mysterious story that has kept me guessing where it was headed all the way to the ( thankfully happy) ending. Her superb writing style and characterisations will keep you entertained and very happy. She’s one of the best novelists around and I definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author and NetGalley for an early copy.
Thank you to Boldwood Books, the author and NetGalley for an early copy.
February 5, 2025
Jane Lovering’s Happily Ever After has an intriguing premise, blending gothic mystery with romantic comedy. Unfortunately, its execution is marred by a protagonist so deeply lost in her own fantasy world that it’s difficult to take her seriously.
Andi Glover, raised in an unconventional household, prefers fiction over reality—a relatable trait at first. However, her complete inability to distinguish between the two becomes frustrating. She stumbles into Templewood Hall, convinced she’s living out a novel, but instead of using any common sense, she barrels ahead. I mean, which girl goes to a manor, hired to sort out the library, and is convinced that she will marry the heir and become the new Mrs of the house?
The novel does have its strengths—the atmosphere at Templewood Hall is intriguing, and the mystery elements are engaging enough to keep the reader going.
For readers who enjoy lighthearted, whimsical stories with eccentric characters, this might still be a fun read. But if you prefer a protagonist with even a shred of self-awareness, Happily Ever After may leave you more frustrated than entertained.
Andi Glover, raised in an unconventional household, prefers fiction over reality—a relatable trait at first. However, her complete inability to distinguish between the two becomes frustrating. She stumbles into Templewood Hall, convinced she’s living out a novel, but instead of using any common sense, she barrels ahead. I mean, which girl goes to a manor, hired to sort out the library, and is convinced that she will marry the heir and become the new Mrs of the house?
The novel does have its strengths—the atmosphere at Templewood Hall is intriguing, and the mystery elements are engaging enough to keep the reader going.
For readers who enjoy lighthearted, whimsical stories with eccentric characters, this might still be a fun read. But if you prefer a protagonist with even a shred of self-awareness, Happily Ever After may leave you more frustrated than entertained.
December 6, 2025
I received a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review
My Rating: 4.25 stars
CW’s: nothing major, some mentions of death, some mentions of obsessive relationships, some mentions of disability (off page, happened prior to book’s beginning), talks of infidelity/affairs.
Honestly, with the state of the world, I needed something cute and fun, something a bit weird with a gothic twist. This book honestly fits that perfect. I liked the narrative (and Andi) right from the start. Also, a MMC named Hugo (romantic) and a cat who “like to go by ‘The Master’”? That’s iconic. I love a house ruled by a cat.
I’ll be honest, some of the character development is slow. But I think it works for the book. The book feels cozy in that lazy-sunday sort of way. So things are slow going because that’s sort of the part of the book. But the book doesn’t feel like a slog to get through, it doesn’t really feel like it’s dragging. The book makes the laziness work, it makes the slow plot and character arcs work without the book having to be fast paced. It strikes this balance between being a book with a thriller/spooky aspect to it (the ghost/mystery portion of it) to a book with a softer cozy rom-com aspect to it, with a splash of book-nerdiness.
I think the family dynamic was done really well, especially between Hugo and his mother, and then Jasper. Their identities and gender expressions (Jasper is gay and Hugo likes wearing dresses, heels, wigs, and make up, but is straight) were really interesting explorations. I think the focus on that for male characters was done really nicely and tastefully, and avoided a lot of stereotypes. The salacious angle of their mother being the grandfather’s former mistress who then married their father after her lover died was a fun spin and so juicy. I loved it. The author did a good job of not only setting that up, but finding humor in it.
Andi’s family dynamics were fleshed out well, bits and pieces were dropped in a way that felt organic. And it kept going as plot was revealed. And it all worked well. To me, it didn’t feel like anything was outlandish. Sure, the family’s weird (weirder as the book goes on, especially in the last third) but the author does a good job of setting up and fleshing out character and their relationships that nothing in the family seems out of the blue or like it didn’t make sense with the story. They were eccentric, but in the context of how they were each raised and their life circumstances, it makes sense.
As for the development of the story, while the development is pretty slow and drawn out, something about the writing just made that not awful. I think when a book doesn’t have much plot, and the book drags, it’s up to the author’s writing and characters to make up for it. And Lovering accomplishes that with the Tanith family, Jay the gardner, and Andi. And as one particular plot twist is revealed, more of the book makes sense, and characterization is both justified and shifted. The reveal doesn’t seem out-of-the-blue upon reflection. I thought “oh yeah, I can totally see this about that character” and the reveals land because the narrator has no reason to suspect different, but the observed behavior works with the reveal. And Andi, our narrator, justifiably has the back story that would make sense with how she analyzes the people around her.
The ending was really nice. It wasn’t too low stakes or too highstakes. It didn’t feel like a bunch was being packed in to a short number of pages. And best of all, it felt like an organic end. I felt like yes, the end was a BIT convenient. But I kind of liked the route the author took even if it was.
Good book.
My Rating: 4.25 stars
CW’s: nothing major, some mentions of death, some mentions of obsessive relationships, some mentions of disability (off page, happened prior to book’s beginning), talks of infidelity/affairs.
Honestly, with the state of the world, I needed something cute and fun, something a bit weird with a gothic twist. This book honestly fits that perfect. I liked the narrative (and Andi) right from the start. Also, a MMC named Hugo (romantic) and a cat who “like to go by ‘The Master’”? That’s iconic. I love a house ruled by a cat.
I’ll be honest, some of the character development is slow. But I think it works for the book. The book feels cozy in that lazy-sunday sort of way. So things are slow going because that’s sort of the part of the book. But the book doesn’t feel like a slog to get through, it doesn’t really feel like it’s dragging. The book makes the laziness work, it makes the slow plot and character arcs work without the book having to be fast paced. It strikes this balance between being a book with a thriller/spooky aspect to it (the ghost/mystery portion of it) to a book with a softer cozy rom-com aspect to it, with a splash of book-nerdiness.
I think the family dynamic was done really well, especially between Hugo and his mother, and then Jasper. Their identities and gender expressions (Jasper is gay and Hugo likes wearing dresses, heels, wigs, and make up, but is straight) were really interesting explorations. I think the focus on that for male characters was done really nicely and tastefully, and avoided a lot of stereotypes. The salacious angle of their mother being the grandfather’s former mistress who then married their father after her lover died was a fun spin and so juicy. I loved it. The author did a good job of not only setting that up, but finding humor in it.
Andi’s family dynamics were fleshed out well, bits and pieces were dropped in a way that felt organic. And it kept going as plot was revealed. And it all worked well. To me, it didn’t feel like anything was outlandish. Sure, the family’s weird (weirder as the book goes on, especially in the last third) but the author does a good job of setting up and fleshing out character and their relationships that nothing in the family seems out of the blue or like it didn’t make sense with the story. They were eccentric, but in the context of how they were each raised and their life circumstances, it makes sense.
As for the development of the story, while the development is pretty slow and drawn out, something about the writing just made that not awful. I think when a book doesn’t have much plot, and the book drags, it’s up to the author’s writing and characters to make up for it. And Lovering accomplishes that with the Tanith family, Jay the gardner, and Andi. And as one particular plot twist is revealed, more of the book makes sense, and characterization is both justified and shifted. The reveal doesn’t seem out-of-the-blue upon reflection. I thought “oh yeah, I can totally see this about that character” and the reveals land because the narrator has no reason to suspect different, but the observed behavior works with the reveal. And Andi, our narrator, justifiably has the back story that would make sense with how she analyzes the people around her.
The ending was really nice. It wasn’t too low stakes or too highstakes. It didn’t feel like a bunch was being packed in to a short number of pages. And best of all, it felt like an organic end. I felt like yes, the end was a BIT convenient. But I kind of liked the route the author took even if it was.
Good book.
February 18, 2025
In Happily Ever After, Jane Lovering delivers a delightful and intriguing blend of gothic mystery, romance, and the kind of introspective storytelling that leaves you both entertained and reflective. Andi Glover, the book’s endearing protagonist, is a book lover with an unconventional upbringing—raised by parents who think formal education is overrated and constantly at odds with her more conventional sister. Andi’s world is one of fiction, where she’s far more comfortable getting lost in novels than navigating the unpredictability of the real world.
Her new live-in job as a caretaker at the atmospheric and mysterious Templewood Hall seems like the perfect setting for a novel—and Andi, who’s long used to viewing life through the lens of her favorite books, quickly starts to see the mansion as a page out of a gothic romance. Templewood is filled with strange occurrences—ghostly whispers, a missing heir, and an air of mystery that would make any fiction enthusiast swoon. Add to that Lady Dawe, the eccentric matriarch, and her enigmatic son Hugo, and Andi’s new life starts to feel like something plucked straight from the pages of a classic novel.
As Andi navigates the eerie, haunted halls of Templewood, she discovers that life can be far stranger than the fiction she’s grown so fond of. Secrets buried for generations, ghostly apparitions, and bumps in the night have her questioning if she’s caught in the plot of a romance novel or perhaps a twisty whodunnit. With all the mystery swirling around her, Andi also finds herself captivated by the inscrutable gardener, a man who seems to appear just when needed and whose presence might hold the key to her own version of a "happily ever after."
What Jane Lovering excels at in Happily Ever After is the perfect balance of lighthearted charm and deeper emotional insight. Andi’s journey of self-discovery as she faces the contrast between her bookish idealism and the messy reality of life is both funny and poignant. While the plot does lean into some familiar gothic tropes—mysterious estates, hidden family secrets, and spectral hauntings—it’s the emotional journey and Andi’s personal growth that elevate the story beyond just a fun mystery. Lovering is excellent at weaving humor and romance into a narrative that remains engaging without ever becoming overly formulaic.
The slow-building tension between Andi and the gardener adds a welcome touch of romance to the book, and readers will find themselves rooting for the pair as they navigate the ups and downs of what feels like an almost too-perfect fairytale. The chemistry between them provides just the right amount of intrigue, and the subtle hints of romance that emerge amidst the twists and turns will leave readers hoping for a satisfying "happily ever after" conclusion.
While some of the plot twists may feel predictable to readers who enjoy gothic mysteries, the book’s charm lies in the journey rather than the destination. The narrative is not just about uncovering the secrets of Templewood, but about Andi’s growing understanding of herself, her place in the world, and the realization that real life, with all its messiness, can still be just as rewarding—if not more so—than the neatly wrapped endings in her beloved novels.
Happily Ever After is a heartwarming, entertaining, and occasionally suspenseful story that will appeal to fans of romantic mysteries and those who love a book with a touch of magic and mystery. Jane Lovering has crafted a charming tale full of wit, wisdom, and just the right amount of intrigue, making it a perfect read for anyone seeking a little escape—and perhaps a happy ending of their own.
Her new live-in job as a caretaker at the atmospheric and mysterious Templewood Hall seems like the perfect setting for a novel—and Andi, who’s long used to viewing life through the lens of her favorite books, quickly starts to see the mansion as a page out of a gothic romance. Templewood is filled with strange occurrences—ghostly whispers, a missing heir, and an air of mystery that would make any fiction enthusiast swoon. Add to that Lady Dawe, the eccentric matriarch, and her enigmatic son Hugo, and Andi’s new life starts to feel like something plucked straight from the pages of a classic novel.
As Andi navigates the eerie, haunted halls of Templewood, she discovers that life can be far stranger than the fiction she’s grown so fond of. Secrets buried for generations, ghostly apparitions, and bumps in the night have her questioning if she’s caught in the plot of a romance novel or perhaps a twisty whodunnit. With all the mystery swirling around her, Andi also finds herself captivated by the inscrutable gardener, a man who seems to appear just when needed and whose presence might hold the key to her own version of a "happily ever after."
What Jane Lovering excels at in Happily Ever After is the perfect balance of lighthearted charm and deeper emotional insight. Andi’s journey of self-discovery as she faces the contrast between her bookish idealism and the messy reality of life is both funny and poignant. While the plot does lean into some familiar gothic tropes—mysterious estates, hidden family secrets, and spectral hauntings—it’s the emotional journey and Andi’s personal growth that elevate the story beyond just a fun mystery. Lovering is excellent at weaving humor and romance into a narrative that remains engaging without ever becoming overly formulaic.
The slow-building tension between Andi and the gardener adds a welcome touch of romance to the book, and readers will find themselves rooting for the pair as they navigate the ups and downs of what feels like an almost too-perfect fairytale. The chemistry between them provides just the right amount of intrigue, and the subtle hints of romance that emerge amidst the twists and turns will leave readers hoping for a satisfying "happily ever after" conclusion.
While some of the plot twists may feel predictable to readers who enjoy gothic mysteries, the book’s charm lies in the journey rather than the destination. The narrative is not just about uncovering the secrets of Templewood, but about Andi’s growing understanding of herself, her place in the world, and the realization that real life, with all its messiness, can still be just as rewarding—if not more so—than the neatly wrapped endings in her beloved novels.
Happily Ever After is a heartwarming, entertaining, and occasionally suspenseful story that will appeal to fans of romantic mysteries and those who love a book with a touch of magic and mystery. Jane Lovering has crafted a charming tale full of wit, wisdom, and just the right amount of intrigue, making it a perfect read for anyone seeking a little escape—and perhaps a happy ending of their own.
February 7, 2025
In the interest of full disclosure, I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an unbiased review. I’m giving it a solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 here.
This book is a cross between a Gothic mystery and a quirky self-actualization romcom. Our heroine Andi grew up traveling the world on a bus and raising herself with classic literature, and is pretty resentful about it. With no real world life experience or qualifications, she is forced to accept a job at the mysterious Templewood Hall where everyone has a secret, ostensibly cataloguing books for the absolutely bonkers Lady Tanith, while actually hunting for Tanith’s dearly departed father-in-law slash lover’s hidden diaries.
Andi could very easily have been an annoying character - fish out of water, jumping to some pretty ridiculous assumptions and making some pretty dumb decisions, but Lovering makes these character flaws make sense. Of course she has ridiculous flights of fancy - she is trying to impose a narrative structure on her life because that’s all she knows. More importantly, she is aware that she is doing this, and actively tries (and succeeds!) to grow as a person throughout the book. While I did not agree with all of Andi’s thought processes, I enjoyed her character arc immensely.
While I figured out some of the secrets early (Hugo and Jasper’s secrets, specifically), the big mystery of the diaries and what was in them completely subverted my expectations, which is pretty much the theme of the book, and I was pleasantly surprised with how that wrapped up. The romance was definitely a subplot but I enjoyed it nonetheless, although it did take time for the hero (no spoilers!) to grow on me. Their romantic meet cute was just a little too crass for me to fully enjoy - it was cute, but not my style of humor at all.
If I had to nitpick, Andi’s perseveration on Hugo’s secret/struggle was a bit much and seemed more insensitive than it needed to be. We got it, his . But do you need to point that out three times a chapter? To be honest, a lot of Andi’s internal monologue is repetitive and I found myself skimming in some places, only because I had read it all before
Things I loved: How Lovering managed to make every character, even the ones you think you should hate, sympathetic in their own right. I also loved how zany the story was - she managed to subvert most of my expectations in a way that felt natural for the story, and not like an unearned “gotcha!”. I also really really loved Mrs Compton. I also loved how Jay’s deafness was just part of who he was, not an inspirational character arc
Things I didn’t: Like I mentioned above, Andi’s internal monologue was a little too repetitive to me. The story also started off slow, and it took me until like 35% in to really engage with the characters.
Perfect for fans of: Hot gardeners, sprawling estates, haunted houses, soap operas, vintage dresses, cats with main character energy, dramatic family secrets, and classic literature
This book is a cross between a Gothic mystery and a quirky self-actualization romcom. Our heroine Andi grew up traveling the world on a bus and raising herself with classic literature, and is pretty resentful about it. With no real world life experience or qualifications, she is forced to accept a job at the mysterious Templewood Hall where everyone has a secret, ostensibly cataloguing books for the absolutely bonkers Lady Tanith, while actually hunting for Tanith’s dearly departed father-in-law slash lover’s hidden diaries.
Andi could very easily have been an annoying character - fish out of water, jumping to some pretty ridiculous assumptions and making some pretty dumb decisions, but Lovering makes these character flaws make sense. Of course she has ridiculous flights of fancy - she is trying to impose a narrative structure on her life because that’s all she knows. More importantly, she is aware that she is doing this, and actively tries (and succeeds!) to grow as a person throughout the book. While I did not agree with all of Andi’s thought processes, I enjoyed her character arc immensely.
While I figured out some of the secrets early (Hugo and Jasper’s secrets, specifically), the big mystery of the diaries and what was in them completely subverted my expectations, which is pretty much the theme of the book, and I was pleasantly surprised with how that wrapped up. The romance was definitely a subplot but I enjoyed it nonetheless, although it did take time for the hero (no spoilers!) to grow on me. Their romantic meet cute was just a little too crass for me to fully enjoy - it was cute, but not my style of humor at all.
If I had to nitpick, Andi’s perseveration on Hugo’s secret/struggle was a bit much and seemed more insensitive than it needed to be. We got it, his . But do you need to point that out three times a chapter? To be honest, a lot of Andi’s internal monologue is repetitive and I found myself skimming in some places, only because I had read it all before
Things I loved: How Lovering managed to make every character, even the ones you think you should hate, sympathetic in their own right. I also loved how zany the story was - she managed to subvert most of my expectations in a way that felt natural for the story, and not like an unearned “gotcha!”. I also really really loved Mrs Compton. I also loved how Jay’s deafness was just part of who he was, not an inspirational character arc
Things I didn’t: Like I mentioned above, Andi’s internal monologue was a little too repetitive to me. The story also started off slow, and it took me until like 35% in to really engage with the characters.
Perfect for fans of: Hot gardeners, sprawling estates, haunted houses, soap operas, vintage dresses, cats with main character energy, dramatic family secrets, and classic literature
February 11, 2025
This was an interesting read for me — I don’t know fully how to classify it (other than New Fiction). It’s gothic but not, romance but not fully, both but neither?
I liked the realistic emotions and uncertainty with the main character, Andi, but at times I was wanting more connections intertwined between the characters.
Plot intro: Andi recently started working for a wealthy estate owner to catalogue a vast collection of books (enter a dream job for many readers!). Much like Andi, I too feel like books had have a huge impact on my life and have been a source of peace, happiness, and escapism during hard times. While I didn’t live the nomad, van-life like Andi did with her parents growing up, I related my childhood experience of moving a lot as a military kid to her feelings of loneliness when it came to the difficulty of making friendships.
I liked the side characters that were included — we are introduced to the landowner (Lady Dawe) and immediately I pictured a haughty, older woman who judges everything new. While she’s not particularly friendly, she does have a nephew living with her that sparked a little bit of romance vibe for Andi when he was introduced. Additional characters were: the gardener who Andi had a regretful (and funny) meeting with upon arrival, a stern cleaning lady, and a sophisticated cat (what’s an old estate without a cat right!?).
The estate itself was kind of like a character and is where I felt the tiny bit of gothic mystery vibes from. We discovered that Andi’s real task was uncovering lost diaries, and between that and the creepy lights flickering, the mansion had a bit of “haunted by its past” themes.
I expected the nephew we were introduced to early to have more of a romance plot tied directly to Andi, but instead the author did a side storyline for him. While it was well-written, I did feel that it split the main story too much and I was often wanting to go back to Andi.
I kept relating to Andi with her struggles of “what’s next” and trying to find her passions. I usually gravitate to stories that have more of “wrapped up perfectly” ending as they take me away from my own anxieties a bit. But the ending the author wrote here fit well for the story and I liked how it was complete yet unfinished in a realistic way (life really is never complete while we still live and still question what’s next).
Overall — I’d recommend this book but would make sure to not send to those looking for a strong romance side plot.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the eARC. Review provided in exchange and is my own honest opinion.
I liked the realistic emotions and uncertainty with the main character, Andi, but at times I was wanting more connections intertwined between the characters.
Plot intro: Andi recently started working for a wealthy estate owner to catalogue a vast collection of books (enter a dream job for many readers!). Much like Andi, I too feel like books had have a huge impact on my life and have been a source of peace, happiness, and escapism during hard times. While I didn’t live the nomad, van-life like Andi did with her parents growing up, I related my childhood experience of moving a lot as a military kid to her feelings of loneliness when it came to the difficulty of making friendships.
I liked the side characters that were included — we are introduced to the landowner (Lady Dawe) and immediately I pictured a haughty, older woman who judges everything new. While she’s not particularly friendly, she does have a nephew living with her that sparked a little bit of romance vibe for Andi when he was introduced. Additional characters were: the gardener who Andi had a regretful (and funny) meeting with upon arrival, a stern cleaning lady, and a sophisticated cat (what’s an old estate without a cat right!?).
The estate itself was kind of like a character and is where I felt the tiny bit of gothic mystery vibes from. We discovered that Andi’s real task was uncovering lost diaries, and between that and the creepy lights flickering, the mansion had a bit of “haunted by its past” themes.
I expected the nephew we were introduced to early to have more of a romance plot tied directly to Andi, but instead the author did a side storyline for him. While it was well-written, I did feel that it split the main story too much and I was often wanting to go back to Andi.
I kept relating to Andi with her struggles of “what’s next” and trying to find her passions. I usually gravitate to stories that have more of “wrapped up perfectly” ending as they take me away from my own anxieties a bit. But the ending the author wrote here fit well for the story and I liked how it was complete yet unfinished in a realistic way (life really is never complete while we still live and still question what’s next).
Overall — I’d recommend this book but would make sure to not send to those looking for a strong romance side plot.
Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the eARC. Review provided in exchange and is my own honest opinion.
February 18, 2025
Is it possible to read too many books? A strange question for a book blogger to ask and, before I read Happily Ever After, I’d have said absolutely not. But Andi Glover isn’t a normal reader. Brought up by unconventional parents, she has never lived in a house or been to school. Instead, she has travelled around in a converted bus in a nomadic lifestyle and has learnt about life from reading novels. This hasn’t necessarily given her the most grounded approach to life and she often lets her imagination take over. Which may have not been a problem before she ended up at Templewood Hall, inhabited by the eccentric Lady Tanith, her secretive son Hugo and possibly a plethora of ghosts. The most down-to-earth creature in the house is a cat. Andi starts to feel like she might be living in her own Gothic romance novel and lets her literary tendencies take over…
This book is a quirky wild ride through the mind of a hopeless book addict who finds herself surrounded by the cast of one of her books and isn’t really equipped to deal with it. She wants her life to be like a novel, but the characters won’t play ball and the plot isn’t linear and obliging. What do you do when the world isn’t parcelled up into neat chapters and a happy ending isn’t guaranteed? Andi is too quick to jump to conclusions and assume that tropes are a fact of life and it makes things extremely complicated until she meets someone who can pull her back down to earth.
This book is a clever idea which takes a romp through the plots of some of the greatest literary romances ever written, but shows us how we need to learn to separate fact from fiction and keep a firm grip on our sanity when other people seem to be spiralling into madness. The real world isn’t always fun but it is where we have to live, for better or worse.
The book is populated by a small but mighty cast of bonkers characters, particularly Lady Tanith, who is the epitome of rewriting history to suit your own narrative, and the truly appalling housekeeper who is firmly cast in the mould of all sinister literary housekeepers through the ages. Even the house itself is alive with all the gothic nightmares that fiction has given us through the decades. By the end I would not have been surprised if Dracula himself had been found stalking the grounds.
A romantic comedy for anyone who has ever fancied herself the heroine in her favourite literary novel and is in need of a sharp wakeup call. Tremendous fun and I continue to be in awe of Jane Lovering’s skills and imagination.
This book is a quirky wild ride through the mind of a hopeless book addict who finds herself surrounded by the cast of one of her books and isn’t really equipped to deal with it. She wants her life to be like a novel, but the characters won’t play ball and the plot isn’t linear and obliging. What do you do when the world isn’t parcelled up into neat chapters and a happy ending isn’t guaranteed? Andi is too quick to jump to conclusions and assume that tropes are a fact of life and it makes things extremely complicated until she meets someone who can pull her back down to earth.
This book is a clever idea which takes a romp through the plots of some of the greatest literary romances ever written, but shows us how we need to learn to separate fact from fiction and keep a firm grip on our sanity when other people seem to be spiralling into madness. The real world isn’t always fun but it is where we have to live, for better or worse.
The book is populated by a small but mighty cast of bonkers characters, particularly Lady Tanith, who is the epitome of rewriting history to suit your own narrative, and the truly appalling housekeeper who is firmly cast in the mould of all sinister literary housekeepers through the ages. Even the house itself is alive with all the gothic nightmares that fiction has given us through the decades. By the end I would not have been surprised if Dracula himself had been found stalking the grounds.
A romantic comedy for anyone who has ever fancied herself the heroine in her favourite literary novel and is in need of a sharp wakeup call. Tremendous fun and I continue to be in awe of Jane Lovering’s skills and imagination.
January 17, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 stars)
First off, the chapter titles being named after books? Very cute. That alone had me intrigued. Set in Yorkshire, Happily Ever After gives off serious gothic vibes—crumbling manor, eccentric residents, ghostly happenings (but not really), and a smelly cat with way too much personality. I went in expecting swoony romance, witty writing, and a lighthearted vibe, but I got something a bit different. Let’s dive in.
The story kicks off with Andi Glover, a self-professed book lover who’s completely out of options. With nowhere to live and no clear life plan, she takes a job at Templewood Hall, sorting the very chaotic library of Lady Tanith Dawes. Now, Lady Dawes is a character—think temperamental, unhinged, and the proud owner of Master, the aforementioned smelly cat who immediately adopts Andy as his new bestie, whether she likes it or not.
Templewood Hall itself is like a character, all creaking floors and crumbling grandeur, and there’s a whole lot of talk about ghosts. Spoiler: the manor isn’t haunted—it’s just Andi’s overactive imagination, thanks to a childhood that could best be described as a bit of a mess.
There’s a cast of quirky supporting characters, including a gardener Andi connects with and Hugo, Lady Dawes’ ridiculously handsome yet removed son. Hugo starts out cold but warms up eventually.
If you’re here for a full-blown romance, you might be disappointed. The romance is very much in the background, which threw me because I was expecting something a little more swoon central. Instead, the main focus is on Andi’s job, the eccentricities of the manor, and a mystery hidden in the library.
The writing is sharp and funny, and the gothic undertones add an interesting layer. However, I couldn’t help feeling a little let down by the lack of romantic development. It’s more about quirky characters and atmospheric storytelling than love and chemistry, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
Overall, Happily Ever After is entertaining, well-written, and full of personality. If you’re in the mood for gothic vibes, eccentric characters, and a slow-burn story that’s light on romance and no spice, this one’s worth a read. But if you’re looking for all the feels in the romance department, it might leave you wanting more. Three stars from me!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
First off, the chapter titles being named after books? Very cute. That alone had me intrigued. Set in Yorkshire, Happily Ever After gives off serious gothic vibes—crumbling manor, eccentric residents, ghostly happenings (but not really), and a smelly cat with way too much personality. I went in expecting swoony romance, witty writing, and a lighthearted vibe, but I got something a bit different. Let’s dive in.
The story kicks off with Andi Glover, a self-professed book lover who’s completely out of options. With nowhere to live and no clear life plan, she takes a job at Templewood Hall, sorting the very chaotic library of Lady Tanith Dawes. Now, Lady Dawes is a character—think temperamental, unhinged, and the proud owner of Master, the aforementioned smelly cat who immediately adopts Andy as his new bestie, whether she likes it or not.
Templewood Hall itself is like a character, all creaking floors and crumbling grandeur, and there’s a whole lot of talk about ghosts. Spoiler: the manor isn’t haunted—it’s just Andi’s overactive imagination, thanks to a childhood that could best be described as a bit of a mess.
There’s a cast of quirky supporting characters, including a gardener Andi connects with and Hugo, Lady Dawes’ ridiculously handsome yet removed son. Hugo starts out cold but warms up eventually.
If you’re here for a full-blown romance, you might be disappointed. The romance is very much in the background, which threw me because I was expecting something a little more swoon central. Instead, the main focus is on Andi’s job, the eccentricities of the manor, and a mystery hidden in the library.
The writing is sharp and funny, and the gothic undertones add an interesting layer. However, I couldn’t help feeling a little let down by the lack of romantic development. It’s more about quirky characters and atmospheric storytelling than love and chemistry, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it just wasn’t what I was hoping for.
Overall, Happily Ever After is entertaining, well-written, and full of personality. If you’re in the mood for gothic vibes, eccentric characters, and a slow-burn story that’s light on romance and no spice, this one’s worth a read. But if you’re looking for all the feels in the romance department, it might leave you wanting more. Three stars from me!
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
February 13, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the arc copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
Andi Glover has spent her life traveling with her parents and living out of a van, something the family has learned to monetize and gain fame for on television. She aches for something different, so she takes up a job at Templewood Hall for Lady Tanith cataloguing her massive home library. Andi, upon meeting Lady Tanith's son Hugo, is fully convinced the pair will fall in love and engaged in six months time, since that is how life works in the books she read growing up.
In addition to the library organization, Lady Tanith wants Andi to locate the personal diaries of her late father in law, who also happened to be the love of her life prior to their marital relation. These diaries may or may not contain details that Lady Tanith wants to keep secret from her sons, but also she plans to publish the diaries. The diary hunt must be kept a secret, which Andi finds conflicting as she becomes friends with Hugo. Luckily, she befriends the gardener Jay, who is excellent at keeping her secrets. As Andi continues her hunt for the diaries and makes small strides with the library catalogue, she uncovers strange family secrets and comes to a few revelations of her own.
I found this book hard to get into initially, but I did speed through it once my interest was piqued. I found that there was a lot of vocabulary used that I was not familiar with; having to frequently Google definitions negatively impacted my reading experience. I found Andi pretty unenjoyable as a FMC, and would have liked to read from another POV, such as Lady Tanith's since she was delusional. The Master was my favorite character, which tracks as I'm a cat lady myself. I was very upset when I thought he wouldn't get out of the house in time, IYKYK. Hugo and his father's shared interest was a nice twist, and I'm glad he got a happy ending after all. I would have loved an epilogue, following up with the characters at least one year later. Overall, the book was fine, but not something I would be interested in re-reading.
Andi Glover has spent her life traveling with her parents and living out of a van, something the family has learned to monetize and gain fame for on television. She aches for something different, so she takes up a job at Templewood Hall for Lady Tanith cataloguing her massive home library. Andi, upon meeting Lady Tanith's son Hugo, is fully convinced the pair will fall in love and engaged in six months time, since that is how life works in the books she read growing up.
In addition to the library organization, Lady Tanith wants Andi to locate the personal diaries of her late father in law, who also happened to be the love of her life prior to their marital relation. These diaries may or may not contain details that Lady Tanith wants to keep secret from her sons, but also she plans to publish the diaries. The diary hunt must be kept a secret, which Andi finds conflicting as she becomes friends with Hugo. Luckily, she befriends the gardener Jay, who is excellent at keeping her secrets. As Andi continues her hunt for the diaries and makes small strides with the library catalogue, she uncovers strange family secrets and comes to a few revelations of her own.
I found this book hard to get into initially, but I did speed through it once my interest was piqued. I found that there was a lot of vocabulary used that I was not familiar with; having to frequently Google definitions negatively impacted my reading experience. I found Andi pretty unenjoyable as a FMC, and would have liked to read from another POV, such as Lady Tanith's since she was delusional. The Master was my favorite character, which tracks as I'm a cat lady myself. I was very upset when I thought he wouldn't get out of the house in time, IYKYK. Hugo and his father's shared interest was a nice twist, and I'm glad he got a happy ending after all. I would have loved an epilogue, following up with the characters at least one year later. Overall, the book was fine, but not something I would be interested in re-reading.
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January 13, 2025Book Review: Happily Ever After by Jane Lovering
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an ARC of Happily Ever After in exchange for an honest review.
Happily Ever After by Jane Lovering is a cozy, feel-good read that draws you in with its charming atmosphere and delightful characters. The book’s early chapters are a slow but steady buildup, enveloping you in a world that's warm, inviting, and full of heart. Lovering does an excellent job of creating a space that feels almost like home, making it easy to get lost in the narrative.
The characters are one of the book’s strongest assets. They're likable, relatable, and you quickly find yourself rooting for them. Their interactions and evolving relationships are tender and engaging, providing a sense of connection that makes you care about what happens to them. The pacing allows for these dynamics to develop in a natural way, with just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting without feeling rushed.
However, the much-anticipated twist toward the end doesn’t quite live up to the strong foundation laid in the first half. While it doesn't entirely fall flat, it feels a bit lackluster in comparison to the warmth and charm that precedes it. The final half of the book, while still enjoyable, starts to feel a bit more standard and less emotionally gripping. It’s as if the story, which had so much potential for an exciting payoff, ends up coasting to a more predictable resolution.
That said, Happily Ever After excels in creating an atmosphere that’s easy to sink into, and its characters will likely stick with you. While the plot may not pack the punch some readers might expect from a twist, the book’s cozy, feel-good nature makes it a great pick for fans of character-driven stories. The book is an easy, heartwarming read, even if it lacks a bit of the “oomph” that could have taken it to the next level.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing an ARC of Happily Ever After in exchange for an honest review.
Happily Ever After by Jane Lovering is a cozy, feel-good read that draws you in with its charming atmosphere and delightful characters. The book’s early chapters are a slow but steady buildup, enveloping you in a world that's warm, inviting, and full of heart. Lovering does an excellent job of creating a space that feels almost like home, making it easy to get lost in the narrative.
The characters are one of the book’s strongest assets. They're likable, relatable, and you quickly find yourself rooting for them. Their interactions and evolving relationships are tender and engaging, providing a sense of connection that makes you care about what happens to them. The pacing allows for these dynamics to develop in a natural way, with just enough unpredictability to keep things interesting without feeling rushed.
However, the much-anticipated twist toward the end doesn’t quite live up to the strong foundation laid in the first half. While it doesn't entirely fall flat, it feels a bit lackluster in comparison to the warmth and charm that precedes it. The final half of the book, while still enjoyable, starts to feel a bit more standard and less emotionally gripping. It’s as if the story, which had so much potential for an exciting payoff, ends up coasting to a more predictable resolution.
That said, Happily Ever After excels in creating an atmosphere that’s easy to sink into, and its characters will likely stick with you. While the plot may not pack the punch some readers might expect from a twist, the book’s cozy, feel-good nature makes it a great pick for fans of character-driven stories. The book is an easy, heartwarming read, even if it lacks a bit of the “oomph” that could have taken it to the next level.
February 18, 2025
𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 @𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 , 𝐉𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲.
🎀 𝒫𝓁💞𝓉 🎀 : ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇᴅᴀ , ᴏʜ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴡᴇ ʀᴇꜰᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱ “ᴀɴᴅɪ” ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀꜱ ɢʀᴏᴡɴ ᴜᴘ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱɪᴄꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ. ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ. ᴀʟʟ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ɪꜱ ᴅɪᴘ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ᴄɪᴛʏ. ᴀʟʟ ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ 📚.ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ɪɴᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴀ ᴊᴏʙ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀᴛᴀʟᴏɢ ᴀɴ ᴏʟᴅ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴀɴɪᴛʜ ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴠɪᴄᴛᴏʀɪᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʟᴏᴏᴋꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴᴅᴇʀʟʏ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ (ɪꜰʏᴋʏᴋ 😬). ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪᴛꜱ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏʀ #ᴠᴀɴʟɪꜰᴇ #ꜰʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ #ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʏᴘᴇᴇɪɴɢɪɴᴀʙᴜᴄᴋᴇᴛᴀɴᴅꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢᴏɴᴀʀᴏʟʟᴏᴜᴛᴍᴀᴛᴛʀᴇꜱꜱᴏɴᴀᴛᴀʙʟᴇᴛᴏᴘ.ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʀᴅᴇɴᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ʜᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱʜᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴇᴘʜᴀɴ ᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴜɴꜰᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀᴇ.
🎀 𝑀𝓎 𝓉𝒽💞𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 🎀 : ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴢʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ🥰. ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅɪ , ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ🤣. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴊᴀʏ ᴛᴏᴏ🥹😍 ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴄᴜᴛɪᴇ ʜᴇ ɪꜱ. ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴍɪx ᴏꜰ ʜᴜᴍᴏᴜʀ , ꜱᴘʀɪɴᴋʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ. ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ᴜ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ “ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟʟ ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀɪɴʙᴏᴡꜱ”. ᴍʏ ɴᴇᴡ ꜰᴀᴠᴏᴜʀɪᴛᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴏɴᴋᴇʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴜɢɢᴇʀ ᴍᴇ 😂. ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀᴀᴘ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ ɪɴ ᴀ ʀᴜɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʜᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴄᴏᴀ ᴏʀ ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ɪᴛ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴀᴛ ᴏʀ ᴀ ᴅᴏɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴜʀʟ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛꜱ ᴀ ʙʀᴏᴡɴɪᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜱɪᴀᴍᴇꜱᴇ ᴄᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ꜱᴍᴇʟʟꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴀʀᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ “ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ” ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛᴜᴄᴋ ʙʏ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ ᴏɴ ɪᴛ😂.
#HappilyEverAfter#Netgalley
🎀 𝒫𝓁💞𝓉 🎀 : ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴀɴᴅʀᴏᴍᴇᴅᴀ , ᴏʜ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴡᴇ ʀᴇꜰᴇʀ ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱ “ᴀɴᴅɪ” ʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡʜᴏ ʜᴀꜱ ɢʀᴏᴡɴ ᴜᴘ ʀᴇᴀᴅɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴀꜱꜱɪᴄꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴛʜʀᴏᴜɢʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ ɴᴏᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ. ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʀᴀᴠᴇʟʟɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ʜᴇʀ ʟɪꜰᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀꜱ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛɪᴍᴇ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ. ᴀʟʟ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ ɪꜱ ᴅɪᴘ ʜᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴄɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ᴄɪᴛʏ. ᴀʟʟ ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʟɪꜰᴇ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ 📚.ꜰɪɴᴀʟʟʏ ꜱʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ʙᴇ ɪɴᴅᴇᴘᴇɴᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛꜱ ᴀ ᴊᴏʙ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴀᴛᴀʟᴏɢ ᴀɴ ᴏʟᴅ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ ꜰᴏʀ ʟᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴀɴɪᴛʜ ᴀᴛ ᴀ ᴠɪᴄᴛᴏʀɪᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ʟᴏᴏᴋꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴀɴᴅᴇʀʟʏ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʀᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ (ɪꜰʏᴋʏᴋ 😬). ꜱʜᴇ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ɪᴛꜱ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴏʀ #ᴠᴀɴʟɪꜰᴇ #ꜰʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ #ʙʟᴏᴏᴅʏᴘᴇᴇɪɴɢɪɴᴀʙᴜᴄᴋᴇᴛᴀɴᴅꜱʟᴇᴇᴘɪɴɢᴏɴᴀʀᴏʟʟᴏᴜᴛᴍᴀᴛᴛʀᴇꜱꜱᴏɴᴀᴛᴀʙʟᴇᴛᴏᴘ.ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏᴍᴇɴᴛ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ɢʀᴇᴇᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀʀᴅᴇɴᴇʀ ᴡʜᴏ ᴄᴏᴍᴇꜱ ᴛᴏᴡᴀʀᴅꜱ ʜᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱʜᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ꜱʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴᴋꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ꜱᴛʀᴀɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴇᴘʜᴀɴ ᴋɪɴɢ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ.
ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛꜱ ᴜɴꜰᴏʟᴅɪɴɢ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀᴇ.
🎀 𝑀𝓎 𝓉𝒽💞𝓊𝑔𝒽𝓉𝓈 🎀 : ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴄᴏᴢʏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʟɪᴋᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ🥰. ɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀꜱ ᴇꜱᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅɪ , ᴡʜᴀᴛᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴜᴛʜ ᴍᴀᴅᴇ ᴍᴇ ʟᴀᴜɢʜ ᴏᴜᴛ ʟᴏᴜᴅ🤣. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇᴅ ᴊᴀʏ ᴛᴏᴏ🥹😍 ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴄᴜᴛɪᴇ ʜᴇ ɪꜱ. ɪᴛ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴍɪx ᴏꜰ ʜᴜᴍᴏᴜʀ , ꜱᴘʀɪɴᴋʟᴇ ᴏꜰ ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜꜱ ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʀᴇᴠᴇᴀʟᴇᴅ. ɪᴛ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ᴜ ꜰᴇᴇʟ ʟɪꜰᴇ ɪꜱ “ɴᴏᴛ ᴀʟʟ ꜱᴜɴꜱʜɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀɪɴʙᴏᴡꜱ”. ᴍʏ ɴᴇᴡ ꜰᴀᴠᴏᴜʀɪᴛᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴏɴᴋᴇʀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴜɢɢᴇʀ ᴍᴇ 😂. ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴍᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴡʀᴀᴘ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱᴇʟꜰ ɪɴ ᴀ ʀᴜɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀ ʜᴏᴛ ᴄᴏᴄᴏᴀ ᴏʀ ᴄᴏꜰꜰᴇᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏ ɪᴛ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴄᴀᴛ ᴏʀ ᴀ ᴅᴏɢ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴜʀʟ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ꜰᴇᴇᴛ ᴛʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴀᴛꜱ ᴀ ʙʀᴏᴡɴɪᴇ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ ʜᴇʀᴇ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʜᴀꜱ ᴀ ꜱɪᴀᴍᴇꜱᴇ ᴄᴀᴛ ᴡʜᴏ ꜱᴍᴇʟʟꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴀʀᴅɪɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟᴇᴅ “ᴍᴀꜱᴛᴇʀ” ᴀɴᴅ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛᴜᴄᴋ ʙʏ ʏᴏᴜʀꜱɪᴅᴇ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴄʟᴏꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴏᴏʀꜱ ᴏɴ ɪᴛ😂.
#HappilyEverAfter#Netgalley
February 16, 2025
Jane Lovering is a firm favourite of mine so I jumped at the chance to read an early copy of this book.
Our main character, Andi, is a girl after my own heart who has always been a great reader, finding escape and solace in books and is a firm believer in a happily-ever-after. Life hasn’t always been too kind to her though and when she is faced with having nowhere to stay, she takes on a position at Templewood Hall, cataloguing a library of old books and searching for some missing diaries.
Well of course Andi immediately has thoughts of all those classic novels where there’s a slightly faded, slightly forbidding old mansion, a batty older woman, Lady Dawe in this case, a mysterious heir and where the hero falls in love with the heroine no matter the difference in their social class. Throw in a ghost or two and it’s just like fiction. Well, not really of course and Andi soon discovers that what she has learned about love from her beloved books don’t really reflect love in the real world. I loved the little touch that all the chapters were named after famous houses from fiction from Manderley to Northanger Abbey, and from Pemberley to The Burrow from Harry Potter!
Happily Ever After is funny and romantic, with quite a few unexpected twists and turns. There are echoes of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Rebecca, Jane Eyre and so many more classic novels. I enjoyed spotting the way Jane Lovering wove so many familiar elements from these books into the narrative. With the author’s trademark dry humour, quirky characters including a rather haughty cat called The Master and a delightful slow-burn romance, Happily Ever After is a most enjoyable read. Does Andi find her happily-ever-after? Well, that would be telling. You’ll need to buy yourself a copy to find out!
Our main character, Andi, is a girl after my own heart who has always been a great reader, finding escape and solace in books and is a firm believer in a happily-ever-after. Life hasn’t always been too kind to her though and when she is faced with having nowhere to stay, she takes on a position at Templewood Hall, cataloguing a library of old books and searching for some missing diaries.
Well of course Andi immediately has thoughts of all those classic novels where there’s a slightly faded, slightly forbidding old mansion, a batty older woman, Lady Dawe in this case, a mysterious heir and where the hero falls in love with the heroine no matter the difference in their social class. Throw in a ghost or two and it’s just like fiction. Well, not really of course and Andi soon discovers that what she has learned about love from her beloved books don’t really reflect love in the real world. I loved the little touch that all the chapters were named after famous houses from fiction from Manderley to Northanger Abbey, and from Pemberley to The Burrow from Harry Potter!
Happily Ever After is funny and romantic, with quite a few unexpected twists and turns. There are echoes of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, Rebecca, Jane Eyre and so many more classic novels. I enjoyed spotting the way Jane Lovering wove so many familiar elements from these books into the narrative. With the author’s trademark dry humour, quirky characters including a rather haughty cat called The Master and a delightful slow-burn romance, Happily Ever After is a most enjoyable read. Does Andi find her happily-ever-after? Well, that would be telling. You’ll need to buy yourself a copy to find out!
February 26, 2025
This book was such a joy. It gave everything you'd expect from a book of this genre (and with a front cover like this) but so much more. I'm naturally drawn to the romance genre because of the boost of instant cosy comfort that always comes between the pages. That often means predictability and heavy focus on one narrative or trope. Jane Lovering has so refreshingly given a modernized development on this!
Her character's were all well developed with their own histories and origins; which can be quite rare in a book under 300 pages. Another big highlight for me was that although the book is foremost a romance the actual relationship between our main character and her love interest was not what the story rested on. We're able to follow along as each of our character's comes into their own and travels through their own self discovery arcs. This is then all heightened as they interact with each other and the additional character of Templewood Hall comes into it's own.
I also feel I would be doing the book a dis-justice if I didn't mention the elements of LGBTQIA+. In short - they were naturally part of the story. Lovering tackled quite difficult topics like coming out to your family and the repression that many feel from the overbearing expectations of their parents. These weren't used as hooks or shock reveals. They were just a lovely element of character's that we enjoyably got to learn more about.
I'll happily be recommending 'Happily Ever After' as a refreshing way in which I hope the romance genre will begin to adopt more and more. I'll also be busy enjoying Jane Lovering's other books after having enjoyed this one so much.
Her character's were all well developed with their own histories and origins; which can be quite rare in a book under 300 pages. Another big highlight for me was that although the book is foremost a romance the actual relationship between our main character and her love interest was not what the story rested on. We're able to follow along as each of our character's comes into their own and travels through their own self discovery arcs. This is then all heightened as they interact with each other and the additional character of Templewood Hall comes into it's own.
I also feel I would be doing the book a dis-justice if I didn't mention the elements of LGBTQIA+. In short - they were naturally part of the story. Lovering tackled quite difficult topics like coming out to your family and the repression that many feel from the overbearing expectations of their parents. These weren't used as hooks or shock reveals. They were just a lovely element of character's that we enjoyably got to learn more about.
I'll happily be recommending 'Happily Ever After' as a refreshing way in which I hope the romance genre will begin to adopt more and more. I'll also be busy enjoying Jane Lovering's other books after having enjoyed this one so much.
February 3, 2025
I began reading this book thinking that this would be a gothic romance. Instead it is a mix of comedy, mystery with gothic overtones, what seems to be a touch of the supernatural, a little romance, and much desperation on the heroine's part. I enjoyed it immensely.
Andi Glover arrives at Templewood Hall to take a job cataloging books. She was also hopeful of finding affordable lodgings nearby. Andy was living on hope at this point as she was desperate to live independent from her parents, who travelled much of the year in a van. She was almost out of money and out of gas. Due to the constant travelling, she also didn't have much in the way of academic credentials.
Nothing about the position was as she expected - the library, the house or the people. The building was dilapidated. The library was huge and dusty, with books - also dusty - stacked everywhere. It was dominated by a huge portrait of the love of Lady Dawe's life (not her husband).
To her surprise, the advertisement she had responded to wasn't sent by the lady of the house at all. Lady Dawe was not impressed by Andi, but Andi managed to get herself hired and Lady Dawe reluctantly agreed to allow her to live in the house. Lady Dawe particularly wanted her to find a set of journals written by the love of her life, the man in the portrait. The characters in this book are wonderful. My favorites were Andi, Hugo (Lady Dawe's son) and the cat named The Master.
I received an e-arc from the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.
Andi Glover arrives at Templewood Hall to take a job cataloging books. She was also hopeful of finding affordable lodgings nearby. Andy was living on hope at this point as she was desperate to live independent from her parents, who travelled much of the year in a van. She was almost out of money and out of gas. Due to the constant travelling, she also didn't have much in the way of academic credentials.
Nothing about the position was as she expected - the library, the house or the people. The building was dilapidated. The library was huge and dusty, with books - also dusty - stacked everywhere. It was dominated by a huge portrait of the love of Lady Dawe's life (not her husband).
To her surprise, the advertisement she had responded to wasn't sent by the lady of the house at all. Lady Dawe was not impressed by Andi, but Andi managed to get herself hired and Lady Dawe reluctantly agreed to allow her to live in the house. Lady Dawe particularly wanted her to find a set of journals written by the love of her life, the man in the portrait. The characters in this book are wonderful. My favorites were Andi, Hugo (Lady Dawe's son) and the cat named The Master.
I received an e-arc from the publisher Boldwood Books via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.
February 19, 2025
Happily Ever After by Jane Lovering
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Andi Glover loves nothing more than a good book.
Any book in fact because when you’re raised by unconventional parents who think school’s for squares, alongside a deeply conventional sister who escapes home as soon as she can, fiction is eminently preferable to reality.
The only problem is that fiction isn’t the best way to learn about the real world. When Andi starts her new live-in job at Templewood Hall for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her enigmatic son Hugo, it’s tempting to think she’s fallen into the pages of one of her favourite gothic novels.
But the plot twists at Templewood Hall are stranger than fiction and it’s not long before Andi questions if she’s living in a romance novel or a whodunnit. Bumps in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and secrets that have been kept for generations - the mysteries mount up. Then there's the inscrutable gardener who seems to appear when needed - is Andi right to hope for a happily-ever-after end to her story?
My Opinion
Andi gets a great job for a booklover. I really enjoying reading books by Jane Lovering so I am always on the lookout for upcoming releases – this one was another great addition to Jane’s catalogue. At less than 300 pages, this was a relatively quick read but there is an awful lot going on. A great read.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Andi Glover loves nothing more than a good book.
Any book in fact because when you’re raised by unconventional parents who think school’s for squares, alongside a deeply conventional sister who escapes home as soon as she can, fiction is eminently preferable to reality.
The only problem is that fiction isn’t the best way to learn about the real world. When Andi starts her new live-in job at Templewood Hall for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her enigmatic son Hugo, it’s tempting to think she’s fallen into the pages of one of her favourite gothic novels.
But the plot twists at Templewood Hall are stranger than fiction and it’s not long before Andi questions if she’s living in a romance novel or a whodunnit. Bumps in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and secrets that have been kept for generations - the mysteries mount up. Then there's the inscrutable gardener who seems to appear when needed - is Andi right to hope for a happily-ever-after end to her story?
My Opinion
Andi gets a great job for a booklover. I really enjoying reading books by Jane Lovering so I am always on the lookout for upcoming releases – this one was another great addition to Jane’s catalogue. At less than 300 pages, this was a relatively quick read but there is an awful lot going on. A great read.
Rating 4/5
March 10, 2025
Award-winning author Jane Lovering has written a modern-day version of Austen’s Northanger Abbey with her latest charmer, Happily Ever After.
Andi Glover loves nothing more than escaping between the pages of a good book – and with good reason. Brought up by unconventional parents who didn’t believe in sending their kids to school and a sister who escaped home as soon as she could, books for Andi have been a refuge, a sanctuary and a best friend when she needed one most. Not having had much experience in the real world, Andi thinks that she’s living in one of her favourite Gothic novels when she starts working for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her son Hugo at Templewood Hall.
Life in the big house is stranger than fiction. With things going bump in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and long-buried secrets, Andi begins to wonder just what she has let herself into by coming to Templewood Hall. However, things quickly begin to look up when she meets an inscrutable gardener who always appears just when Andi needs him most!
Jane Lovering’s writing shines in Happily Ever After. Heartfelt, whimsical and delightful, Happily Ever After is an enchanting contemporary romance that will make readers laugh and cry. An absolute joy to curl up with, fall in love with the wonderfully eccentric and nuanced characters that make up Jane Lovering’s latest enjoyable romance, Happily Ever After.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Andi Glover loves nothing more than escaping between the pages of a good book – and with good reason. Brought up by unconventional parents who didn’t believe in sending their kids to school and a sister who escaped home as soon as she could, books for Andi have been a refuge, a sanctuary and a best friend when she needed one most. Not having had much experience in the real world, Andi thinks that she’s living in one of her favourite Gothic novels when she starts working for the eccentric Lady Dawe and her son Hugo at Templewood Hall.
Life in the big house is stranger than fiction. With things going bump in the night, a missing heir, ghostly apparitions and long-buried secrets, Andi begins to wonder just what she has let herself into by coming to Templewood Hall. However, things quickly begin to look up when she meets an inscrutable gardener who always appears just when Andi needs him most!
Jane Lovering’s writing shines in Happily Ever After. Heartfelt, whimsical and delightful, Happily Ever After is an enchanting contemporary romance that will make readers laugh and cry. An absolute joy to curl up with, fall in love with the wonderfully eccentric and nuanced characters that make up Jane Lovering’s latest enjoyable romance, Happily Ever After.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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