Cursed Ever After

by Andy C. Naranjo

Cursed Ever After is a dazzling romantic fantasy debut brimming with snark, humor, and banter-filled romance perfect for fans of The Princess Bride and Once Upon a Broken Heart.

Love is not for cursed girls. Risa is better off without it.

Risa Porto is a Bad Thing born on a Bad Day and cursed with Bad Luck. After years of taking the blame for every calamity, mishap, and minor inconvenience that befalls the townspeople of Barrow, she longs for escape. And on her seventeenth birthday, her wish is granted.

Sort of.

Risa owes a (very annoying) witch a favor, and it comes in the form of a quest: escort Prince Javi―the youngest, handsomest, and least significant prince―through the dark (and deadly) Bosque to his wedding. This measly errand quickly spirals into a struggle against greedy assassins, a murderous cult, a vicious tyrant―and Risa’s own curse.

Most unfortunate of all...

She is not immune to Javi’s charms and has a highly irritating urge to kiss the prince. Though, surviving the darkest corners of the Bosque is only the beginning. If Risa is to hold up her end of a witch’s bargain, she’ll need a lot more than luck on her side to untangle the web of lies threatening the kingdom. Is Risa willing to pay the price of happily ever after? What if the only person she’s meant to save is herself?

Don't miss this action-packed, Latinx subverted fairytale!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Audiobook, Fantasy Romance

368 pages, Hardcover

First published June 30, 2026

About the author

Andy C. Naranjo is a YA Fantasy writer creating stories with Latinx protagonists. Born and raised in Washington Heights, New York City, she now lives in Austin, Texas with some guy she met at work and their two dogs. She speaks several languages, all of them badly. When she’s not writing, she can be found re-watching her favorite tv shows.

Photo by Riley Glenn Photography.

Reviews

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!!

This was such an immersive, engaging and interesting young adult fantasy about bad luck, friendships, power, love and family. Cursed Ever After follows Risa who lives in a superstitious town who believes since Risa was born on a Bad Day (a sunny day, it usually rains in her town) she is a Bad Thing and has Bad luck. Risa must escort Prince Javi to his wedding since she owes a witch a favor. Along their journey they face enemies and make friends as well as discover more about each other.

Thoughts
I was immersed in this intriguing fantasy from the first page. The plot kept me engaged the entire book and the pacing was nearly perfect. I enjoyed that this book had a unique take on fantasy, Risa had Bad Luck and didn't have to go through a trial or training. I'm impressed that this was the author's first book; there were many great elements to this book including relatable and well rounded characters, unique magic, descriptive writing and an immersive world. I loved how inclusive the book was, the main characters were Latinx and all sexual identities were welcome. The world building was interesting and I enjoyed learning about the differences between the countries, but the history of the world was missing. I enjoyed that the magic was about curses (love curses, bad luck curses, etc.) and healing. The writing was descriptive and easy to follow. I could picture each moment in my mind because of the descriptive writing. I was able to connect to the characters and felt for what they went through. The ending was surprising and exciting! I'm glad most of the challenges were resolved, but there was one aspect of the book that wasn't quite resolved.

Characters
Risa was a well rounded character, at the beginning she stubborn and didn't listen but throughout the book she grew. She showed determination, bravery, resiliency, and kindness for her friends. Risa's character development was excellent, she discovered that she was worth being loved and cared for. I really liked Javi, he was witty, charming, flirty, kind and brave. Javi's character development was wonderful, in the beginning he was arrogant but then he showed he has a heart of gold. There were many moments when I laughed at the witty comments Javi made. The side characters were great too especially Amina, and Brunnie. I enjoyed how the side characters interacted with Risa and Javi.

Romance
The chemistry and tension between the main characters was amazing! I loved that the romance was slow burn and their relationship took a while to develop. It was also relatable and realistic it took time for them to discover their feelings. I enjoyed that they were different but were great together and brought out the best in each other. The banter between Javi and Risa was also fantastic and I was laughing so much! The romantic scenes were wonderful and made me smile.

I recommend this book to teens, adults and fantasy readers who love awesome characters, excellent writing and an exciting plot!

[Andy C. Naranjo · Rating 5 out of 5]

i've read better

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo
Book Blurb: Love is not for cursed girls. Risa is better off without it.

Rating: *****
Feels: Adventures, Amused, Invested, Satisfied
Style: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Young Adult Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance
First published June 30, 2026 : 368 pages

Themes & Setting: I love a good quest and adventure and this took totally delivered that. Easy to fall into the world and enjoy the story with great set up right from the start. I loved that the read focused on the characters of this story and their development !!
FMC: Risa has that black cat energy (without liking to have cats around 😂😂) that is just really fun to watch as she this everything is going to go wrong and it’s always going to get blamed on her.
MMC: Javi knows the part he is supposed to play … handsome prince .. but is that all he is ? I really appreciated how he leaned it to his part of gorgeous playboy and also just really took it next level with the sunshine sarcasm.
Conclusion: Loved the sweet , humorous vibes of this read with some top tier banter !!! Take two people who think they are already summed up to everyone around them and slowly really get to know them on this adventure as they get to know each other. I love a good adventure and this one was really fun and amusing with the characters *coughs cults* found along the way. Will these two make it through to the princes wedding ?? At that place that no one can seem to remember the name for … I mean really !! I was highly entertained and loved this read !!!

I almost forgot. We are starting a petition for better working conditions and benefits for witches … trust me… it’s needed. Please sign below :)


This book has:
A Quest !!
Arranged Marriage
Curses and Magic
Witchy Vibes
Reluctant Allies to Lovers
Hidden Identities
Cults
Lots of humor and good times !!

[Annemarie]

Do you love himbos, finding your worth, epic quests, and delectable banter? Of course you do, now read this

[Eryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!!! This book was so much fun!!! The whole thing got moving really fast and I loved the blend of fantasy, romance, adventure, and humor that was all told in a way that read like a fairy tale.

I absolutely loved Brunie throughout the whole book! Also, I appreciated how quickly the plot got moving and seemed to keep going for the entire duration of Risa and Javi’s journey.

My only complaint was that the story felt a little flat at times, more so during the beginning, I think…

Overall, it was such a fun read!!! I definitely recommend.

Also, HUGE thanks to Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the arc!!! 🫶🫶

[OneMadReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️
Language: !@ (a handful of "sh-t," one use of "@ss", and a few "damns")
Drug/Alcohol Content: 🍺
LGBTQ: a dwarf mentions his husband, a witch had a female lover, a girl tells a guy she prefers women, the MMC flirts with both men and women

This was a nice fantasy read; it had good vibes. The ending was hopeful in the way fairytale endings normally are. Howevver, some points of the plot got a bit confusing/muddled for me, and I could have done without some of the content.

[Hannah Rowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! So fun! Cursed Ever After is a YA fantasy perfect for fans of Margaret Owen, The Princess Bride and the movie adaptation of Ella Enchanted! The story is bursting with laughs and heartfelt moments. I really loved this book. I felt a reading slump approaching and this pulled me right out. From the very first few pages I knew this was going to be a good time. Our main character is very relatable and while she may find herself unloveable, she is very easy to love. The side characters are just as wonderful too. I loved seeing those friendships and relationships progress over their journey. The banter between all the characters was some of the best I ever read. The prince is an absolute himbo with a heart of gold. Risa and Javi reminded me a great deal of Ella and Char from Ella Enchanted! I love how the author played with fairytale tropes. The book is very self aware making it all the more humorous. There’s a loveable cat in the story which is always a bonus. I loved how ridiculous and over the top the story got from the town trapped in a musical to the stereotypical western outlaw town. I found myself wishing for a map! There might be one in the official publication, seeing as I read the ARC of it. There are plenty of twists and turns near the end that keep you engaged! I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this and look forward to what is next from the author!

*Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

[anovelaccount (Kayla) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite the cute little read! Full review to come.

[Lily🥀 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What could happen when a cursed girl is tasked to assist a prince? Enjoyed every second of this book.

[Joseandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC!

Cursed Ever After was such a fun surprise. If you enjoy fairytale-inspired fantasy with witty banter, lovable characters, and a slow-burn romance, this one is definitely worth picking up.

The story follows Risa, a girl who’s been cursed with terrible luck her entire life and blamed for every mishap in her village. When she’s forced to escort Prince Javi through a dangerous forest to his wedding, what starts as a simple quest quickly turns into an adventure filled with assassins, magic, witches, danger, and plenty of unexpected feelings.

I had a great time with this one. The humor landed for me, the banter between Risa and Javi was genuinely entertaining, and I loved how the story balanced lighthearted moments with higher stakes. The world was creative without feeling overwhelming, and I found myself rooting for the characters from the start.

The audiobook narrators also did a fantastic job bringing the story and its humor to life. They made the dialogue especially enjoyable and kept me engaged throughout.

If you’re a fan of cursed heroines, fairytale retellings, quest adventures, found family, and slow-burn romance, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a listen.

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story, good for the lower end of YA readers.

My main complaints are that 1. it seemed to keep repeating and relearning the lesson (that bad things happen to everyone, it doesn't mean you're cursed) and 2. there were a series of scenes in the middle that felt like a story-of-the-week TV show or a compilation checking the boxes of all the different tropes and dynamics the author enjoys. It got to be a little meandering and didn't quite feel cohesive with the book as a whole, but otherwise inoffensive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if the thing you've believed about yourself your entire life...was the very thing keeping you from your happily ever after? That question sat with me long after I closed Cursed Ever After.

Risa has spent her entire life believing she's the problem. Every accident. Every mishap. Every whispered rumor. Every bad thing that happened in her village somehow became her fault. After hearing something often enough, you stop questioning it...you start believing it.

That hit harder than I expected.nBecause how many of us have carried around labels someone else gave us?
The "too much" friend.
The difficult daughter.
The person who always gets overlooked.
The one who's convinced happiness belongs to everyone else.
Risa's journey isn't just about breaking a curse. It's about breaking the lies she's spent years telling herself.
And that's what made this book so special.

Now let's talk about Prince Javi...
Because this man walked onto the page with all the confidence of someone who absolutely knows he's attractive, yet underneath the flirting, jokes, and ridiculous charm is someone who desperately wants to be seen as more than "the least important prince." Watching these two slowly peel back each other's defenses was one of my favorite parts of the book.

I laughed out loud more times than I expected because every conversation felt effortless. They challenge each other, annoy each other, surprise each other, and along the way those sarcastic little exchanges quietly become trust.

That's my favorite kind of romance. The kind where friendship builds the foundation before love ever gets the chance. The adventure itself never slows down. But underneath all the humor, adventure, and romance is a reminder I think a lot of readers need:
You are not the worst thing that's ever happened to you.
You are not the labels other people placed on you.
And maybe...just maybe...the person who needs saving isn't the kingdom.
It's yourself.

If you love fairy tales with heart, unforgettable banter, found family, reluctant allies, witches, curses, and romances built on genuine connection instead of instant attraction...
Babes... You're going to want this one on your shelf.

[Ember · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a charming and fun fairytale romp! YA fantasy is something I don’t read as much of as I once did, but I do still enjoy. Cursed Ever After is full of enough fairytale tropes to satisfy the most whimsical heart, but with just enough fun twists to keep things interesting. I enjoyed the magic system quite a bit, and, for it not being the focus, the world building was very decent and formed enough to feel reasonably substantial for the adventure our Prince and his witch find themselves on.

Risa was a winning, realistic character that my inner teen deeply related with. Prince Javi really grew on me a lot, and I ended up loving him. Amina was definitely my favorite character, closely followed by Brunhilda.
Amina’s story is one I can’t really discuss in detail without spoilers, but suffice it to say her character arc is EPIC.
This does in many ways feel like a Princess Bride-esque story, if it was YA.

The lore isn’t super dense, but the character relationships and chemistry, the general adventure chaos, and the character arcs more than make up for it in my opinion.
My only negative, and the reason this isn’t a 4 or 4.25 star read, is due to a slight over-commitment to Risa & Javi’s banter/loathing bit. After the halfway point it felt like it could’ve stood to ease up a bit, but it didn’t, so that’s my only real criticism. There is a miscommunication/JUST TALK TO EACH OTHER PLEASE! trope, but I felt like Naranjo did a good job making the reasoning believable. I was yelling at them a little bit mid-way through, however I think it was pretty well done, which is saying something coming from me, because I usually hate that trope.

I listened to an ALC, and once again my favorite Latine narrator, Victoria Villarreal, delivered a compelling performance that kept me locked in and was a delight to listen to.

This light, Latine fairytale remix is chock full of heart, banter, magic, a slow burn romance, and a quest! As a Latine reader myself, I wish I’d had fairytales like this to read when I was growing up. This book made a touching impression on my inner child🥹
Overall, an absolutely lovely debut, and I’m excited to read Naranjo’s future works📚✨

Thank you so much to Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, RB Media, NetGalley, and Andy C. Naranjo for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook early in exchange for my honest review!

Cursed Ever After is out in stores everywhere now, released on June 30th! 📚✨

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

In which a cursed girl has to get a playboy prince to his marriage across the kingdom, only to discover she may not be so cursed after all.

Cursed Ever After is one of those mixed up, silly little fairytale retellings- that is, until it gets deep and gets into how you need to forgive yourself in order to break the chains holding you back. We follow Risa, a walking bad luck charm. Born on the unluckiest day of the year, she’s spent her life knowing that she is cursed to bring bad everywhere she goes. When the witch who helped with her birth finally comes to whisk her away, Brunhilda has one task for her: she must escort Prince Javier to the kingdom of Madros for his wedding.

While babysitting a playboy prince isn’t high on her priority list, Risa takes the opportunity to find a way to break her own course during the journey. But the closer they get to Madros, and the more they endure together, Risa can’t help but discover that she may need others after all- and that there’s something much darker lurking over Madros.

This was such a fun story and it was a breath of fresh air! I really enjoyed how lighthearted the first half of the book was, leading into the deeper part of the story towards the end. Thank you to Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux and Netgalley for the e-arc! Cursed Ever After releases on June 30!

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this one. The fairytale vibes, snarky banter, and chaotic adventure made it an easy book to fly through, and I couldn’t help rooting for the unlucky heroine every step of the way.

Between curses, witches, reluctant travel companions, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, this was a charming romantasy that never failed to entertain. If you love quirky adventures and banter-filled romance, definitely add this one to your TBR.

[Sierraaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Andy C. Naranjo, and Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group for the chance to read and review this book early!

~~~
This book was so funny and i really enjoyed it! i feel like there aren’t a lot of books, especially in the fantasy space, that are very comdey forward the entire book, so Cursed Ever After definitely felt unique in that aspect

it kind of reminded me of a YA version of Assistant to the Villain mixed with a perfect fairytale-esque setting that drew me in from the start. and with all the witches, curses, and various shenanigans afoot, i was entertained throughout the whole novel.

i also loved the main characters! poor Risa has been cursed as a Bad Thing her entire life, shunned by everyone in the town she grew up in, and it seems like her luck just gets worse and worse as she “protects” Prince Javier across the kingdom to his own wedding. Risa is definitely a downer, but i enjoyed watching her come out of her shell and grow as the story went on

and Prince Javi!😆 a shameless flirt who uses being loved by everyone as a cover up for feeling perpetually alone🥺 not only was he the funniest character, but i personally think he was the softest too, and i enjoyed the way he helped to tear down some of Risa’s emotional walls without being too pushy about it

the side characters were great too, what with a snarky old witch named Brunhilda of all things, a temperamental cat familiar, and a cursed princess bent on revenge! i feel like this book is great for the YA space, while still being relatable to adults too with some of the underlying themes and messages

overall this was a good read, and i’m thankful to have had the chance to read and review it early!

[Amy M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first foray into YA and this was excellent. I think I personally would've preferred if the characters were older, but again, just personal preference. I struggled a bit with a group of assassins trying to kill literal children.

Risa was born on a Bad Day in a very superstitious town, therefore making her a Bad Thing. She's spent her whole life being shunned from her community because of her bad luck until one day when a witch shows up to collect her. After being curse-bound to a golden retriever-himbo of a prince, Risa embarks on a quest across the land to act as a good luck charm for said prince. Hijinx and hilarity ensues with some lovely banter.

Everything about this book was cute and funny and an overall enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing, and Andy C. Naranjo for the free eARC.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cursed Ever After was a charmingly, adorable adventure. Risa and Prince Javi are paired together in a journey across the realm to delivery Javi to his betrothed from another country. Risa is cursed with bad luck and Javi is a notorious rake who doesn’t take life serious. Together, they clash their way through an Ella Enchanted-style adventure filled with bickering and a cast of delightfully eccentric characters.

This cozy story starts off a bit slow, but picks up around the halfway mark. The sarcasm and quick-witted banter makes for a fun time with lots of laughs. This is a great choice for a standalone adventure and an even better option for teen readers.

Thank you Andy C. Naranjo, NetGalley and Macmillian Children’s Publishing Group for this ARC.

[Ashton Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

guys… meet one of my fave books of the year !!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars!!!

my girls who love the goofy fairytale vibe of ella enchanted and the banter-filled young love of starstruck, you would eat this one up!!

this fantasy falls in that category with the princess bride and the tenth kingdom - entirely self-aware, playing with ridiculous tropes and silly characters in a way that makes you laugh out loud. Yet it still captures the emotional undercurrents as the characters struggle with their own pasts and what they have internalized as ‘curses’ in a world that thrives on superstition.

the banter is SO good too y’all!!!! the romantic development capitalizes on the already goofy world-building by making the characters emotionally blind and incredibly quippy with each other. Our MMC is so yearningggggg ughhhhh and our FMC is so conflictedddd and snarkyyyy ughhh I couldn’t get ENOUGH OF THEM

my ONLY complaint is that I wanted their secrets to EXPLODE in some sort of dramatic argument or in a ‘anne hathaway breaking her curse before stabbing her prince but he sees it in the mirror’ sort of way iykyk and I didn’t feel like I got that?? Which made the ending feel flat for me but I do think that’s literally just my expectations kicking my butt and I do already crave a reread and think I will retcon a physical copy for my trophy shelf

so anyway I highly highly recommend this one, but fair warning: you will want to prop your phone up and read instead of working because you can’t stop thinking about the book… I’m totally not speaking from experience 👀

(my Instagram post was a stop on the @topplingstackstours tour for this book! I also received an e-arc of this book from Macmillan. I am beyond thankful to have gotten to read this one!)

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was such a fun, irreverent story. I absolutely love when the magic and whimsy of a fairytale is blended with the wit and sarcasm of real people and their reactions.

Our main characters are all so well laid out, with little bits forming over time. I particularly enjoyed that our FMC never turns into a simpering lovestruck puppy, but continues to realize our MMC is a hopeless dummy, but HER *lovable* hopeless dummy.

Though a somewhat predictable plot (which, its a fairytale type story so that’s kind of expected) the heart of the relationships kept me invested and the stakes of the adventure drive everything along.

A couple of the chapter titles might’ve been a little spoiler-y, but I love the little snippet and think we should bring them back more often!

I’m always looking for more stories like this and this was a stunning debut! I’m excited to see what the author does next!

Thank you to NetGalley and Fierce Reads for the early copy!

[Phoenix2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Big Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the Publisher for the advanced copy! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

'Cursed Ever After' is a YA cozy fantasy with a dash of romance, written by Andy C. Naramjo.

The story is cute and it felt like reading a Disney movie, with many small adventures that the characters had and a lesson to be learned in the end.

The characters, moreover, were endearing, all of them, while the writing was cheeky, funny, and light.

The romance was probably the only thing that was not as great, but it was not the focus of the story.

Finally, the audiobook was enjoyable, with a great narrator and smooth production.

[☾arina⭐︎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun, with hilarious characters getting into shenanigans. Risa, as the black cat, and Prince Javi, as the golden retriever, made their dynamic so funny and entertaining. Their banter was top-notch. Risa always seems annoyed by Javi and his himbo personality, but there’s also something that pulls her to him, and it might not be the curse she has 👀.

The journey they take sends them into interesting situations and introduces them to some quirky characters. I also enjoyed seeing Risa’s inner journey toward acceptance and realizing it’s okay to keep people close and make new friends.

This is a great read if you’re looking for fairy-tale vibes with a fun, silly time.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ARC.

[Jamie Brandenburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one. I think there was plenty of character growth that the YA audience will enjoy and identify with throughout the story. My only issue was the flying ship aspect to the story. I would be happy for this to be crafted in a different way. The audiobook was a good experience that was engaging and developed the characters personalities.

[Heidi Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I would have sped right through it if I hadn’t had so much going on while reading it. This is the story of a girl born on a bad day so she is cursed as someone who is bad luck. She is taken by a witch and has to accompany a prince to a kingdom for his wedding. Things happen. Guards are killed. Adventure ensues. This will be a great book to add to my library!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3.5, I really enjoyed it.l as a fun fast read.

[Cait | GoodeyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was hard to stay focused on.

Full review to come!

[Aurelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

…communication. Just. Use your words.

[Christine Rable · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the plot and the characters and how Risa thought she was cursed forever. She had to go through many obstacles to figure it out.

[EKO_TheNeurospicyAfterDarkArchive Oakley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Cursed Ever After
Author: Andy C. Naranjo
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Romance
Subgenres: Romantic Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling, Quest Fantasy, Adventure Fantasy, Latinx Fantasy, Coming-of-Age, Magical Fantasy (Macmillan Publishers)

⭐ My Rating: 4 / 5
🌶️ Spice: 0.5 / 5
This is firmly a YA romantic fantasy, so romance and intimate scenes focuses on emotional development, yearning, flirtation, banter, and slow-building tension rather than physical intimacy.

If you're looking for butterflies instead of bedroom scenes, this delivers.

Publication Date: June 30th 2026

My Thoughts:
Cursed Ever After feels like someone tossed The Princess Bride, classic fairy tales, and modern fantasy wit & banter into a cauldron, somehow creating something that feels nostalgic while still being fresh and fun to read. It's whimsical without becoming childish and adventurous without losing sight of its characters.

I don’t usually read young adult reads anymore but this book summary sounded promising when I requested this ARC and let me tell you, it delivered wonderfully.

The chemistry between Risa and Javi is built almost entirely through conversation, shared danger, and growing trust. That is a breath of fresh air and quite lovely to read. Rather than relying on instant attraction, their relationship develops naturally through the journey and not through obsessive spice and intimate tension. Their banter becomes one of the novel's greatest strengths, I felt it was perfectly playful, wonderfully genuine, and often hilarious. Every sarcastic exchange slowly chips away at Risa's emotional walls.

Andy C. Naranjo's writing has an effortless storytelling quality. The pacing keeps the adventure moving while still giving emotional moments room to breathe. The humor lands consistently, and the fairy tale atmosphere never feels overly heavy despite the darker themes surrounding curses, death, and political danger.

The FMC: Risa Porto
Risa was easily my favorite part of the novel.

She isn't the stereotypical "chosen one." She's someone who has spent years internalizing blame, never feeling enough because everyone around her convinced her she was the problem. I enjoyed reading about her slowly questioning those horribly internalized beliefs and reclaiming her own identity, her power. It really made for an emotionally satisfying character arc.

She's sarcastic, stubborn, practical, and wonderfully self-deprecating, so understandably, she’s the best character in the story. Even when luck seems determined to ruin her life (yep, that’s my life lately), she keeps moving forward (stupidly also my life recently). I appreciated that her courage isn't portrayed as fearlessness, it's choosing to continue despite expecting everything to go wrong (exactly how I have felt).

Her emotional growth felt authentic and never rushed.

The MMC: Prince Javi
Javi could have easily become another generic charming prince, but he more depth than that. Admitedly he started out that way for me, I was annoyed and kind of put off by him in the beginning. I did change my mind, mostly towards the end as we learn more about him.

Yes, he's funny, handsome, and endlessly optimistic (quite a bit annoying and overconfident), but underneath the humor, the handsome and annoying bit is someone constantly underestimated because he's considered the least important prince. I enjoyed reading how he turns that to his advantage, made me like him a lot more. His kindness never feels overly performative, and he genuinely sees Risa. He accepts her for who she is instead of what everyone believes about her.
He balances Risa beautifully. Where she's expecting disaster, he offers hope without becoming naïve.

The Main Characters Together:
Their relationship is refreshingly wholesome, at least to this reader who probably reads way too spicy of novels that this felt refreshing and cute to me.

Instead of constant misunderstandings (although I felt there was plenty of this to keep the plot interesting, mostly toward the end…) or unnecessary drama, romance grows through shared experiences and mutual respect. They challenge each other's assumptions while slowly becoming safe places for one another.

The romantic tension comes almost entirely from emotional vulnerability rather than physical attraction, making every small moment feel meaningful.


What Worked for Me:
• Fantastic character chemistry is built through dialogue & not excessive spice.
• Consistently funny witty banter.
• Strong character growth.
• Creative twist on familiar fairy tale elements.
• A magical world that feels adventurous without becoming overwhelming.
• Excellent pacing that balances humor, danger, romance, and heart.
• Risa's journey toward believing in herself is incredibly satisfying.

What Didn't Work for Me:
While the overall pacing is strong, there were a few sections in the middle of the journey that felt slightly repetitive as the group encountered obstacle after obstacle. It did not deter from the reading nor does it stop me from recommending this reading.

Some of the side characters and political conflicts also could have been explored in greater depth. The world is interesting enough that I occasionally wanted more history and lore than the story had time to provide.

My Final Thoughts:
Cursed Ever After is a delightful debut that combines fairy tale charm, witty humor, heartfelt romance, and memorable characters into a thoroughly enjoyable adventure. While the romance stays firmly in YA territory, the emotional payoff is worth the slow burn.

Honestly, if you loved stories (or did when you were growing up...I'm looking at you fellow millenials) like The Princess Bride, Ella Enchanted, or Once Upon a Broken Heart, this is one you'll likely want to add to your TBR…

ARC Disclaimer
I received an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of Cursed Ever After by Andy C. Naranjo. I am voluntarily posting an honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read a free ARC on NetGalley.
While I liked the premise of the book and certain parts, it read very young for a YA book. It seemed almost like a middle grade book so it didn’t really hold my interest.
Risa has been led to believe that she is the Bad Thing, that she brings misfortune to those around her. The witch Brunhilda gives her a job, escort Prince Javi to his wedding, and make sure he gets married. This is her opportunity for adventure as Javi is set to marry the daughter of General Sur, who led the overthrow of the royal family of the mysterious country of Madros. Risa and Javi are trying to survive several villains and are trying not to fall in love since Javi is betrothed. They do have many adventures and meet interesting characters.