What do you think?
Rate this book
Not Another Happily Ever After
In the realm of Riches and Ruin, a curse cast by the fallen Fairy Godmother threatens to rot away everything both kingdoms hold dear--including the one heart capable of ending it.
With hope running out, there is only one choice left: place the still-beating heart of the half-dead princess into the hands of a the not-so-charming prince and force a union that might mend what the curse has broken.
That is, if the masked knight sworn to deliver her heart doesn't steal it for himself first.
With hope running out, there is only one choice left: place the still-beating heart of the half-dead princess into the hands of a the not-so-charming prince and force a union that might mend what the curse has broken.
That is, if the masked knight sworn to deliver her heart doesn't steal it for himself first.
266 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
August 11, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. It has a lot of features I love in my fantasy books- the kingdom, knights, princes and so much drama!
I loved the fairytale references but feel they could have been used in separate books, they were such great ideas!
I loved the fairytale references but feel they could have been used in separate books, they were such great ideas!
August 11, 2026
I’ve debated writing this review several times. I really do try to be as positive as possible, and I fully admit when books are good but just not for me personally. This is one that I feel is a departure from that classification, and I’ll explain why. I received this as an ARC through a PR company, and after several delays we finally were able to access it about a week before it was due to be published. I was excited to read it, I loved the title and the cover art. I’m a sucker for Corpse Bride anything, really. The prologue started off strong, and then from there it took a hard left. Beware, there are spoilers from this point forward.
This is billed as a retelling or reimagining of the Corpse Bride, and while the main character, Sunday, is… not quite dead, she’s certainly on her way to being so. Cursed due a conflict before her time, she’s destined to die. She’s unable to break the curse because the only way to do that is also unfortunately dead. Like very dead. What happens from there is… chaotic.
Her parents hate her and try to kill her often, she has few allies in her castle save for Gallahad, who meets a dire end. Why? I am not entirely sure. Her father, who hates her, then brokers a deal to marry her off to Prince Charming, who is a complete creep. You with me? From there, she’s now leaving her castle for the first time to get to… honestly, I’m not sure. She’s actively dying mind you, like physically and progressively turning blue. Now she has to get to his castle, I think? And she’s traveling with a large contingent of soldiers, because the road is dangerous. Still with me? The travel time is not short, she’s actively dying each day, and there’s dangerous people and things on the road. Also brothers who are soldiers (who later come to find out have the last name of Grimm), a mysterious masked soldier who is the head soldier who seems cute, but also wears a mask so who knows. And his second may or may not be a werewolf. They encounter a mean unicorn, a siren who is big mad her lake was destroyed, there’s a dragon, and bears, and Goldilocks…
Y’all, I’m tired and I’m still only skimming the surface. This book is 229 pages long. None of this makes sense in the overall narrative. Nothing matches up. There’s so many loose ends, and ultimately the way that this ends YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED.
Everything felt surface level. Looking from the outside, it SHOULD work. But reading deeper into it, the connections and carrythrough are not there. It feels frenetic and disjointed and there’s not enough pages to get invested. This didn’t feel like a dark fairytale retelling. It was elements of a few, smushed together and then a cliffhanger ending. Coupled with the multiple delays in ARC delivery due to editing, this doesn’t feel like a finished product, or even a halfway finished product. Given how close the release date is from when the ARCs went out, I don’t believe there’s enough time to edit this book into what it could be.
This is billed as a retelling or reimagining of the Corpse Bride, and while the main character, Sunday, is… not quite dead, she’s certainly on her way to being so. Cursed due a conflict before her time, she’s destined to die. She’s unable to break the curse because the only way to do that is also unfortunately dead. Like very dead. What happens from there is… chaotic.
Her parents hate her and try to kill her often, she has few allies in her castle save for Gallahad, who meets a dire end. Why? I am not entirely sure. Her father, who hates her, then brokers a deal to marry her off to Prince Charming, who is a complete creep. You with me? From there, she’s now leaving her castle for the first time to get to… honestly, I’m not sure. She’s actively dying mind you, like physically and progressively turning blue. Now she has to get to his castle, I think? And she’s traveling with a large contingent of soldiers, because the road is dangerous. Still with me? The travel time is not short, she’s actively dying each day, and there’s dangerous people and things on the road. Also brothers who are soldiers (who later come to find out have the last name of Grimm), a mysterious masked soldier who is the head soldier who seems cute, but also wears a mask so who knows. And his second may or may not be a werewolf. They encounter a mean unicorn, a siren who is big mad her lake was destroyed, there’s a dragon, and bears, and Goldilocks…
Y’all, I’m tired and I’m still only skimming the surface. This book is 229 pages long. None of this makes sense in the overall narrative. Nothing matches up. There’s so many loose ends, and ultimately the way that this ends YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HAPPENED.
Everything felt surface level. Looking from the outside, it SHOULD work. But reading deeper into it, the connections and carrythrough are not there. It feels frenetic and disjointed and there’s not enough pages to get invested. This didn’t feel like a dark fairytale retelling. It was elements of a few, smushed together and then a cliffhanger ending. Coupled with the multiple delays in ARC delivery due to editing, this doesn’t feel like a finished product, or even a halfway finished product. Given how close the release date is from when the ARCs went out, I don’t believe there’s enough time to edit this book into what it could be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2026
I’m not going to lie… I spent a good chunk of this book feeling like I had somehow missed the first 100 pages.
There was so much going on from the beginning with the characters, relationships, history, and world-building, that I often felt like I was supposed to already understand the bigger picture. Instead, I found myself trying to piece things together as I went, and that made it difficult to fully connect with the characters or immerse myself in the story.
I did enjoy the quirky, twisted fairy-tale atmosphere, and there were definitely some fun and unexpected moments. I just wish I’d had a little more context along the way because I think I would have connected with the story a lot more.
Overall, it was an interesting and unusual read, but unfortunately I spent too much time thinking, “Wait… did I miss something?”
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this story.
There was so much going on from the beginning with the characters, relationships, history, and world-building, that I often felt like I was supposed to already understand the bigger picture. Instead, I found myself trying to piece things together as I went, and that made it difficult to fully connect with the characters or immerse myself in the story.
I did enjoy the quirky, twisted fairy-tale atmosphere, and there were definitely some fun and unexpected moments. I just wish I’d had a little more context along the way because I think I would have connected with the story a lot more.
Overall, it was an interesting and unusual read, but unfortunately I spent too much time thinking, “Wait… did I miss something?”
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this story.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
Not Another Happily Ever After by A.R. Schilling • ⭐⭐
Read: 8/7 2026
🌸 Review 🌸
Thank you so much A.R. Schilling and IRIS Influencer Society for this ARC!!
The romance was cute, but the world building would get confusing at times. I’d have to reread sentences because many of the scenes would jump around without really explaining what was happening. Overall, this was an okay read.
Releases August 11, 2026
Read: 8/7 2026
🌸 Review 🌸
Thank you so much A.R. Schilling and IRIS Influencer Society for this ARC!!
The romance was cute, but the world building would get confusing at times. I’d have to reread sentences because many of the scenes would jump around without really explaining what was happening. Overall, this was an okay read.
Releases August 11, 2026
August 8, 2026
This story was all over the place. I was having a hard time keeping up and picturing what was going on. This is a corpse bride retelling with references of Snow White, little red riding hood, Goldie locks, the brothers Grimm, and Labyrinth. Story jumps from one thing to the next with no explanation on how we got there. Half way into the book and the MMC is hardly in the story at all, he is more of a side character than the MMC. FMC has more interactions with all the other characters than she does with the MMC.
It just ends. Does Sunday break the curse? No clue. Does she die? No clue.
It just ends. Does Sunday break the curse? No clue. Does she die? No clue.
August 10, 2026
I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. This was a cute read that reference different fairytale retellings. This is a YA fantasy with a found family traveling. Loved the chapter headings with quotes!! Can’t wait to see what is next!!
“In the realm of Riches and Ruin, a curse cast by the fallen Fairy Godmother threatens to rot away everything both kingdoms hold dear--including the one heart capable of ending it.
With hope running out, there is only one choice left: place the still-beating heart of the half-dead princess into the hands of a the not-so-charming prince and force a union that might mend what the curse has broken.
That is, if the masked knight sworn to deliver her heart doesn't steal it for himself first.”
“In the realm of Riches and Ruin, a curse cast by the fallen Fairy Godmother threatens to rot away everything both kingdoms hold dear--including the one heart capable of ending it.
With hope running out, there is only one choice left: place the still-beating heart of the half-dead princess into the hands of a the not-so-charming prince and force a union that might mend what the curse has broken.
That is, if the masked knight sworn to deliver her heart doesn't steal it for himself first.”
August 10, 2026
I would like to thank both A.R. Schilling and Iris Influencer Society for the ARC opportunity🩷
I really wanted to love this book, but I had an extremely hard time following the story at first due to the quick cut-and-jump nature of some of the scene transitions. I had to reread some of the pages several times to understand what was going on.
I definitely see what the author was doing with references to well known fairytales and I think it had a lot of potential, especially in the second half, but then the book ended and we were left with more questions than answers.
To summarize my thoughts, I felt like the story was rushed and very essential pieces were left out, leaving me as the reader confused. I think if this was an initial draft of the book it would be great to build upon, but as a final copy it is lacking the filling we needed.
I really wanted to love this book, but I had an extremely hard time following the story at first due to the quick cut-and-jump nature of some of the scene transitions. I had to reread some of the pages several times to understand what was going on.
I definitely see what the author was doing with references to well known fairytales and I think it had a lot of potential, especially in the second half, but then the book ended and we were left with more questions than answers.
To summarize my thoughts, I felt like the story was rushed and very essential pieces were left out, leaving me as the reader confused. I think if this was an initial draft of the book it would be great to build upon, but as a final copy it is lacking the filling we needed.
August 11, 2026
This book left me in a daze. It felt like a mash up of multiple fairytale stories - Princess in the Pea, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and goodness know what else.
What else didn't make sense is that Sunday was cursed and very sick, yet she is travelling across a kingdom, becoming blue, and is dying, yet she can make the journey???
I just don't know what else to say. I was severely underwhelmed by this book and I won't be continuing with book 2.
What else didn't make sense is that Sunday was cursed and very sick, yet she is travelling across a kingdom, becoming blue, and is dying, yet she can make the journey???
I just don't know what else to say. I was severely underwhelmed by this book and I won't be continuing with book 2.
August 13, 2026
I really wanted to love Not Another Happily Ever After. The cover is so beautiful, and I thought the description sounded fun. Who wouldn’t love to revisit old fairytales they grew up on but with dark twists? Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me, and I felt it was lacking in a lot of areas.
Not Another Happily Ever revolves around a curse, and the lack of instructions on how to break it is intentional, but still, I was never clear on what the curse entailed. Same with the worldbuilding, so I was confused for a good chunk of the book.
As Sunday sets out to end the curse for good, she meets plenty of fairytale characters we know and love. There are dragons, unicorns, sirens, poisoned apples, an Evil Queen, etc., but they felt used for sensationalism rather than really adding to the story.
Overall, I was a bit let down. I came for a love story and never felt like I got it.
Not Another Happily Ever revolves around a curse, and the lack of instructions on how to break it is intentional, but still, I was never clear on what the curse entailed. Same with the worldbuilding, so I was confused for a good chunk of the book.
As Sunday sets out to end the curse for good, she meets plenty of fairytale characters we know and love. There are dragons, unicorns, sirens, poisoned apples, an Evil Queen, etc., but they felt used for sensationalism rather than really adding to the story.
Overall, I was a bit let down. I came for a love story and never felt like I got it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Gosh, I just can't stop thinking about Not Another Happily Ever After! This book brought all of the nostalgia of the fairytales I loved growing up, but with a dark and twistiness that kept adult me wanting more and more!
These days I'm not much of a YA reader, but when I read the blurb, I was immediately drawn in. I loved the idea of a cursed kingdom, a half dead princess, and a painfully shy knight. What I wasn't as prepared for was how beautifully written this story would be. It was so whimsical and fantastical- it was such a good read for my soul. But waiting for the next book.. Oof that'll be tough after that ending!
I really enjoyed Sunday as a FMC. She's so pure and full of love, when everything around her is gloomy and full of rot. She doesn't wallow in self-pity, she accepts her fate and moves forward for the benefit of others. She can still see the light in the darkness, and find humor wherever she goes.
And Frog... What a gentle and caring MMC. His undying love for Sunday is everything. The yearning was so great. He made me melt just thinking about how deeply he feels for Sunday.
The side characters were all great. I loved the levity that the twins brought. Rhidland and his fatherly ways. Little Buttons!
I cannot wait to see how this fairytale will end after the next book!
"Maybe that's because being happy truly is the greatest thing a person can be."
Thank you so much to the amazing and brilliant author, A.R. Schilling for the eARC!
These days I'm not much of a YA reader, but when I read the blurb, I was immediately drawn in. I loved the idea of a cursed kingdom, a half dead princess, and a painfully shy knight. What I wasn't as prepared for was how beautifully written this story would be. It was so whimsical and fantastical- it was such a good read for my soul. But waiting for the next book.. Oof that'll be tough after that ending!
I really enjoyed Sunday as a FMC. She's so pure and full of love, when everything around her is gloomy and full of rot. She doesn't wallow in self-pity, she accepts her fate and moves forward for the benefit of others. She can still see the light in the darkness, and find humor wherever she goes.
And Frog... What a gentle and caring MMC. His undying love for Sunday is everything. The yearning was so great. He made me melt just thinking about how deeply he feels for Sunday.
The side characters were all great. I loved the levity that the twins brought. Rhidland and his fatherly ways. Little Buttons!
I cannot wait to see how this fairytale will end after the next book!
"Maybe that's because being happy truly is the greatest thing a person can be."
Thank you so much to the amazing and brilliant author, A.R. Schilling for the eARC!
August 9, 2026
Thank you to the author and Iris Influencer Society for the ARC.
I really, really wanted to love this book. I was so excited to read it. It just didn’t quite work for me.
I thought the premise was great and held so much promise. I loved the dark fairytale feel and I think the author did a great job capturing the atmosphere. I also loved Frog. It’s so refreshing to have a sweet, shy MMC. The scene where he’s teaching himself to dance is adorable! I liked the FMC. It’s nice to have an FMC who isn’t a super talented assassin. She’s just an ordinary (cursed!) girl trying to make the best of a bad lot in life. I would have loved to see more of the sweet relationship between the FMC and her brother. I liked the FMC’s relationship with her old guard too.
Unfortunately I just felt the whole story was a bit messy and could have done with some more editing - there were quite a few grammar and spelling mistakes which jerked me out of the story. I was often left confused with what was going on. There was a lot of information and everything jumped around too much to make sense of it at times. It settled a bit in the middle but I just wanted a bit more time and depth to the events and characters. The ending was so abrupt I thought my Kindle had frozen and I genuinely have no idea what really happened there.
I think this story had so much potential, but needed to be longer so that it didn’t appear to leap about so abruptly. More time was needed to flesh it all out and do justice to what is a great idea.
I really, really wanted to love this book. I was so excited to read it. It just didn’t quite work for me.
I thought the premise was great and held so much promise. I loved the dark fairytale feel and I think the author did a great job capturing the atmosphere. I also loved Frog. It’s so refreshing to have a sweet, shy MMC. The scene where he’s teaching himself to dance is adorable! I liked the FMC. It’s nice to have an FMC who isn’t a super talented assassin. She’s just an ordinary (cursed!) girl trying to make the best of a bad lot in life. I would have loved to see more of the sweet relationship between the FMC and her brother. I liked the FMC’s relationship with her old guard too.
Unfortunately I just felt the whole story was a bit messy and could have done with some more editing - there were quite a few grammar and spelling mistakes which jerked me out of the story. I was often left confused with what was going on. There was a lot of information and everything jumped around too much to make sense of it at times. It settled a bit in the middle but I just wanted a bit more time and depth to the events and characters. The ending was so abrupt I thought my Kindle had frozen and I genuinely have no idea what really happened there.
I think this story had so much potential, but needed to be longer so that it didn’t appear to leap about so abruptly. More time was needed to flesh it all out and do justice to what is a great idea.
August 11, 2026
This book enthralled me from the beginning. From the twisted fairytale aspects to the vividly written world building. Sunday is so compassionate and brave with characteristics that make her more human than most fmcs written in books. I absolutely loved Frog from his shyness to him being honestly the sweetest angel and singing her to sleep outside the carriage. This does end on a cliffhanger so be prepared and I'm not gonna lie left me wanting so much more. If you love dark fairytale retellings with secrets and curses then this is the read for you. Highly Recommend!
August 11, 2026
Thank you to the author and Iris for my Arc. The opinions are my own.
Absolutely love the lyrical writing style and the premise behind this . It’s an easy entertaining time. I really wish it had had one more pass of editing, at times it felt a little chaotic and had me re reading sections thinking I missed something.
The ending was … something… and I really enjoyed Sunday as a character, I will def read book two.
Absolutely love the lyrical writing style and the premise behind this . It’s an easy entertaining time. I really wish it had had one more pass of editing, at times it felt a little chaotic and had me re reading sections thinking I missed something.
The ending was … something… and I really enjoyed Sunday as a character, I will def read book two.
August 11, 2026
intriguing concept that didn’t resonate
As soon as I saw the signups I knew I had to apply to read before everyone else. Everything about the story appealed to me - the cover, the concept, and alll the tropes.
When I began reading I was thrust into a dark, terrible world. The writing style intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to figure out what happened next.
One of my quotes from a GR update was (10% read) “ I'm stressed and intrigued and confused all at the same time. Digging the writing and interested to see where this goes!”
At 20% I felt “This is very interesting and the writing style is unique. I'm def getting twisted, Tim Burton vibes but | am quite confused. Still not really sure what's going on but I know the princess is surrounded by terrible people. So far thinking this will be a 4-star read.”
By 37% I didn’t know if I would finish it “ I've been forcing myself to read this which sucks be I REALLY want to keep reading but I'm so lost and struggling to connect with the story. I am really intrigued by the writing and love the character art, alll the tropes listed, but can't seem to get into this. Gonna try to make it to 50%”
I did NOT make it to 50% nor did I finish this. I often read a variety of stories including dark and twisted with fancy, unique writing so I’m bummed it didn’t work out but when I am FORCING myself to read and avoiding reading it - well it’s time to move on.
No shade to the author, this is just reader preference (and possibly mood sabotage - mood readers I know you get me). I’ve seen so many other readers love this story and you might too.
All the best and thanks to the author for a chance to read an early version. I may return at a later date to finish it out and update my rating accordingly. Cheers!
As soon as I saw the signups I knew I had to apply to read before everyone else. Everything about the story appealed to me - the cover, the concept, and alll the tropes.
When I began reading I was thrust into a dark, terrible world. The writing style intrigued me and I couldn’t wait to figure out what happened next.
One of my quotes from a GR update was (10% read) “ I'm stressed and intrigued and confused all at the same time. Digging the writing and interested to see where this goes!”
At 20% I felt “This is very interesting and the writing style is unique. I'm def getting twisted, Tim Burton vibes but | am quite confused. Still not really sure what's going on but I know the princess is surrounded by terrible people. So far thinking this will be a 4-star read.”
By 37% I didn’t know if I would finish it “ I've been forcing myself to read this which sucks be I REALLY want to keep reading but I'm so lost and struggling to connect with the story. I am really intrigued by the writing and love the character art, alll the tropes listed, but can't seem to get into this. Gonna try to make it to 50%”
I did NOT make it to 50% nor did I finish this. I often read a variety of stories including dark and twisted with fancy, unique writing so I’m bummed it didn’t work out but when I am FORCING myself to read and avoiding reading it - well it’s time to move on.
No shade to the author, this is just reader preference (and possibly mood sabotage - mood readers I know you get me). I’ve seen so many other readers love this story and you might too.
All the best and thanks to the author for a chance to read an early version. I may return at a later date to finish it out and update my rating accordingly. Cheers!
August 11, 2026
Thank you for allowing me to read this as an ARC!
I was so excited about the gothic, dark fairytale style. A take on the Corpse Bride sounded perfect.
Sunday is a tragic princess who single-handedly has to carry the weight of her kingdom’s curse. It didn’t make sense that it was all on her, but I thought maybe her dad was evil. There were so many cool connections between this story and other fairytales, but like other readers, I kept returning to earlier parts to make sense of the story. It was very hard to follow.
I loved the tender yearning between Sunday and Frog, but it also left me with more questions than answers. The ending was jarring. I know there will be a book two, so hopefully things will be developed more in the sequel. I hope the author takes these notes and spends more time with a developmental editor. Your lovely lyrical writing reminds me of poetry. It does fit the genre! You just need to spend more time developing the plot and expanding on your events.
I was so excited about the gothic, dark fairytale style. A take on the Corpse Bride sounded perfect.
Sunday is a tragic princess who single-handedly has to carry the weight of her kingdom’s curse. It didn’t make sense that it was all on her, but I thought maybe her dad was evil. There were so many cool connections between this story and other fairytales, but like other readers, I kept returning to earlier parts to make sense of the story. It was very hard to follow.
I loved the tender yearning between Sunday and Frog, but it also left me with more questions than answers. The ending was jarring. I know there will be a book two, so hopefully things will be developed more in the sequel. I hope the author takes these notes and spends more time with a developmental editor. Your lovely lyrical writing reminds me of poetry. It does fit the genre! You just need to spend more time developing the plot and expanding on your events.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
ARC review:
Hey so I need book 2 right this second! 🤠
This was such a fun read. The fairytale vibes were truly brought to life in such a refreshing way. I would love to see the author delve into the past and lore of Sunday’s story more in the next installment because I’m so curious how we got to where we are by the end of the book.
My only complaint, if you could call it that, is that it wasn’t long enough. I was pleasantly surprised at how the story came to life in a very short amount of pages but I was so hooked that I could’ve read 200 more pages of Sunday and Frog’s story and still not been tired of it.
Can’t wait to see where book 2 takes us. This is not a book you want to miss if you love fairytales, cursed kingdoms, yearning, and sweet stories.
Hey so I need book 2 right this second! 🤠
This was such a fun read. The fairytale vibes were truly brought to life in such a refreshing way. I would love to see the author delve into the past and lore of Sunday’s story more in the next installment because I’m so curious how we got to where we are by the end of the book.
My only complaint, if you could call it that, is that it wasn’t long enough. I was pleasantly surprised at how the story came to life in a very short amount of pages but I was so hooked that I could’ve read 200 more pages of Sunday and Frog’s story and still not been tired of it.
Can’t wait to see where book 2 takes us. This is not a book you want to miss if you love fairytales, cursed kingdoms, yearning, and sweet stories.
August 11, 2026
I forgot this released today. Got really excited when I remembered. Read it in one sitting. I was hooked. I love the fairy tales woven into the main story. I love the dynamic between Frog and Sunday. I loved everything about this book. But that ending??? Hello???? What is happening??? Imma need book 2 asap 😭
August 14, 2026
I enjoyed this book more than I expected to be as YA is not my typical reading genre. While I figured out one thing, the ending had me wanting more! I really enjoyed the found family aspect of this book and I definitely felt a connection with these characters.
Thank you for letting me be on the ARC team for this book!
Thank you for letting me be on the ARC team for this book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to A.R. Schilling and IRIS Influencer Society for providing me with an eARC! It was an absolute delight to read! 🫶
First of all, look at the cover!!! Obsessed. I would’ve picked this one up for the cover alone. 😍 It’s pitched as a Corpse Bride retelling and that is my FAVORITE Tim Burton movie and favorite Halloween movie (besides Hocus Pocus) to rewatch every year! So I knew I HAD to read this one. Plus, a painfully shy, secretive, masked knight who has been secretly in love with her for years and is hopelessly devoted? Absolutely, yes. Sign me up. (And as I predicted after seeing him described this way in her posts, he was impossible not to fall for. I ADORED Frog. He is precious.)
This book has delightful whimsigoth vibes! The author describes it as “cheerfully dark.” It has such a delicious combination of dark and whimsical. Despite the curse, death, and pain, there is still a sense of cheerfulness and hopefulness throughout.
Sunday’s story hit harder than I expected emotionally and definitely had me tearing up a few times (which is honestly rare for me while reading). Poor Sunday! How much does this poor girl have to endure?? 😭 She is so resilient and such a light for others despite everything she has been through, and even being half-dead. I loved seeing her experience kindness, gentleness, and acceptance after such a hard and lonely life. The scene in the town got me. 🥹 I also enjoyed the found family! The twins added some good comedic relief and Rhidland and Frog both added a sense of warmth and wholesomeness.
And the YEARNINGGGGGG!!! So much yearning. You could FEEL the longing. I really loved the little snippets of the MMC’s POV from his journal at the top of the chapters (similar to how it was done in Bride by Ali Hazlewood). They had me swooning. The dramatic irony of the reader knowing (or at least suspecting) what Sunday doesn’t know about Frog really amplifies this, and it worked so well! I loved the dance scene. And the butterfly scene. And pretty much every scene between Frog and Sunday, tbh hehe. They are precious and I love them. 🥹
I really enjoyed the nods to the Grimm brothers and incorporation of all the different fairytales, but with twists. I also enjoyed the parts where the author broke the fourth wall and addressed the reader. I thought these were really fun touches that enhanced the story. The writing style is really engaging and there were some really lovely, well-worded lines. I definitely had a good amount of highlights!
The ending has me theory spiraling! I was left with plenty of questions, and while I would’ve liked to have gotten a few more answers in this book, I’m trusting the process and assuming I’ll get everything answered in book 2. It’s clear that the author was super intentional with all the choices made in this book, even down to the names and nicknames of the characters. I’m especially curious to learn more about the curse, the butterflies, the dragon’s song and singing well, Sunday’s ability to touch Frog when it seems like others can’t(?), and what exactly happened at the end and what that’ll mean for them/the curse.
It’ll be a duet and I am very eager for the next book (especially knowing it’ll be in Frog’s POV! 🤗), but I’m also a little nervous. I am very much a Romance reader, and the author has made it clear that this is NOT a Romance, but a *love story* and, as the title suggests, it’s “not another happily ever after,” and therefore has a a non-traditional HEA. So I am going to put on my big girl pants, read outside my comfort zone, and trust the process and have faith that I’ll still be satisfied with the ending haha. 😅
This would be a perfect Augtober/Summerween/Fall read if you’re looking for something dark and twisted (with a ghost, evil unicorns, sinister secrets, a half-dead princess, a rotten kingdom, and a curse) but still cheerful in tone and full of whimsy. The author pitches it as “if Shrek and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride had a baby and moved to Wonderland.” I’d suggest this for Tim Burton fans and those who enjoyed Assistant to the Villain, Tales of Arcana Fortune, and/or Once Upon A Time.
I’m excited to get my paperback copy with artwork throughout! 🤗
(I will note that I read a lot of eARCs and understand that they’re not the final version and will likely have some typos. Normally I don’t even bat an eyelash at them because they’re usually minimal and easy to look past. In comparison, this eARC had a lot of typos (spelling, punctuation, wrong character names) to the point that I found it a little distracting. I’m hoping/trusting that it will get another thorough round of editing before release.)
First of all, look at the cover!!! Obsessed. I would’ve picked this one up for the cover alone. 😍 It’s pitched as a Corpse Bride retelling and that is my FAVORITE Tim Burton movie and favorite Halloween movie (besides Hocus Pocus) to rewatch every year! So I knew I HAD to read this one. Plus, a painfully shy, secretive, masked knight who has been secretly in love with her for years and is hopelessly devoted? Absolutely, yes. Sign me up. (And as I predicted after seeing him described this way in her posts, he was impossible not to fall for. I ADORED Frog. He is precious.)
This book has delightful whimsigoth vibes! The author describes it as “cheerfully dark.” It has such a delicious combination of dark and whimsical. Despite the curse, death, and pain, there is still a sense of cheerfulness and hopefulness throughout.
Sunday’s story hit harder than I expected emotionally and definitely had me tearing up a few times (which is honestly rare for me while reading). Poor Sunday! How much does this poor girl have to endure?? 😭 She is so resilient and such a light for others despite everything she has been through, and even being half-dead. I loved seeing her experience kindness, gentleness, and acceptance after such a hard and lonely life. The scene in the town got me. 🥹 I also enjoyed the found family! The twins added some good comedic relief and Rhidland and Frog both added a sense of warmth and wholesomeness.
And the YEARNINGGGGGG!!! So much yearning. You could FEEL the longing. I really loved the little snippets of the MMC’s POV from his journal at the top of the chapters (similar to how it was done in Bride by Ali Hazlewood). They had me swooning. The dramatic irony of the reader knowing (or at least suspecting) what Sunday doesn’t know about Frog really amplifies this, and it worked so well! I loved the dance scene. And the butterfly scene. And pretty much every scene between Frog and Sunday, tbh hehe. They are precious and I love them. 🥹
I really enjoyed the nods to the Grimm brothers and incorporation of all the different fairytales, but with twists. I also enjoyed the parts where the author broke the fourth wall and addressed the reader. I thought these were really fun touches that enhanced the story. The writing style is really engaging and there were some really lovely, well-worded lines. I definitely had a good amount of highlights!
The ending has me theory spiraling! I was left with plenty of questions, and while I would’ve liked to have gotten a few more answers in this book, I’m trusting the process and assuming I’ll get everything answered in book 2. It’s clear that the author was super intentional with all the choices made in this book, even down to the names and nicknames of the characters. I’m especially curious to learn more about the curse, the butterflies, the dragon’s song and singing well, Sunday’s ability to touch Frog when it seems like others can’t(?), and what exactly happened at the end and what that’ll mean for them/the curse.
It’ll be a duet and I am very eager for the next book (especially knowing it’ll be in Frog’s POV! 🤗), but I’m also a little nervous. I am very much a Romance reader, and the author has made it clear that this is NOT a Romance, but a *love story* and, as the title suggests, it’s “not another happily ever after,” and therefore has a a non-traditional HEA. So I am going to put on my big girl pants, read outside my comfort zone, and trust the process and have faith that I’ll still be satisfied with the ending haha. 😅
This would be a perfect Augtober/Summerween/Fall read if you’re looking for something dark and twisted (with a ghost, evil unicorns, sinister secrets, a half-dead princess, a rotten kingdom, and a curse) but still cheerful in tone and full of whimsy. The author pitches it as “if Shrek and Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride had a baby and moved to Wonderland.” I’d suggest this for Tim Burton fans and those who enjoyed Assistant to the Villain, Tales of Arcana Fortune, and/or Once Upon A Time.
I’m excited to get my paperback copy with artwork throughout! 🤗
(I will note that I read a lot of eARCs and understand that they’re not the final version and will likely have some typos. Normally I don’t even bat an eyelash at them because they’re usually minimal and easy to look past. In comparison, this eARC had a lot of typos (spelling, punctuation, wrong character names) to the point that I found it a little distracting. I’m hoping/trusting that it will get another thorough round of editing before release.)
Review of advance copy received from Author
PERFECTION!!! That's the only word that kept running through my mind while reading this.
It's a beautiful, dark and twisted fairytale. This story completely swept me off my feet and reminded me why I love romance so much. It was beautifully written, emotionally moving, and balanced heart wrenching moments with just the right amount of humour. Every time my heart felt like it was breaking, the witty moments gave me a chance to breathe before diving right back into the emotions.
When A. R. Schilling said she'd deliver... boy, did she ever! This book pulled me in, threw me around emotionally, and never once gave me the chance to catch my breath. Every single time I set it down (HAHAHA!!! That's a lie. I DID NOT set this book down at all.) I read this book from the minute the ARC landed in my email and the end until I was done the book in less than 24 hours because I had to know what happened next. If you're looking for a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously stealing your heart, this is it.
Sunday was such an incredible heroine. After everything she'd endured, she never let the darkness make her bitter or resentful. Instead, she remained compassionate, kind, and quietly strong. Watching her journey unfold was both heartbreaking and inspiring.
And Frog... SWOON. He is everything I love in a book boyfriend. He isn't your stereotypical alpha male, and honestly, that made me love him even more. His gentleness, patience, and unwavering desire to show Sunday that life could still be beautiful absolutely melted my heart. He didn't just want to protect her physically, he wanted to heal her emotionally, remind her she was worthy of love, and give her every beautiful thing she'd been denied. That kind of love is rare, and Frog has officially earned a permanent spot on my book boyfriend shelf.
The side characters were exactly what this story needed, providing the perfect comic relief without ever taking away from the emotional weight of the story. They made the world feel even richer and more alive.
And then... A. R. Schilling completely pulled the carpet out from under me.
Just when I thought I knew exactly where the story was headed, she blindsided me in the best possible way. I literally had to stop and reread the page because I couldn't believe what I'd just read. I never saw it coming, and I absolutely loved every second of it. Those are the moments I crave as a reader.
This book felt like perfection from beginning to end. The romance, the emotion, the gorgeous writing, the unforgettable characters, the humor, and the twists all came together to create a story I'll be thinking about for a very long time. I'm already hoping we get to revisit these characters because I'm simply not ready to say goodbye.
And can we talk about how obsessed I am? Because one copy simply isn't enough. I officially need multiple copies of this book. Not because I'm lending them out, but because I want to create different custom special editions for my own bookshelf. I'm already dreaming up stunning rebinds, hand sprayed edges, custom endpapers, and luxurious covers because this book deserves every bit of that love.
If a book has me planning multiple custom rebinds before I've even stopped thinking about the ending, you know it's earned a permanent place in my dragon hoard.
🐉 Book Dragon Verdict: If you love beautifully broken characters, a gentle, swoon worthy hero, emotional storytelling, dark fairytale vibes, laugh out loud moments, and twists that will leave you staring at the page in disbelief, then stop what you're doing and read Not Another Happily Ever After. Just know this... the will steal your heart, shatter it, put it back together, and then pull the carpet out from under you when you least expect it and you'll thank her for every second of the ride.
It's a beautiful, dark and twisted fairytale. This story completely swept me off my feet and reminded me why I love romance so much. It was beautifully written, emotionally moving, and balanced heart wrenching moments with just the right amount of humour. Every time my heart felt like it was breaking, the witty moments gave me a chance to breathe before diving right back into the emotions.
When A. R. Schilling said she'd deliver... boy, did she ever! This book pulled me in, threw me around emotionally, and never once gave me the chance to catch my breath. Every single time I set it down (HAHAHA!!! That's a lie. I DID NOT set this book down at all.) I read this book from the minute the ARC landed in my email and the end until I was done the book in less than 24 hours because I had to know what happened next. If you're looking for a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat while simultaneously stealing your heart, this is it.
Sunday was such an incredible heroine. After everything she'd endured, she never let the darkness make her bitter or resentful. Instead, she remained compassionate, kind, and quietly strong. Watching her journey unfold was both heartbreaking and inspiring.
And Frog... SWOON. He is everything I love in a book boyfriend. He isn't your stereotypical alpha male, and honestly, that made me love him even more. His gentleness, patience, and unwavering desire to show Sunday that life could still be beautiful absolutely melted my heart. He didn't just want to protect her physically, he wanted to heal her emotionally, remind her she was worthy of love, and give her every beautiful thing she'd been denied. That kind of love is rare, and Frog has officially earned a permanent spot on my book boyfriend shelf.
The side characters were exactly what this story needed, providing the perfect comic relief without ever taking away from the emotional weight of the story. They made the world feel even richer and more alive.
And then... A. R. Schilling completely pulled the carpet out from under me.
Just when I thought I knew exactly where the story was headed, she blindsided me in the best possible way. I literally had to stop and reread the page because I couldn't believe what I'd just read. I never saw it coming, and I absolutely loved every second of it. Those are the moments I crave as a reader.
This book felt like perfection from beginning to end. The romance, the emotion, the gorgeous writing, the unforgettable characters, the humor, and the twists all came together to create a story I'll be thinking about for a very long time. I'm already hoping we get to revisit these characters because I'm simply not ready to say goodbye.
And can we talk about how obsessed I am? Because one copy simply isn't enough. I officially need multiple copies of this book. Not because I'm lending them out, but because I want to create different custom special editions for my own bookshelf. I'm already dreaming up stunning rebinds, hand sprayed edges, custom endpapers, and luxurious covers because this book deserves every bit of that love.
If a book has me planning multiple custom rebinds before I've even stopped thinking about the ending, you know it's earned a permanent place in my dragon hoard.
🐉 Book Dragon Verdict: If you love beautifully broken characters, a gentle, swoon worthy hero, emotional storytelling, dark fairytale vibes, laugh out loud moments, and twists that will leave you staring at the page in disbelief, then stop what you're doing and read Not Another Happily Ever After. Just know this... the will steal your heart, shatter it, put it back together, and then pull the carpet out from under you when you least expect it and you'll thank her for every second of the ride.
August 6, 2026
Thank you to A.R. Schilling for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Not Another Happily Ever After.
There’s something undeniably captivating about a story that embraces both beauty and darkness, and Not Another Happily Ever After captures that balance beautifully. From its opening pages, it draws readers into a richly imagined fairy tale where whimsy and decay exist side by side, creating an atmosphere that feels both enchanting and quietly unsettling.
Beneath its haunting atmosphere is a story every bit as compelling as the world it brings to life. What begins as the tale of a princess suspended between life and death by a devastating curse soon unfolds into something far more intricate than its opening suggests. Blending mystery, romance, and darker fairy-tale elements, it embraces the familiar while effortlessly becoming something uniquely its own.
What truly brought the story to life was its exceptional cast of characters. At the heart of it all is Sunday, whose compassion, quiet resilience, and unwavering belief in the goodness of others remain steadfast, even as the curse tightens its hold. The brotherhood of knights entrusted with her protection quickly became one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Each knight brought something different to the journey, creating a group dynamic that felt as entertaining as it was heartfelt. Merrick and Myrrdin, the twin brothers, threatened to steal every scene they appeared in. Their relentless teasing, razor-sharp banter, and uncanny ability to find something to rouse one another about, even in the most unlikely moments, had me smiling more than once. Their exchanges brought welcome moments of humour without ever taking away from the emotional heart of the novel, and before long the company felt less like travelling companions and more like a found family.
Frog was one of those rare characters whose mystery never overshadowed his humanity. Though his face remained hidden behind his mask, his character was revealed through unwavering loyalty, the smallest acts of kindness, and the gentle formality with which he always addressed Sunday as “Miss Sunday.” Such a simple formality spoke volumes about the man behind the mask.
The world itself became a character in its own right. The curse reached far beyond its victims, seeping into every corner of the kingdom and transforming it into a place where beauty and decay existed side by side. Endless night, creeping rot, and the haunting blue thorned roses shrouded the kingdom in an eerie beauty that was as haunting as it was beautiful. The blue thorned roses were far more than a striking visual motif. They carried an ever-present menace of their own, weaving another layer of tension through a world where even the most beautiful things could prove dangerous.
The ending deserves a special mention because I genuinely wasn’t prepared for that final cliffhanger. I reached the last page in complete disbelief, only to discover there were, in fact, no more pages. My immediate reaction was, “Wait… what? No, there have to be more pages!” Needless to say, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
Overall, Not Another Happily Ever After is an immersive fairy tale that effortlessly balances darkness with hope, mystery with heart, and humour with genuine emotion. With an exceptional cast of characters, an unforgettable world, and an ending that left me desperate for more, it was an easy four-star read and one I’ll be eagerly continuing when the next instalment arrives.
There’s something undeniably captivating about a story that embraces both beauty and darkness, and Not Another Happily Ever After captures that balance beautifully. From its opening pages, it draws readers into a richly imagined fairy tale where whimsy and decay exist side by side, creating an atmosphere that feels both enchanting and quietly unsettling.
Beneath its haunting atmosphere is a story every bit as compelling as the world it brings to life. What begins as the tale of a princess suspended between life and death by a devastating curse soon unfolds into something far more intricate than its opening suggests. Blending mystery, romance, and darker fairy-tale elements, it embraces the familiar while effortlessly becoming something uniquely its own.
What truly brought the story to life was its exceptional cast of characters. At the heart of it all is Sunday, whose compassion, quiet resilience, and unwavering belief in the goodness of others remain steadfast, even as the curse tightens its hold. The brotherhood of knights entrusted with her protection quickly became one of the novel’s greatest strengths. Each knight brought something different to the journey, creating a group dynamic that felt as entertaining as it was heartfelt. Merrick and Myrrdin, the twin brothers, threatened to steal every scene they appeared in. Their relentless teasing, razor-sharp banter, and uncanny ability to find something to rouse one another about, even in the most unlikely moments, had me smiling more than once. Their exchanges brought welcome moments of humour without ever taking away from the emotional heart of the novel, and before long the company felt less like travelling companions and more like a found family.
Frog was one of those rare characters whose mystery never overshadowed his humanity. Though his face remained hidden behind his mask, his character was revealed through unwavering loyalty, the smallest acts of kindness, and the gentle formality with which he always addressed Sunday as “Miss Sunday.” Such a simple formality spoke volumes about the man behind the mask.
The world itself became a character in its own right. The curse reached far beyond its victims, seeping into every corner of the kingdom and transforming it into a place where beauty and decay existed side by side. Endless night, creeping rot, and the haunting blue thorned roses shrouded the kingdom in an eerie beauty that was as haunting as it was beautiful. The blue thorned roses were far more than a striking visual motif. They carried an ever-present menace of their own, weaving another layer of tension through a world where even the most beautiful things could prove dangerous.
The ending deserves a special mention because I genuinely wasn’t prepared for that final cliffhanger. I reached the last page in complete disbelief, only to discover there were, in fact, no more pages. My immediate reaction was, “Wait… what? No, there have to be more pages!” Needless to say, I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment.
Overall, Not Another Happily Ever After is an immersive fairy tale that effortlessly balances darkness with hope, mystery with heart, and humour with genuine emotion. With an exceptional cast of characters, an unforgettable world, and an ending that left me desperate for more, it was an easy four-star read and one I’ll be eagerly continuing when the next instalment arrives.
August 14, 2026
I went into Not Another Happily Ever After expecting a fun twist on the fairytales we all grew up with, but I genuinely wasn't expecting to become this attached to the story and its characters. This was such a refreshing, wonderfully chaotic take on the whole "princess, prince, knight and happily ever after" formula, and I absolutely loved it.
One of my favorite things about this book was its personality. It knows exactly what kind of story it's telling, and instead of taking the traditional fairytale route, it has so much fun turning those expectations upside down. There's magic, curses, kingdoms, a princess in a rather unusual situation, a masked knight, and an entire group of misfits thrown together on a journey that is anything but straightforward. It has all the ingredients of a classic fantasy adventure while still feeling completely different.
The characters were easily the highlight for me. I have such a weakness for found families and groups of characters who probably shouldn't work together but somehow become exactly what each other needs, and this absolutely scratched that itch. Their personalities bounce off each other so well, and the banter gave the story so much life. There were genuinely funny moments mixed between the more emotional and dangerous ones, which kept the book from ever feeling too heavy.
And the romance! I loved that it didn't feel like it existed simply because this is technically a fairytale and therefore somebody has to fall in love. There was chemistry, tension, vulnerability, and those little interactions that had me reading far too much into every word and glance. I'm not saying anything else because this is a spoiler-free zone, but I was INVESTED.
I also really loved the atmosphere. The journey through the forest and the kingdoms surrounding it gave the story that whimsical, slightly dangerous storybook feeling while still allowing the world to have its darker edges. There's always this underlying sense that something isn't quite right beneath all the fairytale elements, and I loved discovering more about the world as the characters travelled through it.
A.R. Schilling's writing made this ridiculously easy to binge. The story has so much heart underneath the humor and adventure, and I think that's what ultimately pushed it into five-star territory for me. I laughed, I got emotional, I became ridiculously attached to people who do not exist, and there were definitely moments where I wanted to reach through the pages and shake certain characters.
Most importantly, Not Another Happily Ever After reminded me why I love fairytale retellings in the first place. It takes familiar ideas, princesses, knights, curses, enchanted forests and happily ever afters, and asks what happens when the story refuses to follow the rules. Whimsical, funny, romantic, chaotic and full of heart. I didn't want to leave these characters behind when I reached the final page.
An easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.
Apparently, I do want another happily ever after after all.
One of my favorite things about this book was its personality. It knows exactly what kind of story it's telling, and instead of taking the traditional fairytale route, it has so much fun turning those expectations upside down. There's magic, curses, kingdoms, a princess in a rather unusual situation, a masked knight, and an entire group of misfits thrown together on a journey that is anything but straightforward. It has all the ingredients of a classic fantasy adventure while still feeling completely different.
The characters were easily the highlight for me. I have such a weakness for found families and groups of characters who probably shouldn't work together but somehow become exactly what each other needs, and this absolutely scratched that itch. Their personalities bounce off each other so well, and the banter gave the story so much life. There were genuinely funny moments mixed between the more emotional and dangerous ones, which kept the book from ever feeling too heavy.
And the romance! I loved that it didn't feel like it existed simply because this is technically a fairytale and therefore somebody has to fall in love. There was chemistry, tension, vulnerability, and those little interactions that had me reading far too much into every word and glance. I'm not saying anything else because this is a spoiler-free zone, but I was INVESTED.
I also really loved the atmosphere. The journey through the forest and the kingdoms surrounding it gave the story that whimsical, slightly dangerous storybook feeling while still allowing the world to have its darker edges. There's always this underlying sense that something isn't quite right beneath all the fairytale elements, and I loved discovering more about the world as the characters travelled through it.
A.R. Schilling's writing made this ridiculously easy to binge. The story has so much heart underneath the humor and adventure, and I think that's what ultimately pushed it into five-star territory for me. I laughed, I got emotional, I became ridiculously attached to people who do not exist, and there were definitely moments where I wanted to reach through the pages and shake certain characters.
Most importantly, Not Another Happily Ever After reminded me why I love fairytale retellings in the first place. It takes familiar ideas, princesses, knights, curses, enchanted forests and happily ever afters, and asks what happens when the story refuses to follow the rules. Whimsical, funny, romantic, chaotic and full of heart. I didn't want to leave these characters behind when I reached the final page.
An easy ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ from me.
Apparently, I do want another happily ever after after all.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love how fast I got sucked into this story! This is a Corpse Bride/Tim Burton meets Shrek in Wonderland Inspired fantasy retelling where a queen cursed the lands for the royals for betraying her, and it is said that only the King of Ruin's Daughter can undo the curse by giving her heart to a first born son. To her dismay, her father decides to give her heart and hand away to the not-so-charming Prince Thoren, who was cruel to her as a child and still is as an adult.
Sunday was that daughter and grew up in a tower and lived in such poor conditions and suffered torture to save her people, but it didn't work. (This broke my heart!) Besides that, she still is kind and willing to go through pain and help others for the curse's affects on her people. I also loved how clumsy and unlucky she is getting herself into situations, like sudden explanation of a period to cover Gally, the throwing up scene in the carriage, or the pounding innuendo conservation (that was so funny!). She is a kind, shy, yet brave FMC who isn't afraid to help her people, and be bold in her feelings.
The Twins Merrek and Myrrdin (love them!), a stoic knight named Wolfe, and her childhood knight/Guardian Rhidland were enjoyable, interactive with our main characters, and brought just as much heart into the plot as the MMC and the FMC! From funny and witty banter between the twins, readers and Sunday finding out that Wolfe is a Lupin/werewolf, to Rhidland giving a fatherly role to Sunday until his unfortunate demise at the hands of the Redhoods, these characters were amazing and essential to the story and to the plot.
As for Frog, oh man, I absolutely loved his yearning and loving Sunday from afar. His shyness was adorable, yet he would sing her to sleep outside her carriage, keep an eye on her, and would practice dancing alone after she danced with one of the twins. He even rehearsed asking her to walk along the field of butterflies. I also love the notes he has written above each chapter. I just love his character and he would definitely be a book boyfriend for me!
Finally, I loved Frog and Sunday's romance in it, the yearning, the longing from Frog, and the shyness from both of them was making me kick my feet! With her shyness but growing boldness, and Frog's shyness and growing confidence, it was a beautiful love forming! I loved every time she would walk in on him practicing dancing, practicing asking her to walk with the butterflies, and during his singing, etc.
The ending was such a cliffhanger that left me confused and wondering what's going to happen next! I wish there was more to read already! Please read this book, you'll love it!
Sunday was that daughter and grew up in a tower and lived in such poor conditions and suffered torture to save her people, but it didn't work. (This broke my heart!) Besides that, she still is kind and willing to go through pain and help others for the curse's affects on her people. I also loved how clumsy and unlucky she is getting herself into situations, like sudden explanation of a period to cover Gally, the throwing up scene in the carriage, or the pounding innuendo conservation (that was so funny!). She is a kind, shy, yet brave FMC who isn't afraid to help her people, and be bold in her feelings.
The Twins Merrek and Myrrdin (love them!), a stoic knight named Wolfe, and her childhood knight/Guardian Rhidland were enjoyable, interactive with our main characters, and brought just as much heart into the plot as the MMC and the FMC! From funny and witty banter between the twins, readers and Sunday finding out that Wolfe is a Lupin/werewolf, to Rhidland giving a fatherly role to Sunday until his unfortunate demise at the hands of the Redhoods, these characters were amazing and essential to the story and to the plot.
As for Frog, oh man, I absolutely loved his yearning and loving Sunday from afar. His shyness was adorable, yet he would sing her to sleep outside her carriage, keep an eye on her, and would practice dancing alone after she danced with one of the twins. He even rehearsed asking her to walk along the field of butterflies. I also love the notes he has written above each chapter. I just love his character and he would definitely be a book boyfriend for me!
Finally, I loved Frog and Sunday's romance in it, the yearning, the longing from Frog, and the shyness from both of them was making me kick my feet! With her shyness but growing boldness, and Frog's shyness and growing confidence, it was a beautiful love forming! I loved every time she would walk in on him practicing dancing, practicing asking her to walk with the butterflies, and during his singing, etc.
The ending was such a cliffhanger that left me confused and wondering what's going to happen next! I wish there was more to read already! Please read this book, you'll love it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Not Another Happily Ever After By: A.R. Schilling
Releasing August 11th
💯 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What can I say!! Did I fall in love with the cover and immediately contact A.R. Schilling about ARC reading her book?
HECK YAH! And I am SO happy I did.
I read this entire book in ONE AFTERNOON. Did I take a break? Yes, to go to the bathroom. That’s it, Priorities.
“This one is for the readers that never needed to be saved, the ones shaped by struggle because they found peace in the pain.”
THAT’S HOW THE BOOK STARTS! Excuse me while I scream.
Now, about this beautifully dark, twisted, whimsical fairytale, we all need a Frog in our lives. The painfully shy, masked, not so perfect black knight who somehow ends up being perfect in all the ways that matter. His gentleness, devotion, and yearning had my heart. The longing their have for each other is pure divine, like when you bite your lip cause you can't take it anymore.
And Sunday!!! My beautiful, half-dead princess completely stole my heart. She has been through so much, yet she remains compassionate, strong, and full of light. She isn’t the “perfect” FMC and that’s exactly what makes her perfect.
The found family, humor, fairytale twists, emotional moments, and that delicious Corpse Bride-esque gothic whimsy made this impossible to put down. One minute I was smiling, the next my heart hurt, and then A.R. Schilling had me questioning EVERYTHING.
But this book isn’t only about Sunday and Frog. There are two kingdoms, a rotting curse, a fallen Fairy Godmother, ghosts, evil unicorns, dragons, strange magic, secrets, and familiar fairytale elements that don’t behave quite the way you expect them to. Even the character names and tiny details had me wondering what A.R. Schilling was hiding.
Just, when I thought I understood what kind of fairytale I was reading!!
NOPE.
A.R. Schilling basically said, “You thought,” and sent me straight into theory mode.
This isn’t your traditional happily-ever-after fairytale. It’s strange, clever, tender, a little creepy, and wonderfully unpredictable. It feels like someone took the fairytales we grew up with, cracked them apart, and rebuilt them into something completely their own.
Thank you, A.R. Schilling, for honoring me with this ARC. This was such a beautiful, engaging, and emotional read in all the right ways. I’m incredibly happy that gorgeous cover made me stop and say, “I NEED TO READ THAT.”
Not Another Happily Ever After releases August 11th!
And Frog!!! Sir, you may remain permanently on my book-boyfriend shelf.
Impatiently waiting for Book 2 because I NEED ANSWERS!
Releasing August 11th
💯 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What can I say!! Did I fall in love with the cover and immediately contact A.R. Schilling about ARC reading her book?
HECK YAH! And I am SO happy I did.
I read this entire book in ONE AFTERNOON. Did I take a break? Yes, to go to the bathroom. That’s it, Priorities.
“This one is for the readers that never needed to be saved, the ones shaped by struggle because they found peace in the pain.”
THAT’S HOW THE BOOK STARTS! Excuse me while I scream.
Now, about this beautifully dark, twisted, whimsical fairytale, we all need a Frog in our lives. The painfully shy, masked, not so perfect black knight who somehow ends up being perfect in all the ways that matter. His gentleness, devotion, and yearning had my heart. The longing their have for each other is pure divine, like when you bite your lip cause you can't take it anymore.
And Sunday!!! My beautiful, half-dead princess completely stole my heart. She has been through so much, yet she remains compassionate, strong, and full of light. She isn’t the “perfect” FMC and that’s exactly what makes her perfect.
The found family, humor, fairytale twists, emotional moments, and that delicious Corpse Bride-esque gothic whimsy made this impossible to put down. One minute I was smiling, the next my heart hurt, and then A.R. Schilling had me questioning EVERYTHING.
But this book isn’t only about Sunday and Frog. There are two kingdoms, a rotting curse, a fallen Fairy Godmother, ghosts, evil unicorns, dragons, strange magic, secrets, and familiar fairytale elements that don’t behave quite the way you expect them to. Even the character names and tiny details had me wondering what A.R. Schilling was hiding.
Just, when I thought I understood what kind of fairytale I was reading!!
NOPE.
A.R. Schilling basically said, “You thought,” and sent me straight into theory mode.
This isn’t your traditional happily-ever-after fairytale. It’s strange, clever, tender, a little creepy, and wonderfully unpredictable. It feels like someone took the fairytales we grew up with, cracked them apart, and rebuilt them into something completely their own.
Thank you, A.R. Schilling, for honoring me with this ARC. This was such a beautiful, engaging, and emotional read in all the right ways. I’m incredibly happy that gorgeous cover made me stop and say, “I NEED TO READ THAT.”
Not Another Happily Ever After releases August 11th!
And Frog!!! Sir, you may remain permanently on my book-boyfriend shelf.
Impatiently waiting for Book 2 because I NEED ANSWERS!
August 12, 2026
I never read YA but the premise of this book interested me. Im so glad I gave it a chance. I read it all in 5 hrs. While there were so many things left unclear/ambiguous I still really enjoyed the story. I feel like it was intentionally confusing because we are in Sunday's POV and she quickly realizes maybe she knows nothing about the world she is chosen to save. On her journey to her wretched betrothed's kingdom, she starts to fall for her shy mysterious escort, Frog. He seems familiar to her but he won't confirm how she knows him. Frog is so gentle & bashful, I absolutely lost it when he was dancing alone in the field. So precious. Dont get me started on 'Miss Sunday' His devotion was quiet but so obvious on the page. I quite like the chapters starting with a snippet of his journal entries. On a re-read they will be more enjoyable I think. There was so much revealed in the story without it being obviously stated & it left some readers confused. Did Sunday break the curse? YES. I am assuming her Ghost boy was the son of the "Evil Queen" and the prophecy declaring Sundays heart be given to the Son, is not calling for her death, but for her love to the dead son. The ending is not a happy ending, or is it? I have heard speculation the next book will be Frog's POV, & I sure hope so. This was a cute read with so much tenderness. I LOVE FROG OKAY. I also absolutely loved the parallel of her ribbons & his mask both used to cover scars of pain & cruelty they've endured. But yet Frog & Sunday both remain such kind & thoughtful people. The world shades of blues & red blooms gave the background a mysterious & whimsical setting, making their journey seem almost dream like. I loved the innocence of Sunday & how it showcases how sheltered she has been, despite knowing such harshness from her own parents. We see she has little for connection & love in the beginning & it is beautiful to see her get those things from her band of knights. I loved the twins & the fun they offered her. I really enjoyed the subtle nods to classic fairy-tales without the story being a rip-off of anything. The story was still very much it's own. I never really could tell what would happen next & I enjoyed that. Again, This was not a story wrapped up perfectly with a bow. There are still questions to be answered & loose ends to tie up. Its 5 stars for me because the love was so bold on the page despite having an MMC of very few words. Its a complete vibes read & I fully intend to continue with the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
Not Another Happily Ever After is one of the most beautifully written stories I’ve read in a long time. There were moments when I teared up simply because the prose was so lovely. A.R. Schilling writes with this almost aching tenderness that perfectly suits a story filled with curses, yearning, grief, and an incredible amount of heart.
Sunday is not your typical FMC. She has been dealt an unbelievably cruel hand, yet she refuses to let it make her bitter. She sees beauty everywhere, even in a kingdom that is quite literally cursed, dark, and deadly. She is deeply selfless, always looking for ways to make life a little better for the people around her, and experiencing this world through her eyes makes even its most haunting corners feel strangely beautiful.
And Frog. Sweet, mysterious, quietly devoted Frog. He isn’t the loud, possessive, “burn the world for her” kind of MMC, and I loved him even more for it. His devotion lives in the quiet moments, in everything he notices and everything he does to keep Sunday safe. The yearning in his character is written with such restraint that I felt it down to my bones.
The supporting cast is just as wonderful. Merrek and Myrrdin bring exactly the right amount of humor and levity, while Rhidland has this steady, stoic, fatherly presence that feels incredibly comforting whenever he is on the page. I fell completely in love with this entire group of characters.
There are beautiful nods to several familiar fairy tales woven throughout, with Corpse Bride at the heart of the retelling, but the story never feels dependent on them. Not Another Happily Ever After stands entirely on its own as something haunting, romantic, darkly whimsical, and deeply tender.
The ending ripped my heart right out. Every answer only seemed to uncover five more questions, and I’m desperate to see where this story goes in book two.
This book has angst. It has yearning. It has darkness and death and curses. But more than anything, it is a story about finding beauty in a world that has given you every reason not to look for it. It's truly one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read.
Sunday is not your typical FMC. She has been dealt an unbelievably cruel hand, yet she refuses to let it make her bitter. She sees beauty everywhere, even in a kingdom that is quite literally cursed, dark, and deadly. She is deeply selfless, always looking for ways to make life a little better for the people around her, and experiencing this world through her eyes makes even its most haunting corners feel strangely beautiful.
And Frog. Sweet, mysterious, quietly devoted Frog. He isn’t the loud, possessive, “burn the world for her” kind of MMC, and I loved him even more for it. His devotion lives in the quiet moments, in everything he notices and everything he does to keep Sunday safe. The yearning in his character is written with such restraint that I felt it down to my bones.
The supporting cast is just as wonderful. Merrek and Myrrdin bring exactly the right amount of humor and levity, while Rhidland has this steady, stoic, fatherly presence that feels incredibly comforting whenever he is on the page. I fell completely in love with this entire group of characters.
There are beautiful nods to several familiar fairy tales woven throughout, with Corpse Bride at the heart of the retelling, but the story never feels dependent on them. Not Another Happily Ever After stands entirely on its own as something haunting, romantic, darkly whimsical, and deeply tender.
The ending ripped my heart right out. Every answer only seemed to uncover five more questions, and I’m desperate to see where this story goes in book two.
This book has angst. It has yearning. It has darkness and death and curses. But more than anything, it is a story about finding beauty in a world that has given you every reason not to look for it. It's truly one of the most beautiful stories I've ever read.
August 11, 2026
~Thank you to A.R. Schilling and IRIS influencer society for the eArc opportunity. My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~
I really loved the idea behind Not Another Happily Ever After, and honestly, that may be part of why I ended up feeling so disappointed by it.
The twisted fairy tale world had so much potential. There were creative ideas, fun and unexpected moments, great found family vibes, and plenty of yearning...which I absolutely loved. I also really liked Frog, especially the snippets from his journal at the beginning of each chapter. Those little glimpses into his thoughts were one of my favorite parts of the book.
But the story itself never fully came together for me.
This book needed to be longer. There were too many world building elements, plot points, and pieces of information introduced without enough explanation or development. I spent a good portion of the book feeling like I had somehow missed something important. Instead of getting swept up in the story, I was constantly trying to figure out how everything connected.
I liked Sunday as the FMC, especially her determination to see the good in other people. That softness is a genuinely endearing part of her character. But at the same time...girl. HOW did you not realize some of these things earlier?! There were several moments where her inability to put the pieces together became frustrating rather than believable.
And then there’s the ending.
What kind of sugar honey iced tea was THAT?!
The book just ends with so much unresolved that I genuinely sat there wondering if I had somehow missed another chapter. I already had questions, and somehow the ending managed to give me even more.
There are pieces of this story that I genuinely enjoyed, and I still think the premise is really interesting. Unfortunately, the scattered world building, plot holes, lack of clarity, and abrupt ending outweighed those positives for me.
So while I’m frustrated and confused, apparently I’m also curious enough to potentially read the next book because now I need answers.
I really loved the idea behind Not Another Happily Ever After, and honestly, that may be part of why I ended up feeling so disappointed by it.
The twisted fairy tale world had so much potential. There were creative ideas, fun and unexpected moments, great found family vibes, and plenty of yearning...which I absolutely loved. I also really liked Frog, especially the snippets from his journal at the beginning of each chapter. Those little glimpses into his thoughts were one of my favorite parts of the book.
But the story itself never fully came together for me.
This book needed to be longer. There were too many world building elements, plot points, and pieces of information introduced without enough explanation or development. I spent a good portion of the book feeling like I had somehow missed something important. Instead of getting swept up in the story, I was constantly trying to figure out how everything connected.
I liked Sunday as the FMC, especially her determination to see the good in other people. That softness is a genuinely endearing part of her character. But at the same time...girl. HOW did you not realize some of these things earlier?! There were several moments where her inability to put the pieces together became frustrating rather than believable.
And then there’s the ending.
What kind of sugar honey iced tea was THAT?!
The book just ends with so much unresolved that I genuinely sat there wondering if I had somehow missed another chapter. I already had questions, and somehow the ending managed to give me even more.
There are pieces of this story that I genuinely enjoyed, and I still think the premise is really interesting. Unfortunately, the scattered world building, plot holes, lack of clarity, and abrupt ending outweighed those positives for me.
So while I’m frustrated and confused, apparently I’m also curious enough to potentially read the next book because now I need answers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly, a thank you to A.R Schilling and Iris Influencer Society for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review for free and completely of my own thoughts and opinions.
This was a quick read and it really did bring the fairy tale vibes with some easter eggs to fairytales we would recognise such as Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks but beyond the vibes matching what I wanted, I honestly wish the book had been longer as I do not think we got enough time to sit with these characters or learn about the world.
The prose in this was lyrical at times and very vibe appropriate and I loved the little poems and the starts for each chapter, they were really well written and added a nice touch to the story.
Sunday was a good FMC, I liked her optimism and her desire to see the good in people. I also really appreciated how she pushed through her embarrassment and was so unashamedly herself, no matter what.
There was some great elements of found family there though not fleshed out quite as much as I would have liked to see, though the skeleton of it is definitely there to continue into the rest of this series.
However, as I mentioned, I personally struggled with the world building and the lack of proper explanation to many things and desperately wish this book had been given more to work with in terms of length as that would have fixed a lot of my problems.
I think this book will work really well for those who love a fairytale, faster paced reads and are happy to accept more scattered world building elements.
I do see myself picking up book two in this series when it comes, mostly as I am curious to see how the story unfolds, but I really hope to see the world and lore expanded on in much more detail.
This was a quick read and it really did bring the fairy tale vibes with some easter eggs to fairytales we would recognise such as Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks but beyond the vibes matching what I wanted, I honestly wish the book had been longer as I do not think we got enough time to sit with these characters or learn about the world.
The prose in this was lyrical at times and very vibe appropriate and I loved the little poems and the starts for each chapter, they were really well written and added a nice touch to the story.
Sunday was a good FMC, I liked her optimism and her desire to see the good in people. I also really appreciated how she pushed through her embarrassment and was so unashamedly herself, no matter what.
There was some great elements of found family there though not fleshed out quite as much as I would have liked to see, though the skeleton of it is definitely there to continue into the rest of this series.
However, as I mentioned, I personally struggled with the world building and the lack of proper explanation to many things and desperately wish this book had been given more to work with in terms of length as that would have fixed a lot of my problems.
I think this book will work really well for those who love a fairytale, faster paced reads and are happy to accept more scattered world building elements.
I do see myself picking up book two in this series when it comes, mostly as I am curious to see how the story unfolds, but I really hope to see the world and lore expanded on in much more detail.
August 9, 2026
Review of Advance Reader Copy - thank you IRIS Influence Society and A. R. Schilling!
The ending brought this up from a 3⭐️ to a 4⭐️ for me because I really do love when a book shocks me. The only reason it would have been a 3⭐️ is because at times I was confused on the setting of the scene. But overall really loved the world building, characters and all the nods to some of the most classical fairytales. Now for all the amazing parts…
I loved the princess and how no matter what she has been through her, she stays persistent on spreading kindness. We get to see the people meet her for the first time after being locked away for so long, and the book immediately shows you how the Author wants you to perceive this character. At first you might think her naïve but it really is her being a forever optimistic person, believing the best of the ones around her. But once shown a different side of things, you can tell she is able to think for herself and not fully continue with the naivety.
The notes from Frogs journal, might be small but they add so much depth to his character and to the romance of the story. It was truly one of my most favorite parts about reading this book. Seeing how hard he had fallen for her in his own words was just the icing on the cake when it comes to this character.
This book is a romantisy but even without the romance there would still be a plot. So if that is something you are looking for I would really recommend this book. Now I will say, without the romance the plot more be a lot more tragic then it somehow already is. The romance brings a lot of joy to the book. This is a no spice book but the yearning is top tier. I honestly wanted the book to be longer, and that would be my biggest complaint lol. I could have used a 100 more pages of Frog and Sunday.
Really excited for the next book and what else this Author has in store for us.
The ending brought this up from a 3⭐️ to a 4⭐️ for me because I really do love when a book shocks me. The only reason it would have been a 3⭐️ is because at times I was confused on the setting of the scene. But overall really loved the world building, characters and all the nods to some of the most classical fairytales. Now for all the amazing parts…
I loved the princess and how no matter what she has been through her, she stays persistent on spreading kindness. We get to see the people meet her for the first time after being locked away for so long, and the book immediately shows you how the Author wants you to perceive this character. At first you might think her naïve but it really is her being a forever optimistic person, believing the best of the ones around her. But once shown a different side of things, you can tell she is able to think for herself and not fully continue with the naivety.
The notes from Frogs journal, might be small but they add so much depth to his character and to the romance of the story. It was truly one of my most favorite parts about reading this book. Seeing how hard he had fallen for her in his own words was just the icing on the cake when it comes to this character.
This book is a romantisy but even without the romance there would still be a plot. So if that is something you are looking for I would really recommend this book. Now I will say, without the romance the plot more be a lot more tragic then it somehow already is. The romance brings a lot of joy to the book. This is a no spice book but the yearning is top tier. I honestly wanted the book to be longer, and that would be my biggest complaint lol. I could have used a 100 more pages of Frog and Sunday.
Really excited for the next book and what else this Author has in store for us.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Cheerfully dark" sums up this story perfectly. All the situations and world in general are so dark and dreary, but the MCs are all determined to squeeze some happiness from it. The FMC's narration feels unique as shes half dead, not strong, not particularly intelligent. Shes just normal (apart from the dying part) and is trying to get some joy in what's left.
Plot: The Realms of Ruin and Riches are under a curse, that can only be broken by Princess Sunday. But exactly HOW no one knows. The last thing left is to sacrifice her heart. She betrothed to Prince "Charming" (hint: hes anything but) of the Riches Kingdom and sets out with some loyal Knights to go there. One of whom is a masked knight who seems different.
This felt like such a different fantasy story. The land seems brutal with the king willing to mutilate and torture his own daughter in order to break the curse. And beat his own son and heir. And no one bats an eye. Yet Sunday and her brother are somehow still functioning humans and I loved their relationship. Sunday's habit of latching onto anyone who is kind to her is endearing and I will riot if it backfires on her later.
The yearning between Sunday and Frog is great. The little snippets on Frog's POV via his diary chapter headings is the cutest thing ever. Man has it bad. Sunday is less subtle, but the woman had a timer on her life so doesn't have time to be subtle.
While the storyline may be simple - cursed land & travel to arranged marriage - it was beautifully done with Sunday and the Knights, with all the intrigue "dead" people (i hope we find out more about these since they're never really explained and I need to know.) and all the little magical complications along their journey.
Really unique-feeling story and fun read. Definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Plot: The Realms of Ruin and Riches are under a curse, that can only be broken by Princess Sunday. But exactly HOW no one knows. The last thing left is to sacrifice her heart. She betrothed to Prince "Charming" (hint: hes anything but) of the Riches Kingdom and sets out with some loyal Knights to go there. One of whom is a masked knight who seems different.
This felt like such a different fantasy story. The land seems brutal with the king willing to mutilate and torture his own daughter in order to break the curse. And beat his own son and heir. And no one bats an eye. Yet Sunday and her brother are somehow still functioning humans and I loved their relationship. Sunday's habit of latching onto anyone who is kind to her is endearing and I will riot if it backfires on her later.
The yearning between Sunday and Frog is great. The little snippets on Frog's POV via his diary chapter headings is the cutest thing ever. Man has it bad. Sunday is less subtle, but the woman had a timer on her life so doesn't have time to be subtle.
While the storyline may be simple - cursed land & travel to arranged marriage - it was beautifully done with Sunday and the Knights, with all the intrigue "dead" people (i hope we find out more about these since they're never really explained and I need to know.) and all the little magical complications along their journey.
Really unique-feeling story and fun read. Definitely looking forward to the next book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews