What do you think?
Rate this book
Ivy Leigh Ever After
Ivy’s life is a swirl of turbulence and change. It’s been almost a year since her sweet momma has died. Bottled up feelings tear her apart inside. Grandma wants to take her little dog away. Her BFFs pressure her to change. The cutest boy in school has a crush on her.
“It’s the universe, Ivy Leigh, welcoming in a little change.” Mr. Winters, her neighbor, a wannabe cowboy, tells her one day. But change is so confusing. When a pair of bullies taunt her on the bus and tease her at school, Ivy makes a giant mistake.
With a mix of humor and poignant moments and a quirky cast of neighbors and friends, Ivy finds a way to understand herself and make up for that mistake she’s made. Best of all, Ivy remembers Momma: Feelings are like fireflies caught in a jar, Ivy Leigh. They belong in the open, where a warm breeze can carry them away!
“It’s the universe, Ivy Leigh, welcoming in a little change.” Mr. Winters, her neighbor, a wannabe cowboy, tells her one day. But change is so confusing. When a pair of bullies taunt her on the bus and tease her at school, Ivy makes a giant mistake.
With a mix of humor and poignant moments and a quirky cast of neighbors and friends, Ivy finds a way to understand herself and make up for that mistake she’s made. Best of all, Ivy remembers Momma: Feelings are like fireflies caught in a jar, Ivy Leigh. They belong in the open, where a warm breeze can carry them away!
- GenresChildrens
236 pages, Paperback
Published January 9, 2026
About the author
Gael Lynch
1 book22 followersAuthor’s Bio
Gael Lynch
Gael Lynch is a writer and storyteller who traces her roots back to her dad’s carefully crafted bedtime stories of fairy queens and villains, beggars of old, the rags to riches sagas of the ancients, always set in the rich green tones of the Irish countryside. Her own greatest ideas, though, are not those of far away and long ago, but ones that exist right under her nose. In what seems to be the ordinary, Gael loves nothing more than a chance encounter while waiting on a line at the grocery store. Perfect strangers offer a world of little gems, experiences she might never have had herself.
The Newbury Award winning author, Patricia Reilly Giff, mentored Gael for many of her writing years. Always a person of pure encouragement, it was Pat’s gentle wisdom that kept her writing and believing in herself for many years.
Her debut novel, IVY LEIGH EVER AFTER, is the story of an eleven, almost twelve-year-old girl whose mom has died and whose life is in a swirl of change with boy crushes, bullies and besties who pressure her to grow up and change. Without a mom, Ivy must navigate this new landscape alone…or so she thinks, anyway. With a mix of humor and heart-rending moments, Ivy will learn that by extending a hand to others, she can also help herself.
If Gael is not at her desk writing, working on Ivy’s sequel, she’s off riding waves, tossing balls in the air for her large golden retriever, Wrigley, or listening to live music under a starlit sky alongside her longtime husband, Tom. She lives in coastal North Carolina with its warm nights and soft ocean breezes. But Newtown, with its pastoral beauty and its warm-hearted people, will always be the place she calls home.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 6, 2026
An impressive debut middle school chapter book captures the turbulent, ever-evolving life of 6th-grader Ivy Leigh. It's a novel that will tug at your heartstrings, no matter the reader's age. The storyline is filled with many poignant statements about friendships, bullying, family dynamics, changing body images, a romantic crush, as well as dealing with the loss of a mother who was their family's moral compass. This book will resonate with middle schoolers who may face similar life challenges.
Ivy Leigh is a spunky middle schooler whose life is turned upside down when her mother dies, and her family struggles to stay afloat. Ivy and her older sisters clash with an uptight grandma who tries to be helpful, but her demands fuel conflicts with their established household routine. Ivy has rescued a dog named Peachy, who is not well-behaved as it lacks proper training. She is in danger of losing her dog, so her neighbor next door, Mr. Winters, tries to help her with training. Ivy faces bullying on the bus and at school. After a physical confrontation with another student, Ivy, who has been pushed to her limits, finds unexpected support from her friends, family, and a school guidance counselor. Along the way, Ivy Leigh learns the value of forgiveness, what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, and the importance of talking through one's problems, which, in the end, fosters change and growth. While the storyline deals with struggles, it also conveys messages of hope and the joys of building a community.
Author Gael Lynch, a retired teacher, uses her teaching expertise to craft this novel. She understands the thought process of a middle schooler as well as their need to fit in. Genuine dialogue and solutions make the story relatable for this age group, for both boys and girls. The storyline unfolds gently as the reader is introduced to Ivy Leigh and her world. The author adds humorous touches to the story. I found the story quite heartwarming, as well as the fact that the book is dedicated to teachers.
Ivy Leigh is a spunky middle schooler whose life is turned upside down when her mother dies, and her family struggles to stay afloat. Ivy and her older sisters clash with an uptight grandma who tries to be helpful, but her demands fuel conflicts with their established household routine. Ivy has rescued a dog named Peachy, who is not well-behaved as it lacks proper training. She is in danger of losing her dog, so her neighbor next door, Mr. Winters, tries to help her with training. Ivy faces bullying on the bus and at school. After a physical confrontation with another student, Ivy, who has been pushed to her limits, finds unexpected support from her friends, family, and a school guidance counselor. Along the way, Ivy Leigh learns the value of forgiveness, what it's like to walk in someone else's shoes, and the importance of talking through one's problems, which, in the end, fosters change and growth. While the storyline deals with struggles, it also conveys messages of hope and the joys of building a community.
Author Gael Lynch, a retired teacher, uses her teaching expertise to craft this novel. She understands the thought process of a middle schooler as well as their need to fit in. Genuine dialogue and solutions make the story relatable for this age group, for both boys and girls. The storyline unfolds gently as the reader is introduced to Ivy Leigh and her world. The author adds humorous touches to the story. I found the story quite heartwarming, as well as the fact that the book is dedicated to teachers.
March 12, 2026
4 1/2 stars. This quite a story. Ivy Leigh was having some bad days but found out there was a lot of good and love in her life. She needed to learn how to handle different types of situations, but with help, she succeeded. Topics encountered were bullying, loss of a parent, angry siblings, dating, accepting of help, and how lessons carry over to several of her troubles. The last few chapters had me needing tissues as my emotions got the better of me. Parents should read this before or after their children and possibly discuss the many topics.
I received a copy through RABT, and this is my unsolicited review.
I received a copy through RABT, and this is my unsolicited review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great book about Ivy, friends, being bullied, Grandma wanting to get rid of her dog, and keeping alive memories of her mom. Ivy’s sisters are there for her when she needs them and as things get tough with Ivy being bullied at school she finds she has others looking out for her. Ivy finds out that others have their own difficulties in their lives and by helping out and talking about problems, things just might get better.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
March 24, 2026
A touching story about love, self-discovery, and the courage to face challenges. Ivy is young and part of being young is being able to make mistakes and learn from them.
I found myself cheering for her as she navigated difficult choices and learned to trust herself.
I really liked how the theme and lessons shows that happiness and “ever after” are not always perfect, but they are meaningful when they are earned.
I found myself cheering for her as she navigated difficult choices and learned to trust herself.
I really liked how the theme and lessons shows that happiness and “ever after” are not always perfect, but they are meaningful when they are earned.
March 19, 2026
This was a heartfelt story about love, loss, and growth, and learning to trust yourself. From the first chapter, I felt connected to Ivy and her journey.
There are moments of disappointment, hope, and quiet courage along the way as our young main character makes mistakes and learns from them.
The author does a beautiful job showing that healing and happiness take time.
There are moments of disappointment, hope, and quiet courage along the way as our young main character makes mistakes and learns from them.
The author does a beautiful job showing that healing and happiness take time.
March 30, 2026
What an emotional yet important read. This deals with a daunting heavy topic but it's a reality for so many young people. It's important we have stories like this that address the feelings and help young kids understand.
Gael Lynch does a wonderful job of endearing Ivy Leigh to the reader and helping them emotionally connect through them.
Gael Lynch does a wonderful job of endearing Ivy Leigh to the reader and helping them emotionally connect through them.
April 14, 2026
Ivy Leigh Ever After completely charmed me! Ivy is instantly lovable, her family relationships felt real and heartfelt and the story kept me hooked the entire way through. This is one of those books that reminds you that stories written for younger readers can still have so much depth and heart. A cozy, feel-good read for any age.
April 14, 2026
I loved this wonderfully written book!! Right away I fell in love with Ivy & Peachy. Heartwarming and full of emotion as this young girl faces her pre-teen feelings and changes without her mother. Brought back memories of my own childhood. Beautifully written so any young girl can associate with Ivy. A must read!!
March 31, 2026
What a great chapter book for middle school readers. Ivy’s life is turned upside down when her mom passes away a year ago. Keeping her feelings all bottled up inside and being bullied at school leads to Ivy making some wrong decisions on how to handle things. Highly recommend!
Tina M
Tina M
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one would be good for a younger middle-grade audience. Themes about bullying and finding appropriate times and ways to handle it are spot-on for that level. Finding a support group after the loss of a loved one was also an important plot point; a puppy, elderly neighbors, and older kids filled this role for the young protagonist.
It was interesting to read in the end notes that the author is a resident of Newtown, Connecticut. I thought it was sweet that she gave a shout-out to the teachers there, who have experienced loss and trauma since 2012.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
It was interesting to read in the end notes that the author is a resident of Newtown, Connecticut. I thought it was sweet that she gave a shout-out to the teachers there, who have experienced loss and trauma since 2012.
*I received a digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are strictly my own.*
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews