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The Key to Happily Ever After
One of BuzzFeed’s “Books Coming Out This Summer That You Need to Seriously Read” * One of Bustle’s “New Romance Novels to Make Your Spring Reading Even Dreamier Than You Imagined”
A charming romantic comedy about three sisters who are struggling to keep the family wedding planning business afloat—all the while trying to write their own happily-ever-afters in the process.
All’s fair in love and business.
The de la Rosa family and their wedding planning business have been creating happily ever afters in the Washington, DC area for years, making even the most difficult bride’s day a fairytale. But when their parents announce their retirement, the sisters—Marisol, Janelyn, and Pearl—are determined to take over the business themselves.
But the sisters quickly discover that the wedding business isn’t all rings and roses. There are brides whose moods can change at the drop of a hat; grooms who want to control every part of the process; and couples who argue until their big day. As emotions run high, the de la Rosa sisters quickly realize one thing: even when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a snowmageddon in the middle of a spring wedding—they’ll always have each other.
Perfect for fans of the witty and engaging novels of Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, The Key to Happily Ever After is a fresh romantic comedy that celebrates the crucial and profound power of sisterhood.
A charming romantic comedy about three sisters who are struggling to keep the family wedding planning business afloat—all the while trying to write their own happily-ever-afters in the process.
All’s fair in love and business.
The de la Rosa family and their wedding planning business have been creating happily ever afters in the Washington, DC area for years, making even the most difficult bride’s day a fairytale. But when their parents announce their retirement, the sisters—Marisol, Janelyn, and Pearl—are determined to take over the business themselves.
But the sisters quickly discover that the wedding business isn’t all rings and roses. There are brides whose moods can change at the drop of a hat; grooms who want to control every part of the process; and couples who argue until their big day. As emotions run high, the de la Rosa sisters quickly realize one thing: even when disaster strikes—whether it’s a wardrobe malfunction or a snowmageddon in the middle of a spring wedding—they’ll always have each other.
Perfect for fans of the witty and engaging novels of Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, The Key to Happily Ever After is a fresh romantic comedy that celebrates the crucial and profound power of sisterhood.
320 pages, Audiobook
First published May 14, 2019
290 people are currently reading
9703 people want to read
About the author
Tif Marcelo
32 books759 followersTif Marcelo is a veteran US Army nurse and holds a BS in Nursing and a Master’s in public administration. She believes and writes about the strength of families, the endurance of friendship, heartfelt romances, and is inspired daily by her own military hero husband and four children. She hosts The Stories to Love Podcast, and is the USA Today bestselling author of In a Book Club Far Away, Once Upon a Sunset, The Key to Happily Ever After, which was a Target Diverse Book Club pick, The Holiday Switch, and the Heart Resort and Journey to the Heart series. She and her books have been featured in The Today Show, Shondaland, Real Simple Magazine, The Asian Journal and more! Her website, which includes a link to her newsletter, is www.TifMarcelo.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 395 reviews
April 8, 2019
Don't you just LOVE the cover of this book?! I was quick to jump on this one for the cover alone :).
This is the story about three sisters Jane, Pearl, and Mari who have taken over the wedding business that they have inherited from their family. This book is marketed as a romcom but it focused more on the relationship dynamics between the three sisters instead of the romance aspect.
I think my expectations were gearing up towards a romcom so this may have caused my rating to be a tad lower since I was expecting more romance. I loved the cultural aspect of the sister's Filipino heritage and the wedding planning. Also, the family dynamics was also very good but I was really wanting more romance. I feel like this was. a disappointment and the romances were missing.
This one wasn't really that special in my book but I think if you go into it with the mindset its' more of a family dynamic book than a romance you may enjoy it more :).
Overall, thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars!
Publication date: 4/23/19
Published to Goodreads: 4/8/19
This is the story about three sisters Jane, Pearl, and Mari who have taken over the wedding business that they have inherited from their family. This book is marketed as a romcom but it focused more on the relationship dynamics between the three sisters instead of the romance aspect.
I think my expectations were gearing up towards a romcom so this may have caused my rating to be a tad lower since I was expecting more romance. I loved the cultural aspect of the sister's Filipino heritage and the wedding planning. Also, the family dynamics was also very good but I was really wanting more romance. I feel like this was. a disappointment and the romances were missing.
This one wasn't really that special in my book but I think if you go into it with the mindset its' more of a family dynamic book than a romance you may enjoy it more :).
Overall, thank you to Gallery Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
3 stars!
Publication date: 4/23/19
Published to Goodreads: 4/8/19
December 18, 2021
This is a charming story about the de la Rosas, a Filipino Family living in the Washington, DC area and their Wedding Planning business. The story revolves around the three sisters Marisol, Janelyn and Pearl. Their parents just announced their retirement, and the three sisters are left to manage the business, to handle the day to day challenges, and to ensure the business stays afloat and thrive. That means, managing the bridezillas, the over controlling families and whatever surprises that may come along.
Well, there is no shortage of fun and excitement like the sudden snowmageddon in the middle of spring, and other dramas that sure kept this story fun!
Does the cost of their customers’ Happily Ever After worth their sanity, their sacrifices, and their own relationships?
I loved this book because I love reading about different cultures, and this highlighted the Filipino culture and the nuances on the importance of a close knit family, with gatherings and food in the center of it all. I also loved that this is about an honest story about the complex relationships of sisters.
Finally, I love how the chapters are titled with songs from my favorite artists and I kept hoping that Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark made it and it sure did!!! I don’t know any Filipino friends who didn’t enjoy listening to OMD. 😜
Tif Marcelo wrote such an endearing and light hearted story that I truly enjoyed! If you love Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, you will surely enjoy this book!
By the way, Tif Marcelo’s new book is out for request in NetGalley now called “Once Upon A Sunset” - GET IT NOW!
Well, there is no shortage of fun and excitement like the sudden snowmageddon in the middle of spring, and other dramas that sure kept this story fun!
Does the cost of their customers’ Happily Ever After worth their sanity, their sacrifices, and their own relationships?
I loved this book because I love reading about different cultures, and this highlighted the Filipino culture and the nuances on the importance of a close knit family, with gatherings and food in the center of it all. I also loved that this is about an honest story about the complex relationships of sisters.
Finally, I love how the chapters are titled with songs from my favorite artists and I kept hoping that Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark made it and it sure did!!! I don’t know any Filipino friends who didn’t enjoy listening to OMD. 😜
Tif Marcelo wrote such an endearing and light hearted story that I truly enjoyed! If you love Amy E. Reichert and Susan Mallery, you will surely enjoy this book!
By the way, Tif Marcelo’s new book is out for request in NetGalley now called “Once Upon A Sunset” - GET IT NOW!
May 20, 2019
A pretty lighthearted family drama about three sisters who own a wedding planning business and discover love around the same time. The two main characters are Marisol and Pearl, the oldest and younger sisters respectively. There’s family conflict and a little bit of drama but overall it displays the closeness sisters share even when they’re fighting.
As an aside (and totally a joke, as I am a middle child) but in typical fashion, the middle child was left out from having a POV.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
As an aside (and totally a joke, as I am a middle child) but in typical fashion, the middle child was left out from having a POV.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
May 29, 2019
I feel a little misled by the blurb characterizing this as a rom-com--to me, it read more like a grind-out-your-issues family drama. It just didn't come off very light or funny, I guess? I listened to the audio version and the narrator had a very serious, weighty delivery, so maybe that was the issue. Also, I wasn't super invested in either of the two central romances--after what felt like hours and hours of listening to the two sisters fight, I didn't like either Mari or Pearl enough to root very hard for them to find love. Just not a fit for me--your mileage may vary, of course!
May 11, 2019
(free review copy) Oh, I loved it! Wedding planner stories are my absolute favorite and this book combined wedding planning with sisters and an excellent Washington DC setting. There’s business and romance and food and it’s so atmospheric. If you love stories about weddings and family, definitely add this to your summer reading list!
March 4, 2020
3.5! I didn’t really connect with the story until halfway through. I really enjoyed the relationship between the three sisters but I would’ve LOVED the middle sister’s POV/romance. She was the one I was most interested in and she almost got nothing lol.
January 7, 2019
Three sisters, one wedding planning business, and a lot of brides... This charming, fun, and, at times, deeply poignant, trip down the aisle(s) is full of romance, family drama and unexpected twists. The de la Rosa women will captivate you from the very first paragraph!
May 9, 2019
3.5/5
I’m a sucker for both books about sisters and anything wedding related, so I was pretty excited about this one! Bonus points for sisters who are wedding planners, I’ve always thought that would be an interesting job too, and then that adorable cover just screamed READ ME as well. All sorts of positive possibilities for me surrounding this one and I’m delighted to tell you that I really enjoyed it.
This follows the de la Rosa sisters right after they take over their parents wedding planning firm, so they’re all at a very transitional time of their lives. Mari is the oldest and also the new CEO, she’s a classic older sister, type A personality to the max and a natural leader. Jane is the middle sister and she’s the peacekeeper, she’s low maintenance and not interested in drama. Pearl is the youngest and was my personal favorite, I felt bad for her as she struggled to prove herself to her sisters and gain more responsibility in their business. Sisterly relationships are often rife with drama, so there was quite a bit of that here. There was also some light romance but at its heart this really a story about family relationships and the bonds between sisters.
I’m a sucker for both books about sisters and anything wedding related, so I was pretty excited about this one! Bonus points for sisters who are wedding planners, I’ve always thought that would be an interesting job too, and then that adorable cover just screamed READ ME as well. All sorts of positive possibilities for me surrounding this one and I’m delighted to tell you that I really enjoyed it.
This follows the de la Rosa sisters right after they take over their parents wedding planning firm, so they’re all at a very transitional time of their lives. Mari is the oldest and also the new CEO, she’s a classic older sister, type A personality to the max and a natural leader. Jane is the middle sister and she’s the peacekeeper, she’s low maintenance and not interested in drama. Pearl is the youngest and was my personal favorite, I felt bad for her as she struggled to prove herself to her sisters and gain more responsibility in their business. Sisterly relationships are often rife with drama, so there was quite a bit of that here. There was also some light romance but at its heart this really a story about family relationships and the bonds between sisters.
May 16, 2019
They’re were so many things I loved about this book! First of all, I love reading books about sisters, and the relationship between the three sisters in this book, Mari, Jane and Pearl was so complicated and honest. Second of all, I loved the setting of Washington D.C. and the fact that the girls were wedding planners, running their own bridal business added a very unique spin to this story. I also loved learning about the Filipino culture, something I was not familiar with. Lastly, the romantic elements felt organic and real and not easy...just like in real life. All of those elements added up to an endearing, sometimes thorny story that kept me turning pages way past my bedtime!
June 5, 2019
***Full Review Coming to my Blog Soon***
www.fallingforromance.com
I think my disappointment with this book was that it wasn’t what I expected. Had I read it when my mood was screaming *women’s fiction* I would’ve loved it! But it wasn’t. And I went into this expecting a romantic comedy. The romance was a small part and there wasn’t really anything comedic about the story. I’m rooting for Tif Marcelo, will keep an eye out for whatever else she puts out into the world and I may even give this one ago during a different phase of my life..but my recent read of it was disappointing.
www.fallingforromance.com
I think my disappointment with this book was that it wasn’t what I expected. Had I read it when my mood was screaming *women’s fiction* I would’ve loved it! But it wasn’t. And I went into this expecting a romantic comedy. The romance was a small part and there wasn’t really anything comedic about the story. I’m rooting for Tif Marcelo, will keep an eye out for whatever else she puts out into the world and I may even give this one ago during a different phase of my life..but my recent read of it was disappointing.
November 26, 2019
I expected a lot better from this book. I have 2 older sisters myself and I love them dearly. So when I saw this book follows 3 sisters and their business I was excited but what I got was just a lot of banter and disagreements between them. They don't seem to like each other and also seem a little self centered. Running a business with family is difficult at times but the way they all behaved with each other don't sit well with me. And the story was boring as well. So, overall I was very disappointed.
May 19, 2021
Any romance with a wedding planner involved I say yes to, but unfortunately, this was not a romance. This was a family fiction with two cardboard cutout Generic Romance Guys, stilted dialogue, and two terrible protagonists. Pearl was irresponsible and lacked self awareness, Mari was merely included to foil Pearl, and I’m left feeling like Tif couldn’t find enough personality and narrative between the two of them to justify two novellas, let alone full novels. The key to your happily ever after? Skip this one.
May 20, 2019
3.5 stars
I really loved the variety of weddings presented in the book. It was lovely to see so many different types of ceremonies and couples, etc on the page. The family business stuff was hard at times because I absolutely get the dynamic of stubborn siblings clashing and I wanted to knock heads together and obviously you cannot do that to fictional characters.
This was another book that made me very hungry, so you know, beware of that.
I really loved the variety of weddings presented in the book. It was lovely to see so many different types of ceremonies and couples, etc on the page. The family business stuff was hard at times because I absolutely get the dynamic of stubborn siblings clashing and I wanted to knock heads together and obviously you cannot do that to fictional characters.
This was another book that made me very hungry, so you know, beware of that.
April 30, 2019
The first thing that attracted me to this book was the title and the bright cover art! I found the title intriguing and it instantly made me think about things that make my own ‘happily ever after’ so special.
I also thought the bright robin’s egg blue and yellow on the cover was so eye catching and I was instantly curious about this one and gladly agreed to read it!
The summary of the book also sounded interesting. I have been reading a lot of historical mysteries as well as some heavy women’s fiction and frankly I needed something that was going to be more along the lines of a ‘rom-com’ and that’s exactly that this book promised on the description!
Right away one of the things that jumped out of this book was the concept of sisterhood. This book is about sisters who are trying to keep their wedding planning business going, but it’s so much deeper than just that and I absolutely love how that played out in the story itself!
I loved how different the sisters are. I only have one sister but I loved how birth order and the sisters’ different personalities shined through in this book. I personally identified with Jane the most (she is the eldest and so am I) and as I read her story I felt like she and I shared so many of the same traits and it was just fun to see her story come alive and watch how each of the sisters reacted to the other’s personalities. While her story was perhaps a little more limited than the other sisters, I loved it all the same.
I was actually expecting this book to be more of a romantic comedy and it had elements of both romance and comedy but for me this was much more a novel about sisterhood and family than anything else, which actually worked just fine for me.
This book definitely reminded me how hard family relationships can sometimes be, but in a light way rather than a book that was overly deep and heavy. While this book had a number of poignant moments and perspectives, it wasn’t so heavy that I felt exhausted when I was done. Rather I felt like it gently reminded me of things that were important in families with some humor and romance to break things up. I very much enjoyed reading this one as it brought out a lot to think about without being overly heavy.
I also found that this book was super fast reading. I was able to finish it in a matter of a couple of days but could easily have read it in one or two sittings. If you are looking for something to entertain you on a flight or the beach this summer then you definitely want to pick this one up!
See my full review here
I also thought the bright robin’s egg blue and yellow on the cover was so eye catching and I was instantly curious about this one and gladly agreed to read it!
The summary of the book also sounded interesting. I have been reading a lot of historical mysteries as well as some heavy women’s fiction and frankly I needed something that was going to be more along the lines of a ‘rom-com’ and that’s exactly that this book promised on the description!
Right away one of the things that jumped out of this book was the concept of sisterhood. This book is about sisters who are trying to keep their wedding planning business going, but it’s so much deeper than just that and I absolutely love how that played out in the story itself!
I loved how different the sisters are. I only have one sister but I loved how birth order and the sisters’ different personalities shined through in this book. I personally identified with Jane the most (she is the eldest and so am I) and as I read her story I felt like she and I shared so many of the same traits and it was just fun to see her story come alive and watch how each of the sisters reacted to the other’s personalities. While her story was perhaps a little more limited than the other sisters, I loved it all the same.
I was actually expecting this book to be more of a romantic comedy and it had elements of both romance and comedy but for me this was much more a novel about sisterhood and family than anything else, which actually worked just fine for me.
This book definitely reminded me how hard family relationships can sometimes be, but in a light way rather than a book that was overly deep and heavy. While this book had a number of poignant moments and perspectives, it wasn’t so heavy that I felt exhausted when I was done. Rather I felt like it gently reminded me of things that were important in families with some humor and romance to break things up. I very much enjoyed reading this one as it brought out a lot to think about without being overly heavy.
I also found that this book was super fast reading. I was able to finish it in a matter of a couple of days but could easily have read it in one or two sittings. If you are looking for something to entertain you on a flight or the beach this summer then you definitely want to pick this one up!
See my full review here
May 14, 2019
Just call me Mari because she is me. 😛
Full review here: https://maidamalby.com/2019/05/14/the...
#representation
#multicultural
#diversebooks
#FilipinoAmerican
Full review here: https://maidamalby.com/2019/05/14/the...
#representation
#multicultural
#diversebooks
#FilipinoAmerican
June 13, 2019
I wanted to like this way more than I actually did. The sisters' relationships were fascinating but in the end, I was frustrated by how unequally they were treated. What happened to Jane's story??
January 13, 2019
Fantastic!!!
June 13, 2019
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Two years ago, Tif Marcelo won me over with her debut romance and I've been in love with her words ever since. I was so excited to pick up her newest release and though I didn't have a clue what the book was about, I knew I was gonna enjoy whatever Marcelo was about to serve me (and spoiler alert: I did!).
Marisol de la Rosa and her two sisters, Janelyn and Pearl, have recently taken over their parent's wedding shop to continue the family tradition of creating happily ever afters. But working with family doesn't always go as smoothly as one would hope and working with your sisters, well...that's a whole other level. Especially when not all of you see eye-to-eye but if the de la Rosa sisters want to save the family business from going under, they're gonna have to find a way to work together before everything falls apart.
When I first started reading The Key to Happily Ever After, I didn't realize that it was going to be women's fiction and while this genre isn't usually my cup of tea, I was invested in this story after reading the first chapter so I had to continue it! I adore the concept of this story! Three sisters running a wedding shop together while trying not to murder one another and also trying to find themselves just spoke to me. Also, wedding shenanigans! Who doesn't love some good wedding shenanigans?! This story focus' on two sisters in particular: Marisol and Pearl. These two have always butted head and now Pearl is trying to go off on her own and create her own wedding business. She wants to be heard and she feels like Marisol isn't listening to anything she has to say. Now, I was totally #TeamPearl but at the same time, I understand why Marisol behaved the way that she did. She was just being overprotective due to experiences in the past and she was also trying not to do anything that would cause further damage to the already struggling business. I enjoyed seeing these two work through their issues and find a way to fix things and realize that family always has your back, even when you're fighting. I will say that I wished Jane had also had a strong story line like her other two sisters did. Jane plays mediator between Pearl and Marisol and she spends most of her time trying to keep the peace so her side story doesn't really start coming together until we're almost to the end of the book. I wish Marcelo had taken more time to develop Jane's plot line and I also wished we could've seen the outcome for her and her potential love interest. Speaking of love interests, there is some romance sprinkled throughout this book and I totally shipped all the ships that did set sail by the end of this book! This made my romance loving heart so happy because even though the romances weren't the focus of this story, they did have some good swoony moments that left a smile on my face. Overall, The Key to Happily Ever After was a charming read and I definitely recommend picking it up if you're in the mood for a story about sisters, a little bit of love and a whole lot of happily ever afters.
Two years ago, Tif Marcelo won me over with her debut romance and I've been in love with her words ever since. I was so excited to pick up her newest release and though I didn't have a clue what the book was about, I knew I was gonna enjoy whatever Marcelo was about to serve me (and spoiler alert: I did!).
Marisol de la Rosa and her two sisters, Janelyn and Pearl, have recently taken over their parent's wedding shop to continue the family tradition of creating happily ever afters. But working with family doesn't always go as smoothly as one would hope and working with your sisters, well...that's a whole other level. Especially when not all of you see eye-to-eye but if the de la Rosa sisters want to save the family business from going under, they're gonna have to find a way to work together before everything falls apart.
When I first started reading The Key to Happily Ever After, I didn't realize that it was going to be women's fiction and while this genre isn't usually my cup of tea, I was invested in this story after reading the first chapter so I had to continue it! I adore the concept of this story! Three sisters running a wedding shop together while trying not to murder one another and also trying to find themselves just spoke to me. Also, wedding shenanigans! Who doesn't love some good wedding shenanigans?! This story focus' on two sisters in particular: Marisol and Pearl. These two have always butted head and now Pearl is trying to go off on her own and create her own wedding business. She wants to be heard and she feels like Marisol isn't listening to anything she has to say. Now, I was totally #TeamPearl but at the same time, I understand why Marisol behaved the way that she did. She was just being overprotective due to experiences in the past and she was also trying not to do anything that would cause further damage to the already struggling business. I enjoyed seeing these two work through their issues and find a way to fix things and realize that family always has your back, even when you're fighting. I will say that I wished Jane had also had a strong story line like her other two sisters did. Jane plays mediator between Pearl and Marisol and she spends most of her time trying to keep the peace so her side story doesn't really start coming together until we're almost to the end of the book. I wish Marcelo had taken more time to develop Jane's plot line and I also wished we could've seen the outcome for her and her potential love interest. Speaking of love interests, there is some romance sprinkled throughout this book and I totally shipped all the ships that did set sail by the end of this book! This made my romance loving heart so happy because even though the romances weren't the focus of this story, they did have some good swoony moments that left a smile on my face. Overall, The Key to Happily Ever After was a charming read and I definitely recommend picking it up if you're in the mood for a story about sisters, a little bit of love and a whole lot of happily ever afters.
July 25, 2019
The Key To Happily Ever After is probably not the kind of romance people will expect because family is at the forefront of this book, but nevertheless, it is absolutely delightful and I loved spending time with the de la Rosa sisters.
With their parents retired and the family wedding planning business finally theirs, the de la Rosa sisters have a lot on their plate. But when Pearl and Marisol cannot stop clashing about their ideas for the business, things start unraveling. This isn’t helped by Jane’s discovery that their parents might not have been the best with the financials and their family business isn’t as safe as they thought it was.
Together the de la Rosa sisters must work to figure out their place in the world and within their family, all the while trying to save the family business.
The Key To Happily Ever After is honestly such a breath of fresh air. I love how complex the familial relationships are while the romances are much more straightforward and sweet. I also love that this book empowers the main characters to find their HEAs by putting themselves and their interests first and their romances second. I love this book so much and I honestly, I would not mind seeing it adapted for the big screen
With their parents retired and the family wedding planning business finally theirs, the de la Rosa sisters have a lot on their plate. But when Pearl and Marisol cannot stop clashing about their ideas for the business, things start unraveling. This isn’t helped by Jane’s discovery that their parents might not have been the best with the financials and their family business isn’t as safe as they thought it was.
Together the de la Rosa sisters must work to figure out their place in the world and within their family, all the while trying to save the family business.
The Key To Happily Ever After is honestly such a breath of fresh air. I love how complex the familial relationships are while the romances are much more straightforward and sweet. I also love that this book empowers the main characters to find their HEAs by putting themselves and their interests first and their romances second. I love this book so much and I honestly, I would not mind seeing it adapted for the big screen
May 13, 2019
What a sweet and tender story about such adorable sisters! This was such a fun read. I found myself smiling throughout the book. It had cute, rom com vibes that wouldn't quit! I could easily see this book turning into a chick flick. This is the perfect beach read for the summer!
I am so happy about more Filipino-American representation in contemporary fiction and romance and Tif Marcelo does a stupendous job of seamlessly weaving it into the story.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I am so happy about more Filipino-American representation in contemporary fiction and romance and Tif Marcelo does a stupendous job of seamlessly weaving it into the story.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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September 15, 2019A fun story...really good picture of families and friends.
October 23, 2019
I would like to thank GALLERY BOOKS for sending me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
The Key to Happily Ever After is one of the best women’s fiction I have read this year & to top , it is set in Washington DC one of my fav places. A wonderful story about the de la Rosa sisters Mari, Jane & Pearl who have recently inherited the family business of wedding planning from their mother so there is a some chaos with managing the finances to keep the business successfully running then there are things unraveling at their personal front, their differences since its not easy to work together without clashing but the interest of the family & the business as to come first. I love how Tif Marcelo has knitted this story keeping the main focus on the sisters, their bond, will they be able to come together in this crisis despite their conflicts & how will they get through it writing an happily ever after for each other.
It was such a delight to indulge in their sisterly fights & making up. When you read this, you will definitely side by one sister since all three have different personalities but at the end I seemed to love all three at different times, it just happened.
Tif has written such a beautiful story around these sister making each of them alive, they are strong. definitely to take something from each of them.
The Key to Happily Ever After is one of the best women’s fiction I have read this year & to top , it is set in Washington DC one of my fav places. A wonderful story about the de la Rosa sisters Mari, Jane & Pearl who have recently inherited the family business of wedding planning from their mother so there is a some chaos with managing the finances to keep the business successfully running then there are things unraveling at their personal front, their differences since its not easy to work together without clashing but the interest of the family & the business as to come first. I love how Tif Marcelo has knitted this story keeping the main focus on the sisters, their bond, will they be able to come together in this crisis despite their conflicts & how will they get through it writing an happily ever after for each other.
It was such a delight to indulge in their sisterly fights & making up. When you read this, you will definitely side by one sister since all three have different personalities but at the end I seemed to love all three at different times, it just happened.
Tif has written such a beautiful story around these sister making each of them alive, they are strong. definitely to take something from each of them.
June 29, 2019
This was so cute, I fell in love with the whole de la Rosa family. The sisters were so realistic and relatable. I might have gone crazy in that family, but they made it work.
I loved the behind the scenes look at operating a wedding business with the added drama of three sisters as equal owners on paper, but oldest sis Marisol is definitely in charge, ask anyone. Youngest sis Pearl bristles and aches to spread her wings. So much great introspection and growth.
One thing that threw me off just a little was it wasn't clear whose "romance" story it was, as Pearl and Marisol had pretty much equal billing with POV chapters and development of their own romantic pursuits with two very different but worthy guys. I kind of liked it, but it wasn't what I expected from a traditional romance.
Hope that we get to see more from this family.
I loved the behind the scenes look at operating a wedding business with the added drama of three sisters as equal owners on paper, but oldest sis Marisol is definitely in charge, ask anyone. Youngest sis Pearl bristles and aches to spread her wings. So much great introspection and growth.
One thing that threw me off just a little was it wasn't clear whose "romance" story it was, as Pearl and Marisol had pretty much equal billing with POV chapters and development of their own romantic pursuits with two very different but worthy guys. I kind of liked it, but it wasn't what I expected from a traditional romance.
Hope that we get to see more from this family.
April 24, 2019
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It was a delight meeting the de la Rosa girls (especially as they reminded me of my sisters and our relationships too), and I also enjoyed the wedding planning business aspect of everything and the Filipino cultural details. I would have just liked a little bit more time with the romances each sister has!
It was a delight meeting the de la Rosa girls (especially as they reminded me of my sisters and our relationships too), and I also enjoyed the wedding planning business aspect of everything and the Filipino cultural details. I would have just liked a little bit more time with the romances each sister has!
January 8, 2021
I’m so mad at books being advertised as romance when they’re really not. It was a nice story but not what I was expecting at all.
September 7, 2022
A cute story about sisters who run a Wedding planning business.
The ere is a bit of romance, a bit of drama, but mostly it’s about the relationship of the three sisters.
The ere is a bit of romance, a bit of drama, but mostly it’s about the relationship of the three sisters.
May 20, 2019
The Key to Happily Ever After by Tif Marcelo follows sisters Mari, Jane and Pearl de la Rosa as the three have just inherited the family's wedding planning business Rings and Roses from their parents. Every chapter has a specific song-themed title and the POV shifts between the sisters.
Mari, the oldest sister is doing her best to be a good example for her sisters after she's made some mistakes in the past. Mari has put her personal life on hold to pour everything into the business, but then she meets her client's brother and starts having feelings she hasn't felt in quite some time..
Jane is a single-mother to her son, trying to balance the business and family life while for yearning for her son to have his father in his life and playing referee between her constantly feuding sisters. She is both the middle-child and the mediator in the family and also in the business.
And then we have Pearl, the youngest of the sisters. Pearl is dying for more responsibility in the shop. After running social media for Rings and Roses for awhile she feels she's ready for the challenge of having a top client all to herself and she's got her sights set on a big one. Mari, however isn't sure she's ready and Pearl starts questioning whether or not she needs more from her career. Plus her long-time friend Trent, who also happens to be her best friend's brother, starts hanging out with her more. Could their childhood friendship possibly blossom into something more?
I LOVED this one! It was exactly the book I needed right now. This is a PERFECT one to add to your summer reading lists to enjoy on the beach/in a hammock/on the porch. I loved the sister's dynamic as they navigated being new business owners. I loved the blossoming relationships that delicately took shape throughout the book. I loved seeing the ins and outs of the wedding planning business and the conflicts that arose from that. This is such a cute, charming, heart-warming book. If you want a quick one to read quickly that will just make you feel good - you HAVE to add this one to your list and it's available now!! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Thanks to Gallery Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!
Mari, the oldest sister is doing her best to be a good example for her sisters after she's made some mistakes in the past. Mari has put her personal life on hold to pour everything into the business, but then she meets her client's brother and starts having feelings she hasn't felt in quite some time..
Jane is a single-mother to her son, trying to balance the business and family life while for yearning for her son to have his father in his life and playing referee between her constantly feuding sisters. She is both the middle-child and the mediator in the family and also in the business.
And then we have Pearl, the youngest of the sisters. Pearl is dying for more responsibility in the shop. After running social media for Rings and Roses for awhile she feels she's ready for the challenge of having a top client all to herself and she's got her sights set on a big one. Mari, however isn't sure she's ready and Pearl starts questioning whether or not she needs more from her career. Plus her long-time friend Trent, who also happens to be her best friend's brother, starts hanging out with her more. Could their childhood friendship possibly blossom into something more?
I LOVED this one! It was exactly the book I needed right now. This is a PERFECT one to add to your summer reading lists to enjoy on the beach/in a hammock/on the porch. I loved the sister's dynamic as they navigated being new business owners. I loved the blossoming relationships that delicately took shape throughout the book. I loved seeing the ins and outs of the wedding planning business and the conflicts that arose from that. This is such a cute, charming, heart-warming book. If you want a quick one to read quickly that will just make you feel good - you HAVE to add this one to your list and it's available now!! // ☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Thanks to Gallery Books for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own!
August 28, 2022
Despite its marketing claims, The Key to Happily Ever After is a beautifully rendered story about sisterhood, sacrifices, and compromises - particularly within the complex dynamics of Filipino families.
This book is about the bonds forged by imperfect, albeit unwavering, love and bolstered by unbreakable strength, even when tested. It's about how families can fight amongst each other, but still be willing to die for one another. And perhaps, most strikingly, it's also about finding your identity and reaching for the stars, without uprooting yourself and turning your back on important people in the process.
Final impressions:
• First things first, this novel is neither romance nor comedy. Do not believe the marketing team.
• At its heart, The Key to Happily Ever After follows three sisters as they come to inherit their family's business - and how this inevitably challenges their relationships with each other.
• I adored, truly adored how this book plays into traditional scripts within Filipino families (particularly among siblings) and manages to cleverly subvert them. - For instance, Marisol has nailed the role of obsessive, authoritative, know-it-all panganay; but at the same time, she's the reformed "troubled delinquent" / black sheep of the family.
• While the romance plots were secondary and much of the development happened off-page, I still found them enjoyable to read about! We've got friends to lovers (), girl falls for guy next door, and (possible) second-chance romance.
• Exquisite family drama that's on par with Filipino teleseryes! With a quick caveat that sometimes, the drama felt a little too prolonged - but it personally did not bother me, so your mileage may vary.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Key to Happily Ever After as a character study on three Filipino sisters - all of whom trying to blossom in their own way, whilst navigating occasionally thorny paths. Perfect for fans of Roselle Lim, I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy introspective, family-centric stories with a dash of love and romance.
Recommended!
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
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This book is about the bonds forged by imperfect, albeit unwavering, love and bolstered by unbreakable strength, even when tested. It's about how families can fight amongst each other, but still be willing to die for one another. And perhaps, most strikingly, it's also about finding your identity and reaching for the stars, without uprooting yourself and turning your back on important people in the process.
Final impressions:
• First things first, this novel is neither romance nor comedy. Do not believe the marketing team.
• At its heart, The Key to Happily Ever After follows three sisters as they come to inherit their family's business - and how this inevitably challenges their relationships with each other.
• I adored, truly adored how this book plays into traditional scripts within Filipino families (particularly among siblings) and manages to cleverly subvert them. - For instance, Marisol has nailed the role of obsessive, authoritative, know-it-all panganay; but at the same time, she's the reformed "troubled delinquent" / black sheep of the family.
• While the romance plots were secondary and much of the development happened off-page, I still found them enjoyable to read about! We've got friends to lovers (), girl falls for guy next door, and (possible) second-chance romance.
• Exquisite family drama that's on par with Filipino teleseryes! With a quick caveat that sometimes, the drama felt a little too prolonged - but it personally did not bother me, so your mileage may vary.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Key to Happily Ever After as a character study on three Filipino sisters - all of whom trying to blossom in their own way, whilst navigating occasionally thorny paths. Perfect for fans of Roselle Lim, I would definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy introspective, family-centric stories with a dash of love and romance.
Recommended!
🌻🍃 More bookish content on Shut up, Shealea 🍃🌻
instagram • pinterest • twitter • ko-fi
April 16, 2019
I love reading books about sisters. This one is very true to life -- three sisters working together and having frequent disagreements but they always have each other's back when they need support. These three sisters are struggling to keep the family wedding planning business successful. Their parents had started the business and when they retired, they turned the business over to their daughters - Mari, Jane and Pearl. This is a sweet romantic comedy about the power of sisterhood.
Mari is the oldest daughter and the in-charge person. She feels like she should make the rules and the other sisters should fall into line. As the oldest of 3 sisters, I totally understand that attitude. Jane is second. She isn't as invested in the business because she is raising a small son alone. She handles the accounting and inventory at the wedding shop. Pearl is the youngest. Her sisters felt that she was flighty and not able to follow directions. Pearl feels that she is being limited by her sisters and is ready to take on planning for some of the brides. As they struggle to create happy and beautiful weddings for brides and their families, they need to work through their sister problems to make the business a total success.
There is romance on the horizon for all three sisters but first they need to work through their issues with the business and learn to work together to be successful. This is a great book about sisters!
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Mari is the oldest daughter and the in-charge person. She feels like she should make the rules and the other sisters should fall into line. As the oldest of 3 sisters, I totally understand that attitude. Jane is second. She isn't as invested in the business because she is raising a small son alone. She handles the accounting and inventory at the wedding shop. Pearl is the youngest. Her sisters felt that she was flighty and not able to follow directions. Pearl feels that she is being limited by her sisters and is ready to take on planning for some of the brides. As they struggle to create happy and beautiful weddings for brides and their families, they need to work through their sister problems to make the business a total success.
There is romance on the horizon for all three sisters but first they need to work through their issues with the business and learn to work together to be successful. This is a great book about sisters!
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
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