Happily Ever Afters: 01/16/21

Happily Ever Afters by Elise Bryant is a YA romance set in a Long Beach arts high school. Tessa Johnson has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her best friend Caroline is her number one fan (and only reader).

Now, though, in a new school and in a creative writing program, she'll be expected to share her work. Jitters over having to share has given her writer's block. It's bad enough she's likely to fail her novel writing class.

On the romance front, there are two boys.

There's Sam, her across the street neighbor. He loves to bake. He's reliable and respectful. He gets on well with Tessa's older brother who is disabled.

Then there's Nico. He's gorgeous. He's in the writing program. He knows how to say nice sounding things. He makes her swoon but he has a girlfriend.

In terms of how Tessa freezes under the stress of sharing her work I'm reminded of the middle grade novel Something to Say by Lisa Moore Ramée (2020).

I personally find Tessa's inability to write after changing schools unrelatable. However, I know others who have gone through similar experiences, so Happily Ever Afters will resonate with readers.

Elise Bryant's next novel is One True Loves and is scheduled for release on January 4th, 2021.

Four stars

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