OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me" by Julie Wright.]

Charlotte Kingsley (Lettie) has the fairy-tale life—a stepsister (though, not a wicked one), a wicked mother (close enough to the wicked stepmother), and the handsome prince (Anders, her best friend). Too bad Lettie doesn’t believe in happily ever after for herself, only the characters she writes about. When the latest in a long line of rejections from Lettie’s dream agent hits her inbox, Lettie plunges into despair and resolves not to write anymore. It’s only after an entire tub of ice cream and a pep talk from Anders that inspiration strikes. Lettie writes a non-fiction book (something new for her), sends it to her dream agent, and is beyond shocked when the agent calls to say a publisher wants it.

The only caveat is that Lettie needs an entirely new image—to be portrayed as the strong, confident author of her empowering book. No more tubs of ice cream or sloppy social media pictures. And definitely no Anders, even though he’s finally worked up the courage to tell Lettie how he really feels about her. Lettie finds herself living two very different lives, and the pressure is high. Can her career and her relationship survive?

I loved this from start to finish. As a die-hard fan of fairy tales, Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me by Julie Wright was the contemporary romance I never knew I wanted. This hits all the sweet spots of a beautiful love story and features the most moving journey of self-discovery. I honestly couldn’t put it down.

Lettie was a fantastic leading lady. Her fears and joys felt so real. In accordance with the book’s title, her lens on the world had a wonderfully fairy-tale angle. For example, she frequently thought about how much she loved her stepsister, despite what the stories said she should feel for a stepsister. And what book with such a fairy-tale premise would be complete without a healthy helping of Disney references? My favorite was when Lettie was wearing her Merryweather pajamas—because “blue, not pink.” I cheered out loud.

Anders, too, is masterfully developed. Though the story is never from his point of view, he felt like a real person. I saw so much of him through Lettie. He had his own fears and wants and dreams. Though he loved his job as a paramedic, one of his true passions was photography, and I saw his devotion to the camera so strongly. On top of that, he’s Swedish and swoon worthy. In short, he’s the perfect romance hero while still being more than just a romance hero.

Aside from a great romance, this book offered so much in terms of learning about yourself. Lettie goes through so much before realizing who she is and who she wants to be. Her journey was a tough one, and it inspired me at every step. The excerpts from Lettie’s book at the beginning of each chapter added a nice bit of wisdom while setting up for what lesson would be tackled. They were also one more thing that just made this book’s world feel so real.

This was an exceptionally well-edited book. If I hadn’t been looking for errors, I wouldn’t have noticed the few I did. It is with great pleasure that I award Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me 4 out of 4 stars. I never thought to give it 3. I recommend this book for readers who love fairy tales, contemporary romances, and stories of personal growth. There is almost no adult language, and there are no intimate scenes beyond some kisses. I’d say that anyone sixteen or older could read this but that younger readers might not find the story as relatable as adults. There are also discussion questions at the end, which makes this a great book club pick. As for me, I will be seeking out more from this author.

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Glass Slippers, Ever After, and Me
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I'm not a fan of romance novels myself but this sounds like a very nice read. I'll be sure to recommend this to my romance-loving friends. Great review, especially the way you wrote about the depth of the characters; that sure intrigued me.

This is a beautiful written romance novel. Lettie is a very interesting character to read about and I like that the book is well edited. Thanks for the compelling review

I have to say that when you said that there were Disney references in this book, I was immediately interested! I am very selective with the romance novels that I read, but this one caught my attention in a different way. I really liked how the main character is independent, but still has romantic feelings for someone. Sure, women without a romantic partner are appealing, but there is no denying the fact that humans have emotional needs and there is no shame in being a leader and having romantic relationships.

I'm not a fan of romance novels, or when women have to portray a certain image of being thin and perfect. You did pique my intereste with the Disney references. Thank you for your review!

This sounds like a lovely read! A modern and female-empowered version of Cinderella perhaps... I'm excited to read this one. Thanks for the great review!

When I saw the cover and read the title I thought it was a Cinderella Story. Nice review!

This sounds like the perfect book for me. I love that there's no real language or sexual content. I love fairy tales, and this contemporary romance sounds so happy! I'll have to try it. Thanks.

This is definitely my type of book. A princess trying to choose between herself and a man she loves? Sign me up. I enjoyed reading your review. You have captured the main themes of the book so well.

A modern day fairy tale. It becomes relatable to people who wish for a novel filled with romance, ice cream, and discovering oneself through the process of delving into your inner mechanisms.

What an intriguing book review! You've sparked my interest. I want to go read it now. I'm always on the look out for a creative, new approach instead of the same old/same old tropes. Thanks for your review!

I loved the story. It is intriguing. Thanks for the great review!

I like the way you word your review. It feels like a real life fairy tale. I am curious and wish to more. Great review!

This sounds so sweet! I loved the references to the tubs of ice cream!! This author really connects with her audience. This looks good. Thanks for the intriguing review.

Okay. This sounds really sweet. I like that it subverts the stepsister trope and that it actually seems to look at how manufactured social media can be, albeit in a way that's perfect for the novel. You hit all the sweet spots with this review too and I hope the book finds its perfect audience.