4 When You Wish Upon A Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Once Upon a Time... their lived a woman named Rory... Rory lived in a house in need of fixing up with her daughter Belle...Belle is 16 and has just discovered boys....Rory also has a mother who wants nothing but the best for her daughter, but sometimes can be a bit overbearing.... One day Rory is at the local hardware store getting things together to fix up her house when she meets John Prince handsome helpful contractor extraordinaire......

This was a very charming story... filled with some pretty amazing characters along with some pretty compelling drama... and the drama is multi generational grandma, Mom, and daughter all find them cells involved in some kind of sticky situation... I thought this was a lot of fun and I really liked the relationship between Grandma and mom, and grandma and granddaughter... the relationship I struggled with a little was between mom and daughter, Mom needed to step up and be a little more aware... perhaps because her mother was a little overbearing she was trying to not be that way, but a few questions should have been asked... just saying....

There were some funny moments in this book, however I’m not sure about the laugh out loud mentioned in the title... Emma Robinson’s first book was hilarious and this book was just as good it was just more sweet than funny... this book also had a bit more serious subject matter, and it was done really well! I just don’t want you to expect to be laughing every minute, this book is fun but not a over the top funny read.... although Rory goes on a pretty hilarious blind date....

Rory also has some pretty amazing BFFs... all these girls were so genuine and I love the bond between them all... John Prince was as expected too good to be true... but if you are in the middle of house renovations there is no better prince than a prince that knows what he’s doing with a hammer!

Absolutely recommend to fans of a sweet story with a bit of everything friendship, family, romance, house renovations, and drama...

And they all lived happily ever after.....

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy of this book ***

First of all, LOVING Rory's daughter's nickname, Belle, as that is my own daughter's nickname! Great minds think alike! 

Second of all, if I were to be made into a fictional character, Rory would be me to a T. I mean, our personalities were so similar, I had to double check that my house wasn't bugged (FYI, clearly it wasn't as that is OBVIOUSLY illegal....in case anyone didn't get the joke). As far as Rory is concerned, the theme tune of her life echos the song by the Pussycat Dolls 'I don't Need A Man', because guess what? SHE DOESN'T. A woman after my own heart. Many people see a single woman, or a single mum and automatically assume that they are in need of a man to put up a shelf, cut the grass, or put a pencil behind their ear and wave a screwdriver around like they know what they're doing. Contrary to popular belief, not all women need a man. I know, shocking isn't it? There are actually women who, oh I don't know, are happy on their own and can cut their own grass! Rory is one of them, and I am too! Well, I assume that Rory can cut her own grass....

I couldn't help but chuckle at the princess references regarding the names, as well as the fairytale reference where another character is concerned. I don't believe in fairytales, yet I love reading them and would champion anyone who does believe in them or aim to get their fairytale happily ever after. I loved the way that Emma Robinson wrote her main character, as she couldn't be further from a fairytale lifestyle if she tried - definitely a breath of fresh where I am concerned because if she chose to find the love of her life, it would be her own choice, and not because she ate a dodgy apple and fell asleep. Whilst some of Rory's actions rival several Disney princesses own actions (yes, I laughed), I couldn't help but admire Rory for standing by what she believed in both in her work life, and her personal life.

As for Belle - thankfully my own daughter isn't at the teenage stage yet, but I must have lived under a rock when teenagers did what Belle did, because I sure as hell didn't! I had the same outlook as Rory did when she thought about what her daughter was getting up to!

Joking aside, 'Happily Never After' struck several chords with me in terms of the single mum, single woman, and highly independent outlook. Whilst I do love reading a good romcom, I did think 'omg about time!' when the storyline progressed and I got to know Rory a bit more. It's not often that single women/single mums are portrayed in a good light, so I am over the moon that Emma Robinson decided to do that.

I have to admit though (sorry), I wasn't a fan of Susie and the way she went about things, pretty much acting like a bull in a china shop and refusing to listen to other people. Don't get me wrong, she made me laugh, but she did become a little overbearing at times. Although to be fair, Rory should have said something...but that's just my opinion!

'Happily Never After' is now my version of a fairytale as Rory is definitely a character to admire. Full of lots of laughs, smiles, and a shedload of 'you can do it if you put your back into it', Emma Robinson has shown that people's fairy tales are individual to their circumstances and just because one person may want a Prince Charming and seven kids, another woman could find her 'happily ever after' on her own, or even much later on in life. I loved how the author put across the message that independence is a trait to be admired, and how forcing someone to do something that YOU want to do will not make them happy deep down. 'Happily Never After' is a brilliant example of happiness coming in different sizes, at different times, for different reasons. Because as long as you're happy yourself, you have already found your happily ever after. Such a fab, laugh out loud, energetic, and enchanting read to lose yourself in any day of the week. Oh, and Emma Robinson is TOTALLY my fairy godmother after reading this. Obviously....can't have a fairytale without one now, can we?

The story of Rory and Belle and their new home, with laughter all the way. I loved John’s character and the will they - won’t they stories. Laugh out loud funny, with a couple of serious bits thrown in - Belle and her new boyfriend, and Dragon Man. Realky enjoyed.

Every now and then I love to indulge myself and read a feel good book, you know the sort, one you can sit back and relax with and will leave you with a smile on your face when you come to the end of it. For me Happily Never After is one of those books.
Aurora or Rory as she prefers to be known is a teacher and single parent to 16yr old Belle. With her ex-husband needing his house back that she and Belle have been living in, she decides to take on a massive renovation project. With her mother Sheila thinking she is crazy and should be concentrating on finding a husband, she is determined to do it and do it on her own.
I couldn’t help but like the character of Rory. She is fiercely independent to the point of stubbornness. Every time someone suggests that she gets help, she does the exact opposite… a trait I can sometimes identify with. On her first trip to the local DIY store she meets John Prince. Initially she mistakes him for an employee and he seems to play along but he does eventually confess that he is actually a builder. He insists on giving her some free advice but ends up helping fix the house, always managing to be there just when she needs him the most… usually when she is in her “I can do this alone” phase. Rory is both proud and protective of her students, most of which are considered problems, and will go that extra mile for them to ensure that learning is fun.
John has his own hang ups regarding relationships and is quite adamant that he prefers to be single but he is a bit like a knight in shining armour to a few single women in the area, helping them with odd jobs for a fraction of the true cost of the work.
Her best friends are also teachers but they do deem to be the opposite of Rory, Susie is confident and speaks her mind whilst Penny is quiet shy and quiet. Both however seem determined to find a man and enter into a permanent stable relationship. They are often dragging Rory to nights out in the quest to find Mr Right.
Although you just know how it will end for Rory and her friends, I found that I couldn’t put the book down and raced through it. Happily Never After is the perfect holiday read whilst lying on the beach or relaxing by the pool and will give you a few chuckles along the way.

This story is about parenting troubles, teenage rebellion and the challenges of teaching profession. There are lots of family drama and romance and I really found it hard to put this down. The characters are also really likeable throughout.

This book is an easy interesting read but it's definitely 'not laugh out loud' as it says on the cover however it is a perfect summer read.

This is a easy feelgood read that gets you laughing and crying and then giving your nose a good blow at the end when everything gets sorted out! It follows the trials and tribulations of secondary school teacher Rory, her daughter Belle and mum Sheila, together with best friends Susie and Penny. With that many single women in the mix there's got to be romances a plenty as well as misunderstandings and inevitable heartbreak. And there's Rory's ramshackle house that she's taken on as a project as a central problem to be resolved.

The author writes with a lovely light wit that pulls the narrative along and gets you invested in her characters and their lives, with subject matter that will resonate with many. It was a very enjoyable read, perfect for a lazy summer weekend.

This is described as a romantic comedy and although there was romance and humour in it I felt that it also examined some more serious issues such as loneliness, serious illness, aging and grief to name a few.
Rory is a teacher in her 30s who has brought up her 16 year old daughter Belle alone. She has a widowed mother Sheila, who has just moved into sheltered accommodation and two teacher friends at work who keep her company. However her daughter is growing up and she is starting to feel that she is not needed as much at home.
She has just bought a ramshackle house that needs fixing up and she plans to do it on her own. She claims she is not looking for romance or a happy ending and is happy to rely on herself. Or is she?Maybe it’s time to look for someone as her mother, her friends and even her daughter keep suggesting.
She meets builder John “Prince at the DIY store and the reader spends the book wondering if they will ever get together despite his numerous trips to her house to help her with the renovations. Is John her “Prince Charming”?
There is also a lot of humorous banter between Rory and her female friends who keep trying to introduce her to suitable or not so suitable men!
The teaching and school aspect of the novel was very well described ; the new deputy head coming in and trying to change teaching methods as well as the absolute fear the Ofsted inspection cause- ring so true. I started to wonder if the author works or worked in a school as I do!
The characters are well developed, particularly Rory and her mother and I felt they could almost be people I know which is obviously the sign of a good writer.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which would make an excellent Summer read. It would particularly appeal to readers who enjoy Marian Keyes or Sophie Kinsella!
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Rory and her daughter, Belle, move into an grand old fixer-upper house. Although Rory has been divorced from Belle's dad, Scott, for 15 years - I question the concept of Rory being an independent woman.

Rory's mother, Sheila, is constantly wanting Rory to find a man. Out of nowhere (well, at the hardware store) John the Builder appears. He begins to help Rory more and more with the major rehaul of her house. At the same time, Rory is a teacher of English at a parochial school. Rory and her two friends, Susie and Penny, are not happy with the new deputy principal, Nathan. Of course, he wants change for the teachers and he wants it NOW.

Sheila befriends a couple who live in her retirement complex. Olive has Alzheimer's & George is her caring husband. The three of them spend a lot of time together and we realize that Sheila is becoming attracted to George.

Rory develops feelings for John over time and she finds out that he likes helping (and giving discounts to) single women. This curtails Rory a bit from her pursuit, but her heart still cares for him. He shows up all of the time to work on her place and she thinks he does this for all of the women.

.In between, Bella has a boyfriend who takes up her time (and more), Rory brings home a student to stay with them while his mom is in the hospital, Olive passes away, and a big inspection happens at the school.

This book is good - recommend for the light at heart. Not humorous, but cute at times. The characters were quite well defined - either you liked them or you didn't. There is a surprise ending!!!!!

Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a sweet read!

Rory does not believe in love. It is that simple. As far as she is concerned, "life is not a fairy tale." She is truly convinced that Prince Charming might not be there for everyone, at the very least, her. Anyway, what time does she have to think about love, something everyone is pushing at her? She just bought a fixer-upper for her and her sixteen-year-old daughter, Belle. She is a very busy teacher with sensitive students and a full load. She has been on her own for more years than she would like to admit, besides she likes it that way. Oh, about "life not being a fairytale?" What's up with the builder, John Prince? He ends up helping her with her house, help she is extremely reluctant to accept.

Happily Never After has it all: sweet romance, family connectiveness and drama, fantastic characterization, best friends, real emotionalism and more. Rory was indeed the center of it all, and her character was written quite well. She struggled to be an independent woman, was a fantastic mother and daughter and an excellent teacher. Her relationship with Belle and her mother Sheila was handled quite well. Their relationship was marvelous. I so adored Rory's relationship with best friends Susie and Penny, although Susie was desperately seeking Mr. Right - for all three of them.

Most of all, I loved the slow romance that burned between Rory and John. Would the two ever get it together? What about everyone else and their desire to be loved and needed? This is a story not to be missed if these questions are going to be answered properly. This is truly a cute story that was very touching on so many levels. It was a delightfully quick read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

Everybody wants somebody to love and to love you back, but once you have been hurt real deep, you might see things differently. You want to depend only on yourself and keep your heart hidden behind a high wall. You can run, but you can not seem to hide when cupid aims his arrow ...
I thought it was a wonderful and fluently written book. I could hardly put it down. It had some fun parts that made me smile, but some that tugged my heartstrings.
There was nothing that I did not like. The mix of both Rory's personal and professional life resulted in a 5 star read.
Thank you, Emma Robinson, Bookouture and Netgalley.

Rory is a teacher and single mum to 16 year old Belle. She has just bought a ramshackle house that is in serious need of an overhaul. Consequently, she doesn’t have time for romance, nor does she want any. Everyone else seems to think that is exactly what she needs and tries to persuade Rory that her motto of ‘life is not like a fairy-tale’ needs changing! Right on cue, into her life walks Prince Charming….or builder John Prince to be more precise! Meeting him in the aisle of B&Q, John agrees to help Rory out with her house renovation for a fraction of the cost! The only problem, every time Rory claps eyes on him her heart begins to flutter!

I absolutely loved this book. It was equally funny and sad, moving between the two effortlessly! I was left laughing out loud one minute and then tears welling up, particularly with the tender moments she shared with her mum. Her daughter, Belle has just discovered boys and has gone from being a conscientious student to a daughter that Rory doesn’t know anymore. Rory’s widowed mum is on a mission to get Rory fixed up with any eligible man and Rory’s teacher friends are trying to sort their own love lives out as well as hers! And of course there is John Prince! The perfect builder who is always on hand to help Rory out, and not just with her building project! Where can I find me one of those!!??

Rory is such a lovable character! She works hard, tries to be a good mum, daughter and friend but sometimes doesn’t quite get it right. I love the way she deals with her ‘under-achiever’ class and certainly hoped that if my child was struggling at school that they had a teacher like Rory to help them. I also loved her relationship with Charlie and his mum, whose story was so very touching. My favourite Rory part though had to be when she first meets John Prince in the aisles of B&Q. I actually laughed out loud at this point, as it was so realistic and I’m sure some of us have done this at some point in our lives!

I’ve read a few reviews that say it wasn’t the hilarious romantic story which they thought. I think I must have been reading something different to everyone else! I thought it was fantastically funny but also so heart-warming! It was an absolute perfect read and I found the story such a pleasure to read! I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put it down until I’d finished it! It was the perfect romantic story and I’m genuinely sad that I’ve finished it! In fact, I may have to read it all over again!

This is a perfect vacation or beach read. The main character is relatable and interesting, and the story moves along at a perfect pace. I will definitely recommend this to library users who like Mary Kay Andrews, Katie Fforde, and Sophie Kinsella.

Aurora (Rory) and her daughter Christabel (Belle) have just moved into a new home and one that needs some serious renovations. Until she meets John, a local builder, she planned on doing just about everything around the house herself. He really becomes her princecharming. Between fixing up her new home, trying to raise a teenage daughter on her own and being a teacher with a department head breathing down her neck, who has time for relationships anyway?

This was a really cute little read, following Rory and John finally realizing that they might just need a partner in their lives, even if they didn't think they wanted one. Despite the intense drama at the school and from teenage drama from Belle, I think Rory handled her situations really well.

I liked Sheila and all her rambling, however Rory's friends bothered me a little bit. They were really pushy and just seemed after one thing - their next relationship. The majority of the time I didn't even realize who the author was detailing because they both were so inconsequential to me.

Happily Never After is described as a hilarious romantic novel, however that is not how I would define it. It's definitely a romance story, but hilarious? No. Even very funny? Not really. But still a good one nonetheless. I would even go as far as to say that it was hard to put down.

Very easily rated 4/5 stars.

A great cosy read to lose yourself in. Some family drama, romance, and a hot builder, what more could you ask for?

This is a perfect read to curl up with a mug of tea and enjoy.

A sweet tale of Rory, single mum who’s not interested in love. But her daughter Belle, and her mum Sheila are. And so are her friends - Penny and Suzi.

As Rory’s a teacher at the local school, we get insights into the life of a teacher and the extra hours and effort that go in to school life beyond what you see in the classroom. We meet Charlie, one of Rory’s boys in troubled class 10-G and learn of his struggles to support his unwell mum. Oh and we meet a local builder who’s helping Rory to do up her wreck of a house.

A broad cast of characters and caricatures that blend well together and provide some amusing anecdotes.

A light read with a little more depth to it, particularly in the later chapters. An interesting read - but definitely not laugh out loud!!! (Well not for me anyway)

3.5*

Rory doesn’t believe in love. She has got too many things going on in life going on. Rory is a single mother of a 16-year-old daughter. She is a teacher who has the deputy head always putting pressure on her and she has also brought a rundown house. She hasn’t got time for a prince charming to come her way.
One day she is in her local B&Q when she meets John Prince a builder. Who Rory mistaken for someone working in the shop. Who gives him his business card and ends up helping her fix up the house. Her daughter and her mother are trying to persuade her that there is something more between her and John but, Rory us still adamant that she doesn’t need anyone.
This is described as a hilarious romantic story. I didn’t think it was but, I thought that this is a lovely romantic story, that I found it hard to put down from start to finish. I loved all the characters and I highly recommend it.

My review has been posted to Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

Absolutely unputdownable! Thinking about if Rory will ever have a happy ending is one of the last thing on your minds once the strands of this intricately woven story meet its climatic ending. I loved this book. I finished it in 24 hours. I miss the characters already!

Thank you for providing me with a copy of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it, felt it ended too soon and it was a nice read. Well recommended

Happily Never After is a fun, heart-warming novel with enjoyable characters and snappy dialogue. The story was predictable, true, but I hadn't really expected anything else. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a fun summer read!