I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Igloo Books in exchange for an honest review.

Of all the villains who deserve a sad origin story, Gaston is not one of them. Still, I was super excited to read this retelling/prequel/exploration into Disney non-canon. And I'm so glad I did!

Happily Never After Gaston is the story of Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, reimagined as an ugly and unpleasant teenager. Living in his brother's shadow and hated by his family, his luck starts to change when he meets an enchantress named Agatha and they form an arrangement of sorts. If Gaston can prove himself to be a good person, she will make him attractive. It's a simple premise and one which is extremely well-executed.

This book can't have been easy to write. Gaston is intentionally a flat and unpleasant character in the original film. He has to be compelling enough here to half-lead a book, but not so sympathetic that it doesn't fit with his portrayal in the film. I'd say the author does a great job of this. Is this Gaston from the films? No, but he's close enough. And honestly, it was a lot of fun as a Beauty and the Beast fan having this alternative version of Gaston and that world.

Fun is the main word I'd use to describe this book. It has the same kind of enjoyment as the Twisted Tales books and is worth checking out for any Disney fans who like exploring the characters from new and different perspectives. It has some nice nods to the original film, good writing and characterisation, and an interesting plot

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

This book is absolutely perfect for Disney or Beauty and the Beast fans! I’ve always thought of Gaston as an interesting villain- he isn’t outright evil, but he’s just a man overcome by his vanity and entitlement. I love how this book adds more depth to Gaston’s character and made him more complex. He starts off with good intentions and a desire for a better future but we get to see more of his flaws hinder him as the story progresses. I love how Gastons story contrasts with the Beasts story in the original, they are like mirrors of each other. Overall this is a really amazing story, and I’d definitely love to check out more of the books in the Happily Never After series!

If you are a fan of beauty and the beast then this is a must read.
Gaston is one of the disney villians that I never thought I'd want a back story about but I really enjoyed Lorie Langdon version of him.
I'm glad it wasn't a story where the villian gets a redemption arc.
The mention of characters from the origional was fun to spot and I'll definitely be trying out other books in this happily never after series

3.5⭐️

Thank you to netgalley for sending me this arc in exchange for an honest review

I am saddened to say I didn't finish this one. I loved the twisted stories and I've been desperate for a Villains POV but this one just wasn't for me. Maybe it was just because it was Gaston? Because the writing was brilliant. But not enough to keep me reading. Everything I had read was great.

Whoa. Lorie Langdon has brought us an enchantment of beautifully written words. Gaston swept me up into an entrancing narrative that I knew would lead to devastating heartbreak, yet I could stop turning the pages. I’ll never look at Gaston the same again, and wishing for things that could have been!

This was a really good read, I read half on Netgalley and then was very excited to find a physical copy in my local shop and had to snap it up and finish in physical form.

A telling of Gaston's upbringing and family background that brings him to be the arrogant character we all know within the Beauty and the Beast realm. It is a background to Gaston and the development of a sweet romance between the 2 main characters.

Highly Recommend, great add to the Disney collection :)

The storytelling and world-building of this book is absolutely fantastic and really reminiscent of Beauty & the Beast (which is of course exactly what you want!). From a couple of chapters in I was completely hooked and needed to know where the rest of the story was going. The only downside for me was that I thought the beginning was a little bit rocky because I felt that Gaston's character wasn't particularly strong and some of his actions didn't seem consistent with his character. After the first few chapters I understood exactly why this was and what the author was trying to achieve and from then onwards seemed a lot smoother, but I feel like the beginning could have be executed more cleanly. But maybe that's just me! All of the other characters were really strong though and the message is lovely. I particularly loved Aggie and I was really rooting for her all the way through, she's such a fantastic reader. I really recommend this book if you're wanting to dive back into the world of Disney and Beauty & the Beast, it was a brilliantly nostalgic read. It's also great for younger audiences which I think it's really aimed at, so if you're looking for a book to help get your child into reading through characters they're already familiar with from the movie then it would be great for that too.

I may have only been one years old when The Beauty and The Beast animated classic was released but it has been my favourite Disney movie (tied with The Aristocats) since I could understand and enjoy it. Probably about 1994ish. Now in my 30s it is still a comfort film and despite hating Gaston’s personality I also love him in a weird way. So after reading, Vanessa by Langdon and seeing she was writing about Gaston I knew I had to read it. I was not disappointed.
Over the past few years I have loved how Disney Books and their publishing houses have released several villain focused series, Twisted Tales, Queen’s Court and of course the Happily Never After. Langdon really captures Gaston’s character and I adored the idea that his ‘perfect-ness’ was down to a transformation – a juxtaposition to what happened to Beast (unofficially Adam). But what I adored most of all was Agatha. She was such a good addition to the plot and I adored how she and Gaston worked together and ultimately how much they contrasted each other. It is a brilliant reversal while Beast shows is ‘ugliness’ and ‘cruelty’ in his curse/transformation Gaston starts being sickly, weak and ‘ugly’ but thanks to magic his true ugliness is hidden by the handsome man we see in the movie.
On top of this I adored the side and supporting characters as well. It was interesting to see Gaston’s family and how they interact with him, in part showing how he became the fickle man he is today. If you are a fan of Disney Villains or Beauty and the Beast this is a must. But if you are also looking for a good fantasy with a touch of romance and magic as well as tragedy this is one you will enjoy. I honestly don’t feel you need to be a Disney fan (adult or teen) to enjoy this one but if you are you will adore it!

I couldn't resist reading Lorie Langdon's "Disney Villains: Happily Never After - Gaston" since I love Disney's dark stories such as the twisted tales and villian series. All the retelling books are incredible. This innovative rendition of Gaston's tale is charming and surprising.

Langdon's Gaston as a weak and sickly young man makes the figure we thought we know vulnerable. Gaston's troubles with family criticism and cultural standards are well shown, giving him a sympathetic character I could pull for.

A teenage witch named Agatha protects Gaston from an assault, adding a fun twist. Langdon masterfully writes their love tale and brings forth their characters' complexity. Gaston and Agatha had a magnetic connection, and I was enthralled with their story. This book's ability to capture Disney charm while reimagining a famous character makes it stand out. The detailed world-building and Gaston's volatile personality made the story captivating from start to finish.

Since I collect Disney's twisted tales, including the advent calendar, I enjoy Langdon's contributions to this expanding collection of reinterpreted stories. "Happily Never After" respects and enriches the original material, giving fans of all ages a sophisticated and emotional experience.

Finally, anybody who wants a new perspective on Disney characters can read Lorie Langdon's "Disney Villains: Happily Never After - Gaston". I give this book five stars for its ingenuity, storyline, and a great mix of nostalgia and innovation.

I love Retellings of fairytales i used to read as a child , and in this tale you are focused on Gaston from my favourite Disney story. This is a must for anyone who love the Disney Villains series.

I love these Retellings of stories I know so well, and in this tale focused around everyone's favourite animated narcissist, you are drawn back into this captivating world with ease.

So excited to acquire this new Disney Villans title! The others were so fun and interesting and readers absolute ply loved them!