Format: ebook
Published: July 4th, 2023
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Rating: 5/5 Stars
I picked up this book immediately after finishing Christmas Ever After, knowing I wanted to spend more time on this street, with these people, getting to know all the various characters that make up Ever After Street. Admans has hit on a truly lovely setting here, a street inspired by fairy tales, in the shadow of a gorgeous castle, and I loved every moment of the book that is, really, where it all started.
All Sadie wants is to make dresses and see the shop started by her parents thrive, but the castle that overlooks Ever After Street is at risk of being turned into a supermarket, so the various shopkeepers vow to boycott the upcoming masquerade ball, intended to show the castle off to prospective buyers. But Sadie knows this is her last chance to see where her parents met, and to view the inside of the castle she’s spent so long admiring. So, against her aunt’s wishes, she undergoes a transformation, and manages to get inside. During the ball, Sadie sneaks off to explore, and bumps into Witt, the shy, awkward estate agent charged with selling the castle. But after a magical night, Sadie rushes off to prevent her aunt realising she’d been there, leaving one slight clue to her identity behind – a single shoe.
I feel like I’ve been referring to ‘dynamics’ a lot in romance reviews recently, but it really is so crucial to the genre – not just for the main couple, but the characters around them, too. Varied dynamics can show you so much, as we see here with Sadie and her struggles with her aunt, her relationship with her cousin, and her interactions with Witt. Sadie’s aunt is more concerned with getting influencers and celebs on board with The Cinderella Shop, rather than catering to the people who come in looking for a dress for a party or celebration. Her ‘true love guarantee’ (claiming the dresses will help people find love!) results in a pile of dresses created by Sadie stacking up in the back.
Sadie clearly loves her aunt, but through the novel she finds her own way of pushing back and speaking up for herself, with a little nudge from her cousin and because of Witt’s confidence in her. It makes for a really lovely modern-day Cinderella. Admans also gives us plenty of the setting, from the street itself and the various fairy tale themed shops, to the woods surrounding it that offer a way for Sadie and Witt to spend some time alone.
It’s funny and romantic and very sweet, and if you’re looking for something with plenty of fluff and some “aww” moments, I recommend checking out A Midnight Kiss on Ever After Street.
Reading Challenge
Romance Readers Diversity Challenge 2025 ❤️
Prompt: A book with a romance between people older than 26
Progress: 6/12
Unwrapping Words 