[Elizabeth’s Review]: It Happened One Midnight by Saranna DeWylde

CAN YOU SKIP THE STORYBOOK BEGINNING…

Novelist Juniper Blossom has romance down to a science in her bestselling books. But she’s not about to settle for just any man—a happy ending looks different for everyone, and she needs to find the guy whose idea of forever matches her own. Try telling that to her adorable, meddling grandmothers, though. If she doesn’t find a man soon, they’re going to find one for her. Which is why Juniper has prepared for a trip home to Ever After by fibbing that her sexy, smart, sweet best friend Tomas is her fiancé! He doesn’t believe in love at all, but that doesn’t matter if they’re just pretending…

ON THE WAY TO THE HAPPY ENDING?

Divorce attorney Tomas Rivera is as proud of Juniper’s authorial success as she is, but that doesn’t mean he buys into her books’ premise. His career is proof enough that true love is the real fairy tale—and everyone knows fairy tales aren’t real. But he can never say no to gorgeous Juniper, and an “engagement” might move him one legal brief closer to partner at his old-fashioned firm. Yet playing the part suddenly starts to mean feeling it, especially when a kiss just for show turns up the heat between them. Is happily ever after possible for two people who aren’t on the same page when it comes to love?

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This book caught my attention because the premise felt fun and whimsical. I always am a sucker for fairytale romances, and Juniper and Tomas felt like they would be an interesting pair. At times, I did feel like the constant ploys to get Tomas and Juniper together felt ridiculous and over the top. However, there were certain aspects of the book that held my attention all the way to the end.

The most successful attribute to this book was that it sold itself as a whimsical, magical read that wasn’t meant to be taken seriously. It made the issues I felt towards this book less important because I knew that the book was, at its core, a fluffy read to binge in one sitting—which I did. I enjoyed some of the humor and best friends to lovers trope, especially seeing Tomas analyze why he felt the way he did about love, and how Juniper was different. I also can praise the emphasis of choices in the realm of magic, where fate is questioned and we see that fairytales and happily ever afters’ can only happen if we let them.

While I did feel that the book was successful in being a light romantic read, it did make me feel detached from the characters in the book. I never felt a true connection to what was happening within the story and I found myself desiring to finish the book only to complete it and see how it would end. This might be due to the feeling of repetitiveness I felt when it came to Tomas and Juniper, consistently circling around one main conflict that never seemed to be resolved. The stakes felt very low and it made the urgency near the end of the book feel out of place when the entirety of the plot had been revealed to not only readers but the other characters as well.

Overall, this book is one that can be read rather quickly, and it is a good romance for when you are looking for an easy read. It missed the mark for me but I can say that it might be perfect for those who love fairytales, magic and romance.

Elizabeth

Hi, I’m Elizabeth!! I am 22 with a bachelor degree in English Literary Studies. I love to read and talk about books 24/7, and when I’m not reading I am usually rewatching my comfort movies and shows for the hundredth time—specifically, anything Jane Austen!