From the Bookshelf of Kelly Oram Geek League…

Happily Ever After (Cinder & Ella #2)

Kelly Oram

Start date: May 1, 2017

Finish date: May 31, 2017

Discussion: Monthly Reads

Why we're reading this: May group read!
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Monthly Reads

* Nominate Books for Group Reads!
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last updated Sep 04, 2017 07:04AM

* Monthly Read Introduction
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last updated Aug 18, 2015 11:30PM

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What Members Thought

May 06, 2017 Muse-ic ♬ rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-boyfriend, kick-butt-female, not-released, fluff, new-adult, romance, contemporary, royalty-celebrities-or-rich-people, abs

4.5
So after my first week of exams ended, I decided to treat myself and spent the last two days devouring this book.
Man, when was there ever a book by Kelly Oram that I didn't love??
Her books have a certain charm about them, and I am unashamed to admit that I am so addicted to her books!
They are my go-to books when I'm in a reading slump or just need some fluff to reset my brain!
And this book wasn't exactly fluff. It is the sequel to Cinder & Ella.
Ellamara Rodriguez gets into a car accident that ...more

14 likes · Like · see review

Jun 15, 2017 Vanessa Kay rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kelly-oram

I've been out of sort early this week because of my fascination with Japanese language, so instead of reading some good books last weekend, I end up browsing online on how I could learn the language. I've been wanting to learn the language for a very long time but I think this was the most intense urge I've ever felt. And because of that, I've been MIA from the blog for quite a while and I'm still in daze, and Happily Ever After brought me back in the reality. My! If I have known this book woul ...more

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Apr 28, 2017 Lillian rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary, retelling, favorites, contemporary-romance, new-in-2017, 2017-new-release-challenge

Happily Ever After by Kelly Oram is a perfect follow-up to her Cinder & Ella, picking up about a week later. I’ve read Cinder & Ella more times than I can count and have multiple copies (my original Kindle copy, a paperback copy, even an Audible copy which I highly recommend). Seriously as I write this, I want to go back and read it. Brian and Ella are two of my all-time favorite characters and their relationship is another favorite of mine. Happily Ever After is the sequel I didn’t know I wante Happily Ever After by Kelly Oram is a perfect follow-up to her Cinder & Ella, picking up about a week later. I’ve read Cinder & Ella more times than I can count and have multiple copies (my original Kindle copy, a paperback copy, even an Audible copy which I highly recommend). Seriously as I write this, I want to go back and read it. Brian and Ella are two of my all-time favorite characters and their relationship is another favorite of mine. Happily Ever After is the sequel I didn’t know I wanted or needed. Cinder & Ella pretty much ends on a high note and suggests that the couple gets their HEA, but as the title of the sequel suggests this book is their HEA and how they achieve it. Honestly I loved it, but then again I’ve yet to read anything by Kelly Oram I didn’t enjoy.

Ella is a hard pill to swallow in this book. She was in a really dark place at the end of Cinder & Ella. She had just exited an intensive, inpatient therapy program to overcome her depression, and I thought the author does a great job of bringing those insecurities and doubts about Ella to light in the sequel. It was present in the first book but is fleshed out better here. It’s been a year since her mother died and she is struggling, she’s never had a chance to fully grieve. Ella is still recovering herself and now she has a support system and people on her side. It’s amazing to read her growth.

Brian is Brian *swoon* He is self-centered, a little too Hollywood at times, but ALWAYS and I do mean always there for Ella when she needs him. He puts her needs first, showing her and telling her constantly how much he loves her. It’s sweet, a little over the top, but done in such a way as to be believable. I love how he loves her!

The plot is simple really. It’s about these two people who we fell in love with building a relationship. A real, long-lasting, all-consuming, loving relationship. Something Ella desperately needs as her life at home with her dad and step-family falls apart. While this book focuses on Ella and Brian (and I did love that), I missed the familial relationships and themes explored during the first book. It’s present here, but not to the extent it was in Cinder & Ella. I missed that.

Overall, I loved this book! It made me laugh, cry and swoon. I cheered Ella and Brian on and yelled at them through my kindle when they were being stupid. I do think it needs to be noted that while the first book is a mature YA, this book is new adult with some mild language and a few steamy scenes, so I don’t recommend this to anyone under 18. If you enjoyed Cinder & Ella or you’re looking for a light romantic read, I highly recommend you get your copy ASAP! ...more

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Apr 24, 2017 Delaney (flairforfiction) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!

I was slightly worried that there would be unnecessary drama between Brian and Ella that would tear them apart, but I guess it wouldn't make sense to call this "Happily Ever After" if that were the case. But even better than the fact that that didn't happen was that almost all of the drama in the story came from outside their relationship. I was so happy to see that because I hate when authors put two characters together and then break them up or add in a bunch of relati ...more

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Apr 12, 2017 Keri rated it it was amazing

Cinder and Ella is one of my favorite books so I was ecstatic to learn that Kelly Oram was writing a second book. Just like the first book, Happily Ever After doesn't disappoint. Kelly has an amazing way of writing characters that readers can relate to and who develop beautifully throughout the book. I already know this will be a book I read again! If you like chick-lit then chances are you will like the Cinder and Ella books! ...more

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Jun 07, 2017 Karie rated it really liked it

Brian and Ella are back! I loved this continuation of the story and the journey Ella made into self-acceptance. Brian's cocky charm was out in full force (LOVE HIM) and all of my favorite side characters were back for round two. But my favorite part will ALWAYS be the cameo at the end. SO. AWESOME.

GRA: A few swears and some intimate moments. PG-13 level. ...more

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