Name: Happily
ISBN: 9781980284918

Chauncey Rogers

If the shoe fits, wear it.If it doesn't, make it.Laure is a teenage street urchin just trying to get away. Where the rest of the world sees an enchanting love story, Laure sees royal incompetence and an opportunity to exploit it. She'll have wealth and a way out of a life she detests, if she can only manage to hoodwink the royal family and survive to tell the tale.

Happily

Southern Today Gone Tomorrow

Written by Chauncey Rogers, Happily follows Laure, a street urchin girl who caused the ruin of Luc, trying to trick the crown into thinking she is the girl with the glass slipper so that she can pay Luc back.


So, let us start with this: this is a young adult book, written for Rogers' daughter. Or inspired by her bothering him while he was writing another story.

This is a fun adventure. Laure is sassy and Luc is steadfast and good. Honestly, this is the kind of novel that, if I had a child, and I was tired of telling them the same stories over and over again, I would be pretty happy to find. Though, maybe I would skip over one of the fights that happens at the end.... just demonstrating a little that this author usually writes novels more in the horror genre.

Probably the best thing in this book, other than Kind, birth-marked Luc, is how this novel openly mocks traditional fairy tales and mocks how uptight the upper crust can be. There is a certain, page long, statement about the hunt for Cinderella, followed by a summary, that I think was just perfect. And the fact that, in many ways, the humor reminded me of Monty Python. So, if you don't like Monty Python, you might not like this novel.

The king is annoying. But, looked at it through the novel, I understand why he is like that. This is meant to be a fun book, not the most realist novel in the world. It is a story you can tell. I'll be honest, next time someone asks me to "tell them a story" during a drive - one of the hardest things for me to do - I might use this story. And then go tell them to read the full think if they have any questions.

If you are looking for a good twist on a classic fairy tale, you might like this book. If you are looking to just start your kids in young adult fiction, this could be a good book.for your child.

If you don't like a short story, or characters with sass, or life lessons very clearly woven throughout the novel, you might not like this.

I did receive this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from the Author.

Sarah Cottam

I'm super fortunate to be able to get an advanced issue of Happily by Chauncey Rogers and I am so thankful. When I was reading the blurb I couldn't wait to get started, this novel is an alternative version/retelling of Cinderella and is written from a first person perspective.

Let's face it. You know there is going to be a shoe, a prince and a ball but within a few chapters you begin to understand where the story truly is heading and you will be pleasantly surprised. The mixture of modern literacy and the old-fashioned timeline is extremely well-balanced, making for an enjoyable read. This is a Cinderella story with sass.

The main character is not Cinderella, but a smart, headstrong and independent woman who has led a life of stealing from the markets of Éclatant to survive. How Laure spoke to the reader was incredibly relatable, she spoke like me! Having a 'Whatever, I'll do what's best for me' attitude. This begins to change after she meets new friend Luc, where the two characters eventually begin to grow together. After Laure's adventure she comes out stronger, happier and  more content with the people she has in her life. Her progression as a character is clear, the way she copes with her emotions she has held back for so long, and how she finds ways to confide in Luc.

'Luc frowned at me. “You sure complain a lot.”'

Laure was also the protagonist which made me happy dance everywhere.

The start of the book has a very clever way of tying in with the end of the story. Starting with...

'King Justin warned me that you'd be coming by. Well, not warned, exactly. More like notified. He said I had to tell you my story and spare you no details - that he wanted it as part of the official royal history.'

By the end of the novel you will understand the reason King Justin would want this story to be part of the royal history. A nice added touch. The book has many aspects to it that are so well thought out, I thank Rogers for giving us readers something so special.

This book is fun. It had me laughing to myself (sorry commuters on the train) and the chapters flowed from one to the other perfectly. I absolutely ADORED the names of the chapters, they gave me some giggles. The perfect thing about this book is Rogers takes an old tale and turns it into something that wins me over, to the point where I forgot about Cinderella and her fairy godmother (woops).

The ending is fast paced towards the second to last chapter, but loose ties fell into place and Laure finally knows what she needs to do to make things right. I have found that a lot of endings are hit and miss in books and can make or break the whole story. However, this had a perfect ending with a twist that links in to the original story we all know and love.


  "She’s been asked again and again, but all she’ll say is something about a fairy and magic and a pumpkin..."


I would recommend anybody who loves retellings, old tales, and strong characters with attitude. This is for you.