Happily || the Cinderella retelling we’ve all been waiting for

Posted on by Sumedha

Happily Book CoverTitle: Happily

Author: Chauncey Rogers

Genre: Retellings

Category: Young Adult

Status: Standalone

Goodreads

Synopsis:

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.

my-review-lightuptheshiningnightstars

Note: I received an eARC of the book for free from the author in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love Cinderella and any and all retellings of it. If there’s ANY Cinderella retelling, I’m there. Now that we’ve established that, I would have LOVED to hear this story when I was younger.

The Plot

No fairy godmother. No magic pumpkin. Just one grumpy girl and a glass slipper.

Laure is a thief, stealing to live and staying in an abandoned house. But one day, her plan goes awry and she becomes indebted to Luc, a boy who wants to become a merchant and provide for his family.

At the same time, Cinderella runs away from the ball and the royal family is looking for her. Laure, recognizing how stupid it is for the prince to marry the first girl whose foot fits in the show, also realizes that she can take advantage of it.

The story includes travel, bandits and fighting, slapping a prince, the girl saving the boy (rather than just the other way round) and much more. 

The Characters

Laure has a cynical view of Eclatánt, the place where this is set. All she wants is to have enough money to leave the kingdom for good. She’s clever and she concocts the plan to impersonate Cinderella somehow. I liked her because she’s not a meek girl and does what is required, not hesitating to run into things or talk back to anyone. She takes no nonsense.

Luc a clever optimist. He has the brains to make money out of an opportune situation and has an attitude to get him where he wants to be. He doesn’t spend time thinking negatives and prefers taking action to be at a better position. He’s also really kind to others, which repays later.

As for Prince Carl and Cinderella? We see a little bit of them but they’re not the main protagonists of the story. Laure and Luc’s story is way more interesting, trust me.

Overall

I really liked it! It’s fun, adventurous and interesting. This is one of my favourite retellings partly because it’s completely not what you expect.

Definitely recommend it to everyone!

four-stars

Published by Sumedha

21-year-old Indian who reads a ton of books, binges Kdramas, and talks a lot on the blog.

17 thoughts on “Happily || the Cinderella retelling we’ve all been waiting for”

  2. Hey Sumedha! My ninth grade has just started and I have a lot of free time on my hands, which I’m going to spend reading books. I was wondering if you could give me 5-10 book recommendations.
    Thanks:)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Would you like to read YA contemporary? I suggest Eliza and her monsters, Amrican Panda, Girl Against the Universe, P.S. I like you, The Loneliest Girl in the Universe. If you watch fantasy/distopia Warcross, Legend trilogy (both by Marie Lu), Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo, A Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy by Sarah J. Maas.

      Let me know if you want more 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      3. Hey are you free sometime in April? If you are I’d love it if you could guest post on my blog. Only if you’re free tho no pressure

        Liked by 1 person

      4. I’m not really free but I guess could try to make time. What would you want me to guest post about?

        Like

      11. Oof it’s been a long time since I’ve written anything so I’m not sure I’m the best person for this. I suggest writing fanfiction or rewriting an ending of a book (make up an alternate ending as to how you would have liked the book to end) to just get your writing started. As far as ideas, I really have no idea, sorry.

        Liked by 1 person

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