WHEN HAPPILY EVER AFTER FAILS

In Deane’s debut novel, a woman finds love, laughter, and purpose in a new teaching job.

When Abigail Gardner goes for an interview at the exclusive Philadelphia prep school Excelsior Primm, she is seeking a second chance to become an art teacher. An embarrassing incident prompted her to leave her previous school, and she is grateful for any opportunity—even if it unexpectedly lands her in a classroom of sixth graders, teaching literature. Desperate for a new start, and with the weight of her father’s reputation as a literature professor and her grief over his death upon her shoulders, Abigail rolls with it, soon becoming entangled in revamping the drama club, which has her students performing an alternative version of Romeo and Juliet. Deane has crafted a quintessential 20-something character searching for her place in the world, occasionally falling back on cliches such as “Abigail wondered how she got here, where she was going, and what she would think one day when she looked back.” Still, Abigail is rendered so endearingly—Deane conveys her thoughts and feelings with great dimension—that readers will happily forgive the occasional shopworn turn of phrase. Her habit of acting as different characters when socializing with her friends is particularly amusing. On a social outing, Abigail runs into Nate, a handsome stranger who turns out to be a fellow teacher at her school. Their romance is slow-burning, in direct contrast to her friendship with Quinn, who is in love with Abigail and whose family treats her as one of their own. Deane takes a well-worn trope in women’s fiction and puts a fun spin on it, weaving in subplots involving Abigail’s students, friendships, and co-workers. The end result is an expansive tale that will have readers rooting for happily-ever-afters for a number of characters in addition to the hero.

A strong debut romance for fans of true happy endings.