Book Review: Bookishly Ever After



About the Book


In a perfect world, sixteen-year-old Phoebe Martins' life would be a book. Preferably one filled with magic and a hot paranormal love interest. Unfortunately, her life probably wouldn't even qualify for a quiet contemporary.

Everything changes when Phoebe learns that Dev, the hottest guy in the clarinet section, might actually have a crush on her. So, Phoebe turns to the heroines in her favorite books for inspiration, but becoming as awesome as her book characters isn't as easy as it sounds.

Find out if Dev makes Phoebe forget all her book boyfriends in this first book of the Ever After Series.

About the Author


Growing up, Isabel Bandeira split her time between summers surrounded by cathedrals, castles, and ancient tombs in Portugal and the rest of the year hanging around the lakes and trees of Southern New Jersey, which only fed her fairy-tale and nature obsessions. In her day job, she's a Mechanical Engineer and tones down her love of all things glittery while designing medical devices, but it all comes out in her writing. The rest of the time, you'll find her reading, at the dance studio, or working on her jumps and spins at the ice rink. Isabel is the author of the four-book Ever After series, including Bookishly Ever After, released in 2016, and Dramatically Ever After, to be released in the summer of 2017

Isabel lives in South Jersey with her little black cat, too much yarn, and a closetful of vintage hats. She is represented by Carrie Howland of Donadio and Olson, Inc.

The Review


First of all I have to thank Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay for always recommending amazing YA reads to me! She had texted me saying that Bookishly Ever After is a wonderful read and I should try it sometime. I had read maybe 8 pages around a year ago but life got in the way and I didn’t finish reading it. Until I had to read a lot of books over the last month and I rediscovered Bookishly.

Can I please start by saying thank you so much Isabel for not stereotyping Dev as the Indian over achiever. Instead, he belongs to the drama club along with Em. And it doesn’t hurt that there are a few Bollywood references in the book too. He does try to woo her by singing and dancing but that’s barely two percent of the entire storyline.

I could relate to Phoebe Martins because she’s a bookworm and she deals with real life problems by turning to the characters in her books. When she finds out that Dev might be crushing on her, she turns to her favourite book characters to device a plan which would help her be flirty and hopefully make Dev take more notice of her. It’s funny. And honestly – I need the Golden Series in my life. I really, really hope Isabel considers writing that series once Ever After is completed.

Phoebe is rightfully a bookworm because of the several thousand books she has read. She also seems to have her nose buried in a book almost all the time. She also knits. The only thing missing from her life was in fact, a cat. But if that had happened, I guess it would have become my life. Minus the hot guy crushing on me.

I quite liked Grace’s character, and she is perhaps the only female gay character I’ve come across in recent times. I am sure there are more. I just haven’t found them yet. As for Phoebe’s best friend, Em, I didn’t like how bossy she was. But given the fact that they’re both teenagers and Em fancies herself a modern day matchmaker like Jane Austen’s Emma, I could see why her character had been built that way.

Phoebe and Dev are adorable together. I was looking forward to their scenes together all throughout the book. Especially Dev’s constant refrain of, “Am I knit worthy yet?” I loved, loved this book. And if you love books, bookish stories and like young adult novels, then this one is definitely for you.
I am looking forward to reading Dramatically Ever After

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