Happy Ending by Chloe Liese: My Book Review

Check out my book review of Happy Ending by Chloe Liese to see what I think of her latest release between a bookseller and a chef!

*Disclosure: This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Happy Ending Book Summary:

Thea and Alex have three things in common—they love food, they hate where they live, and they’re both divorced. Otherwise, they couldn’t be more different.

Thea’s never cooked a day in her life. Alex is a world-class chef. Alex resents feeling stuck in his hometown. Thea resents the town for not feeling more like home. Thea and her ex are in a contentious custody battle for their dog. Alex and his ex amicably coparent their daughter.

Beyond a few friends in common, a couple small-world connections (welcome to life in a mid-size city), their lives look nothing alike. Fast forward two years, and they’re truly the best of friends. No one would ever know their friendship began as a lie…

Two years ago, their exes got together immediately following their divorces, and somehow, Thea and Alex found themselves spinning a spite-fueled story about being old friends and first loves. Two years later, what began as a ruse has grown into real friendship—just friendship, despite what friends and family seem to think.

But when their exes invite them on a two-week, “two family” beach vacation—daughter and dog included—Alex and Thea start to wonder if this story they’ve spun might have gotten away from them, and if it’s led them to the last place they ever thought it could: a happy ending.

Happy Ending: My Review

I love Chloe’s writing and overall enjoyed this read. The first few chapters are fantastic in setting up the chemistry between Alex and Thea and a perfect slow burn love story.

These two have such an awkward meet-cute that spun into this incredible lie that then morphed into a beautiful friendship and then love that they were both too scared to admit. Their chemistry was off the charts and I just loved the moments when Alex and Thea were so funny, bantering back and forth or whenever they would just smirk at each other or whenever Alex would put his cheek on her head. Gah! They were the cutest.

Did the slow burn go on for a bit too long, however, probably. And was their third act tension really necessary, not really, but I enjoyed it all the same.

I also liked how the overall theme of the story is how Thea often narrates her life as if it were a story which culminates in her happy ending. It is her unique quirk and an appropriate one since she’s a bookseller. I also loved her friendship with her girlfriend as everyone deserves someone in their corner (and her constant battle with Alex for “best friend status” was so fun).

Alex is a romance hero that is so easy to fall for. He wasn’t perfect (as he would be quick to point out), but man does he appear to be with Thea. Chloe always seems to write the best cinnamon roll heroes who end up so emotionally aware even if they weren’t always that way in the past (Alex in his marriage in this case). He’s this amazing chef, goes to therapy and is the best dad and is willing to wait out his love until Thea gets over her fear. He was amazing.

If you love a good slow burn, friends to lovers romance, I think you’ll enjoy this book.

*I received an advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

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