Fiction Review: The Theory of Happily Ever After

Kristin Billerbeck's "The Theory of Happily Ever After" is a charming romance novel filled with surprising and enjoyable pop-culture references and realistic, relatable characters. While Dr. Maggie Maguire's recovery from a breakup does include a few too many emotional ups and downs, her search for purpose and and self-understanding is ultimately simple, but profound.

Some readers may complain that the dramatic conflict with her ex is resolved too easily off-page, but the story really is more about Maggie's character development than it is about a crazy "kidnapped" trip on a single's cruise ship. I do think there was more opportunity for surprise that was lost on the early revelation of who Maggie's publisher was, as well as a harmless "boy toy" bartender, initially under suspicion.

Billerbeck writes in first person present tense, which normally would bother me, but in this case reads easily enough. The author clearly knows how to tell a captivating, descriptive story.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for my honest review.