What if you could write your own perfect storyline...?
The heart-warming, feelgood novel from the much-loved Sunday Times bestselling author, Milly Johnson
Polly Potter is surviving, not thriving. She used to love her job – until her mentor died and her new boss decided to make her life hell. She used to love her partner Chris – until he cheated on her, and now she can’t forget. The only place where her life is working is on the pages of the novel she is writing – there she can create a feistier, bolder, more successful version of herself – as the fictional Sabrina Anderson.
But what if it was possible to start over again? To leave everything behind, forget all that went before, and live the life you’d always dreamed of?
After a set of unforeseen circumstances, Polly ends up believing she really IS Sabrina, living at the heart of a noisy Italian family restaurant by the sea. Run by Teddy, the son of her new landlady Marielle, it’s a much-loved place, facing threat of closure as a rival restaurant moves in next door. Sabrina can’t remember her life as Polly, but she knows she is living a different life from the one she used to have.
But what if this new life could belong to her after all?
Title: The Happiest Ever After
Author: Milly Johnson
Published By: Simon & Schuster UK
Publication Date: 15th Feb 2024
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Our Review
Do you ever get that feeling where you think, I wish I'd thought of that? Well that was my first thought on hearing what Milly Johnson's brand new book, The Happiest Ever After was about. The concept is absolutely brilliant and especially as I now write books myself, I could really relate to it. Even when I read the first couple of lines I was struck by the unique quality of the writing. I honestly think that Milly's writing will be studied by her local university one day and I think she deserves to have a statue of herself in Barnsley where they must be so proud of her.
Polly Potter has a miserable life, her partner shows her no respect, he's cheated on her before and keeps dumping that workbag in the middle of the floor which was peeing me off alot and I could really feel for her there. Also although she is fantastic at her job, her boss is an idiot who takes credit for all her hard work. Talking of hard work, Her husband's sister is a real pushy pain as well who has chosen a horrible dress for her to wear as her bridesmaid. The only things keeping Polly's head above the water are her best mate at work, her partner's son Will whom she loves and her secret hobby. Polly sneaks off to evening classes to do her creative writing course and she's writing a novel. Her protagonist Sabrina is in control of her life and has everything that Polly has ever wanted.
When Polly can take it no more she leaves Chris, heads to the seaside, leaving no forwarding address but after an unfortunate incident she wakes up in hospital with no belongings and memory loss. The only thing she can remember is that her name is Sabrina. See what I mean about a brilliant concept?
Sabrina's world then opens up to a whole new community and she is taken in by a lovely lady called Marielle but due to something that happened in the past, some of Marielle's friends and family don't take to Sabrina.
I loved Sabrina's journey especially the blank page that was her future that she was able to write for herself. It was heart-breaking as bits and pieces of her life came back to her including traumatic and devastating events and some of the confusion between Sabrina's past and Polly's meant that Sabrina had even more heartbreak to contend with when reality hit home and she had to grieve again.
One good thing about Sabrina's new life was meeting the gorgeous Italian Chef, Teddy who owned his own restaurant which served delectable meals. But when she begins to fall for him I was so hoping for a happy ending at that point but unfortunately everything is upended again when her ex comes looking for her.
This book has shot to the top of my fave Milly Johnson books, they're always jam packed with fantastic story within a story scenarios so there's never a chance to get bored when reading one. I loved Polly/ Sabrina and not sure when I last rooted for a heroine more. I so wanted her to have a happy ending and hers wasn't just happy but powerful too. Another exciting, heart-breaking, evocative masterpiece from Milly Johnson.
As if all this wasn't enough, I was absolutely blown away to see my name in the acknowledgements, of my favourite author. Can you believe that? Thanks so much Milly and please never give up writing.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
About the Author
Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 20 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella ('The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe') and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poem and joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.
She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020, the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2021 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.
She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.
Her 20th novel 'Together, Again' was published in paperback on 2nd March 2023 and is about three estranged sisters convening after the death of their mother in order to arrange her funeral. Freed from the shadow of the overbearing Eleanor Vamplew, the three women come to realise that they have more in common than they could ever have realised.
Milly's website is www.millyjohnson.co.uk. She is on Twitter as @millyjohnson, Instagram as @themillyjohnson, TikTok as @millyjohnsonauthor and has a Facebook page @MillyJohnsonAuthor. She also has a monthly newsletter www.millyjohnson.co.uk/newsletter with exclusive, news, offers and competitions.
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