I absolutely loved this spin on Cinderella, where a girl from modern times gets thrown into the story as the ugly step sister. In this story, Kat was the heroine and main love interest. I loved the magical elements to the story as well as how authentic the romance was between Kat and Edward. My only main complaint is the ending and how we was thrown back into the real world with no memory. That honestly ruined a whole five star rating I could have given. Considering the book was very solid and well written up until this point, I'm giving it a solid 4 stars. I just wished the author would have created a loophole for her to stay in the fairytale forever or to have her family transported to her. The ending was just flat out disappointing.

I absolutely loved this re-telling of Cinderella. It was witty, fun, romantic and lovely. I love how the author put a spin on it to make it different but also keep the story true. I wish there was another book.

**I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

A Cinderella-retelling with some interesting twists, some boring tropes (clumsy-shy-teenage-girl & stuff) & a rather annoying ending.
I can see that the show goes on for another 2 books, but I'm not invested enough in the MCs to go on right away .... or ever. We shall see.

More details to come.

A new take

I can't say I really knew what was going to happen until halfway through but I loved this book. The plot and the way the author brought a fictional world to life while keeping the modern world was fantastic. If you want a good spin on Cinderella this is the book for you.
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Welcome to this book review !

-Disclaimer.:I received this book for free in exchange of an honest review.

Wow ! I personally am a really big fan of cinderella and all those disney stories. So I was really looking foward on reading this new take on cinderella. I loved Kat, she was funny genuienly sweet and I easily got into this story because of how easy it was to relate to her. I liked the fact that it wasn't the usual story, we all are used to. I loved Aya Ling writing style and this book will absolutely be on my re-read list. IT'S A BEAUTY OF A BOOK ! Honestly read it !!!

-Bookarina :)

Yup, I loved the shit out of this book. I didn't expect to enjoy it as much as I did which makes the reading experience even better. This book is like when Pride and Prejudice meets Cinderella. It is a retelling of Cinderella but it is a version of Cinderella similar to Ever After (the movie) and less of the original tale. Kat, our leading lady, is a avid reader and makes hilarious references to books we all know and love (aka Harry Potter, Narnia, Jane Austin's).



There was little that I didn't like about this book. The first I felt like the pacing at the beginning was very rushed but I didn't mind since that got us into the retelling super quick and that's what I was really there for. My biggest issues was the pretences that Kat was brought into "Story Land". The book was made by goblins so when she broke it she was transported into the story. To get home she has to complete the story, I just found this a bit weird but I could overlook it for what actually happens during the story.

Now, what I love is everything else. I think I just love royalty but I ship Prince Edward so hard it hurts. Kat describes him as Mr. Darcy but better looking. He is most definitely swoon worthy. There is a slow burn romance that literally killed me. My heart still hurts and I might have had a huge lump in my throat at the end. The romance is everything, and it hurts.



The characters are all interesting and I really liked that it took place during the Social Season with all the ladies looking for suitors/husbands. There was also a good political subplot that gives this books so much more than just your basic retelling. I really loved this version of Cinderella. Highly recommend!

I'm a bit torn with this one. I like the concept and I think the characters were very well done. Kat is thrown into a storybook world after an old book crumbles in her hands. She cannot return home until the happily ever after is attained. So Kat works tirelessly within her new social constraints to make Cinderella's happily ever after come true.

A couple issues I have is (1) Kat goes out of her way to try and find the fairy Godmother and get Cinderella's happily ever after. However, logically, if she just follows through with the storyline, the happily ever after should happen on its own. So why does Kat get it in her head that she has to force it? She's in a book in which all she has to do is follow the plot. And wouldn't a good person in a situation where she has to be cruel to return home be a very compelling plot line as well? How far can she go? Is there a truth behind standing up versus following along with the roles social constraints assigns to you? So I felt there were other more fascinating ways to explore this plot.

(2) Why does Kat never question if her family is missing her? She never asks how her being in the fairytale world affects her family back home. I'm not sure why she never asked that. Something to acknowledge the fact she's spending months in story land? Why doesn't that ever bother Kat? The time she's away from home? She just kind of 'goes with it.'

(3) The pop culture references got to be too much! The massive amount of references to Google almost made me wonder if they were a paid sponsor. It just felt out of place.

(4) The ending has been the most torn.

Spoiler

I get that it would be easier on her heart to forget, but really? Everything and everyone? I'm glad she came out better for it, but she has no memory of what happened? I don't know, I just felt it was a way to lessen the emotional impact and was a bit of an easy ending.

Overall, interesting and well-written. I was compelled to keep reading. I had some gripes every now and then, but I liked the characters and the pacing of the plot.

This novel takes a very different look on the typical 'Cinderella.' As much as I love typical fairy tail retellings this is very refreshing. Kat is your normal teenager, and a bibliophile. She accidentally ruins a Cinderella book and is transported into the book (every fangirl's dream)! Through her guide, Krev, she learns that she has to complete the happy ending of the story in order for her to return to her own world.

Without giving away spoilers, this book is amazing, plain and simple. The characters in the book are very well developed and easy to fall in love with (or hate depending on who it is). It's also a brain racker, you trying to figure out how Kat's going to make the happy ending happen. It's very refreshing to see the Cinderella tale from one of the step-sister's point of views.

This book leaves you with a twist ending and make you wish for more. (I'm secretly hoping there can be more). A very well written novel and an enjoyable read! Thank you Aya Ling!

Actually, 4.75 stars. I loved everything about this book? Except for the ending (memory loss) but I understand why it was needed. Still, that ending (and while Jimmy's death scene was emotional, his dialogue felt cliche, so that too) keeps me from giving it a full 5 stars.

I also loved how Kat narrated her life while in the 19th Century? Omg, can you imagine having to live there after experiencing *our* world/21st Century? *shudders* the struggle, the inequality between sexes, the bad conditions for the low class and children, the countless sicknesses, (if you are a lady/member of a noble family) having to learn so many dances - etiquette - manners - crocheting - sports and hobbies and SO MANY things a Lady has to learn????? I would not survive that, I don't know how Kat did.

I loved Edward and Kat's romance. And Kat's feminism, and her helping improve the children's working hours. I also really liked Poppy, Elle and Henry, Lady Gregory (I'm so sad for her and Lysander, not being able to be together 3) and all the secondary characters. I even liked Claire and Bianca, in their whole villainous way.

This book surprised me since I thought it was going to be a silly romance book, short and flawed. But I really, really loved it??? I couldn't put it down till I finished it. I'm starting right away with the second book in this series.