Not that kind of ever after

Adams's spirited contemporary debut follows hopeless romantic Bella Marble, 29, who dreams of being a successful writer and marrying Prince Charming. Unfortunately, she's battling writer's block while working as a receptionist and her efforts at "husband hunting" have only turned up frogs. When her parents, whose relationship Bella has always idolized, announce they're divorcing, Bella has a crisis of faith. Her best friend's attractive but insufferable twin brother, Marty, suggests that she stop focusing on forever and instead have fun dating around: "If you started trying to find someone you actually wanted to spend the night with you'd have much better luck." Bella takes his advice and her renewed outlook on relationships inspires her to write. She posts fairy tale--ified versions of her dating misadventures online, gaining viral success that leads her to seek out more experiences she can turn into material. But when the steps she takes to get life to imitate art backfire, she learns that her real Prince Charming has been there all along--and, more importantly, that life is not a fairy tale. As much a story of self-discovery as a romance, there's plenty of secondhand embarrassment here, but Bella remains a heroine to root for throughout. This is a charmer. (Mar.)

DEBUT Adams's debut novel is a British rom-com with quirky characters finding their happily-ever-afters. Bella is not yet 30 and is struggling with her parents' impending divorce, her unfulfilling job as a receptionist in a small publishing house (she really wants to be a writer), her best friend Elle's engagement to a boring, unworthy man, some very odd roommates, and a sad dating life. Elle's brother Marty suggests she stop looking for the "one" and just have some fun, which leads her to turn bad one-night stands into funny fairy tales on a Wattpad-type website. No one is more surprised than Bella when her stories start going viral. She should be happy, but she misses her best friend, and the one-night stands are getting old. Luckily she has Marty on her side, but it takes her a while for realize that he wants to be more than friends (and that she does too). Expect laughs, angst, and a few surprises before the satisfying ending. VERDICT A charming British rom-com for fans of Josie Silver, Sophie Cousens, and Christina Lauren.--Stacy Alesi