Chloe Liese's funny, slow-burn romance Happy Ending challenges two divorcees to reassess the friendship they formed on a spur-of-the-moment lie. Thea's and Alex's marriages did not have happy endings. Two years ago, they both ended in divorce, and to make matters worse, their exes got together a week after. Because bookseller Thea still shares a dog with her ex-husband, and chef Alex shares a child with his ex-wife, they lied, saying that they also knew each other and, in fact, were first loves.
Alex and Thea's mutual emotions over their divorces and a commitment to maintaining their ruse helped turn their fake history into a real friendship. Family and friends suspect there might be more between them, and a few intimate moments fan the flame, but to Thea and Alex, their friendship is too important to risk. Liese intersperses the narrative with flashback chapters, depicting how their bond deepened over delicious food (especially gelato), a mutual love for New York Times games, and disastrous dating-app situations. In the present, the two navigate co-parenting with their exes, an impending "two-family vacation" with a surprise "special occasion," and most importantly, finally facing their feelings without losing each other.
Liese (Only and Forever) conveys the friends-to-lovers romance through raw moments of shared relationship grief, endearing family and found-family love, and a few delightfully competitive activities with Thea's and Alex's exes. Happy Ending combines humor and heart as Alex's and Thea's lovable personalities, charming connection, and delectable chemistry lead to their very own happy ending. --Clara Newton, freelance reviewer