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Happily Ever After: A Novel
by Elizabeth Maxwell
Published: 2014-03-18
Paperback : 336 pages
Paperback : 336 pages
6 members reading this now
3 clubs reading this now
1 member has read this book
3 clubs reading this now
1 member has read this book
In this witty, sexy tale, an erotic novelist meets the fictional hero of her most recent book in real life, and must decide whether she wants to get him back between the pages--or between her sheets.
At forty-six, Sadie Fuller's life isn't exactly romantic. A divorced, overweight, somewhat ...
At forty-six, Sadie Fuller's life isn't exactly romantic. A divorced, overweight, somewhat ...
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Introduction
In this witty, sexy tale, an erotic novelist meets the fictional hero of her most recent book in real life, and must decide whether she wants to get him back between the pages--or between her sheets.
At forty-six, Sadie Fuller's life isn't exactly romantic. A divorced, overweight, somewhat sexually frustrated mother of an eleven-year-old, she lives in the suburbs, shops the big box stores, makes small talk with her small-minded neighbors, and generally leads a quiet life. But while her daughter is at school, or when Sadie is up late at night, she writes erotic fiction under the name KT Briggs.
Then, during a routine shopping trip, Sadie runs into someone familiar...too familiar, in fact. She encounters an incredibly handsome man exactly like the one in her imagination--and her latest novel. Is Aidan Hathaway really one of her characters? And if so, what is he doing in Target? As Sadie tries to negotiate this strange new world, her eyes begin to open to romantic possibilities in places she never dreamed of looking...places where Happily Ever After might not be so far-fetched after all.
Excerpt
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Discussion Questions
1. Happily Ever After opens with the definition of the term “midlife crisis.” How does this set the tone for the story? How well do you think this definition applies to what Sadie goes through?2. On page 43 Sadie is worried her relationship with Jason may be doomed if he’s not a reader. She declares, “A man who reads is profoundly sexy. A man who does not is just some guy.” Do you agree? What qualities or characteristics would you consider deal breakers?
3. Throughout the story, the dichotomy between city and country life often comes up. Sadie seems to have love/hate relationships with both settings, though she chose suburban life for her daughter’s sake. What’s your preference? How does your experience of either the city or the country compare to Sadie’s?
4. Even though Lily and Aidan were products of Sadie’s imagination, they end up taking on lives of their own—in more ways than one! How do they turn out to be different than Sadie had intended? What do you think they end up teaching Sadie about herself by not following her plans?
5. At separate points in the story, Sadie and Jason both seem to readily accept the magical truth of what is actually happening as it’s presented to them. Were you surprised that they weren’t more incredulous? Would you have been so easily convinced?
6. Sadie takes on many different roles in life—roles that she’s often trying to keep distinctly separate from each other. Discuss the many titles she adopts and how successfully she juggles them.
7. For a while both before she got pregnant and after her divorce, Sadie was tempted to give up on her happy ending. Have you ever felt ready to throw in the towel? Do you think Sadie ever really gave up?
8. Compare Sadie’s relationship with Jason to the types of relationships she writes about in her books. Does their story follow the rules of a good book—according to Ellen or according to you?
9. So many of the characters in this book are faced with heartache at one point or another. Discuss how they each seem to deal with it and what you think that says about them. How does heartache help bring any of them together or move the story along?
10. Happily Ever After features a witch, spells and alternate realities. What effect does it have on your belief—or suspension of disbelief—in the story?
11. Sadie shows a lot of care for her characters when trying to break Clarissa’s spells. Why do you think she is willing to go through so much trouble and even endanger herself to try to save them? Would you have done the same?
12. On page 291 Sadie says “sometimes I wonder if any of it really happened. . .But then I see Lily, and that line between reality and fantasy blurs.” What do you make of Lily’s decision to stay with Sadie? How would it have changed the story if she hadn’t stayed? Would you have believed it had all really happened?
13. Discuss the endings for each of the main characters. Do they all get a happily ever after? Do you wish it had ended differently for any of them?
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