Review: Merrily Ever After by Jenny Holiday
Forever Yours, 2018
⭐⭐⭐(.5)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Synopsis
Elise was looking forward to celebrating her first married Christmas with her husband, Jay. They have a pretty perfect relationship. A glorious sex life. A connected and loving marriage. But…with Elise’s endometriosis she was NEVER supposed to be able to get pregnant. She’d long ago come to accept her own infertility and as for Jay? Well, he’s always been honest with Elsie about how he absolutely never wants to be a father. But guess what? Elise is pregnant.
Christmas miracle? How can she tell her husband that she’s pregnant when she knows it’s something he doesn’t want?
My Thoughts
So, total honesty… At first this novella had me feeling really unsettled. I know this couple discussed not having children before they married. I know the choice to be childless is very valid. But omgosh, did you write it into your marriage vows?! I guess I just can’t see myself supporting a relationship wherein the female is certain she will be left in the event she accidentally becomes pregnant and chooses to keep her child. I know they discussed it… But nothing in life is certain. Stuff happens. I dunno, I had weird feelings.
However. Jay comes to understand the reasons he didn’t want children and realizes his love for Elise trumps all things. (Obviously. Its Romance.) So for me, the ending made the book worth reading. But I can see how a childless-by-choice person might not exactly love Jay’s change of heart… I dunno. This subject matter is so loaded! So here’s what I will say…Jenny Holiday is an excellent writer and this novella is well written and emotional and steamy. I personally liked the ending. But people may have a lot of feelings about this Merrily Ever After, one way or another.
Thank you Netgalley and Forever Yours for the chance to read and advanced copy. Merrily Ever After releases on December 4th. Check it out!
Happy Romance Reading!
