Series Name: The Ever After Street Series, # 3
‘Twinkle twinkle, little bat, how I wonder what you’re at.’ Standing on the cobblestones outside is the Mad Hatter, who winks at me with a grin that’s as bright as the rest of his exceptionally bright outfit.
A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street is another charming and delightful installment in the Ever After Street series.
A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street…
There’s always time for tea… unless you’ve lost your teapot…
Cleo Jordan has only ever wished for one thing – to open her own teashop in memory of her lovely gran. So when she accidentally fools the interview board into thinking she’s a brilliant baker and is offered a prime spot on Ever After Street, she knows her dream is about to come true!
Stepping into The Wonderland Teapot is like falling down the rabbit hole – magical! But there’s a catch: Cleo has completely lost her love of baking! With her little white lie ticking in her ear, it seems her dream is over before it’s begun.
Until she meets her very own Mad Hatter. Loved by everyone on Ever After Street, magician Bram brings an energy to the teashop that lifts everyone, and slowly, with his encouragement, Cleo is getting back to doing what she loves best.
But with Bram hiding secrets of his own, Cleo isn’t sure she can put all her faith in him. And when things start going wrong at the teashop, Cleo wonders if the culprit sabotaging her dream is someone closer than she thinks?
If Cleo wants her wish to work, she has to learn to trust again before she loses her head and heart completely…although it might already be far too late for that…
Well, wasn’t this a delightful and slightly bonkers read. I really love Jaimie’s ability to take beloved classic takes and spin them into everyday rom-coms. Even though Alice in Wonderland isn’t my favourite classic to read (no matter how hard I try to love it), I adored this book. There are so many fabulous references to the classic tale, and I also love the easter eggs that are woven throughout the story. Like with most rom-coms, this book can be read as a stand-alone, even though it’s part of a series. Fans of the series will be delighted that past MCs make an appearance in this book. It felt like I got to catch up with old friends. Those who are new to Jaimie’s writing are in for a real treat. She is one of my good-to-comfort authors. I know that when I pick up a book Jaimie has written, I’m going to be left feeling all kinds of happy and very comfy-cozy. And this book is no exception.
This story follows Cleo, whom we briefly met in the previous book. She is hoping to open her own Alice in Wonderland teashop. Life hasn’t been kind to Cleo; both her grandma and mom passed away (in a fairly short time frame), and her ex-boyfriend duped her out of opening up a teashop they were supposed to co-run. Cleo has been hiding from the world and really has lost her spark and self-confidence, which has affected her ability to bake. Cleo is beyond thrilled and slightly terrified when she is given the opportunity to run her very own Alice in Wonderland-themed teashop. The snag is that the town council believes she is a fabulous baker, which she is not. Another unexpected turn is when a very real life-sized mad-hatter shows up at her teashop door and says he is there to help Cleo out. Bram is all sorts of quirky, and Cleo truly doesn’t know what to make of him. I loved everything about this story. It’s a slight makeover story; baking shenanigans are happening, the hero is quirky and charming, and Cleo is just so darn likable.
I loved Cleo and felt like I bonded with her over her baking horror stories. I’ve lost count of the number of times that I almost set my microwave on fire, made lumpy frosting, and made cakes that just won’t rise. There is just something so wonderful about her character, and you can’t help but be drawn to her. I loved her journey of rediscovering her passion for baking and watching her start to believe in herself once again. Bram is delightful, fun, and just a ray of sunshine. He is very different from Jaimie’s previous male MCs, who were a bit broody and prickly. Bram plays such an important part in Cleo’s journey; he is a constant source of encouragement and support. Bram’s character also surprised me; he has a lot more depth than I initially thought he would. Underneath that goofy and slightly bonkers exterior is a man battling his own inner struggles.
The romance is sweet and delightful, and it is everything I have come to expect from a Jaimie Adman novel. Cleo and Bram are a fun and unique couple. Cleo doesn’t know what to make of Bram’s ‘Mad Hatter’ behaviour and cannot decide if she can trust him. There are plenty of misunderstandings, hurdles to overcome, and tea to serve. But alongside all that chaos are quiet and heartfelt moments where you see Cleo and Bram grow closer and see the start of a lovely romantic relationship.
A Wonderland Wish on Ever After Street is delightful and charming; it is everything I hoped it would be.
Thank you, Rachel’s Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
