Starred review from April 5, 2021
Returning to the enchanting world of Fairy Godmothers, Inc., DeWylde delivers a sparkling rom-com remix of classic fairy tales. Wedding planner Zuri Davis loves her job—right up until the day it literally goes up in flames. Though she hates the thought of moving away from Chicago and her twin sister, she takes an interview in Ever After, Mo., a popular wedding destination. There, Phillip Charming more than lives up to his name—that is, when he’s not a frog. He spends the daylight hours in amphibian form due to a curse placed on him by fairy godmother Petunia Blossom 300 years ago. In the meantime, he’s opened his castle as a B&B. He sets out to be the perfect host for Zuri and quickly finds himself smitten by the nonmagical woman. The pair fall prey to the matchmaking machinations of the town’s meddling fairy godmothers, but Charming doesn’t have time for a relationship; he must find a cure for his curse ASAP or become a frog full-time. DeWylde uses her diverse, nontraditional takes on fairy tale characters and tropes to delve deep into themes of toxic masculinity, female empowerment, and the transformative power of love. Delightful supporting characters—among them a sentient castle and an evil queen in recovery—only add to the charm. Readers are sure to be swept away.