Happily Ever Madder by Stephanie McAfee

I recently reviewed Diary of a Mad Fat Girl by Stephanie McAfee and shared my excitement about reading the sequel. These are some seriously funny books, and chick lit fans need to snap these up! Happily Ever Madder picks up in Ace’s new town of Pelican Cove, Florida. She has left behind her native Bugtussle, Mississippi to start a new life with fiancé Mason and a new career – opening her own art gallery. She also had made a deal with herself – to get a new attitude. She is going to chuck away the straight-talking, sassy woman she once was and be a kinder, gentler version of Ace Jones. But with all the obstacles thrown her way in Pelican Cove, will the old Ace come to the surface – and can she really find true happiness at last?

I have to start with the ending – the cliffhanger literally made me shout out loud, loud enough for my fiancé to chuck his earbuds out and stare at me in shock. I am so excited to read the third book and figure out what happens to Ace. I really enjoyed the new cast of characters in this book, and how well the ones from the first book seamlessly slipped in. Ace is clearly struggling with a lot in Pelican Cove – getting on with Mason, her art gallery possibly being a bust, and a strange connection with the town player all being up there. But it’s the collision with Mrs. Lenore Kennashaw that really had me in stitches. I loved when Ace decided to chuck her nice-girl plan and finally get back at the wretched Lenore – the plan was genius! This book is written with humor but still a lot of feeling, and I have to give this sequel a big 5 stars!