title: The Truth About Happily Ever After
author:  Karole Cozzo 
description: Gr 9 UpFrom the outside, Alyssa's life seems ideal. During the school year, she is part of a lively sorority, and during the summers, she works in her favorite theme park as Cinderella. She has the perfect hair and the perfect smile and her very own Prince Charming, park medic Jake. When the summer starts, Alyssa can't wait to end their long-distance days and rekindle what they had the summer before. But when Jake gets to town, he is distant, and Alyssa notices that something just isn't quite right. As her world crumbles, she isolates herself, shutting out her friends and letting her performance at work slip. Just in the nick of time, her persistent friend Miller steps in, forcing Alyssa to take a better look at herself and discover the person she truly is. While the novel starts off with many heavy-handed, Disney-esque references and frustrating teen speak, Cozzo finds her way near the midpoint, delivering a compelling story with a protagonist readers can't help rooting for. Alyssa's struggles seem genuine, and Miller is an unlikely yet lovable knight in shining armor. VERDICT A good addition for libraries with fans of princesses and fairy tales.Erica Deb, Matawan Aberdeen Public Library, NJ
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  [About the Author](contents.xhtml#c_Ata)
  
  
  ![](../images/author.jpg)
  
  
  [KAROLE
  COZZO](http://us.macmillan.com/author/karolecozzo?utm_source=ebook&utm_medium=adcard&utm_term=ebookreaders&utm_content=karolecozzo_authorpage_macdotcom&utm_campaign=9781250163882)
  lives in Malvern, Pennsylvania, with her husband, two children, and dog. Her
  days are split between working as a school psychologist at a local high school
  and writing YA romance. Karole’s hobbies include running, crafty projects, co-
  leading a Daisy troop, drinking coconut coffee, and nursing a Target
  addiction. You can sign up for email updates
  [here](http://us.macmillan.com/authoralerts?authorName=karolecozzo&authorRefId=111866597&utm_source=ebook&utm_medium=adcard&utm_term=ebookreaders&utm_content=karolecozzo_authoralertsignup_macdotcom&utm_campaign=9781250163882).
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Acknowledgments](contents.xhtml#c_Ack)
  
  
  Kat Brzozowski—so many thanks for tackling this project with me! Your support
  and enthusiasm took this sto