Release date: April 14, 2026
Publisher: Gallery
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Synopsis:
From USA TODAY bestselling author Chloe Liese, a clever and heartwarming rom-com that is perfect for fans of Christina Lauren and Annabel Monaghan about two best friends who must fake a relationship for their exes.
Thea and Alex have three things in common—they love food, they hate where they live, and they’re both divorced. Otherwise, they couldn’t be more different.
Thea’s never cooked a day in her life. Alex is a world-class chef. Alex resents feeling stuck in his hometown. Thea resents the town for not feeling more like home. Thea and her ex are in a contentious custody battle for their dog. Alex and his ex amicably coparent their daughter. Beyond a few friends in common, a couple small-world connections (welcome to life in a mid-size city), their lives look nothing alike. Fast forward two years, and they’re truly the best of friends. No one would ever know their friendship began as a lie…
Two years ago, their exes got together immediately following their divorces, and somehow, Thea and Alex found themselves spinning a spite-fueled story about being old friends and first loves. Two years later, what began as a ruse has grown into real friendship—just friendship, despite what friends and family seem to think. But when their exes invite them on a two-week, “two family” beach vacation—daughter and dog included—Alex and Thea start to wonder if this story they’ve spun might have gotten away from them, and if it’s led them to the last place they ever thought it could: a happy ending.
Review:
Happy Ending by Chloe Liese is the kind of romance that quietly sneaks up on you and then completely owns your heart. This is a slow
burn, friends to lovers story that leans heavily into emotional intimacy, shared history, and the kind of connection that feels both effortless and deeply earned. Told through past and present timelines, the story beautifully builds the foundation of Alex and Thea’s relationship—starting from a messy, spite fueled fake backstory and evolving into something so genuine and meaningful it’s impossible not to root for them.
What really makes this book shine is how character driven it is. Alex and Thea feel like real people navigating real life baggage; divorce, complicated exes, feeling stuck, and figuring out what “home” even means. Their friendship is the heart of the story, and it’s written with so much care and tenderness. You can feel the trust, the safety, the slow shift from platonic love to something deeper. It’s swoony in a soft, grounded way—more about lingering glances and emotional vulnerability than big dramatic moments.
This is a mature, heartfelt romance that prioritizes growth, healing, and connection. The beach vacation setting adds just enough tension to push everything to the surface, but it never overshadows what matters most: Alex and Thea choosing each other in a way that feels intentional and real. Sweet, charming, and deeply endearing, this is one of those romances where you want to wrap both characters in a blanket and protect them at all costs.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
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