Until the Clock Strikes Midnight hits all the emotional highs and lows. It’s swoony, cute, and heartfelt all at once. I loved this one so much! Keep reading this book review of Until the Clock Strikes Midnight for my full thoughts.
Summary
Darling is the most talented—and unusual—Guardian to get a chance at winning the coveted once-in-a-generation Mortal Outcome Council mentorship. Getting the spot would mean having the opportunity to shape the future happiness of all mortal realms—if she succeeds at her first assignment, Lucy Addlesberg. Darling thinks it’ll be an easy razzle-dazzle job… until she actually meets Lucy. Her life is a complete mess, from her failing bookshop in her downtrodden village to her doomed flirtation with the princess of Lumina. But if there’s one thing Darling’s good at, it’s a makeover.
Calamity is the most talented—and arrogant—Misfortune of his class. It’s his job to save mortals from their own terrible decisions made in the pursuit of the mythical “Happily Ever After.” When Calam is granted a shot at the Mortal Outcome Council mentorship, he thinks his dreams are finally coming true. But first, he must pass the test. It should be easy—Lucy Addlesberg has been unfortunate for years. All he has to do is continue her string of bad luck so she can finally come to terms with reality and settle for a safer, more logical path in life. Yet when he arrives, he finds that Lucy has a Guardian assigned to her too—a chipper overachiever who is as colorful as the magic pouring from her glittery wand.
To thwart each other, Darling and Calam insert themselves into Lucy’s life posing as a betrothed couple. As they try to guide her down what they each see as the best path for her, they start questioning their roles and ultimately what they truly want for themselves… and if those feelings of loathing they have for each other might actually be something more like love.
Review

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I adored Until the Clock Strikes Midnight. It’s a multi-layered book that explores fate and the risks of love, bipolar representation, and features these almost fairy tale godparent figures. Dow asks us whether it’s worth having an Ordinary Ever After of stability and security or risking it all for a Happily Ever After. Featuring rivals to lovers, fake dating, and more, Until the Clock Strikes Midnight is a book that will induce swooning and emotionally profound moments. It’s a rare world I’d actually like to be in. Throughout the pages we examine whether we should let fate decide for us and who even gets the chance at any sort of Ever After?
There are so many forces in our lives which try to tell us what we should want or should be. The limitations in our lives. But what about what we need versus what we want? Should we just accept ordinary? Until the Clock Strikes Midnight asks us whether love can bridge the gap between opposites, between rivals, between stations. I would just love to spend even more time in this world, the Fairy world, or just future stories because I love the concept so much! Find Until the Clock Strikes Midnight on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.
Book Tour Schedule
| Tour Date | Tour Hosts | Type of Post |
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| February 7th | Lexijava | Bookstagram only |
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