The Ever After of Ella and Micha is the 4th book in the Secret series by Jessica Sorensen. Ella faces the same fears and insecurities she has always had. Her past scars, though healing, still come back to haunt her. When a box arrives with reminders of her mother, she questions much of her present situation and launches the platform for this book. As she delves into the box, she finds so many similarities between herself and her mom that her insecurities are magnified before her wedding day. 
 What I loved in this book is that Ella is recognizing her fears (and their triggers) and standing up to them more than she ever has. I think in several cases she surprises both herself and Micha in what she is willing to do to overcome her fears. The fears aren't gone, and she has to work pretty hard to overcome them, but she is trying. She still has a shaky relationship with her dad and brother, but there is hope in both cases as the story progresses that the progress they've each made will continue to develop. 
 I love how well Micha can read Ella. His devotion to her is so pure and constant. He is the perfect boyfriend/fiancee for Ella because he is so confident that she is his only love. The memories he shares with her of their past really cement just how long he has been in love with her, something she hadn't felt from anyone else that early in her life. 
 I loved the bits and pieces of Ella and Micha's history together sprinkled throughout the book. Not only do we see where they are in the present time, we also get to see more of how they built their friendship from the time they were four years old onward. Those scenes were especially sweet as they showed how both characters have leaned on each other over the years. 
 Compared to Ella and Micha's previous books, this one is lighter. The challenges they face are not as dark as before, though they stem from similar issues. This felt like a sweet addition to the series, without being sugary. It's still the same Ella and Micha, only this time they are a little more confident in their relationship and where it is heading. I didn't finish the book emotionally wrecked, instead I felt hopeful about where these two are headed. Comfortable. Happy. 
 Thanks to Jessica Sorensen, Forever/Grand Central Publishing, and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.