After the Red Carpet - (A Red Carpet Romance) by Patricia Leavy (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

For fans of Tessa Bailey and Hannah Grace, After the Red Carpet is a feel-good, contemporary celebrity romance about what happens after the fairy-tale beginning as two lovers work toward their own true meaning of "happily ever after."

After legendary Hollywood star Finn Forrester proposed to philosopher Ella Sinclair on the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival, the couple captivated the press and public with their real-life fairy tale. Now they vow to prioritize their romance and live an adventure of their own making. Ella moves into Finn's Beverly Hills mansion and must adjust to his world. Finn, secretly afraid of losing Ella, is determined to make everything perfect for his betrothed. Meanwhile, Ella wants nothing more than to retain her own identity as they build their new life together. All the while, she is writing a philosophical treatise on love, exploring the question: when we love so deeply, where do we end and where does the other begin?

In this highly anticipated follow-up to The Location Shoot, will Ella and Finn finally live the life they've dreamed of? See how their epic romance unfolds, after the red carpet.

Review Quotes

2024 American Fiction Awards Winner in Romance: General
2024 Literary Titan Book Awards Gold Winner

"A fun read from start to finish . . ."--Midwest Book Review

"After the Red Carpet shows us what happens in the happily ever after. Finn and Ella turn love into a verb while navigating their own identities in this epic love story about building a life together. For the first time, I understood how hope, art, respect, reciprocity, and passion are the recipe that make love a concrete presence in our lives and relationships. I loved this book." --Sandra L. Faulkner, author of Poetic Inquiry: Craft, Method and Practice

"Leavy's writing shines in its ability to delve into the emotional intricacies of a relationship, offering readers a glimpse into the characters' heartfelt explorations of trust, understanding, and mutual support. This novel is an inviting read for those who appreciate a story that reaches the heights of romantic idealism and savors the everyday moments that weave two lives together." --Literary Titan, 5-star review

"Overall, the book is a frothy, sunny read." --Kirkus Reviews

"After the Red Carpet is a modern masterpiece and a perfect romance narrative from the more literary side of the book world." --Readers' Favorite, 5-star review

"After the Red Carpet offers a brilliant spin on a Cinderella story that is equal parts whimsical fairy tale and insightful meditation on the true meaning of love. Ella and Finn show us that happily ever after is possible once you let go of the fairy tale and your fears, and that the greatest gift is simply loving someone for who they really are. Readers of women's fiction and romance novels will devour this book. The ending is supremely satisfying." --U. Melissa Anyiwo, editor of Gender Warriors

"Both as a sequel to The Location Shoot and as a metaphor for the depth beyond the beginning of a relationship, After the Red Carpet is Patricia Leavy's latest romantic masterpiece. It is a stunning exploration of intimacy, insecurity, innovation, and intense love during the everyday aspects of ever after, both the happiest and the hardest. This novel will thrill the romantic in you while also leading you to reflect upon what matters most in love, relationships, and intimacy over time." --J. E. Sumerau, George Garrett Fiction Prize-winning author of Transmission

"I absolutely loved this book. After the Red Carpet is a delicious celebrity romance, but it's so much more. This is a smartly written novel about different kinds of love, forging one's own identity, friendship, family, and real partnership. Ella and Finn show us that real magic happens out of the Hollywood spotlight. A perfect read whether you're on the beach, cozy at home, or in your book club." --Laurel Richardson, author of Lone Twin

"Leavy, an acclaimed romance novelist, brings us a brave, emotionally charged, and deceptively subtle story about the intensity of love and the complexity of forging a new world for oneself. This is both a deeply beautiful love story for the ages and a smart exploration of what happens to our identities when 'me' becomes 'we.' I could not put this book down. The ending is everything." --Jessica Smartt Gullion, author of October Birds

About the Author

Patricia Leavy is an award-winning, best-selling author. Formerly Associate Professor of Sociology and Founding Director of Gender Studies at Stonehill College, she has published more than forty books and has received career awards from the National Art Education Association, the American Creativity Association, the American Educational Research Association, and more. In 2018, she was honored by the National Women's Hall of Fame and SUNY-New Paltz when they established the "Patricia Leavy Award for Art and Social Justice" and in 2024 the London Arts-Based Research Centre established The Patricia Leavy Award for Arts-Based Research. Her website is www.patricialeavy.com. She lives in Kennebunk, Maine.