After Ever Happy

After Ever Happy is a 2022 romantic drama film directed by Castille Landon. The screenplay is written by Sharon Soboil and is adapted from the 2015 novel by Anna Todd. This film is a sequel to After We Fell (2021) and is the fourth entry in the After film series. The main characters, Tessa Young and Hardin Scott, are played by Josephine Langford and Hero Fiennes Tiffin, respectively.

The film was shot back-to-back in Bulgaria in 2020 with its predecessor, After We Fell. It premiered in Italy on 22 August 2022, followed by a release in the United States on 7 September 2022.

The plot picks up after a shocking family revelation. Hardin learns that Christian Vance is his biological father. Following this news, Hardin disrupts his mother's wedding reception, leading to a series of emotional confrontations. That night, in a drunken state, he tries to break into his mother’s house and accidentally sets it on fire. Fortunately, Vance intervenes and takes the blame for the incident.

As Tessa and Hardin navigate their tumultuous relationship, they face numerous challenges, including a family tragedy when Tessa finds her father has died from an overdose. A pivotal moment occurs as Hardin attends the funeral for Tessa's father to show his support.

After a dinner with friends, Tessa suggests that she and Hardin take a break to heal from their respective family issues. She decides to move to New York City with her friend Landon, which leaves Hardin heartbroken. During their time apart, Hardin focuses on his sobriety while Tessa finds new opportunities in NYC.

As the story unfolds, Tessa and Hardin slowly reconnect. They share a passionate night together, but complications arise when Tessa discovers Hardin has been writing a book about their relationship without her knowledge. This revelation causes a significant rift between them, leading Tessa to end their relationship officially.

Despite the distance, Hardin's book becomes a New York Times Best Seller. After realizing they still have feelings for each other, Tessa sneaks into one of Hardin's book signings, but misunderstandings arise that keep them apart.

After its release, the film received harsh criticism, holding a 0% approval rating on a prominent review aggregator site, with an average rating of 2.6/10. Nevertheless, in August 2022, it was announced that a secret sequel was in development, titled After Everything, with the original cast expected to reprise their roles.

Overall, After Ever Happy attempts to capture the complexities of love and relationships amidst personal struggles, leaving viewers engaged with Tessa and Hardin’s turbulent journey.