Happiness for Beginners

Product Information

One of the best reads of this decade for me, featuring an unforgettable, gutsy heroine and an equally endearing, swoon-worthy hero. What more could you ask for? You have to read this book! Matthew Perry's Behavior "Concerned" 'Friends' Co-Creator Marta Kauffman During The 2021 Cast Reunion Katherine Center never disappoints. Her work specifically seeks to broaden the reader’s awareness and understanding of the unexplored and expansive strength, power and authority of love—and she pulls it off—every time.” A couple years ago I read Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail and really enjoyed the topic. After I was finished with the book I actually wanted to hike the PCT. Which is quite ironic because I hate hiking. But I REALLY enjoyed the hiking and survival part of the story. And while reading Happiness for Beginners I felt the same way again. It was probably my favorite part of the story.

Happiness for Beginners - Libby Happiness for Beginners - Libby

Adorable love story about growing up, figuring out what makes you happy, and learning to accept what you can’t change. A perfect beach read! ” Absolutely in love with this book. Like, I just finished and may start over and read again in love with this book.” ANGELA If you like good stories, well told, and characters you can love and root for, this book is for you. I really like Katherine Center books but this older one might be vying for the top spot now. If you haven’t read anything by Center (are you a Texan if you haven’t?), what are you waiting for?” When I die, bury me with all of Katherine Center’s works because they are just the epitome of what I need in a romance novel: a strong main character who has to overcome some obstacle, excellent dialogue, and a love interest who is supportive and interesting and romantic.”I was feeling a little anxious and restless, and I couldn’t find inner peace or calm. That’s when I knew it was time to read this amazing book again. For the fourth time. The moment I opened it and started reading, I had this feeling of ‘ahhhh, this is good and just what I needed.’ Every time I read this, I go on the journey along with Helen. From her reflections, I reflect on my own thoughts, life and happiness, and I get inspired to exercise my appreciation. Throw in witty and great writing, great characters, wilderness setting, a beautiful cover and a bit of romance, and you get, in my opinion, a fantastic book.” This book was a true joy to read. I found myself cheering for Helen as she navigated life being newly divorced and trying to find her way. She ended up surprising herself numerous times, and I enjoyed the journey.” Helen Carpenter has just made the list as one of my favorite heroines ever. This thirty-two-year-old divorcee decides after a year of being alone, she needs an adventure. So she goes on the adventure of a lifetime. Forget the fact that she’s not a hiker, isn’t huge into nature and has never done anything like this before… she decides to take a walk on the wild side. To go on a retreat into the wilderness. For three weeks! She has her reasons, things she wants to accomplish and she’s bound and determined to do it. Many thanks to the Hennepin County Library of Minneapolis and the Libby app for the fab opportunity to read and review this book. This was essentially one of those books where everything happens in service of plot, even if it makes no sense at all. So the male love interest declares his long-standing affection for the main character early on, and she rebuffs him even though she likes him too ... but then spends the whole rest of the book wondering, every time his attention seems to be focused elsewhere, if he still likes her. I can't even count the number of times I thought to myself, Omigod! He ALREADY TOLD YOU he likes you! When he gave you that Pablo Neruda poem, that meant he likes you. When he kissed you and told you you were beautiful, that meant he likes you. When he told you he'd basically been obsessed with you for six years, THAT MEANT HE LIKES YOU. Not that difficult. But, of course, without this completely unrealistic fake conflict, there'd be no book at all. That's a problem.

Happiness for Beginners: One broken family. Two hearts Happiness for Beginners: One broken family. Two hearts

Such a delight. Snappy, engaging writing, flawed, relatable, and lovable characters that I miss already, and even some surprisingly memorable and meaningful nuggets of wisdom. Tender and funny and such a good story! I can’t wait to read more of Katherine Center’s books.” I literally read this book cover to cover today. I don’t remember loving a story so much, but I loved Helen, and I loved Jake, and I loved Duncan. It was real and messy and so incredibly lovely.” This woman can write! She pulls you deep into the heart of her characters and has you not only routing for them every step of the way, but also learning things about yourself, as well. Her books and her writing always seems to have a hopeful, positive spin on life. Even when her characters are facing tough situations and their lives seem to be turned upside down, she brings that silver lining into every moment.” Absolutely loved this book! I honestly couldn’t read it fast enough! In fact, I’m buying it for my daughter because I thought it offered a lot of great insights into being happy.”

Waking at dawn, Helen takes the other three to Hugh and company. She and the men carry him on a makeshift stretcher to an awaiting ambulance three miles away. The next day, they all relax and chat and when dusk falls, Helen seeks out Jake who has departed from the group in the woods. Grateful, he hugs her then explains he inherited a degenerative eye disease causing him to slowly lose his sight. It currently affects him most at night and is the reason why he couldn't find the glasses he'd dropped, and also why he'd stopped practicing medicine. They nearly kiss but are interrupted. Thirty-two year old Helen Carpenter has been divorced for a year. You’d think she’d be over it by now, if only it were that easy. Hoping to find a way, and find herself in the process, Helen enrolls in a Wilderness Survival Course.