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ashtynolive's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very fun read. This book is not going to pass the Bechdel test, teach you the meaning of life, or reveal some deep truths about the universe. But it's a very fun and uplifting friendship story. Overall, I love that you're rooting for these women and really enjoying their support and love for each other.
This book is a little on the long side (a 10 hour audiobook, 60 chapters). I think for the genre, I'd have appreciated something a little shorter and called it a "beach read". However, if you're into a female friendship-centered, romantic story I think you'll greatly enjoy it. The writing and narration are great.
Just a note: The book touches on grief, loss of family (including a child), infidelity, and body image (some ED content)
This book is a little on the long side (a 10 hour audiobook, 60 chapters). I think for the genre, I'd have appreciated something a little shorter and called it a "beach read". However, if you're into a female friendship-centered, romantic story I think you'll greatly enjoy it. The writing and narration are great.
Just a note: The book touches on grief, loss of family (including a child), infidelity, and body image (some ED content)
laineygillon's review against another edition
4.0
Honestly, Jessica Redland is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. This is the third book from her I have read since September and I have loved every one of them.
This book melted my icy heart, so wholesome and proves the point that family isn't just blood relations!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have. Such a sweet and easy read.
This book melted my icy heart, so wholesome and proves the point that family isn't just blood relations!
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have. Such a sweet and easy read.
aspiereads33's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Infidelity, Car accident, Body shaming, Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, and Eating disorder
Moderate: Fatphobia, Emotional abuse, and Grief
ehoots's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
5.0
lucyrider's review against another edition
4.0
The Secret To Happiness - Jessica Redland
I have really enjoyed Jessica's work and this was included in Audible subscription so I thought I'd give it a go. It is quite different to some of her other work and I'll explain why.
Synopsis from Goodreads
*The Top 10 Bestseller*
Everyone deserves a chance at happiness...
Danniella is running from her past, so when she arrives at the beautiful seaside resort of Whitsborough Bay, the last thing on her mind is making friends. After all, they might find out her secrets…
Alison is fun, caring and doesn't take herself too seriously. But beneath the front, she is a lost soul, stuck in a terrible relationship, with body confidence issues and no family to support her. All she really needs is a friend.
Karen's romance has taken a back seat to her fitness business. But she doesn’t want to give up on love quite yet. If only those mysterious texts would stop coming through …
When the women meet at their local bootcamp, a deep friendship blossoms. And soon they realise that the secret to happiness is where they least expected to find it…
An uplifting story of friendship and finding the strength to come to terms with the past. Perfect for fans of Tilly Tennant and Cathy Bramley.
What readers are saying about The Secret To Happiness: 'An emotional but uplifting page turner. The Secret to Happiness is a beautiful story of friendship and love' Fay Keenan
'I loved how realistic and flawed the characters were, no perfect people, just honest characters with real problems.'
'Easily Jessica Redland's best novel so far. The amount of heart and depth that has gone into it is astounding.'
'This is a story that will have you enthralled from the start to the end with its many twists and turns. Jessica has the knack of drawing you into her "heroines". She always includes some humour in her books but wow, does she know how to bring you to tears as well.'
'Reading this book is the secret to happiness. Wow!'
'Loved the characters and didn't want it to end.'
Another trip to Whitsborough Bay and some cross over with previous characters and the three central female characters in the book were relatable and well written conveying some of the complex emotions people go through when stuck in relationships that good sense tells them should end along with all their friends and family, but they stick to them until the only outcome is to leave!
Daniella, Alison and Karen were all slightly flawed, but you were routing for them to all be happy in the long run. Redland's writing is often very cosy and warming and a really comforting read where you instinctively feel that it will be "alright in the end", but this book is quite different to the others I have read in that it has some fairly shocking scenes that were a bit out of charcter to what I'd come to expect from the folk of Whitsborough Bay. (In particular the latter stages of how Karen's relationship with her fellow business partner and personal trainer develops)
Lucy Brownhill was the narrator and has narrated a good number of Redland's books and has a very comforting and warm delivery that suits Redland's style and I enjoy listening to.
If the extreme scenes were a bit more expected/plausible/relatable or even a little softened, I think I would be rating this a cosy 5, but for now it's a 4 as it was a bit jarring, especially listening to just before bed on Audible.
I have really enjoyed Jessica's work and this was included in Audible subscription so I thought I'd give it a go. It is quite different to some of her other work and I'll explain why.
Synopsis from Goodreads
*The Top 10 Bestseller*
Everyone deserves a chance at happiness...
Danniella is running from her past, so when she arrives at the beautiful seaside resort of Whitsborough Bay, the last thing on her mind is making friends. After all, they might find out her secrets…
Alison is fun, caring and doesn't take herself too seriously. But beneath the front, she is a lost soul, stuck in a terrible relationship, with body confidence issues and no family to support her. All she really needs is a friend.
Karen's romance has taken a back seat to her fitness business. But she doesn’t want to give up on love quite yet. If only those mysterious texts would stop coming through …
When the women meet at their local bootcamp, a deep friendship blossoms. And soon they realise that the secret to happiness is where they least expected to find it…
An uplifting story of friendship and finding the strength to come to terms with the past. Perfect for fans of Tilly Tennant and Cathy Bramley.
What readers are saying about The Secret To Happiness: 'An emotional but uplifting page turner. The Secret to Happiness is a beautiful story of friendship and love' Fay Keenan
'I loved how realistic and flawed the characters were, no perfect people, just honest characters with real problems.'
'Easily Jessica Redland's best novel so far. The amount of heart and depth that has gone into it is astounding.'
'This is a story that will have you enthralled from the start to the end with its many twists and turns. Jessica has the knack of drawing you into her "heroines". She always includes some humour in her books but wow, does she know how to bring you to tears as well.'
'Reading this book is the secret to happiness. Wow!'
'Loved the characters and didn't want it to end.'
Another trip to Whitsborough Bay and some cross over with previous characters and the three central female characters in the book were relatable and well written conveying some of the complex emotions people go through when stuck in relationships that good sense tells them should end along with all their friends and family, but they stick to them until the only outcome is to leave!
Daniella, Alison and Karen were all slightly flawed, but you were routing for them to all be happy in the long run. Redland's writing is often very cosy and warming and a really comforting read where you instinctively feel that it will be "alright in the end", but this book is quite different to the others I have read in that it has some fairly shocking scenes that were a bit out of charcter to what I'd come to expect from the folk of Whitsborough Bay. (In particular the latter stages of how Karen's relationship with her fellow business partner and personal trainer develops)
Lucy Brownhill was the narrator and has narrated a good number of Redland's books and has a very comforting and warm delivery that suits Redland's style and I enjoy listening to.
If the extreme scenes were a bit more expected/plausible/relatable or even a little softened, I think I would be rating this a cosy 5, but for now it's a 4 as it was a bit jarring, especially listening to just before bed on Audible.
lupick's review against another edition
3.0
A nice, comfy read. I only wish that all these happy-ever-after-ending stories didn't always have to end with the girl finding her perfect match; sometimes a girl can be perfectly happy just being single and having awesome friends. Oops, did I just give away the ending?
jesscr's review against another edition
4.0
*Audible book*
Really enjoyed this book. Was very positive. The only downside to me was that the women seemed to need men as a part of their happiness.
Really enjoyed this book. Was very positive. The only downside to me was that the women seemed to need men as a part of their happiness.
lisa_pilates's review against another edition
1.0
I couldn't finish it. Each woman was insufferable in their secrets and the men were just as awful in their emotional and verbal abuse. Finding out why Daniella was running from her past could have been handled better with a grieve counselor and the stalker issues from Karen were based of her boyfriend being a truly terrible person. I hope it all ended well for these women but I was too annoyed to find out.
jesspen's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Audiobook. Easy listening.