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moodreadqueen's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
susannahf's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
azu's review against another edition
2.0
Anyta Sunday is one of my go-to authors when I'm looking for a sweet, sweet romance with the slowest of slow burn, the kind that let you with a too-bright smile as you close the book.
I've already loved Made for You and Shrewd Angel (some characters from it makes cameo in Happy For You), so I started Happy For You waiting to be as charmed as I was by the previous books.
For the first 60% of this story, I was delighted. It has everything I love: slow burn, good chemistry between characters, found family etc. Unfortunately, I didn't buy the reason why Mort left the Rochester family, it wasn't really like, discussed? I felt like the mother wasn't confronted by her children. I don't know, it's just bugged me a lot. Why Mort has to gain back the love of the family when he didn't do anything wrong in the first place?
Secondly, it was hard to place the story sometimes. We are told both MCs are working but they spent most of their time in the dance studio and like... were they all dancers in the first place? How did they meet? I was surprised we didn't have any flashbacks. I was curious about Mort & Roch first meeting.
Speaking of Mort & Roch, I wish there were more scenes with us. They are supposed to be (ex) BFF but it didn't feel like it at all... I would have liked to know more about their friendship.
Now, the romance: I'll be lying if I say I wasn't hooked at first. Loved the sparks between Mort & Felix (Felix was such a nice character!). Loved the confession, I may have been holding my breath when with the "Haven't we danced around this long enough?' 'This?" "Us." bit.
Unfortunately, a few pages after this, I almost DNF the book because I didn't like at all Roch's confession, it was too much for me. That in the past, Mort has a crush on Roch, then fell in love with his younger brother? Ok for me, but this... Nope, not for me, sorry!
Overall, it was a nice but not my far from my favourite from Anyta Sunday. I'll still read her next books with enthusiasm!
Many thanks to the author who provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I've already loved Made for You and Shrewd Angel (some characters from it makes cameo in Happy For You), so I started Happy For You waiting to be as charmed as I was by the previous books.
For the first 60% of this story, I was delighted. It has everything I love: slow burn, good chemistry between characters, found family etc. Unfortunately, I didn't buy the reason why Mort left the Rochester family, it wasn't really like, discussed? I felt like the mother wasn't confronted by her children. I don't know, it's just bugged me a lot. Why Mort has to gain back the love of the family when he didn't do anything wrong in the first place?
Secondly, it was hard to place the story sometimes. We are told both MCs are working but they spent most of their time in the dance studio and like... were they all dancers in the first place? How did they meet? I was surprised we didn't have any flashbacks. I was curious about Mort & Roch first meeting.
Speaking of Mort & Roch, I wish there were more scenes with us. They are supposed to be (ex) BFF but it didn't feel like it at all... I would have liked to know more about their friendship.
Now, the romance: I'll be lying if I say I wasn't hooked at first. Loved the sparks between Mort & Felix (Felix was such a nice character!). Loved the confession, I may have been holding my breath when with the "Haven't we danced around this long enough?' 'This?" "Us." bit.
Unfortunately, a few pages after this, I almost DNF the book because I didn't like at all Roch's confession, it was too much for me. That in the past, Mort has a crush on Roch, then fell in love with his younger brother? Ok for me, but this... Nope, not for me, sorry!
Overall, it was a nice but not my far from my favourite from Anyta Sunday. I'll still read her next books with enthusiasm!
Many thanks to the author who provided me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
iam's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
I'm... kinda confused about this one.
Content warnings include: sex on-page, mentions of organ transplant.
Was is cute? Yeah, sure. I liked the big family and how the siblings clearly cared deeply for each other and Mort.
But for pretty much the entire book I wasn't sure what was going on. Even now that I finished it I'm unsure about why exactly Mort left, what the issue with the mother was, how the dancing fit in with everything, who had to ask who for forgiveness and what even happened in the past.
I was never bored and I found it comforting to read, but to say I was wholly engaged in the story would be an exaggeration. The only real solid plot was the romance between Mort and Felix, and even that was far from straighforward since they are both aware of each other's feelings from pretty much the very beginning and then dance around it (no pun intended.) Except they are mostly pretty blunt and honest with each other, there are no big misunderstandings. A few jumps to conclusions happen, but they are usually forgotten pretty quickly.
I had a passable time with the book and enjoyed reading it, but overall I'm left quite baffled by its finer workings.
It can be read as standalone, though there are frequent hints to [b:Made for You|45177210|Made for You (Love and Family, #2)|Anyta Sunday|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555712401l/45177210._SY75_.jpg|67155158] and [b:Shrewd Angel|41718481|Shrewd Angel|Anyta Sunday|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541504945l/41718481._SY75_.jpg|65075456].
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I'm... kinda confused about this one.
Content warnings include: sex on-page, mentions of organ transplant.
Was is cute? Yeah, sure. I liked the big family and how the siblings clearly cared deeply for each other and Mort.
But for pretty much the entire book I wasn't sure what was going on. Even now that I finished it I'm unsure about why exactly Mort left, what the issue with the mother was, how the dancing fit in with everything, who had to ask who for forgiveness and what even happened in the past.
I was never bored and I found it comforting to read, but to say I was wholly engaged in the story would be an exaggeration. The only real solid plot was the romance between Mort and Felix, and even that was far from straighforward since they are both aware of each other's feelings from pretty much the very beginning and then dance around it (no pun intended.) Except they are mostly pretty blunt and honest with each other, there are no big misunderstandings. A few jumps to conclusions happen, but they are usually forgotten pretty quickly.
I had a passable time with the book and enjoyed reading it, but overall I'm left quite baffled by its finer workings.
It can be read as standalone, though there are frequent hints to [b:Made for You|45177210|Made for You (Love and Family, #2)|Anyta Sunday|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555712401l/45177210._SY75_.jpg|67155158] and [b:Shrewd Angel|41718481|Shrewd Angel|Anyta Sunday|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1541504945l/41718481._SY75_.jpg|65075456].
I received an ARC and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
maggiefan's review against another edition
2.0
It hurts me to say this, but I didn't like the book.
The beginning was rushed, I felt like we didn't even know any necessary information about the characters, but the romance plotline had already started.
It's all very unfortunate because I've been excited to read this book for a long time.
The beginning was rushed, I felt like we didn't even know any necessary information about the characters, but the romance plotline had already started.
It's all very unfortunate because I've been excited to read this book for a long time.
loishojmark's review against another edition
3.0
Anyta Sunday - Happy for You.
Anyta Sunday is one of my favorite authors. I like hey ability to combine angst wuth some comical reliefs. And I'm a major fan of a good slow burning romance. You know the kind where you are have heart palpitations and you're tempted to skip ahead in the story to all the good parts. But of course you would never do that! Because as with a lot of things it is the journey that is the most interesting part.
"Happy for You" is definitely a slow burn. The main couples romance actually takes part over several years, but we only follow a couple of months.
Our story starts when Mort returns to town, after a sudden departure a year ago. He left his best friend Roch and his family suddenly without a word. Mort doesn't have a family of worth himself and was unofficially adopted into the Rochester family. He is crushed with regret for leaving the family, and tries to make amends by helping as much as possible. Especially to help easen the burdens of the younger brother, Felix.
Felix has been openly in love with Mort for most of his life. But alas Mort was in love with Roch, and thereby the foundation is laid for a triangle drama. But Sunday is able to minimize the clichés this might cause and make it simpler ... in part.
The book was good and and had some great secondary characters. But I must admit that personally I prefer the first two books in the series. Mort and Felix are lovely and their story rather sweet. But I was missing some of the angst that Sunday excels at and I think some of the major plot points were glossed over. For instance the reason behind Mort's abrupt departure and the story between Mort and Roch. I'm not a particular fan of triangle drama, but I just think it all fell a little too easily into place.
Felix is the most interesting character in the story, whereas I never really felt Mort. He was just too easy going, to ready to forgive and forget.
But then again, my opinion might be colored by the general low-angsty tone in the story.
The book was definitely worth reading despite my minor disappointments. If you're in the mood for a sweet, slow burning, low-angst story, you'll probably love it. In my casse, I'll look forward to the next Anyta Sunday book.
Was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Anyta Sunday is one of my favorite authors. I like hey ability to combine angst wuth some comical reliefs. And I'm a major fan of a good slow burning romance. You know the kind where you are have heart palpitations and you're tempted to skip ahead in the story to all the good parts. But of course you would never do that! Because as with a lot of things it is the journey that is the most interesting part.
"Happy for You" is definitely a slow burn. The main couples romance actually takes part over several years, but we only follow a couple of months.
Our story starts when Mort returns to town, after a sudden departure a year ago. He left his best friend Roch and his family suddenly without a word. Mort doesn't have a family of worth himself and was unofficially adopted into the Rochester family. He is crushed with regret for leaving the family, and tries to make amends by helping as much as possible. Especially to help easen the burdens of the younger brother, Felix.
Felix has been openly in love with Mort for most of his life. But alas Mort was in love with Roch, and thereby the foundation is laid for a triangle drama. But Sunday is able to minimize the clichés this might cause and make it simpler ... in part.
The book was good and and had some great secondary characters. But I must admit that personally I prefer the first two books in the series. Mort and Felix are lovely and their story rather sweet. But I was missing some of the angst that Sunday excels at and I think some of the major plot points were glossed over. For instance the reason behind Mort's abrupt departure and the story between Mort and Roch. I'm not a particular fan of triangle drama, but I just think it all fell a little too easily into place.
Felix is the most interesting character in the story, whereas I never really felt Mort. He was just too easy going, to ready to forgive and forget.
But then again, my opinion might be colored by the general low-angsty tone in the story.
The book was definitely worth reading despite my minor disappointments. If you're in the mood for a sweet, slow burning, low-angst story, you'll probably love it. In my casse, I'll look forward to the next Anyta Sunday book.
Was given to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
brokenrecord's review against another edition
3.0
There were things I liked about this, but it definitely wasn't a top-tier Anyta Sunday, although it had enough good things to remind me of the reasons why I do love a number of her books. I did have the issue I have had in the past with some of her stuff where it feels like I'm kind of being dropped into the middle of things and I don't really know what's going on, and I'm not always clear on how the romantic leads feel about one another or their own sexualities or anything. Like in this one, I wasn't sure what exactly had gone down between Mort and Felix before Mort left for a year (actually, even after finishing the book, I'm still not 100% sure. ), what Mort's feelings for Felix were and how aware of them he was, or how aware of Felix's he was, and vice versa. Also, sometimes characters behaved in ways I think were supposed to be funny but made them feel like they weren't real people. Like, for example, the first time Felix sees Mort after he hasn't seen him for a year, he starts pulling off Mort's shirt and unbuckling his pants (in public!!!) to find a scar on his leg to prove he's really there and not an apparition (), which, like, how would that even prove anything?? Can apparitions not have scars??? It made no sense and it was just really silly, and not in a good way.
But I did enjoy Mort and Felix a lot, their flirting and how Felix grows to forgive Mort for abandoning him, but how he keeps trying to get over his feelings because he thinks Roch will always come first. And I liked the twins and Tiffany a lot (even if I was never entirely clear on how old any of the siblings were. Like, the twins were 10, and I THINK it was mentioned they were born when Felix was in high school, but how old is Tiffany supposed to be? How much older are Mort and Roch supposed to be than Felix? It wasn't a major deal, but it did make it a little difficult for me to get a handle on the family dynamics). I do think I liked this a bit more than the previous one in this series (although I also think my feelings about it have cooled a bit in the week and a half since I finished it, which isn't a great sign), but I didn't like either as much as my favorites in Anyta Sunday's Signs of Love series. That being said, she's still an author I'll read basically anything she writes just because despite my complaints, there are some things she does with her romances that I don't get from any other romance author, and the stuff that does work for me works SO well.
Spoiler
Was it just that Felix comforted Mort after Roch rejected Mort and Felix wanted more but didn't think Mort did? Because for a little while I was thinking they had slept together and that was causing the tension/angst, but later on Felix reveals he's a virgin, so that can't have been the case.Spoiler
which is part of why I originally thought they had slept together previously, not that that would've fully explained that move, but it would've been slightly easier to acceptBut I did enjoy Mort and Felix a lot, their flirting and how Felix grows to forgive Mort for abandoning him, but how he keeps trying to get over his feelings because he thinks Roch will always come first.
Spoiler
The stuff at the end with Roch coming out as bisexual but Mort still choosing Felix and making it clear to him that he loved him and Felix getting over his insecurities was great.toshi21's review against another edition
4.0
This third book was pretty good and if you were like me, and didn’t read the first two, you should be okay.
There are scarce mentions of previous books in this one. Just character sightings.
Though Pax from Shrewd Angel showed up and I do recommend you take a gander at that Christmas read.
This book deals with a second chance relationship between Mort and Felix. Mort left the “family” because of reasons on the night before Felix’s mom (and Mort’s adopted one) had major surgery. So this book deals with the feels of hurt and betrayal between Mort and Felix as they navigate sisters and brothers.
The highlight of this book was watching Mort reconnect with his family as he learns to reconnect with each member. He is an endearing character and I love how he finds ways to help everyone.
He is a patient and kind person and that shows as he guides his one love to the right decision.
If you like second chances, bowtied characters, some wit and sweet heat, try this
There are scarce mentions of previous books in this one. Just character sightings.
Though Pax from Shrewd Angel showed up and I do recommend you take a gander at that Christmas read.
This book deals with a second chance relationship between Mort and Felix. Mort left the “family” because of reasons on the night before Felix’s mom (and Mort’s adopted one) had major surgery. So this book deals with the feels of hurt and betrayal between Mort and Felix as they navigate sisters and brothers.
The highlight of this book was watching Mort reconnect with his family as he learns to reconnect with each member. He is an endearing character and I love how he finds ways to help everyone.
He is a patient and kind person and that shows as he guides his one love to the right decision.
If you like second chances, bowtied characters, some wit and sweet heat, try this
nasaje's review against another edition
1.0
I was so surprised that I had such a hard time getting into an Anyta Sunday book, especially one in a series where I LOVED book 1 and highly liked book 2.
However, I had such a tough time feeling the connection between the MCs, and understanding the purpose of the main conflict. It has taken me weeks to get through something that usually takes a day or two. I'm so sad and confused.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the writing, the story just wasn't for me. I'll be back for the next Anyta Sunday book..
However, I had such a tough time feeling the connection between the MCs, and understanding the purpose of the main conflict. It has taken me weeks to get through something that usually takes a day or two. I'm so sad and confused.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with the writing, the story just wasn't for me. I'll be back for the next Anyta Sunday book..