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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
i really loved how simple this was. it was so cute and the description of setting was very well done. i loved the personal development and empowerment themes in this. i am more likely to recommend this to my mum/grandma than to a friend.
Somewhere along the line, Polly Potter's life has taken a wrong turn. She used to love her job helping failing business on the way to success, until her beloved boss died and was replaced by one who constantly side-lines and belittles her. She used to love her partner Chris too, but there is no denying she is now desperately unhappy in her relationship, especially since she discovered he was having an affair. Polly's respite comes from the characters she writes in the stories she works on with her creative writing group - especially the fictional Sabrina Anderson, who has developed into a bolder and braver version of herself.
Polly has come to realise that she needs to make some changes, and the first one is to leave Chris and make a fresh start. However, after a massive shock at the venue where Polly's unpleasant sister-in-law was supposed to be renewing her vows, her exit plan goes awry. Polly ends up making an unplanned, hasty escape for the seaside town of Shoresend, where she meets with an accident... and when she awakens, her confused state leads her to believe that she really is the feisty Sabrina.
Taken in by the warm hearted Marielle Bonelli, 'Sabrina' finds herself working at the much-loved Italian restaurant owned by Marielle's son, Teddy - a family business facing closure after suffering from a dirty tricks campaign by the chain of soulless Italian restaurants that plan to open up next door. Sabrina has arrived just in time... she may not remember who she really is, but she does know a thing or two about saving businesses from her life as Polly. This could be the perfect way to pay back the people who have shown her such kindness - particularly Teddy - and work through her own issues too. Maybe Sabrina and Polly can be one and the same after all?
The story begins with a tense countdown to the renewal of vows ceremony for Polly's horrendous sister-in-law, the hilariously named Camay (which constantly reminded my of the pink soap from my childhood), in which Johnson gives you a maddening eyeful of Polly's personal and professional lives. It then unfurls through the very best kind of 'memory loss' caper from 'Sabrina's' arrival among the Bonetti family, where she proves to be the catalyst to the resolution of family dramas, and the fight to save the family restaurant business - after the required number of bumps in the road to the 'happiest ever after', of course. Hurray!
As expected, it is Johnson's female characters that steal the show, beginning with Polly's journey to be her best self as Sabrina, and taking in a choice cast of women of all ages, including Marielle's delightful friends, the Mad Cows. Through them, Johnson explores a wealth of themes around marriage, motherhood, expectation, and the joys and heartache of different kinds of families, which evoke so many emotional highs and lows - before building up to the kind of ending that makes your eyes brim over with happy tears. Johnson's sparkling wit is threaded throughout, and her fans will be delighted to see the Daily Trumpet making an appearance once more - particularly the lovely way Johnson involves them in the Polly-Sabrina story to wonderfully comic effect.
I adored this novel. Milly Johnson's stories are always full of great characters to love and loathe; the warmth of true friendship; gentle romances to swell your heart; and a delicious sense of community; while also exploring many a knotty issues around love, loss, and difficult relationships - and The Happiest Ever After, Johnson's twenty-first book, does all of this to perfection. It is the ideal, escapist antidote to a grey Winter's day.
Polly has come to realise that she needs to make some changes, and the first one is to leave Chris and make a fresh start. However, after a massive shock at the venue where Polly's unpleasant sister-in-law was supposed to be renewing her vows, her exit plan goes awry. Polly ends up making an unplanned, hasty escape for the seaside town of Shoresend, where she meets with an accident... and when she awakens, her confused state leads her to believe that she really is the feisty Sabrina.
Taken in by the warm hearted Marielle Bonelli, 'Sabrina' finds herself working at the much-loved Italian restaurant owned by Marielle's son, Teddy - a family business facing closure after suffering from a dirty tricks campaign by the chain of soulless Italian restaurants that plan to open up next door. Sabrina has arrived just in time... she may not remember who she really is, but she does know a thing or two about saving businesses from her life as Polly. This could be the perfect way to pay back the people who have shown her such kindness - particularly Teddy - and work through her own issues too. Maybe Sabrina and Polly can be one and the same after all?
The story begins with a tense countdown to the renewal of vows ceremony for Polly's horrendous sister-in-law, the hilariously named Camay (which constantly reminded my of the pink soap from my childhood), in which Johnson gives you a maddening eyeful of Polly's personal and professional lives. It then unfurls through the very best kind of 'memory loss' caper from 'Sabrina's' arrival among the Bonetti family, where she proves to be the catalyst to the resolution of family dramas, and the fight to save the family restaurant business - after the required number of bumps in the road to the 'happiest ever after', of course. Hurray!
As expected, it is Johnson's female characters that steal the show, beginning with Polly's journey to be her best self as Sabrina, and taking in a choice cast of women of all ages, including Marielle's delightful friends, the Mad Cows. Through them, Johnson explores a wealth of themes around marriage, motherhood, expectation, and the joys and heartache of different kinds of families, which evoke so many emotional highs and lows - before building up to the kind of ending that makes your eyes brim over with happy tears. Johnson's sparkling wit is threaded throughout, and her fans will be delighted to see the Daily Trumpet making an appearance once more - particularly the lovely way Johnson involves them in the Polly-Sabrina story to wonderfully comic effect.
I adored this novel. Milly Johnson's stories are always full of great characters to love and loathe; the warmth of true friendship; gentle romances to swell your heart; and a delicious sense of community; while also exploring many a knotty issues around love, loss, and difficult relationships - and The Happiest Ever After, Johnson's twenty-first book, does all of this to perfection. It is the ideal, escapist antidote to a grey Winter's day.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Milly Johnson you did it again, I love this book, the main character was so realistic and down to earth and likable and was kind and genuine.
2 books read from this author so far and both 5 star
I must read more!
2 books read from this author so far and both 5 star
I must read more!
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
- Completed Oct 2024
- The overall plot was predictable, you knew how it would pan out in the end.
- enjoyable and a relaxing read, a feel good happy ending book
- Likeable characters, good subplots
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated