Reviews - Happiness for Beginners: A Novel

3.02k reviews for:

Happiness for Beginners: A Novel

Katherine Center

3.97 AVERAGE

mjwit0's review against another edition

4.25

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad slow-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

seifknits's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

hannahatl803's review against another edition

3.0

Helen, 32 and post divorce and on a journey to find herself and happiness, agreed to go on a 3-week backpacking trip, without knowing her younger brother's best friend, Jake is tagging along. And he's held a torch for her for years.

This story had a perfect combination of humor and depth. I loved watching Helen take on this backpacking trip completely out of her element and surrounded by college-age survivalists. I loved how she got stronger and stronger as it went on. I loved learning about her traumas, more about her family situation and everything that led up to her divorce. But mostly, finally and eventually finding out what Jake was going through and getting to see things from his POV was the most heartbreaking of them all.

I loved every dialogue, every conversation. I especially loved all of Helen's realizations over her journey about love and happiness. Helen's family was great as well, and I especially loved her goofy brother and Gigi and how much they supported her.

The only thing that wasn't my favorite was how young Helen acted at times. There were times she seemed super immature, but it wasn't always so it was tolerable. I also wasn't the biggest fan of the cringe-y ending at the Bar Mitzvah, but nevertheless, this book was still such a surprise and I had a lot of fun reading it.

3.5/5⭐

lynnek's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous lighthearted reflective relaxing fast-paced

meaganivette's review against another edition

3.5

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

This book made me feel happy. I needed happy.

A woman goes through a divorce and a year later is trying to find herself again. She’s on a quest to conquer the wilderness with a survival course. It just so happens her kid brother’s best friend will be in the same survival course, add in that he has loved her for years and it’s a recipe for success!

It was predictable and also laced with heavy topics which wove into the story with ease and was balanced out with sweet moments and laugh out loud moments.

Always a fan of Katherine Center and will continue reading her books for years to come!