Reviews - Happiness for Beginners: A Novel

2.94k reviews for:

Happiness for Beginners: A Novel

Katherine Center

3.98 AVERAGE

jackiereads20's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous challenging reflective 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: Complicated

fishsticks26's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

lavender2345's review against another edition

4.25

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

victoriadonnellan's review against another edition

4.5

funny hopeful lighthearted

alexandra_r's review against another edition

3.5

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

shaniastateofmind's review against another edition

5.0

I've been in a big mood reading phase lately and I was wanting a book that had a focus on nature/hiking. I had never seen anyone talk about this book before, but it seemed like a good option. It exceeded my expectations! It has been a while since I read a book in one sitting, but I couldn't get myself to put it down. I loved that a lot of book focused on self discovery and self love as well as dealing with grief, accepting change, and mending relationships. I loved reading about the groups' journey through the wilderness. I loved seeing friendships blossom between characters. I loved seeing Helen grow in her confidence. There's so many great little moments in this book that really reflect the beauty in our own every day lives and the complexity of the people in it that we might take for granted. I think Helen was such a relatable character and I could see some of myself in her and the changes she made in thinking made me ponder my own. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me think. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming.

The age gap did give me a bit of a pause just because of the ages they met, but at the time of the book they are both adults. The miscommunication went on a bit too long for me at the end, but I could understand Helen's reasoning in not saying anything. Any negatives were greatly outweighed by the positives! I did watch the movie right after finishing the book and thought it was good as well. Not as good as the book of course, but it's hard to fit all that internal monologue and conflicting emotion on screen. The movie definitely felt a little more lighthearted than the book, but I thought both were good!

Some of my favorite moments: Helen sleeping between Caveman & Vegas and they say they're her personal hot water bottle because it's so cold. Beckett making her navigator and casting both of his certificate votes for her. Windy psychoanalyzing Pickle. Helen dancing at the bar mitzvah with her brother and just feeling free and happy after doing one of the hardest things in her life is such a beautiful scene. And of course Jake showing up to confess he's always loved her.