The Secret of Happy Ever After

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She starts off as a hardened individual, but when you really get down to her core and find out more about her, you start to care for her. Anna is a character that you not only want to help out and give her the shirt off your back but you can almost relate to with things in your own life.

Lucy Dillon does an amazing job really bringing the dog to life and making you feel the undivided love the dog shares with every one. The book gives you a great feeling of the town, the atmosphere, you can picture yourself in Longhampton. One strength of the book is getting you to care about the supporting characters. A lot of times in books, I overlook them. The book covers relationships, families, marriage, love, friendship and even pets.

I suggest it to anyone looking for a good solid read. Sign up for Pet Age's Weekly E-newsletter for the latest in pet business news, recalls and more. Jason Kamery March 13, Back of the book: Share This Story On: Related Content Caru Petfood: Homemade with Love Pet Age Staff. I understands that she likes reading but I never met a person who only read children's books and constantly cries while reading them.

And it seems like everyone in their town is fond of children's books. I mean,come on,read something else. Ugh,I got really irritated at the end of this book. I don't see what's the point of making her pregnant,it doesn't really affect the story at all. I'll leave you with this gif. They are an inspiration, an escape. Something bigger than we are Jan 23, Eustacia Tan rated it it was amazing Shelves: The Secret of Happy Ever After revolves around a bookstore. Anna is given the chance at her dream job and run a bookstore leased by her friend Michelle.

In the course of the year, many events happen, and they both predictably come out better for it. I think what made this book really great was Michelle. It's easy to write a book that's full of book lovers, so the inclusion of an extremely business minded person like Michelle made for a great contrast. I can actually understand her arguments, a The Secret of Happy Ever After revolves around a bookstore. I can actually understand her arguments, and I quite admire some of her tactics - like selling reading accessories e.

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But even though this book has a bookstore at the centre, it doesn't actually revolve around it. The main focus are the lives of Anna and Michelle. Instead, she has three not-so lovely stepchildren, and her husband intends to break his promise to let her try for a baby. On the other hand, Michelle is running away from her husband, who abused her emotionally. What I liked about the book was the melding of the two things - the bookstore which is quite clearly the catalyst for change and the two ladies. It seems that as the bookshop flourishes in terms of customers coming in, not sales , the two ladies lives are changed more and more.

This isn't a purely bookshop book, there are books about that I think. I haven't had the chance to read many of them , but the bookshop is prominent. Basically, I like how the bookshop is a large feature of the book. While I have to return this book, I think I'll be keeping an eye out for it in the future, because I want a copy. After all, one of my dreams is to have my own bookshop.

Yes, I had weird dreams. First published at http: I guess I could pin that down to reading 2 books in a row by the same author, but I know it had nothing to do with it. I identified a lot with Michelle, yet I feel like I never really broke down the walls she built up around herself. Oh, the irony is not lost on me, believe me.

I felt a huge sympathy for Anna. No wonder she feels like an appendix to the family. But I think both storylines were bogged down by too much domestic drama, two unplanned pregnancies really? That always puts a smile on my face. This was definitely a more character than doggie-driven book. She did both so well in Walking Back to Happiness.

Mar 22, Amy rated it liked it Shelves: Ending is a bit abrupt and a little too "happily ever after". I was expecting a little more fireworks at the end. While I like kids books, the references were a bit too much of it for my tastes. I have a 9 year old daughter and sorry, in today's world, they just aren't enthralled with Little Women and neither was I 40 years ago. There are many many amazing books written by wonderful children's authors today and the March sisters just aren't relatable. Seems to me that I wanted Rory and Anna together even though I knew that would not happen.

Lot of stuff going on. She had to have something bad but nothing that could have been Michelle's fault. Many unlikable family charcters and I don't think I liked the way she wrapped them up.

Book Details

I wanted them to get their due a bit. Um livro doce, emotivo,arrebatador e reconfortante.. Dec 20, Lisa rated it it was amazing. Lucy Dillon - my new favourite author! This is the first of her books I have read and I will be serching out her previous ones asap! I was captivated even before I started the story because Lucy Dillon is a woman after my own heart who mentions her love of Enid Blyton, Malory Towers, Chalet School, Ballet Shoes, Mrs Pepperpot - oh, numerous books that were the very heart of my own childhood - and of many more like us.

Her knowledge and love of these childhood stories shouts from the pages and I Lucy Dillon - my new favourite author! Her knowledge and love of these childhood stories shouts from the pages and I am sure I am not the only reader who thought 'I AM Anna! Michelle - brilliant business woman, steely and determined but with something dark and mysterious lurking in her past, runs a prosperous home furnishing shop and seeking to buy the shop next door for expansion learns that to do so she must first run it as the bookshop had been. Michelle rises to the challenge and, with friend Anna's help, develops every book lovers ideal bookshop - believe me I was drooling for this bookshop!

This sets the central stage for the story but we learn, bit by bit, more about Michelle's previous life and about Anna's difficulties with her step-family and her longing for her own baby. Family features very strongly in this wonderful, touching novel. The characters are very realistic with faults and good points. Problems with children, aged parents, interfering parents, ex-partners, dogs and over sexed brothers make the story funny, witty, sad, touching and sometimes quite scarily real.

I came to really care about the characters and when we find out what Michelle's past is really about, I defy any reader not to shed a tear. I can quite honestly say that this is one of the best novels I have read. All the personal and family life details combined with the luscious memories of books that I have read and loved make this novel something really special.

Jul 18, Claire rated it liked it.

All the delightful wallowing in books - especially the kids books - was really great and totally up my alley, and I also really enjoyed that the author did a great job showing an existing relationship and how both parties had to work at it, rather than just building a new relationship or having it need to be blown up and replaced.

One POV character was raped as a teenager and this comes out in the latter part of the book. It's described in flashback, so please be aware of this if you are reading and may need this warning.

I didn't enjoy that narrative arc at all and I think the book would have been better off without it. I finished the book and largely enjoyed it, but the last quarter or so were definitely far tougher going. I did at least enjoy it enough to give the author another try and see if her other books can avoid the issues I had with this one.

View all 3 comments. View all 7 comments. Apr 09, Amanda rated it liked it. I would have given this novel two stars, but for the delicate way Dillon presented being a stepmother, and feeling as though you are a bit part in your own story. Really effectively done, and particularly poignant for me as I find myself in this position these days.

What failed to light this novel up was the balance. There wasn't masses of plot to begin with, but it was stretched so thoroughly over pages that it became thin, and then everything was tied up with neat ribbons in just a few page I would have given this novel two stars, but for the delicate way Dillon presented being a stepmother, and feeling as though you are a bit part in your own story.

There wasn't masses of plot to begin with, but it was stretched so thoroughly over pages that it became thin, and then everything was tied up with neat ribbons in just a few pages, comparatively.

Also, we were told a lot that Phil was not a good person, that he wasn't acting as a father and husband should - to the point where I actively disliked him; then we were asked to disregard all of that for the sake of the happy ever after ending. It felt very contrived. It should be borne in mind that Dillon is one of those authors who have improved immeasurably since her early novels. Although I can't really recommend this novel by her, do, do, do pick up her later novels once she found her stride and her voice more thoroughly. She is an excellent writer, but this wasn't the best example of that.

Jun 08, Gurdeep Assi rated it it was amazing. Great storyline with interesting characters. A Lucy Dillon novel never fails to grab you, such an enjoyable read. Gosto de um bom livro aconchegante. Segredos para um fina Gosto de um bom livro aconchegante. Lucy Dillon foi uma estreia profundamente avassaladora. Oct 26, Leah rated it really liked it Shelves: I loved it, it was warm and it was just the perfect book to curl up with during the colder Tenerife months. Yes, Tenerife has colder months! What really made the book for me was the book shop.

Lots of Chick Lit books give their characters jobs as hairdressers, as writers, as whatever else is in vogue at the time, but rarely do Chick Lit books feature book shops. I know — weird, right? A book shop that sound divine, quite frankly. Although I would add in sofas to my bookshop and it would perhaps look a bit like Central Perk. What I mean is, it was cosy. It added to the novel. It was like a character in itself. Having a good plot, having good characters, is all excellent but the added scenery is even better and the book shop gives the book a bit more of a kick.

The Secret of Happy Ever After

I found it even more interesting how two seemingly rubber-and-glue-type people became friends, as Anna and Michelle did. I loved Rory, he really lit up the book when he appeared. I liked the return of some previous characters, too, which was a nice added bonus. Lucy Dillon just seems to have this natural storytelling ability, this natural way of just making you fall in love with her book until you get to the very end and the addition of the pets makes it all the more. Okay so, so many thoughts about this one. First off, found out about this while browsing through GR.

So thank you for the suggestion for book related books about And the summary had me at: So of course this would be my kind of read right? Well, let's just say I was surprised with this one. You have two different women, Michelle a businesswoman who starts a shop called Home Sweet Home and then the shop next door which was already a bookshop.

She then has the book shop running Okay so, so many thoughts about this one. She then has the book shop running again and appoints her new friend Anna as manager. It helps that Anna is a bookworm through and through. As the story goes along, the both of them have their own stuff their dealing with in their everyday lives. I thought the tone would be somewhat lighthearted with some drama thrown in.

But I was surprised where it was vice versa. You really feel for the two ladies. While I was annoyed in some moments, especially Phil, you get at least what he's going through. Not exactly but he has his reasons.

Anyway, dogs Pongo and Tavish sound freaking adorable. And of course love, LOVE, the book title references. Especially the list of books at the end. I recognize some, read some and some I never heard of. I also thought I was going to like reading about Anna and the bookshop. But found myself wanting to read more about Michelle and of course Rory. If ever they make this a movie And yes Anna and her at the bookshop mostly. I mean who couldn't relate with Anna and her love of books, having it be a dream come true to run her own bookshop?

Who doesn't love those places, from the small shops to bigger shops. Something about shelves lined with books you know? Anyway, this was a surprising but good read to just take your time with. Sep 24, Adelyne rated it liked it. My major issue with this book is the balancing of plot pace, it felt like absolutely nothing happens in the first pages or so, and then everything happens and is magically tied up in a bow in the space of just a few chapters. After clouding Michelle in this massive cloud of mystery, including on the blurb on the back, there was disappointingly little revealed.

Yes, the details of the event which turned her into the person she is was eventually revealed, but I had hoped for a bit more of a drawing out — both Michelle out of her shell by Anna as well as Rory! Ele era mesmo um estupor! Ainda mais trabalhando ele para o pai dela, Michele dev Gostei muito! Letto il primo quarto con l'interesse, all'inizio piuttosto alto, che lasciava il passo alla disillusione. Dec 26, Lisa rated it liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

To view it, click here. I enjoyed this book.

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It was a nice, easy read and there wasn't anything really "wrong" about it. I wouldn't call it a favourite but it was a good one to spend a few days of Christmas break on. I liked that there was a bookstore, and at first I thought all the references to old childrens books were fun. I, too, loved such books when I was a kid, so I really enjoyed this at first! I haven't read all of the books mentioned, but most of them. I loved Little Women and books like that, and I can defin I enjoyed this book. I loved Little Women and books like that, and I can definitely relate to the nostalgia.

The problem with all of this, though, is that it gets too much after a while. Anna is a librarian and described as a book lover - I do find it strange that ALL she cares about are these really old books she read as a child, and that most women who comes to her store seem to be the same way. In a way, this is related to her longing for a child somebody she could share all those old books with but it's not just that. While I did re-read one of Edith Nesbit's books recently when I was at a library with nothing else to do except studying I would probably be happy if my child if I had one liked those books as much as I did, but I would never expect it.

Most kids just don't like that kind of books these days. When I re-read something like that like the Anne of Green Gables series that I read parts of two years ago, for the first time as an adult I react to some of the old-fashioned values and things I didn't really think of as a child; there are parts of old literature for children that are just out of date in today's world and that kids might not even understand, much less relate to.

There are wonderful parts of those books as well, but I feel that Anna is just too uncritical. Especially when it comes to those school books. I haven't read the Malory Towers series but other similar books. I completely understand Anna's and the others' fascination, because I felt the same way as a child. But now, as an adult, I feel that Anna is very naive for being surprised when Michelle doesn't speak well of her school experience.

I read those too, but didn't enjoy them half as much as the older books.

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