REVIEW: Happiness For Beginners

Happiness For Beginners by Carole Matthews published by Spectre Books

Christmas For Beginners – Carole Matthews published by Sphere

Christmas is gathering pace and Hope Farm, and owner Molly Baker has been convinced by her colleague Bev, to go completely out of her comfort zone and organise an open day to raise some much-needed funds ahead of the New Year. Molly finds it all a bit overwhelming, and is concerned that the animals will play up on the day.

Despite the chaos of the farm getting in the way of her event planning, Molly is looking forward to spending the holidays with tv soap actor boyfriend Shelby and his teenage Lucas, hopeful that a happy family Christmas is exactly what they need to draw them all together. But while she is busy making plans on the farm, Shelby, it seems, has ideas of his own.

I absolutely loved this book!! If I could give it more than five stars in a review then I would!!! It is by far the best festive novel I have read this season (and I’ve notched up quite a few!) but also, it’s one of my favourite books so far this year!

I hadn’t read the first book, Happiness For Beginners, but you don’t have to. Carole Matthews draws us in and explains the back story- bit like arriving late to a drinks party and someone is in the middle of a story, but a friend fills you in on what you’ve missed, so you don’t feel left out.

I loved most of the characters, Bev and Alan are wonderful, and I even found myself trying to guess which band t-shirt they would be wearing every day!! However…Lucas! Wow! What a spoilt brat he was – he never appreciated what anyone did for him, and sulked around everywhere and Mollie seemed to tolerate it which sometimes (often!) annoyed me.

I found myself waking up to read a little bit more in the middle of the night as I wanted the characters in my life, and now I’m a little sad that their story is wrapped up– although I’m really hoping there will be another one in the series.

Absolutely fantastic!!

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