Happily Ever After

I loved it. Its really amazing book.

Absolutely love Harriet Evans! She tells a terrific story of a young woman starting out in London, her friends, loves, and dysfunctional family. The story continues through time in stops, telling of significant parts of her life. I laughed at parts, and cried at other parts. When I had finished reading the book, I was sorry it was over, but I felt satiated, like after a seven course meal. If you've read Harriet Evans before, you won't be disappointed. If you haven't, you have found a new favorite author.

Auf das erste Buch von Harriet Evans bin ich eher zufällig gestoßen und da es mir so gut gefallen hat, musste ich natürlich auch die übrigen lesen. "Happily Ever After" ist nun also das 6. Buch in der Reihe und schon der Titel ließ eigentlich darauf schließen, wie dieses Buch enden wird. Ich möchte es um keinen Preis schlecht reden, aber die Story war doch ziemlich vorhersehbar: eine junge Frau, die mit sich und ihrem Leben mehr als unzufrieden ist, nie den Richtigen an ihrer Seite findet und sich zu guter Letzt sogar für den Tod ihrer Mutter verantwortlich sieht. Für sie scheint es demnach kein Happily ever after zu geben, so wie es in all ihren geliebten Romanen immer angepriesen wird. Grund dafür ist jedoch vielmehr, dass sie die Augen für das Wahre im Leben verschließt. Und wie sollte es anders sein, werden sie ihr letztlich von einem geliebten Menschen geöffnet - einem, mit dem sie schließlich ihr happily ever after erleben darf.Ich liebe den lockeren und unkomplizierten Schreibstil von Harriet Evans und daher war auch dieses Buch wieder eine helle Freude - zumindest, wenn man dem stressigen Alltag für ein paar Momente entfliehen möchte. Für anspruchsvolle Leser hingegen wird dieses Buch wohl eher zu fad daherkommen. Aufgrund dessen gibt es von mir nur 4 statt 5 Sterne!

So amazingly written that I literally couldn't put it down! Luckily I started reading it on a Saturday with no other plans, as I finished it by the end of the day. Quirky, funny and emotional, all the great elements for a good book. I also loved all the books mentioned and the book tips at the end - inspired me to read of them which now I am loving as well.

Happily Ever After was my first Harriet Evans book, and you can be sure I will be reading all her other novels. I really enjoyed the story of Eleanor Bee, whom we see throughout several stages of her life. I enjoyed seeing how Eleanor changed and grew over the years, and how major events (Princess Diana's death and 9/11) factored in as well.What most held me captive as I read this novel, though, was just Eleanor's story: she was very real to me. I am 34, and I could relate so well to Eleanor's progression from a new graduate to focused career woman. She was very three-dimensional, and I couldn't wait to go back and pick up her story each day. (As a career woman myself, I get very little time to read for pleasure.)I will definitely be recommending Happily Ever After to friends and colleagues, and look forward to reading the author's other novels.

I am a loyal reader and ordered this on release day. Eleanor Bee is the main character and her story evolves from being a teenager in the middle of her parents divorce to Eleanor in her thirties as a successful woman in the publishing world. It addresses alcoholism very well as Eleanor is as much in denial about her mum's drink problem as her mother. The book shows the devastation this disease has on families and touches on the hereditary factor with Elle's grandfather having the same problem and Elle herself at one point. The guilt, secrecy and isolation associated with alcoholism is so well explored and so sad.There is a wide cast of characters in the book from Rory, the son of her first boss who uses Elle to Tom the book shop owner who appears throughout the book as a solid friend. All characters help the story to evolve including Elle's colleagues and family. At times I wanted to shake Elle for being pathetic and doing silly things, but then I think it made her real and I could relate to her insecurities easily.The ending was predictable in a way and I wasn't sure whether that was deliberate or not. It was good all the same.This is not as easy a read as Harriet Evans' other books and I found it hard going at times. However, it is worth a read, but don't expect it to be light and fluffy.