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booksconnectus's review against another edition
3.0
3.5-cute, funny, easy-reading
Lighter than my usual fare-but overall enjoyable.
Lighter than my usual fare-but overall enjoyable.
bookish_abigail's review against another edition
5.0
Fuck. Here’s another book to add to my ‘ones that made me cry’ list. Pro tip: don’t listen to classical music whilst reading this or you’ll be sobbing enough tears to bring water back to Africa.
That being said, it’s a fucking great book, one of those that shifts your worldview for a while. I might start wearing bright colours instead of black, and buying those corny bookstack dangly earrings I’ve been eyeing up.
That being said, it’s a fucking great book, one of those that shifts your worldview for a while. I might start wearing bright colours instead of black, and buying those corny bookstack dangly earrings I’ve been eyeing up.
simplyselicia's review against another edition
4.0
This is a very solid read. I don't think it is an overly amazingly written book or story, but I think it is a necessary one. I think everyone has a little Annie and Polly in them, and that everyone certainly deserves an Annie and Polly in their lives. A story about friendship, about happiness, and definitely full of heartbreak. There is no shortness of laughter (even if you're crying), and I think most people will find something in it to like.
wrentheblurry's review against another edition
3.0
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley.
I've spent most of my life quite happy, and making others feel happy only increases my joy. I love a good inspirational tale, and was hoping this one would pull me in and make me feel all the things. Instead, I couldn't stay awake while reading it, and it took me much longer to finish than I expected.
Polly is endearing, and easily my favorite character. Some might find her over-exuberance annoying, though I appreciate a dedicated quirky character. Annie's whining got old for me fairly quickly, and the other characters all seemed to lack depth.
I did read all of it, and it's a decent title, though I'm not sure I'll recommend for our library to carry it.
I've spent most of my life quite happy, and making others feel happy only increases my joy. I love a good inspirational tale, and was hoping this one would pull me in and make me feel all the things. Instead, I couldn't stay awake while reading it, and it took me much longer to finish than I expected.
Polly is endearing, and easily my favorite character. Some might find her over-exuberance annoying, though I appreciate a dedicated quirky character. Annie's whining got old for me fairly quickly, and the other characters all seemed to lack depth.
I did read all of it, and it's a decent title, though I'm not sure I'll recommend for our library to carry it.
juliette_21's review
4.0
This was such an inspiring read. I really enjoyed the way this book was written with each chapter being a daily challenge for our protagonists.
How to be happy was a fiction novel but also an inspiring non fiction book for me as it made me realise that life can be lived differently than in monotony and always feeling sorry for ourselves.
I enjoyed the quirky Polly and how she embraced her last few days battling cancer.
I also really liked how Annie evolved and realised that life can be short and you need to embrace it.
The writing style was really nice and fluid and really drew me in the book.
How to be happy was a fiction novel but also an inspiring non fiction book for me as it made me realise that life can be lived differently than in monotony and always feeling sorry for ourselves.
I enjoyed the quirky Polly and how she embraced her last few days battling cancer.
I also really liked how Annie evolved and realised that life can be short and you need to embrace it.
The writing style was really nice and fluid and really drew me in the book.
pnwshel's review against another edition
5.0
Maybe be spoilerish.
I pretty much assumed how this story would end and kept anticipating it. And then I sobbed through the last few chapters.
There was so much pain in this book but there was also so much life and happiness. And it makes you think. It makes you want to make changes.
We all need a Polly of some capacity in our lives.
I pretty much assumed how this story would end and kept anticipating it. And then I sobbed through the last few chapters.
There was so much pain in this book but there was also so much life and happiness. And it makes you think. It makes you want to make changes.
We all need a Polly of some capacity in our lives.
hellastrong's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book, but ... I didn't like some things about this book.
I stand by my earlier statement (below) that her old friends SUCKED. And I cannot understand the money situation (is this a spoiler? maybe stop reading if you don't want anything spoiled, though I think it's pretty obvious early on what's happening). She left her marriage and her home with ... nothing? And is living in a shitbox apartment she hates because ... she wants to? But then at some point she goes shopping and says something about having plenty of money because she doesn't spend money on anything. So then again why do you live in a place you hate so much??
A lot of this just didn't make any sense to me. I'm still giving it 4 stars bc it gave me big feels, but ... my rational side didn't like it.
Still reading, @ page 150. SPOILERS BELOW
But I have to stop at this point to say, her old friends were terrible. I will be very disappointed at this book ends with her making up with these friends and returning to that part of her old life. I mean, FFS: "I missed you so much -- you were always the first person I'd ring when I had a crisis."
oh fuck you, Zarah. you miss what she did for you. you don't actually miss her. none of these people told her when they knew that her best friend was having an affair with her husband. and her best friend? fuck that bitch too. she made a choice. all of these people suck and I hope Annie creates a better life for herself without them.
I stand by my earlier statement (below) that her old friends SUCKED. And I cannot understand the money situation (is this a spoiler? maybe stop reading if you don't want anything spoiled, though I think it's pretty obvious early on what's happening). She left her marriage and her home with ... nothing? And is living in a shitbox apartment she hates because ... she wants to? But then at some point she goes shopping and says something about having plenty of money because she doesn't spend money on anything. So then again why do you live in a place you hate so much??
A lot of this just didn't make any sense to me. I'm still giving it 4 stars bc it gave me big feels, but ... my rational side didn't like it.
Still reading, @ page 150. SPOILERS BELOW
But I have to stop at this point to say, her old friends were terrible. I will be very disappointed at this book ends with her making up with these friends and returning to that part of her old life. I mean, FFS: "I missed you so much -- you were always the first person I'd ring when I had a crisis."
oh fuck you, Zarah. you miss what she did for you. you don't actually miss her. none of these people told her when they knew that her best friend was having an affair with her husband. and her best friend? fuck that bitch too. she made a choice. all of these people suck and I hope Annie creates a better life for herself without them.
bookswritingandmore's review against another edition
5.0
"It's simple really. You are just meant to be one thing every day that makes you happy. Could be little things. Could be big. In fact we're doing one right now" I felt compelled to start this review with the quote from the book because my words alone could never convey the inspiration and tone of this novel as well as the author did.
This book literally had every emotion imaginable. It was sad, happy, heartbreaking, hilarious, inspirational, joyous, and so full of emotion that you just couldn't help falling in love with each and every character the author introduced you too.
Annie was down on her luck. She was in a dead-end job she hated. She had sadness from her past that she couldn't express to anybody. She had a mother in the hospital that she didn't know how to help . Then the eccentric Polly Leonard came into her life and Annie just didn't know what hit her . She wanted to dislike her from the beginning . Polly was pushy, crazy dressed, and not somebody that Annie wanted to associate with.
Polly is determined to wake Annie up and make her realize how happy she can be if she just determined to be happy . Polly tells Annie to give her 100 days of new ways to be happy and and after a bit of coaxing Annie finally agrees. What follows is a laugh out loud read filled with crazy adventures and ordinary days turned into anything but with the help of many side characters.
I literally can't think of enough good words to describe this book . You simply must pick it up and read it.
This book literally had every emotion imaginable. It was sad, happy, heartbreaking, hilarious, inspirational, joyous, and so full of emotion that you just couldn't help falling in love with each and every character the author introduced you too.
Annie was down on her luck. She was in a dead-end job she hated. She had sadness from her past that she couldn't express to anybody. She had a mother in the hospital that she didn't know how to help . Then the eccentric Polly Leonard came into her life and Annie just didn't know what hit her . She wanted to dislike her from the beginning . Polly was pushy, crazy dressed, and not somebody that Annie wanted to associate with.
Polly is determined to wake Annie up and make her realize how happy she can be if she just determined to be happy . Polly tells Annie to give her 100 days of new ways to be happy and and after a bit of coaxing Annie finally agrees. What follows is a laugh out loud read filled with crazy adventures and ordinary days turned into anything but with the help of many side characters.
I literally can't think of enough good words to describe this book . You simply must pick it up and read it.