marie04044's review against another edition
5.0
J'ai adorer mais j'ai destester à la fois ! Mais les livres qui nous laissent cette impression sont souvent les meilleurs de tous !
chloe_reads_from_france's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.0
books_nora's review against another edition
5.0
I gave this book 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone.
Happy People read and drink coffee or Lyckliga människor läser och dricker kafé by Agnés Martin-Lugand is a wonderful book about the worst that can happen and what comes out of it.
Agnés Martin-Lugand published the book in November this years and have already sold over 350 000 copy's in France and in around twenty other countries. Not to mention this is her first book translated to Swedish, I can't wait to see what more she can come up with.
On the back page you find out that Diane, the main character, loses her daughter and husband in a car crash and later on when you start reading, the first word is "mom" which is heartbreaking.
During this book you'll both cry and laugh. It's about Diane who one year after the lose of her daughter and husband don't what to move on and leave them behind, she barley leaves her apartment in Paris. In a attempt to get people to leave her alone and stop worrying she goes to a small town in Ireland. Her close friend Felix, who runs a book coffee with her, are reluctant to let her go. But still hopeful enough to let her go.
Diane leaves with the expectations ot to be left alone with her grief. When she arrives in the small town everyone is very friendly, except for her neighbour. She are forced to take responsibility and meet people. But she can't stand her neighbour and they fight as sone as they see each other. She's even scared of him. At some point this changes and they fall in love.
What I love about the book was that it didn't end there but continued. She didn't live happily ever after with him. But she learnd and found the will to live again.
I finished the book in three days and it wasn't your typical feel good novel, instead it was more realistic but still left that good feeling behind.
As I said this is a book I would recommend to anyone. Because it was so surprising and unconventional. It also showed you that even if it can't be perfect it can still be better and just because something terrible happens don't mean you have to stop everything.
Happy People read and drink coffee or Lyckliga människor läser och dricker kafé by Agnés Martin-Lugand is a wonderful book about the worst that can happen and what comes out of it.
Agnés Martin-Lugand published the book in November this years and have already sold over 350 000 copy's in France and in around twenty other countries. Not to mention this is her first book translated to Swedish, I can't wait to see what more she can come up with.
On the back page you find out that Diane, the main character, loses her daughter and husband in a car crash and later on when you start reading, the first word is "mom" which is heartbreaking.
During this book you'll both cry and laugh. It's about Diane who one year after the lose of her daughter and husband don't what to move on and leave them behind, she barley leaves her apartment in Paris. In a attempt to get people to leave her alone and stop worrying she goes to a small town in Ireland. Her close friend Felix, who runs a book coffee with her, are reluctant to let her go. But still hopeful enough to let her go.
Diane leaves with the expectations ot to be left alone with her grief. When she arrives in the small town everyone is very friendly, except for her neighbour. She are forced to take responsibility and meet people. But she can't stand her neighbour and they fight as sone as they see each other. She's even scared of him. At some point this changes and they fall in love.
What I love about the book was that it didn't end there but continued. She didn't live happily ever after with him. But she learnd and found the will to live again.
I finished the book in three days and it wasn't your typical feel good novel, instead it was more realistic but still left that good feeling behind.
As I said this is a book I would recommend to anyone. Because it was so surprising and unconventional. It also showed you that even if it can't be perfect it can still be better and just because something terrible happens don't mean you have to stop everything.
hales25's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
the_bookshelf_of_merilin's review against another edition
3.0
This was a book I just found from the library shelf and just thought, why not. And I read it and I liked it. Well, kind of.
It was interesting. Fast pacing and a quick read. The writing style was simple, no big words to illustrate what the characters said or how beautiful the nature around them is. Just honest and blunt-spoken text, with no romanticising. It wasn't as depressing as I thought it would be, just enough to set the mood.
It kind of reminded me of "PS! I love you"(I have seen the movie, not read the book) because the main character's, Diane's, husband dies. (along with their daughter). And then she decides to move to Ireland. And then discovers that life has more to offer. That kind of book. But it probably won't make you cry as much.
The characters we're not so deeply developed, but it's a small book, so, what do you want from it. The book teaches how to move on with your life after a catastrophe has happened in your life. Though, I don't know whether Diane's decisions we're the best, but... yeah. Although Diane was a strong French woman, at least when she had to fight with her Irish neighbour whom she despises.
The thing is, the books name is "Happy people read books and drink coffee" and..through the book people drank coffee but nobody read any books. At least the author didn't mention it. Though... does it show that people in this book weren't happy? Go figure.
It's about life. It's about decisions. It's about love. It's about loss. It was kind of predictable book, you could see what is coming. But this makes the book enjoyable. Just a book with no twists and turns. The ending leaves the book open. For this book it is better this way, you can imagine whatever you want.
Overall, a perfect little book for getting out of this reading slump. And writing reviews slump. (At least I hope so.)
It was interesting. Fast pacing and a quick read. The writing style was simple, no big words to illustrate what the characters said or how beautiful the nature around them is. Just honest and blunt-spoken text, with no romanticising. It wasn't as depressing as I thought it would be, just enough to set the mood.
It kind of reminded me of "PS! I love you"(I have seen the movie, not read the book) because the main character's, Diane's, husband dies. (along with their daughter). And then she decides to move to Ireland. And then discovers that life has more to offer. That kind of book. But it probably won't make you cry as much.
The characters we're not so deeply developed, but it's a small book, so, what do you want from it. The book teaches how to move on with your life after a catastrophe has happened in your life. Though, I don't know whether Diane's decisions we're the best, but... yeah. Although Diane was a strong French woman, at least when she had to fight with her Irish neighbour whom she despises.
The thing is, the books name is "Happy people read books and drink coffee" and..through the book people drank coffee but nobody read any books. At least the author didn't mention it. Though... does it show that people in this book weren't happy? Go figure.
It's about life. It's about decisions. It's about love. It's about loss. It was kind of predictable book, you could see what is coming. But this makes the book enjoyable. Just a book with no twists and turns. The ending leaves the book open. For this book it is better this way, you can imagine whatever you want.
Overall, a perfect little book for getting out of this reading slump. And writing reviews slump. (At least I hope so.)
paulines's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
solijim's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.25
fictionalkate's review against another edition
4.0
Life was good for Diane. She had a thriving literary cafe with a business partner she loved and a family she adored. But when her husband and daughter die tragically, a part of Diane died with them. After a year of closing herself up in her house and refusing to go back to her former life, Diane moves to the Irish coast to try and move on without the memories of her loved ones haunting her. With a nosy landlady and surly neighbour, Irish life is not what Diane expected but it might just be what she needed to find her way back to reading, drinking coffee and being happy again.
Happy People Read and Drink Coffee is the perfect mix of PS I Love You and Under the Tuscan Sun. A heartbroken woman going abroad to try and piece her life back together. From the start of the novel I really felt for Diane. The love she had for her husband and daughter was palpable and her sorrow at them leaving her before their time was evident in everything she did. In running away to Ireland, there was a sense that Diane didn’t really want to move on but rather just wallow in a new destination. The cast of characters she met on the Green Isle pulled her out from under her grief and forced her to accept her future.
Diane is a great character to follow as she comes to terms being a widow and child-less mother. After the tragedy she faced and as closed off as she initially appears, I found myself wanting her to find some peace and happiness. And then there’s Edward, the dark and brooding next door neighbour whom Diane finds herself drawn to. Whilst I could understand Edward’s appeal (he’s all surly and got a bit of a Fitzwilliam Darcy vibe to him) I was a little disconnected from the romance. I think I missed that moment when I felt Diane and Edward really deserved each other. Edward, as wonderfully sarcastic and twisty as he was, is a man of extremes and has moments of resentment towards Diane and then times of tenderness. I wanted more middle ground. That said, I can see how many readers would be attracted to the handsome photographer’s hot and cold behaviour. He’s slightly mysterious and complicated in that delicious bad boy kind of a way.
As Diane comes back to life in Ireland we get to meet a colourful cast of characters who really make this book something special. The setting is a character in itself and the descriptions of the land and country had a very cinematic vibe. Edward’s family are great and a wonderful contrast to him. And Diane’s best friend brings some much appreciated comic relief at dramatic moments.
Happy People Read and Drink Coffee is a beautiful story about a woman finding herself after being lost in grief and finding something to live for. It’s more than a love story and whilst romance is a feature, this book is uplifting and heartwarming. For anyone who enjoys a book which is both heartbreaking and emotionally satisfying – this book is for you. I had a great time reading this book and am eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, Don’t Worry, Life is Easy.
Happy People Read and Drink Coffee in ten (or eleven) words or less: Emotionally satisfying story about love, loss & learning to live again.
Happy People Read and Drink Coffee is the perfect mix of PS I Love You and Under the Tuscan Sun. A heartbroken woman going abroad to try and piece her life back together. From the start of the novel I really felt for Diane. The love she had for her husband and daughter was palpable and her sorrow at them leaving her before their time was evident in everything she did. In running away to Ireland, there was a sense that Diane didn’t really want to move on but rather just wallow in a new destination. The cast of characters she met on the Green Isle pulled her out from under her grief and forced her to accept her future.
Diane is a great character to follow as she comes to terms being a widow and child-less mother. After the tragedy she faced and as closed off as she initially appears, I found myself wanting her to find some peace and happiness. And then there’s Edward, the dark and brooding next door neighbour whom Diane finds herself drawn to. Whilst I could understand Edward’s appeal (he’s all surly and got a bit of a Fitzwilliam Darcy vibe to him) I was a little disconnected from the romance. I think I missed that moment when I felt Diane and Edward really deserved each other. Edward, as wonderfully sarcastic and twisty as he was, is a man of extremes and has moments of resentment towards Diane and then times of tenderness. I wanted more middle ground. That said, I can see how many readers would be attracted to the handsome photographer’s hot and cold behaviour. He’s slightly mysterious and complicated in that delicious bad boy kind of a way.
As Diane comes back to life in Ireland we get to meet a colourful cast of characters who really make this book something special. The setting is a character in itself and the descriptions of the land and country had a very cinematic vibe. Edward’s family are great and a wonderful contrast to him. And Diane’s best friend brings some much appreciated comic relief at dramatic moments.
Happy People Read and Drink Coffee is a beautiful story about a woman finding herself after being lost in grief and finding something to live for. It’s more than a love story and whilst romance is a feature, this book is uplifting and heartwarming. For anyone who enjoys a book which is both heartbreaking and emotionally satisfying – this book is for you. I had a great time reading this book and am eagerly awaiting the release of the sequel, Don’t Worry, Life is Easy.
Happy People Read and Drink Coffee in ten (or eleven) words or less: Emotionally satisfying story about love, loss & learning to live again.