marythekoreanfoodie's review against another edition
5.0
Melissa Senate is a great author with a clean style of writing. My family and friends who had read this novel gave it rave reviews, and I certainly understand why. The main character was a woman with whom you could relate, but the supporting cast members were fabulous - the types of people you are fairly certain you'd be friends with in real life.
girlinacardigan's review against another edition
5.0
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2010/09/25/the-secret-of-joy-by-melissa-senate/
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
4.0
Rebecca learns on her father's death bed that she has a half sister. Feeling a little bit lost in her current life, she goes to find her sister and ends up finding herself.
This book deals with identity, sisters, family and quite a bit of the "why" behind cheating. Not a lot of plot, but I don't need a lot of plot so I didn't mind. The quirky group that Rebecca finds herself involved with is hysterical and deep at the same time.
This book deals with identity, sisters, family and quite a bit of the "why" behind cheating. Not a lot of plot, but I don't need a lot of plot so I didn't mind. The quirky group that Rebecca finds herself involved with is hysterical and deep at the same time.
jlpxoxo's review against another edition
2.0
I try to like Chick Lit but there is something about the characters that annoy me to no end. They're whiny, indecisive, insecure and hard to like.
Rebecca is no different.
Rebecca is no different.
faithfulgirl4's review against another edition
He was telling you he wasn't leaving you all alone in thie world, that you didn't have to marry Michael. ~Maggie
Rebecca Strand has a wonderful divorce-lawyer boyfriend, Michael, a job in his firm as a paralegal, and a dad dying of pancreatic cancer. As if that's not enough stress! While visiting her dad in the hospital, Daniel Strand makes a stunning deathbed confession...Rebecca did have the sister she always wanted. That begins her quest to find Joy Jayhawk.
Michael is not at all happy that Rebecca wants to make this quest to find her half-sister and to possibly give away half of her inheritance. He does everything he can to knock some sense into her thick skull. Rebecca goes anyway and finds the sister she's always wanted...only to find out that she's not wanted as this sister. Will she ever be able to find happiness and Joy in her life?
I really loved this book and didn't want to see it end!! I was afraid of how it would end but I'm very happy with how [a:Melissa Senate|21199|Jennifer O'Connell|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] chose to end this book. There were so many characters I could identify with throughout this book but I see myself identifying more with Joy. I have known my dad and he's been in my life since the beginning. However, paralleling this situation with others in my life, I could be Joy. I also really like the character of Theo. He would be my hero in the "real life".
I highly recommend this read to lovers of chick lit and for those looking for a lite refreshing read. I received this book from the Publisher as a part of the Pump Up Your Book Promotional Blog Tour.
Rebecca Strand has a wonderful divorce-lawyer boyfriend, Michael, a job in his firm as a paralegal, and a dad dying of pancreatic cancer. As if that's not enough stress! While visiting her dad in the hospital, Daniel Strand makes a stunning deathbed confession...Rebecca did have the sister she always wanted. That begins her quest to find Joy Jayhawk.
Michael is not at all happy that Rebecca wants to make this quest to find her half-sister and to possibly give away half of her inheritance. He does everything he can to knock some sense into her thick skull. Rebecca goes anyway and finds the sister she's always wanted...only to find out that she's not wanted as this sister. Will she ever be able to find happiness and Joy in her life?
I really loved this book and didn't want to see it end!! I was afraid of how it would end but I'm very happy with how [a:Melissa Senate|21199|Jennifer O'Connell|http://www.goodreads.com/images/nophoto/nophoto-U-50x66.jpg] chose to end this book. There were so many characters I could identify with throughout this book but I see myself identifying more with Joy. I have known my dad and he's been in my life since the beginning. However, paralleling this situation with others in my life, I could be Joy. I also really like the character of Theo. He would be my hero in the "real life".
I highly recommend this read to lovers of chick lit and for those looking for a lite refreshing read. I received this book from the Publisher as a part of the Pump Up Your Book Promotional Blog Tour.
hikereadbeer's review against another edition
4.0
Of course I loved this. It was cute, it was sad, it was happy, it was well written. And it was one of those books that didn't require you to think too much, just enjoy the story.
bmgoodyear's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
Oh, boy. There's so much I could say about this but because I was so ready to love this like I loved [b:The Love Goddess' Cooking School|7960890|The Love Goddess' Cooking School|Melissa Senate|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327938502s/7960890.jpg|11815671] that I'm left mighty disappointed. To sum it up though, it was a bit predictable as far as final outcome, the main character was a big hot mess that you totally wanted to slap, and unnecessary relationship drama (including cheating). It had a promising start but really went downhill fast.
Oh, boy. There's so much I could say about this but because I was so ready to love this like I loved [b:The Love Goddess' Cooking School|7960890|The Love Goddess' Cooking School|Melissa Senate|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327938502s/7960890.jpg|11815671] that I'm left mighty disappointed. To sum it up though, it was a bit predictable as far as final outcome, the main character was a big hot mess that you totally wanted to slap, and unnecessary relationship drama (including cheating). It had a promising start but really went downhill fast.
danaxbee's review against another edition
3.0
I love this author but the plot is similar to another book of hers. There isn't too much depth, and the main character, Rebecca, gets pretty annoying with all her whining about sisterhood and family. But there definitely are some great, really funny moments and overall it's a worthwhile read.
lil's review
3.0
Entertaining light, chick lit. Did enjoy most of it except for that the fact that she held on to her boyfriend way too long. That's why it got 3 stars instead of 4.