Summary: Holly Frick was once an A-list Hollywood writer. After her divorce, she moved to New York to write a novel. Her friends' lives seem to be in turmoil with broken relationships, love affairs, and trouble at work. Holly, however, is finding that life is good. She has started a relationship with a single younger man and has also freed a sick dog from the animal shelter.
Why I Abandoned the Book: I think the problem for me was that there were no characters that reminded me of myself or my friends. Furthermore, I didn't really connect with any of their situations. If I can't relate to or empathize with any of the characters, I have a hard time enjoying or finishing a book.
A Quick Look at Reviews: I checked several commercial book sites and discovered that Secrets to Happiness averages a 4-star rating. On the book cataloging sites, the novel is rated just under 3.5 stars.
For full and positive reviews of Secrets to Happiness, see S. Krishna's Books ("If you are a fan of chick lit, you should definitely pick this one up! I certainly enjoyed it and I think you will too.") and Bookish Mom Reviews ("As a whole, despite the many characters and story facets, Secrets to Happiness had a seamless flow and kept a great pace through to very the last page.").
Published by Little, Brown, 2009
ISBN-13: 9780316013581
GIVEAWAY
I have two hardback copies of Secrets to Happiness to give away. This contest is open to everyone around the world.
Here are the rules:
Leave a comment with your e-mail address: 1 chance
If you follow me or are a present subscriber: 5 chances
Become a new follower or subscriber: 3 chances
Tweet this giveaway, come back, and leave the URL: 1 chance
Blog about the giveaway or post a link, come back, and leave the URL: 1 chance
This giveaway is open until midnight on June 8. If you do not leave an e-mail address, I cannot include you in the drawing. I'll use a random number generator to determine the two winners and two runners-up and will make an announcement on June 9 or 10.
No need to enter me. I have this one as well. Of course I am really curious to compare note when I finish this one in a couple of wees.
ReplyDeleteI'd love this.
ReplyDelete+5 follower.
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Don't enter me as I have this one and its up next to read. I am interested to see how I respond to it.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry that you didn't like the book! I would still like to give it a try. Please sign me up for the giveaway.
ReplyDelete+5 follower
jess
barney's book blog
jedziedz@hotmail.com
Please enter me!
ReplyDeleteI love to read your blog entries.
MaryinHB@gmail.com
Sorry to hear you didn't like it. I just recently received mine for the blog tour so I haven't started it yet... I'll have to start it so that I can see how it goes for me.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to enter me in the giveaway.
♥
It just seems wrong to have an unrelatable book with a cute happy dog on the front! I totally trust your judgement, but I want to give it a try. I just love the dog. I am a follower of course, and my e-mail is rnawrot at cfl dot rr dot com.
ReplyDeletesounds like an interesting read thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that this didn't work for you, but I would love a chance to try it out for myself. I subscribe to your blog through Google Reader and Twitter.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
literatehousewife (@) gmail (.) com
I'd love to read this. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested in reading this one - please count me in
ReplyDelete+3 new follower
msboatgal at aol.com
I'd love a chance to read this! Thanks
ReplyDeletehmahan_0529 @ yahoo dot com
and I'm a follower +5! Thanks
ReplyDeletePlease include me in this giveaway. Thanks.
ReplyDelete+1 lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com
+3 I'm a follower
Would love to participate:
ReplyDeletelouise_alkjaer@hotmail.com
I am also a follower of your blog, and have blogged about the giveaway: http://louspages.blogspot.com/2009/05/giveaway-cutest-book-cover-ever.html
and tweeted ;-)
http://twitter.com/Louise_al
Can i be entered too please. I have just joined as a follower too.
ReplyDeleteMy email is
vivienne_dacosta@hotmail.com
Thanks
Can i be entered too please. I have just joined as a follower too.
ReplyDeleteMy email is
vivienne_dacosta@hotmail.com
Thanks
I want to know the secrets please!
ReplyDeleteajcmeyer A Tgo DOT com
oh even though you didn't like it, enter me
ReplyDeletepksanddancer(at)yahoo(dot)com
THanks for the great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI already follow :)
shhhimreading(at)hotmail(dot)com
enter me please. :)
ReplyDeletelovestoread0708(at)yahoo(dot)com
I am a follower. :)
Enter me please!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower.
lovinfitch(at)aol(dot)com
I'd love to give this a try too.
ReplyDeletemsbookishreviews (at) gmail(dot)com
Sounds interesting - thanks!
ReplyDelete1bmore @ gmail . com
I am interested in reading this, Thank for your honest review.
ReplyDeleteespressogurl at hotmail dot com
email subscriber
ReplyDeleteentry 1
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
email subscriber
ReplyDeleteentry 2
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
email subscriber
ReplyDeleteentry 3
espressogurl at hotmail dot com
Enter me pretty please, sounds like a great read!
ReplyDeleteheatheranne99 at hotmail dot com
Sounds like a good book. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great book! I would love to be entered into the drawing! michellekaemarks@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThe puppy on the cover is cute.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway >^..^<
bloggyig at gmail dot com
I want to read it myself to see if I agree with you. :D Enter me, please. : D
ReplyDeleteI'd like to give this a try. If I agree with you I will pass it on to the Library Book Sale. sharonaquilino(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI would like to enter
ReplyDeletesuzana dot c7 at gmail dot com
no need to enter me. Just wanted to say thanks for being honest. I know that can be tough, but you tempered well with the other review information.
ReplyDeleteAnd hey, that's why there a jazillion books out there :)
Please enter me. mrs.mommyyatgmaildotcom
ReplyDeleteEnter me, please.
ReplyDelete13rubberducks [at] gmail [dot] com
I've read some good reviews of this book, sorry you didn't like it.
ReplyDeletePlease do enter me, I already follow you(google reader)
elizascott at yahoo dot co dot in
Don't enter me. I just wanted to say I'm glad I'm not the only one who wasn't crazy about this one. I did finish it, but didn't enjoy it much.
ReplyDeleteIt's very rare that I abandon a book, but I'm curious to read this one--such mixed reviews!
ReplyDeletekrtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com
No need to enter me, but thanks for the link to my review! I understand your feelings on this book, though I enjoyed it much more than you did!
ReplyDeleteWould love to be entered.Wouldlike to read book.
ReplyDeletevanesadobbs@tiscali.co.uk
Please count me in
ReplyDeleteteresa.fav at gmail.com
Have been wanting to try this book - your experience with it made me a bit wary but I'd still like to try :)
ReplyDeleteshanynlee at gmail.com
I also will be following you!
I'd be interested to see how I felt about it as well!
ReplyDeletemarielay@gmail.com
I'm interested!
ReplyDeletemycreativeimagination at yahoo dot com
I am already a follower.
I would love to read this book!!
ReplyDeletechoateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
I have read some good and mediocre
ReplyDeletereviews and would like to give it a go! Thanks for the chance...LooseEnds@snet.net
+3 New Follower
I'd like to try this book and hope I like it better than you. Thanks for the giveaway!!
ReplyDeletepamelashockley(AT)netscape(DOT)net
Hmm I'm interested if only to see how I feel about it.. plus the doggie is soo cute.. weeshenanigans (at) gmail (dot) com
ReplyDeletePlease include me in your giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks
carlene
iluvreading(at)verizon.net
I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this one. I'd still love a chance to read it though. :-) And I'm a subscriber as well.
ReplyDeletewhitreidsmama at yahoo.com
Sounds interesting...
ReplyDeleteMy mailing address is kathrin.p[AT]gmail.com :-)
Does subscribing to your blog through my Google Reader account count?
I'm willing to give it a try. Thanks for the honest review!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the honest review. It sounds like a book I would like, so I'd love to give it a try. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteeswright18 at gmail dot com