8.5.18

BOOK REVIEW: How to be Happy by Eva Woods


It’s the smallest things that make the biggest difference…
Annie has been sad for so long that she’s forgotten how to be any other way. She’s trudging miserably through every day, sheer determination keeping her going. Until she meets Polly. Polly is everything that Annie is not. She’s colourful, joyful, happy. And Polly is facing the greatest challenge of her life: how to die well.
Polly has one hundred days to help Annie find happiness. Annie’s convinced it is impossible, but so is saying no to Polly. And on an unforgettable journey, Annie begins to realise that maybe, just maybe, there’s still colour to be found in the world.
But then it becomes clear that Polly’s about to need her new friend more than ever… and Annie will have to decide once and for all whether letting others in is a risk  worth taking.
Publisher: Sphere
Pages: 376

How to be Happy is an incredibly uplifting read. Annie has been sad for such a long time that it has just become normal; that is until she meets Polly. Polly is dying from cancer and she’s determined to make the most of the little time she has left. Their paths cross and Polly decides that she has the next 100 days to help Annie find happiness. It is an unlikely basis for a friendship but maybe they are just what each other needs.
I very much enjoyed Eva Wood’s writing style, the characters, Annie and Polly in particular, are vivid and believable. Both women are dealing with their fair share of tragedy in entirely different ways. Polly knows that she must make Annie see the beauty in life again; the small things that can bring true happiness and joy.
Cancer is never an easy subject to deal with in a book and I felt that Eva Wood’s portrayal was very honest and believable. It was clear to see that she had researched Polly’s illness and she showed the many stages that Polly has to endure.
How to be Happy is a lovely book, it is sad at times but it is also uplifting. It made me take stock and appreciate what I have in life and it’s always good to do that isn’t it?




2 comments:

Nadia said...

Dot, this sounds like such a good book! So glad you posted about it - I need to get my hands on a copy ASAP :) Thanks!!

Dot said...

Thanks Nadia, I really enjoyed it, hope you do too xx

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