Happiness: A Memoir Happiness: A Memoir

Happiness: A Memoir

The Crooked Little Road to Semi-Ever After

    • 4.4 • 269 Ratings
    • $11.99
    • $11.99

Publisher Description

Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine’s April 2018 book pick

A shirt-grabbing, page-turning love story that follows a one-of-a-kind family through twists of fate that require nearly unimaginable choices.


Happiness begins with a charming courtship between hopelessly attracted opposites: Heather, a world-roaming California girl, and Brian, an intellectual, homebody writer, kind and slyly funny, but loath to leave his Upper West Side studio. Their magical interlude ends, full stop, when Heather becomes pregnant—Brian is sure he loves her, only he doesn't want kids. Heather returns to California to deliver their daughter alone, buoyed by family and friends. Mere hours after Gracie's arrival, Heather's bliss is interrupted when a nurse wakes her, "Get dressed, your baby is in trouble."

This is not how Heather had imagined new motherhood – alone, heartsick, an unexpectedly solo caretaker of a baby who smelled "like sliced apples and salted pretzels" but might be perilously ill. Brian reappears as Gracie's condition grows dire; together Heather and Brian have to decide what they are willing to risk to ensure their girl sees adulthood.

The grace and humor that ripple through Harpham's writing transform the dross of heartbreak and parental fears into a clear-eyed, warm-hearted view of the world. Profoundly moving and subtly written, Happiness radiates in many directions--new, romantic love; gratitude for a beautiful, inscrutable world; deep, abiding friendship; the passion a parent has for a child; and the many unlikely ways to build a family. Ultimately it's a story about love and happiness, in their many crooked configurations.

GENRE
Biographies & Memoirs
RELEASED
2017
August 1
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
320
Pages
PUBLISHER
Henry Holt and Co.
SELLER
Macmillan
SIZE
1.9
MB

Customer Reviews

1 Banker ,

Difficult story to write & to read

This is one of those books that I found difficult to read because it’s about a very seriously ill child. At the same time, I could hardly put the book down because, well, it’s about a seriously ill child. I was so involved with this little girl, with her family, with her treatment. I had to know if they won the battle. They had a hard journey that I took with them in a very small way. I’m glad that’s the only way I’ve had to take that journey & I pray it stays that way.

kbrom422 ,

Powerful story

Understanding the agony of mothering a sick child felt honest and raw sprinkled with humor and irony. A story that sticks with you.

goldeelxs ,

Wonderful sad read

Well written book, not for the light hearted.

More Books Like This

You Don't Look Your Age...and Other Fairy Tales You Don't Look Your Age...and Other Fairy Tales
2017
Ask Me Why I Hurt Ask Me Why I Hurt
2011
The End of Eve The End of Eve
2014
Hope and Other Luxuries Hope and Other Luxuries
2015
Miracles from Heaven Miracles from Heaven
2015
Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs Heating & Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs
2017

More Books by Heather Harpham

Customers Also Bought

You Think It, I'll Say It You Think It, I'll Say It
2018
The Bright Hour The Bright Hour
2017
Once More We Saw Stars Once More We Saw Stars
2019
This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage This Is the Story of a Happy Marriage
2013
Group Group
2020
Slow Motion Slow Motion
1998