Book giveaway: The Secrets of Happiness by Lucy Diamond

Im so enjoying reading The secrets of Happiness, love the characters and the unfolding story, and the cover is fabulously pretty. thank you for my free book : )

Finished the book in one sitting. An enjoyable read, however I don't feel as much happens in terms of twists, so personally I didn't enjoy as much as Summer at Shell Cottage. That said the book physically was lovely. The characters I enjoyed and the writing does enable you to drift off in the story (hence why I managed to read it in one evening). Very suitable for an easy holiday read but I felt more could happen. (Perhaps a few less tied up ends to leave you thinking). Overall though a pleasant read.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book, full of interesting characters, story about family life with added humour.

The Secret of Happiness is a fantastic book and one I would recommend.

Becca and Rachel are both characters who I immediately liked. I really enjoyed reading about them both and their lives, and didn't favour one over the other which often happens when reading books such as this!
One phrase to sum up some of the story I think is; the grass isn't always greener!

I have read Lucy diamond books in the past but not for a long time and this has certainly made me notice her again and will seek out books I may have missed.
Thanks for the opportunity to get this book.

Very late to the party - but I'm settling down to the book now. I was saving it for a weekend away, and rather cleverly left behind. I thoroughly enjoyed Summer at Shell Cottage, so look forward to adding my review of this one very soon.

Thank you very much for sending me a copy of The Secrets of Happiness by Lucy Diamond. I am reading it as I type. So far have really enjoyed everything I have read. This is the first book I have read by this author, but definately will not be the last. I was hooked from the first few pages.
I will post again when I've finished reading it.

Not read anything by this author before, but definitely enjoyed the book and will be looking out for more books by Lucy Diamond.

I had been hoping to hang onto this book for another week, and read it while I was away on holiday. However - I FORCED myself to read it earlier for the sake of Mumsnet.

I love Lucy Diamond, so was so pleased to win a copy. Much as I loved the story (I have three sisters and at any one time, two of the four, if not three of the four, will not be speaking to each other, usually over some stupid misunderstanding due to lack of communication) - I have to say that it was the descriptions of the exercise classes that I particularly enjoyed. I would love a fitness instructor like Becca. It might even get me to stop reading and off the couch...

It was a lovely surprise to get a copy of this book - thank you very much. I'd read a couple of Lucy Diamond's previous books and, like them, it was a very enjoyable and easy read. Some of the themes it touches on are slightly darker than in the other books of hers that I'd read but, as others have said, they aren't treated in any great depth and this is one of those books that you know is going to have a happy ending.

The two sisters, Rachel and Becca, are very different but both interesting characters and completely believable. I really liked the characters of the children too, and thought they were very well written. Everything is neatly tied up at the end, which in some ways makes the book a little predictable, but at the same time it's a real feel-good read that focuses on the importance of family. It's the kind of book I like to take away with me on holiday - not too challenging a read but with a story and characters that draw you in right from the start.

It was a real treat to receive my copy of The Secrets of Happiness. It is such a beautiful looking book! I love the cover design. I haven't finished it yet but enjoying it a lot so far. I am intrigued to find out how it all ends.

Finished the book in four days, a record for me, now passed it on to my mum, thoroughly enjoyed reading it, what I call an easy read, just right for me, and my busy life style. My grandma used to make Welsh Cakes so will definitely have a go at making them. Thank you Lucy , One of the best books I have read in years.

I'm itching to get started with this novel. It has been looking at me invitingly ever since I received it. Can't wait! It looks like just the type of novel I enjoy reading. Thank you for giving me the chance, Mumsnet!

What a beautiful cover, I love the colour. I've only just started but I am loving it so far. Lucy Diamonds books are always a fun read.

Thank you very much for my free copy of this. As others have said, this was a quick, easy and enjoyable read. I found the opening gripping and it was a great way to engineer the rapprochement between the two estranged sisters. Both the sisters were engaging characters in their very different ways but I found some of the characterisation a bit stereotypical and for me the chatty language jarred in places. I thought the book could have done with an edit - although I raced through the 500-ish pages there were parts after the first third that would have benefited from being a bit more sparsely written. I could see the happy endings coming from very early in the book - a bit like in a rom com where you know right from the start who the heroine will end up smooching. Nevertheless, I have to say it was a very satisfying feel-good read (and as others have said it did touch on some serious themes of abuse/abandonment).

I received my book and absolutely love it! I would like to thank yall for the wonderful book as I have already finished it and enjoyed everything about it. Lucy Diamond is one of the best authors of the books I have read in the past year!

Thank you very much for sending me a copy of The secrets of happiness by Lucy Diamond. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book - the first by this author. I was intrigued as I read the first few chapters and it had me hooked from an early stage. I have read 2 chapters a night for the past few weeks and really enjoyed it. It's been written very thoughtfully and you feel you can relate to the characters in the book.
I have 4 chapters left to read and I am looking forward to finding out how this book ends.
It is an easy read and great to read after a busy day to keep your mind focuses on something other than worries.
I will post again when I've finished it.

Finished it really quickly.First book by Lucy Diamond i have ever read.What a beautiful edition as well.Great to have a book you are proud to show off.The whole premise is both funny and moving,and so warm as well.It's a lovely story that you want to recommend to your best friends.Would love to read a bit more about the sisters,a second part maybe.

I was delighted to get my copy through the door - thank you! I have never read any of Lucy Diamond's books before though I was aware of her. I am about halfway through 'The Secrets of Happiness' and am really enjoying it. I can totally relate to both of the central characters, despite them being theoretically very different. I can't wait to see how they reconcile their differences, assuming they do?!

I sat down to start this book last night, just intending to read a few pages. At chapter 21 and half past one in the morning, I had to make myself put it down and go to bed!! Very easy reading with characters that I easily warmed to. Can't wait to pick it up again!

As one of the reviewers has already stated, just looking at this beautiful book makes me feel happy! I know you shouldn't judge a book by its cover but you can rest assured that it's as feelgood as it's gorgeous cover implies. Although it doesn't shy away from some pretty bleak themes; abandonment, emotional cruelty and family breakdown, it's overall lightness of touch ensures that it's ultimately an uplifting read. This story of estranged sisters that both need help in different ways is both funny and moving which is no mean feat to pull off. I also loved the recipes at the back of the book and think a slice of the chocolate and raspberry cake with a cup of coffee, would be the perfect 'happy' accompaniment to this big-hearted book! 😀🍰☕️

Thank you very much for my free copy of this book. I have just finished it. As others have said, I found it an easy and relatively enjoyable read. I thought it compared reasonably well to Lucy's other work, although in some ways I prefer some of her earlier books, which are perhaps more "meaty". I found that a couple of things grated a little with this book: 1) although Lucy tackled a lot of quite serious subjects - child neglect, abusive relationships, bereavement etc - I felt that these were sometimes glossed over a bit and treated in quite a trite and superficial way. I would have preferred more in-depth exploration of the issues; 2) There were quite a lot of coincidences and neatly tied up endings, which didn't strike me as very realistic! I would have preferred to see how the characters managed to find happiness without everything working out QUITE so well for them all...
But having said the above, I was still happy to carry on reading this book until the end, which is always a good sign! Thanks again.

My book has arrived! What a lovely surprise I'd forgotten I'd applied.
Can't wait to start reading it this weekend.

Was very please to win a copy of Lucy Diamond's new book. The Secrets of Happiness was an enjoyable, easy read. The story follows the strained step-sisters Rachel and Becca, as circumstances force them to come together. The book explores how easily misunderstandings can come about, and how changes can happen when we allow them to. It shows happiness is available to all, if we choose to work for it.
I'd love a follow up to this book, to see what happens as the sisters continue to grow their relationship, with each other, and others.

What a lovely surprise to win a copy of this beautiful book! It felt like opening a box of chocolates - pure indulgence, especially as Lucy is one of my favourite authors. Although a light and easy read, Lucy is never shy of tackling some more difficult topics, and I think this is what makes her books rise above your average chick lit.
I must admit, when I read the blurb inside the front cover my heart sank a little with disappointment - I thought it sounded as though we were going to meet one of those buttoned up stereotypes in Rachel, who would dutifully relax and become more 'normal' as we unpicked her faults by the end of the story. In fact it was not at all like that and I warmed as much to poor Rachel as to Becca.
I'm within an hours read or so of the end now, and I don't want to finish!