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Birthday bash - day 5! Tour: (91.) Secrets to Happiness by Sarah Dunn...

June 12, 2009
birthday bashSarah Dunn's Secrets to Happiness is touring!

About the book:
Holly Frick has just endured the worst kind of breakup: the kind where you're still in love with the person leaving you. While her wounds are still dangerously close to the surface, her happily married best friend confesses over a bottle of wine that she is this close to having an affair. And another woman comes to Holly for advice about her love life--with Holly's ex!

Holly decides that if everyone around her can take pleasure wherever they find it, so will she. As any self-respecting 30ish New York woman would do, she brings two males into her life: a flawed but endearing dog, and a good natured, much younger lover. She's soon entangled in a web of emails, chance meetings, and misguided good intentions and must forge an entirely new path to Nirvana.

From the author of The Big Love, Secrets to Happiness is a big-hearted, knife-sharp, and hilariously entertaining story about the perils of love and friendship, sex and betrayal--and a thoroughly modern take on our struggle to be happy.
About the author:
Sarah Dunn has moved from Los Angeles to New York five times, and from New York back to Los Angeles four times, which means she is happily back in New York, where she lives with her husband, Peter Stevenson, and their son, Harry. Her first novel, The Big Love, has been translated into 23 languages. Sarah can be found online at her website, sarahdunnbooks.com.

drey's thoughts:
So, I inhaled this book--like, seriously. I know I usually inhale books anyway, but Secrets to Happiness took me on a journey and didn't let go until I turned the last page. Holly is thirty-something, dumped, and depressed. She's "dating" a twenty-something, and can't quite bring herself to confess that affair to her best friend. It doesn't help when her best friend confesses to an almost-affair, and introduces Holly to the guy. Because she's over him. And he's a nice guy. And Holly needs a nice guy. Because the guys in her past are not quite so nice. Which makes it really weird when another woman calls her long-distance, out of the blue, to ask her about an ex. And makes it hurt more when Holly finds out her most current dump-er is about to get married.

But, kudos to Holly, she decides to try for her happiness, starting with adopting an abandoned dog. And she goes out with the nice guy (Jack). Just when Holly starts falling for Jack, though, another whammer smacks her upside the head. And Holly has to consciously decide whether she will stay open to the possibilities out there for happiness, or whether to let the recent events throw her in the dumps again.

Holly is a complicated woman, whom many of us will identify with at some level or another. After all, who hasn't been through a heartbreak or two, or betrayal by friends? *I, personally, can't identify with "dating" a 20-year-old. Not while in my 30s, anyway... =P She's complicated, and questioning. Secrets to Happiness has lots of other characters, who're mostly in Holly's life, but I didn't much care about them. For me, this book was about Holly, and everyone else (ok, not quite EVERY one) were like props. I could've done without Leonard, or Betsy. And I probably would've stayed with Lucas. =P Hey, 20-something men are good for something... lol!!

A good read for that summer beach bag.

Giveaway:
The awesome folks at Hachette have ONE copy of Secrets to Happiness for you, if you live in the US or Canada, & don't have a PO Box. To enter, leave a comment--what makes you happy? Right at this moment, it would be a little man who listens and does what mom says with no eye-rolls or huff-n-puffs. Ok, I'll settle for a dash of Bailey's and a round of Rock Band 2 later. =)

As usual, +1 for following, +2 for sharing with the world. So, go forth and broadcast! =D Just come back to tell me what & where. Contest ends 6:00pm CST June 19th! Good luck!

60 comments:

Anonymous said...

What makes me happy: hmmmm. I'd have to start with big gloppy cheesy pizza.

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog on Google Reader!

nbmars AT yahoo DOT com

Gaby317 said...

Great weather really makes me happy, especially with friends and family.

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Gaby317 said...

i'm a follower

gaby317nyc AT gmail DOT com

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

All posted at Win a Book. Bridget just got here and is dragging me out to a book sale. (Dragging. Uh-huh.)

Thanks for the e-mail, doll. And happy birthday!

Anonymous said...

Having open, honest commications with those I love makes me happy...and I am.

thebun at personainternet dot com

Anonymous said...

I subscribe by email.

thebun at personainternet dot com

housemouse88 said...

What makes me happy is getting a package in the mail. I never know what I'm going to open to find but I know I'm going to treasure it. Have a great day. I'm a follower.

house_mouse88 at yahoo dot com

ossmcalc said...

It makes me happy when my grandson says, "I love you, Grandma," on the telephone. He lives far away from me. Of course, it would be better in person but hearing it is still wonderful.

Thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

ossmcalc said...

I am a follower.

thank you,

Christine
womackcm@sbcglobal.net

Lisa said...

Happiness is a good book and a thick milkshake on the beach.


lisamasini@aol.com

scottsgal said...

Crystal blue water, white sandy beach and sunshine - anywhere in the Caribbean makes me happy
msboatgal at aol.com

scottsgal said...

I'm also a follower
msboatgal at aol.com

windycindy said...

Hi! I love the cover of this book! How fun to be content rolling in the grass. My husband, our two sons, our dogs, gardening, friends, reading, etc.
There are many thanks that make me happy!
Please count me in your delightful book drawing.
Many thanks..... Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I follow your blog!
Again, thanks..... Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

"Tweet!"
http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/2134111600.
Thanks a bunch...... Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Jo-Jo said...

I would really love to win this book--So many things make me happy--one of them is laying on the beach on a sunny day with a good book.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Jo-Jo said...

I'm also a follower.
joannelong74 AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

The beach makes me happy - any day, any weather, any season. Thanks for the chance to win this book!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

I'm a Follower!

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

Here's my Tweet: http://twitter.com/ASeaOfBooks/status/2134846667

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

My little happiness for the moment was the Coffee Toffee Frosty I got from Wendy's at lunch today.

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

nfmgirl said...

I follow

nfmgirl AT gmail DOT com

chey said...

Hi,
Relaxing with a good book makes me happy!

chey127 at hotmail dot com

bermudaonion said...

Don't enter me. Glad to see you enjoyed this book so much!

Unknown said...

Puppies make me happy

Unknown said...

I'm a follower

Unknown said...

I so love that cover its adorable! And it reminds me of my doggy who makes me really happy, I enjoy spending time with her and going for walks with her and watching how excited she gets over everything, even the littlest things. Thanks for entering me into this giveaway.

budletsmom said...

I keep hearing about this book and it is on my wishlist.

Right now hearing my son laugh is something that makes me happy - always puts a smile on my face to.

budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I'm a follower thanks.

budletsmom said...

I am a follower.

budletsmom(at)yahoo(dot)com

throuthehaze said...

being with my family makes me happy
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

throuthehaze said...

follower
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Pam said...

The sound of my children's laughter makes me happy. A good book and a glass of wine and time to enjoy them makes me happy too.

melacan at hotmail dot com

Pam said...

Follower

melacan at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

please count me in on the giveaway
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Karen H said...

Sounds like a good book...a real keeper! Now, what makes me happy? Hard to tell at my age, but I think my main squeeze would be a wedge of lime over a tall glass of rum and coke!

kkhaas[at]bellsouth[dot]net

Karen H said...

+1 I am a follower

kkhaas[at]bellsouth[dot]net

KR said...

Being a teacher on summer vaction with tons of time for reading is making me happy!!!

I follow.

mj.coward[at]gmail.com

Cindy said...

What makes me happy? My family - my husband, my 4 grown kids, my 2 grandkids, my pets (many of them so I love the cover of this book) and summertime with lots of gardening and reading time!

I follow your blog and I subscribe by email.

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Cindy said...

I follow you on Twitter. I tweeted about your blog today!

Username is Soccermom213

Cindy
Socmom213@aol.com

Belinda M said...

My son makes me happier than anything in this entire world

"Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
CoolCanucks.ca"


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Belinda M said...

I follow

"Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Fun:
CoolCanucks.ca"


bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

Amber said...

Hugs make me happy =D
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Amber said...

I follow you!
Thank you for the giveaway :)
hurdler4eva(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

My mother makes me happy. Also, getting to sit and play my Wii or watch a good movie.

Thanks for the giveaway.

tiffanyak1986(at)hotmail(dot)com

Ladytink_534 said...

My husband makes me happy and my cat, baking, reading, etc.

Follower!
Ladytink_534(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ally said...

Walking outside and feeling warm weather.

I'm a follower!
Thanks!
allygotts567@hotmail.com

Nicole said...

Right now, it's 830am and my coffee and 2 sleeping children is making me very happy.

I follow.

Melanie said...

Right now my garden is making me happy. I'm so happy I'm even willing to go out and weed and give myself blisters. I love seeing all the green and growing things in my yeard and eating the vegetables.

Anita Yancey said...

What makes me happy is reading books, they can take me away from my every day life. Would love to read this one. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anita Yancey said...

I am a follower!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Unknown said...

I am a follower.

annmariebro(at)hotmail.com

Unknown said...

What makes me happy at this very moment. My SO leaving town for 3 weeks ;) Having the summer off so I can get some serious reading done. Which means I get to buy some more books.

Lisanne624 said...

What makes me happy is strolling along in the second hand bookstore (or any bookstore, really) in my town. The range of books, most of which are totally unknown to me, is always a delight!

CherylS22 said...

A beautiful, cloudless, sunny day makes me happy!

Thanks,
megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

CherylS22 said...

I follow

megalon22[at]yahoo[dot]com

Anonymous said...

My hubby and Scout and Max make me happy :)

stacybooks at yahoo

clenna said...

BGig sloppy kisses from my grand daughter (she's one) make me happy!

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