Ratings2
Average rating4.3
THE TOP 10 BESTSELLEREveryone deserves a chance at happiness... Danniella is running from her past, so when she arrives at the beautiful seaside resort of Whitsborough Bay, the last thing on her mind is making friends. After all, they might find out her secrets... Alison is fun, caring and doesn't take herself too seriously. But beneath the front, she is a lost soul, stuck in a terrible relationship, with no family to support her. All she really needs is a friend. Karen's romance has taken a back seat to her fitness business. But she doesn’t want to give up on love quite yet. If only those mysterious texts would stop coming through... When the women meet at their local bootcamp, a deep friendship blossoms. And soon they realise that the secret to happiness is where they least expected to find it... An uplifting story of friendship and finding the strength to come to terms with the past, from million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland. What readers are saying about The Secret To Happiness: 'An emotional but uplifting page turner.The Secret to Happiness is a beautiful story of friendship and love' Fay Keenan. 'I loved how realistic and flawed the characters were, no perfect people, just honest characters with real problems.' 'Easily Jessica Redland's best novel so far. The amount of heart and depth that has gone into it is astounding.' 'This is a story that will have you enthralled from the start to the end with its many twists and turns. Jessica has the knack of drawing you into her "heroines". She always includes some humour in her books but wow, does she know how to bring you to tears as well.' 'Reading this book is the secret to happiness. Wow!' 'Loved the characters and didn't want it to end.'
Reviews with the most likes.
Karen, Daniella and Alison all have their own story.
Alison relationship with Dave isn't going to well. She crosses paths with Daniella, turns out her landlord is an old friend of Alison. She finds out that Daniella has joined a bootcamp and has decided to join her, that's where they meet Karen. With Whitsborough Bay being small, Alison realised that she knew Karen, and the landlord Aiden (according to Alison was the one that got away). I felt for Alison, Dave was emotionally abusive, and he really annoyed me. Knowing full well she wanted to go holiday, he books tickets to Ibiza, but instead has booked ticket to go with his friends rather than her, and he was being nice to her so she will be okay when he tells her, and once he told her, he went back to his old self again! She turns to Daniella for help. Coming back from Ibiza, Dave brought tons of presents as well as a proposal. However, Alison needed time. I could sense something was wrong especially since the time she got a voicemail which a girl voice in the background. He felt guilty for everything and was hoping Alison wouldn't find out. She managed to get access (from a girlfriend of one of Dave friend) to the photos on social media, and with Aiden by her side they were looking at the photos and that where they spotted something in the background in one of the pictures.
Karen fiancé Ryan didn't seem very understanding or supportive of what Karen wanted to do (running her bootcamp), or wanting to spend time with Karen. Ryan is spending a lot of time with Steph (Steph has a girlfriend). She has a new client (Jay) who she is training. Turns out Karen got a stalker, who keeps sending her pictures and texts especially when she is with Jay. Turns out Ryan wasn't so innocent. The stalker had sent a video of a threesome, of, Ryan and with two other girls. The stalker...Jay fiancé (well ex-fiance) Sophie. Even though the stalking began from before Jay and Karen met. The moment Jay was introduced and they way he spoke about Sophie I was surprised but I wasn't at the same time. What shocked me though was who Sophie's sister was. Maya! Steph ex-girlfriend. The reason Sophie did this...she was jealous of Karen life.
Daniella has a secret of her own that she is trying very hard to hide. With Dave in Ibiza, Alison is trying to get a hold of Daniella, however is unable to do so, with the help of Aiden, she goes into the flat. They found Daniella collapsed on the bathroom floor; she said that she had a panic attack. We soon learn Daniella has bulimia. Daniella is married to Ethan, her secret...she killed her daughter. On the way home from a party, Daniella was wanting chocolate, as her daughter was asleep, she left her in the car to get some from the shop and when her daughter woke up, she left the car as Daniella hadn't locked the car door and was hit by the postal van. When I tell you I was shocked by this revelation of secret. She had child locks, but her step-sister made her took it off so she can use it for the airport. Ethan blames her for the death after Daniella consistency of pushing him of finding out on who to blame for the death. In the end she finds peace as well reconnecting with Ethan.
I am glad each of them got her HEA. Each of the characters had a story and their stories brought them together.