Happy Endings Book Club Boxed Set Books 4-6 by Kylie Gilmore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


It's always a pleasure to read Kylie Gilmore. With sweet stories that are as moving as the characters are irresistible, it's obvious why she makes up at least half of my favorites list.

Formal Arrangement (Happy Endings Book Club #4) 

The Campbells are a rambunctious clan. Good times, fiery personalities and tons of love are what the Campbells are all about, but beneath all the fun lies some turbulent emotions that need to be worked through. Formal Arrangement is Alex's turn to shine. This single dad has a little girl he adores, a family he loves and guilt that never seems to subside. From a tragic loss to the responsibilities that weigh him down, Alex just can't catch a break. Enter Lauren, nanny extraordinaire. Lauren lightens up his days and fills his heart with an emotion he refuses to acknowledge. Can he let go of the pain of his past to claim his Ms. Right? (5 stars) 


Bad Boy Done Wrong (Happy Endings Book Club #5) 

Looking to chase away the blues? Kylie Gilmore knows just what to do. Bad Boy Done Wrong follows the perfect script to lighten the heart and brighten up any day. Carrie and Zach turn one little mistake into a hugely irresistible romance. The laughs never stop flowing and the love refuses to quit growing anytime the Happy Endings Book Club is involved. Resistance is futile. (5 stars)

Mess With Me (Happy Endings Book Club #6)

The forecast is perfect for a total eclipse of the heart. Mess With Me has everything I've come to expect from Kylie Gilmore. Charming characters, hysterical antics and a whole lot of laughter pave the way to a happy ending. Second chances, surprise romances and the welcome arms of family are instrumental to a heartwarming tale of love and fun. (5 stars)

I have to say, while I did especially love the cover on her last book, there was nothing as great as opening my phone each day to that crazy Raccoon when I played this audio book. I do love Lawson's taste in taxidermy. As a fan of her blog and a twitter follower, I think she just keeps getting better. Hearing her read these stories is like having a conversation with an old friend; running the gamut from laugh out-loud funny to heartbreakingly sad. The fact that Lawson gets up every day and keeps writing and touring and driving Victor crazy despite the many demons she battles is truly amazing, and I am moved at how she offers hope and understanding to all those who face similar challenges.

So according to BL, I started reading this December 16, 2017. That means it took me 9 months to finish this wonderful book. Since Jenny Lawson discusses her struggle with depression and anxiety disorders at length (in the best, funniest way possible) I had to take several long breaks when my anxiety and depression were not putting me in the right head space to enjoy reading it. But really, this book is hilarious and just what I needed during these past two weeks of total chaos in my life. 

I am not exaggerating when I say my "vacation" was surrounded with nothing but Murphy's law. Car accident, cancelled concerts, delayed flights, stomach flu, etc, etc. All unrelated to this review, but whatever, I'll do what I want. Furiously Happy does remind us to laugh at the absurdity of our lives and most of all, to remember that the lows eventually get better. 

For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle

As Lawson clearly states in the beginning of this book, if you don't like funny books about mental illness, do not read this book. Pretty simple. If you are looking for a serious discussion on mental health and how to "fix" yourself, look elsewhere. This is not that book.

Now onto what this book actually is. This book is hilarious. Everything about it is so absurd and ridiculous. It is extremely funny and very entertaining. From arguments with her husband to weird childhood stories, Lawson takes the reader on a side-slitting journey to learn how she became furiously happy (and you can too!). 

Mixed into the hilarity are real discussions about her own mental health and serious talks about feeling alone, self harm, thoughts of suicide, and other dark times. But Lawson does something amazing with this. She makes people feel less alone. It's nice to see that other people feel that way too and, though her work, Lawson has created a sort of community of those struggling with mental illness. It's a fun sort of group that makes the world a little brighter. So even though this book is funny, she does get serious about certain things and makes the reader feel welcome, flaws and all. 

Lawson's humor is pretty intelligent. She starts off with something true, then twists the logic and semantics around in such a ridiculous way to end up with a crazy conclusion that actually makes a weird sort of deluded sense. It is highly entertaining and actually pretty impressive. Each chapter has a super weird title and it's almost like a scavenger hunt or a Where's Waldo page figuring out what the title refers to. When you get to the part in the chapter where the title comes from, you're like, "Aha! That makes a weird sort of sense." It makes for a very fun reading experience.

I didn't read Lawson's first book, but after reading this one, I'd like to go back and read it at some point. 

While I didn't necessarily agree with everything Lawson says and there are some offensive statements and jokes in the text, it is overall a funny story that is all about being true to yourself, saying "yes" to trying new things, and being furiously happy.