THE THEORY OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER
by
KRISTIN BILLERBECK
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Revell
Date of Publication: May 1, 2018
Number of Pages: 288
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According to Dr. Maggie Maguire, happiness is serious—serious science, that is. But science can’t always account for life’s anomalies, like why her fiancé dumped her for a silk-scarf acrobat and how the breakup sent Maggie spiraling into an extended ice cream–fueled chick flick binge.
Concerned that she might never pull herself out of this nosedive, Maggie’s friends book her as a speaker on a “New Year, New You” cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. Maggie wonders if she’s qualified to teach others about happiness when she can’t muster up any for herself. But when a handsome stranger on board insists that smart women can’t ever be happy, Maggie sets out to prove him wrong. Along the way she may discover that happiness has far less to do with the head than with the heart.
Filled with unforgettable characters, snappy dialogue, and touching romance, The Theory of Happily Ever After shows that the search for happiness may be futile—because sometimes happiness is already out there searching for you.
PRAISE FOR THE THEORY OF HAPPILY EVER AFTER:
“. . .the sweet will-they-or-won’t-they of Sam and Maggie’s courtship will please readers. . .”
—Publishers Weekly
“Billerbeck returns with a light Christian chick-lit novel just in time for the summer beach-read season, taking on stereotypes of femininity, intellect, and worth within an exciting cruise-ship setting with plenty of sunshine and gelato.”
—Booklist
“Billerbeck’s latest is full of memorable characters and witty dialogue. . . .The overall story reminds the reader that sometimes happiness will find you, no matter what you may do to avoid it.”
—RT Book Reviews – Four Star Review
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“I can tell you from my own valuable research that coffee definitely evokes happiness.”
The main character, Dr. Maggie Maguire, in The Theory of Happily Ever After is a complete mess. But all is not lost for this scientist and best-selling author on the science of happiness. Unfortunately, before she can find her true happiness, she must experience complete despair and heartbreak.
While Maggie is an annoying mess for a large portion of the book, her character is a little too relatable for comfort. I must admit that I am the first to bury my head in the sand and hope that trouble will mysteriously and effortlessly disappear. News Flash: it usually doesn’t, as Maggie finds out.
The singles cruise that Maggie’s friends, Kathleen and Haley, drag her on is an interesting touch and provides the main backdrop for the overall story. Can true happiness be found in a fabricated happy environment in only a few days? Read The Theory of Happily Ever After to find out for yourself. But don’t be surprised if not everything goes as you expect or predict. While Maggie’s caustic attitude toward pretty much everyone is aggravating, the reasons for her meltdown and subsequent bad attitude are anything but predictable. What I like most about this story is that it is a humorous reminder that still waters run deep. We don’t always know what’s going on in people’s heads, especially those we think we know so well.
The writing style is interesting as it is heavily laden with Maggie’s internal ruminations. We spend a lot of time in Maggie’s head, so maybe that is why I wanted her to snap out of it already. Dr. Maggie Maguire is the perfect example of the perils of over thinking, over analyzing, and over criticizing. The good news is that happily ever after is alive and well, but the path getting there is often filled with pitfalls and second guesses.
I thoroughly enjoyed the little ‘excerpts’ from Dr. Maguire’s book, The Science of Bliss, because they provide thought-provoking, scientific tidbits of advice on happiness. But can we extract the secret to happiness using cold, hard scientific facts? Isn’t love unpredictable and blind and messy and typically non-compliant with our expectations? For Maggie and probably most us, the answer would be a resounding Yes, but that doesn’t mean we can’t set the stage to let happiness naturally flow into our lives. Maggie’s friends have the best intentions, but I have to say that their constant pushing and prodding to get Maggie back on track annoyed me to no end.
Let’s talk about romance. Maggie has been dumped, almost at the alter. We find that out right away. Who doesn’t lament the loss of the fairy tale? On that note, two incredibly attractive men are aboard the same singles cruise as Maggie and her friends, setting the scene for romance, jealousy, explosions, excitement, and, ultimately, Maggie’s revelation that happiness has been hers for the taking all along.
It’s not tagged as such, but The Theory of Happily Ever After has a Christian influence, but it’s not overly preachy. The Christian aspect fits smoothly with the characters and the overall concept of finding happiness.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win some exciting prizes, including a copy of The Theory of Happily Ever After by Kristin Billerbeck and some super gift cards!
Kristin Billerbeck is the author of more than thirty novels, including What a Girl Wants and the Ashley Stockingdale and Spa Girls series. She is a fourth-generation Californian who loves her state and the writing fodder it provides.
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GRAND PRIZE: Copy of The Theory of Happily Ever After + Bookish Beach Towel, Tumbler, & Book Sleeve
2ND PRIZE: Copy of The Theory of Happily Ever After + $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
3RD PRIZE: Copy of The Theory of Happily Ever After+ $10 Starbucks Gift Card
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August 22-31, 2018
CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
| 8/22/18 | Excerpt, Part 1 | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 8/22/18 | BONUS Post | Hall Ways Blog |
| 8/23/18 | Excerpt, Part 2 | Forgotten Winds |
| 8/24/18 | Review | Momma on the Rocks |
| 8/25/18 | Playlist | All the Ups and Downs |
| 8/26/18 | Review | Missus Gonzo |
| 8/27/18 | Scrapbook Page | Story Schmoozing Book Reviews |
| 8/28/18 | Review | The Love of a Bibliophile |
| 8/29/18 | Author Interview | Texas Book Lover |
| 8/30/18 | Review | Syd Savvy |
| 8/31/18 | Review | Book Fidelity |
A book that makes you frustrated, amused, and think about STUFF in the grand scheme of life! Sounds good to me! Thanks for the great review.