Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Happiness for Beginners
Happiness for Beginners: A Novel | Katherine Center
A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It's supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother's even-more-annoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can't imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster. Thus begins the strangest adventure of Helen's well-behaved life: three weeks in the remotest wilderness of a mountain range in Wyoming where she will survive mosquito infestations, a surprise summer blizzard, and a group of sorority girls. Yet, despite everything, the vast wilderness has a way of making Helen's own little life seem bigger, too. And, somehow the people who annoy her the most start teaching her the very things she needs to learn. Like how to stand up for herself. And how being scared can make you brave. And how sometimes you just have to get really, really lost before you can even have a hope of being found.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Allthebookclubs
Happiness for Beginners | Katherine Center
post image
Pickpick

Similar to Cheryl Strayed‘s book about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, but with a group of raucous twenty something year olds and thirty two year old Helen as the protagonist. I enjoyed this fun, finding yourself book with a badass female lead.
Book #39 in 2024

review
LadyCait84
Happiness for Beginners | Katherine Center
post image
Pickpick

I was more into the backcountry hiking trip and wilderness aspect than the romance, but still enjoyed it all.

62 likes3 stack adds
review
Kshakal
post image
Pickpick

Sweet, funny, warm and charming… loved everything about this book! Such great characters and plot… I laughed and i cried! Another home run by Center!

review
SheReadsAndWrites
Happiness for Beginners | Katherine Center
post image
Pickpick

Another home run by Katharine Center. Going to watch the Netflix movie based on it tonight. 💖

33 likes2 stack adds
blurb
peaKnit
post image

New movie on Netflix today based on Katherine Center‘s tagged book, it‘s pretty adorable.

Bookzombie I didn‘t realize this was from a book. I haven‘t watched it yet. 1y
22 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
DebinHawaii
post image
Pickpick

I have had this book on my Kindle TBR for ages now but I finally got it read as the Netflix movie is out today. Katherine Center books are sweet, funny, warm & witty & this one is no exception. Loved all the characters & watching Helen, our MC grow. The wilderness survival scenarios were fun to read & I am really looking forward to watching the movie this weekend. I don‘t think it‘s my favorite of Center‘s novels, but it‘s well worth the read.🧡

TheBookHippie Oh this is in my kindle too!! Off I go.. 1y
61 likes1 comment
review
Julsmarshall
post image
Pickpick

Simply perfect! Can‘t wait for the Netflix show later this month.

59 likes1 stack add
blurb
peaKnit
Happiness for Beginners | Katherine Center
post image

#h4bbuddyread on Instagram is a wrap - with the author Katherine Center. It‘s been a while so the re-read was a joy. It‘s the #guiltypleasure read summer is made for. Sweet as sugar with some sarcasm and sass. It‘s going to be a Netflix film on July 27, can‘t wait to see these endearing characters come alive. I think the tune for #titlesandtunes would be The Cupid Shuffle 🙉

Cinfhen Ohhhh, sounds fun!! I‘ll be looking for the Netflix version 🤩 1y
24 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Eggs
post image
Pickpick

Helen Carpenter, 32 yo, is newly divorced from a recovering alcoholic who won‘t stop calling her. Adrift and in need of meaning, she signs up for a wilderness survival course, which could make her hopeful; instead it‘s a disaster. This is Helen‘s journey to some semblance of happiness. This got great reviews, and it is good, but to me not as wonderful as her other books. Great characters, unique premises.

#Pantone2023
#JoysOfJuneReadathon Day 5

paper.reveries Such a great idea to add the colour palette! Love the idea of this story, too ☺️ 1y
Eggs @paper.reveries Thank You 🙏🏻 1y
Andrew65 Excellent 👏👏👏 1y
Eggs @Andrew65 Thank You 🙏🏻 1y
72 likes9 stack adds4 comments
blurb
GinaKButler
post image

Up next on 🎧
I‘m using this for my Reading Around The States Challenge.
I love this author and am excited to read some of her backlist.
#bookspinbingo

robinb Have you heard that this one is coming to Netflix as a movie this summer? Also her Things You Save in a Fire is being made into a film as well. 2y
GinaKButler @robinb I hadn‘t heard that, but I am here for it! Loved this book so much! 2y
robinb @GinaKButler Me too! 😊 2y
22 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
katies.library
post image
Pickpick

One book that you can read over and over and never tire of… fine, I confess I have many books I can reread all the time!

However, Jake and Helen are in my top five! I love them a lot and have read this book several times… because it‘s just so good!

You know what? This is the perfect book for you to pick up this weekend! Have a good one ☀️!

5 likes1 stack add
review
sarahgreatlove
post image
Pickpick

This book was funny, easy to read, sweet and kept me interested. A perfect palate cleanser from the stuff I normally read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

blurb
Ang203l
post image

Winding down the weekend! #catsoflitsy

10 likes1 stack add
blurb
damselsgotballs
post image

Book 38

TEArificbooks I liked this one 3y
17 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Soubhiville
post image
Pickpick

This was fun, even though it was fluffier than I expected it to be. It was pretty obvious right away that it was going to be a romance, more than the hiking adventure I originally wanted. I still enjoyed it though.

#littenlisten, also was on the to-do list for National Trails Day.

BethM This sounds fantasticz 3y
53 likes3 stack adds1 comment
review
MaggieCarr
post image
Pickpick

Katherine Center nails it every.single.time!

Sometimes you have to leave things behind in order to find yourself.

Three weeks in the remotest wilderness starts teaching Helen the very things she needs to learn. Like how to stand up for herself. And how being scared can make you brave. And how sometimes you just have to get really, really lost before you can even have a hope of being found.

Soubhiville Oh, sounds good! Thanks for the recommendation! 4y
42 likes2 stack adds1 comment
review
JoyBlue
post image
Bailedbailed

This is downright obnoxious! I wasn't this immature when I was a young teenager, let alone at 32. Bailed at 26%.

review
TerriGreen
post image
Pickpick

Oh my gosh! Why did I wait so long to read this one? Cute story of an unprepared woman who goes on a 3 week Outward Bound type hiking trip with a dash of romance, of course. I loved the writing. Looking forward to reading many more books by this author. ⛺️🥾 🎒 Book 54 4⭐️

Tracyantoon I think I have every one of her books on my TBR but still haven‘t picked one up yet. Sounds like I need to bump one up the list. 4y
9 likes1 comment
review
JenReadsAlot
post image
Pickpick

Oh my goodness so good!! Love this author. First book done for #bookspinbonanza #bookspin @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5y
22 likes1 comment
blurb
JenReadsAlot
post image

Just Frankie popping in to say hi Litsy! Loving tagged book so far. #marvelousMay #catsoflitsy

squirrelbrain Hi Frankie, you little cuteness! 5y
Caroline2 Ahhh haaaa!!!! He‘s soooo cute! 🥰 5y
Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Hi Frankie! 💛 May I address you as Your Fluffiness? 5y
33 likes5 comments
blurb
JenReadsAlot
post image

Starting my first #bookspinbonanza @TheAromaofBooks I was excited to see the list and get reading!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 5y
hes7 This book is fun! 5y
34 likes2 stack adds2 comments
review
UnabridgedPod
post image
Pickpick

I picked up Katherine Center's Happiness for Beginners on a whim--I'd signed up with a buddy read for What You Wish For (coming out this summer!) and found out that it was a loose sequel to Happiness for Beginners. I'd loved Center's books How to Walk Away and Things You Save in a Fire and figured I should give this first book a shot. I loved it!⠀

Helen Carpenter is a little bit of a mess. ⬇️

UnabridgedPod She's recovering from a year-old divorce and has decided she needs a change, needs to get more in touch with who she is. So, she signs up for an extreme wilderness/hiking experience. While dropping off her super-mean dachshund with her brother, she finds out that his best friend, Jake, has signed up for the same experience. What a coincidence! ⠀

What follows is a romance, yes. ⬇️
5y
UnabridgedPod But it's also a sort of coming of age for Helen, at 32, as she begins to discover the truth about who she is, what she can do, and how she can stand on her won. The novel is sweet and funny and, at times, painfully real. It's a fast-paced, incredibly moving novel.⠀

What are some of your favorite coming of age books?
5y
KarouBlue I love Katherine Center! Now I‘ll have to read this! Her book was just made into a pretty good movie! 5y
UnabridgedPod @MellieAntoinette Thanks for the tip! I haven‘t read that one and had no idea about the movie! 5y
26 likes4 comments
review
Margot0817
post image
Pickpick

This book made me feel all giddy inside! 🤗A perfect happy and light read that I sped through because I just couldn't put it down. The characters were all relatable and I loved all their unique and wonderfully crafted personalities- especially Jake and Duncan. Have you ever had a crush on a fictional boy? I think Jake is my newest fictional crush 😜 Highly recommend this book, especially if you need something happy in between deeper books 🙏😍

quote
Margot0817
post image

blurb
Margot0817
Happiness for Beginners | Katherine Center
post image

It's my girl, Nyx 💕

review
Lauren.Archer
post image
Pickpick

I did not realize this book even existed until I listened to Anne Bogel's One Great Read Podcast last week. After listening to her discuss this, and knowing I have enjoyed Katherine Center before I decided to give Happiness for Beginners a shot, and I found completely delightful.

For my full review please visit my blog at: http://obsessedbookaholic.com/2019/07/19/happiness-for-beginners/

sherri Oooh! I didn't listen to that episode yet, but I love Anne Bogel. I'll have to check this one out. 5y
Linz2783 Oh same here! I ran and got a copy right away and just really enjoyed this! 5y
79 likes3 stack adds2 comments
review
Frecks-Booklover4life
Pickpick


Ahhh this was such an easy read! I was rooting for the main character. One of my bucket list vacations is to trek and camp out in the Grand Canyon. There are guided tours I once obsessed over. Not sure I‘ll ever actually do it but this character did something similar.
FavQuote “The things we remember are what we hold on to, and what we hold on to becomes the story of our lives. We only get one story. And I am determined to make mine a good one.”

review
Frecks-Booklover4life
post image
Pickpick

Really enjoyed this one! Easy read and I was rooting for her! 🥰

7 likes1 stack add
blurb
TaciturnWhenReading
post image

After reading How to Walk Away a few months ago, I‘ve been anxious to read more by Katherine Center. I‘m about a third of the way through this one and I‘m really liking it so far.

robinb I feel the same about her having discovered her with How to Walk Away! ❤️ This one‘s on my Kindle TBR, and I have an ARC of her latest coming in August! Can‘t wait to get to it! 5y
50 likes1 comment
review
Kboltz
post image
Pickpick

First book that I read by this author and I loved it. Just a fun read, Helen is divorced at 30 and decides to take a survival wilderness course to change her life for the better if she doesn‘t die while doing it! Fun reading!😁

Eggs Stacked! Loved her 6y
7 likes1 comment
review
hes7
post image
Pickpick

This book made me smile.

Helen embarks on a journey of self-discovery and unlikely romance as she participates in a wilderness course with her younger brother‘s best friend.

Book 5 finished. #24in48 #24B4Monday

98 likes1 stack add
review
Purrfectpages
Pickpick

While I didn‘t enjoy this one as much as How to Walk Away, it was still a cute, aptly titled story about second chances. There were a few moments along the way that left me scratching my head, and I for sure wanted to shake some sense into Helen, but all in all it was a nice and quick summery read.

blurb
Purrfectpages
post image

Because I enjoyed How to Walk Away so much, I‘m down to try another book by this new-to-me author!

57 likes3 stack adds
review
Smartypants
post image
Pickpick

Second book I‘ve read from this author. She does a great job at delivering a self-help book in a fiction format. I don‘t think I‘ve read an author that is really able to explore a character‘s self-discovery in a way that teaches YOU, the reader, about yourself. #selfhelp #fiction #growth

review
Denisereads75
post image
Pickpick

A very sweet story. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

review
InnerSavvy
post image
Pickpick

I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction. The main character was loveable. Fun audio book.

review
ruthemmielang
post image
Pickpick

Just finished this and it made my heart cozy ❤️☃️☕️

118 likes5 stack adds
blurb
Moonpa
post image

I'm finally reading again!! And this is a good start - really enjoying this 30 something's journey to recover from divorce by doing a wilderness challenge. And her brother's best friend may be crushing on her too. Love the dialogue so far - very snappy and fun!

blurb
heathershurrah
post image

Loved this review by Brene Brown on the cover of Happiness for Beginners. I'm only 5 chapters in and already totally hooked.

2 likes2 stack adds
review
wombatcentral
Pickpick

Katherine Center has mastered the art of allowing the reader to feel the story, and experience what's going on through the characters' emotions. This tale left me swooning, believing, and always wanting more. Loved this read!

quote
Melissa_D

But the things we remember are what we hold onto, and what we hold onto becomes the story of our lives. We only get one story, and I am determined to make mine a good one.

blurb
Melissa_D
post image

Listening to this one on audio, which is my least favorite way to consume a book. Unfortunately, it's the only version our library has.