My rating: 5.0/5.0
Publisher: Downtown Press
Publish Date: November 17, 2009
Pages: 352
Thanks to Sarah Reidy at Pocket Books for my copy of this book.
The Secret of Joy is a wonderful book - it's funny, touching and a book I'll be thinking about for some time to come.
My Review:
When I started reading this book I was thinking it was chicklit. I received it to be a part of a Pocket Books tour for the title and it's from Downtown Press and by Melissa Senate so I figured it was chicklit.
And maybe it is, but I don't think so - I think it is so much more. It has a twenty-something heroine and she's trying to figure out her life, but there aren't many references to designer clothing (though there are a few designer shoes mentioned). But there is romance and the figuring out her life that Rebecca does seems so much more than it usually is in chicklit (not downing chicklit - I love it). I would almost say this crosses into women's fiction for the younger set.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and therefore I gave it a rating of 5. The storyline is easy to follow yet not predictable. The characters are wonderful. I enjoyed Rebecca and Joy and of course the divorced ladies (and man) of Joy's small town. Theo was completely yummy and I even liked his dog.
Rebecca's efforts to get to know her sister were interesting to watch and they story unfolded beautifully. I was cheering for Joy and Rebecca the whole time.
The characters and storyline of this book will stay with me for awhile and that tells me it was a good book. I will definitely be checking out more of Melissa Senate's work in the future.
About the Book:
When twenty-something New Yorker Rebecca Strand learns (her father's deathbed confession) that she has a twenty-six-year-old half-sister she never knew existed, she can't wait to meet her. With her lawyer boyfriend's protests ringing in her ears ("She's just going to want her share of his million-dollar estate!"), Rebecca drives to a small coastal town in Maine with the 26 letters her father wrote to Joy every year on her birthday. All alone in the world, Rebecca knocks on Joy Jayhawk's door, having no idea what to expect.Challenges:
Turns out Joy, the separated mother of a little boy (Rebecca has a nephew!), isn't very interested in the "father" who turned his back on her existence from day one–or her "sister." But Rebecca is so determined to establish family bonds with Joy that she doesn't go home . . . and finds herself being welcomed into small life by some very loveable, quirky characters, including a sexy carpenter named Theo . . .
100+ Book Challenge
Fall Into Reading Challenge 2009
GIVEAWAY:
I will giveaway my once read gently used copy of The Secret of Joy to one commenter. Simply comment on this post and leave your email and you are entered. Extra entries for tweeting, following me, subscribing will also be added. Just let me know what you do. Giveaway will go through 11/30.
49 comments:
I have seen this book recently. I'd love to be entered.
Thanks.
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
new follower. Thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
New subscriber. Thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I'd love to win this book.
I enjoyed you review.
Thanks.
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com
I'm a follower.
marthanadnny(at)hotmail(dot)com
I can't even imagine what would go through my head if I found out I had another sibling!
mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com
I am a follower!
mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com
I am an e-mail subscriber!
mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com
I would love to be entered in your draw. Thanks. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
I am a follower of your blog. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscribe via Google Reader. wandanamgreb(at)gmail(dot)com
This sounds like a fun book to read! Thank you for this giveaway and please count me in.
chinook92 at gmail dot com
I subscribe to your blog by Google Reader.
chinook92 at gmail dot com
I follow you on Twitter as chinook92 and Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/chinook92/status/5829315883
chinook92 at gmail dot com
count me in!
Thanks!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
I'm a follower!
dcf_beth at verizon dot net
I'd love to read this one, please count me in :-)
I'm a follower
Posted on sidebar of my blog
teddyree[at]optusnet[dot]com[dot]au
If this is open for overseas readers please count me in.
mystica123athotmaildotcom
this sounds just wonderful thanks minsthins at optonline dot net
This is on my TBR list - I'd love to enter
msboatgal at aol.com
Would love to read this.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
I'd love to read it! I'm always looking for a new author to discover. :)
krtrumpet [at] aol [dot] com
I would love to read this.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
bloggyig at gmail dot com
I would love to enter!!
choateorama(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm always looking for new chick lit that goes beyond nightclubs and designer clothes.
Nycole
Knycks1@aol.com
I would like to be entered to win this. Thanks for the giveaway.
mia at jacobsracing dot com
Thank you for the giveaway.
patman1770[at]yahoo[dot]com
I would love to win this book!
tamintx5 at gmail dot com
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sundaygirl at gmail dot com
You gave it a 5 out of 5, so it MUST be good. Thanks for the giveaway.
s.mickelson at gmail dot com
I'd love to read this!
tatamagouche AT netbundle DOT ca
I subscribe by e-mail, follow in Google reader and follow on twitter (@debbierodgers)
Please enter me. Thank you!
ndz917[at]yahoo[dot]com
I follow your blog
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the giveaway.
eswright18 at gmail dot com
Everyone seems to be raving about this book! Please include me in the giveaway.
I'm a follower
alitareads[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to read this book, please count me in. Thanks!
I am a new follower
alongtheway(at)telus(dot)net
This is a book I'd really like to read. Please enter me. Thanks!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I am an email subscriber!
ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net
I would love to win this book! Count me in. :D
~Briana
thebookpixie[at]yahoo[dot]com
+1 Tweeted: http://twitter.com/thebookpixie/status/6183568529
~Briana
+1 Blog follower
~Briana
Please enter me :D
thebookvixen at gmail dot com
tweeted
I'm a new follower :D
Thanks for this great giveaway!
Marie
utah91960[at]yahoo[dot]com
+1 Already Follower
:D
Marie
Thanks for the chance!
Jennifer, jennem22 at yahoo dot com
I would LOVE to win this book! It looks awesome!
nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net
Sounds like a great read! Please enter me as well.
givingreadingachance AT gmail.com
i m a follower
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