I wasn't the biggest fan of this book. I was hoping for a book that was really uplifting and would make me feel SOMETHING. Unfortunately, this one well fell flat to me.

I didn't find Polly inspiring and her message didn't really hit me very hard. Her message was a little contradictory at points. In the beginning of the book she tells Annie to write down something happy every day, even if it's small, but then later she tells her that she needs to do happy things that are bigger. I think it would have been a better message if she had stuck with the "small things" aspect because it's message would be more about appreciating the little, every day things in life that we take for granted. She was a fun, quirky character though and was probably the only shining light in the book. That's supposed to be the point though, so that was a job well done.

Annie seemed like a bit of a wet blanket. I understand in the beginning because she went through this horrible event, then had to deal with her husband and best friend on top of that, so I get her being depressed and all that. However, I don't feel like she changed all that much. Sure there were little moments here and there, but I didn't feel that profound Aha! moment. It just rang a little false to me.

Annie and Dr. Max's relationship baffled me. There was barely any description of Dr. Max in the beginning, so I was picturing him as a middle-aged, balding, overweight guy who looked constantly tired and bedraggled. Then, all of the sudden, Annie is attracted to him? Even putting that aside, there wasn't any chemistry between the two of them. They barely shared any real moments and their "almost" kiss didn't feel like an "almost" kiss, it felt more like two people weirdly staring at each other for an extended period of time. I honestly don't know what he was so upset about at the end because I wasn't reading any signals from him at all.

Like I said, this book was just missing something and the more I think about it the more I'm thinking it was just overall chemistry between every single character. Annie and Polly had okay chemistry, but everyone else, even their relationships with other people, felt disjointed. I was hoping for a feel good, super inspiring book and unfortunately all I got was a regular book. It falls into the "read it if you want to" category for me.

I liked this book, and I didn't. The story was so cliche; terminally ill person teaches stultifyingly dull person to seize the day, eat more cake, wear more purple, fall in love, etc., etc., etc. The saving grace was the author's wit, humor and, I have to admit as an angliophile, all things British. There also seemed to be a lack of continuity in the story line. In one chapter Polly, the quirky cancer victim, seems to be taking her last breaths, tied to her bed by all kinds of life support. In the next, she's upbeat, chirpy, walking, and issuing directives for her mock funeral.
I've always shied away from Harlequin titles in general because, in days of yore, they were mostly bodice rippers. I'm glad the publishers have progressed since then, I think Eva Woods has talent, but I'd like to see her go further out on a limb.

This cute, fun book is perfect if you want something lighthearted but also poignant.

Pros: A lot of heart, humor, and a fun, diverse cast of characters. Well paced for the most part. This book sucked me in and I couldn't put it down.

Cons: The "100 happy days" construct often felt forced and resulted in some very short scenes that made the narrative feel choppy. Lots of dialogue without dialogue tags got annoying because I often didn't know who was talking (that may have also been due to the poor formatting of my digital ARC). The writing could have been better. I wish the character of Annie had been a little more rounded out. Yes, she's been through a horrible trauma; yes, she has every right to be grumpy and angry. But for someone who previously had a rich social life and various interests, she seems to have very little life experience and absolutely no backbone, so the character often felt flat and cliched. I also didn't completely buy the romance, and a couple of the subplots weren't very realistic.

Without knowing exactly what this book was about prior to reading it, it wasn't too hard to put together the 100 days of happiness and the three months to live. That being said, the story - how it unfolds, the small moments, the unexpected actions - was captivating. I usually only read to fall asleep and I carried this book with me everywhere so I could read even if I only had a couple of minutes.

Despite the sadness, this book is hopeful and full of joy. I've thought about it often since I've finished and I wish there was more.

Polly and Annie are an unlikely pair that meet in the hospital with both of them going through medical issues. The two of them choose to look at the bright side of life in spite of terminal illness by living 100 happy days. A feel good read, but, yes, maybe a little too Pollyanna (get it?) for me to make it a full on two thumbs up.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

This is a review of an ARC provided by NetGalley-

I loved loved LOVED this book. It's one of those little gems that swoops into your life to recharge the soul and reminds us to be grateful for every day and, simply, to live life while we still have the chance.

Annie Hebden-Clarke is at low point in her life. Thirty five years old and sharing a flat with a roommate and going through the motions of life, including a mindless job with miserable co-workers. Her mum is also suffering from early onset dementia and was hospitalized, most likely unable to return to independent living. It's within the dingy walls of a public hospital in London that Annie meets the person that just may be able to pull (or maybe push, poke, prod) her back into living- Polly.

Polly is a rainbow of colors within the drab walls of the hospital. 'Lightning caught in a jar' as described by one of her many doctors. Inspired by social media's "100 happy days" Polly is on a mission to be happy- and, after observing Annie miserably melting down at a reception desk, has decided Annie ( a total stranger) must join her on this mission to find happiness. Because, you see, Polly has terminal brain cancer, and has approximately 100 days left to live....

Polly and Annie are unlikely friends, coming from drastically different backgrounds- Polly, a high socio-economic life, graduated uni and had high- powered job, and Annie, only child to a single mother after her dad up and left them, didn't have money for much, let alone higher education. Polly's life had been motoring along full speed until her devastating diagnosis stopped her in her tracks and allowed her to reexamine her 'happy'. And Annie had lost everything, never imagining she could feel happiness again. But life has thrown them together in the most ironic way- at the end of her 'perfect' life Polly has committed to helping Annie find her new 'perfect' within her darkness- one happy moment at a time.

I loved this book from page one-
"It's simple, really. You're just meant to do one thing every day that makes you happy. Could be little things. Could be big. In fact, we're doing one right now..."
day 1- make a new friend.

This is more than a book about second chances- it's about making the most of your first and only chance at life. Yeah you may have had a load of junk dropped on you- life happens. But every day you are alive is another chance at being happy, within the context of your circumstances. You get another chance every single day, whether you have 100 days to live or 50 years, so do not waste one single day. Find anything that makes you happy- eat cake, dance in a fountain, make an unlikely friend, be kind to a stranger, forgive someone who may not deserve your forgiveness. Little things, big things. The idea that 'being happy' is a choice we can all make daily was a beautiful reminder that I do have the power to change my thoughts and the trajectory of my day. Because that's all we really have- today. Make it a good one!

Sorry, I could not grasp the two disentangled characters. They read as far-fetched out of sorts personalities that I couldn't relate to.

This book helped change my outlook on life. I enjoyed growing with Annie and learning to be more happy and appreciating all that I have. There were many one-liners that I highlighted and want to hold onto as great advice.

The character development was amazing, and I truly felt connected to them (especially Annie and Polly), but even some of the secondary characters. I felt their emotions and visualized myself inside each location.

Something Like Happy connects with you and makes you feel a wide variety of emotions. It's not something I usually read, but I loved it and would recommend it to anyone!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

This book was everyting - sad, happy, heart-breaking, hilarious, irreverant, joyous. You name the emotion, and this story contained it. It is a out friendship and love, selfishness and selflessness. It is about choosing to live a life that is large enough to contain all the emotions, so that in those moments that everything turns to shit, your life isn't so small that that is all you can see or feel.

And if I take nothing else away from this, it will be to remember that "There is no one like you on the whole planet, no one that has ever lived or ever will. There is not a single other person with your fingerprints, or with the memories you carry, no one with your blood beating in their veins. You are yourself, you are alive, and that is enough."

*I had the privilege to receive an ARC in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley*
I have no words for this beautiful story, but I'll try.

This story is about two very different women whose worlds meet in a hospital. One is a crazy happy one, (which may be from her tumor), and a depressive one (from her very sad life). It would seem they wouldn't stand each other right? Nope.

In hardship they just help each other and go crazy together. Sounds weird? unrealistic? Wrong! as it is written in such a great way that I felt like another one of the amazing gang.This is NOT just another terminal illnesses book, (although it has some typical stereotypes in it, it's only normal)

I am so glad I got to read this rollercoaster of a book, because it certainly made me look at life in a different way. Thank you Eva Woods!

People have said we should live each day as if we have a death sentence hanging over us. Yet, we tend to tell ourselves that there is plenty of time. So, things get put off for 'someday' and there are times when that day never arrives.

In this story, Polly challenges Annie to join her in a challenge to learn to be happy in just 100 days. Polly is a terminal cancer patient and Annie is a very depressed individual who just goes through the motions waiting for the next bad thing to happen. They meet by chance at the hospital and soon Annie realizes that she NEEDS Polly in her life as much as Polly needs her.

A wonderful story of friendships forged from unlikely circumstances and finding happiness in your life. Plus, the added benefit of seeing how one person CAN impact the lives of others leaving them in a better position.

Uplifting book about friendship, dying and learning to live. Loved this book! Made me laugh and cry. I only cry when I've really connected with the characters.

This is a story about two women. Annie has lost her life and Polly has been given three months to live.

Annie was the happily married mother of a beautiful baby boy until he died, she fell into depression and her husband left her. Since that time she has been existing--working a job she hated, sharing a depressing apartment with a roommate she really doesn't know and taking care of her mother, who has early-onset Alzheimer's. She has no friends and she has no fun in her life.

Polly had it all too--great job, handsome husband, great friends and a supportive family. However when "Bob", her brain tumor, made himself known, she decided that she would spend her last few months grabbing life, not waiting for death.

We follow Annie and Polly though several weeks of doing things they have dreamt of and never done or things Polly wants to do at least once more. Polly pushes Annie and others outside their comfort zones and gets them to grab for things that make them happy.

The book is set in England and uses British terms like "jumper" or "NHS".

Polly's mother is a churchgoer but Polly has not been during her adult life. Now that she is dying she can't decided whether she'd rather believe, or not.

While there are no bedroom scenes in the book, two of the characters are homosexual.

I smiled, laughed and cried while reading this book. I highly recommend it and give it an A. I'd like to thank the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley.

While the plot is a little tiresome, Woods has made her characters unique enough that readers will remain interested in both the details and witty dialogue. The story is entertaining as well as meaningful and will take readers on a wild ride.