This is the first time I read a book by Carole Matthews and I must say it was a very nice read, although I had a rough start with it. It took me a little while to get used to the writing and narrative style, on top of finding some parts a bit lengthy.

However, I really liked the female lead character’s personality and the overall plot, so I kept on reading and it all smoothed over and I eventually had a very good time. It is a lovely, feel-good romantic story about genuine values. I enjoyed the messages conveyed, and the way the characters evolved. When you read about the origins of the story in the author’s notes, it takes on a whole new dimension!

I know I have a Christmas book from the same author waiting in my Kindle, so I’m looking forward to reading it.

Molly looks after a brood of assorted animals with the most fantastic names - I can picture them all exactly!
A lovely story, perfect for holiday reading - funny, romantic, frothy fun, but with the occasional harder edge to keep it from being too lightweight.
I really enjoyed it!

Lighthearted romance - warm and funny. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Would recommend to anyone who is a romantic and also who loves animals!

Excellent! Thanks to the author and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this in advance- I read it in 3 days! Loved it!

I absolutely ADORED the main storyline of this book. It is set on a farm which offers support and activities for children and young people who struggle within mainstream education. I've worked with children and young people who struggle within mainstream education so I know first hand just how good alternative provisions can be and also the struggles that they can face (especially around funding). This book captures it perfectly and it is so refreshing to read a chick-lit novel which also tackles such an important topic which is not typically spoken about within fiction writing. I really, really enjoyed this book. It has the perfect combination of romance, heartache, humour and real-life topics. The only thing I didn't like (and this is completely my personal preference as I know other readers may like this) were the times when it felt like the main character was talking to me directly as the reader - I much prefer being an external observer to their world rather than being spoken to directly! Nonetheless, it is another fabulous Carole Matthews book!

I love CM! But this book just didn’t hit the spot I’m afraid, I found Molly the main character slightly annoying for someone who loved animals I felt she left Bev & Alan to tend them more times than I felt she did it herself. She was suppose to be someone who wasn’t comfortable with people and yet she didn’t seem to mind all the way through this anyone who had those feels would have broke down especially when she was confronted with dealing with celebrities! The main love interest Shelby didn’t give anything away he just seemed to come along when he wanted something and yet by the end said he loved her how it was going to work when he didn’t really like animal and had allergies I don’t know?! But I did however like Lucas the son who attended the farm after being thrown out of his other school his teenage character seemed real and I liked how he kept the story interesting enough to finish.

Loved this book. Great characters, easy read, uplifting, funny, romantic and charming. A really nice story that is the perfect sumer read.

Sorry didn't get very far with this one. I found it all a bit too far fetched and so I didn't manage to finish it..

Such a wonderful book. Easy to get lost in and just luxuriate in the story, setting and characters. Perfect for curling up with and reading in one sitting. I loved the plot and the characters - animal and human. A fabulous feel good story.

Thank you Netgalley

I love to read Carole Matthews books they are funny, romantic and easy to read this one does not disappoint. If you love animals, romance and humour this book is a must to read.

Having read various Carole Matthews books I was looking forward to reading this one. It was perhaps a bit predictable you knew at the beginning how it would end, but a good holiday read as not to complicated.

What a delightful book. I have read many of Ms Matthews books and I’ve loved them all. This one did not disappoint, it had all the qualities of her previous novels and I throughly enjoyed every page.

Not as good as her earlier books, a light read, good but not great.

I've been really disappointed with Carole's last couple of books and found this one to be a bit better....hurrah! It was a story about Molly who ran a farm, helping children with special needs by having them work with the animals. The fact that Molly clearly loved the farm and all her animals and was helping the children was great and quite inspirational..but she didn't ever seem to wash properly ...she sounded decidedly unhealthy...would a TV star really be attracted to someone with animal poo in her hair who lives in a falling down caravan which sounds like it was filthier than a pig sty? I worried about the haphazard way the farm was run and the safety of the children, I'm not sure it would be allowed in the real world. I did persevere to the end of the book...it was all rather predictable (if unlikely) and I feel was only an average chick lit summer ready.

thank you to NetGallery and ARC for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review

I always love the fact that Carole Matthews has lots of peripheral characters in her books as I find too much gazing into each others' eyes from the main characters really boring. In this story we not only meet monosyllabic farm hands, glamorous soap stars and lots of teenagers we also have a menagerie of animals all with their own distinct personalities. I loved hearing about all the mischievousness of the various rescue animals especially the crazy alpacas, Anthony the sheep and Little Dog.
It wouldn't be a great romantic novel however without some pathos and I veered between laughing out loud and wiping away a tear at different points in the story.
Well done Carole you have another great success with this book.

Review posted on Goodreads.com and Amazon.co.uk

This is a wonderful novel, about Molly who runs a farm for farm animals that no-one else wants. She also invites children with problems like autism, hyperactivity, mental health problems, and also learning difficulties. She is helped by Bev and others. She lives in a caravan in the grounds, as she inherited the farm from her aunt, and it did not include a farmhouse.
She is lonely, whilst enjoying her life in a rather chaotic way, always short of money, and always seemingly facing a crisis.However, when a new teenager arrives, she is attracted to his father, who is a soap star. However there are other complications.
The story motors along, full of good humour, and pathos in equal measure. The characters are well-rounded and the plot is plausible. To say any more would spoil it for readers. I can thoroughly recommend this.

What a nice find. This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

I always look forward to a new book by Carole Matthews as I am a great fan and this one does not disappoint.

It tells the story of Molly who runs a farm, children attend there who have had difficulties in traditional educational establishments be it by behaviour or medical conditions. The animals on the farm are all there because no one else will have them and need a bit more care and attention. The animals help the children cope and learn new skills and the animals learn love and care which they may not have had before.

Molly is single, lives in an old caravan at the farm and her life’s is all about to change, a new child arrives needing help, throw in his famous handsome father and the need to find a new home for the farm as they are losing their land.

Love the nice short chapters as you can read bits throughout the day or just keep reading when you have more time!

Highly recommend, thank you Net Galley for the copy but it is certainly one I would have bought anyway.

This book had me laughing, sometimes very loudly, crying and in general just capturing me into a place of contentment.
I loved the sound of the Hope Farm, the animals with all of their whacky characters, which, I must add, were absolutely hysterical. I found myself nodding in agreement with Molly's thoughts especially after working with children who are a little bit different, and maybe a little bit broken, but are just wanting someone to invest some time into them.

Yes it's a bit cheesy, but we all need some romance in our lives.

Absolutely brilliant!

Thanks to NetGalley, Carole Matthews and The Little Brown Book Group for the opportunity to read and review this marvellous book.

Happiness for beginners is a lovely entertaining story with a cast of great characters both 4 legged and human.
Molly runs a farm for unwanted animals and children with problems be it autism, mental health, anger management or children who have been excluded from school where all other avenues of help have failed. They all respond well to Molly’s personality and animal therapy.
It did take a few chapters to get into the book and I found myself skimming quite a few of the animal descriptions but it soon settled to become an enjoyable easy read with flowing and witty dialogue.
For me it ended a little too abruptly, I would have liked an epilogue to see how things were progressing, farm and relationship wise, but I’m sure the majority of readers will be more than happy with how things worked out beautifully in the end.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Carole Matthews best book yet! The research for this story is spot on, the way that children with additional needs react to situations and the effect that animals can have on them. In addition to this the characters are likeable and believable, and the storyline is completely engaging.