I really enjoyed this book, it was my first Freya Kennedy but probably won't be my last! The characters were relatable, interesting and unique. 
This book held my attention from page one! I will definitely be recommending 

Thank you netgalley for the ARC

It was great catching up with Libby Quinn and the gang, and this is a lovely addition to the series. 

The subplot with Ewan was well thought out and I enjoyed reading about the start of Jo's writing career.

But what I enjoyed the most was the blossoming relationship between her and Lorcan. 

What a delightful story.

This was such a beautiful read!. 
As always, Freya Kennedy brings us a cast of interesting, and loveable characters. The characters within this story are well developed and relatable, and their own individual stories are equally intriguing. 
The setting is also brought to life so vividly, you can picture is clearly in your mind, which for me really adds to the depth and connection with this wonderful story,

With a bit of drama, and various events taking place, there is certainly no chance of you losing interest in this story, and when the slow burn romance kicks in, I truly found it impossible to part with this lovely book.

Lovely read!!! this book is a page turner and really easy to read. The writing style is very nice and fluid. This is the second book I read from Freya Kennedy and she is starting to become one of my favorite author!!! This book is really well written and is full of events, you will never be bored while reading this book! The characters are really lovable and the romance in this book is slow but beautiful! There is also a bit of drama that makes this book even better! 4 stars out of 5 for me! You will have a good time with this one!

I couldn’t connect with this at all, I just found it to be a bit flat for me, the characters I held no empathy for and I just found it hard to stay interested.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

When I reviewed The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn, I commented that I was hoping for a return trip to Once Upon a Book, Libby's wonderful bookshop. Well, my wish has been granted. This time the focus of the story is Noah's sister, Jo, a would-be author who has constructed a life she feels confident with but who realises in order to fulfil her ambitions, she will need to step out of that comfort zone. You get to find out quite a bit about why she is as she is. Her relationship with her adopted little sister, Clara, tells you everything you need to know about her character. Family is everything to her. I found her to be likeable and spirited, with a kind heart.

    The community around Ivy Lane rallies around its inhabitants and they look out for each other. Feeling protective of one of its older members, Harry, leads Jo to regard his grandson with a suspicious eye. How their story unfolds has a few surprises- enough said! This story centres around people who are taking a chance and starting again. The lovely, inclusive setting in Derry adds to the warmth the book emanates. What an enjoyable read!


In short: Follow your dreams!

Jo lacks self esteem and that makes her an unlikable character. I was interested and enjoyed the first few chapters then I found myself bored. DNF


************************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley*****************

Jo is an aspiring writer, yet is too scared to let anyone read her work. However this is the year she decides to jump and start to believe in herself, after all if she doesn’t who will?

Lorcan has arrived at Ivy Lane to to visit his Grandad.  He has his own self doubts and troubles to contend with and opening up to Jo might be a step in the right direction for his to find his own happiness. 

Clara, Jo’s adorable younger sister, really steals the show! 

This was a heartwarming romance. A great addition to the Ivy Lane series, I really hope there are more books planned after this one.

I would just like to say a very big thank you to the wonderful Rachel’s Random Resources, for forwarding me a copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for an honest review.
This book was full of likeable characters and it was a great escape during our current situation.
It’s the second book in the series but can easily be read as a stand alone, All the characters from the first book appear in this one too.
It was a wonderful feel-good read and the epitome of a cosy romance - I can highly recommend.

I loved this book   It was like visiting old friends in Libby & the gang. Jo is also a great character   This book was like a warm hug & I loved every minute of it  These Covid times you need to treat yourself & this book is the perfect treat

I am thrilled to see a follow up book to The Hopes & Dreams of Libby Quinn. I adored that read by Freya Kennedy and it was so wonderful to immerse myself back into the lives of her characters. 
We all fell in love with Libby Quinn didn't we and her beautiful bookstore. How I wished that bookstore was mine in this next book. It was everything I want in a bookstore, absolute heaven.
We meet Libby's love interest Noah's sister Jo Campbell in this story and what a fabulous story it was.
She featured in the first book but more of a background character. 
Jo is a writer but lacks the confidence to believe she is. She has spent many a day in Libby's bookstore, the writers area, getting her story down and in a moment of madness she shows her work to Libby and asks her to read it and give her thoughts.
Jo is filled with insecurities about her writing but what happens next is beyond Jo's wildest dreams. A few knocks perhaps along the way but she is one tough cookie.
It does take her a while to believe in herself but she gets there and it's so lovely to see.
So very well worth your time. You will love these two books and this one can be read as a standalone book.

An enjoyable, hopeful and uplifting tale about having the courage to spread your wings and fly, Freya Kennedy’s latest novel, In Pursuit of Happiness, is a delightful read that aims for the heart and does not miss.

Jo Campbell is perfectly happy with her life. Or at least that is what she tells herself every morning when she opens her eyes and knows just how her day will unfold. Jo doesn’t mind the monotony, the boredom or the fact that nothing changes with the passing of time. But Jo hasn’t quite managed to stifle the persistent voice whispering in her ear that she is merely going through the motions. Rather than hiding behind dull routines and rigid schedules, Jo needs to stop hiding in the shadows and experience life close up. But does she have the courage to unshackle herself from her comfort zone? Dare she take a leap of faith and a chance on a new way of life?

For far too long, Jo has put other people’s needs above her own. She is used to catering to everyone else’s whims while she makes do with putting herself at the very end of the queue. But being selfless has meant that Jo’s heart has been shielded by an impenetrable fortress and as she tentatively beings to make her first steps into the world she has kept at bay for so long, she begins to open up her heart and put her trust in love and experience some of the happiness which she had long given up on. As Jo no longer finds herself content with being second-best and letting life pass her by, will all of her dreams come true? Or will disappointment and regret be the only things she will have to look forward to?

An inspiring, poignant and irresistible tale about chasing your dreams, taking chances, fresh starts and taking control of your life, In Pursuit of Happiness is a wonderful story featuring a terrific heroine you cannot help but root and cheer for. Jo is a nuanced, intelligent and kind-hearted heroine you would love to have as a friend and it is a delight to see her stepping out of the shadows and trying to make all of her dreams a reality.

An enchanting Irish-set tale full of charm, heart and wisdom, Freya Kennedy’s In Pursuit of Happiness is a sparkling read you will absolutely love.

This book started off slow, but I'm so glad I stuck with it! I just wanted to hug Clara the whole book and I laughed at her comments relating Jo and Lorcan to Princess Buttercup and Wesley (great reference!). Jo was a wonderful character and I enjoyed reading about her encounters with everyone in Derry. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of Libby, Noah and Harry- it's like visiting old friends!

This is another book I may actually read and review later on, I just was not able to read and review before deadline because I had a lot going on in 202o and still was getting used to a new job. Thank you again for the chance to read and review this.

I quite honestly finished this over two days of reading...and I could have finished it in one!  

It's a simple statement of fact.  I simply couldn't wait to finish this one and it wasn't because it was dragging on or anything, but rather I was enjoying it so much!  So, yes, there was reading into the wee hours...and I regret nothing!  Story wise, it took one turn I guessed, a few others I didn't, avoided several I had my fingers crossed it wasn't pursuing, and in the end, we have a pairing that was surprisingly meant to be!  I loved visiting Ivy Lane again.  Meeting up with the gang I was introduced to in The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn was absolutely a welcome gift.  Taking walks with Paddy, checking out Libby's bookshop, visiting the Beer Garden...and getting to know Jo a little better!  She may come off as a little tough, straight forward, and no nonsense, but there is a heart of gold that beats within.  The love she has and shows for family and friends is breathtaking.  The self doubt she experiences in sharing her hidden talent was heartache inducing, but so SO real.  The tangles she gets into were shout worthy (for SEVERAL reasons), but the ending was worth every step of the journey.

A high recommendation for Contemporary Romance fans, as well as those of Women's Fiction.  You won't be sorry if you pick this one up...in fact, you'll end up feeling, by book's end, a part of the family.

Cute story, a cosy read, though I felt it took a while to get going.

3.5 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book

In Pursuit of Happiness is a sweet and heartwarming novel set in Derry, Northern Ireland. Jo is an aspiring novelist and part-timer owner of the local pub with her brother, Noah. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her friend, Libby secretly sends her book draft to a renowned author, who is willing to mentor her. On the romantic front, Lorcan is the new guy in town - visiting his grandad who owns the local corner store. While they naturally get off to a rocky start, it turns out Lorcan and Jo have heartbreak in common 💔. 

So, I adored this book. Jo is a likeable protagonist struggling to believe in her writing, who's surrounded by such a loveable cast of characters (cute pup included). In particular, her relationship with her adopted six-year-old sister, Clara will no doubt warm your heart. In Pursuit of Happiness is also a little love letter to Derry and I loved it. I didn't see the twist coming either, which I always appreciate, especially in romance novels. All in all, if you're looking for a book with those warm and fuzzy feels, I recommend In Pursuit of Happiness!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC - all opinions are my own.

Ms. Kennedy’s charming and heartwarming follow-up to The Hopes and Dreams of Libby Quinn is fine to read as a standalone. However, I was so excited to return to the lovely town of Derry in Northern Ireland to see what Jo, Libby, Noah, Erin, Harry, and the others are getting up to. 

It appears Jo Campbell, Noah’s sister and co-owner of the Ivy Inn, is not herself lately. She’s dragging her feet on launching her dream to become a writer and her longing for the love her friends and family have is getting her down. So she becomes friends with Harry’s visiting and seemingly nice grandson, Lorcan, and her best friend sends her manuscript to a famous author. Sounds promising, right? Let’s just say, there are some surprises and revelations in store that finally pull Jo out of her slump and she starts to believe in herself again.

Jo and Lorcan make a good team after they start to open up to each other about their very sad pasts. And Jo’s support system including her loving mum, her adorable little sister, Clara, her protective brother, Noah, her best friend, Libby, Paddy the dog, and even the cantankerous and endearing Harry, are what round out the whole small-town experience.

I recommend this delightfully funny and sweet tale full of lovable characters and a beautiful setting.

Thank you to Ms. Kennedy for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

When I picked this up, I only did so because I had liked and read the author earlier this year. I did not realise going in, that this is actually a second in the series, with the characters continuing on from when we last left them previously. I personally think this is an important factor because some of the introductions seem to rely on any previously formed bonds with all those on the street. This does not mean, however, that you cannot pick this up with no prior introductions. There are no secret plotlines, all the people are as they are shown with minimal backgrounds, so in actuality, you are not losing out on much in terms of story (I still recommend going in order)
Our leading lady in this is Jo, who has always harboured the wish to be a published writer. She is closer to achieving this dream since Libby came to town and set up shop. Jo needs a boost, and her friends and family try to ensure she gets it. The narrative plot is brief and is about Jo achieving her dream, but the way she gets there takes the scenic route. We are shown how much work goes into getting a book ready and how her relationships with everyone around her works positively for her. It is a heartfelt narrative that is a quick but leisurely read, and I will definitely be visiting the town in the next book if I get the chance. 
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I enjoyed this book as it made a lot of ‘Derry Girls’ references and I am a fan of the show. Furthermore it was unique as it portrayed a Northern Irish community, which there isn’t enough representation of. I love how the main character, Jo strutted along the street jamming to Beyoncé where she met Lorcan (the shopkeepers grandson) She hated him at first and found him to be stuck up but eventually warmed up to him and gave him a tour of Derry. Both characters bonded over overcoming miscarriage and their past relationships. The relationship between Jo and her adopted younger sister Clara was so sweet and really warmed my heart. I like how Jo was able to leave the comfort of her job helping her brother Noah in the pub to becoming a writer. Towards the end of the story, Jo flourished as an individual and was able to make her dreams come true. I have given the book 3 stars as the story started to drag a little. I would like to thank NetGalley for allowing me to read this eBook in exchange for an honest review.