How to Make Your Heart Sing
A tale of midlife chaos and the courage to change
by Gitta Wolf
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
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Pub Date May 15 2019 | Archive Date Dec 13 2019
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Description
If the life choices you've made don't support your dreams, will you dare to make the radical changes required to create a new life for yourself?
Lucy Granger, 49, knows all about sidelining her dreams, her purpose, herself. The kids used to provide an excellent excuse, but now that they've left home, the make-do existence Lucy has settled for becomes unbearable.
A chance encounter during a routine business trip starts a chain of events that ends with her walking away from her old life. But 'leaving' is the easy part - how do you home in on your own Real & True, how do you figure out what makes your heart sing? When her new life turns out to be even worse than the one she left behind, she begins to realize that just changing location isn't enough because, wherever you go, you always take 'you' with you...
Advance Praise
AMAZON.COM:
I loved observing the transformation of Lucy on so many planes. I could identify with her character and kept cheering her on to the very last page.--Peggy
AMAZON.CO.UK:
I loved this book from the very outset and would have read it in one sitting if 'life' hadn't intervened. Which is what happened to Lucy, the main character, who set out with dreams and goals but life got in the way and ended up walking a different path, until one day something happened which could be life changing, but is it for better or worse...... This book will resonate with those who sometimes wonder 'what if....' and have dreams which remain unfulfilled. A poignant and well written novel which definitely made this readers heart sing.--Susan Evans A well written and engaging novel, a good summer read. It covered menopausal unravelling and romance all in one hit. I enjoyed the Setting and references to many local towns/places. Perhaps a little predictable but nevertheless enjoyable.--Judith Stewart
AMAZON.DE:
I did already like the title before starting to read the book.
The story itself is very touching and meaningful. Marriage, job, home, friends - everything can be lost. Nothing can be taken for granted. Reading this book is a stunning journey. Very well written. Gitta Wolf is an artist of language anyway.--Annie M.D.
Excellent storytelling that most everyone and anyone can relate to. male or female. I loved it..look forward to a sequel.--Andrea Deighton
Usually, this isn't my genre I tend to read. But I liked the story very much. It felt real, had sour aftertaste at times and yet was filled with hope and optimism (one way or another). It makes one think about the own life and future. It was very inspiring and the story of Lucy was great to observe. Even though there has been quite a few occasions where I just thought: God, just stop being so whiny. Nevertheless, that is part of life too and it was nice to see her (and all the other characters) develop into a ""stronger"" person.
It was a quick reading too, because of how well written it was. Thank you very much for this.--Muffin
""How to make your heart sing"" tells the heartwarming story of Lucy, who at the age of forty-something notices that her life, her marriage and her job are not as unquestionable as she thought they were. Gitta Wolf lets us plunge right into the mind and the heart of Lucy and allows us to relate to her in a very authentic way. A story to devour - once I started reading, I was barely able to stop.--Sassenach
FACEBOOK:
I usually read books about psycho killers, thrillers and the like..as well as factual fare on Ghosts , The soul and the afterlife etc... so when Gitta told me before I read it that it was a ˋGirly ´ book, I thought ok so what..Now I can say in all honesty that to my mind it is not Girly, its about life, its about chaos and challenges, about fighting the odds. How to make your heart sing is a wonderful book, happy and sad.. and funny..simply put it represents life. A heartwarming book with great characters from a great writer..I hope there will be a follow up.--Dave Deighton"
Available Editions
| ISBN | 9781096262305 |
| PRICE | $2.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Sarah B, Reviewer
Thank you NetGalley and Gitta Wolf for the opportunity to read this book. It is a wonderfully told story of a woman whose entire life falls apart around her. Her marriage, her job and her best friend all seem to be imploding and Lucy has absolutely no control over any of it. For the first time in her life she has to make decisions for herself and she simply doesn’t know how. As she slowly faces her life and sees exactly what she has lost and what she has to gain she begins to evolve into the woman she always could have been. This book had me from the beginning. I believe all women have looked back and wondered how their lives got to this point. I felt like I was seeing my life through her eyes. Our stories may be very different yet we both have reached an age where our lives are out of our control. My heart hurt for her and so many times I wanted to hug her. There are many strong female characters in this book that I loved instantly and who I wish I could sit and have a cup of tea and a chat with. I was cheering in the end of the book and proud of Lucy and all that she accomplished both emotionally and physically. I was left content and happy and ready to a bit more control over my own life. A beautiful story that is well written and one that I believe will draw you in.
Connie L, Reviewer
I loved reading this book. The characters are human, they mess up, they say sorry, they grow.
This is an easy to read novel with some very, very light hints of self-help.
If you are looking for a change in your lofe, this book will be the right choice.
Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.
Laura Jay - BookClubReporter - S, Reviewer
How to Make Your Heart Sing was a very enjoyable read for me. I appreciate the theme of yearning to find your real self.
As we grow older we can become set, not only in our ways, but in our daily life as well. Lucy, at 49 years old, finds herself at the precipice of her future. She faces the challenge of garnering the courage to change her life into something that is good and right for her.
Growing older is not something that should extinguish our dreams...yet often times that is just how life goes. But as children grow up and leave the nest, they begin to live their own lives and follow their own dreams, how does that affect their parents? Just as parents are now freed from the responsibilities of raising children, they may also find themselves feeling a loss of purpose. It is at this time that Lucy must decide what she will do with the rest of her life.
I found myself engrossed in Lucy's journey to re-discover her true self. It takes courage and drive to make big changes in one's life. A journey of rediscovery can bring you to your knees, but it can also spring you forward to your new best life.
F L, Reviewer
What does make your heart sing?
A bit migraine heavy focused to start with, not knowing where the story is going to go, a woman called Lucy reads a magazine during a business flight to Oslo when the words, “What makes your heart sing?” push her over the edge.
From “Beige woman,” 2 kids, in a loveless marriage, never feeling like she belonged, with a husband that has all the power and the money, to breaking down and escaping from that life and finding, creating the life she wants to live.
Who is Lucy? What life has she had for the last twenty years? Where has the pre-married Lucy full of life and colour gone? What are her wants, her needs, her purpose?
What makes your heart sing unravels and reveals life awakening.
A wonderful story, a really great read for anyone awakening to their life, let’s them know they’re not alone. EFT tapping information and advice included!
Susan K, Reviewer
This is a delightful romance in the fullest definition of the word, although perhaps romantic journey to find one’s one true self is more accurate.
When Lucy’s “nice” life is turned upside down, she does what she knows best to do when things get tough: she flees. After a brief fling with a young Norwegian man, she returns to her home in London and flees again, vowing this time to truly find herself.In her flight she stumbles upon what becomes a new extended “family” of friends and healers, and finds her true purpose.
An enjoyable light read, with a fine cast of characters. Although sometimes bordering on trite, the author manages to save herself and tells a good story.
I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.
Kim M, Reviewer
Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy. A light hearted novel. An easy pleasant read with sprinklings of self help.
Doreen M, Reviewer
The title was what drew me to this book. A nice story that was a pleasure to read. Characters are charming and relatable.
Reviewer 571620
As an older adult I found this book fascinating! Thinking about growing older and the responsibilities of raising children done what is our purpose now? Lucy has to decide what is important and what she will do with the rest of her life. It's about her journey to rediscover who she is and make changes and follow her dreams. Excellent read!
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