Carole Matthews is one of my go to authors and her latest book, didn't disappoint.

She writes with such enthusiasm that you can't help but fall in love with her characters. Especially when quite a lot of her characters are of the four legged variety as they are in this book!

Molly is the perfect main character. Happy with her lot and content even though home is a slightly dilapidated caravan on a farm overrun with animals of all kind. You can't help but warm to her and the life she has fully devoted to her beloved farm animals and the school that she has set up on the farm to help troubled teens and children that struggle in a conventional school setting.

Molly has her work cut out when Lucas and his recently widowed father turn up and this is when Molly's life and heart is turned upside down.

A beautiful feel good book that also tugs at your heartstrings. Another sure fire winner from Carole Matthews!

Carole Matthews is hands down one of my favourite authors and this was an absolute pleasure to read. All characters were wonderfully developed - even the animal ones - and the story was heart warming and emotional and funny. The setting gave it a different feeling for sure but it still had the heart of Carole's other books. Anybody who loves a good romance will love this book.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for this arc.

Not my usual sort of read, but I've been dealing with a lot of work related "brain strain" lately and needed a break from my normal adrenalin inducing story. I've seen a lot of good reviews for this lately and was curious to read it for myself. I found it to be a real "Hallmark" love story kind of book. Flat, stock and stereotypical characters, predictable plot, disconnect your brain kind of read. There was nothing to challenge me to think.... just what I needed at the moment. Lucas was the only character that felt close to genuine for me and the animals were charming.

2..5 stars

Carole Matthews does it again!

I have long been a fan of her novels and was thrilled to get a chance to review her newest novel.

This was another book I devoured in a day.
The story of Molly and her farm full of rejected animals, developing into a school for those children who are almost rejected from society.
Here we meet actor Shelby who brings his wayward teen some, Lucas, as a last resort.
There is fun, disaster, poetry, romance and so many fantastic animals with real characters.
What's not to love!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have long been a fan of Carole Matthews' novels and this did not disappoint.

Molly lives on a farm with literally all shapes and sizes of animals, to say it is her passion would be an understatement and I loved reading about the quirks of all the animals - they each had their own definite character and there was a lot of humour relating to them that had me chuckling along!

Molly has thrown open the farm doors to young people with either special needs, mental health or behavioural issues and this is a concept I think so very highly of. The young people are given various farm tasks such as egg collecting or grooming the Shetland ponies. I have always thought animals have a calming influence on people and so this was a very believable storyline and thoroughly enjoyable reading about the, often misunderstood, young people.

TV star Sheldon brings his son Lucas along to the farm to try and get him to open up more following the death of Lucas' mum which has distanced him from Sheldon. Along the way sparks fly between Sheldon and Molly and I adored their romance which was a real slow-burner however I actually enjoyed reading more about the relationship between Molly and Lucas which was ridiculously heartwarming!

I appreciated the writing style as it's written in first person from Molly's perspective and she chats to the reader along the way which was very engaging!

My many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK via NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a delight to read this book! I was so happy to read the new Carole Matthews! Carole is one of my all time favorite author. When I pick up a book from her, I know in advance that I will have a great time and this time wasn't an exception, I had a wonderful time! one of the things I love about Carole Matthews books is that there aren't two books from her that are alike. The stories are always so different from one another. Carole Matthews has such a creativity and imagination! I love that! This time the story takes place in a farm with all kind of animals but also kids who have some difficulties in life and that learn how to reinserate themselves back in the society. It was the first time for me to read a chicklit book where the main character lives in a caravan with no shower and who always have her fingers dirty. I loved that! Also and of course ;-) there is some romance in the book and this lovely story a touch of magic. I recommend this book!!!

Carole writes about characters you want to be friends with.
Molly Baxter, 38, shy, introverted manager and teacher has runs Hope Farm, a last resort for damaged animals and troubled teenagers.
Alone since the death of her Aunt, Molly is devestated to learn that the farm has been compulsory purchased and she must recommend herself and her animals.
Through helping others she has the chance to cast off her social inadequacies and find happiness.
There is nothing to dislike in a book that has a pig called Teacup, a grumpy head butting sheep called Anthony and a lamb called Fifty.
My only reservation about this fun book, which I throughly enjoyed, was why Molly would choose teaching if she was not comfortable around people?

Another amazing Carole Matthews book, you always know your going to get a great romantic story when you pick one up! Can’t wait to see what she writes next.

This story has everything, including our wonderful heroine, Molly who owns and runs Hope Farm for disadvantaged children and also teenagers who cannot settle into normal school life. Hope Farm is also home to a variety of damaged animals, including Anthony the anti-social sheep, little dog - a Jack Russell (who always looks as though he is smiling due to nerve damage on his face) and big dog who only has three legs, pygmy goats, alpacas etc, you get my drift (sorry this is Molly speak, but I seem to have been transported to her world far too easily).

Helping her run the farm is her assistant Bev, who is older but not necessarily wiser and Alan, a curmudgeonly odd job man with a heart of gold. Molly lives on the land in a decrepit caravan and has to wash from an outdoor home-made shower.

Into this mix comes Lucas, a teenager who is grieving the loss of his mum and his dad, an actor of some repute by the name of Shelby Dacre.

Carole Matthew’s took me on a wonderful journey following the inhabitants of the farm. Molly is like a breath of fresh air in her simplicity. I finished this book far too quickly and was definitely left wanting more. So, please, please, please Carol can you write a sequel?

Enjoyed this book. Great characters, animals with larger than life personalities, working together to support young people who are struggling in mainstream schools. Lots of humour and laugh out loud moments. Well worth a read. Thank you for letting me review this book xx

I found the first few chapters of this book a bit hard to get into but I am so glad I persevered as it was an unusual and heartwarming story. The central character is Molly Baker who runs a farm that caters for damaged animals and children who find normal school too difficult to cope with for a variety of reasons. Molly herself prefers animals to people and has adopted some real characters like Anthony, the anti-social sheep. The story revolves around the development of one of the students, Lucas, and the threat to the farm's continued existence after
it is compulsorily purchased to make way for HS2. There are many delightfully drawn and slightly eccentric characters in this book that compelled me to keep reading to find out what happened to them!

I love Carole Matthews books and was really excited to receive an email about the upcoming release of this book. 

The eye catching book cover won me over and I loved that it was based on a farm and I was excited to get stuck in. Happiness for Beginners is a light hearted and humorous read that took me on a journey away from the bleak winter weather. From the first page this book pulled me in and didn't let go until the very last page. 

A fantastic story about the lovely Hope Farm with some brilliantly quirky animals and the lovely Molly who wants to help children who don't necessarily sit within the normal behavioural constraints and rules of school. 

I loved this book and whilst reading it I became more and more emotionally invested in Molly, I love a book that triggers my emotions and makes me relate to the characters on an emotional level.

Thanks netgalley for the copy of this book for an honest review.

I love Carole Matthew's books and this one is no exception. It's about an alternative school; a last chance saloon for some kids. Right from the start main character Molly is endearing; the whole book is written from her pov and the reader rides through her day to day emotions to the warm, fuzzy, heartwarming ending I've come to love from this author. I literally could not put this down once I started.

Another heart warming tale from Carole Matthews. Exactly the kind of escapism I needed this week – heading to bed with Happiness for Beginners at the end of a stressful day was blissful.

Molly has been fighting to keep her Hope Farm afloat for years. Not only does she look after her animals but she takes special needs children under her wing and changes their lives for the better. When the farm comes under threat Molly has to learn to let other people help her and even starts to enjoy it.

If you love Carole's other books you won't be disappointed. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

Another wonderful book from Carole Matthews with a totally new story line. Molly provides support for adolescents with schooling problems on her farm with some strange, some rejected animals. Full of humour and sadness with romance thrown in, what more could you want?

Carole Matthews has written another charming, heartwarming delight of a novel. I loved the strong woman that the character of Molly is and the unique circumstances that bring her and Shelby together make this romance feel fresh. I loved it and always look forward to more from Matthews!

A beautifully written feel good read. The type of story to curl up with and get totally lost in.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I absolutely loved this book! I've read a lot of Carole's book and this didn't disappoint!

Molly lives on a farm in a caravan and she has her hands full looking after all the animals. The farm is also a school for student who can't handle mainstream schooling, for whatever reason.

The story is well written and tells of the turmoil Molly has to endure to keep her lovely farm and home.

Who wouldn't want a knight in shining armour to rescue? Molly perhaps?

Read it - you'll enjoy it. It's an easy but lovely read and the characters are very believable and charming.

I know I keep saying so, but since I bought my very first Carole Matthews’ novel nearly 20 years ago it’s been a crescendo of laughter, emotions, tears, more laughter, more emotions and yes, more tears (mainly tears of joy, I hasten to add). Hers are captivating, beautifully written stories that you can’t possibly put down until you reach the end (and usually leaving you with a strong will to go to the first page and start all over again).
Happiness for Beginners is no exception and it had me up until the small hours for a couple of days until I reached the final page.
With her trademark positive approach to life and to its ups and downs, the author tells us the story of a quirky and well assorted group of characters (and I’m not only talking about the humans here. Animals do become characters themselves and I dare you not to fall in love with them all) through the voice of the protagonist.
I can promise you you’re in a for a fantastic read. The positivity and the optimism radiating from this book (make that all of her books) should be bottled and prescribed when in need of a tonic for the soul.
As a Carole Matthews’ fan I was beyond happy and beyond grateful when I was granted access to a review copy of Happiness for Beginners on NetGalley for which I thank the publisher, the author and NetGalley .

I have never read a Carole Matthews novel before, and I only chose to read this when I saw how well it was being received by so many readers. I have to admit that I struggled to get into it at the beginning when it crossed my mind that this was not going to be for me, but it was not long before everything changed. It grabbed hold of me and never let go until before I knew it, it was the end of the book. This is a delightful read, funny, witty, with bags full of heart and overflowing with charm. 38 year old Molly Baker is a misfit, a loner, shy, running Hope Farm in Buckinghamshire, which she inherited from her beloved Aunt Hettie, now dead, but still desperately missed by Molly. The animals on her farm are the real stars here, unwanted, damaged, missing limbs, with attitude and health issues, all taken in by Molly who loves them to pieces.

Molly's life is pared down to the basics, she lives in a dilapidated and ancient caravan, has no TV, her life revolves around running the farm, trying to make ends meet financially, but never succeeding, . She runs the farm as an alternative school for those children that mainstream education cannot cope with, those with behavioural and learning difficulties, autism, and more. The children respond to the animals, taking care of them, learning to bond with other children, develop self esteem and confidence that has sadly been lacking in their lives. Helping Molly run and maintain the farm are the offbeat and capable Bev and the retired taciturn Alan. Shelby Dacre is the famous good looking celebrity soap star playing a farmer in a long running series. He is at the end of his tether, unable to cope with his son, Lucas, thrown out of school with a penchant for arson. He is hoping that Molly can reach and connect with Lucas when he cannot.

Molly finds a troubled teen, having lost his mother, drowning in grief, getting barely any attention from his father. Lucas worms his way into Molly's heart, and despite their different lives, she begins to hanker after Shelby, surely she is setting herself up for inevitable heartbreak? Meanwhile, Molly's farm, her home, the school and the animals face being closed down for good. Become acquainted and entranced with Tina Turner, Rod Stewart and Johnny Rotten, the obstreperous trio of alpacas, the aggressive and anti-social sheep, one legged chickens, the pygmy goats and more. This is a fabulously entertaining read from an author who is a natural storyteller. I am thinking there will not be many readers who will be able to resist this novel! Many thanks to Little, Brown for an ARC.