Clay Savage's "Happy Places" offers a distinct perspective on the afterlife, presenting a world where dying is just the beginning of a new set of challenges for the protagonist, Flynn Barnes. While the concept is intriguing, the execution leaves room for improvement, resulting in a three-star rating.

The novel opens with Flynn waking up in his Happy Place, a unique afterlife scenario where "graduates" must figure out their next moves with the help of Post-Mortem Facilitators. The premise sets the stage for a narrative that promises a blend of criminal intrigue and the challenges of navigating the afterlife.

Flynn's character is portrayed with a lifetime of criminal behavior, an estranged family, and a vengeful English gangster, creating a complex backdrop for the story. However, the execution of these elements falls short of fully engaging the reader. The plot lacks a cohesive flow, and the transitions between scenes can be abrupt, making it challenging to immerse oneself in Flynn's journey.

The concept of free will leading to trouble in the afterlife is intriguing, but the development of this theme feels somewhat underexplored. There is potential for deeper exploration of the consequences and complexities of free will in a realm beyond death.

While the novel introduces interesting characters and a unique setting, there is a sense that certain aspects of the plot and character development could benefit from more depth and refinement. The pacing at times feels uneven, with moments of tension interspersed with lulls that may detract from the overall engagement of the reader.

In conclusion, "Happy Places" offers a distinctive concept and an intriguing premise but falls short in execution. With improvements in pacing, character development, and a more thorough exploration of the central themes, the novel has the potential to elevate its impact. For readers interested in a different take on the afterlife with a mix of criminal elements, "Happy Places" may still provide a moderately enjoyable experience.

I started reading this way back on October last year. I tried to pick it up a few times but was unable to finish it.

The premise was very interesting for me. At that time I was looking for books with afterlife theme on it. Flynn died and became a 'graduate' and was assigned some sort of 'mentor' to guide him on his afterlife.

This was a confusing, slow and bland read for me. World building wasn't solid in my opinion. The overlap of the living and the 'graduates' did not make sense to me. Flynn and the mentor's interactions are confusing.

I wasn't able to understand nor believe the world the author is trying to build. Though disclaimer that I've only read up to 44% of the book and it might change going forward. But after months of not picking this up, I'm no longer interested on continuing the story. This book was not for me. 🙁

Note: I left the rating blank on Goodreads since I dnf the book.

*Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for review via Netgalley. This review is voluntary and contains my honest thoughts and opinions of the book.*

Flynn trying to attempt a heist dies in the middle of the incident and after he reaches heaven, he gets to know he has a lot of pending work to do to be completed accepted in heaven.
The story is very humorous and uplifting,
It really cheered me up.
Totally recommended!

Flynn gets out of prison, meets up with a prison friend and plans a big heist. In the aftermath, he dies, which is the beginning of a new problem. He has to set right something he has done in his life before he can move on to his next phase in the afterlife. This was good. The story was unusual and interesting, and there was part that I laughed through the entire scene (Thacker and Donny getting attacked by a fly). 4 stars.

I'm afraid this just wasn't for me. Didn't care for the flowerly writing style. Thanks NetGalley for this opportunity.

This is ultimately an uplifting story. I read this one quickly, and like the author's writing style. I plan to circle back to some of Savage's other books. While this may not find a large audience, I think most readers that pick it up will enjoy it.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

Normally I love novels like this but for some reason I couldn’t get into it. I picked it up and put it down so many times that it left me frustrated.

I really liked the concept of the book, but was disappointed by the composition. I found none of the characters to be likable even though it appeared the author tried to make the reader like the main character by the end. I did finish the book, which is why I gave it three stars, but felt the author tried too hard. Would not recommend.

This book gave me R.I.P.D vibes with a few twist thrown in for good measure.

I enjoyed Flynns journey at redemption, i walked away with a message of live your life to the fullest, don't take it for granted and be kind.

It did take me a little while to get into the story it didn't quite grab me, though I did really enjoy it.

Special thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review

A quick read that sometimes got overwhelming with flowery language and, truthfully, unnecessary SAT words but it still made me think and it was still enjoyable. Life, death, and all in between… Flynn’s story was one that was a pleasure to read.