this was fun and i enjoyed it! i didn't like the author's first book, so it feels very miraculous to have found this one as clever and well-written and full of unexpected and refreshing little moments as i did.

I was a big fan of Exciting Times and I would recommend The Happy Couple to fans of Sally Rooney and readers who enjoy smart books about smart people.

I really enjoyed Exciting Times so was excited (haha) to try this.

I love the idea of a new kind of "will they or won't they!"

The title is somewhat ironic as the story is about an engaged couple who may not be all that happy and are, in fact, deciding whether to go forward.

Like in Exciting Times, there is a LOT of angst and overthinking here. In an understated British/Irish way of course.

A nevel that reminds you that we all have a past and how sp often, our lives intersect and cause a profound effect on one another. As a wedding in London looms closer, we see how five people have a direct relation on each ither's perception of love and fidelity. Deftly written on a completely original voice. I loved it.

~ARC provided through NetGalley~

"The Happy Couple" was one of my most-anticipated reads this year. I loved Naoise Dolan's first book, "Exciting Times," but "Happy Couple" felt very different. The book centers around a couple getting ready for their wedding, but it's rife with juicy miscommunication that at times made the story read like a mystery. Dolan uses perspective shifts to reveal the whole story, which depends on certain characters missing out on key pieces of information. I think my only major critique is that I wish it was longer and went deeper into some of the relationships and histories between characters.

This was charming and funny, but didn't why away from deftly examining modern relationships in all their forms. I loved the less-than-ideal dynamics between friends and questioning of whether one person is enough to hang your hopes on. The glimpse into a couple from the outside and the inside was well executed and expertly structured. Public review to come on @fictionmatters and fictionmatters.substack.com

This was fun. I love novels set around wedding and this was no exception. I quick read that both made me laugh and pulled on my heartstrings.

*3.5*
Thank you, NetGalley for an ARC of this book. Overall I enjoyed this book and how it examined how relationships can change over time and how difficult it can be when two people are not on the same page. I did not find either of the main characters very likable and did not know who to root for, as they were both sort of insufferable at times. There were also too many POVs for my taste, it got confusing who was talking at points during the book, and some of the other narrators did not feel as necessary.

Celine and Luke are, on the surface, like any other happy couple in love and on their way to being married. As they begin to plan their wedding, though, the cracks become more obvious, to themselves if not each other. Luke has continued to cheat, just as he has done throughout most of their relationship. Celine, by contrast, is happy enough to have Luke around as long as he, and their relationship, do not interfere with the most important thing in her life -- playing the piano. As Luke's two best friends, who he happens to have previously dated, and Celine's sister help plan the wedding, it becomes clear to them that neither Luke nor Celine have really confronted their pasts or what they truly want from their futures -- and it is uncertain they will do so before they both walk down the aisle.

This is a well-written perceptive exploration of what it means to seek and find happiness in a relationship. It thoughtfully explores interesting themes around loneliness, family, identity, ambition, and talent, through the perspectives of strongly drawn and engaging characters.

Highly recommended!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher's for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Happy Couple by Naoise Dolan!

I didn't love this as much as this author's last book but it was still interesting and a quick read. Although I couldn't understand any character in this book's motivations, it was written well and I look forward to reading more from this author. I wouldn't necessarily want to read this if you were about to get married but maybe it is just me and that wouldn't bother you.

The Happy Couple comes out next week on November 7, 2023 and you can purchase HERE.

This needs to end. Please understand. We can't even be friends, because it stops me from accepting that we'll never be anything more. Loneliness wasn't having no one. Loneliness was the gap between what you hoped for and what you got.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Naoise Dolan, and Ecco for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I have gotten very into Irish contemporary fiction, and this was such a perfect example of it!! What a quick read that was absolutely packed to the brim with characters and life. I've heard lots of good things about Dolan's first novel, Exciting Times, and it's been on my list for a while, but I will now be rushing to read it based on how much I enjoyed this read. Don't get me wrong, The Happy Couple was definitely stressful and unhappy at times, but that's just how real life is. I loved the alternating perspectives through each of the flawed characters; it worked really well in this structure to see a closer look at each character and how they were intertwined with each other. I found myself truly rooting for Celine and Luke, both together and separate, and I loved how Dolan really went into the tricky intricacies of love, romantically and platonically. There's lots of Irish humor to break up the stressful moments, and I think my favorite character was Phoebe, Celine's sister. I loved the LGBTQ+ representation, and I think this would make such a great limited series to watch!

This was short, sweet, interesting, and to the point. The storytelling was something I very much vibed with and loved the different perspectives, timelines, and reveals. I will definitely be checking out this authors future and past work.

Thank you for the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Celine and Luke are heading toward marriage but three of their friends might tear them apart.

The writing style here felt really choppy for me. The overall plot structure felt very in the vein of Sally Rooney, so fans of hers might enjoy this one. However, I couldn’t really enjoy the book because I didn’t enjoy the writing style.

In THE HAPPY COUPLE, a couple gets engaged. The rest of the novel is devoted to the days leading up to the wedding–and the question of whether the couple will, in fact, get married. Clever and funny, THE HAPPY COUPLE features a Jane Austen-like marriage plot set in Ireland and England–with contemporary social commentary and a queer twist.

The novel moves from perspective to perspective, with sections devoted to the bride, a bridesmaid and sister, the best man (who is in love with the groom), the groom, and a guest (close friend). Each character’s section gives us another take on relationships and marriage–and reveals more about the dynamics between the engaged couple. It stays interesting throughout, with humor, insightful social observations, and unexpected character reveals. It kept me reading, and I finished it in one sitting.

Overall, a smart, funny, contemporary social novel.

I wasn't sure what to expect of this one. I'd seen it compared to Sally Rooney (whose books I have mixed opinions about). However, other than it being an exceedingly Irish story about young people and relationships, I don't think the comparison is apt. The Happy Couple is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek consideration of how we make decisions about relationships (not always an ideal process!) and about how perspectives on a relationship can vary widely both between the two focal individuals and by those who surround them. There is very strong queer representation in this book, which I appreciated. And I thought the structure was successful and the writing tone quite clever.

An exploration of a couple on their way to the altar told from alternating POVs - the bride, the groom, the wedding guests, etc. Everyone is uniquely flawed, sleeping with each other and struggling to navigate their complicated dynamic. The prose is stunning, I kept going back to re-read entire paragraphs. Very millennial Irish literature/for fans of Sally Rooney. I loved it a bunch.

I really enjoyed Naoise Dolan's The Happy Couple, a story following a newly engaged millennial couple and their journey to - maybe - the altar amidst differing needs, other relationships, secrets, and indecision. That makes it sound really dramatic, but Dolan goes in a different direction with her dry, funny, often pithy writing. Her characters are messy and struggling to put together conflicting desires and confusions, but her storytelling is tight and streamlined. The book alternates between POVs - from the central couple, Celine and Luke, to their relatives and friends - and while each POV fits within her wry style, their voices do differ and offer different types of insight. This conversational and breezy novel is full of humor and sharp observations about relationships, great for a millennial reader or fans of contemporary Irish writers.

The Happy Couple
Naoise Dolan
Nov. 7, 2023
Orion
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Funny novel about a couple heading toward their wedding, and the three friends who may draw them apart.
This book proves that she isn’t a one trick pony.
3 stars

This a fun and addictive read that provides insightful observations about modern romance and friendship and just figuring out what we want from life. I am a big fan of Dolan’s writing; it’s clear and efficient, but also engaging. One review said “not a word out of place” and I agree--it packs a lot of punch in relatively few words. This could be a good pick for readers who like Sally Rooney.