This was a really great graphic novel, and I was tbh a bit shocked by how much I enjoyed it! I was not fully sold at first, but the more I read the more I wanted to keep reading! Very lighthearted but deep about emotions and how we can get what we need / to have something to help!

Definitely recommend!

This book is a middle-grade graphic novel that I requested a few months back intrigued by its synopsis. The story revolves around a young girl Darcy, who discovers a magical shop filled with jars of happiness. As she assists the shopkeepers, Frida and Flora as a part-timer, she learns that happiness is far more complicated than it seems on the outside. The book conveys the message that all emotions are valid and that happiness is a journey, not a destination. It also encourages the readers to embrace every emotion that comes their way.

Moving is never easy; Darcy isn't adjusting well to a new town and country where the local brogue is hard to understand. Her mother spins it as form of study abroad, but Darcy is feeling out-of-place and lonesome.

After she breaks a jar at a local shop, sisters Frida and Flora hire Darcy to pay for the jar. She doesn't have a few thousand euros on hand, so she agrees to take the job. Darcy starts finding her place in town, and seeing how everyone may want happiness, but they also need to process other emotions.

I do wish this story were longer, but I had a lot of fun reading it. And Darcy is relatable as someone drifting through life while trying to find her place.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

The concept of this book is fantastic, especially in teaching kids that happiness isn't the only important emotion. The idea of "relative happiness" is a valuable life lesson, and the book presents it well.

However, I think the emotional complexities explored might be a bit much for younger middle graders to fully grasp on their own. While the story is told from a middle grader’s perspective, the deeper philosophy might be better understood with adult guidance.

Personally, I found the morals of the story more compelling than the plot itself. The book focuses heavily on “the happy shop,” but skips over some key elements, like the protagonist’s experiences at her new school. Some details felt rushed or underdeveloped, leaving a lot to the reader's imagination.

The magical jars, a key part of the story, were interesting, but I wanted more detail about how they worked and where they came from. The text is simple, making it a quick read, and while the illustrations were decent, they didn’t particularly stand out to me.

When Darcy goes out to explore her new town, frustrated at her move, she finds a little store with glass bottles. Each bottle holds a happy memory. She accidentally breaks one and the shop owners have her work their to pay off her debt (it was expensive). The shop owners don't have any children of their own and the store's finances are suffering so Darcy starts wondering how she could help.

In this story of self discovery and growth, Darcy learns to start making the most of her situation. She learns from the shop owners and starts to learn about her new home. Overall, this is a lovely, quiet story about changes and finding one's place. A must have for readers who need a little bit of hope and dreaming.

This novel did a wonderful job of exploring emotions and their complexities. It shows children, and anyone who reads it, that happiness isn't the only important emotion and that other emotions have importance as well. I think this concept may be a bit too complex for middle grade readers and I probably would have focused my efforts on a more YA audience, but overall, I enjoyed the read!

This is a sweet middle-grade graphic novel about 11-year-old Darcy who is having a rough time when she discovers a quaint little store called The Happy Shop. While browsing the bottled pick-me-ups the store offers, she accidentally breaks one of the magical jars used to collect happy feelings and has no way to pay for it. This sticky situation leads to the opportunity of a lifetime and a little adventure that gives the characters—and the reader—some much-needed perspective.

I found the artwork very clear and approachable, even if on the "simple" side. I'd argue that it's charming! While I did find the ending a bit abrupt, the story of The Happy Shop is just like the products it offers: a quick warm & fuzzy feeling that's definitely worth the while.

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5929010008

I've asked my ten-year-old daughter to give me some youth perspective on the middle=grade graphic novels I'm considering for my school library collection. She finally got a chance to read The Happy Shop and has pronounced it "the best book ever." We love the art style and we think it will be very popular with the upper elementary crowd. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

An adorable graphic novel with a great message of the importance of emotions. This is def going to be a holiday gift for a few youngsters in my life!

Just a bit of cozy fantasy, good for a lunch break. <3

After knocking over a valuable item at The Happy Shop, new-to-town Darcy agrees to work in the shop to pay off her debt. She helps sell jars filled with moments of happiness, and eventually is invited to help gather the happy moments. But the shop is doing poorly, and Darcy becomes determined to find a way to save the charming little business.

The art style here is consistent, if not very detailed. I never noticed an awkwardly drawn person or scene. It’s full backgrounds all around, with a charming atmosphere. The colorwork is flat, no shading, but since it’s consistent, it doesn’t grate.

Olsen has only been releasing books for a few years, and this is her first release with a publisher, instead of self publishing. Overall, it’s a great “official” debut as a comic artist, and shows a lot of promise.

So, if you need a little comfort, a little happy, this book is just like the jars inside: cheap, short and uplifting, in all the best ways.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

A unique idea to this one, vaguely reminiscent of the dream jars from The BFG. The plot is stronger than the art and nicely integrates the motivations of three separate characters. The messaging is strong.

Darcy is having a hard time adjusting to her new home—everyone speaks differently, and she no longer sees any of her friends. In an attempt to get Darcy out of her room, her mom sends her to the grocery store. On her way, Darcy is drawn to a mysterious shop called The Happy Shop. The store is filled with glowing jars, and, in her exploration, she accidentally breaks one. Sisters Flora and Frida, who own the shop, agree to let her help out after school to pay for the damage. Darcy is a natural, quickly learning how to capture good feelings in the magical jars. However, she is confused when the jar she gives her mom wears off, and her mom starts feeling defeated and regrets uprooting Darcy and herself to a new, unfamiliar place. Can Darcy figure out how to cheer up her mom and learn what happiness really is?

The Happy Shop is an uplifting story about creating and sharing happiness with others. I particularly enjoyed the graphic novel format. The shops also reminded me of the magic found in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. Although Darcy is the main character, the real stars are the sisters Flora and Frida. Flora is very kind and collects the inventory for the shop, while Frida is cold and handles the finances. Darcy helps the sisters save their shop and raises many interesting points about what happiness is along the way. Darcy questions whether happiness is simply being grateful for not being unhappy. She theorizes that collecting bad feelings might actually make people happier because they would help people appreciate the things they do have. As a psychology major, this is something I continued to ponder long after turning the last page. The adorable happy jars also help to remind readers to enjoy the little special moments in life, such as savoring the first perfect bite of ice cream, watching an adorable puppy fall asleep in your lap, and walking out in the warm sunshine after the rain finally stops. Pick up a copy of The Happy Shop to be whisked away into the magic of happiness.

Eleven-year-old Darcy thinks she’s found the answer to her problems when she discovers a store selling happy feelings. But is happiness really the only emotion people need? A heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel debut for fans of Inside Out and Pilu of the Woods about understanding the value in all feelings.

Thank you First Second Books and Netgalley for this digital arc.

Very wholesome and sweet middle grade graphic novel with a wonderful premise of a shop that sells happy feelings.

Darcy is sad having moved away from everything she’s ever known and because of an accident ends up working at the store.

Overall a lovely story with beautiful graphics. It did end slightly abruptly for me but it also felt right for the story/middle grade length.

What a cute and wholesome story. It made me think about how we have to be grateful for every momento of happiness that we experience in life.

Cute book! Quite a unique theme with the jars of happiness but I liked it! I could use a jar of happiness sometimes! Overall, thought it was cute and would recommend to younger readers!

Brittany Long Olsen makes wonderful use of the graphic novel in a stylish and enjoyable story for all ages. An entertaining addition to classroom and school libraries.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*chef's kiss* I just want to jump in this book and live in it.

The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen is a graphic novel about eleven-year-old Darcy who just moved to a new country. She’s feeling lost and misses her friends back home. That’s when she stumbles upon a shop full of mysterious glowing jars labeled with things like “Picking up the last sweater on the rack and it’s on sale” and “Having the perfect weather on your wedding day.” Much to Darcy’s surprise–this store sells happy feelings. After Darcy accidentally breaks one of the irreplaceable jars, she must make it up to the shopkeepers, Frida and Flora, by doing chores around the store, and is soon tasked with collecting happy feelings. But she learns that the magical business is anything but magical. With fewer customers than ever, Frida and Flora might have to close their doors. Can Darcy think of an idea to save the Happy Shop? What if they sold more than just happy feelings?

This book is just a warm hug in paper form.