What if you could bottle happiness? Buy a pick-me-up off the shelf when you're having a bad day? That's what the titular Happy Shop provides. The story explores how emotions are more complicated than just positive vs negative. I teared up a couple times.

This isn't an art style that usually draws me but the story is well suited to the simplicity.

The Happy Shop is a very unique middle grade graphic novel! The idea of a shop that sells happy feelings in magic jars is so charming and the simplicity of the story and the drawings work so well together! Recommended purchase.

I read The Happy shop by @brytning, a graphic novel that I loved!

Mother-daughter relationship
🤍 Understanding feelings
🤝 Support and friendship
🏘️ Homesickness and adaptation
⭐ For young and old alike

I was immediately seduced by the colourful cover, which gives off a very gentle and serene atmosphere that's also magical!

This magic is very much in evidence in The Happy Shop, the shop run by Flora and Frida, two sisters who sell happy memories. They bottle happy moments in magical jars: the memory of a sunny day, the first bite of ice cream or coming home to your dog... I was immediately intrigued by the concept, which is as comforting as it is wonderful 🤍

The two sisters are merchants of happiness, but they themselves are trying to keep their heads above water as their shop attracts fewer and fewer customers. And yet there's no shortage of sad or depressed people. So when Darcy, who has just moved to the town, stumbles across the shop, she is irresistibly drawn in! The young girl is homesick and struggling to make new friends, so maybe a magic jar is just what she needs ✨

In no time at all, she finds herself helping out after school, finding a back-up solution to the business to attract new customers, cheering up her mum and making new friends! It's a lovely, heart-warming story, which gives pride of place to emotions, whatever they may be 🤍

The themes are approached in a very gentle way, and above all easily understandable for younger children. It's a good way of explaining feelings, the importance of recognising and accepting them, and also their roles. It's educational while remaining very light ✨

Thank you @netgalley @orionpress!

I got this book for free, in exchange for my honest opinion via NetGalley.

This is such a cute, heartbreaking, heartwarming read! Eleven year old Darcy recently moved to a new country, leaving behind her friends, her school, and her home. As Darcy is struggling to adjust to her new surroundings, she comes across a magic shop that sells and collects "happy feelings." However, when she accidently breaks one of the jars, she is asked to work there until she pays off her debt, while also discovering that happiness is not the only emotion you need and that all emotions are equally important.

This book has such a beautiful message for young readers. I had so much fun reading it, and fell in love with the cast of characters the moment they were introduced. The whimsical storyline combined with the magical focus was a joy to read. I was immersed in the story from page one. The illustrations were adorable, and the story was wholesome.

I loved that this story made me stop and think about emotions and gratitude. It was an excellent read!

Wholesome and heartwarming with clear panels and illustrations that make it approachable for lots of different readers. The touches of magical realism were handled well and I liked the overall message about feelings and allowing space for all the emotions. Cute and straightforward for elementary school readers.

I can always enjoy a nice slice of life book and this one hits the spot! Very interesting concept where one collects feelings of happiness so that people can experience them in different parts of their life, whenever and wherever they need it. You can never find a book like this where it depicts such an importance on feelings and it’s interesting to see that even though happy feelings may be an ideal feeling to have, sometimes going through sadness and finding value in one’s journey or reminding themselves that they’re doing an amazing job is part of experiencing life as well. You cannot appreciate the happy days without the sad and difficult days. And I find that beautiful that the author was able to deliver such a message in a children’s book??? I surely had a blast reading it and I hope all children who pick up this book would see this beauty as well, to value all of your feelings, because that will shape how we view our life.

Thank you to NetGallery for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book!

This book was so sweet and heartwarming and cozy, I loved it. The illustrations were adorable as well.

The Happy Shop is about a young girl named Darcy who has just moved to a new country with her mom. While she’s struggling to acclimate to her new surroundings, she comes across a shop that sells happy feelings. From there, we get to see how she and the shop help each other.

One thing I found really cool about The Happy Shop (the store in the book) is that it reminds me of a library or a bookstore. How? Well, customers can come in and shop for feelings. Isn’t that what we do with books? We look for books that will make us happy or sad or curious or excited. We’re searching for feelings. I think that’s going to resonate with everyone who reads this graphic novel.

I also loved that it made me stop and think about emotions, about gratitude, about community. Excellent read!

Thank you to Oni Press and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an unbiased review!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this eBook.

I really loved the concept of The Happy Shop. It is a book about a girl who is new to town and she ends up working part-time at a shop that sells happy feelings in a jar. I enjoyed the plot and also the art is very cute. I love the message that it tells its readers - that emotions are complicated.

Hello Again,

This week is going by crazy fast and I feel like I have so many reviews to catch up on before the end of the year hits! I have already started thinking about my Goodreads goal for next year and I am not sure if I will keep it at the same spot or make it a little lower. I do participate in the challenge but it’s more of an ideal goal than anything else. But for now, we need to continue reviewing the rest of the reads from this year! So let’s jump into The Happy Shop!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Darcy and her mom just moved to a whole new country so her mother could take a great job opportunity. Darcy is not super thrilled but she is trying to make it work for her mom. So in the spirit of making things work Darcy ventures out one day shortly after moving and ends up in a tiny shop in town. It’s got lots of glass mason jars everywhere and they all have interesting labels on them that sound like memories. On accident, Darcy knocks over a bottle or two and is confronted by the owners. One owner is incredibly sweet and caring towards Darcy while the other seems kind of mean. Darcy quickly learns that the owners are sisters and is offered a sort of job to help them out in the shop to pay for the broken glasses. Darcy starts working at the shop and is really enjoying it but she is also learning that the shop and its wares are so much more than she could have ever thought.

I absolutely adored this graphic novel, so I want to give a big thank you to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. The art in this graphic novel absolutely pops off the page, with several rich colors being used throughout the story. The story was equally amazing. The idea of happiness in a jar and collecting other emotions was very interesting and fun to see how Darcy kind of helped to evolve that idea. I am definitely going to be adding a copy of this to my collection! This graphic novel comes out on February 13th, 2024! Definitely check it out! I highly recommend it.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank You NetGalley and the publishers of this book for this advanced review copy. All opinions in this review are my own

The Happy shop is a sweet slice of life story that is equally magical and rooted in everyday life.
Darcy our protagonist moved into a new place with here mother and is having a hard time settling in, while on her way to run an errand she discovers a magic shop The Happy Shop where she meets some interesting shopkeepers and comes across tiny jars that sell feelings.
A very sweet story about emotions and understanding them, that was a joy to read and is suited for many ages.

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through Netgalley.)

-- 3.5 stars --

Ever since her mom Helen uprooted the family and moved them to a new town for work, eleven-year-old Darcy has been sullen and unhappy. Perhaps this is why she's drawn through the doorway of The Happy Shop during what's supposed to be a routine grocery run. When she accidentally breaks a few priceless jars ("once-in-a-lifetimers"), owner Flora convinces her to pay off the debt by doing some chores in the store - much to her sister Frida's displeasure.

The Happy Shop is its own kind of magic: special jars passed down from generations of Flora and Frida's ancestors collect happy feelings, allowing customers to purchase an hour of joy when they need it most. But the shop has fallen on hard times, and Frida thinks it might be time to sell. When Darcy accidentally collects a sad feeling - and it actually ends up being just what their customer needs most - she convinces the sisters to revamp their shop. Can a radical change of perspective save The Happy Shop - and its clients?

THE HAPPY SHOP is an adorably sweet middle grade graphic novel about feeling all the feelings, be they good or bad. (She types while spending Christmas Eve alone, caring for a beloved senior dog who's not long for this world. Yes, I might be feeling extra emotional tonight, but the ending had me ugly crying.)

This was really cute but it ended just when I wanted more! It's about a girl who moves to London with her mom and she's pretty sad about leaving all her friends. One day she wanders into The Happy Shop, which is a store that sells happy feelings. She ends up helping out at the shop and learning all about it and just when some of the changes she's suggested are implemented, the book ends. I would've loved to see a bit more follow through but it was still pretty cute.

I adored this book!
A Girl and her mum moved to a new country and they both were struggling but thru the magic of the happy shop they found a place in the town and helped others along the way.
It has a fantastic message, all feelings are valid and need to be felt.

Thank you Oni Press and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this wonderful book. This is such a lovely, feel-good story about feelings and appreciating what one has. Great story idea, characters, beautiful illustrations, and plot makes for a fast, fun read. Highly recommend!

This is the most beautiful and wholesome middle-grade graphic novel! It has it all, beautiful artwork, a perfectly told story, relatable characters, and meaningful relationships. It is very much down to earth and real, yet heartwarming and magical.

The Happy Shop is a cute and sweet story about feelings and emotions. Darcy moves to a new country when her mom gets a new job. Feeling sad she wanders into The Happy Shop after an accident Darcy begins to work in the Happy Shop learning the ropes from two sisters, Frida and Flora. After accidentally collecting a sad memory instead of a happy memory Darcy begins to realize that happiness is fleeting, but gratitude can last a lot longer. Brittany Long Olsen weaves a beautiful and heart felts story with vibrant color spreads that aid in the overall feeling of the book, both happy and sad.

what a wholesome little graphic novel! this middle grade tale about darcy starting to work at the happy shop and collecting memories with the owners felt like a warm hug. the story was simple and had a good moral lesson, perfect for tween and teen readers struggling with big feelings. the illustration left a little bit to be desired for me and felt a tad bit unfinished, but the book is a great one for preteens going through big life changes. short, sweet, and a happy ending!

Thank you NetGalley & Oni Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really cute story. It shows being happy isn't always the answer. some times we need perspective to really appreciate the things we have. I do wish we had more backstory with Frida and Flora but I'd also be happy with a follow up to see how the story evolves more.

— 5 ⚝

this was such a heartwarming, slice of life read. i was immersed in the story and the art from page one. the art style is so simplistic yet so refined that i was completely taken with it. the characters are all so wonderfully illustrated and portrayed.

Darcy and her mother move to a new town and Darcy feels less than content about it. Upon wandering the streets, she finds The Happy Shop. A shop that collects and sells "happy feelings" to people who need them. when she breaks one of the jars by mistake, she is asked to work there as compensation. slowly, she pays her debt while also discovering that happiness is not the only emotion you need and that all emotions are equally important. together, they all must also find a way to keep the shop running because it is struggling financially.

the theme of all emotions being important is depicted in such a subtle way. i rlly enjoyed that it is not rubbed in your face but you're just expected to pick up on it and enjoy the ride. i loved following along with darcy and her journey getting to know Flora and Frida and working at the shop. the premise is so unique and one i was immediately pulled in by.

this was simultaneously a heart warming and heart aching read for me. the characters. the setting. the premise. the art style. they were all so so great.

i feel that a lot of young readers will resonate with the feelings and themes in this book and a book that absolutely needs to be in all therapists' offices.

this is 100% pilu of the woods meets inside out.

thank you to netgalley and onipress for an e-arc of this graphic novel. all thoughts are my own and not influenced in any way.

Thank you to Oni Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this graphic novel. I truly appreciated this concept and the story just wasn't a fan of the artstyle I think it could have been better. Because of these points, I have to give this a 4 out of 5 stars.