Meredith Schorr is a terrific storyteller, and How Do You Know? is the first book from her brand new series, Seeking Happily Ever After. This realistic story captured my attention from the very beginning with its entertaining plot, lively characters and New York City landscape. Since I grew up near NYC, I was able to identify with some of the restaurants, streets and venues, which resulted in many feelings of comfortableness.

This is the story of Maggie Piper, a thirty-nine year old marketing manager completely obsessed with turning the big 4 0. Maggie is single, smart, and beautiful, yet due to societal norms and her own insecurities, has difficulty navigating her future. Luckily, she is surrounded by some very good friends who help and support her through this tenuous year. Maggie's decision to take a break from her loving, longstanding, and comfortable relationship with her boyfriend Doug, is the straw that broke the camel's back. Ms. Schorr does an amazing job of evolving Maggie's character from a caterpillar into a butterfly.

Overall, this is a well-written, emotionally charged book with a great cast of characters. It has a vibe reminiscent of the popular Sex and the City series, with Maggie being a more cultivated version of Carrie's character. I loved how Ms. Schorr used matzoh ball soup as Maggie's anchor to good times with her family. This story has a wonderful and engaging ending, which continues to make me smile whenever I think about Maggie and Doug. I can't wait for book two!

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

I loved this book! It was engaging, well-written, relatable and fun. I can't wait to read more!

The first book in the Seeking Happily Ever After series, How Do You Know? is Meredith Schorr’s latest offering, published in December 2014. It combines likeable characters, an engaging story, and a continuously moving plot that will keep readers going well into the night. Its only weakness is the unsatisfying exploration of the all-important question of contentment. That part of the story seems at time diluted to make place for more “chick flick” like conversations.

At thirty-nine, Maggie Piper doesn’t feel much different than she did ten years ago. But with the big 4-0 looming, she wonders if she should. Should she take the leap with her loving and easy relationship with long-time boyfriend Doug to settle down like more of her friends? Or should she listen to the nagging voice in her head that tells her that the relationship is just too normal, too easy, for it to remain exciting? She ends up spontaneously requesting Doug for a temporary break to figure things out, but things spiral out of control when he breaks things off—permanently. And so, Maggie finds herself single, embarking on a journey that will teach her that life doesn’t always happen on a schedule, there are no deadlines in love, and age really is just a number.

The author takes us on a ride as Maggie learns not to take things for granted, and that her ideas of what love and her life should be like don’t compare to how they actually are—or, at least, were. Maggie’s decision to take a break from her loving, longstanding, and comfortable relationship with her boyfriend because it doesn’t seem exciting enough is a very important topic well worth exploring in depth. It often feels like we are encouraged to live in constant discontent. We are told, by the movies that are released, the songs that are produced, and the books that are published, that the stories worth telling are dramatic ones. Romantic movies are based on the stories of dramatic relationships, the difficult ones that defy or even succumb to the odds. But not many—if any!—are about marriages that work, ironically enough, the ones that we yearn for. But as mentioned above, this topic was not explored in depth, but I’m hoping that the next books in the series will build on the conversation in a long-term analysis through fiction of the true meaning of happiness.

But other than that, How Do You Know? is well written and engaging. It draws you early on and doesn’t let go until you turn the last page. Maggie is both frustrating in some her decisions but likeable for the spirit she displays. Her friends and family are also quite likeable, presenting a plethora of temperaments, characters, and experience that add a certain level of complexity to the story. Author Meredith Schorrr balances out authenticity with entertainment making for a satisfying read, despite the superficial exploration of one of its central themes. More information about the author is available on her official website. She is also active on Twitter and on Facebook.

I liked the book, but I was a bit annoyed with the protagonist and she came off a bit pretentious. I didn't love it enough to review it on my blog.

How do you know if the one you are with is the one you are meant to be with? Readers will love the journey as Maggie discovers the answers to this question and how to live life as a forty-year-old.

HOW DO YOU KNOW MEREDITH SHORE

THE BLURB What if you were approaching the end of your thirties and all of the life milestones you took for granted in your youth suddenly seemed out of reach?

On the eve of her thirty-ninth birthday, Maggie Piper doesn’t look, act, or feel much different than she did at twenty-nine, but with her fortieth birthday speeding toward her like a freight train, she wonders if she should. The fear of a slowing metabolism, wrinkling of her skin, and the ticking of her biological clock leaves Maggie torn between a desire to settle down like most of her similarly aged peers and concern that all is not perfect in her existing relationship. When a spontaneous request for a temporary “break” from her live-in boyfriend results in a “break-up,” Maggie finds herself single once again and only twelve months from the big 4.0. In the profound yet bumpy year that follows, Maggie will learn, sometimes painfully, that life doesn’t always happen on a schedule, there are no deadlines in love, and age really is just a number.

In this mature coming of age novel, Meredith Schorr, best-selling author of light women’s fiction, digs deep and raises the age old issue of the ‘proverbial clock’ that haunts many women,in a way that is refreshing and sassy no matter your age or relationship status.

WHAT I SAY I have not read any of Meredith books before so I was not sure what to expect. I did enjoy this book it packed with fun and lots of humour. All the characters are great they will soon become your friends The story about love,family and friends It may be a happy ending you have to guess Maggie is just a fabulous character she made me laugh so much she seem to have lots of fun her mum and aunt were such brilliant characters too I would die at some of the things they did I bet your will be laughter at them I was so much .
Her mum was just like my mum she said what she thinks sometimes I felt she was so wrong with her comments.

This book a great fun way to look at life Maggie nearly 40th she seem so mixed up  she was not sure of what she got now and life at 40th should be like I felt the story was very well written it packed with so much fun and good fun times   The characters are just so much fun  you could relate to I felt is a real feel good kind of book i say you take life as it comes live for the day enjoy your life while you can

4 dolls
 Thank you netgalley for letting me read and review