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The Secret of Happy Ever After [Paperback]

Lucy Dillon (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 10 Nov 2011
When story-lover Anna takes over Longhampton's bookshop, it's her dream come true. And not just because it gets her away from her three rowdy stepchildren and their hyperactive Dalmatian.

Unpacking boxes filled with childhood classics, Anna can't shake the feeling that maybe her own fairytale ending isn't all that she'd hoped for. But, as the stories of love, adventure, secret gardens, lost dogs, wicked witches and giant peaches breathe new life into the neglected shop, Anna and her customers get swept up in the magic too.

Even Anna's best friend Michelle - who categorically doesn't believe in true love and handsome princes - isn't immune.

But when secrets from Michelle's own childhood come back to haunt her, and disaster threatens Anna's home, will the wisdom and charm of the stories in the bookshop help the two friends - and those they love - find their own happy ever afters?

Frequently Bought Together

The Secret of Happy Ever After + Walking Back to Happiness + Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts
Price For All Three: £17.22

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Product details

  • Paperback: 512 pages
  • Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks (10 Nov 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1444727036
  • ISBN-13: 978-1444727036
  • Product Dimensions: 13 x 19.9 x 3.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 51,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Lucy Dillon Page
Lucy Dillon
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Product Description

Review

Praise for THE SECRET OF HAPPY EVER AFTER:

'Fans of Katie Fforde will devour this latest novel from the Cumbrian-born author quicker than a mince pie... Nostalgic, heart-warming and honest, this is a tale of love and friendship at its very best.' (Press Association )

A tender story that strikes at the heart . . . Smartly written and delightfully sweet with a tinge of nostalgia laced throughout, this story is a wonderful read. (Romantic Times TOP PICK )

'Lucy Dillon's voice is gentle and kind throughout...perceptive and well handled. A heart-warming piece of escapism for long winter nights.' (Red )

'Perfect to snuggle up with on a cold winter's afternoon' (Bella )

'A modern fairy-tale for grown ups' (Sun )

Praise for WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS:

'witty, heart-warming and a very real tale of loss and redemption' (Stylist )

Heartwarming, romantic and funny, Lucy Dillon's latest offering is the perfect Christmas stocking filler... Shut out the world on a cold winter's night with this entertaining and easy-to-read tale. (News of the World )

Warm, fluffy and fun. (Cosmopolitan )

A charming fluffy winter's read. (Closer )

Praise for LOST DOGS AND LONELY HEARTS:

'I loved this book! Heartwarming, real and entertaining' (Katie Fforde )

Heart-warming, fun and romantic. Marley and Me fans will love it (Closer )

A contemporary Bridget Jones, but with canines instead of chardonnay. (Stylist )

A charming read (Star )

'The title sums up this captivating story. Anna and Michelle breathe life into a neglected bookstore and bring fairytale magic to life.' (My Weekly )

A modern fairytale for grown-ups (Fabulous magazine )

About the Author

Lucy Dillon was born in Cumbria in 1974. She now divides her time between London and the Wye Valley.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Hurray - more Longhampton! 3 Nov 2011
By Avidreader
Format:Paperback
It was a real treat reading this book, and revisiting Longhampton (and spotting some of the characters we've met before). I read it while off work sick and it was great place to escape to - comforting and enticing but not too escapist and fluffy, and much better than daytime telly. I love the other Longhampton books and the way they tackle some tricky issues, not just the usual romance - but I have to say this one has got even more depth and honesty and complexity. It covers ageing, step families, the whole 'does motherhood really make you a superior/worse person' debate. NONE of the relationships are pat or straight forward, the heroines are both sympathetically flawed, the kids are fantastically believable. I cried at least three times, which is rare for me, but the situations were so poignant at times - it's the little defeats or successes in life which affect us most, more than the great tragedies or triumphs, and Lucy Dillon gets these across perfectly. I am not part of a step family, so I can't judge, but I think the depiction of the endless difficulties (big and small) of a step family are really thoughtfully and believably put across. I found my heart going out to the stepmother and her constant attempts to connect with the kids and make things right, while the actual parents were oblivious to her efforts and how much more difficult their unthinking actions make things for her. It is heart warming in showing women in the full diversity of who they are - not just young heroines who somehow afford funky flats in London and have a useful array of zany friends for plot purposes. But women who run businesses, run families, make tough choices, care for others, stand at the centre of their communities in one way or another. Yes, there's romance too, but actually I thought the book was an ode to the amazing strength and creativity and fellowship of women. In case that makes it all sound a bit heavy, be reassured it's not - and it's got a happy ending so it's a good one for Christmas! And of course always the dogs!

I think it is my favourite Lucy Dillon so far. And everyone's getting it for Christmas!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book 30 Dec 2011
By sue gail
Format:Paperback
Another fabulous book from Lucy Dillon - on a deeper level than chic lit but at the same time so easy to read. I have read 3 books over Christmas (the others not by Dillon) and this is easily the best. The friendship aspect between Michelle and Anna is explored beautifully, both the ups and the downs. Also the difficulties of being part of an extended family are looked at in a probing but sensitive manner. I loved the bookshop, if it existed in real life I am sure I would never want to leave in the same way I was sad to finish reading this book. A book about fiction, friendship, families, setting up small businesses, love and communities - this has it all.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Hurry Up Lucy and write some more please!! 3 Feb 2012
By Amy
Format:Paperback
I have read all of Lucy Dillon's books and thoroughly enjoy her style of writing and believable characters. This latest book is again set in Longhampton and a few of the characters from previous books reappear which is a nice touch. I found myself so lost in the story I missed by stop on the train twice this week! For any Lucy Dillon fans, this latest book does not disappoint.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
A good story, full of lifelike characters. A story that unfolds as you get further into the book. As usual Lucy Dillon tells a lovely story.
Published 2 months ago by Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars A fun (and useful) read
As a librarian I read this because a colleague talked about one of the ploys the bookshop used to encourage people to buy more books. Read more
Published 3 months ago by C. Henley
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Escapism!
A beautifully written book. Perfect light hearted holiday read, it's like a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa in front of the fire.
Published 3 months ago by R. K. Bacchus
5.0 out of 5 stars great read
An easy read with a story that inks in to her other book set in longhampton. Would thoroughly recommend it.
Published 4 months ago by Suzanne Guile
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it!
I really loved this book! I didn't warm to some of the characters immediately, but as the story went on you realised why they were that way, and they changed during the course of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Claire McPartlin
2.0 out of 5 stars the secret of happy ever after
I read the reviews of this book and thought it would be to a good read. I found it so padded with useless prose that it was hard to find the actual story line. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Janet Strode
1.0 out of 5 stars Not A Good Feel Book
I brought this book along with Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts after reading Walking Back To Happiness by the same author.
To say I was dissapointed is an understatement. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Medieval Babe
4.0 out of 5 stars Gemma
I have nearly finished this book, its the third Lucy Dillion book that I will have read. Its fantstic and I love it. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Gemma
4.0 out of 5 stars Maybe its good to have some secrets
This is the first book I have read by Dillon. I really enjoyed this book. The main characters easy to relate to and plenty of plot to keep you going. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Lxy Flippa
4.0 out of 5 stars Best one yet
Having recently only just finished reading Lucy Dillon's previous book, Walking Back to Happiness, I was expecting an enjoyable read that I could curl up on a cold winter's day and... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Sharon
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