When it’s time to chase your own happiness…

Synopsis

Joanna is approaching the end of her forties and the empty nest syndrome looms. She consoles herself with gin and chocolate, realising that apart from her son Jack, she has achieved absolutely nothing in her life.

Somewhat on the plus side of plump and barely five feet tall, she finds it difficult not to envy her younger, prettier sister. Such elevated elegance seems so unfair – as does Hannah’s successful marriage. Joanna, in contrast, has remained in a loveless marriage for the past thirty years, stuck in a rut with the most miserable man on the planet but not having the impetus to get out.

It takes an embarrassing but hilarious encounter in the supermarket to make her realise what she’s been missing. It’s exactly the push she needs to make her change her life. With a little encouragement, Joanna starts to regain her independence, finally leaving her grumpy husband to enjoy life as a single woman. As she attempts to rebuild her own future, her family and friends continually surprise her with their own revelations.

Life is never dull, laughter never far away; can Joanna finally find true happiness within herself at last?

My review

With her end of the forties approaching, Joanna realizes between her gins and chocolate, that the only thing she can be proud of, is her son Jack. But Jack is also an adult now, and making plans for his own future.
She cannot count for support on her husband, as the marriage is rather loveless, they are stuck in a rut and things are his way or no way… Every attempt Joanna makes to bring back some passion is being dissed so it’s obvious that she is a little bit jealous of the perfect life and marriage her sister has.
After the most embarrassing event at the supermarket, Joanna decides to take back charge of her life. Leaving her husband is only the first step of regaining her independence.
And Joanna starts to learn that happiness isn’t found in a few days, and that her own friends and family are struggling with their lives.
Secrets, revelations and just life in general keep Joanna surprising all over again. But in the end, does she find her own happiness again? 

Sometimes you read a book and the further you are in it, you realize what a strong message the author is trying to tell you. And this book is one of it. 

Joanna is a married woman, with a job, a son she adores. So it would seem she has it all, right? But Joanna doesn’t have it all… Her marriage is everything but a happy one, she knows that her only joy, her son, will leave the house at some point, and even her job isn’t making her feel fulfilled anymore. And her younger sister deems to have all the good genes, a perfect husband and now even a wonderful baby. Isn’t it normal that ‘plain’ Joanna feels a little bit jealous?
And that, the way Joanna feels at the start of the book, is something that is so realistic, so understandable.
It shows us that behind every façade there may be an uglier truth, and that people can be unhappy even if on paper they have a perfect life. 

I admired Joanna when she finally decided she had enough. What’s the point of her life if she is only feeling miserable?
The author takes Joanna on a life – changing journey and allows us to watch all the steps Joanna is taking.
Some steps are hilarious, like her visit to the supermarket, some steps warmed my heart, like the kindness of people she meets, some steps are sweet, like her finding the perfect place and some steps are even shocking, like the secret her own mother reveals. 

It was lovely to see how Joanna got out of her shell, becomes more confident and isn’t afraid to just do once in a while what she wants to do and not just pleasing people around.
Her growing in this story also allows her to have a better relationships with her loved ones, find new friends, and even dare to be passionate again.
Although, concerning that last bit, I was rather shocked how that turned out to be! 

I truly enjoyed reading this book, and the author managed to write a heart – warming tale about finding the courage to demand more from life than just a feeling insignificant.
How scary, even terrifying it may seem, everyone deserves to find pure happiness in life, and if that means to turn your whole world upside down, so be it. Because the people that truly matter, will stand by your side every step you take on this journey.