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How Not to Live Happily Ever After in 10 Easy Steps!
Looking back on it now, I really should have known.
I should have known there was something not quite right about my marriage to Victor and my frantic efforts to please him – crash diets and personality transplants included.
Something not quite right about my ditsy but distant teenage daughter.
Certainly, something not right about my rampant obsession with the sexy General in the Marines who moved his family to our sleepy English village.
Come to think of it – turns out there was something not right about the village either.
And more importantly… not right about me.
But sometimes the biggest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
Which is why I’ve ended up on trial for murder.
Bridget Jones meets Crazy Ex-Girlfriend in this darkly comic village tale of obsession and delusion.
189 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2026
1143 people want to read
About the author
T.H. Rivers
1 book3 followersI’m a woman of a certain age who decided to turn my embarrassing diaries into an even more embarrassing book—and then got completely carried away.
I write behind a mask. It’s not because I’m shy (well, maybe a little), but because anonymity makes it easier to tell the truth.
My How (Not) To Live Happily Ever After – in Ten Easy Steps! series blends dark humour with honesty to raise awareness about Borderline Personality Disorder—and to prove that even our worst mistakes can make a thumping good story.
I’m a proud mother who loves dogs, writing, reading and painting. Not quite as fond of village life, though… which is partly why I stay masked. If the locals ever connect the dots, they’ll be after me with pitchforks.
I write behind a mask. It’s not because I’m shy (well, maybe a little), but because anonymity makes it easier to tell the truth.
My How (Not) To Live Happily Ever After – in Ten Easy Steps! series blends dark humour with honesty to raise awareness about Borderline Personality Disorder—and to prove that even our worst mistakes can make a thumping good story.
I’m a proud mother who loves dogs, writing, reading and painting. Not quite as fond of village life, though… which is partly why I stay masked. If the locals ever connect the dots, they’ll be after me with pitchforks.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 24, 2026
There is a certain kind of book that announces its intention quietly and then spends the rest of its pages proving it was never joking. *How Not to Live Happily Ever After in 10 Easy Steps* is one of those books. It presents itself as darkly comic and self aware, but what it is really doing is documenting the slow collapse of a woman who has learned to mistake intensity for meaning and longing for truth.
What I liked most was the voice. Maddie is not likable in the conventional sense and the book never tries to make her so. Instead it allows her to speak in the breathless justifying language of someone who is always explaining herself to an invisible jury. This is where the novel is most convincing. The domestic scenes the milk poured down the sink the small humiliations of marriage the constant self correction feel exact. They have the weight of lived observation rather than plot machinery. The obsession unfolds in increments not melodrama but repetition which is how these things actually happen. Desire becomes a system. Rational thought becomes an accessory.
I also admired the structural framing of the trial transcripts and retrospective author notes. They introduce a necessary distance. We are reminded that memory is not a neutral archive and that the narrator is unreliable not because she lies but because she believes too much. The later clarity about control narcissism and borderline personality disorder reframes what we have already seen without absolving it. That restraint matters.
What I did not like was the excess. There are moments where the sexual obsession is rendered with such insistence that it begins to flatten rather than deepen the psychological portrait. The language circles the same sensations again and again and occasionally the repetition feels less like compulsion and more like indulgence. The humor sometimes undercuts the gravity of what the book is actually examining. There were passages where I wanted more silence on the page more trust that the reader could sit with the discomfort without being nudged.
I also felt that some secondary characters exist primarily as mirrors or obstacles rather than as fully realized people. This may be intentional since the book is about a narrowed field of vision but it does limit the emotional range. The world shrinks to the size of the obsession and stays there.
Still the book lingers. Not because it offers redemption or even clarity but because it refuses the fantasy of the tidy lesson. This is not a story about getting out in time. It is about staying too long and mistaking that endurance for depth. It understands that the stories we tell ourselves are often the most dangerous relationships we enter into.
In the end this is a book about women and the myths we inherit about love suffering and transformation. It does not dismantle those myths cleanly but it exposes the cost of believing them. That is its quiet achievement.
What I liked most was the voice. Maddie is not likable in the conventional sense and the book never tries to make her so. Instead it allows her to speak in the breathless justifying language of someone who is always explaining herself to an invisible jury. This is where the novel is most convincing. The domestic scenes the milk poured down the sink the small humiliations of marriage the constant self correction feel exact. They have the weight of lived observation rather than plot machinery. The obsession unfolds in increments not melodrama but repetition which is how these things actually happen. Desire becomes a system. Rational thought becomes an accessory.
I also admired the structural framing of the trial transcripts and retrospective author notes. They introduce a necessary distance. We are reminded that memory is not a neutral archive and that the narrator is unreliable not because she lies but because she believes too much. The later clarity about control narcissism and borderline personality disorder reframes what we have already seen without absolving it. That restraint matters.
What I did not like was the excess. There are moments where the sexual obsession is rendered with such insistence that it begins to flatten rather than deepen the psychological portrait. The language circles the same sensations again and again and occasionally the repetition feels less like compulsion and more like indulgence. The humor sometimes undercuts the gravity of what the book is actually examining. There were passages where I wanted more silence on the page more trust that the reader could sit with the discomfort without being nudged.
I also felt that some secondary characters exist primarily as mirrors or obstacles rather than as fully realized people. This may be intentional since the book is about a narrowed field of vision but it does limit the emotional range. The world shrinks to the size of the obsession and stays there.
Still the book lingers. Not because it offers redemption or even clarity but because it refuses the fantasy of the tidy lesson. This is not a story about getting out in time. It is about staying too long and mistaking that endurance for depth. It understands that the stories we tell ourselves are often the most dangerous relationships we enter into.
In the end this is a book about women and the myths we inherit about love suffering and transformation. It does not dismantle those myths cleanly but it exposes the cost of believing them. That is its quiet achievement.
January 24, 2026
This book is the first in a series of romantic comedies based on a true story. I read it over two days and thoroughly enjoyed the story of Maddie. I found myself relating to certain aspects of her life, particularly the dialogue she had with her conscience. It was also comforting to realise that I’m not alone in having heartfelt conversations with my pets!
This is a great book for fans of romcoms. It’s quite short and can be read in a few hours. However, it ends on a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to read the next instalment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
This is a great book for fans of romcoms. It’s quite short and can be read in a few hours. However, it ends on a cliffhanger, leaving me eager to read the next instalment.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
January 18, 2026
Gah! The cliffhanger is sending me over the edge. I ate this book up in a matter of hours and NEED to know how this is going to go RIGHT NOW. I’m so invested that having to wait for the next installment has me lowkey irritated. I feel like I need to catch the next flight to Churchford so I can get the tea in person, become an honorary member of Lavinia’s book club, and not even blink as Maddie comes unraveled right in front of me. Like, Girl, what did you do?!? ☕️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Read
January 10, 2026Although the first page foreshadows the storyline development of an ultimate murder, at first, I had an impression of a light read. The language is fantastic: breezy, full of self-irony, precise, and so unmistakably British in the best way. It easily put me into the protagonist's world, her hopes, fears, and fights.
As I read, I realised this is a much more serious work, though. It deals with things I, personally, haven't experienced, but I know many people have. As the situation grows darker, the language changes - it is not that playful anymore, but it stays very sharp, every word delivering the emotions the protagonist drowns in.
I think the book is very truthful in more than one way. First of all, it is sort of a literary confession of the author, and I applaud T.H.Rivers for being so brave. Secondly, it perfectly portrays the lives of many women and the consequences this kind of life leads to. But most importantly, the book creates this feeling of sliding down into things nobody should go through, without even noticing it - and this, I believe, is the most important lesson we can learn from this story.
I tried to avoid any spoilers, but believe me, the plot that starts as a classic romcom soon turns out to be quite extraordinary, too.
As I read, I realised this is a much more serious work, though. It deals with things I, personally, haven't experienced, but I know many people have. As the situation grows darker, the language changes - it is not that playful anymore, but it stays very sharp, every word delivering the emotions the protagonist drowns in.
I think the book is very truthful in more than one way. First of all, it is sort of a literary confession of the author, and I applaud T.H.Rivers for being so brave. Secondly, it perfectly portrays the lives of many women and the consequences this kind of life leads to. But most importantly, the book creates this feeling of sliding down into things nobody should go through, without even noticing it - and this, I believe, is the most important lesson we can learn from this story.
I tried to avoid any spoilers, but believe me, the plot that starts as a classic romcom soon turns out to be quite extraordinary, too.
January 14, 2026
Great fun, romantic and naughty all rolled into one. Evocative in a way that hits a little close to home, it brought all the characters vividly to life. I found myself constantly willing Maddie to get a grip on her life as she struggles with the pressures of marriage and holding it all together. I also loved how it blends humour with the raw, sometimes brutal realities of adult relationships. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to read what Maddie gets up to next. Ooh, this isn’t just fluff — this has depth
January 27, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
I received an advance review copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
How Not to Live Happily Ever After in 10 Easy Steps! by T.H. Rivers
For a book that’s only about 190 pages, there is honestly a LOT going on here 😮💨📖
I read this over the course of about a week, fitting it in between work and free time… but I ended up finishing the last 43% in one sitting because it was that good. I just needed to know what the heck was going to happen next 👀🔥
This story is loosely inspired by the author’s own life and experiences, and wow, some of it hits uncomfortably close to home. There were moments where I felt genuinely disgusted by how the main character was allowing herself to be treated… and then immediately had to sit with the realization that I’ve been in similar shoes myself 😬💔 It’s frustrating at times, but also painfully real. If you’re a big-hearted lovergirl with a tendency to see the best in people, it’s very easy to understand how someone can become completely encapsulated by terrible men 🚩🚩🚩
At one point, I was honestly frustrated with the main character and felt she was being foolish, but as things started to unravel, I found myself switching to “HELL YEAH, GURL!!!” energy real fast 🙌✨ Growth isn’t linear, and this book doesn’t pretend that it is.
When I picked up this ARC, I didn’t realize just how much the story would revolve around borderline personality disorder until I started reading the author’s notes throughout the book, and once that clicked, everything fell into place. From my own research and personal mental-health journey, I check a lot of those same boxes, and I felt incredibly seen and understood in ways I wasn’t expecting 🖤 Recognizing similar patterns and mistakes I’ve made in my own life made this story hit even harder emotionally.
That said, my reason for docking a star is that the book can feel a little all over the place at times. The author’s notes were helpful, but occasionally disrupted the flow, and the judge/jury moments sometimes felt out of place or not clearly prompted enough. I do think the book could have benefited from a bit more polishing before release. I’m honestly on the fence between a 4 and 4.5, but I’m rounding down to a 4, especially considering the shorter length. A little more substance or expansion could have easily swayed me higher.
There is a hint of spice 🌶️ but it’s very mild. Think one chili pepper, heavy breathing, hairline spice territory 😅🔥
The book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger that had me absolutely screaming for more 😱📣 To the point where, while writing this review, I have already pre-ordered book two for my Kindle. I’m genuinely excited to see what the main character gets into next, her life is messy, chaotic, and imperfect, but it really feels like she’s starting to find herself 💫
Also… can we talk about the side characters for a second?
We are TEAM LUCY 💖👏 Her daughter is blunt, honest, and surprisingly wise. She gives her mum some of the best advice in the book, often without even realizing how impactful it really is. We’re all just girls trying to navigate this world, right?
And Jumbles… oh, Jumbles 🐶💞
Big, dopey, lovable furball. Absolute king. Love us some jumbly wumbly.
Overall, this was an emotionally messy, funny, frustrating, and deeply relatable read that will resonate especially hard with readers who have big hearts and complicated inner worlds.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
How Not to Live Happily Ever After in 10 Easy Steps! by T.H. Rivers
For a book that’s only about 190 pages, there is honestly a LOT going on here 😮💨📖
I read this over the course of about a week, fitting it in between work and free time… but I ended up finishing the last 43% in one sitting because it was that good. I just needed to know what the heck was going to happen next 👀🔥
This story is loosely inspired by the author’s own life and experiences, and wow, some of it hits uncomfortably close to home. There were moments where I felt genuinely disgusted by how the main character was allowing herself to be treated… and then immediately had to sit with the realization that I’ve been in similar shoes myself 😬💔 It’s frustrating at times, but also painfully real. If you’re a big-hearted lovergirl with a tendency to see the best in people, it’s very easy to understand how someone can become completely encapsulated by terrible men 🚩🚩🚩
At one point, I was honestly frustrated with the main character and felt she was being foolish, but as things started to unravel, I found myself switching to “HELL YEAH, GURL!!!” energy real fast 🙌✨ Growth isn’t linear, and this book doesn’t pretend that it is.
When I picked up this ARC, I didn’t realize just how much the story would revolve around borderline personality disorder until I started reading the author’s notes throughout the book, and once that clicked, everything fell into place. From my own research and personal mental-health journey, I check a lot of those same boxes, and I felt incredibly seen and understood in ways I wasn’t expecting 🖤 Recognizing similar patterns and mistakes I’ve made in my own life made this story hit even harder emotionally.
That said, my reason for docking a star is that the book can feel a little all over the place at times. The author’s notes were helpful, but occasionally disrupted the flow, and the judge/jury moments sometimes felt out of place or not clearly prompted enough. I do think the book could have benefited from a bit more polishing before release. I’m honestly on the fence between a 4 and 4.5, but I’m rounding down to a 4, especially considering the shorter length. A little more substance or expansion could have easily swayed me higher.
There is a hint of spice 🌶️ but it’s very mild. Think one chili pepper, heavy breathing, hairline spice territory 😅🔥
The book ends on a HUGE cliffhanger that had me absolutely screaming for more 😱📣 To the point where, while writing this review, I have already pre-ordered book two for my Kindle. I’m genuinely excited to see what the main character gets into next, her life is messy, chaotic, and imperfect, but it really feels like she’s starting to find herself 💫
Also… can we talk about the side characters for a second?
We are TEAM LUCY 💖👏 Her daughter is blunt, honest, and surprisingly wise. She gives her mum some of the best advice in the book, often without even realizing how impactful it really is. We’re all just girls trying to navigate this world, right?
And Jumbles… oh, Jumbles 🐶💞
Big, dopey, lovable furball. Absolute king. Love us some jumbly wumbly.
Overall, this was an emotionally messy, funny, frustrating, and deeply relatable read that will resonate especially hard with readers who have big hearts and complicated inner worlds.
January 31, 2026
Complete waste of my reading time
I received a free copy of this Kindle book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review and I really wish I hadn’t! I read the book because I got it but under other circumstances would never have kept reading this book once I realized how bad it was.
While there is a coherent story line it is entirely pointless and lacks any entertainment or interest value. The whole book is essentially one big tease for an event that never happens. Also there are weirdly interspersed pages about a court hearing that do not in any way tie in with the story.
The spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting were well done and I don’t have any criticisms with regard to that. The book was just so DULL! With so many great books in the world I hate that I lost time on this.
Suffice to say I do NOT recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this Kindle book from Goodreads in exchange for an honest review and I really wish I hadn’t! I read the book because I got it but under other circumstances would never have kept reading this book once I realized how bad it was.
While there is a coherent story line it is entirely pointless and lacks any entertainment or interest value. The whole book is essentially one big tease for an event that never happens. Also there are weirdly interspersed pages about a court hearing that do not in any way tie in with the story.
The spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting were well done and I don’t have any criticisms with regard to that. The book was just so DULL! With so many great books in the world I hate that I lost time on this.
Suffice to say I do NOT recommend this book.
January 15, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I imagined this book to be more than it was. I found the writing quite immature, although it dealt with quite adult concepts. The story lacked in something to hold on to, therefore at times when I picked up my e-reader, I had forgotten what book I was reading. There wasn't really anything memorable. In saying that, I was annoyed when it just ended. I now realise there is a part two, but I don't think I enjoyed part one enough to want to read any further.
I imagined this book to be more than it was. I found the writing quite immature, although it dealt with quite adult concepts. The story lacked in something to hold on to, therefore at times when I picked up my e-reader, I had forgotten what book I was reading. There wasn't really anything memorable. In saying that, I was annoyed when it just ended. I now realise there is a part two, but I don't think I enjoyed part one enough to want to read any further.
January 25, 2026
I enjoyed this book. It was an easy, quick read, and the narrator, who is also the female main character, was genuinely funny. She definitely has her issues, but that’s clearly part of the story and what makes it work. The humor is dark in a way that really landed for me, and at times it gave off soap opera or Desperate Housewives–type vibes. Overall, it was a fun, entertaining read, and I think most readers will enjoy it. I’m looking forward to part two. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 27, 2026
Goodreads giveaway win 🎉 I liked the, clearly, British writing. And the foreshadowing. And I was hooked, wanting to know what happens... then it just ends. Gotta read book 2?! ugh
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews