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Happy People Read and Drink Coffee
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Diane seems to have the perfect life. She is a wife, a mother, and the owner of Happy People Read and Drink Coffee, a cozy literary cafe in Paris. But when she suddenly loses her beloved husband and daughter in a tragic car accident, the world as she knows it instantly vanishes. Trapped and haunted by her memories, Diane retreats from friends and family, unable and unwilli
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Hardcover, 242 pages
Published
May 10th 2016
by Hachette Books
(first published March 2013)
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The book cover and title (and some rave reviews) were what appealled to me. It started so well... on a very dramatic note for the main character (Parisian librarian who lost husband and young daughter in a car crash...). The story line was promising (she decided to go and live in Ireland to grieve). When she gets there, you start to hope that there won't be too many clichés... But it's all there: cottage on the seaside, wind and rain, (over)friendly landlords, the tall, dark stranger with rugged
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This review is dedicated to Sad Sunday. Let our torches burn bright!
Who let the Bad Bitch out? Agnès Martin-Lugand did! Well, she definitely shouldn't, because now her book will be burned with napalm. Mwahaha!
Ok, I'm not really in the mood to rip it to pieces as I was yesterday (sad, huh?), so I will just put a more or less objective review here and explain why I'm giving it just 1 star (hey, lets call it Death Star), when there's already basically Audrey Tautou on the cover (which is absolutely ...more
Ok, I'm not really in the mood to rip it to pieces as I was yesterday (sad, huh?), so I will just put a more or less objective review here and explain why I'm giving it just 1 star (hey, lets call it Death Star), when there's already basically Audrey Tautou on the cover (which is absolutely ...more
This was a very indulgent easy read, which I enjoyed on a long weekend interstate. I enjoyed the story of Diane and her overcoming of grief after her husband and only child die in a car accident. Diane owns a literary cafe and this is where the title comes in to play. The sentences are very short, this was noticeable in the translation, but in a way it was suited to the easy read. Diane takes off to Ireland on a whim after suffering at home for a year after the tragedy, using this time to try an
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2.5 stars I think something got lost in translation.
When Diane loses her husband and daughter in a tragic accident her world is shattered. On year on she is still a complete wreck. Felix, her oldest friend, comes everyday to clean up around her and try and coax her back to some semblance of life. Diane decides to go to Ireland as her husband Colin once mentioned he would like to go there. Her idea is to get away from family and friends and to be left alone to wallow in her grief. However the peo ...more
When Diane loses her husband and daughter in a tragic accident her world is shattered. On year on she is still a complete wreck. Felix, her oldest friend, comes everyday to clean up around her and try and coax her back to some semblance of life. Diane decides to go to Ireland as her husband Colin once mentioned he would like to go there. Her idea is to get away from family and friends and to be left alone to wallow in her grief. However the peo ...more
I loved the title of this book and was so looking forward to reading it. The title comes from the name of the literary café in Paris which Diane, the main character owns. I started the book eagerly and by page eight I was teary, sympathising with Diane after the death of her husband and daughter. I looked forward to seeing how she would handle this tragic double loss. Sadly, this is where the story started to go downhill for me. Diane cocoons herself in grief, ignoring loved ones who try to help
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Oct 22, 2017
Nenia ✨️ I yeet my books back and forth ✨️ Campbell
rated it
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Shelves:
halloween-2017-reading-challenge
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🎃 Read for the Unapologetic Romance Readers Halloween 2017 Reading Challenge for the category of: a romance where a graveyard is a major setting in the novel 🎃
I've seen some blatant false packaging before - I've seen Sarah Huckabee Sanders's press conferences - but this book takes the cake. The title and bright cover with primary hues make you think you're getting some adorable little chick-lit book that's probably set in either New ...more
I'd heard some not-good things about this book but decided to brave it nonetheless. And enjoyed the beginning.
Diane's pain following the death of her husband and daughter felt very real. I liked Felix - her longtime bestie and rather-slack bookshop colleague.
Although Diane's 32, we get the message very clearly - she's been pampered and has no idea how life works. She moved from her parent's to her husband. And he did everything. Except buy her a shop. And her parents did that.
When Diane heade ...more
Diane's pain following the death of her husband and daughter felt very real. I liked Felix - her longtime bestie and rather-slack bookshop colleague.
Although Diane's 32, we get the message very clearly - she's been pampered and has no idea how life works. She moved from her parent's to her husband. And he did everything. Except buy her a shop. And her parents did that.
When Diane heade ...more
This book caught my eye because of the cover - even though I don't drink coffee, I do read and it makes me happy!
This was an interesting story about healing after loss. Diane loses her husband and daughter in a car accident and is lost in a deep depression. A year after their deaths, Diane decides to move to Ireland. There she meets Edward, and fighting with him starts the healing process.
This book wasn't what I expected, and I'm glad that it didn't end up in the way most of the "finding herself ...more
This was an interesting story about healing after loss. Diane loses her husband and daughter in a car accident and is lost in a deep depression. A year after their deaths, Diane decides to move to Ireland. There she meets Edward, and fighting with him starts the healing process.
This book wasn't what I expected, and I'm glad that it didn't end up in the way most of the "finding herself ...more
I really wanted to live this book and simply couldn't. Diane and the perfect life until her husband and daughter die in an accident. If ever there was a setup for a main character you should feel sorry for and empathize with this is it. Sadly this is not the case. Diane is so unlikeable and at time out right nasty to those around her you just don't care. And seriously if I had to read the word cigarette again I think I would have burst into flames myself.
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Well i don't even know what the fuck i've just read. The whole package of clichés?? Probably. An awful attempt to make me feel sympaphy for a non-logical selfish female lead with tragic past?? Definetely. A story centered on a poorly developed romantic relationship i had no fucking chance to care about since it was a rushed piece of garbage?? No doubt. Oh plus the ending sucks too 'cause the author tried SO HARD to push the idea that the female lead had to accept her past and let go and only aft
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This was an enjoyable, well written little novel, but it was not quite what I expected from the title, the cover. The title references a 'literary cafe' in Paris which our leading lady, Diane co-owns with her best friend Felix.
In fact though, the cafe which intrigued me and the title which convinced me to acquire the book; well, they were not really present in the novel at all.
The story starts with the aforementioned Diane, who is a mess, having lost her beloved husband and child in a car accide ...more
In fact though, the cafe which intrigued me and the title which convinced me to acquire the book; well, they were not really present in the novel at all.
The story starts with the aforementioned Diane, who is a mess, having lost her beloved husband and child in a car accide ...more
Life was good for Diane. She had a thriving literary cafe with a business partner she loved and a family she adored. But when her husband and daughter die tragically, a part of Diane died with them. After a year of closing herself up in her house and refusing to go back to her former life, Diane moves to the Irish coast to try and move on without the memories of her loved ones haunting her. With a nosy landlady and surly neighbour, Irish life is not what Diane expected but it might just be what
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Nov 06, 2017
Dana Al-Basha دانة الباشا
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
own,
translated-مترجم
Everything about this book attracted me instantly! The title and cover are so pretty. Diane is a woman still in her prime, she owned this cute bookstore cafe called "Happy People" and was married to the love of her life Colin and they had a daughter called Clara, they lived in one of my favorite cities "Paris" and had it all, until Colin and Clara die in a car accident, and Diane is completely broken. A year passes, she hits 30, her best friend and partner in Happy People, Felix tries to get her
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I don’t think I will ever be able to forget reading the first couple of pages of Happy People Read and Drink Coffee by Agnès Martin-Lugand. I must confess I took quite a long break from this book after reading the first chapter. I had to close it and I only opened it again a few weeks later. I felt as if I had been thrown into a bottomless tub filled with ice cubes. At first the cold is almost reassuring; it seems to highlight your senses, reminding you that you are utterly alive. Then arrives t
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I loved the title of this book. Unfortunately, the story itself left me flat. I felt like the same scene was played out over and over again and I do not understand why anyone could like Diane or Edward. I was hopeful for the literary cafe and the potential for character growth, but it was just not there for me.
This was a fabulous read! Anxious to read the sequel!!
I liked the title, the cover and the premise; but the writing was awful!
I can't decide should I give this book 1 star or 5 stars. It left me with dry eyes and emotional exhaustion. I love it - until the last 20 pages if the book. The ending made no sense to me.
I just hate when author leaves me with an open ending. I want clean cut, happy or bad ending. Then I can move on with my life. Now I will spend days thinking about this book.
Overall, this is not a bad book but you may get disapointed in the end. :) Ps. You will cry, a lot! ...more
I just hate when author leaves me with an open ending. I want clean cut, happy or bad ending. Then I can move on with my life. Now I will spend days thinking about this book.
Overall, this is not a bad book but you may get disapointed in the end. :) Ps. You will cry, a lot! ...more
Aug 14, 2017
Gabriela
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
french,
examined-lives
A heartbreaking story of love and living, rediscovery of the self and letting go of the past. Diane is a strong person, yet even the strongest succumb to the depths of mourning someone dear. And it takes time and willingness to move forward, it takes a whole lot of change to accept life with new meanings.
I liked the melancholy and the clean easy writing style.
I liked the melancholy and the clean easy writing style.
I don't like giving books a one star, especially as a writer myself, I know how much work goes into writing even a short book like this. However, once you get past the alluring title, things quickly go downhill. The romantic lead in this novel is less dark and brooding, more misogynistic psychopath. So it's a story about a French woman who escapes to Ireland to grieve (so far so normal) and then meets a violent, aggressive neanderthal who... whisks her off her feet, I guess?! I don't know, maybe
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Jun 12, 2016
Maggie61
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
net-galley,
read-2016
I received this book free from net galley in exchange for an honest review.
I devoured this little book in one sitting on a lazy Sunday sunny afternoon on the deck swing. It's not a long book but to me it packed a wallop.
Diane's life as she knew it, had been destroyed. She's been sheltered by everyone around her; first from her parents, then her husband and best friend Felix. She co owns a literary cafe in Paris with Felix and her life with her husband and daughter Clara seems just about perfect ...more
I devoured this little book in one sitting on a lazy Sunday sunny afternoon on the deck swing. It's not a long book but to me it packed a wallop.
Diane's life as she knew it, had been destroyed. She's been sheltered by everyone around her; first from her parents, then her husband and best friend Felix. She co owns a literary cafe in Paris with Felix and her life with her husband and daughter Clara seems just about perfect ...more
Junk.
A good romance story. Very easy to read. Can’t wait for the second part.
The book initially started with the drama of a married woman who just lost her daughter and husband. The description was absolutely beautiful about her grief and her pain. You can feel her sadness and desperation in the lines as you read the book.
So, this book had two of my loved elements: France and Ireland. In my mind, two different worlds, France a noisy, full of people rushing to the streets world and Ireland, the quiet and calm place from this earth. Her choosing to leave Paris, for Irelan ...more
So, this book had two of my loved elements: France and Ireland. In my mind, two different worlds, France a noisy, full of people rushing to the streets world and Ireland, the quiet and calm place from this earth. Her choosing to leave Paris, for Irelan ...more
This was a short emotional read. Diane is a wreck, it has been a year since she lost her husband and child. Her business, a cafe´-bookstore is falling to pieces (yes maybe not trust your partner to hold the reins). But then again she does not care about anything. And I understand, her life fell to pieces. It's hard to pick yourself up again and start living.
So she goes to Ireland. Awww, awesome choice there. I would love to visit Ireland and it was amusing when she saw the differences between Pa ...more
So she goes to Ireland. Awww, awesome choice there. I would love to visit Ireland and it was amusing when she saw the differences between Pa ...more
A lovely little story. A nice quick read for a lazy afternoon.
Although it left me wanting- I enjoyed it very much.
Although it left me wanting- I enjoyed it very much.
Oh dear....this was a short novel that didn't have much substance and I'm glad it's finished and I wouldn't recommend it. You didn't really get to know or warm to the characters and I think this is one over-rated book.
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Enjoyable enough, a modern French take on romance with a Darcy kind of man, a quick read, a lovely location in rural Ireland - what's not to like?
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I picked this up without researching it first, barely even looking at its synopsis. It was the title that drew me in, Happy People Read and Drink Coffee – honestly, what could be more perfect than that?
But as it turned out, the title was the best thing about the book; covering for a story that was an utter cliché. This book is, in theory, a love story in the aftermath of loss. But the story barely scratches the surface of the subjects of love or loss. It's not profound, and yet it isn't entertai ...more
But as it turned out, the title was the best thing about the book; covering for a story that was an utter cliché. This book is, in theory, a love story in the aftermath of loss. But the story barely scratches the surface of the subjects of love or loss. It's not profound, and yet it isn't entertai ...more
I bought this novel as a "blind date with a book", having only a few clues about what I was going to read. I was excited when I saw the title -- "Happy people read and drink coffee", which I later found out to represent the name of the main character's literary cafe in Paris. There were quite a lot of cliches, but it was altogether an enjoyable, easy read.
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Agnès Martin-Lugand (born Saint-Malo) is a French writer of novels. A psychology major, she turned towards writing and published her first novel, Les gens heureux lisent et boivent du café (Happy People Read and Drink Coffee), as a self-edition via Amazon's Kindle platform on December 2012. Rapidly noticed by literary bloggers close to the self-publishing medium, she was approached by Florian Lafa
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“Tous ces vacanciers tassés les uns contre les autres sur une minuscule plage, ou en train de se battre en tenue de soirée devant le buffet, horrifiés à l'idée que le voisin ronfleur ne vole la dernière saucisse, ces gens heureux d'avoir été enfermés une dizaine d'heures dans une carlingue avec des gamins braillards autour d'eux, tout ça me donnait envie de vomir.”
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“Je faisais tout pour réintégrer le monde des vivants et ne plus sombrer dans des délires paranoïaques.”
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