When Jennifer is told by her doctor that she only has 3 months left to live, she decides to tell a few home truths to some once close people - her sister Isabelle, ex husband Andy and ex boyfriend Harry. All three come back into her life, with some remorse. But when a bit of good news comes her way, will the remorse prove genuine?

I loved this book, it bounced along, even with the dark theme at its core. Jennifer was a strong character, who you could get behind and really care for. Her interactions with others flowed well and sometimes even in the darkest situations still made me smile.

A lovely story, not as dark as it originally appears. Well recommended.

I did enjoy this book! You soon learn about the fate that it looks like is awaiting Jennifer, then join her on her journey. She didn't go straight to her bucket list - in fact, she didn't even have one! - instead, she thinks back over her life, the mistakes she feels she has made and regrets she has, then sets about trying to make things right before the inevitable happens..... The story did make me think about what if that proverbial bus was waiting for me - would I have regrets about things I had or hadn't said or done? Are there things I can / should put right sooner rather than later (without be totally pessimistic about the future)?!

Although I have to say that it was quite unexpected and I didn't see how it could happen (whilst secretly hoping it did!), I loved the ending. Without spoiling it, a really good "and they all lived happily ever after"! If you are looking for an easy to read, feel good summer book, I would recommend this title.

Thank you to Net Galley & the publishers for allowing me to review this book in return for an honest opinion, which I have given.

A thought provoking feel good story! The characters are likeable and the way this book is written, makes it really easy to read! I loved it and would definitely recommend

Not what I expected, but I advise you not to look at too many reviews. The joy is in the reveal, the twists and turns that make this unexpected.
A really lovely read, with some great characters and it's written with a wonderful warmth and humour.

This is a light hearted read, despite it’s sad start, Jennifer is a resourceful woman who intends to make the most of a terrible event. It kept me reading and wishing her well. I can’t say any more without spoilers.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is completely away from my usual genre, however after seeing this gorgeous cover I decided to give it a go. Cantor has written a contemporary fiction story which explores the main characters last three months to live.
As much as I've wanted to, I have been completely unable to put this one down. This is a very emotional read which has made me proper ugly cry on more than one occasion. This is definitely an emotional and touching read.
I was thinking about this book long after finishing it, this is a completely unique book which is unlike anything I've ever read before. I will definitely recommend this book.

Public reviews as part of blog tour

Jennifer Coles has been told she has three months to live. What follows is a story to melt even the hardest of hearts.

I was a bit apprehensive when I started this book in case it was all doom and gloom. Far from it, Jennifer is a wonderful heroine and she was not going to sit and cry, NO she was going to live every day as if it was her last. She decides to write three letters to get set all her hurt and anger out over how people have treated her in the past. However, three months later when these letters are out there, life becomes a lot more complicated for some.

I was really cheering Jennifer from every corner and when she cried, I cried, when she laughed, I laughed with her. I must admit I stayed up late to finish this book.

Jennifer is informed by her doctor that she is dying. She has a rare blood illness and now has three months tops to live. She is shocked because she's just been feeling a bit tired. She writes three letters to the people she feels most aggrieved by in her life and then has to deal with the consequences of those letters.

While writing this review, I am finding it very difficult to find much to say that is positive. I appreciate that a lot of work and effort goes into producing a book and it's never nice to have to be so negative about someone's creation, but I have to be true to myself.

Jennifer is dying and she goes through denial and anger in response, but her reactions left no impression on me whatsoever. I wasn't sad for her or crying with her and mostly found her annoying and pathetic. Her dispassionate tone could be explained by the fact that she is an HR Manager so perhaps she is telling her story in her 'HR Voice', but it just doesn't wash very well with me.

Without spoiling the plot too much (although the title sort of does that anyway), halfway through the book I was so disgusted with the turn around in Jennifer's future that I almost DNF. Thankfully, the book does improve slightly here as when Jennifer shares her 'good news' with her loved ones, she soon learns who those people really are. The ending was nice but predictable.

Finally, let's talk about the title. The book has not been released yet so I sincerely hope this issue gets fixed because it has really irritated me. On NetGalley the book is titled 'Life and Other Happy Endings', on my Kindle the download appears as 'Death and Other Happy Endings'. This would be fine as it is an ARC copy, however, the book is on Goodreads twice as it is posted under each title. Almost like there is a sequel. But there isn't. Both have the same blurb and the same release date.

I really enjoyed this book. I don’t think I have had empathy for a character so quickly before. I connected with Jennifer right from the start. Being a younger sister myself, I could relate to a lot, but thankfully not all of her relationship with Isabelle. All the characters in the book are written so well, it was a joy to read. I definitely recommend this book. Thank you #netgalley

Oh wow, I was absolutely delighted at the way this whole book played out!

Jennifer is given the devastating news that she has three months left to live. What does she do with that time? I guess none of us knows what we will do until we are in that position. Despite having a responsible position in HR, Jennifer has not always stood up for herself and so with a limited time left on the planet, she has decided to live her most authentic life.

I LOVED how Jennifer tackled this issue, I really liked her as a character and I laughed and cried along with her and cheered her on as she tackled some very unsavoury aspects of her past with courage and gusto. I could probably have done without the F word being used so much, but that is a minor distraction from this pretty incredible book.

Hard to categorise this book but if you like a story that make you think and you want to read about an ordinary girl thrust into extraordinary circumstances who makes the best of it, this is the book for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Transworld Digital.

This is a lovely strangely upbeat book considering the topic it covers
Jennifer who has had a reasonable crack at life, she was the clever one at home her sister Isabelle was the pretty one,used to pinch Jennifer’s boyfriends

Jennifer now works in HR and likes her job and her friends all who are either married with kids or getting married
Jennifer isn’t feeling great and so goes to her doctor’s they take blood work tests tell her to call in a week or so. But they ring Jennifer much quicker and she begrudgingly goes to see him he tells her she has a terminal blood disease and has 3 months to live
Jennifer can’t believe it 3 months 90 days and she will be gone
She decides that she needs to write to people and tell them why she is no longer friends or lovers with them
How will they all take it???
There are some sad parts to this story but underlying is a funny, easy to read book

When Jennifer is given the results of medical tests - a terminal illness with 3 months left to live - she decides that now is the time to heal some past hurts & reach out to people who had been an important part of her past but who she'd left things awkwardly with. In particular she contacts her sister, her ex husband and an old friend.

The way each responds to her news is interesting & Jennifer's new found honesty is refreshing.

It's a funny book, easy to read ... there are a couple of parts that are pretty far fetched & unrealistic, but I guess that makes it a good "beach read" type of story? I thought the ending was a bit weak and overall, it's not my usual type of book but it was an amusing diversion and did make me think about how I might react if told I had 3 months to live ...

Disclosure: I received an advance copy of this book via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

This is a very quirky and upbeat book about a very average woman (Jennifer) who is told she has a very rare blood condition which is terminal. Unsurprisingly it makes her think about her life and she decides to write to three people who she wishes she’d spoken out to before. The responses were interesting above all In that they made Jennifer wish she’d learn to be more honest in the past. The story has a degree of far fetched, one scene in particular however if you’re happy to suspend credibility to a degree this is a positive and thought provoking read.

Thank you to Ruth Richardson at Transworld Publishers for inviting me to read a digital proof copy of this book - my thoughts are my own and are not influenced by the gift.

Since receiving the digital review copy in February 2020, the title has changed from Death and Other Happy Endings to Life and Other Happy Endings. The paperback is being published on 28th May 2020 in the UK.

This book was a great summer 2020 read, following the life of Jennifer, who has been told that her extreme tiredness is in fact a terminal illness with only 3 months left to live. Whilst that may not sound like a cheerful book to read, a series of events happen which include lots of funny moments when Jennifer starts about setting her affairs in order, sending letters out to people she believes have wronged her and acting in ways she wouldn't normally have done so.

It is difficult to comment further, without giving away spoilers, but please believe me when I say that this is a great book with plenty of twists and laugh out loud moments.

Jennifer is told she only has 3 months to live, she decides to write to people who have let her down in her life so far, and to 1 friend who she feels she,herself, let down. She is then given a second chance and has to live with the consequences of the letters and of the actions she took when she thought life was limited. Well written, hard to put down to see the outcome of her actions. A really enjoyable read.

A predictable easy read. Funny in places and sad in others. Not totally believable.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Where to start? I'm glad the title has been changed and the word 'death' has been removed from it, although the ARC I received had the old title and I found it off putting. It's a bit too depressing for what I think is actually meant to be (or turns out to be anyway) a chick lit novel.
I didn't like the main character, Jennifer. Her tone was too flat and I was not engaged by her. Yes, I know she had some extremely difficult news to deal with, but even so. I expected more emotion from her.
The fact she chooses to obsess over her exes when she thinks she's dying is a bit odd. It would have been more believable for her to have a list of things she wanted to do. I do understand her writing to her sister though, and the story of how the sisters repair their relationship is probably the strongest thing about this book. I don't think the story line over Jennifer's old school friend trying to kill herself is dealt with very well.
For Jennifer not to seek a second opinion or look into treatment was also unbelievable, as was the heath scene. That was just plain weird.
What happens to Jennifer later on in the novel is predictable. I knew it was coming and I was disappointed to be proved right. When I first picked up the book and saw this was a story about a woman in her earlier 40's who didn't have children I thought, brilliant, it's not often you find a book like this. I nearly stopped reading because of it, but I carried on because I wanted to find out what happened at the end. The end is nicely written, but I do feel the author could have done so much more with this story.
With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel by Melanie Cantor is based on the story of Jennifer Cole. After finding out she only has 3 months to live she writes 3 letters... one to her sister , one to her ex-husband and the last one to her ex boyfriend saying in them everything she ever wanted to say.....
It is written in a brilliantly funny way. i didn't want to put it down and thoroughly recommend it as the book of summer 2020

I really struggled to get into this book. I found Jennifer hard to connect to and the tone felt unrealistic.

Oh this was a really lovely read. I really liked the characters and I sort of guessed what would happen but it still didn’t stop my enjoyment of a really nice story. Thanks to #NetGalley for the advanced read #DeathAndOtherHappyEndings