I’d like to thank Random House UK, Transworld and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Life and Other Happy Endings’ by Melanie Cantor in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
When Dr Mackenzie tells Jennifer she has a rare and untreatable blood disorder and has three months to live she buys a calendar and crosses off each day from 90 downwards. She writes letters to the three people who’ve been important in her life, her ex-husband, ex-boyfriend and sister, and is surprised by their replies. Then she’s called back to the surgery and given some important information!
‘Life and Other Happy Endings’ (previously called ‘Death and Other Happy Endings’) is a story of life, death and more than a few surprises and it’s been a pleasure to read. The story is well-written, amusing but also sad in places, and I like the author’s way of writing making it flow smoothly and easy to read. Although at the start I wasn’t sure it was my type of novel I kept reading and got so involved in the characters’ lives that I couldn’t put my it down as I needed to know what was going to happen next. This book has been a thoroughly enjoyable read and one I can recommend.

I enjoyed this book due to its unusual story line. A prediction of death, a mistaken diagnosis then a happy ending. Thought provoking at times but very readable.

I picked this book to read when it was still registered as Death and other Happy Endings. The title piqued my interest, and the blurb confirmed I would be up for reading.
Upon reading the book, I think the new title Life and other Happy Endings, is much better suited!
I was fully prepared for a swing of emotions, knowing I was going to be reading about a woman counting down to the end of her life, writing letters to three people who were so important in her life, and I wasn't wrong there.
But the swing of emotions included laughter and smiles, as well as the sadness and dread that I had expected.
I loved the twist to the story in the middle, and the extra U-Turn at the end. Nope. Don't ask for details. You need to read to find out!
Great book!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's about a woman who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given 3 months to live. She decides to write 3 honest letters to people who have hurt her the most in her life, and t Absolutely loved it.

A bold storyline and one that I wasn’t sure I should be reading during lockdown. It took a while to get into it but once I did I loved the book and the characters. Don’t get put off by the beginning. I see it has 2 titles. I prefer Life and other Happy Endings to Death and other Happy Endings as that makes the book more enjoyable and one I’d want to pick up. Thanks Melanie Cantor and NetGalley.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for asking me to read and review.
This story was a wonderful read.
It is well written with some great characters and as a reader you feel you are right there with them. The plot draws you in and keeps you turning those pages.
A brilliant, heartwarming read.

Life and other Happy Endings is a novel that when you begin to read you get the feeling it's going to be an unbearably sad and heart-breaking read. You are proven wrong within a few pages. It's an uplifting story which encourages and empowers you to live life to the fullest. While it deals with some tough subject it's written beautifully so that it doesn't feel to heavy and remains a light hearted and lovely read.

A very unusual book. At the start it appears that it is going to be very sad with poor Jennifer finding out she only has 3 months left to live. Whilst getting everything in order she enters into a journey facing unresolved issues from her past. A twist in the story results in a happy ending. Read it to find out what happens

Jennifer is told that she has a rare blood sister and has only three months to live. Whilst coming to terms with the shock she follows the advice of her best friend and confidante Olivia. She posts three letters. One to her sister with whom she never had a good relationship, another to Andy, her ex husband and his now wife, previously mistress, Elizabeth. The third was to Harry, the boyfriend she lost but still feels there is something, some spark there. She is candid and waits to see what will happen. Everyone replies in one form or another with interesting results. Jennifer blows caution to the wind and let's herself act out of character. She grows in confidence and decides that in future telling people the truth rather than wishing to is the best policy. An increasing concept. What would you do with three lay months of life if you knew you were time limited?

I really enjoyed this book, a perfect mix of humour and a few more serious topics, but all written in such a way that it was still quite light-hearted and very easy-reading.

Jennifer is told she only has three months to live due to a rare blood disorder and so decides to sort out a few situations that's she's just let slide and write letters to three people, an ex-husband, ex-boyfriend and her sister, leading to different emotions from each one, but it definitely sorts things out with them all! But things are never quite as they seem, and just as Jenn is getting used to one way of life she's thrown a giant curveball, and then another one!

I did find the beginning slightly slow, but it picked up rapidly and I couldn't put it down. Jenn's character just got better and better as the book went on. I loved how she got more of a backbone and told a few people how she felt, long overdue, but in the meantime figured out that some people just weren't worth the aggravation but others defintely were. There were some very funny moments that I loved!

There was such a lovely ending too, just perfect! A book that left me with a big smile on my face.

Okay you're dying - soon - so why should unprotected sex matter. After all you've had several miscarriages and 9 months is 6 more than you'll be alive. This book made me cry and made me laugh. Very satisfying.

Loved it

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read an advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

A new author for me and an intriguing title which changed (Death and Life) and other happy endings.... i prefer Life.
I was not expecting this to be full of wit and wisdom and to include life changing philosophies.
Jennifer has had much to be grateful for in her life so far, but she has also had some misgivings and estrangements. As she begins to set her life in order, so she finds fulfillment, peace and much more.
certainly a book to try.

Fabulous story, great really strong characters who are all very likeable. There's some laugh aloud moments and some sadness too, all human life is here. The end of the story comes several times but then is surpassed by more excellent writing. From beginning to end a real treat and a book I will recommend to my friends. The epilogue made me cry. Don't miss this book.

Jennifer Cole is muddling along in life when finds out she has a terminal blood disorder and three months to live. Deciding there's nothing to be done, she starts writing letters to people - her ex-husband, an ex-boyfriend, the sister with the difficult relationship. She tells them both her news, and what she really thinks of them. Then they start replying...

The premise is a little groan-worthy, not least because Jennifer doesn't get a second opinion, doesn't take her medicine, and doesn't question the premise herself in any way. However, I hugely enjoyed the book anyway because the characters were fun and the writing fresh and lively. I found the (romantic) ending satisfying and would definitely read the author again.

Death and other happy endings by Melanie Cantor was a light read for a sunny afternoon. A bit far-fetched in one sense but an interesting premise executed very well. I just love the friendship between Jennifer and Olivia. I liked the insight of Jennifer not having a bucket list for travel when she might need health care and support. This gave the book a healthy dose of reality. Her bucket list instead became about the regrets in her life around failed/unresolved relationships . The book stimulates the idea that things may not always be as they seem and healthy exploration of relationships and behaviours can be cathartic and enlightening (but also that they may well have ended for good reason.) The real strength in Jennifer’s story is the freedom she achieves when she re-prioritises. Maybe a little too neat but I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline and felt I got to know the characters well. A very satisfactory exploration and celebration of friendship, realisation, forgiveness and acceptance.

You’d be forgiven for thinking this story would be absolutely depressing but I promise you, it’s really not. A lot of that down is to the character of Jennifer, who is absolutely delightful. From the very first page, I already knew I was going to love her to bits. As heartbreaking as the news about her diagnosis is, there was something about her personality that immediately drew me to her. Even while sitting in the doctor’s office, receiving bad news, she somehow managed to make me laugh.

Jennifer decides this is the perfect time to write letters to her ex-husband, her ex-boyfriend and her sister. Three people who have been immensely significant in her life, but who have also let her down and maybe Jennifer has let them get away with just that little bit too much. Finally, she feels the time has come to tell them how she really feels about them. After all, she’s dying and won’t have to face the consequences, right?

Death and Other Happy Endings is a moving, yet witty and heartwarming story about relationships, friendships, life and regrets. I absolutely adored this book. I found it immensely enjoyable and entertaining, yet also quite thought-provoking. This is a truly delightful debut from Melanie Cantor and I would love to read more by her.

Given the title of this book, I was worried it would be dark and emotional which wouldn’t be welcome in lockdown.
It was in fact the total opposite. It was lighthearted and thanks to the strong personality of the main character, I found myself chuckling along on a regular basis. The storyline was strong and I enjoyed how the other characters grew too.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this book during lockdown, it certainly cheered me up!

When Jennifer is given a terminal prognosis she sets to right some of the regrets she's had from her past. This opens old relationships and creates a few new. An enjoyable read, which I would recommend.

Fast-paced and fun; I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story which had a really different feel to it. Despite the title, it was really amusing and light-hearted, it cracked along and I was never bored. It was engaging and I just loved the twists and turns in the storyline, as well as the more poignant moments.

The characters were great, they very very believable as were the scenarios they found themselves in. Jennifer, the lead character, gets some dreadful news and the way she dealt with it was brilliant. I loved her humour and also her inability to believe she special. The way she grew throughout the story and dealt with her ex-boyfriends was great.

If you want a light-hearted book, which is heartwarming and fun to read, then this book is perfect. I highly recommend it.

A very bold storyline, an interesting main character but somehow it didn’t quite work for me. It was however an enjoyable read and I guess it makes everyone think what they might do if there were put in a similar situation.