HAPPINESS FOR BEGINNERS marks my third read by Katherine Center and it comes to a close tie as my favorite of her works that I’ve read to date.

Helen is a thirty two year old woman who is  recently divorced when she signs up for a wilderness survival course after her younger brother talks her into it. She’s seeing it as a chance to refresh her life and start again, but when she finds out her brother’s friend is also taking this course, she can’t imagine a worse outcome. 

I love that Katherine’s main characters (in the three books I’ve read to date) are women who are strong and independent. They’re a little flawed and a little hurt, but trying to make the best of the situations they’re thrown in. They’re funny, hopeful, and very relatable.

The plot and setting were creative and was a solid structure for a unique and original rom-com. I loved the wilderness survival course idea and all the characters Helen meets because of it. So many organic and interesting situations came to fruition because of this setting - it was just perfect. 

Jake is a swoon-worthy male lead. He’s got a killer personality and is the perfect person to further Helen’s self-empowerment journey. I loved the way the romance aspect built up as the novel progressed. The flirtatious banter was on point and such a fun vibe. 

This was such a feel good book with several layers of hardship interspersed. I easily binged it without a second of wanting to put it down. Katherine is a phenomenal author whose work I will continue to seek out in the future!