The Forgotten Guide To Happiness - Sophie Jenkins

Description

A life-affirming debut, perfect for fans of Rowan Coleman and Lucy Diamond.

You can lose your memory, but you never forget how to love…

Lana Green has a talent for pushing people away. As a writer, she’s perfectly happy to be left alone with her books. But when she meets Jack Buchanan and Nancy Ellis Hall, Lana’s solitary life will change for ever.

Nancy has dementia, and social services believe this makes her vulnerable. But Lana can see the funny, brilliant woman underneath the illness.

As Lana and Jack struggle to keep Nancy out of a care home, Lana starts to question everything she ever thought mattered.

Because what’s the point in stories, if there is no one to share them with?

Review

I wasn't really sure what this book was going to be about exactly - I was intrigued by the idea of Lana (28 yrs old) becoming a house mate with an 80 year old woman. Once I began to read this book I was just hooked straight in - it felt like coming home, I just instantly clicked with the character of Lana.

Maybe it helps because Lana is a writer and I am always intrigued by writers. We also get to follow her to the publishers for a little chat about her newest book and other writer type things. I just loved it! If that wasn't enough she then she moves in with Nancy who is an octogenarian famous writer - two writers in one book!  I just loved the description of Nancy's house too. Unfortunately Nancy has dementia and there was a whole other side to the story with her forgetting most of the time what she was doing and getting muddled up. I felt that the dementia aspect was very true to life and well written. 

Lana has a bit of a writers block but she needs to pay her way in the world so she begins to teach a writing course and I found the little insight into writing techniques fascinating and it became a book within a book. There were also the would be writers on the course and their stories too along with Nancy who Lana invites along. Lana feels if she could only take some tips from Nancy, get to know her technique she could be a better a writer.

Aside from all the girl fan writing stuff there is a love story here too. Nancy has lost a love but maybe she's found another - or has she. A little bit of will they won't they which by the end had me racing to find out - well will they or not! 

A lovely gentle read which I was sad to finish. I just loved it - did I say that already! I'm giving it five out of five stars. My thanks to Netgalley and Avon Books for my ARC to review.