Lolly Winston

Thank you, Lolly Winston, for writing a book with an authentic take on a real issue with a realistic ending. Happiness Sold Separately should be read by anyone who has ever been in a relationship where they find themselves not quite as enamored with their significant other as they once did.

Elinor and Ted have only been married for five years but have spent two of those years fighting infertility. As El struggles with the hormonal changes of invitro, failed conception, and lost pregnancies, she retreats within to spare her husband because he doesn't see or feel the events the way she does. Ted, on the other hand, feeling helpless and left out, begins to feel alone and takes to the gym. With the help of exercise and nutrition guru Gina, Ted loses that 15 pounds his contented married life has packed on and falls for the trainer.

The twists and turns are subtle and slight in Happiness Sold Separately, but they are poignant. Through a separation when El learns about Ted and Gina, a trial reconciliation, and an unexpected pregnancy, the couple learns that happy ever after does not always mean with the person they thought.

The beauty of this book is that there is no overt fighting, no mean-spirited hate spewed when faults are discovered. While emotions run high and unkind thoughts do prevail at times, the maturity of the plot and the writing leave the reader with positive introspection and positive lessons - people do fall in and out of love, and just because it doesn't work out doesn't mean someone is awful, and it is okay to move on when a relationship is done.

In a world where everything feels so contentious and yet authors write about fairytale relationships that leave readers resenting their actual real-life relationships (because of their inherent fissures and fractures and wondering why their life doesn't look like the movies), Happiness Sold Separately is a refreshing, honest look at what real relationships can go through.

This book should be required reading for married couples who are struggling. It won't save your marriage, but you may find a better way to disagree and let go if that time comes. So well done.… (mer)

i am honestly not entirely sure why i liked this as much as i did. maybe just how true and real it felt and how she captured life and the everyday tragedies so well. there are some turns of phrase and some lines and their placements that are just gorgeous and perfect. i thought this was great. until the knifing scene at the end? like what was that? as well as she'd done the rest of this book, i'm sure she could have figured a way to get them to the soft ending they deserved without this weird nonsensical turn.… (mer)

I was shocked at so many average reviews for this story. I believe in the merit alone that it portrayed mental illness and grief so accurately, and what to do about both, garners at least 4 stars for this story.

Most of the characters are very likable. Even the one who had the drinking problem, you can feel some empathy toward what it must be like to lose a child. Now, the sullen co-worker was not very likable. The story centers around two main characters, Sasha and Rudolph. Both have their own baggage. Rudolph has lost the wife of his dreams. Sasha is undergoing a divorce in a bad situation and has lost her only child in a swimming accident.

I felt like the casserole story was a wild goose chase. I understand that grief can make you do crazy things, like steal a casserole and eat it. However, the detail that went into that story as an aside, and how she buried her evidence, I was anticipating all the way until the very end of the story that Rudolph and Sasha were going to find it outdoors. We are to accept that the crazy coworker who falsely confessed did not do it. I never once thought he did. But somehow, a pharmacist who had a husband who handled the house loved her job, had so much to live for, was "stressed" and had an unexpected heart attack. To me, THAT was the stretch in the story. Now, I will admit that it pulled my heartstrings (no pun intended) when Bethany (Rudolph's first wife) asked about the fluttering heart feeling. My own mom had said something to me like that 1 1/2 years before her massive heart attack. She asked me if I had ever felt like that. I just looked at her and did not know what to say. I was a young married woman then, but I WISH I had gone with her to the heart specialist. She did end up seeing one, was on medication, but unexpectedly died of a massive heart attack.

There are so many teaching tools in this book. For instance, there are the false beliefs and stigma of entering a mental hospital. It is not anything like it used to be, assuming a person is admitted way before the behaviors are out of control. You don't automatically go in and get put in restraints and get electric shock treatment. You will find many people come from many walks of life and many talents. I would love to see high school students read this book and discuss it. They need to know real life as well as academics. They need to be able to recognize when a marriage is in trouble or failing. They need to realize when they need to get help when they can't function in life.

Read this book for the joy of love. I smiled when I read all the details about Rudolph. I am sure guys are going to say he makes them look bad. Well, Rudolph should be the standard for all husbands. Lovingly love your significant other and do whatever you can to make her happy.… (mer)