I remember when I was young and single. Everyone seemed to have met someone and began to settle down and as I was in my 20's having not long come out a serious relationship, pressure was still on my to "settle down". I was just happy being single at that point. Yes I met James and we are now married with 2 children but it was done in my own time and not where everyone expected me to.
My thoughts returned to that time after reading a wonderful book, Happily by Sophie Tanner.
The book follows the life of Chloe, who after a night drunken adventure with her friends, decides to re-evaluate her life and finally embrace being single by looking at it from a very different, but amazing, perspective.
Now usually these kind of stories take the more traditional path, girl is single, girl feels like she needs to find a man, girl finds man and they live happily ever after. Happily, however, is not about loving someone else, it is about loving yourself.
After being told "she would never know what love it until she has children" Chloe, rightly so, discovers that not everyone, including herself, needs to have children to find love, she doesn't even need a man for that either. The best person to love you is you. You know your strengths and weaknesses, what makes you tick and the only person you need to answer to is yourself.
I won't give away too much of the story as I feel this is a book you should read for yourself and make your own mind up about it but lets just say it is not what you expect, in a good way!!
The characters are great fun and easy to relate to in the way that I know people like them in real life and it makes the story lovable in that aspect. Chloe, is a strong and fantastic woman who is on a journey we have all taken, to a point.
For me, this book is about self discovery, it brings home the importance of being yourself and doing things in your own time and in your own terms.
I would recommend that every woman should read this and take away from it a valuable lesson.
If you would like to purchase the book you can do so on Amazon which is free on Kindle Unlimited or 99p for non Kindle unlimited members.
I've just looked more into book and seen that some of it is based on events in the author's real life. I think it could be something that could become more popular as people turn away from forced choices and other people's expectations.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is based loosely around the author's experiences :) I agree with you. That is what I loved most about the book, showing that you do not need to live to others expectations, just your own x
DeleteOh this sounds good, I love the fact it looks at the womans life from the other side and doesn't pigeon hole her into a traditional relationship. Mich x
ReplyDeleteIt is such a unique story and a fantastic outlook x
DeleteI love things that make me think and it sounds like this book might do that
ReplyDeleteYou will love it
DeleteOh tell me about other people expectations, every time I see any of my family members, question's like "when are you getting married?" or "have you found someone" popping out like rabbits.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good book so it may be my Christmas present for myself :)
The expectations these days are rather outdated, expecting people to get married etc. Times have changed :) Enjoy the book x
DeleteThis does sound interesting and I have Kindle unlimited so I'll check it out x
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you think :) x
DeleteI like books and films which empower women and show them that men do not necessarily mean happiness
ReplyDeleteThere should be more like them I say x
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