The women of Happy Hour are an eclectic group. Their lives intersect in numerous ways and their friendships survive many trials of adversity. Through it all, they share their stories, their joys and pains, their disappointments and loves.

I loved the relationships these women shared. I wanted to join their little group, and by the end of the book, I felt that I had. I consider a book a good read when I don’t want to leave the characters behind after turning the last page. That was certainly the case with Happy Hour.

Each of the women’s stories is unique, yet each carries a similar theme of what constitutes a family and makes a home. Each woman searched and discovered her own answer to that question.

I received this book in a giveaway from the Goodread’s First Reads program.
( )

Free on Kindle. Spoilers Abound. This is a kind of book I enjoy, the story of 4 separate women. In this book they don't really intertwine. The women are friends, although I think the friendship is kind of created for the purposes of one of them, who uses the group as the subject of her column in a wine magazine. Anyway, there are these 4 stories. 3 of the women are survivors of failed marriages & 1 is a widow; 1 is remarried when the story starts. And by the end lots is resolved and mostly people are good & the bad ex-husbands are less happy than everybody else.

This book is a wonderful story about four friends with very messy lives. However it is much more a highlight of the power of healing, rejuvenation after tragedy, and finding a new path. The book reflects the lives of four strong independent women with no real lead male characters. I always love a story with a strong female lead and this book certainly delivers with nice pacing and a fun story.

Reader received a complimentary copy from Good Reads First Reads ( )

It seems that the last few books I have read have been about women and friendships. So, far all of them have been enjoyable reads and this one didn't disappoint either. Even though this could be considered a "light" or "beach read", the topics covered in the story are not light. Each of the women in the story have a crisis going on in their life and must find a way to overcome it. Some of the situations were predictable, but there was just enough "surprise factor" to keep the reader interested. Even though the women were all friends, it wasn't always easy for them to share everything about their lives, but once they did, the friendships became stronger and even more supportive. I was wishing I had a group of friends like this to rally around when I was struggling.

This isn't my first Michele Scott novel and even though this is different from her mystery series, I think Scott can be sucessful in writing a series for these women as well. There was still much that can happen in the lives of these women to make another novel enjoyable.

As this book is read, every woman will realize how important the friends in her lives are. You will realize you can't get through anything without your friends. And, even though they may not give you the answers you want to hear, or understand your decisions, they will still be there for the long-haul. As the story stated, "Life was always changing, never the same." The one thing that did stay the same was their friendships - through all of it -divorce, death, family issues, parenting, teenagers, finances, aging parents, etc. But isn't that what makes life interesting? And each Sunday, as they gathered for wine, food, and support they realized "the only things they can really count on were friends, family and faith".

Since Scott is also a wine lover, and has a passion for writing, horses, and cooking, I feel like we learned a little about her as well, as these were featured throughout the characters in the story. The treat at the back of the book are the recipes for some of the dishes served at their Sunday gatherings.

Since there are a lot of "hot topics" in the novel, this would also make for an excellent book club discussion. There are even discussion questions included in the back of the book. I'm a sucker for great friendship novels and this one didn't disappoint. ( )

A contemporary novel addressing modern day problems faced by women. These are serious problems that are dealt with through laughter, friendship and tears. Those who are fans of the 'Sex and the City' or 'Desperate Housewives' generation will enjoy this read. It is chick lit., but has depth that separates it from the fluff stereotype. However, it isn't so heavy that it becomes depressing. There is a perfect mix of humor and realism that many readers will relate to.

If you can't relate to issues or friendship bonds commonly featured in contemporary novels and shows (i.e. Sex in the City), then this read probably wouldn't interest you. Like most reads, personal experiences will dictate whether a reader can connect with the issues faced by the characters. ( )