For anyone who enjoys summery novels by Elin Hilderbrand or Sarah Morgan, Susan Mallery's The Happiness Plan is sure to be a big hit. Mallery (Sisters by Choice; Daughters of the Bride; Three Sisters) deftly spins the tale of three friends--and the three brothers they fall for. Heather, who grew up with a bitter, manipulative mother, is proud to have built her own marketing agency and happy to get to work with Tori, one of her best friends. The fact that her ex is moving on bothers Heather, even though she is the one who broke things off. Tori finds herself falling for her doctor neighbor, whose two brothers are Heather's ex and the husband of their friend Daphne. Daphne, a high-powered lawyer, thought her marriage was perfect--until her husband accuses her of having an affair.
The Happiness Plan, fast-paced and funny, follows the three women and the way their lives change as Heather hatches a plan, which inadvertently affects Tori and Daphne, to find more happiness in her life. With a beautiful Seattle setting and cheery vibes, The Happiness Plan is an encouraging homage to the power of female friendship: Daphne and Tori root for Heather's contentment, and all three women support each other in their careers and their relationships, which include several huge surprises. Readers who count friends as their found family are sure to appreciate the bonds between the three women and the way Mallery tells their stories. --Jessica Howard, freelance book reviewer