Happy All the Time: A Novel (Vintage Contemporaries)

Here we have the tale of Guido and Vincent cousins and best friends. We follow them as they finish their college years and take up their careers. One thing that these young men have in common is that they are both attracted to women who they find very inscrutable. However, the heart being the heart, each young man marries the woman of his desire. Although there are some bumps along the way for the most part life runs smoothly for these couples.I enjoy the late Colwin's writing style. She is able to give us a great sense of place. I enjoyed the description of Holly and Guido's apartment.I think that if you are looking for a well crafted novel that is more character than plot driven, this may be the book for you. If you have been reading a lot of dystopian books or nonfiction, this might be a good palate cleanser. It is a short book and a fun read.

The characters in the book are very interesting and the story is engaging. After reading the book, the title is a bit of mystery. The book provided great discussion at our book club.

I enjoyed this novel, but it took me a while to read it. I’d often pick up something else instead. I wasn’t engrossed with the story, although the characters were interesting, I didn’t feel engaged with any of them. I did love the ending however!

20 years after reading this gem of a book, I searched Amazon and eventually found what I was as looking for; this beautiful story by a refreshingly talented author.I remember while reading this book as a 20-something and I felt like I wanted to be a character in her story. These like able characters would hang out, eat lovely meals together, while learning to navigate romantic relationships and the world. It was something I could relate to back then.When I heard the author died, it made me very sad Her writing was the equivalent of comfort food! Im glad I can order this book as a reminder of what I was going through and be nourished again by Laurie. I wish she were here to write more and nourish me through this stage of my life.Good job, Laurie!PS I will tell Amazon that your book should come up first with this title search (not advertising, give me a break Amazon)!

I love this book! What fun it was to get to know these characters. Two charming men with two difficult-but-worth-it women. They taught each other a lot throughout the book. Loved the dialogue. Which is basically what happens in the story. They talk to each other. No big mystery to solve or action driven plot. But people who care deeply and grow happiness in their lives.

such quirky and likable characters - a study of relationships and how they evolve. really liked this one despite not a lot of action

This is a book that is pitch perfect. It describes and makes alive a milieu and time that really unless say we idolize Katherine Hepburn and watch the old movies was a society and milieu that though privileged and rich had already descended into irrelevance except to each other. Clever and witty and just the sort of discussion you wish you and your friends had if you weren't on social media or rehashing old Friends episodes or sitting down to now healthy new HamburgerHelper, not vegan little me I should add. Fun and gracious and just a little dig here and there that makes you ask, they did? Probably so.

But nothing really happens, and the character development is lacking and superficial. The characters, on the surface, were interesting enough to keep my attention, quite reminiscent of a dinner party.