Happy Endings: A Novel

I bought this for my wife as she likes the kind of Stevie romance novels. She said it was very predictable and not all that good. She lost interest after the first chapter but maybe it’s just her not that she has anything against sex toys which is basically what the book is heavily based on, but it seems very routine and over done theme.

Happy Endings was the perfect book for my Vegas trip. It held my attention over all the noise of a pool party. I like romance novels but sometimes the plotline is just so unbelievable. Not with Happy Endings! It's just a well-written book, regardless of the genre.I could see myself in the characters and want to learn more about them. It makes sense how Trixie didn't really know that Andre was the Dre from her past and ran into him in DC. The challenges they face in their love are REAL; do you choose between the perfect opportunity for your business/job or do you take a chance on a new love that might be THE ONE? Do you tell someone the things their family said to you and hope it works out or do just keep them to yourself?And yes, it's plenty steamy but not in such a crazy outlandish way. She's not "pulling open her bodice on her supple, glistening breasts." They live in the 21st century in a real world location where you can't just pull open your dress and not worry about people coming in. Trixie knows that she's not the same person she was before and how to express herself with passion but also admits how easy it is to slip back into the same passive roles with someone you loved before.I just feel like Happy Endings is just a perfect story in the lines of a more diverse world. I can't wait to hear the stories of Keisha and Xavier, of Mike and whomever, of Zoe and.... The point is there are plenty more stories to be told from the characters of this book and I hope Thien-Kim brings them to life sooner rather than later.

Happy Endings was such a fun debut. I really loved how body, and sex positive it was. The characters and the storyline were interesting, and relatable. I love that this book was full of diverse characters and didn't shy away from some tough topics. I'm looking forward to the next book in this world.

4.5 stars. This is a delightful #OwnVoices debut novel with a 2nd gen Vietnamese heroine and a Black hero. Trixie has close ties to her family, and friends, Tre/Andre also has close ties to HIS family, friends, and the neighborhood restaurant his late mother used to run. It's mostly set in Washington, DC, with some parts set in New Orleans.There's culture clash, and competing goals. Andre is a little embarrassed by Trixie's current profession - as a seller of sex toys. But not too embarrassed to let her hold parties in his restaurant that bolster its sagging finances, amidst the challenges of nearby gentrification.Disclaimer: I'm acquainted with the author on social media.I enjoyed both the plot and the characters so much, as well as the lush scene-setting. The beginning was a LITTLE confusing - I wasn't sure who my heroine was, at first, but that shortly sorted itself. The sex scenes are HOT, and I loved the use of sex toys, condoms, and flavored massage oil. The names of the products are hilarious.Cleverly done, and I was rooting for Andre and Trixie to make a go of it, in their second time around. Of course, a story titled Happy Endings, has one.

Can I just say it? I’m gonna say it. Hot dang! Cultural diversity and interracial romance AND second chance romance AND laugh out loud humor. Thien-Kim Lam is turning on all my contemporary romance buttons. Not to mention some amazing food descriptions, I’m pretty sure I spent half this book hungry.Ms. Lam does an amazing job describing that delicate balancing act of being a first generation child of immigrants (been there, never going to be done doing that) while trying to navigate your own life and romantic entanglements at the same time, then tops it all off with some absolutely laugh out loud scenes of Trixie’s pop up shops. Happy Endings is a wonderful novel that is real and down to Earth, yet manages to be light hearted at the same time. I look forward to future books and hope to see more of the Boss Babes in the future!

This novel covered gentrification, racism, diversity, sexual expression, identity, community, friendship, and family.Realistic issues during this 21st century that need to be addressed.

I honestly couldn't even get through the first chapter of this stupid story. The whole set up was dragging on and while I try to give every book at least until the 20% mark to fully lose my interest, I could not do it in this case. Maybe I forgot all about the "toy" aspect of this book when I started or I must not have read the blurb so that caught me off guard. The bad dialogue and annoying characters did not make me even remotely curious as to how any of this played out. Guess it's just not for me.

This is such a fast paced, fun novel. I devoured it in a day because I needed to know how things were going to turn out! I mean, it's a classic romance novel so I know there's going to be a happy ending but I needed the specifics - Would Andre stop being That Guy who refuses to ask for help or take it when its offered, would Trixie take the plunge on her business dreams, what is going to happen to the restaurant??? It's a joyful, sexy read that's not coy about its satisfactions. Come for the food, stay for love and Glow-Man.

I enjoyed this book as an easy read, but found it a little slow to get into. It was a little predictive and the title of the book gave away how the story would end. Nice characters, a little raunchy in places which added a bit of spice.

A second chance romance with a strong focus on sex education and sex toys? Sign me up.I really liked this one. I wish the male lead in this one was a little more likeable and less hard headed. Andre left Trixie two years ago leaving only a post it note and never talking to her again, they meet again when she hosts a sex toy pop up in the restaurant his mother left him. For some reason, she takes him back and their relationship is pretty cute. She has obviously learned a lot about her sexuality and what she likes in her years as a sex educator and that was very fun to read. But all the drama they had in their previous relationship comes back into play and it felt like Andre never learns his lesson and the end felt too wrapped up too quickly for me.Overall though, definitely a fun read and a great intro to sex toys and open communication during partnered sex and some pretty funny scenes.CW: Recent death of parent, parental estrangement, parent medical emergency