“Smart writing, clever plotting, and an original, finely drawn, and relatable protagonist. Charming.”
—Graeme Simsion, bestselling author of The Rosie Project
“A charming and original love story full of depth and characters you'll be rooting for.”
—Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year
Klara and Alex are having trouble connecting, but at least their calendars are in sync.
Klara—who’s always thought of herself as a little different, a sneaker in a world full of kitten heels and polished boots—is feeling a disconnect these days. She has type 1 diabetes, currently works in a dead-end job, and is in desperate need of a change. When her dad falls ill, Klara begrudgingly agrees to help run his small construction company while he recovers, even though it means moving back home and pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone to the extreme.
Alex has been a shell of himself since his brother died in an accident. He’s unemployed, has bills piling up, and is distant from friends and family. His therapist is encouraging him to keep things manageable by setting up a calendar, checking off tasks each day, and looking for work to help get him back on his feet. When an ad pops up for a carpenter position at a small construction company, he jumps at the chance to take a step forward.
Klara's and Alex’s stories unfold through a series of miscommunications in this clever and witty novel from debut author Ally Zetterberg that’s about finding acceptance and even love in unexpected places.
Genre: Romance
—Graeme Simsion, bestselling author of The Rosie Project
“A charming and original love story full of depth and characters you'll be rooting for.”
—Sophie Cousens, New York Times bestselling author of This Time Next Year
Klara and Alex are having trouble connecting, but at least their calendars are in sync.
Klara—who’s always thought of herself as a little different, a sneaker in a world full of kitten heels and polished boots—is feeling a disconnect these days. She has type 1 diabetes, currently works in a dead-end job, and is in desperate need of a change. When her dad falls ill, Klara begrudgingly agrees to help run his small construction company while he recovers, even though it means moving back home and pushing the boundaries of her comfort zone to the extreme.
Alex has been a shell of himself since his brother died in an accident. He’s unemployed, has bills piling up, and is distant from friends and family. His therapist is encouraging him to keep things manageable by setting up a calendar, checking off tasks each day, and looking for work to help get him back on his feet. When an ad pops up for a carpenter position at a small construction company, he jumps at the chance to take a step forward.
Klara's and Alex’s stories unfold through a series of miscommunications in this clever and witty novel from debut author Ally Zetterberg that’s about finding acceptance and even love in unexpected places.
Genre: Romance
Praise for this book
"A truly fantastic rom-com that had me laughing out loud. You'll want to immediately clear your calendar to read this clever and funny book! A great hook, wonderful characters, and an original plot. Five stars!" - James Bailey
"The Happiness Blueprint is a wonderful book, full of love and hope, empathy and insight. Ally has crafted two of the most distinctive voices I have ever read. It is hard to believe this is a debut!" - Laura Carter
"A charming and original love story full of depth and characters you'll be rooting for." - Sophie Cousens
"I loved this warm, funny but unconventional love story about two people searching for their place in a world full of seemingly insurmountable challenges - and finding their place might just be with each other." - Claire Frost
"A rich and rewarding take on romance, relationships, family, grief and finding your place in the world. This is a funny, moving, satisfying read with characters that captivated me." - Jennie Godfrey
"A witty, unique and heartwarming tale of two lost souls and their bumpy journey to self-knowledge. The Happiness Blueprint leaves you full of joy - I loved it." - Emily Howes
"A hopeful, honest debut novel filled with individual, tender and layered characters you will grow irremediably attached to. I was rooting for Klara and Alex from page one and continued to think of them as my friends long after finishing the last chapter. The Happiness Blueprint is the best kind of romcom, one that embraces not only the search for connection, but also neuro-diversity, loneliness, grief and the complexities of life, and shows us that everybody's experience and happiness matter. I also really enjoyed the main character's firsthand expat experience and how authentic it felt. A great read - I couldn't recommend it enough!" - Sarah Jost
"A whip-smart, compassionate and funny book that sweeps you away yet, thankfully, doesn't slot neatly or predictably into any single genre. Yes, there's romance on the cards, but it's also about family bonds, grief and the desire to belong. Reading between the lines is one of the themes of The Happiness Blueprint - as well as the difficulty of finding yourself on the same page as other people. For Klara, striving to find this sense of belonging comes with extra layers, but you'll be rooting for her all the way." - Jo Leevers
"I enjoyed every page of this gorgeous debut. Ally Zetterberg writes with warmth, wit and insight and I was immediately swept up in the lives of her endearing characters. A fantastic read." - Hazel Prior
"Smart writing, clever plotting, and an original, finely drawn, and relatable protagonist. Charming." - Graeme Simsion
"The Happiness Blueprint is a wonderful book, full of love and hope, empathy and insight. Ally has crafted two of the most distinctive voices I have ever read. It is hard to believe this is a debut!" - Laura Carter
"A charming and original love story full of depth and characters you'll be rooting for." - Sophie Cousens
"I loved this warm, funny but unconventional love story about two people searching for their place in a world full of seemingly insurmountable challenges - and finding their place might just be with each other." - Claire Frost
"A rich and rewarding take on romance, relationships, family, grief and finding your place in the world. This is a funny, moving, satisfying read with characters that captivated me." - Jennie Godfrey
"A witty, unique and heartwarming tale of two lost souls and their bumpy journey to self-knowledge. The Happiness Blueprint leaves you full of joy - I loved it." - Emily Howes
"A hopeful, honest debut novel filled with individual, tender and layered characters you will grow irremediably attached to. I was rooting for Klara and Alex from page one and continued to think of them as my friends long after finishing the last chapter. The Happiness Blueprint is the best kind of romcom, one that embraces not only the search for connection, but also neuro-diversity, loneliness, grief and the complexities of life, and shows us that everybody's experience and happiness matter. I also really enjoyed the main character's firsthand expat experience and how authentic it felt. A great read - I couldn't recommend it enough!" - Sarah Jost
"A whip-smart, compassionate and funny book that sweeps you away yet, thankfully, doesn't slot neatly or predictably into any single genre. Yes, there's romance on the cards, but it's also about family bonds, grief and the desire to belong. Reading between the lines is one of the themes of The Happiness Blueprint - as well as the difficulty of finding yourself on the same page as other people. For Klara, striving to find this sense of belonging comes with extra layers, but you'll be rooting for her all the way." - Jo Leevers
"I enjoyed every page of this gorgeous debut. Ally Zetterberg writes with warmth, wit and insight and I was immediately swept up in the lives of her endearing characters. A fantastic read." - Hazel Prior
"Smart writing, clever plotting, and an original, finely drawn, and relatable protagonist. Charming." - Graeme Simsion
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Used availability for Ally Zetterberg's The Happiness Blueprint