Once upon a time there was a girl dating a handsome, well-to-do boy and they were in love ... as in love as any two teenagers can be ...
The boy's parents loved the girl and she loved them in return, but the boy was destined to leave for college which saddened the girl. Then, one day, the girl comes up with a plan to keep the boy home and to keep the love of his family forever.
Life never happens like we imagine. It's hard to tell where things go wrong sometimes, isn't it? Only this time, we know where things went wrong. The girl's plan came to fruition but she didn't get the end result she wanted. Her life was turned upside-down.
Meet Nina. She is not the girl mentioned above. Nina is smart, successful, snarky, and sassy. She has a hard time feeling like she belongs anywhere, especially after her mother dies. She was married - once - and it was brief. After her mother's death, Nina sets herself on a quest to find answers for some long-ago asked questions.
Meet Lindy. Lindy, too, is not the girl mentioned above. Lindy has a nervous tick in that she has to count odd numbers divisible by 3 in order to calm down and not become anxious. Prime numbers are also her friend. Lindy is married to her high school sweetheart and they have 3 children. Lindy's part of the PTA, she owns a successful hair studio, and her house was built by her husband. If life is so idyllic then why the nervous ticks? Why indeed.
Meet Phoebe ... or rather, LuLu of the Starbabies. She's a recording artist from a small Connecticut town who just happened to make it big during the 1980s. Phoebe's success came after she moved from Connecticut to California soon after the love of her life was killed in an accident. Now a single mother, Phoebe saw no choice but to give up her two girls, Kate and Poppet, for adoption because she didn't have the money (or willpower, thanks to postpartum depression) to take care of them.
Told in a way that makes you feel like the characters are keeping you at arms' length, THE SURVIVOR'S GUIDE TO FAMILY HAPPINESS is captivating in its standoffishness. The tone is perfect for this story and helps you to understand why Nina, Lindy, and Phoebe are the way they are.
I didn't always agree with Nina's reactions but I understood her better than any of the other characters. She was, hands down, my favorite. Her instant motherhood into an already-made family was something I could relate to. It isn't easy stepping into someone else's shoes and wondering if you measure up. There's no way you do. You just have to be the best version of you that you can be and let that be good enough.
I don't want to make this review too long or tell you too much of the story so I'll end by saying this: There's not a lot of family happiness in this novel but it still draws you in without dragging you down, which I credit to Ms. Dawson's excellent writing skills. I would give this novel about 3.5 out of 5 stars.