This is a sweet middle-grade graphic novel about 11-year-old Darcy who is having a rough time when she discovers a quaint little store called The Happy Shop. While browsing the bottled pick-me-ups the store offers, she accidentally breaks one of the magical jars used to collect happy feelings and has no way to pay for it. This sticky situation leads to the opportunity of a lifetime and a little adventure that gives the characters—and the reader—some much-needed perspective.

I found the artwork very clear and approachable, even if on the "simple" side. I'd argue that it's charming! While I did find the ending a bit abrupt, the story of The Happy Shop is just like the products it offers: a quick warm & fuzzy feeling that's definitely worth the while.

Review posted on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5929010008

I've asked my ten-year-old daughter to give me some youth perspective on the middle=grade graphic novels I'm considering for my school library collection. She finally got a chance to read The Happy Shop and has pronounced it "the best book ever." We love the art style and we think it will be very popular with the upper elementary crowd. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!

An adorable graphic novel with a great message of the importance of emotions. This is def going to be a holiday gift for a few youngsters in my life!

Just a bit of cozy fantasy, good for a lunch break. <3

After knocking over a valuable item at The Happy Shop, new-to-town Darcy agrees to work in the shop to pay off her debt. She helps sell jars filled with moments of happiness, and eventually is invited to help gather the happy moments. But the shop is doing poorly, and Darcy becomes determined to find a way to save the charming little business.

The art style here is consistent, if not very detailed. I never noticed an awkwardly drawn person or scene. It’s full backgrounds all around, with a charming atmosphere. The colorwork is flat, no shading, but since it’s consistent, it doesn’t grate.

Olsen has only been releasing books for a few years, and this is her first release with a publisher, instead of self publishing. Overall, it’s a great “official” debut as a comic artist, and shows a lot of promise.

So, if you need a little comfort, a little happy, this book is just like the jars inside: cheap, short and uplifting, in all the best ways.

Advanced reader copy provided by the publisher.

A unique idea to this one, vaguely reminiscent of the dream jars from The BFG. The plot is stronger than the art and nicely integrates the motivations of three separate characters. The messaging is strong.

Darcy is having a hard time adjusting to her new home—everyone speaks differently, and she no longer sees any of her friends. In an attempt to get Darcy out of her room, her mom sends her to the grocery store. On her way, Darcy is drawn to a mysterious shop called The Happy Shop. The store is filled with glowing jars, and, in her exploration, she accidentally breaks one. Sisters Flora and Frida, who own the shop, agree to let her help out after school to pay for the damage. Darcy is a natural, quickly learning how to capture good feelings in the magical jars. However, she is confused when the jar she gives her mom wears off, and her mom starts feeling defeated and regrets uprooting Darcy and herself to a new, unfamiliar place. Can Darcy figure out how to cheer up her mom and learn what happiness really is?

The Happy Shop is an uplifting story about creating and sharing happiness with others. I particularly enjoyed the graphic novel format. The shops also reminded me of the magic found in Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley. Although Darcy is the main character, the real stars are the sisters Flora and Frida. Flora is very kind and collects the inventory for the shop, while Frida is cold and handles the finances. Darcy helps the sisters save their shop and raises many interesting points about what happiness is along the way. Darcy questions whether happiness is simply being grateful for not being unhappy. She theorizes that collecting bad feelings might actually make people happier because they would help people appreciate the things they do have. As a psychology major, this is something I continued to ponder long after turning the last page. The adorable happy jars also help to remind readers to enjoy the little special moments in life, such as savoring the first perfect bite of ice cream, watching an adorable puppy fall asleep in your lap, and walking out in the warm sunshine after the rain finally stops. Pick up a copy of The Happy Shop to be whisked away into the magic of happiness.

Eleven-year-old Darcy thinks she’s found the answer to her problems when she discovers a store selling happy feelings. But is happiness really the only emotion people need? A heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel debut for fans of Inside Out and Pilu of the Woods about understanding the value in all feelings.

Thank you First Second Books and Netgalley for this digital arc.

Very wholesome and sweet middle grade graphic novel with a wonderful premise of a shop that sells happy feelings.

Darcy is sad having moved away from everything she’s ever known and because of an accident ends up working at the store.

Overall a lovely story with beautiful graphics. It did end slightly abruptly for me but it also felt right for the story/middle grade length.

What a cute and wholesome story. It made me think about how we have to be grateful for every momento of happiness that we experience in life.

Cute book! Quite a unique theme with the jars of happiness but I liked it! I could use a jar of happiness sometimes! Overall, thought it was cute and would recommend to younger readers!

Brittany Long Olsen makes wonderful use of the graphic novel in a stylish and enjoyable story for all ages. An entertaining addition to classroom and school libraries.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

*chef's kiss* I just want to jump in this book and live in it.

The Happy Shop by Brittany Long Olsen is a graphic novel about eleven-year-old Darcy who just moved to a new country. She’s feeling lost and misses her friends back home. That’s when she stumbles upon a shop full of mysterious glowing jars labeled with things like “Picking up the last sweater on the rack and it’s on sale” and “Having the perfect weather on your wedding day.” Much to Darcy’s surprise–this store sells happy feelings. After Darcy accidentally breaks one of the irreplaceable jars, she must make it up to the shopkeepers, Frida and Flora, by doing chores around the store, and is soon tasked with collecting happy feelings. But she learns that the magical business is anything but magical. With fewer customers than ever, Frida and Flora might have to close their doors. Can Darcy think of an idea to save the Happy Shop? What if they sold more than just happy feelings?

This book is just a warm hug in paper form.

Rating: 4
Genre: Magical Realism
Thank you Oni Press for providing an e-copy through NetGalley.

Summary:
Darcy and her mother have just moved to a new country, and Darcy couldn’t be further than happy. She can’t understand anybody’s accent, has no friends at school, and her mom is too busy with her job. Darcy doesn’t know what to do until she happens about a small little shop in a neighborhood alley. Run by two older women Frida and Flora, the Happy Shop collects small orbs of happiness from around the city and sells them in jars to people who need a whiff of something good. After she accidentally breaks one of the jars, Darcy agrees to work for the Happy Shop, cleaning and watching as customers come in to brighten their day a little. But fewer and fewer customers are coming in, and Frida and Flora might have to close the shop for good. But Darcy wants to help and is determined to find a way to keep their door open. For instance, what if they were to sell feelings other than happiness?

What I Liked:
The Happy Shop is a quiet and charming graphic novel about feelings, specifically how to handle feelings like sadness. Darcy, in an unfamiliar city, realizes the good in the Happy Shop, but also that you can’t live on happiness alone. Some things are good to make you feel sad, angry, or just bad, and it's how you deal with these emotions that help you move forward. As Darcy discovers, sometimes you have to be sad - and accept your sadness - in order to get better. This is a good type of story to tell kids, especially nowadays. The graphic novel has a simple and cute art style that reminds readers of a cloudy London or UK street (I believe that’s where they moved to), with muted colors that are not too bright or dark, bringing a cozy, edge-of-the-city atmosphere. Overall, a charming and peaceful story that will have readers contemplating their feelings and how they process them.

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!

Recommend to: Kids who like magical realism in graphic novels and who want to deal with strong emotions. Inside Out is a good movie parallel.

Review Date: February 12, 2024

This was a super quick and cute read! I thought the premise was very unique and loved that the shop was open to implementing Darcy’s suggestions. The ending was the perfect feel good moment.

Uma gracinha! Amei a ideia do livro de ter uma loja que vende felicidade instantânea, e o ponto alto pra mim for mostrar o quanto a felicidade é relativa e complexa. As dinâmicas entre os personagens também me conquistaram, além das ilustrações em si serem uma graça.

Fofo demais. Espero que tenha continuação, vou adorar ler outros volumes sobre essa loja.

Obrigada #NetGalley e #OniPress pelo ARC.

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Cute! I loved the book's idea of having a store that sells instant happiness, and the highlight for me was showing how relative and complex happiness is. The dynamics between the characters also won me over, in addition to the illustrations themselves being adorable.

Very cute. I hope there is a sequel, I will love reading other volumes about this store.

Thank you #NetGalley and #OniPress for the ARC.

Thank you net galley for sending me an eArc

The art style of this graphic novel was what made me read it and I really liked it! It's really cute! Although I expected more from the story I thought it was gonna be more emotional . But I liked the idea and the message it tried to convey.

This had me bawling my eyes out in sappy feelings, 2am Monday morning (despite needing to wake up at 6am to commute to my university).

This is such a beautiful story about finding family and purpose when your life is thrown upside down. I believe the character moves from the US to Ireland, and is feeling lonely and isolated in a new country with few friends. She goes out to get some errands done for her mom, and stumbles upon a shop that sells magic jars that carry happy memories.

Everything else that ensues, cured my inner child and also helped me to find more peace and joy in my own everyday life (and remember my sad or happy memories could be the same thing that helps someone else).

The art reminds me a little bit of a tuned down Gravity Falls with a muted tones as the color palette. It was visually beautiful and comforting.

I highly recommend picking this book up, because it is cute, heartfelt, and so much fun.

Thank you to NetGalley and Oni Press for the e-arc!

The Happy Shop follows Darcy as she just moved to a new country. She ends up stumbling upon a shop that sells happy moments in jars. A mishap causes Darcy to have to work at the shop temporarily. While there, she learns about the power of emotions. I had a good time reading this and felt it was a very unique premise executed well. I highly recommend checking this out if the premise intrigues you.

When Darcy wanders into The Happy Shop, she's unprepared for what she finds there: jars filled with happy feelings that will warm a customer's heart. And, when she ends up working there, she manages to teach the elderly proprietors that sometimes even a sad feeling can lead to happiness in the end.

I loved everything about this one - the art, the characters, the concept, and the smiles the book brought to my face.