I really enjoyed this slim novel about a youngish woman's obsession with her therapist and her attempts to make friends in 'real life'. It's a very easy read with miniscule chapters so one you can easily dip in and out of but it's not lightweight and I felt it said a lot in a relatively short number of words. Recommended and thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC,

Finished in one day. I could not put this down.
Like the main character I was pretty obsessed. Nothing really happens though.
Sylvie is obsessed with her therapist and most of the book is set in their therapy sessions. The therapist is pretty boring and so the obsession is based on what Sylvie is projecting onto her.
There is no real story or resolution. Something about the writing just kept me turning the pages

ADELAIDE FAITH – HAPPINESS FOREVER*****
“The room feels like the base of a cheesecake”.
This is the first line of the book. Quite honestly, I didn’t know what to make of it. I couldn’t see any correlation between a room and a cheesecake. But what it does show is the state of the protagonist’s mind...
Frankly, this is an amazing book. It shouldn’t work but it does. Most of the novel concerns Sylvie’s off-kilter feelings for her therapist. Through these sessions, we learn about Sylvie’s past relationships, how she views herself within the context of the world and finally watch her make a friend.
I don’t want to give anything away of the story, partly because it will be difficult to do so since the story is so simple and yet so complex. From first paragraph to last this is about Sylvie’s relationship with her therapist. Through the things that Sylvie thinks and says, we learn of her fragile mental state, both now and in the past.
This is a book which deserves to be read. Normally chapter endings contain obvious hooks to make you continue reading. The only technique here are short chapters. I raced though it as though it was a John Grisham or a Jack Reacher story. Though it shouldn’t be, it’s that gripping. Can’t wait for her next creation.

I have a certain amount of fondness for books about women on the edge, and quite a lot of love for books that treat animals well, but while Happiness Forever did both of these it just didn’t work for me. Sylvie’s obsession with her therapist was unrelatably narcissistic and yet I kept on until the end of the novel in the hope that something would click for me but it sadly did not.

Happiness Forever follows Sylvia and her sessions with her therapist. I found the story slightly difficult to get into but once I did found it oddly propulsive reading although I’m not really sure why. I’m a big fan of books where not much happens so maybe that’s why it appealed and for me, the best bits were Sylvie’s developing relationship with Chloe. I’m just not sure the book lived up to the author quotes for me.

Edited to add: big thanks for whoever formatted the kindle document, as it read like a proper kindle book rather than a scrambled pdf which is usually the case on NG!

I'm afraid this book missed the mark for me. The blurb said "hilarious". I didn't laugh once. In fact, I found the whole book somewhat depressing.

Sylvie is a young woman who works as a veterinary nurse, a job she enjoys. However she has also had a string of traumatic relationships - Nick, her first serious boyfriend, died; then came Owen who was controlling, cutting Sylvie off from friends and family; and finally Sandy, who announced one day that he no longer cared for Sylvie.

So Sylvie goes to therapy. Unfortunately she has now transferred her obsessive love onto the therapist. However, at one session the therapist delivers a terrible blow. Will Sylvie be able to cope? After all she has her job, her beloved dog Curtains and a new friend, Chloe. Or will her obsession with the therapist prove too overwhelming?

I'm really unclear what was supposed to be funny about any of this. Sylvie clearly struggles in the world and the therapy seems to do no good whatsoever. I guess I'm missing the point of this book but it all felt as though Sylvie was the same person after months of therapy as she was before.

This book raises several disturbing themes of suicide, overdose, self-harm and coercive control. All these are difficult subjects to deal with but none were addressed by the therapist.

If someone can enlighten me to the funny parts I'd be happy to read the book again. Otherwise it was a miss for me.

Thankyou to Netgalley and 4th Estate/William Collins for the advance review copy.

I love books that center around mental health rep and this one took a very satirical approach. I was laughing at times and crying at times. The audiobook is also really good!

Unfortunately I've given this book a couple of attempts and just can't gel with it.

Did not finish.

In 'Happiness Forever' Adelaide Faith has produced a story, both touching and psychologically interesting, of a young woman who is obsessed with her therapist. Faith excels at the character-driven narrative, with all her characters (including the dog!) being well-fleshed out, while the choice to keep the therapist unnamed is effective at illustrating her protagonist’s obsession of transference.

In exploring topics of limerence, professional boundaries, and friendship, Faith writes with tenderness and a sharp eye for detail. This serves to accurately convey the intensity of Sylvie’s emotions while also providing a separate emotional space in which the reader can explore their own reactions to the story.

I really liked this book! I really enjoyed the beginning and felt really engrossed in it. I liked the theme of obsession and the feeling of wanting something but not being able to have it. I found Sylvie such an interesting character.

I liked the way the book was easy to follow and felt like we really understood Sylvie and what was going on in her head. At some points, I just wanted to give her some guidance and help!

I feel this book has a similar feel to Big Swiss and This Immaculate Body! With the feelings towards a therapist and the obsession aspect, I definitely got the same vibes.

I’d recommend if you like a book about a unique character and books about obsession!

Happiness Forever is a quick and quirky read following a woman who becomes obsessed with her therapist.

Sylvie is the main character and is written in a really likeable and relatable - in the sense that aren't we all a bit lost and confused really - way. I was intrigued enough to keep reading but ultimately found the format a little repetitive and was hoping for a little more to happen in the story.

Overall a pleasant read though.

This was such a quirky read, I really felt for Sylvie at many points throughout the novel and this one will stick with me.

This is well worth a read - a thoughtful reflection on therapy, professional boundaries, queerness, attachment and friendship. Sylvie falls in love with her (unnamed) therapist. There's plenty for us to think about as Sylvie navigates her work, her obsessive nature, a new friendship with Chloe (lots of potential there perhaps?) and her post-therapy life after her therapist retires.

I loved this for a lazy afternoon's read as nothing and everything happens to Sylvie. The ending is ambiguous, but for me, ultimately optimistic. Note though, this is not a romance novel.

Thank you Adelaide Faith and Fourth Estate for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

As someone who has been in therapy AT LOT the desire to know more about your therapist is definitely something I have pondered over a lot. The intrigue of this person existing outside of the room you visit them in. Their reality, their 3D-ness. Happiness Forever is such an astute exploration of this feeling - the want that the therapy relationship is more than simply contractual, that such care might become more, that safety can be afforded by such a relationship forever. This was humorous, bizarre and touching. I felt that every character was at once wholly real but also potentially satirical in some way. If you liked Big Swiss this is the vibe Happiness forever gave me. A very strong debut!

Happiness Forever is an utterly beguiling debut from Adelaide Faith, blending humour, introspection and raw emotion into a truly memorable read. This book takes readers deep into the mind of Sylvie, a woman whose happiest moments are spent in therapy, largely because she is hopelessly in love with her therapist. With an obsession that borders on all-consuming, Sylvie navigates her sessions with a mix of wit, vulnerability and self-awareness, while struggling to find meaning in the world beyond that room.

Faith’s writing is sharp and engaging, drawing readers into Sylvie’s unique perspective with a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. Though the book is more character-driven than plot-heavy, Sylvie’s journey is one of growth, self-exploration and an unexpected but life-changing friendship with Chloe, who sees her in a way no one else does.

Despite covering difficult themes such as abusive relationships and self-destructive thoughts, Happiness Forever never feels overly bleak. The author masterfully balances the heaviness with warmth, charm and a dry sense of humour that keeps the story uplifting. Sylvie’s inner world is a fascinating place to inhabit, and by the end of the book, it is impossible not to root for her.

This is a beautifully crafted debut, filled with heart, wit and a deep understanding of what it means to be human. It is a book that lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

I really enjoyed this and just felt for our main character all through. I think it was delicately done with really funny parts that both softened and darkened the story.

Sylvie on paper is fairly well adjusted, she has an apartment she maintains, a job she does well at (even if she is a bit emotionally absent while there) and she has a special needs dog she takes great care of. Her current obsession happens to be her therapist but she has a history of projecting onto her relationships and wants to change. I was a bit bored reading this at times; personally I found the excerpts from her job at the veterinary office to be the most interesting parts of the book. Give it a shot if you liked Big Swiss by Jen Beagin

Seemingly efficient Veterinary nurse, Sylvie, has problems with relationships, she is obsessed with her therapist. finds problems trying to sort her life out. A new friendship with Chloe may help with the obsession?

A funny and touching debut novel. I think this would be an interesting book for trainee therapists to read alongside others

I found this book so intriguing - although as a training therapist slightly disturbing. It was a really interesting study of the therapeutic process and of love and loss. I have made it sound quite heavy but actually it felt like quite a light hearted book. I would definitely recommend it and look forward to seeing what she writes next. Thanks to NetGalley for the early copy.