HOW MUCH FOR A HAPPY ENDING?

How Much For A Happy Ending is the story of Sinead Winters' life through her relationships. From her childhood ,when she didn't realise her environment and experiences were far from normal, through her experiences in the tackier end of the "Glamour industry" and the often weird and not always wonderful world of "Adult Services" to, spoiler alert, a genuine "happy ending".

This could so easily have been a tacky and exploitative book but Sinead Winters has genuine talent and while this isn't a read for those easily shocked she tells her story in a humorous and thoughtful way. Hopefully her honesty and openness will show any young woman thinking any aspect of the so-called "adult industry " is an easy to riches that the reality is more of a slippery slope and swimming with sharks and just about any other option is preferable.

Amongst the jokes,and there's plenty of laugh out loud stories, this is a deep and often dark tale as well as being a cautionary one. Not least Sinead has a very real talent for writing and I hope this isn't her only book.

Lots of themes throughout this book, but the sex industry was what got me most interested, and kept me turning the pages. A fascinating field that most of us only know of through these accounts in books, or stories from others. Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I read this book because I think it's interesting to see how other people live- how they make the decisions they make and where those decisions lead. "How Much for a Happy Ending" is an honest look behind the scenes of the sex model/porn industry. The author shares her story with frankness and humor. Author S. E. Winters eventually becomes a therapist and creates her own "happy ending". Given her psychology training, I would have been intrigued to hear more about the psychological part of her journey. I wish her well.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this book.

I loved How Much For a Happy Ending by Sinead Winters! This book is an entertaining memoir with serious undertones. Sinead was raised in a council estate in Britain, to rather unconventional parents. She then went on to an abusive marriage, a career in the glamour/sex industry, and finally a career as a therapist. Sinead tells her story in a conversational manner, to the reader as a friend.

This book does have some more sexually graphic pieces, but they are not central to the story. If you are uncomfortable with descriptions of various situations, you can definitely read past them and still enjoy the story.

As someone who has grown up very blessed, without abuse or the sex industry being part of my life, I very much appreciate this book. I believe we need to read books from people who have had different experiences from ourselves to learn. Sinead shows us a logical progression of her life based on how and where she was raised. She shows us places where she made mistakes, and places she believed circumstances dictated the choices she made. Sinead ponders turning points in her life, looking at the fact that while her experiences shaped who she is and gave her greater empathy as a therapist, they were also damaging.

What is the right answer, or is there a right answer? I think Sinead Winters, more than many of us, is able to appreciate hard experiences for the things they taught her. She is a master of looking ahead and making do with the lot life dealt.

Do I agree with all of her choices? I don’t – but I also wasn’t there. Who am I to say there was another, better path? We don’t have a right to judge unless we are taking steps to help. I love that Sinead is now a therapist – she talks about how much her life experiences help her empathize with victims in difficult situations. She gives examples like understanding why abused women go back to their abusers. Yes, there is Stockholm syndrome. There is also the question of “how do I make a living for myself and my child if I leave”? Many of us are so quick to say – “well just leave” – but provide no practical support!

I love Sinead’s writing style and self-deprecating sense of humor. This book has layers to enjoy.

Last year I discovered biographies are not just a stream of dry facts or a film by film summary of a starlet's life. A life is colourful and fascinaing and if that story is well told then an engaging read can follow. I hopped onto Netgalley and for the first time I headed to the biography section. There were several books which just looked to be as dry as the desert sun. Some "celeb" stories for people I had never heard of and in the mix was a title which stood out: How Much For A Happy Ending? It caught the eye and I liked the use of an ironic pun for a title so I had a scan of the blurb and it didn't sound like it would be boring. I was right, it's many things but boring isn't one of them!

From a young age our narrator, Sinead, takes the reader through her early awakening sexuality. Her upbringing in a council estate and her relationship with her seemingly unconventional parents and then her story moves into her relationships with troubling partners. Through the story Sinead's developing sexual confidence grows and she finds herself turning to various ways to use her body and knowledge to earn a wage. It should be made clear that Sinead isn't setting out to paint a rosy story of positive life experiences but the humour is often self-deprecating and she keeps a confidence in herself (in the main) to push through challenging situations.

After a few youthful encounters Sinead realises she has the confidence in her body to turn her hand to modeling. She speaks openly about the pressure young women can find themselves put under to offer more than just pictures and also the variety of pictures which could be taken may also shock some readers. Time and time again Sinead finds herself in new and unfamiliar situations and must decide how best to contend with the dilemmas she faces. The night she tried to become a model for tv chat numbers is told with humour but the pressure of the situation for a young woman to face alone is also somewhat concerning.

From photoshoots, to TV appearances (walking naked down the high street) and then to more personal one to one liaisons - while always keeping on the right side of appropriate behaviour - there are shocks, tears and upsetting events. It can be a hard read but the tone is kept light and matter of fact so despite the seriousness of a situation you feel the author is just looking to tell a story rather than use examples of behaviours to seek to change the world. There will be things which will feel inappropriate and some of these are between Sinead and her partner rather than any clients or firms she is working with. We are all different and all have different desires did feel like an approach which is used more than once.

Very much not my normal type of read but it was interesting and even educational (though I am not sure when I may ever need to use some of the knowledge I gained). Possibly not for the more prudish reader, the scenes of a sexual nature are not presented in vivid technicolour but discussed in mature and sensible manner - the book is better for this non-glorification of our desires.

I will be looking to read more biographies over time, perhaps not one quite so eye-opening as this!

How much for a happy ending
Sinead
Many inconsistent within the book at that start. Its a very connectable book to many people due to the nature. Ally he telling me with number was off putting about everything. Her upbringing in a council estate and her relationship with her seemingly unconventional parents and then her story moves into her relationships with troubling partners. It's very much as you can image some people lives been. As I got more engrossed in this book I come to enjoy Sinead more and understand her and her reflection of society from her eyes.

Having enjoyed Secret Diary of a Call Girl, How Much For a Happy Ending by Sinead Winters intrigued me from the beginning. I really enjoyed the entertaining yet frank writing style, and I think she got the balance right in telling her story with all the nitty gritty reality of life in the sex industry against what people may expect.

The writing was gripping and the content intriguing. The author had an interesting life and has definitely integrated life's lesson to own her destiny.

An autobiography depicting the life of a sex worker/model. Sinead grew up in a council house in Britain, with unconventional parents who supported her in her ‘vocation’. How many parents would do that!? The author describes her encounters in a factual, sometimes humorous way. The story may shock you and is not for the prudish. For me it gave me an insight as to why and how young women (and men) become sex workers. It is, for many, to survive. Sinead always needed money and created ways to survive financially while always maintaining boundaries she set for herself.
You will certainly not find this book boring, it is enlightening, amazing and disturbing. Not having been involved with any abuse in my life, I have also wondered what led women to stay in abusive marriages, Sinead had two, but luckily then she was able to rethink her life and enjoy a ‘happy ending’ as the title implies.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I always find these books fascinating to read as the author always meets people with strange, but often funny, requests. She writes this book with a lot of humor and honesty. This is definitely an entertaining memoir.