The Underside of Joy

by Seré Prince Halverson

Losing a husband is virtually unbearable. Losing your children to the birth mother who abandoned them, whilst you are still grieving, is one heartbreak too far. It must not be allowed to happen ...

Ella counts as her blessings her wonderful husband, two animated kids and an extended family who regard her as one of their own. Yet when her soulmate Joe tragically drowns, her life is turned upside down without warning, and she finds that the luck, which she had thought would last forever, has run out. When Joe’s beautiful ex-wife, who deserted their children three years earlier, arrives at the funeral, Ella fears the worst. And she may well be right to.


Ella discovers she must struggle with her own grief, while battling to remain with the children and the life which she loves. Questioning her own role as a mother, and trying to do what is right, all she is sure of is that she needs her family to make it through each day. Yet when pushed to the limits of love, Ella must decide whether she is, after all, the best mother for her children.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Womens Fiction, Drama, Adult Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Seré Prince Halverson is the author of the international bestseller, THE UNDERSIDE OF JOY, published in 2012 and translated into 18 languages, and ALL THE WINTERS AFTER, published in February, 2016--novels that explore grief, forgiveness, nature, and the intimate layers of family.

She and her husband have four grown children and live in Northern California in a house in the woods.

Reviews

[Laura Kay Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

1 Kings 3:16-28, the Bible tells of a story of two women fighting over who was the the mother of one living child. The case was brought before King Solomon, who said he would cut the baby in two, so both women would have the child. One of the women yelled out, "Please, my Lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" After the woman yelled this out he handed her the baby proclaiming, she was indeed the child's mother (NIV).

The Underside of Joy is a heart-wrenching story of two mothers fighting over 'their' children. Ella Beene and Joe Capozzi have made a wonder and caring home for Annie and Zach. Filled with love and surrounded by Joe's big Italian family. One looking in from the outside would never guess that Ella is the stepmother, because in every single way she is their real...and only mother.

Paige Capozzi, the children's biological mother couldn't handle the stress of motherhood. Soon after having Zach, she just checked out. As far as everyone knew she hadn't even bothered to send the kids cards or called to see how they were doing. Joe divorced her shortly after he met Ella, who openly welcomed motherhood. And for three years Joe and Ella seemed to have it all. It all ended one summer morning in '99.

Suddenly, Joe is gone and Ella is on her own with the kids, helping them to deal with their grief. When out of nowhere, Paige turns up. She is ready to take her children back and is ready to fight for them as their biological mother. Ella's world is turned even more upside than she thought possible, as Paige begins making outrageous claims about Joe. Two women fighting over the children they believe to be theirs. The Underside of Joy will have you asking yourself...what makes a mother, but wait to make judgement because you might not have the whole story.

The Underside of Joy is Seré Prince Halverson debut novel. This one had be grabbing for the kleenex over and over and over again! But don't worry you won't be crying long, because you won't hardly be able to put it down!

I absolutely LOVED this book! I mean it really plays with the heartstrings. I'm not a stepmother, but I know without a doubt if I was I would be just as much a mama bear as I would be with my biological children making me relate to Ella...and if someone was with my biological children no matter who she was or how wonderful she was to my children, well she wouldn't be me and I would fight like crazy for them, so I could relate on some level to Paige! What a story! And what I've written about today is only the first layer of this amazing story! That's right there is so much more, so much deeper. Ella really walks through some serious stuff to find her way to the end. I have only good things about this book, it was amazing! This is a book I know I will be sharing with the women in my life!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Underside Of Joy 
by
Sere Prince Halverson

My Thoughts...

I started crying on page 14...I wish I could tell you why but when you read it you will understand why it's best that you find out for yourself.

This  very sad event is what is the heart of this story which is not so much a story of sadness but a story of hope.  But you have to live through all of the sadness to experience what is on the other side.

Oh...there is sadness but there is also so much more.  Characters are shared, explained, challenged and then they grow.   This is so much a story of more than one family that hid its secrets and its sorrows and put them in boxes and under beds and in closets and just wished them to disappear.  And of course that never happens...a family is destroyed but hopefully it is able to sort of reprogram itself from the ashes.

Ella Bean sort of falls into this loving wonderful extended Italian family.  She marries into it and becomes Mommy to Annie and Zack.  She has suffered through five miscarriages and one divorce and this family is ready made for her.  They are her life...she is the mommy.  Then...Annie and Zack's mother comes back after a three year absence and wants them back.  Ella...just the stepmother...has no real rights to them.  But she loves them and they love her...
and she is willing to do whatever she can to remain...mommy.

This is a beautifully told story set in a beautiful little town in Northern California.  Lots of redwoods and vineyards and small town celebrations and a lovely old Italian grocery store that Ella must save.  Food descriptions abound...you will want a picnic basket and wine to sip and cheeses and breads and salads and Eggplant Parmesan to nibble on...you will crave a garden and chickens and a wonderful dog named Callie and two kittens named Thing 1 and Thing 2.  

This book is lovely and sad and beautiful and so well written that you will spend your day on a sofa in a sunroom with a kitty on your lap reading reading reading until you find out what happens to everyone and if Ella will be ok and if Zack will grow up and if there will be happiness at the end of this magnificently told journey.

I loved this book.  Totally.  

[☮Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Club read #31 July 11 2020

3.5 stars
Questioning who should have custody, an absent birth mother or the woman who raises the toddlers, is one of my hot buttons. I was going to try to read this slowly because it's for book club which doesn't meet for another few weeks, but once I started I could not stop. I had never heard of this book or author before. The writing was very much to my liking -- easy to follow and fully formed characters. It's classified as Women's Fiction or chick lit which I enjoy for an occasional read -- this was a good time for it. It also went into some American history that was news to me. The present-day issues covered could actually happen, although the resolution may require a s-t-r-e-t-c-h of the imagination. As in, when hell freezes over.

[Shelleyrae at Book'd Out · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Underside of Joy is a touching story of happiness and sorrow, motherhood and family. After fleeing her broken marriage, Ella stumbles upon her soul mate in the tiny town of Elbow, California. Dazzled by Joe's good looks and the gorgeous children in his arms, Ella can hardly believe her luck and after a whirlwind courtship she is happily ensconced in family life. Then one morning, just three years later, Joe doesn't come home and Ella's perfect world comes crashing down. At his funeral Joe's ex wife appears demanding access to the children she abandoned and Ella begins to unravel the secrets her husband had kept from her. Terrified of losing everything, Ella has to make some hard decisions and can only hope they are the right ones for the children she calls her own.

I was drawn to The Underside of Joy by the intriguing premise and the promise of an interesting conflict between two women who both consider themselves mothers of the same children. Halverson touches upon some important issues in this novel including postnatal depression, infertility, child custody and the role of step mothers. In a broader sense the themes ask the reader to consider if honesty is always best, what are the limits of love and asks how we define a family. These are highly emotive issues and The Underside of Joy treats them sensitively. I connected with this book and it's characters, on an emotional level, I was caught up in the drama and was prompted to wonder what I would consider to be best for the children.
I do have a few small complaints, though they didn't really occur to me until after I had finished the novel. The children are just a little too precocious for their age, the characters are weighted towards stereotypes (the Italian mama, the reclusive artist, the trailer park crazy and the gay foodie) and the plot is a tad predictable. Still, it is to Halverson's credit that it made absolutely no difference to me while I was reading because I was so emotionally invested in the story.
Unexpectedly there is also a subplot in the Underside of Joy that speaks to the little known internment of Italian Americans along with Japanese Americans during WW2 which is fascinating and fits surprisingly well into the themes of the plot.

The story of The Underside of Joy contrasts two women who both want the same thing, three year old Zach and six year old Annie. Ella has nurtured them for three years and considers them her children. Paige gave birth to them and though once she thought it best to remove herself from their lives, she wants them back.
Ella's pain at the loss of her husband is raw with the sadness, anger and confusion you would expect from a grieving wife, which is magnified when she discovers her husbands secrets. I liked Ella a lot, even when I was tempted to judge her for what can be construed as willful ignorance, as she never really wanted details about the children's mother or Joe's business. I feel Halverson created a well developed protagonist in Ella, she is flawed and contradictory but that is what makes her real. She makes mistakes but ultimately tries to do what's right, and takes steps to recover her fragile sense of self - seeing a lawyer, re-imagining the business. Naturally Ella is immediately sympathetic as she loves Zach and Annie so deeply.
I was ready to feel outraged at Paige's demands for her children after she had left them, just a tiny baby and a three year old, with barely a backward glance but as Halverson slowly reveals the circumstances of her desertion I became more sympathetic. Paige isn't as substantial in character as Ella but because this is really Ella's story it doesn't matter too much. It's enough that we get her truth so that we are able to consider an alternative side of the story.
Both Ella and Paige are very much affected by their respective pasts, both touched by tragedy they are swayed by childhood patterns of thinking and behaviour. For both women, Joe's death is the catalyst for them to make peace with their legacy.
The supporting characters also have their own stories, including David, Joe's brother, who was overlooked to inherit the family store, and Liz who snubs Ella in allegiance to her past friendship with Paige. I also loved the setting, being a sucker for small towns with a real sense of community, which Halverson captures with evocative imagery.

The Underside of Joy is an emotionally compelling story and an impressive debut by Sere Prince Halverson. Poignant and thought provoking it captures the trials of motherhood, the intimate bonds of family and the indeed, the underside of joy.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I was able to get a preview copy of this book. The Underside of Joy is beautifully written. Once I started, I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. And now I can’t stop thinking about and missing the characters. It’s about grief and love and marriage and motherhood and step-motherhood (really aren’t they the same?). It’s about family and all the ways we’re shaped by past generations and how our choices and actions shape future generations.
Ella is a woman who can’t have any kids. After a failed marriage, she falls in love with Joe and his two young children, whose mom abandoned them three years before. When Joe drowns, Ella starts to find out he kept a lot of things to himself. His grocery store is failing. The ex-wife (the kids’ mom) starts appearing. Ella’s grieving, but she can’t really take the time she needs because she’s trying to save the store and fight for her family. She realizes she has lived her life on the surface.I think a lot of people live like that. But Ella discovers that that kind of self-deception leads to a thin, fragile kind of happiness.
The author manages to deliver a page-turner with gorgeous prose and fully developed characters who are each drowning in their own way. This story felt so real. I want to live in the town of Elbow with its quirky Italian-Americans, fascinating history, and natural beauty .
I LOVED this book and highly recommend it. We’ve already chosen it for our book club in January. There’s a lot here to think about and discuss.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://charlotteswebofbooks.blogspot....

There are not enough words to describe how much I enjoyed this book. I am a Stepmother, a fairly new Stepmother, but a Stepmother nonetheless. I have a Stepmother and my own Mother is a Stepmother. I can not say how GREAT it was to read about a Stepmother in a positive situation with kids who adore her as much as she adores them. Ella's scenario is not one I am ever likely to be in, but if I were, you bet your bottom dollar that I would fight to the death to make sure my Stepkids are in the best possible situation for them. I also really enjoyed the subplot of Ella's Italian in-laws, specifically her Husband's Grandfather and the time he spent in an internment camp. There are so many pieces to this story and when put all together you have an amazing tale of family, love, sacrifice and commitment.

[Sónia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro cujo título é bastante enganador relativamente à estória que apresenta. Eu, pelo menos, supus que fosse algo a puxar para o romance lamechas mas a verdade é que é muito mais que isso. Mais uma vez lembro as editoras para os títulos que escolhem para as versões dos livros. Este passar-me-ia ao lado se não lesse a sinopse e me baseasse apenas e só no título...

Entremeado com momentos da actualidade e flashbacks temporais, esta obra faz-nos pensar com, intensidade e profundidade, nas relações humanas. Ali não vi nada que pudesse ser domínio da fantasia. Poderia ser o dilema de qualquer uma da nós: Mulheres, Mães, Madrastas, Amigas.

Apesar de a escrita ser bastante fluída por diversas vezes voltei a reler passagens. Não porque não as entendesse mas para poder absorver melhor o significado de certas expressões, a que me dei ao trabalho de registar num caderno. Faço isso com passagens de livros que, de uma forma ou de outra, me tocam. E este tocou.

Ao longo de todo o livro, considerei Ella e a Paige Mães. E novamente me vem à memória o ditado Parir é dor, criar é Amor , pese embora os traumas decorrentes duma infância conturbada, na pessoa de uma delas. Aqui faz todo o sentido esse ditado. Não nego que, desde início, tomei partido de uma das Mães. E quase vivi o drama dela como se fosse eu: entendi a sua angústia, a sua ansiedade, o seu medo de que todo um esforço, outra conjunto e agora a solo, fosse em vão. Na parte final do livro ainda vacilei e o seu fim acaba por ser o óbvio mas até lá chegar muita reflexão nos possibilita este livro na forma E se fosse eu?... É um livro que vale a pena por isso. Noutros, alguns dilemas são-nos colocados de forma algo fantasiosa mas aqui, tanto as personagens como as vivências e os conflitos que se desenrolam, podiam ser perfeitamente reais...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book! It's an honest portrayal of motherhood and family, touching without verging into the melodramatic, and so much fun to read. Once I started I could not put it down until I found out what happened to Ella, Paige, Annie, and Zach.
Warning: this book will make you want to drop everything and book the next flight to northern California--or maybe drive your car to the nearest great Italian restaurant. Really evocative images mixed with great characters and an absolutely compelling story...what more could you want?

[Rene · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. It was recommended in several different places, and the summary hooked me in. The subject matter chosen was infinitely complex, and profound. It had so much potential to reveal so much about human nature.

What I got was a novel that became so predictable by the middle that it was almost boring to continue to read it. I already knew what they were all going to do and what was going to happen next; I just had to keep slogging through the rest of the obvious words trying to point to it. The author uses so much symbolism in her novel that it cheapens the entire point of using symbolism in the first place. She further reduces the subtlety of symbolism by having either the narrator or other characters in the novel point out symbols and explain them in great detail. No symbol is left un-turned and un-exploited.

Good chunks of the dialogue between character is forced, and it was clear that the author was trying to tell the readers something profound behind the characters who spoke as nothing more than puppet heads for what she couldn't find another way to say but contrived dialogue and monologue. While there was much talk *about* everyone feelings for these children who were supposedly central to this novel, they were clearly not independent characters in this book, but served only as vehicles for the author to propel her novel towards its foregone conclusion.

I am a mother, both to biological and adoptive children. While I have never suffered this level of struggle after the birth of my children, I have been there to bear witness to some of those closest to me as they journeyed those dark places. I have glimpsed the magnitude of the pain and the love, the fear and the hope, the selflessness and self-preservation that ripples endlessly when a mother looks within and makes the decision to entrust her children to another. I bear witness every day to children thrust into the position of making sense of the senseless, and picking up the pieces of the choices that adults have made for them. I bear witness to how people join together for the sake of children, and how they fall apart. These things all speak to parts of us that are primal, and infinitely nuanced.

And that, ultimately, pinpoints my entire disappointment with this book--- that a premise with such potential turned into nothing more than flat, cardboard characters puffed up with a lot of talk, who didn't exist in this story as human individuals through which a plot blossoms and makes meaning, but as chintzy props subservient a plot that already had its mind made up. Instead of book whose characters who do justice to the themes in this novel, they come off as cheap imitations of the real thing: surface and shallow, trying to make us see something that the author herself either clearly does not grasp, or is completely unable to transmit to paper. There is no depth of relationships, no depth of parent-child relationship, no depth of individual characters and therefore no true feeling, only lots of fancy words to lead us on a pre-chosen path of discovery that in the end discovers nothing, reveals nothing. Far from doing justice to these themes, this book makes a mockery of them. It cheapens them. I could not have been more disappointed by something that promised so much and delivered so little.

[Laurie Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged to read an ARC copy of "The Underside of Joy," due for release next January. This is a loving account of how a step-mother works through the tragic aftermath of her husband's death and the re-emergence of her step-children's mother who seeks to claim her place in the youngsters' lives. Ms. Halverson gives us an excellent and true depiction of the warring emotions in all the family members, and the ending both satisfies and inspires. It doesn't often happen for me that my eyes tear up, but it did several times in this story, and the tears came naturally because I felt inside the story, wrapped in the setting. The writing is evocative, the story well paced, and the characters still live for me.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book thorugh Goodreads. I couldn't put this book down. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the book showed that there are 2 or more sides to every story.

[Julie Kibler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. This. Book.

Updated: Dec 3, 2012:
I read this novel shortly after the hardcover released and fell in love with the story and the characters. My heart was broken and pieced back together by the situation Halverson explores in THE UNDERSIDE OF JOY, and I was quite speechless when I wrote my very brief review. The paperback released last week and I wanted to add more thoughts here. As both a parent and child of blended families, I found so much to think about in the story. I was moved to joy, grief, anger, disbelief, and finally, hope and joy again while reading. There is truly no "good guy" or "bad guy"--but simply mothers who love their children and want to do best by them. This is a remarkable first novel and I eagerly await what is next from Seré Prince Halverson.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was extremely well written, almost to a fault. I read it in nearly one sitting, having started it at 7 in the evening and pausing for a little sleep at 4am, only to awaken four hours later to finish the last few chapters.
Compelling, authentic, real. There was never an exchange between characters that didn't feel true. As a Mom and a stepMom, I knew going in that I would know if the story ever deviated from genuine emotion and experience. It really never did. The protagonist may have handled things differently than I would have, but she never displayed an emotion or thought that didn't ring true.
Impressive debut. Brilliant, brilliant, near flawless writing.

[Preet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Sere Prince Halverson's debut book and simply put, it is beautiful.

Ella Beane and Joe Capozzi, Jr. have been married for three years. They met and had a whirlwind courtship and were married in a few months after meeting each other. When Joe and Ella met, both were having/running away from their pasts/problems. Ella had just left a marriage broken by her inability to carry a child to term, and Joe was dealing with the fallout of his wife Paige leaving without warning and trying to raise his two young children. When one day Joe breaks his own rule, to never turn your back on the ocean, Ella's world comes crashing down.

With Joe gone, Ella is basically the sole care taker of the kids, but she has Joe's family, his parents and brother David, along with her friend Lucy to provide her with advice and support. She works to keep Joe's family business open and from being drowned in debt. On top of all this and her grief at losing Joe, Paige, the children's beautiful biological mother comes back into the picture and it seems she is hostile towards Ella and has a hidden agenda. But Ella is dealing with everything and doesn't have time to let Paige's machinations get to her. Until she receives a subpoena because Paige has filed for physical custody of the kids.

I've given away too much of the story, but you have to understand Ella really loves these kids. She's keeping Joe's business and his family's history going, and she's raising these children as her own. When Paige walked out on them, Annie was 3 and Zach was only a few months old. They call her Mommy. So when Ella finds something that can change the course of the custodial hearing she's torn. Does she submit the evidence or does she keep quiet.

Ms.Halverson has done an amazing job at writing this book and her characters. They're all complex, and definitely not black and white. The shades of grey make you relate and empathize to each and every character, even Paige. I was reading his book while in public and had to try really hard to keep my tears in control in different parts of the book. Ms.Halverson's descriptions are so apt, that I could picture myself on the beach, in the morgue with Ella, looking at Joe's body, the description of the Capozzi family's shop, etc. It was just evocative and stirring overall. I must say I am blown away by this book and by Sere Prince Halverson. She has a gift for writing and I look forward to reading her future books.

[Chelo Diaz-Ludden · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read an ARC (advanced reader's copy) of this book and loved every moment.
When Ella loses her husband she assumes she'll raise the step-children she loves as her own. Then their 'real' mother shows up to claim them and so begins a tug of war between two women for custody of the children they both love. Just as in real life, there are no easy answers and therein lies the beauty of the book. But it is easy to fall in love with the characters. The setting will also draw you in; northern California charms even as its 'underside' is revealed. Read this book and be prepared for a journey into the lives of characters you'll root for, laugh and cry with, and finally, carry with you long after you close the book.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a perfect book. It is beautifully written and wonderfully plotted. The characters are very real and the story moves at a rapid pace.

[Ellen Wiseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, when I read "The most genuine happiness cannot be so pure, so deep, or so blind." I was pulled into this wonderful novel. With skillful prose and compelling characters, Seré Prince Halverson kept me spellbound to the very last page. Through the beautiful, tragic, emotionally-complex story of Ella Bean and her family, the author masterfully explores the true meaning of love and genuine happiness. This book packs an emotional punch that stays with you long after you've closed it. I can't wait to read the author's next novel!

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was the underside of joy, all right.
The premise of this was actually quite strong, which made the lousy execution all the more devastating. Ella (Ella Beene, actually. Yeah.) is a woman who, after several years with the wrong man and an inability to have children, finds love the second time around with a man who, conveniently, comes with two ready made little kids and an ex wife who walked out, depressed, refusing to take care of her children. Joe, the husband, dies one day rather suddenly, and now Paige (ex wife) decides she does want the kids back - over three years and a new step mom later.
So on the one hand, I like the tension surrounding a mom in name only versus the one who has actually been around, and where the legal favor lies, and blah blah. On the other, this book was so poorly constructed. Ella is the narrator, and she is the worst kind - way too direct and comes across as whiny, immature, and selfish. And indeed, I found myself thinking that this custody fight had way more to do with her than the kids. Ella sounded like a petty sixth grader or, worse, like a really annoying old man - "old man humor" would pretty much sum up whatever personality Ella managed to eke out - and the story, while getting credit for showing Paige to be more complex than Ella allows, loses a lot of point for the Polyanna, forceful, juvenile resolution.

[Louise Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow .. what a story! This was a book I just couldn’t put down. You are gripped and pulled in straight away as the tragedy unfolds and then every page is packed full of struggles, family secrets, despair, with the odd glimpse of hope but all wrapped up in that word Love.

Written so beautifully with characters you will love and long for happiness to come to their door. Gorgeous children and with family relationships that will melt your heart. I believe that this is a debut novel for the Author who has signed with Harper publishers and if this is a Debut novel I am even more impressed, I will certainly be looking out for other books by the Author as they become available. I really do recommend this book to my followers.

Thank you so much to www.lovereading.co.uk for sending me a copy of this book to review – I adored it.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two mothers and two children that mean the world to them both in many different ways. For Ella Beene life became complete the day she met Joe and his two children Annie & Zack, but after his sudden & tragic death all of life’s joy seems to slip away from her. For Paige her life ended when she walked away from Joe and her two children only three years prior and the news of his death becomes a reason to live again and to make up for the moments missed. In the months that follow a struggle between Ella and Paige could end in another tragedy for both of them. Is it possible to have happiness when everything seems to be so wrong?

When I initially picked up The Underside of Joy by Sere Halverson I was most intrigued by how the story would play out and my prejudice against the birth mother Paige began almost before I turned the first page. Who wouldn’t dislike a mother who picks up and leaves when things get a bit tough? But what I learned from reading The Underside of Joy was that there is always more to the story than there appears at first glance. Sere Halverson’s ability to build this multi-dimensional world where the lives of these characters are revealed layer by layer was miraculous especially considering this is her debut novel. Within a couple of chapters I was completely absorbed in Ella’s story, her loss, her future and the potential she still had for losses to come. It was beautiful story telling and one that made me more appreciative of the fragility of the lives we live.

Ella’s story was obviously the main focus of The Underside of Joy and it was something I’d never read before. Imagine marrying the love of your life, inheriting two beautiful children to then have it all ripped away only a couple of years later. It was unbelievably compelling and I couldn’t help but have extreme sympathy for her even when in most cases the step-mother is looked at as the “evil” one. Ella was kind and loving and perhaps a better mother than I even am, so it was unbelievably sad to see her whole life ripped away. Her determination and devotion to her family and the life she created was something I thoroughly enjoyed.

What I was surprised by was how much I disliked Paige’s character and subsequently Joe’s as more truth was uncovered throughout the book. It’s a theme I’ve seen before in other books and one that I find incredibly interesting. We all keep secrets, everyone does. The question is when does it go too far and when do those secrets do more harm than good. In Paige’s case the truth was something that not only damaged her, but her future life with her own children. At the same time, had some of those truths been revealed earlier I’m not sure whether they would have helped or hurt her case in regards to the custody of her children. Would Ella revealed them, were she told by Joe, and subsequently had her deemed unfit to be a mother? I’m not sure, but in the end things played out for the best for everyone no matter how unconventional it may be.

The Underside of Joy by Sere Halverson is a stunning debut. A novel that turns the standard stereotypes of step-mothers on it’s head and creates a gorgeous portrait of a woman devoted to her family & life. There were only a few occasions near the beginning of the story that I felt were a little slow, but otherwise I was completely engulfed in the beautiful writing of Sere Halverson. Reading about the lives of these characters, their choices and the secrets they kept from one another was perfectly crafted creating a story that played out layer by layer to reach a very surprising ending. I’m eager to read more by Sere Halverson in the future and I’d highly recommend The Underside of Joy who loves well written women’s fiction.

Originally reviewed and copyrighted at my site Chick Lit Reviews and News.

[Ciara · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was probably unwise of me to read a novel about a blissfully happy woman married to her dream man, stepmother to his two delightful young children, living the good life in a charming little cottage in northern california, whose life is upended one day when her husband suddenly drowns. especially while i am pregnant. i already have a pathological fear of my partner dying in a freak accident; this book did me no favors in that department.

& i guess halverson read a few books about how your protagonists really need to confront conflict, because it wasn't enough to have this woman suddenly thrust into single motherhood & mourning. no, she had to discover that her husband was hiding from her the reality of how poorly his small independent grocery store was doing. it's deep in the red & she has no idea how she's going to claw her way out of the financial pit she is in. & to top things off, the kids' mother has suddenly reappeared, all composed & glamorous, & she's suing for custody.

the whole thing read like kind of a middling film that might have starred someone like katherine heigl before everyone decided she didn't like her. or maybe jennifer garner circa "13 going on 30". you'd think that with all this dark stuff happening, the book would have a darker tone, but instead, ella hatches a plan to turn the grocery into a picnic shop. called life's a picnic. her sassy gay brother-in-law, who has been suffering the life of the idle rich since he made a bucket of money during the dot-com era, will be the gourmet picnic chef. they will sell sandwiches, macaroni salads, artisanal soft drinks, you get the picture. a reclusive local artist will design a map of the area so tourists know the best places to picnic. it will be a whole family affair, with the grandparents getting involved in coming up with recipes & redecorating. it's just so...cheesy. & in this economy, it's really hard for me to imagine a shop like this being economically successful. especially in northern california, which does have seasons, several of which are not appropriate for picnicking. i mean...a picnic shop. an artisanal olive oil & vinegar store recently opened in my town & i thought that was fucking crazy because who the hell buys so much olive oil & vinegar that they would seek out a special shop for it? but a picnic store is perhaps an even worse idea.

& then, with the whole birth mom thing...turns out she abandoned the kiddos shortly after the second one was born because she was suffering from extreme post-partum depression. her own mother had experienced post-partum psychosis & horrifically abused her as an infant because of it. she was worried she would replicate this familial legacy so she legged it. a few months later, her husband met ella, moved her into the cottage, got a quickie divorce, & ignored all of his ex-wife's letters about how she was getting better & ready to be a mom again. this whole plotline took a serious & potentially interesting subject & turned it into something right out of a bad soap.

& don't even get me started on the whole italian american internment camp plotline. i don't know, man. this book was far more of a featherweight confection than i had bargained for, & not in a fun way.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say happiness is something that you are born with , it is in your DNA. As "The Underside of Joy" teaches us that happiness is something that we experience but in a way I do believe that it is in our outlook on life and in our DNA whether we have a postive or negative outlook on life and depending what our perosnality and life outlook is , thats the measure of how much happiness one can experience. Ella Beanne , passed through a small town called Elbow three years ago and never contemplated that this was the town that she was going to fall in love , create an instant family and then three years later lose everything she has ever cared for , the three things that made her experience the Joy and Blissful happiness. Three years ago, Ella met and married Joe Capozzi . With Joe came two little children Annie- 3 years old and Zach- 6months , a product of Joe's first wife who deserted her family just before Joe found love and happiness with Ella. Now three years later , Ella's life has collapsed from the perfect family to nothingness when her husband Joe is killed in an tragic photography accident. At the funeral, Joe's ex-wife Paige turns up with one goal in mind besides money , to leave with her two children Annie and Zach. For Ella , who has just lost their father can't bear the thought of losing the children too and what follows is a series of custody battles, court cases as all Ella is , is the Step-mother. Struggling with the grief of her lost husband, Ella must now stand strong as she is pushed to the limits and learn what is and who the best mother for Zach and Annie is.
A touching story that will have you in places tearing and other's yelling at the judges for outcomes made etc.
Reader's of Jodi Picoult's , Lesley Pearse, Kirsten Hannah, Barbara Delinksey and lovers of Family saga's will enjoy Sere Prince Halverson's "The Underside of Joy".

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well writen novel with underlying message that in order to fully feel joy, one must also know pain. It is also a beautiful tribute to a mother's love in spite of a past not conducive for love. Above all, through the journey, mothering does not have to include giving birth to love a child.

The story is told through the point of view of Ella, a stepmother who stepped into theshoes and life of another wife and mother who left her own when post partum depression became too much to bear. Ella loves her family completely but is soon confronted hard realities when her husband dies and the children's birth mother returns and makes a compelling case for Ella to see her choices in a different light.

The author starts with Ella's semi charmed kind of life and shifts the balance of the scales subtly in order for Ella to see how Paige was wronged by her husband and may have a legitimate claim to the children she left three years ago. Beatifully executed and compelling. Heartbreaking and hopeful.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

What makes a woman a mother? Is it biology or an overwhelming love for her children? When young Ella Beene is suddenly widowed and left with two step-children, she resolves to make their lives the best she can. But when the biological mother enters the scene, things get complicated. She decides to live in truth for herself and the kids, and generations of secrets must come to light to make that happen. This is a book that runs the gamut of emotions; love , regret, jealousy, redemption and finally acceptance. I highly recommend it. Unfortunately, it won't be published til next January.

[Julie Kibler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved. This. Book.

[Mistery · Rating 2 out of 5]

2,5*

[wrote in portuguese]

Opinião no blogue The Mistery's Garden: Opinião | O Maior Amor do Mundo, de Seré Prince Halverson

O Maior Amor do Mundo tinha tudo para ser uma romance de estreia excelente, mas o seu desenvolvimento deixou muito a desejar e Seré Prince Halverson não foi capaz de satisfazer as minhas exigências de leitora assídua.

Após um casamento falhado que nada tinha para dar certo, Ella Beene ruma a Norte à procura de um sentido para a vida e eis que conhece Joe, recentemente divorciado, pai de duas crianças amorosas e sedentas de carinho, Annie e Zach, de, respetivamente, 3 anos e 6 meses, que foram abandonados, 4 meses antes, pela sua mãe biológica, Paige. Assim, apaixona-se por Joe e adota os seus filhos como se fosse a sua verdadeira mãe e vive os próximos 3 anos junto da família Capozzi «a nadar nas águas da felicidade». Mas tudo acaba quando recebe uma trágica e dolorosa notícia: o homem que ama quebrou a sua própria regra de ouro, virando costas ao mar e sendo arrastado por uma onda. A felicidade de Ella evapora-se no ar. De luto e em sofrimento, descobre ainda que o Mercado Capozzi, a loja e o legado da família, se está a afundar em dívidas. E, quando julgava que as coisas não podiam ser piores, surge Paige no funeral. E quer, aparentemente, levar Annie e Zach consigo.
Ella terá então de lutar não só contra a dor da perda, mas também para provar que o seu amor pelos enteados é tão ou mais forte do que o amor de uma mãe biológica. Mas revelações começam a surgir, coisas que Joe escondeu de Ella, coisas sobre Paige, coisas que mais ninguém chegou a saber. Afinal, quem é a mulher que aparentemente abandonou os filhos? Qual dos dois amores é mais forte: o da mulher que os deu à luz e os criou nos primeiros tempos de vida, de quem não se sabe nada ou quase nada, ou a madrasta que reclamou duas crianças que não eram suas?

Uma premissa tocante e poderosa, como podem comprovar por esta descrição. Mas já se sabe que não basta possuir somente uma ideia promissora. Primeiro, há que fazer o leitor ligar-se à história, agarrar-se às personagens, possuir sentimentos. Grande parte desse trabalho passa pela escrita e a escrita de Seré Prince Halverson deixou muito a desejar. Não possuiu um estilo único e característico que se distinga de muitos outros, apesar de também ele ser promissor. Em alguns momentos é pautado por passagens muito bem escritas e belas, no entanto, na maior parte das vezes, deixa transparecer uma voz ainda amadora. A autora não foi capaz de transpor os sentimentos que desejava que o leitor sentisse para as suas palavras. Não basta descrever os sentimentos da protagonista, é preciso fazer-nos, através da descrição dos cenários, dos momentos, ter sensações únicas e próprias. No que toca a esse aspeto, Halverson falha em tornar os momentos verdadeiramente interessantes. Aquelas coisas banais, como «puxar uma cadeira» ou «pegar no telefone» não me soaram como algo natural no nosso quotidiano. Momentos que deviam ser tocantes não o foram, porque a autora ocupou menos linhas com eles do que as necessárias e não soube escrevê-los de forma a envolver o leitor. Por não prolongar os momentos e torná-los realmente algo, houveram muitas referências que me soavam a palha e que precisavam de mais palha para não o serem. Coisas banais poderiam ter levado a devaneios interessantes que fariam o leitor ligar-se mais à história narrada. As pequenas coisas podiam ter recebido mais importância de modo a que a narrativa fluísse de maneira mais genuína, mas, como isso não acontece, grande parte desses momentos, descrições, flashbacks soam forçados, porque a autora não foi capaz de os ligar de maneira subtil. Assim, de cada vez que o assunto muda, de cada vez que, devido às circunstâncias, Ella visita o passado e surge uma memória antiga, não existe naturalidade na transição e algumas coisas parecem mesmo fingimento.

As personagens escassam de desenvolvimento; são demasiado superficiais. E, quando a autora lhe tenta atribuir alguma complexidade, tudo soa novamente forçado. A família de Joe é o retrato perfeito da família perfeita: uma sogra amorosa e excelente na cozinha, um sogro amável e compreensivo, um cunhado atencioso que é homossexual e o melhor amigo da protagonista. Sim, uma bela família de emigrantes italianos que passam a vida a fazer referências italianas que não adicionam nada de novo à leitura ou à nossa cultura geral, porque limitam-se a falar de pesto e da essência de um verdadeiro italiano com amor à sua nova pátria que são os EUA - basicamente, só estão lá para nos lembrar que Joe era ítalo-americano e eu não gosto de demasiado patriotismo. Acontece que, quando Halverson se viu obrigada a torná-los mais que estes estereótipos, a sogra amorosa torna-se impetuosamente cruel (digam o que disserem, não me conseguirão dissuadir da ideia de que aquela mulher é absolutamente detestável), o sogro amável e compreensivo vê-se na difícil tarefa de se manter amável e compreensivo ao mesmo tempo que tenta agradar a mulher, assumindo assim o papel de ressentido, o cunhado atencioso que é homossexual e o melhor amigo da protagonista vira-lhe as costas porque está desiludido e não a consegue encarar. Quanto a Lucy, a melhor amiga de Ella, não há realmente muito que se lhe diga, porque limita-se a ser aquilo que a autora queria que ela fosse: nada mais e nada menos do que alguém a quem Ella pode ligar quando os Capozzi tiram a máscara. Lizzie, a esposa do melhor amigo de Joe que não pode ser amiga de Ella porque é amiga de Paige (pura infantilidade entre adultos e a coisa mais estúpida que já ouvi que não veio nem de um livro infantil ou de um juvenil), só tem realmente um propósito neste livro, que é fazer, num determinado momento da obra, revelações que farão a história andar para a frente. Não sabemos realmente muito sobre o falecido Joe ou as razões para fazer o que fez, todavia, tendo em conta tudo o que sabemos e descobrimos, posso afirmar que não gostei dele.
E, como não podia deixar de ser, também tive os meus problemas com Ella. Não consegui criar qualquer ligação com ela, com o seu sofrimento e os seus dilemas, e estou certa de que isso nada a ver com o facto de estar deprimida durante grande parte do livro. As suas ações menos racionais escassam de uma explicação aprofundada, o que resultou em reprovação constante por coisas que eu sabia que só estavam lá porque tinham de acontecer, para que a história tivesse pernas para andar, mas que podiam ter acontecido de maneira diferente. Mais uma vez, a autora falha quando tenta explorar melhor certas características de uma personagem, que não acredito que tenha tido direito a um rascunho digno, embora certamente a protagonista tenha sido baseada em pelo menos mais do que meia dúzias de frases. Quando tenta abordar a morte do pai de Ella e as memórias que esta reprimiu, falha no sentido de oportunidade, e algo que era suposto ter impacto no leitor e ensinar-lhe algumas lições valiosas recebe tempo de antena mal aproveitado. Halverson teve, por inúmeras vezes, a oportunidade de nos ensinar como o passado nos marca e modifica, como faz de nós o que somos hoje, mas obviamente que o escasso desenvolvimento do elenco não favorece a tarefa. Pôde fazer isso com Ella, com a família Capozzi, que vive em silêncio em relação a um acontecimento doloroso que se deu durante a 2.ª Guerra Mundial, com David, o cunhado e amigo, que mais tarde nos revela como o facto de ser gay lhe fechou as portas para algo que desejava desde pequeno e levou a rivalidades com o irmão que também viu os seus sonhos serem desfeitos pelas expectativas da família, e, por fim, e sem dúvida o mais importante, com Paige, quando nos deu a entender que nem tudo era preto no branco quanto aparentava ser.

Lá para os momentos finais, a autora tenta explorar melhor esta personagem - de quem não sabemos grande coisa durante muitas páginas - e atribuir-lhe alguma densidade psicológica. Podíamos ter obtido mais fragmentos de Paige, se tivesse havido sequer uma conversa entre esta e Ella em relação à custódias das crianças. Acontece que se limitaram a levar o caso para tribunal, sem uma troca de palavras digna, sem tentar chegar a um acordo, sem falar com as crianças, sem Ella sequer se questionar porque raio é que a sua suposta adversária haveria de querer de volta, após 3 anos, os filhos rejeitados (e claro que, depois, as vítimas são Annie e Zach, as crianças). Apesar de a mini-biografia da autora nos revelar que esta não só é madrasta como é mãe, Halverson pintou Paige como uma bruxa má durante grande parte da obra e, novamente, não soube dar a devida importância a certas passagens e momentos que nos permitiriam conhecê-la muito melhor, descartando-os em vez disso e destacando antes aquilo que não é tão merecedor de importância, mas que a recebeu, efetivamente, e em demasia. Apesar de as coisas terem melhorado à medida que me aproximava do final, o mesmo não me pareceu, de todo, um produto de todos os acontecimentos que se deram durante todas as 274 páginas de história, mas sim aquilo que a autora queria que acontecesse, sem traçar um caminho racional que nos levasse diretamente aquele ponto.

Concluindo, não é um mau livro e é bem capaz de fazer as delicias dos leitores menos exigentes, todavia, não foi satisfatório o suficiente para fazer as minhas delícias. Para além de todos os aspetos mencionados, teve ainda um ou outro momento sem sentido ou razão para acontecer (momentos estúpidos, vamos pôr as coisas nestes termos) que me aborreceram e diminuíram um pouco mais a minha vontade de ler, que não era muita por não ter criado qualquer ligação com a história ou personagens. Talvez, se estivéssemos perante uma obra de uma nova autora portuguesa, eu me desse ao trabalho de estar atenta a mais livros seus, mas, como não o é, não sinto que tenha qualquer tipo de dever para com Halverson e por isso não pretendo ler mais obras suas, já que esta estreia não me surpreendeu propriamente e mais nenhum dos seus livros recebeu tanto reconhecimento. Se as personagens não escasseassem de densidade psicológica e tivessem boas bases, se a escrita soubesse prolongar os momentos e torná-los especiais e não meras banalidades, se Seré Prince Halverson possuísse a capacidade de transpor sentimentos do papel para o coração do leitor,se desse importância aos aspetos que considerou insignificantes (ou não merecedores de importância), se tivesse riscado os momentos estúpidos, se tudo neste livro não suasse tão forçado aos olhares mais atentos dos leitores mais exigentes e se a história fluísse com naturalidade, certamente esta obra excederia as 350 páginas, talvez 400, e seria digna de ser lida por todo o tipo de leitores e por todas as mães do mundo. Seria tocante, memorável e far-nos-ia largar uma lagrimazinhas. No entanto, se o vosso amor pela leitura não teve qualquer influência maternal, se a vossa mãe é uma leitora ocasional, podem sempre ponderar a hipótese comprar este livro para lhe oferecer num dia especial - o seu aniversário, Natal, o dia da mãe, que certamente será uma prenda merecedora de aprovação.

Somente um pequeno aparte relacionado com a tradução: para aqueles que têm boas bases de inglês e frequente contacto com a língua, facilmente percebem que há claramente um trocadilho no slogan «Quer virar a página? Ligue a Paige» entre a palavra «página» (page) e «Paige», que não recebeu qualquer nota de rodapé que explicasse porque razão Ella o considerara uma rima pateta e que perdeu muito da sua essência quando traduzida. Não há muito mais acrescentar, uma falha aqui e a ali sobretudo relacionada com a omissão de pequenas palavras ou alteração da ordem de alguns conectores ou adjetivos, mas nada que prejudicasse muito a leitura.

No Goodreads, atribuo-lhe as 2,5* de 5 e, no entanto, também não acho que as 3 estrelas de 10 que lhe dou são, de todo, justas. Não lhe posso dar as 4, pois, embora não tenha desgostado do livro de todo, atribuir-lhe uma classificação que corresponde ao Gostei seria falso: foi uma obra que me deixou indiferente e não me fez sentir nenhum sentimento em particular, quer negativo, quer positivo. Este é, portanto, um arredondamento por defeito.


Classificação: * * * [3 Estrelas - Lê-se]

[Clarabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'histoire est simple (vaut trois étoiles) ; par contre j'ai adoré l'ambiance et les personnages !
Ella Been vivait un bonheur tranquille auprès de Joe jusqu'à ce que celui-ci décède accidentellement, la laissant seule face au gouffre financier que représente l'épicerie familiale et le retour imprévu de la mère de ses deux enfants. (Paige, qui a tout plaqué trois ans plus tôt, réclame la bouche en cœur la garde de ses petiots.) Pour Ella, c'est la goutte de trop car elle se sent pleinement le droit d'être la maman de Zach et Annie. Mais entre son chagrin et le traumatisme du deuil, elle se retient de couler et affronte les épreuves du mieux qu'elle peut.
Dans ce roman, j'avoue avoir pleinement savouré l'atmosphère paisible du lieu - une charmante bourgade de Californie située au bord d'une rivière avec plage de sable fin et forêt aux couleurs chatoyantes. On y croise aussi des personnages follement attachants dont on partage les souffrances et les drames trop longtemps étouffés.
En fin de compte, la lecture affiche un trop-plein de tendresse et de délicatesse qui surpasse toute idée de tristesse. Elle montre aussi les forces et les failles des uns et des autres. Au fond on ne déteste pas totalement Paige même si on soutient à fond Ella dans son combat. Et puis la belle-famille italienne, très présente et aimante, est particulièrement entière dans ses démonstrations affectives. Gare à ne pas contrarier leurs attentes !
Cette jolie couverture qui invitait à l'évasion et la détente a donc su totalement remplir son contrat en m'offrant quelques heures d'un cocooning fort appréciable.

[Laura Kay Bolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://anovelreview.blogspot.com/2012...


1 Kings 3:16-28, the Bible tells of a story of two women fighting over who was the the mother of one living child. The case was brought before King Solomon, who said he would cut the baby in two, so both women would have the child. One of the women yelled out, "Please, my Lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!" After the woman yelled this out he handed her the baby proclaiming, she was indeed the child's mother (NIV).

The Underside of Joy is a heart-wrenching story of two mothers fighting over 'their' children. Ella Beene and Joe Capozzi have made a wonder and caring home for Annie and Zach. Filled with love and surrounded by Joe's big Italian family. One looking in from the outside would never guess that Ella is the stepmother, because in every single way she is their real...and only mother.

Paige Capozzi, the children's biological mother couldn't handle the stress of motherhood. Soon after having Zach, she just checked out. As far as everyone knew she hadn't even bothered to send the kids cards or called to see how they were doing. Joe divorced her shortly after he met Ella, who openly welcomed motherhood. And for three years Joe and Ella seemed to have it all. It all ended one summer morning in '99.

Suddenly, Joe is gone and Ella is on her own with the kids, helping them to deal with their grief. When out of nowhere, Paige turns up. She is ready to take her children back and is ready to fight for them as their biological mother. Ella's world is turned even more upside than she thought possible, as Paige begins making outrageous claims about Joe. Two women fighting over the children they believe to be theirs. The Underside of Joy will have you asking yourself...what makes a mother, but wait to make judgement because you might not have the whole story.

The Underside of Joy is Seré Prince Halverson debut novel. This one had be grabbing for the kleenex over and over and over again! But don't worry you won't be crying long, because you won't hardly be able to put it down!

I absolutely LOVED this book! I mean it really plays with the heartstrings. I'm not a stepmother, but I know without a doubt if I was I would be just as much a mama bear as I would be with my biological children making me relate to Ella...and if someone was with my biological children no matter who she was or how wonderful she was to my children, well she wouldn't be me and I would fight like crazy for them, so I could relate on some level to Paige! What a story! And what I've written about today is only the first layer of this amazing story! That's right there is so much more, so much deeper. Ella really walks through some serious stuff to find her way to the end. I have only good things about this book, it was amazing! This is a book I know I will be sharing with the women in my life!

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review first published on my blog: http://memoriesfrombooks.blogspot.com...

The Underside of Joy is a book of a family - the one we are born with and the one we choose. Ella Beene has stumbled into and found a loving family - Joe and his children Zach and Annie and the whole clan that surrounds them. She is a mother to Zach and Annie whose birth mother left when they were very young. However, at the beginning of the book, Joe is an accident and dies. The birth mother comes returns, and a custody battle ensues.

The custody battle is the central focus of the book. There is no right or wrong, just different perspectives. The book is also about moving on after such a devastating loss in a family. In addition, this book also highlights a piece of US history - the internment camps during World War II which affected not just our Japanese residents but also the Italian community depicted in the book.

The book was a quick and enjoyable read. The look into history was an interesting one especially since so much of other historical documentation focuses on the internment of the Japanese community. Also interesting was the different ways family can manifest itself and how we can define a family by the bonds of love. Overall, not a favorite book but not a bad one either.

***Reviewed for LibraryThing Early Reviewers program***

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I fully engaged with this book within the first few pages. Ella was an extremely likeable character, if almost a little too perfect at times. She has a wonderful life in Elbow with Joe, and his two young children Annie and Zach. Tragedy strikes when Joe, her soulmate, dies in an accident and the ready made family that she has grown to love so much over the previous three years is under threat when Paige, the children’s mother decides she wants them back. She has to deal with the discovery that Joe hasn’t been completely honest about their finances and about his dealings with Paige and not only does she face the huge task of making sure they can survive financially when their livelihood is about to be taken away but has a battle on her hands to keep the children with her.

The dilemma that Ella faces in her quest to keep her family together is extremely well written and it made me think about what I would do if faced with that same situation. There were however times when I was willing her not to be so reasonable and to fight harder.

An engaging and thoughtful read with well written characters and a sensitively written storyline. For a debut novel this was excellent and I would certainly be keen to read another book by this author.