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The Ingredients of Happiness
Is there a recipe for the perfect life?
Thirty-two-year-old 'happiness guru' Dr Cooper Hunziker has it all - a dream job as assistant psychology professor at Yale University, a soon-to-be published self-help book, The Happiness Connection, and the perfect guy. But there's a problem. Cooper isn't happy.
Of course, it doesn't help that she's facing cut-throat competition for her tenure at Yale, an accusation of plagiarism that could cost her everything, or that her new book has irritated the department chairman, who assigns her to co-lead a happiness group at the New Haven library.
As her friendship with the other ladies in the group flourishes, Cooper finds herself questioning her choices. Forced to face a life-changing betrayal, a gargoyle's wisdom, and her own traumatic past, can she navigate her own path to happiness?
Thirty-two-year-old 'happiness guru' Dr Cooper Hunziker has it all - a dream job as assistant psychology professor at Yale University, a soon-to-be published self-help book, The Happiness Connection, and the perfect guy. But there's a problem. Cooper isn't happy.
Of course, it doesn't help that she's facing cut-throat competition for her tenure at Yale, an accusation of plagiarism that could cost her everything, or that her new book has irritated the department chairman, who assigns her to co-lead a happiness group at the New Haven library.
As her friendship with the other ladies in the group flourishes, Cooper finds herself questioning her choices. Forced to face a life-changing betrayal, a gargoyle's wisdom, and her own traumatic past, can she navigate her own path to happiness?
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 4, 2023
21 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Burdette
24 books830 followersLucy Burdette is the author of the Key West food critic mysteries. Her first thriller, UNSAFE HAVEN, is out from Severn House this month. As Roberta Isleib, she has also written the golf lovers mystery series and the advice column mysteries. Her books and stories have been nominated for Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity awards. She is the president of the Friends of the Key West Library.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 21, 2023
I’ve read several mysteries by Lucy Burdette so I mistakenly thought this was a mystery as well but was pleasantly surprised when no one died (though there were several people who would have been perfect to be the victim). I enjoyed getting to know Cooper and her new friends in Connecticut but found the story predictable. I also found it troubling that she let her legal issues sit without any action on them whatsoever for so long. Despite that, the writing flowed well and the story was engaging. Still kinda wishing there was a dead body, though.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley for an honest review.
February 22, 2025
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Happiness guru Dr. Cooper Hunziker should be beyond happy with the job she has strived for, the “perfect man”, and a self-help book, The Happiness Connection, soon to be released. Being an assistant psychology professor at Yale University is more ruthless than she imagined as 3 then 4 people are fighting for one tenured position. Add to that, Cooper has been accused of plagiarism for a quiz she published in a magazine. A quiz that launched her into writing her book.
A good thing about her job is that Cooper was assigned to co-lead a happiness group at the New Haven Library. It starts out a little rocky but soon friendships bloom with the woman in the group. She may learn more from them than they learn from her. It’s time to reevaluate her life. She deserves to be happy and wisdom is received from an unusual source.
Ms. Burdette steps into alter ego shoes as a clinical psychologist and away from her cozy mystery chops to deliver a novel that makes you think about your own life as we follow Cooper through hers. Each chapter begins with a quote from Cooper’s book, The Happiness Connection, attributed to a real-life expert.
Dr. Laurie Santos like to say there are two things in life, the stuff you can control and the stuff you can’t.
Cooper Hunziker is a conundrum – she writes about happiness but she isn’t happy. The focus of her research is mother-infant attachment but she lost her student assistant and appears to be in no hurry to replace them. She also has a class to teach but doesn’t prepare. She is nervous about doing a book tour with interviews and signings but her anxieties are off the charts. She needs to take the advice in her book.
I was so happy that Cooper was assigned to the library happiness group. She met women who were also unhappy with their lives for different reasons. Antimony, Betty, and Linda were struggling as was Cooper’s co-leader, Judd. The meetings took Cooper’s focus off herself and opened her up to some true friendships. The members of the group were complex with complicated lives like most people in real life. Cooper’s life has not been easy either, her father “bailed” on her and her mother but left her with family legacy pressure. We also met her half-sister and her stepmother who were not what I expected. I enjoyed how everyone grew throughout the story.
Ms. Burdette doesn’t completely leave her mystery roots behind as there are mysteries to solve in this story. Why did her department chair and his assistant treat her so poorly? His assistant was the worst. And how did she plagiarize a magazine she had never heard of?
The author touches on several different issues in this book – mental illness, divorce, big-time betrayal, loss of a loved one, self-sabotage, and more. As I said, the people in the story are dealing with real-life everyday things and they can run the gambit.
The Ingredients of Happiness is a book the author says has “percolated for fifteen years”. It is a book that challenges the reader to take in Cooper’s journey to find happiness but to examine our own lives for ways to strengthen our happiness. Many of the chapter quotes resonated with me. With so many stresses in our lives today sometimes something as simple as:
“Gratitude can do a lot to boost happiness.” Sonya Lyubomirski study shows “people who actively expressed optimism and gratitude felt happier and less depressed than those who didn’t.”
I know it can be hard to find things to be grateful for or optimistic about with all that is happening these days, but reading Cooper’s story I see that gratitude for some simple things or people in your life can “reset your stress button”. There is another quote about that too.
I was unable to read this book when it was released but while reading and after I finished I realized I read it at a perfect time for me.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
Happiness guru Dr. Cooper Hunziker should be beyond happy with the job she has strived for, the “perfect man”, and a self-help book, The Happiness Connection, soon to be released. Being an assistant psychology professor at Yale University is more ruthless than she imagined as 3 then 4 people are fighting for one tenured position. Add to that, Cooper has been accused of plagiarism for a quiz she published in a magazine. A quiz that launched her into writing her book.
A good thing about her job is that Cooper was assigned to co-lead a happiness group at the New Haven Library. It starts out a little rocky but soon friendships bloom with the woman in the group. She may learn more from them than they learn from her. It’s time to reevaluate her life. She deserves to be happy and wisdom is received from an unusual source.
Ms. Burdette steps into alter ego shoes as a clinical psychologist and away from her cozy mystery chops to deliver a novel that makes you think about your own life as we follow Cooper through hers. Each chapter begins with a quote from Cooper’s book, The Happiness Connection, attributed to a real-life expert.
Dr. Laurie Santos like to say there are two things in life, the stuff you can control and the stuff you can’t.
Cooper Hunziker is a conundrum – she writes about happiness but she isn’t happy. The focus of her research is mother-infant attachment but she lost her student assistant and appears to be in no hurry to replace them. She also has a class to teach but doesn’t prepare. She is nervous about doing a book tour with interviews and signings but her anxieties are off the charts. She needs to take the advice in her book.
I was so happy that Cooper was assigned to the library happiness group. She met women who were also unhappy with their lives for different reasons. Antimony, Betty, and Linda were struggling as was Cooper’s co-leader, Judd. The meetings took Cooper’s focus off herself and opened her up to some true friendships. The members of the group were complex with complicated lives like most people in real life. Cooper’s life has not been easy either, her father “bailed” on her and her mother but left her with family legacy pressure. We also met her half-sister and her stepmother who were not what I expected. I enjoyed how everyone grew throughout the story.
Ms. Burdette doesn’t completely leave her mystery roots behind as there are mysteries to solve in this story. Why did her department chair and his assistant treat her so poorly? His assistant was the worst. And how did she plagiarize a magazine she had never heard of?
The author touches on several different issues in this book – mental illness, divorce, big-time betrayal, loss of a loved one, self-sabotage, and more. As I said, the people in the story are dealing with real-life everyday things and they can run the gambit.
The Ingredients of Happiness is a book the author says has “percolated for fifteen years”. It is a book that challenges the reader to take in Cooper’s journey to find happiness but to examine our own lives for ways to strengthen our happiness. Many of the chapter quotes resonated with me. With so many stresses in our lives today sometimes something as simple as:
“Gratitude can do a lot to boost happiness.” Sonya Lyubomirski study shows “people who actively expressed optimism and gratitude felt happier and less depressed than those who didn’t.”
I know it can be hard to find things to be grateful for or optimistic about with all that is happening these days, but reading Cooper’s story I see that gratitude for some simple things or people in your life can “reset your stress button”. There is another quote about that too.
I was unable to read this book when it was released but while reading and after I finished I realized I read it at a perfect time for me.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
December 11, 2023
The thought-provoking plot of this book was excellent as was the character development. It's a wonderfully entertaining book of fiction, but it also inspires you to think about what makes you happy versus what you think you should be doing. In this book our anxiety ridden lead character, Dr Cooper Hunziker, has just landed her dream of working in the psychology department and continuing her research at Yale, but she is finding that the book she wrote about happiness and the career in the making around that might be making her happier than Yale. Add in the drama of a long-distance romance while also not being sure who is trustworthy as a friend, and she is circling a ring of doubt about her future. The story follows her journey of self-awareness and self-improvement. As someone who has been spending a lot of time thinking about the career path that I have chosen versus what might make me happier, this book was on point and excellently timed! I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to read this book for both the entertainment value and the life inspiration. While the book has a great ending, Selfishly, I really kind of want the author to revisit these characters so we can continue to see how they grow and where they go!
June 7, 2023
The thought-provoking plot of this book was excellent as was the character development. It's a wonderfully entertaining book of fiction, but it also inspires you to think about what makes you happy versus what you think you should be doing. In this book our anxiety ridden lead character, Dr Cooper Hunziker, has just landed her dream of working in the psychology department and continuing her research at Yale, but she is finding that the book she wrote about happiness and the career in the making around that might be making her happier than Yale. Add in the drama of a long-distance romance while also not being sure who is trustworthy as a friend, and she is circling a ring of doubt about her future. The story follows her journey of self-awareness and self-improvement. As someone who has been spending a lot of time thinking about the career path that I have chosen versus what might make me happier, this book was on point and excellently timed! I am thrilled that I had the opportunity to read this book for both the entertainment value and the life inspiration. While the book has a great ending, Selfishly, I really kind of want the author to revisit these characters so we can continue to see how they grow and where they go!
June 27, 2023
Love this book!
As a psychology student, I loved this so much! I spotted lots of positive psychology, and I also really liked the developmental part because those are both part of my specialization.
I also really loved the main character's process of realizing the actual ingredients of happiness, as opposed to what people say should be the ingredients of happiness. And I also like that the book shows that knowing what to do to be happy does not necessarily make you happy.
Very good read! Absolutely recommend!
The only reason it was not 5 stars is because the plot twist was very predictable for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me a copy in exchange for am honest review!
As a psychology student, I loved this so much! I spotted lots of positive psychology, and I also really liked the developmental part because those are both part of my specialization.
I also really loved the main character's process of realizing the actual ingredients of happiness, as opposed to what people say should be the ingredients of happiness. And I also like that the book shows that knowing what to do to be happy does not necessarily make you happy.
Very good read! Absolutely recommend!
The only reason it was not 5 stars is because the plot twist was very predictable for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me a copy in exchange for am honest review!
July 16, 2023
What a charming romance with MC Cooper you grow to love and cheer on from miserable Yale psychologist to contented best-selling author. I almost got bogged down by the emotional drains in Cooper's life, yet the author writes such real characters -- especially the women in the happiness group she co-leads with hunky Judd -- that I could not help but plow through, knowing there was good stuff ahead. And boy was there! One of my fave books this year, a delight that uplifted my spirits. Highly recommended for romance fans who love intelligent stories with endearing characters.
June 12, 2024
A cute story with lots of very good perspectives and practices for increasing happiness. But if I had to sit through one more page of “main character deprived herself of food but dreams of eating a grilled cheese” I was going to lose it
April 22, 2023
I may be in the minority in my mild disappointment in this novel. It had such promise from the promotional summary…and then I waded through page after page of the protagonist’s angst and whining. As she herself postulates in the book: is it possible to be a happiness expert when you are not happy yourself?
Dr. Cooper Hunziker has just received her well-earned PhD and moves cross country to become an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Yale University. Only one problem: her tumultuous childhood has left her with serious self-worth issues that threaten to derail her career before it even begins. She lives in her head with little connection to her heart.
Mysteriously, she is met with hostility and even outright contempt by the department chair and his secretary. This toxic environment is compounded by the competition between Cooper and two other ambitious colleagues vying for a single tenure track position, the publication of her “pop” psychology book on happiness, and a charge of plagiarism related to a magazine article.
Cooper’s issues were certainly understandable, but it was painful (and became annoying) to read her repeated struggles to conform with what she perceives others want from her. It was a case of Cooper not walking her talk, since the chapter epigraphs, all excerpts from her book, clearly provide guidance on how to cultivate happiness. Fortunately, the conclusion was highly satisfying as Cooper gains clarity on what truly engenders happiness for her both personally and professionally and takes action to stand up for herself.
While title of the book may imply a light-hearted read, this novel addressed a host of significant issues including betrayal, self-sabotage, childhood trauma, love, loss, divorce, and mental illness to name a few. Unfortunately, many of these were resolved superficially in an ending that felt rushed and unrealistic.
I did enjoy the supporting cast of characters – particularly the comradery between the three women in the happiness group that met at the library. Some of the characters were unlikeable, but the author’s skill in fleshing out their personalities made them believable.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
Dr. Cooper Hunziker has just received her well-earned PhD and moves cross country to become an assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Yale University. Only one problem: her tumultuous childhood has left her with serious self-worth issues that threaten to derail her career before it even begins. She lives in her head with little connection to her heart.
Mysteriously, she is met with hostility and even outright contempt by the department chair and his secretary. This toxic environment is compounded by the competition between Cooper and two other ambitious colleagues vying for a single tenure track position, the publication of her “pop” psychology book on happiness, and a charge of plagiarism related to a magazine article.
Cooper’s issues were certainly understandable, but it was painful (and became annoying) to read her repeated struggles to conform with what she perceives others want from her. It was a case of Cooper not walking her talk, since the chapter epigraphs, all excerpts from her book, clearly provide guidance on how to cultivate happiness. Fortunately, the conclusion was highly satisfying as Cooper gains clarity on what truly engenders happiness for her both personally and professionally and takes action to stand up for herself.
While title of the book may imply a light-hearted read, this novel addressed a host of significant issues including betrayal, self-sabotage, childhood trauma, love, loss, divorce, and mental illness to name a few. Unfortunately, many of these were resolved superficially in an ending that felt rushed and unrealistic.
I did enjoy the supporting cast of characters – particularly the comradery between the three women in the happiness group that met at the library. Some of the characters were unlikeable, but the author’s skill in fleshing out their personalities made them believable.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
June 18, 2023
The Ingredients of Happiness by Lucy Burdette is a deviation from the author’s usual mystery/cozy mystery genre. Cooper Hunziker, has just been hired as an assistant professor in psychology and by a twist of fate also has a pop culture, self-help book The Happiness Connection being published. But underneath it all, Cooper is anything but happy and seems to be under attack by the assistant and chair of the department that hired her. Will Cooper figure it and find her own happiness?
There was much to like about this book with its well developed characters and the setting of Yale and New Haven. Cooper’s sister and stepmother, as well as the ladies in the happiness self-help group, provided the bright light. Nonetheless, I found all of Cooper’s anxieties made for a less than upbeat book. While most readers would not notice, I was bothered by the inaccuracies in the faculty appointment process, since assistant professors would typically be appointed after completing a Post Doc appointment and rarely (if ever) directly from a graduate program. At Yale, assistant professors have an initial term of five years not a one year appointment. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). Overall the book was well written but I think that I will stay with this author’s mystery genre.
There was much to like about this book with its well developed characters and the setting of Yale and New Haven. Cooper’s sister and stepmother, as well as the ladies in the happiness self-help group, provided the bright light. Nonetheless, I found all of Cooper’s anxieties made for a less than upbeat book. While most readers would not notice, I was bothered by the inaccuracies in the faculty appointment process, since assistant professors would typically be appointed after completing a Post Doc appointment and rarely (if ever) directly from a graduate program. At Yale, assistant professors have an initial term of five years not a one year appointment. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.). Overall the book was well written but I think that I will stay with this author’s mystery genre.
December 26, 2023
Lucy Burdette's The Ingredients of Happiness is not one of her Key West recipes included mysteries. But it is a nice light read focused on happiness. Based on her previous career as a psychologist, Burdette may even be better at this topic than food writing. It's certainly a topic many readers can relate to, particularly around the holiday season. Dr. Cooper Hunziker is an assistant Yale psychology professor, competing for a tenure track position. She is also the author of a pop psychology book on happiness. Everything in her life from her job to her love life seems to be impacted by claims of plagiarism in connection with a magazine article she and her best friend wrote; Alafair sent it in and it was published. This rom com actually becomes a mystery, but nobody dies. Who reported the plagiarism and sabotaged her job? It's not really a recipes included book, but there is one recipe for chocolate cake. This ends up being a fun, feel good book with some practical techniques for improving happiness.
July 9, 2023
Most people want to be happy. Yet why is that so hard sometimes? In The Ingredients of Happiness, author Roberta Isleib helps her characters and readers realize where life’s true joys lie.
Many of us pursue happiness by chasing success, just as her main character Cooper does when she accepts a stressful, tenure-vying Yale professorship. Or we invest in unsatisfying relationships without calculating the cost, just as Cooper does, mismatched in love and invested in a toxic friendship. Through her engaging, thoughtful story, Isleib shows us where real happiness can be found: in supportive relationships, meaningful careers, and the simplest of pleasures such as cuddling a beloved cat or baking a scrumptious chocolate cake (recipe included!)
Happiness quotes and research set the stage for each chapter, and readers can glean much insight into their own happiness journey by noting the rich wisdom on offer there. Isleib also introduces many useful ‘happiness’ exercises through Cooper’s fictional self-help group’s tasks: One I particularly appreciated was to make a list of your daily activities, then think about which ones make you happier. Quite revealing! (So no more doom scrolling for me, I say.)
Isleib accomplishes all this within a page-turning mystery (who reported the plagiarism? why?); provides us with a take on childhood dynamics that dampen our happiness; and sets up delightful comeuppances for the bad guys. Even then, happiness wisdom frames the action. When Cooper finally takes down her blustery boss, for instance, she says: “Wasn’t it Jung who wrote that every person must face a measure of darkness in his life? I suppose it might be your turn.”
One other delight: Isleib, author of the Key West Food Critic mysteries, truly excels whenever food enters the picture. You’ll be hungry after reading wonderful descriptions of quiche (carmelized onions, leeks, homemade cheese), chicken pot pies (brimming with real carrots, potatoes, peas and chunks of chicken in creamy sauce), ravioli (fresh pasta stuffed with rich roasted eggplant and cheese, floating in a red sauce with fresh basil and more carmelized onions), and cake of course (melted chocolate, bundt pans brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with large crystals of sugar). Yum!
So do your happiness levels a favor today and read The Ingredients of Happiness. As you do, you just may find the wisdom you need to come to terms with the past, rethink a career, or ditch the toxic people in your life once and for all. All that wrapped together make for a very satisfying read. I highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for this opportunity to offer my honest review.
Many of us pursue happiness by chasing success, just as her main character Cooper does when she accepts a stressful, tenure-vying Yale professorship. Or we invest in unsatisfying relationships without calculating the cost, just as Cooper does, mismatched in love and invested in a toxic friendship. Through her engaging, thoughtful story, Isleib shows us where real happiness can be found: in supportive relationships, meaningful careers, and the simplest of pleasures such as cuddling a beloved cat or baking a scrumptious chocolate cake (recipe included!)
Happiness quotes and research set the stage for each chapter, and readers can glean much insight into their own happiness journey by noting the rich wisdom on offer there. Isleib also introduces many useful ‘happiness’ exercises through Cooper’s fictional self-help group’s tasks: One I particularly appreciated was to make a list of your daily activities, then think about which ones make you happier. Quite revealing! (So no more doom scrolling for me, I say.)
Isleib accomplishes all this within a page-turning mystery (who reported the plagiarism? why?); provides us with a take on childhood dynamics that dampen our happiness; and sets up delightful comeuppances for the bad guys. Even then, happiness wisdom frames the action. When Cooper finally takes down her blustery boss, for instance, she says: “Wasn’t it Jung who wrote that every person must face a measure of darkness in his life? I suppose it might be your turn.”
One other delight: Isleib, author of the Key West Food Critic mysteries, truly excels whenever food enters the picture. You’ll be hungry after reading wonderful descriptions of quiche (carmelized onions, leeks, homemade cheese), chicken pot pies (brimming with real carrots, potatoes, peas and chunks of chicken in creamy sauce), ravioli (fresh pasta stuffed with rich roasted eggplant and cheese, floating in a red sauce with fresh basil and more carmelized onions), and cake of course (melted chocolate, bundt pans brushed with melted butter and sprinkled with large crystals of sugar). Yum!
So do your happiness levels a favor today and read The Ingredients of Happiness. As you do, you just may find the wisdom you need to come to terms with the past, rethink a career, or ditch the toxic people in your life once and for all. All that wrapped together make for a very satisfying read. I highly recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Severn House for this opportunity to offer my honest review.
July 4, 2023
Told in Cooper’s voice, and starting every chapter with a piece from her book, this was well written and easy to follow; as well as being interesting if a bit… much. Cooper isn’t easy to love. She is weak at times and dithering. Two-thirds of the book was her being hurt and not knowing how to fix it even though her field of expertise gave her all the tools to try to build a happier life. I would have prefered more time with the happiness group and Judd, personally. While Cooper has decided on a path, I feel like everyone else had a lot more personal growth, yet we don’t get any real closure for them.
I am finding it incredibly difficult to talk too much about this book without massive spoilers. Honestly, I think I would have rather read Cooper’s non-existent book than this one. It wasn’t happy. At all. In fact, I had to take several breaks and do literally anything else while reading this. Maybe I am not the target audience… I loved the blurb and the idea behind it. I wanted to see someone actually becoming stronger, putting all these ideas together to make a happiness plan and truly rocking it. I wanted to see so much more growth. If there were to be a second book, I would buy it in hopes of seeing this, because I think the book was leading to the transformation I desire but it felt like the author was like… dang, I ran out of time. Gotta publish! The book in and of itself was good… just not at all what I was expecting or really wanting. This isn’t the feel good piece where we watch someone work toward being happy- it’s more the self reflection and catagorization of things to do before one can start the journey. That in itself is fine- necessary even. It definitely made the book more real to me. But I personally needed the other part of the journey to feel satisfied. For me, this was a three star book. It’s well written, just not for me.
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
As far as adult content goes, there’s language and talk of heavier subjects- gas lighting, bullying (in a way), and family issues. There wasn’t anything really inappropriate… I would say it’s geared towards adults but late teens might also like it.
I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Seven House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. My thanks! The book came out today- are you reading it?
I am finding it incredibly difficult to talk too much about this book without massive spoilers. Honestly, I think I would have rather read Cooper’s non-existent book than this one. It wasn’t happy. At all. In fact, I had to take several breaks and do literally anything else while reading this. Maybe I am not the target audience… I loved the blurb and the idea behind it. I wanted to see someone actually becoming stronger, putting all these ideas together to make a happiness plan and truly rocking it. I wanted to see so much more growth. If there were to be a second book, I would buy it in hopes of seeing this, because I think the book was leading to the transformation I desire but it felt like the author was like… dang, I ran out of time. Gotta publish! The book in and of itself was good… just not at all what I was expecting or really wanting. This isn’t the feel good piece where we watch someone work toward being happy- it’s more the self reflection and catagorization of things to do before one can start the journey. That in itself is fine- necessary even. It definitely made the book more real to me. But I personally needed the other part of the journey to feel satisfied. For me, this was a three star book. It’s well written, just not for me.
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
As far as adult content goes, there’s language and talk of heavier subjects- gas lighting, bullying (in a way), and family issues. There wasn’t anything really inappropriate… I would say it’s geared towards adults but late teens might also like it.
I was lucky enough to recieve an eARC of this book from Netgalley and Seven House Publishing in exchange for an honest review. My thanks! The book came out today- are you reading it?
July 25, 2023
I"m giving this book 2.5 stars. A 50/50 which I feel echos our main character.
Thank you #netgalley and #severnhouse for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And this is honest.
This was not the book for me. But I do know people who would love it. Reader- know thyself.
I was confident I would love this book. I love the cover. (Yes I do judge by the cover.) I was looking forward to reading about a professional woman finding her voice and navigating real life obstacles to do so. I predicted some coziness and a satisfactory ending. It does have that. But there are a lot of pages to wade through for that ending.
The story and the characters are believable. The tension, the traumas, the drama are all modern reality. But I found our main character - who graduated from a top notch school with a doctorates in psychology who has the confidence and ability to write a book and move across country for a job at Yale - is whiney. Her voice goes from analyzing conversations and characters as you would expect a doctor to. To expressing that her boyfriend is super cute. Too much of an extreme. The antagonists in the story really do antagonize me. The secretary-gate-keeper is stereotypical and all though I'm sure this character does exist within the walls of higher education and many corporations, my instant dislike of her and the whole attitude with head of the department is a huge turnoff for me. I'm sure other readers will find this tension perfect, but not for me. I delighted in the first few pages but found it to be an arduous read going through Cooper's minute by minute story lines. The chapters felt long and the book itself was too long. But I will not declare this to be a bad story. It was just not a story for me or at least not at this time. I found Cooper's whining annoying, but the writing in the books is very good. The ending is satisfactory and happiness is found. Predictable. Believable characters. This is not the cozy I was looking for, but it will definitely be someone's cozy read. Perfect for exploring not just Cooper's happiness with life, but your own.
Thank you #netgalley and #severnhouse for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
And this is honest.
This was not the book for me. But I do know people who would love it. Reader- know thyself.
I was confident I would love this book. I love the cover. (Yes I do judge by the cover.) I was looking forward to reading about a professional woman finding her voice and navigating real life obstacles to do so. I predicted some coziness and a satisfactory ending. It does have that. But there are a lot of pages to wade through for that ending.
The story and the characters are believable. The tension, the traumas, the drama are all modern reality. But I found our main character - who graduated from a top notch school with a doctorates in psychology who has the confidence and ability to write a book and move across country for a job at Yale - is whiney. Her voice goes from analyzing conversations and characters as you would expect a doctor to. To expressing that her boyfriend is super cute. Too much of an extreme. The antagonists in the story really do antagonize me. The secretary-gate-keeper is stereotypical and all though I'm sure this character does exist within the walls of higher education and many corporations, my instant dislike of her and the whole attitude with head of the department is a huge turnoff for me. I'm sure other readers will find this tension perfect, but not for me. I delighted in the first few pages but found it to be an arduous read going through Cooper's minute by minute story lines. The chapters felt long and the book itself was too long. But I will not declare this to be a bad story. It was just not a story for me or at least not at this time. I found Cooper's whining annoying, but the writing in the books is very good. The ending is satisfactory and happiness is found. Predictable. Believable characters. This is not the cozy I was looking for, but it will definitely be someone's cozy read. Perfect for exploring not just Cooper's happiness with life, but your own.
May 4, 2023
Review of eBook
With her doctorate in psychology firmly in hand, thirty-two-year-old Cooper Hunziker is finally set to fulfill her dream . . . she’s accepted a position as an assistant psychology professor at Yale University and her book, “The Happiness Connection.” Is about to be published. Cooper, after traveling across the country, is settling in, determined to earn the sole tenure position available in the department for herself.
There’s just one problem. Cooper isn’t happy. And, adding to her misery is an unexpected charge of plagiarism related to her book. In addition, the department chairman, Doctor Jeremy Coleman, isn’t particularly happy with her, and Stella, the department administrative assistant, seems to have put Cooper on her personal blacklist.
Will Cooper find the secret to fitting in at Yale? And will she discover happiness for herself?
=========
Since each chapter opens with a happiness insight, readers will find much to contemplate here as they follow Cooper through her own sometimes-convoluted search for happiness. The characters, all well-developed, are not always likable, but all are believable.
Throughout the story, there is a strong sense of place, especially with the toxic environment at the university. As Cooper deals with a variety of issues that complicate her life, she learns that sometimes dreams need a bit of fine-tuning and, ultimately, making some changes may indeed lead to that elusive happiness goal . . . a lesson for both Cooper and the reader.
As Cooper’s backstory reveals some traumatic issues related to her childhood, the unfolding story also brings love, betrayal, and sabotage into the telling of this nuanced tale, making Cooper’s propensity toward a bit of whining and self-doubt understandable. Readers are sure to commiserate with Cooper and her struggles; despite some truly despicable behaviors, the suspenseful tale reaches a denouement that is sure to please everyone.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Severn House and NetGalley
#TheIngredientsofHappiness #NetGalley
With her doctorate in psychology firmly in hand, thirty-two-year-old Cooper Hunziker is finally set to fulfill her dream . . . she’s accepted a position as an assistant psychology professor at Yale University and her book, “The Happiness Connection.” Is about to be published. Cooper, after traveling across the country, is settling in, determined to earn the sole tenure position available in the department for herself.
There’s just one problem. Cooper isn’t happy. And, adding to her misery is an unexpected charge of plagiarism related to her book. In addition, the department chairman, Doctor Jeremy Coleman, isn’t particularly happy with her, and Stella, the department administrative assistant, seems to have put Cooper on her personal blacklist.
Will Cooper find the secret to fitting in at Yale? And will she discover happiness for herself?
=========
Since each chapter opens with a happiness insight, readers will find much to contemplate here as they follow Cooper through her own sometimes-convoluted search for happiness. The characters, all well-developed, are not always likable, but all are believable.
Throughout the story, there is a strong sense of place, especially with the toxic environment at the university. As Cooper deals with a variety of issues that complicate her life, she learns that sometimes dreams need a bit of fine-tuning and, ultimately, making some changes may indeed lead to that elusive happiness goal . . . a lesson for both Cooper and the reader.
As Cooper’s backstory reveals some traumatic issues related to her childhood, the unfolding story also brings love, betrayal, and sabotage into the telling of this nuanced tale, making Cooper’s propensity toward a bit of whining and self-doubt understandable. Readers are sure to commiserate with Cooper and her struggles; despite some truly despicable behaviors, the suspenseful tale reaches a denouement that is sure to please everyone.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from Severn House and NetGalley
#TheIngredientsofHappiness #NetGalley
May 23, 2025
Lucy Burdette’s "The Ingredients of Happiness" serves up a charming blend of culinary delights and personal discovery, set against the backdrop of a vibrant community. The story follows the protagonist as she navigates the complexities of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness, all while indulging in her passion for cooking.
Burdette’s writing is warm and inviting, making it easy for readers to feel at home in the world she has created. The descriptions of food are particularly vivid, and it’s clear that the author has a deep appreciation for the culinary arts. For food lovers, the recipes and cooking scenes are a delightful addition that adds flavour to the narrative.
The characters are relatable and well-drawn, each bringing their unique perspectives and challenges to the table. The protagonist’s journey toward finding happiness is both heartfelt and realistic, and readers will likely find themselves rooting for her as she confronts her fears and embraces change. The themes of friendship and community are also well-explored, highlighting the importance of support systems in our lives.
However, while the book has many strengths, it does suffer from some pacing issues. Certain sections feel drawn out, which can detract from the overall momentum of the story. Additionally, some plot points may come across as predictable, making it difficult to maintain a sense of suspense or surprise.
Moreover, while the characters are engaging, a few of them could benefit from deeper development. Some secondary characters feel a bit one-dimensional, which can limit the emotional impact of their interactions with the protagonist.
In conclusion, "The Ingredients of Happiness" is a heartwarming read that offers a delightful mix of food, friendship, and self-discovery. While it may not break new ground in terms of plot or character depth, it provides a comforting escape for readers looking for a cosy story. With its charming premise and relatable themes, it earns a solid three-star rating. This is perfect for those who enjoy a light, feel-good read.
Burdette’s writing is warm and inviting, making it easy for readers to feel at home in the world she has created. The descriptions of food are particularly vivid, and it’s clear that the author has a deep appreciation for the culinary arts. For food lovers, the recipes and cooking scenes are a delightful addition that adds flavour to the narrative.
The characters are relatable and well-drawn, each bringing their unique perspectives and challenges to the table. The protagonist’s journey toward finding happiness is both heartfelt and realistic, and readers will likely find themselves rooting for her as she confronts her fears and embraces change. The themes of friendship and community are also well-explored, highlighting the importance of support systems in our lives.
However, while the book has many strengths, it does suffer from some pacing issues. Certain sections feel drawn out, which can detract from the overall momentum of the story. Additionally, some plot points may come across as predictable, making it difficult to maintain a sense of suspense or surprise.
Moreover, while the characters are engaging, a few of them could benefit from deeper development. Some secondary characters feel a bit one-dimensional, which can limit the emotional impact of their interactions with the protagonist.
In conclusion, "The Ingredients of Happiness" is a heartwarming read that offers a delightful mix of food, friendship, and self-discovery. While it may not break new ground in terms of plot or character depth, it provides a comforting escape for readers looking for a cosy story. With its charming premise and relatable themes, it earns a solid three-star rating. This is perfect for those who enjoy a light, feel-good read.
April 17, 2023
In The Ingredients of Happiness, prolific author Lucy Burdette excels at making the reader feel the same torment that her protagonist, Cooper Hunzicker, is suffering. Cooper should be happy--she has a Ph.D. in psychology, a job at prestigious Yale University as an assistant professor, a book--The Happiness Connection--that will be released imminently, and a long-term relationship with her lawyer boyfriend, Daniel. Yet she struggles with her own happiness journey.
Only one of the three new assistant professors will score a job at Yale at the end of the year, Cooper and Daniel are now living on opposite sides of the country, and it becomes increasingly obvious that someone is trying to sabotage Cooper's success at every turn. Her job, her upcoming book, and even her romantic life may all be at risk, and she's not sure she can count on anyone in her family for support. As more and more obstacles are heaped in Cooper's path and her struggles become ever more dire, I longed for a satisfying resolution and the resulting release of my personal tension.
Finally, I got the payoff I was hoping for. The author deserves kudos for successfully toying with the reader's emotions and simultaneously creating a credible plot and insights into happiness science. Burdette, aka Roberta Isleib, is a clinical psychologist and begins each chapter with a happiness tip from Cooper's book, backed up by references to real-life experts. Each epigraph can be related to Cooper's life and the way she deals with roadblocks and betrayals. A couple of the players seemed a bit over the top in their nastiness, but there were enough positive, well-drawn characters, along with the exquisitely excruciating suspense, to keep me engrossed in the story.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
Only one of the three new assistant professors will score a job at Yale at the end of the year, Cooper and Daniel are now living on opposite sides of the country, and it becomes increasingly obvious that someone is trying to sabotage Cooper's success at every turn. Her job, her upcoming book, and even her romantic life may all be at risk, and she's not sure she can count on anyone in her family for support. As more and more obstacles are heaped in Cooper's path and her struggles become ever more dire, I longed for a satisfying resolution and the resulting release of my personal tension.
Finally, I got the payoff I was hoping for. The author deserves kudos for successfully toying with the reader's emotions and simultaneously creating a credible plot and insights into happiness science. Burdette, aka Roberta Isleib, is a clinical psychologist and begins each chapter with a happiness tip from Cooper's book, backed up by references to real-life experts. Each epigraph can be related to Cooper's life and the way she deals with roadblocks and betrayals. A couple of the players seemed a bit over the top in their nastiness, but there were enough positive, well-drawn characters, along with the exquisitely excruciating suspense, to keep me engrossed in the story.
My review is based on a complimentary pre-release copy of the book.
May 28, 2023
THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS is the stand-alone women’s fiction by Lucy Burdette. A journey of self-discovery, newly minted Doctor of psychology, Cooper Hunziker, has landed a job at Yale University. If that’s not a big enough accomplishment, her new book, The Happiness Connection, will be soon published and great reviews are pouring in. Ms. Burdette starts each chapter with a happiness tip from The Happiness Connection, each a reference to a real-life expert. I found them to be helpful and worth contemplating, especially if you find you need to up the happiness quotient in your life. However, as brilliant as Dr. Cooper Hunziker is, and having written the book herself, she hasn’t taken her own advice. In fact, she is downright unhappy. But can she turn things around to make her life more meaningful?
True to the author’s background of being both a psychologist and a cozy mystery writer, there is a “mystery” to solve in The Ingredients of Happiness. It kept me turning pages, wondering who had accused Cooper of plagiarism, and why was her department head and his assistant so vile toward her. I wanted to reach into the pages and tell Cooper to unload the toxic people in her life and focus on those who treated her with kindness and respect. Adding some light-hearted humor is the gargoyle, Howard, who sits outside Cooper’s office window. He turned out to be a great character and I would have liked to have seen more of him. As the story progressed and came to a conclusion, the long-sought after reveal came to light in a highly satisfactory way that left me with a happy feeling.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
True to the author’s background of being both a psychologist and a cozy mystery writer, there is a “mystery” to solve in The Ingredients of Happiness. It kept me turning pages, wondering who had accused Cooper of plagiarism, and why was her department head and his assistant so vile toward her. I wanted to reach into the pages and tell Cooper to unload the toxic people in her life and focus on those who treated her with kindness and respect. Adding some light-hearted humor is the gargoyle, Howard, who sits outside Cooper’s office window. He turned out to be a great character and I would have liked to have seen more of him. As the story progressed and came to a conclusion, the long-sought after reveal came to light in a highly satisfactory way that left me with a happy feeling.
I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 16, 2023
THE INGREDIENTS OF HAPPINESS by Lucy Burdette
By the end of this mesmerizing book, I was craving chocolate cake and wanting to read THE HAPPINESS CONNECTION, download the app, and do the exercises . . . including — list of all you do and highlight the ones you love doing. We teachers agreed that we loved the teaching part, and that the grading and administrivia were the toll we paid for the good part with students. I also want to join the friends in the group . . . and visit the Comfort Food bakery.
Yes, they do feel that real. How? I don’t know, it’s a gift, and I’m glad that Lucy Burdette uses her gift for good. I even want a gargoyle now . . .
I’d have been more shocked by the unkind competition in academia, but one of my favorite professors told me stories of his department that opened my eyes to cutthroat and backstabbing tactics, even at UMSL. It was far from the ideal I’d envisioned for the ivory tower, and how much more intense would it be at sought-after Yale? May they all get what they deserve for their evil tricks, which deserts can sometimes be what they thought they wanted, as life can mete out odd justice. Personal note: A high school counselor suggested applying to an Ivy League college when I received the National Merit Scholarship. It was sweet of him, but I think my parents were wise to keep me closer to home, closer to support and far from such intense competition . . . happier.
By the end of this mesmerizing book, I was craving chocolate cake and wanting to read THE HAPPINESS CONNECTION, download the app, and do the exercises . . . including — list of all you do and highlight the ones you love doing. We teachers agreed that we loved the teaching part, and that the grading and administrivia were the toll we paid for the good part with students. I also want to join the friends in the group . . . and visit the Comfort Food bakery.
Yes, they do feel that real. How? I don’t know, it’s a gift, and I’m glad that Lucy Burdette uses her gift for good. I even want a gargoyle now . . .
I’d have been more shocked by the unkind competition in academia, but one of my favorite professors told me stories of his department that opened my eyes to cutthroat and backstabbing tactics, even at UMSL. It was far from the ideal I’d envisioned for the ivory tower, and how much more intense would it be at sought-after Yale? May they all get what they deserve for their evil tricks, which deserts can sometimes be what they thought they wanted, as life can mete out odd justice. Personal note: A high school counselor suggested applying to an Ivy League college when I received the National Merit Scholarship. It was sweet of him, but I think my parents were wise to keep me closer to home, closer to support and far from such intense competition . . . happier.
January 29, 2024
I really enjoyed The Ingredients of Happiness.
It’s a thought-provoking book which although centres around some excellent character development it actually also inspires you to think about what makes you happy.
The book centres on main character Dr Cooper Hunziker who has just landed her dream job of working in the psychology department and continuing her research at Yale University.
She’s just written a book about happiness and is on the book selling promo campaign at the same time as starting her new role, settling into a new town and juggling her long-distance relationship.
The story follows her journey of self-awareness and self-improvement.
Cooper feels that her boss and others in the department are out to get her – hiding her mail, stealing her research assistant, leaving her out and so on.
And she soon starts to question whether Yale and her research is actually making her feel happy and fulfilled.
There were some breadcrumbs that I picked up that all was not quite as it seemed around the plagiarism and lack of support from her boyfriend.
The happiness group sounds wonderful – I’d love to be a member!
I really loved some of the supporting characters and the friendships that Cooper started to make.
I also enjoyed the little happiness quotes at the start of each chapter.
The ending left me wanting to know what happens next not just for Cooper but for her friends too – this could easily make a series!
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It’s a thought-provoking book which although centres around some excellent character development it actually also inspires you to think about what makes you happy.
The book centres on main character Dr Cooper Hunziker who has just landed her dream job of working in the psychology department and continuing her research at Yale University.
She’s just written a book about happiness and is on the book selling promo campaign at the same time as starting her new role, settling into a new town and juggling her long-distance relationship.
The story follows her journey of self-awareness and self-improvement.
Cooper feels that her boss and others in the department are out to get her – hiding her mail, stealing her research assistant, leaving her out and so on.
And she soon starts to question whether Yale and her research is actually making her feel happy and fulfilled.
There were some breadcrumbs that I picked up that all was not quite as it seemed around the plagiarism and lack of support from her boyfriend.
The happiness group sounds wonderful – I’d love to be a member!
I really loved some of the supporting characters and the friendships that Cooper started to make.
I also enjoyed the little happiness quotes at the start of each chapter.
The ending left me wanting to know what happens next not just for Cooper but for her friends too – this could easily make a series!
With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2023
Author Lucy Burdette, well-known for her Key West Food Critic cozy mysteries, has written an edgy women’s fiction with no murders. Her heroine, Cooper Hunziker is a 32-year-old assistant professor of psychology at Yale. Cooper is studying the relationship between mothers and babies and how it pertains to future happiness. She has also just written a self-help book entitled The Happiness Connection. Ironically, Cooper herself is not very happy.
New to New Haven, Cooper has left her support system back in San Francisco, including her divorce attorney boyfriend and her best friend, a fellow psychology PhD. Her department head at Yale is disdainful of Cooper’s new book and assigns her to lead a happiness group of locals at the library. His secretary, Stella is not only hostile, but obstructionist in her activities in regard to Cooper. Stella hides Cooper’s mail, doesn’t forward messages and other acts of sabotage. (If the author had wished to make this a murder mystery, Stella would have been the obvious choice for the body.)
Among the hidden letters is an accusation of plagiarism from a women’s magazine that claims Cooper copied a quiz and published it in another magazine. That quiz served as the inspiration for Cooper’s book. The accusation of plagiarism could hurt Cooper at Yale and probably tank her book as well. It could mean financial ruin for a woman whose Yale salary is barely enough for regular meals.
As Cooper begins to know the women in the Happiness group, she also begins to see things in a different light. She takes some time to follow the clues that led to the charge of plagiarism and as she does, she learns quite a bit about herself, too.
This book pulled some of my personal triggers. It is very difficult for me to read about women who engage in the type of sabotage and nastiness that Cooper experiences. However, it is a very good story about someone realizing exactly what she needs to do in order to find her own happiness. In the end, Cooper is a star.
New to New Haven, Cooper has left her support system back in San Francisco, including her divorce attorney boyfriend and her best friend, a fellow psychology PhD. Her department head at Yale is disdainful of Cooper’s new book and assigns her to lead a happiness group of locals at the library. His secretary, Stella is not only hostile, but obstructionist in her activities in regard to Cooper. Stella hides Cooper’s mail, doesn’t forward messages and other acts of sabotage. (If the author had wished to make this a murder mystery, Stella would have been the obvious choice for the body.)
Among the hidden letters is an accusation of plagiarism from a women’s magazine that claims Cooper copied a quiz and published it in another magazine. That quiz served as the inspiration for Cooper’s book. The accusation of plagiarism could hurt Cooper at Yale and probably tank her book as well. It could mean financial ruin for a woman whose Yale salary is barely enough for regular meals.
As Cooper begins to know the women in the Happiness group, she also begins to see things in a different light. She takes some time to follow the clues that led to the charge of plagiarism and as she does, she learns quite a bit about herself, too.
This book pulled some of my personal triggers. It is very difficult for me to read about women who engage in the type of sabotage and nastiness that Cooper experiences. However, it is a very good story about someone realizing exactly what she needs to do in order to find her own happiness. In the end, Cooper is a star.
July 4, 2023
Interesting book about the cutthroat world of academics in an elite university. Cooper Hunziker, PhD. has left her boyfriend and best friend behind to come to Yale to vie for a tenured professor job. Her father's family comes from a legacy of Yalies and she broke the chain when she didn't get in.so this is her second chance. Ironically, she has just written a book on happiness and is working on a study on childhood attachment as it impacts adult romantic relationships. good thing she has all those happy studies to peruse because her Yale experience is pretty much a big basket of suck! The department administrative assistant seeming hates her and is undermining her at every turn, she is accused of plagiarism, and her field of study seems irreverent compared to her competition for tenure. To top it off, she is assigned to co-lead a self help group at the library that leads to all kinds of emotional twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book partially because I went to school in New Haven and loved the reference to my old haunts. But mostly, I enjoyed the unraveling of a complicated set of circumstances meant to ruin Coopers life, romance and reputation. This book was a real page turner with a hint of potential romance. . .
I enjoyed this book partially because I went to school in New Haven and loved the reference to my old haunts. But mostly, I enjoyed the unraveling of a complicated set of circumstances meant to ruin Coopers life, romance and reputation. This book was a real page turner with a hint of potential romance. . .
June 28, 2023
Although this book starts out on the slow side, and seems to be a bit unfocused, I think it's because the main character, Cooper, is herself a bit unsettled. She has always been determined to go to Yale. She didn't get accepted as an undergraduate. Now that she's achieved her Ph.D., she's got a job there, competing with two other people in a tenure-track position. She's left her boyfriend and her best friend in California.
The department has more than an unwelcome feel to it - in fact Cooper feels like she's missing notices, mail, and other documentation. Her boss and his assistant have an exceptionally antagonistic attitude toward her and only her.
As Cooper gets her feet on the ground, and starts making friends, her focus becomes better. She's written a book that is about to launch and she's doing publicity events. Her book is about finding happiness and Cooper starts using her process for herself.
This is a great story of awakening, finding support from new friends, and determining what it is you really want out of life. I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more books from Lucy Burdette.
I received an advance reader copy of this book.
The department has more than an unwelcome feel to it - in fact Cooper feels like she's missing notices, mail, and other documentation. Her boss and his assistant have an exceptionally antagonistic attitude toward her and only her.
As Cooper gets her feet on the ground, and starts making friends, her focus becomes better. She's written a book that is about to launch and she's doing publicity events. Her book is about finding happiness and Cooper starts using her process for herself.
This is a great story of awakening, finding support from new friends, and determining what it is you really want out of life. I enjoyed it and I look forward to reading more books from Lucy Burdette.
I received an advance reader copy of this book.
July 2, 2023
This book is much more complicated that a rom-com or cozy read. Although I thought it would be about the protagonist Dr. Cooper Hunziker and her soon to be escapades with Judd who she meets at a cafe. He & his wife are not in a happy marriage and his wife wants out. Cooper is attracted to him so I thought this would be about their romance.
It is however, a deep look at how each of us has lows in our lives - break ups, family (parent and sibling) issues, best friend issues, jobs, employee/er relationships. Cooper certainly has many issues that bring her unhappiness and as she starts her doctoral work at Yale she is confronted with issues from her childhood, her new boss and his secretary, her supposed best girl friend and boy friend. These issues become very difficult to identify and overcome. But since she has studied academic "happiness" as a psychological endeavor she must deal with how to navigate how those in her life are sabotaging her happiness. One by one she learns the value of true friendships.
It is however, a deep look at how each of us has lows in our lives - break ups, family (parent and sibling) issues, best friend issues, jobs, employee/er relationships. Cooper certainly has many issues that bring her unhappiness and as she starts her doctoral work at Yale she is confronted with issues from her childhood, her new boss and his secretary, her supposed best girl friend and boy friend. These issues become very difficult to identify and overcome. But since she has studied academic "happiness" as a psychological endeavor she must deal with how to navigate how those in her life are sabotaging her happiness. One by one she learns the value of true friendships.
July 27, 2023
From the description and the light-hearted cover, I thought this book was a contemporary romance. It is not. It’s a story about expectations and reality crashing head-on, and how to decide what is worth pursuing, and what should be released.
Cooper Hunziker has just gotten the job she has wanted all of her life: assistant professor of psychology at Yale. At the same time, she has a new book on happiness coming out, which the stuffed shirts at Yale disapprove of. She is loaded with anxiety and doubt, and relies on her boyfriend and best friend to bolster her, with disappointing results. In addition, she has a complicated family life. Why is the happiness expert so miserable? It takes the whole book to find out. Cooper has so many issues, like a father who abandoned her, a boyfriend who uses food to control her, and fear of confrontation. Add to that the fact that her research project is ridiculous. She’s elitist (I did’t like her snooty fear of having to resort to working at a community college.) She is a mess.
I had high expectations for this book, but it was just ok for me.
Cooper Hunziker has just gotten the job she has wanted all of her life: assistant professor of psychology at Yale. At the same time, she has a new book on happiness coming out, which the stuffed shirts at Yale disapprove of. She is loaded with anxiety and doubt, and relies on her boyfriend and best friend to bolster her, with disappointing results. In addition, she has a complicated family life. Why is the happiness expert so miserable? It takes the whole book to find out. Cooper has so many issues, like a father who abandoned her, a boyfriend who uses food to control her, and fear of confrontation. Add to that the fact that her research project is ridiculous. She’s elitist (I did’t like her snooty fear of having to resort to working at a community college.) She is a mess.
I had high expectations for this book, but it was just ok for me.
October 22, 2023
A beautifully written book that explores the relationships with not only oneself, but with a whole variety of people too; bosses, colleagues, friends, family, strangers etc.
I felt a lot of feelings throughout this book; I was often hopeful, happy and inspired. But on occasion I was also shocked, outraged around downright miserable. I definitely felt how the characters felt on their journeys.
One specific moment gave me actual goosebumps as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
I absolutely adore the inclusion of the chocolate cake recipe; never have I been more jealous of a fictional character as when all of the delightful cakes were talked about in great detail.
I would have loved an epilogue to see exactly what happened with everyone's situations. Vague questions to avoid spoilers but...
Was the romance a success? Did the sister trip go well? How was the birthday cake? Did the app work? Did the group continue? Was the quiz truth admitted to? Who got tenure? Did Stella hide more than the letters? Did the shady couple make long distance work? And many more.
I felt a lot of feelings throughout this book; I was often hopeful, happy and inspired. But on occasion I was also shocked, outraged around downright miserable. I definitely felt how the characters felt on their journeys.
One specific moment gave me actual goosebumps as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place.
I absolutely adore the inclusion of the chocolate cake recipe; never have I been more jealous of a fictional character as when all of the delightful cakes were talked about in great detail.
I would have loved an epilogue to see exactly what happened with everyone's situations. Vague questions to avoid spoilers but...
Was the romance a success? Did the sister trip go well? How was the birthday cake? Did the app work? Did the group continue? Was the quiz truth admitted to? Who got tenure? Did Stella hide more than the letters? Did the shady couple make long distance work? And many more.
June 25, 2023
I was a little bit surprised once I started reading The Ingredients of Happiness I didn’t expect it to be like author Burdette’s Key West Food Critic Mystery series, but from the cover and description I did expect it to be more light-hearted.
It was an enjoyable read but there was a little too much angst and trauma from the author and I didn’t really expect her to end up happy. There are a lot of serious issues addressed in the book, including betrayal, self-sabotage, childhood trauma, love, loss, divorce, and mental illness but they were covered more tangentially rather than head on, so the book meandered a bit, not settling into a serious or a light-hearted read.
I’ve seen many positive reviews for this book and have been a longtime fan of author Burdette; it just didn’t connect with what I was expecting. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of The Ingredients of Happiness. I voluntarily leave this review and all opinions are my own.
It was an enjoyable read but there was a little too much angst and trauma from the author and I didn’t really expect her to end up happy. There are a lot of serious issues addressed in the book, including betrayal, self-sabotage, childhood trauma, love, loss, divorce, and mental illness but they were covered more tangentially rather than head on, so the book meandered a bit, not settling into a serious or a light-hearted read.
I’ve seen many positive reviews for this book and have been a longtime fan of author Burdette; it just didn’t connect with what I was expecting. Thanks to the author and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of The Ingredients of Happiness. I voluntarily leave this review and all opinions are my own.
October 5, 2023
"The Ingredients of Happiness" was just the book I needed on a rainy autumn day. It had elements that drew me in immediately: an intelligent main character with some obvious vulnerabilities resulting from her back story; a group of potential friends from an unexpected source; an appealing new man in her life. In addition to the cast of characters, author Lucy Burdette did not miss out on the humor and agony of academia, reminding me of the old joke: Why are the battles in academia so bitter? Because the prizes are so small.
On top of all of this, Ms. Burdette elevates this novel by beginning each chapter with a quote from actual happiness researchers. The deft way in which their insights tie into the unfolding action of each new chapter raised this from 3 to 4 four stars for me.
"The Ingredients of Happiness" left me happier than it found me, and I can't ask for more than that in a novel. Thank you, Lucy Burdette!
On top of all of this, Ms. Burdette elevates this novel by beginning each chapter with a quote from actual happiness researchers. The deft way in which their insights tie into the unfolding action of each new chapter raised this from 3 to 4 four stars for me.
"The Ingredients of Happiness" left me happier than it found me, and I can't ask for more than that in a novel. Thank you, Lucy Burdette!
June 13, 2023
Cooper Hunziker had always dreamed of attending Yale, following a family tradition but reality had her attending a different university. Upon completion of her PHd, she is hired as an assistant professor in the Yale psychology department, and is competing with two other candidates for a tenured position.
She also has a book about to be published titled "The Happiness Connection". Unfortunately, this does not impress the head of the department. Cooper also doesn't understand why the department secretary is hiding her mail and basically sabotaging her efforts.
Meeting women in a self help group associated with the university has Cooper questioning what really makes her happy. Being accused of plagiarism on a quiz that led to her book, Cooper is forced to rethink her relationships and who wants to harm her. A journey of self discovery.
#TheIngredientofHappiness #NetGalley
She also has a book about to be published titled "The Happiness Connection". Unfortunately, this does not impress the head of the department. Cooper also doesn't understand why the department secretary is hiding her mail and basically sabotaging her efforts.
Meeting women in a self help group associated with the university has Cooper questioning what really makes her happy. Being accused of plagiarism on a quiz that led to her book, Cooper is forced to rethink her relationships and who wants to harm her. A journey of self discovery.
#TheIngredientofHappiness #NetGalley
August 29, 2023
Love this book!
As a psychology student, I loved this so much! I spotted lots of positive psychology, and I also really liked the developmental part because those are both part of my specialization.
I also really loved the main character's process of realizing the actual ingredients of happiness, as opposed to what people say should be the ingredients of happiness. And I also like that the book shows that knowing what to do to be happy does not necessarily make you happy.
Very good read! Absolutely recommend!
The only reason it was not 5 stars is because the plot twist was very predictable for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me a copy in exchange for am honest review!
an instagram post will be made, and the link will also be shared here on the 12th of july.
As a psychology student, I loved this so much! I spotted lots of positive psychology, and I also really liked the developmental part because those are both part of my specialization.
I also really loved the main character's process of realizing the actual ingredients of happiness, as opposed to what people say should be the ingredients of happiness. And I also like that the book shows that knowing what to do to be happy does not necessarily make you happy.
Very good read! Absolutely recommend!
The only reason it was not 5 stars is because the plot twist was very predictable for me.
Thank you to netgalley and the author for sending me a copy in exchange for am honest review!
an instagram post will be made, and the link will also be shared here on the 12th of july.
October 24, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story is about Cooper Hunziker, a 32 year old who accepts a position as an assistant psychology professor at Yale University whilst she is also on the verge of publishing her book "The Happiness Connection", however despite writing this book Cooper isn't happy and some people at Yale University have it in for her making it tough for her to fit in. Cooper has had a hard time and is suffering from some childhood trauma which is brought to light in the story, whilst she deals with different issues in her life whilst trying to find out what it really is that will make her happy.
Quite a lot of content with some highs and lows and covers some difficult topics but overall an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
The story is about Cooper Hunziker, a 32 year old who accepts a position as an assistant psychology professor at Yale University whilst she is also on the verge of publishing her book "The Happiness Connection", however despite writing this book Cooper isn't happy and some people at Yale University have it in for her making it tough for her to fit in. Cooper has had a hard time and is suffering from some childhood trauma which is brought to light in the story, whilst she deals with different issues in her life whilst trying to find out what it really is that will make her happy.
Quite a lot of content with some highs and lows and covers some difficult topics but overall an enjoyable read that I would recommend.
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