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The Pollyanna Plan
Is finding true love as easy as an attitude change?
Thirty-something Emma Beckett has always looked down on 'the glass is half full' optimists, believing it's better to be realistic than delusional. But when she loses her high-powered job and fiancé in the same week, even Emma has difficulty keeping calm and carrying on.
With her world spinning out of control, and bolstered by a challenge from her best friend, Emma makes a radical decision. From here on in, she'll behave like Pollyanna: attempting to always see the upside, no matter how dire the situation.
Can adopting a positive attitude give Emma the courage to build a new life, or is finding the good in everything a very bad idea?
Thirty-something Emma Beckett has always looked down on 'the glass is half full' optimists, believing it's better to be realistic than delusional. But when she loses her high-powered job and fiancé in the same week, even Emma has difficulty keeping calm and carrying on.
With her world spinning out of control, and bolstered by a challenge from her best friend, Emma makes a radical decision. From here on in, she'll behave like Pollyanna: attempting to always see the upside, no matter how dire the situation.
Can adopting a positive attitude give Emma the courage to build a new life, or is finding the good in everything a very bad idea?
236 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2012
136 people are currently reading
1126 people want to read
About the author
Talli Roland
19 books302 followersTalli Roland writes fun, romantic fiction. Born and raised in Canada, Talli now lives in London, where she savours the great cultural life (coffee and wine).
Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories--complete with happy endings. Talli's debut novel The Hating Game was short-listed for Best Romantic Read at the UK's Festival of Romance, while her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as an Amazon Customer Favourite. Her novels have also been chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites and have been bestsellers in Britain and the United States.
To learn more about Talli, go to www.talliroland.com or follow Talli on Twitter: @talliroland. Talli blogs at talliroland.blogspot.com.
Despite training as a journalist, Talli soon found she preferred making up her own stories--complete with happy endings. Talli's debut novel The Hating Game was short-listed for Best Romantic Read at the UK's Festival of Romance, while her second, Watching Willow Watts, was selected as an Amazon Customer Favourite. Her novels have also been chosen as top books of the year by industry review websites and have been bestsellers in Britain and the United States.
To learn more about Talli, go to www.talliroland.com or follow Talli on Twitter: @talliroland. Talli blogs at talliroland.blogspot.com.
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December 1, 2012Out now! :)
March 6, 2013
Talli Roland’s Chick Lit novel explores the question of how much our outlook can influence our life.
Emma Beckett enjoys her precise, safe life and likes her fiance and the predictable life they are planning. She’s grounded firmly in reality and thinks that being too optimistic only leads to heartache and chaos. When she loses her job and fiance in the same week, Emma is thrown and unsure what to do next- except look for more of the same. Then her best friend challenges Emma to spend some time seeing life as though the glass is half full.
Emma’s in for a whirlwind when she decides to take on a Pollyanna attitude, and look for the good in everything.
The Pollyanna Plan has many of the typical elements of a chick lit novel, so fans of the genre will not be disappointed. But what I liked most about the book is the frisson of excitement I felt when Emma begins to think “what if?..” And when Emma takes one big chance, I felt that same twinge, wondering if I would ever be brave enough to just take the BIG CHANCE if it ever presented itself.
An interesting take that Roland provides in The Pollyanna Plan is the challenge to Emma’s potential new relationship- it’s one that not many of us face, and one that would take a big leap to jump into. Roland handles it well, and in the way we would all like to be were we faced with the same challenge ourselves. I think Emma is quite relatable as she tries to navigate a path to her ideal life, dealing with a lot of the trepidation and two-steps-forward-one-step-back many of us may experience.
I really enjoyed reading this one, and look forward to more from Roland.
Emma Beckett enjoys her precise, safe life and likes her fiance and the predictable life they are planning. She’s grounded firmly in reality and thinks that being too optimistic only leads to heartache and chaos. When she loses her job and fiance in the same week, Emma is thrown and unsure what to do next- except look for more of the same. Then her best friend challenges Emma to spend some time seeing life as though the glass is half full.
Emma’s in for a whirlwind when she decides to take on a Pollyanna attitude, and look for the good in everything.
The Pollyanna Plan has many of the typical elements of a chick lit novel, so fans of the genre will not be disappointed. But what I liked most about the book is the frisson of excitement I felt when Emma begins to think “what if?..” And when Emma takes one big chance, I felt that same twinge, wondering if I would ever be brave enough to just take the BIG CHANCE if it ever presented itself.
An interesting take that Roland provides in The Pollyanna Plan is the challenge to Emma’s potential new relationship- it’s one that not many of us face, and one that would take a big leap to jump into. Roland handles it well, and in the way we would all like to be were we faced with the same challenge ourselves. I think Emma is quite relatable as she tries to navigate a path to her ideal life, dealing with a lot of the trepidation and two-steps-forward-one-step-back many of us may experience.
I really enjoyed reading this one, and look forward to more from Roland.
January 8, 2013
I received a copy of The Pollyanna Plan by Talli Roland in exchange for an honest review.
Ah, Talli Roland. Her books are always a treat to read, and she never fails to win me over with her sassy writing and loveable characters. Our heroine this time around is thirty-something Emma Beckett, who embodies a non-optimist life. She firmly believes in being realistic and not getting wrapped up in fantasy or hope. Her fiancé is a safe man, she works in insurance (everyone always needs that!) and she doesn’t trouble herself with silly time-wasters such as decorating her apartment. But when she gets fired and loses her fiancé back-to-back, Emma is shaken to say the least. When a friend challenges her to think like Pollyanna: glass half full, always seeing the upside, Emma takes it on. But will her decision turn out positively…or will Emma realize her old way of thinking was the best?
Emma literally cracked me up throughout this book. I was always laughing over her meticulous thought plans, her carefully constructed life. This book whizzed by for me, filled with snappy dialogue, a crew of some pretty fun characters, and a fab story-teller at the helm. I adored the skiddy romance between Emma and Will, and enjoyed the sub-plots that Rolland built in for her characters. The ending was right-on, and this is another chick lit book you must add on your to-read list!
**4.5 stars**
Ah, Talli Roland. Her books are always a treat to read, and she never fails to win me over with her sassy writing and loveable characters. Our heroine this time around is thirty-something Emma Beckett, who embodies a non-optimist life. She firmly believes in being realistic and not getting wrapped up in fantasy or hope. Her fiancé is a safe man, she works in insurance (everyone always needs that!) and she doesn’t trouble herself with silly time-wasters such as decorating her apartment. But when she gets fired and loses her fiancé back-to-back, Emma is shaken to say the least. When a friend challenges her to think like Pollyanna: glass half full, always seeing the upside, Emma takes it on. But will her decision turn out positively…or will Emma realize her old way of thinking was the best?
Emma literally cracked me up throughout this book. I was always laughing over her meticulous thought plans, her carefully constructed life. This book whizzed by for me, filled with snappy dialogue, a crew of some pretty fun characters, and a fab story-teller at the helm. I adored the skiddy romance between Emma and Will, and enjoyed the sub-plots that Rolland built in for her characters. The ending was right-on, and this is another chick lit book you must add on your to-read list!
**4.5 stars**
December 30, 2012
Realist Emma Beckett’s world is turned upside down when her slightly boring but dependable relationship ends abruptly, and she unexpectedly loses her job. Emma is left with a gaping hole where her life used to be, so when her best friend challenges her to an attitude change, she uncharacteristically agrees to behave like Pollyanna and see the upside to every situation.
Emma attempts to see if a positive attitude can help her to build a new life, mend conflicts with her family and find her love. But is finding the good in everything a bad idea?
I liked the concept of this book. Emma was a very uptight character whose career was the most important aspect of her life, and we discover that in fact she wasn’t very likable and didn’t have many friends as a result. When her career dissolves and she starts to see the upside of things, we see a whole new side to her and she grows a lot as a character throughout the novel.
I didn’t feel that there was much suspense in the will-they-won’t-they romance with Will. It was obvious to me that she would eventually come around to the idea of being with him. I enjoyed her friendship with straight-talking Alice though. This was a feel good, fast paced read and another enjoyable novel from Talli.
Emma attempts to see if a positive attitude can help her to build a new life, mend conflicts with her family and find her love. But is finding the good in everything a bad idea?
I liked the concept of this book. Emma was a very uptight character whose career was the most important aspect of her life, and we discover that in fact she wasn’t very likable and didn’t have many friends as a result. When her career dissolves and she starts to see the upside of things, we see a whole new side to her and she grows a lot as a character throughout the novel.
I didn’t feel that there was much suspense in the will-they-won’t-they romance with Will. It was obvious to me that she would eventually come around to the idea of being with him. I enjoyed her friendship with straight-talking Alice though. This was a feel good, fast paced read and another enjoyable novel from Talli.
January 21, 2013
Emma's busy and in her mind, fulfilling life comes to a grinding halt and her best friend tries to get her to change her view and embark on a change of thinking, to be more like Pollyanna and see the postive in everything!
It's not an easy change!
I was quickly absorbed into the story and got a feeling for the characters! Emma really did make the story, and following her through the experiences she found herself facing was enlightening.
A really good read, likeable characters and a story that kept you turning to the next page.
It's not an easy change!
I was quickly absorbed into the story and got a feeling for the characters! Emma really did make the story, and following her through the experiences she found herself facing was enlightening.
A really good read, likeable characters and a story that kept you turning to the next page.
January 14, 2013
The storyline itself was abit predictable but it was a nice easy, light, feel good and enjoyable read. What I really liked about this book was the meaning of it which we all should do I our lives. Is that by just changing your attitude, thinking more positively and taking risks can change your life and make your happier. .
December 27, 2012
A good quick read, slightly marred for me by a couple of errors that should have been picked up (main character dresses in a trouser suit but couple of pages on smooths her skirt!). Enjoyable chick lit.
January 7, 2013
A real great read. Emma is a character you will love. It is an addictive story that you will not want to put down till you have finished it and i think its over all message is "everyone should give the Pollyanna plan a try" It could work for us all.
Fab read, loved it.
Fab read, loved it.
April 23, 2013
The story Is sweet, and the characters are likable. But the writing is weak and predictable.
July 1, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
This was a nice, quick, rainy-day, chick-lit read. Cute story.
This was a nice, quick, rainy-day, chick-lit read. Cute story.
May 8, 2014
Ahh this book was so good and right when im at the last chapter i lose the book :(
June 8, 2015
Such a lovely, soppy, romantic feel-good book. I don't read stuff like this very often, and I have to say it really hit the spot.
July 3, 2024
The concept of this book was great and I wanted to love it but...I didn't. It was lacklustre.
I found the writing slow and the romance even slower. It had the trope that I really dislike...lack of communication. It annoyed me no end that Emma and Will just wouldn't talk and it felt like a lazy way to create conflict.
Emma and Will had all the trimmings of a great romance, but it barely had time to develop before it was all over. It took a while to build up into something then by the 60% mark it was all over. The last 40% of the book was them denying their failures before admitting that they had failed and had to fix things, then a mad rush at the end to tie it all together.
At the 95% mark, I was certain it wouldn't all be resolved, but it was. I'm happy about that, but it was so rushed it gave me whiplash.
I found the writing slow and the romance even slower. It had the trope that I really dislike...lack of communication. It annoyed me no end that Emma and Will just wouldn't talk and it felt like a lazy way to create conflict.
Emma and Will had all the trimmings of a great romance, but it barely had time to develop before it was all over. It took a while to build up into something then by the 60% mark it was all over. The last 40% of the book was them denying their failures before admitting that they had failed and had to fix things, then a mad rush at the end to tie it all together.
At the 95% mark, I was certain it wouldn't all be resolved, but it was. I'm happy about that, but it was so rushed it gave me whiplash.
May 15, 2017
I enjoyed the book
I recommend it, although the temptation to smack Emma from time to time was quite strong. Then again, the girl had been thinking in a particular way for a very long time. Maybe I was expecting too much change too quickly.
I liked Will. For some reason his backstory explained more of his behavior. Maybe because it was all so much more recent.
I recommend it, although the temptation to smack Emma from time to time was quite strong. Then again, the girl had been thinking in a particular way for a very long time. Maybe I was expecting too much change too quickly.
I liked Will. For some reason his backstory explained more of his behavior. Maybe because it was all so much more recent.
May 22, 2017
Triumph over past hurts
I am always amazed that people put blocks in their own paths in the lives they live! Any - saying themselves out of happiness! Self-doubt is so powerful! I am not Pollyanna, but I can see through the hurt. I was so happy the light bulb came on for them both at the same moment in time, but that is a love story for you! I enjoyed their journey!
I am always amazed that people put blocks in their own paths in the lives they live! Any - saying themselves out of happiness! Self-doubt is so powerful! I am not Pollyanna, but I can see through the hurt. I was so happy the light bulb came on for them both at the same moment in time, but that is a love story for you! I enjoyed their journey!
September 13, 2018
Changing your attitude can work wonders in all area of your life. The more positive one is about life in general will bring more happiness to your life that if you look at everything negatively. Yes, there will be bumps in the road, but overall, having a positive attitude will make it much smoother. This sweet book shows what happens when one changes their attitude, in the case tries the "Pollyanna Plan."
Read and enjoy!
Read and enjoy!
February 18, 2021
It has the fluffy plotline of a Hallmark movie, although there are a handful of PG-13 scenes as well. As a “Pollyanna” fan, I was disappointed in the conclusion that being Pollyanna-like is too extreme, and equated to “having your head in the sand.” I think that’s a grossly mistaken portrayal of the message of the “Pollyanna” books. But overall, it was a cute and fluffy read, about what I expected. :)
January 17, 2018
I picked this up and wanted an easy chick flick and this didn’t disappoint. The message is on living life knowing bad stuff happens no matter how positively your mindset. How you deal with that stuff is what matters. Simple and enjoyable.
April 30, 2018
The name says it all!
This book is centered around an old literary character who looked for the best in everything. But it also shows the flaws. Emma's sister, Meg, broke my heart at one point but it was necessary to the story. I highly recommend this book!
This book is centered around an old literary character who looked for the best in everything. But it also shows the flaws. Emma's sister, Meg, broke my heart at one point but it was necessary to the story. I highly recommend this book!
April 21, 2020
I believe I want to read a light, romance novel until I actually do. Blech. There was nothing about this novel to recommend. Sorry for those who enjoyed it and this genre. I have learned my lesson--this is not for me.
July 21, 2017
An easy read and enjoyable, although not really anything new.
August 3, 2017
Cute characters and uplifting story.
September 6, 2017
Good read
Good easy read. Loved the message of the book! It's easy to relate to the characters s they go through they're journey.
Good easy read. Loved the message of the book! It's easy to relate to the characters s they go through they're journey.
January 3, 2018
Though a bit cheesy it was just what I needed to start the new year with a positive attitude.
February 28, 2018
Very light read. Enjoyable and effortless
May 5, 2018
Kept my interest and good story
I enjoyed reading the book and the characters were interesting. The overall Pollyanna theme was clever. This author has potential.
I enjoyed reading the book and the characters were interesting. The overall Pollyanna theme was clever. This author has potential.
September 14, 2018
A fun read!
October 21, 2018
Decent little story
Not a bad read, but nothing spectacular. The characters were well developed but it just didn’t hook me like I would’ve wanted.
Not a bad read, but nothing spectacular. The characters were well developed but it just didn’t hook me like I would’ve wanted.
January 7, 2019
A bit too all or nothing to be very believable but enjoyable enough
Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews