I Want You to Be Happy: A Novel

by Jem Calder

A tender, witty, and sharp debut novel about the passions and peculiarities of modern love, by “an extraordinarily gifted writer” (Sally Rooney).

Chuck and Joey meet in a bar. He’s in his mid-thirties; she’s twelve years younger. He long ago abandoned his ambition of being a novelist and works as a copywriter at a big ad agency. "Lead copywriter," he corrects himself. Joey is living paycheck to paycheck on her barista wages and privately dreams of making it as a poet. They go back to Chuck’s luxury flat—a world away from Joey’s cramped house-share, the crumbs in her bed. Soon, Joey is imagining a future between them and Chuck is moving on from a major change in his recent past. Amazing, how meeting a new person can make you feel so new.

Funny, excruciating, and true, Jem Calder's I Want You to Be Happy is a sharp-eyed tale of two people searching for meaning and connection in modern times, missing the mark maybe, but still trying.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

Reviews

[leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

a love story for the digital age or a cautionary tale - maybe both?

really enjoyed this! such a sharp, poignant examination of modern relationships and loneliness. will write a full review soon.

[suzannah ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly readable and vividly real, I WANT YOU TO BE HAPPY is a sharp portrait of modern relationships and our increasing isolation in a digital-first world

this might be a bit of a marmite book; if you like the cover, i think you’ll like reading this - contemporary, hyper-specific while maintaining distance, a little tongue-in-cheek about its own predictability

i was rooting for Joey, resenting Chuck as i know i was supposed to. it can be very hard to make phone usage in books feel genuine and be interesting, but this was accurate and amusing. i’m looking forward to reading more by Jem Calder

thank you very much for Faber & NetGalley for the ARC!

[Georgie Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Devoured this! A deeply realistic representation of modern dating, relationship anxious, loneliness and lack of direction young people face today. Couldn’t put it down, was unsettlingly mundane and intoxicating in a way where you feel part of the character’sthought process and feel deeply for them both. Only not 5 days as I thought Joeys character wasn’t as flushed out as Chucks and wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending. But otherwise no notes

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was asked to review this by NetGalley. Wow I loved the characters and this is modern dating, just how the modern world feels with lack of dIrection, relationship hang ups.

Interesting story of dating today and lonliness too. I have to say I so loved Chuck.

Recommended read but not due for publication till May 21 2026.

[Sian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t feel like I was reading the same book as the reviews as I found this depiction incredibly sad of 2 people living mediocre unhappy lives where they felt trapped. I enjoyed their coming together and the mismatch of their feelings but the unlikeable character of Chuck did jar my enjoyment of the book overall.

[Bojana's Library ❤ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5 out of 5, but rounded to 4

A really sharp, sometimes crude commentary on modern relationships. On how people can leave an effect on you after they exit your life.

When I get a chance and my opinions had time to settle, I'll update this ☺️

[Lauren Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got so attached to these characters; the character of Chuck was so perfectly articulated, I swear I saw him on the tube last week. Really enjoyed this.

[Ben Dutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jem Calder's debut novel is a contemporary love story between Chuck and Joey. Despite their age difference, these two souls adrift in the London dating scene find each other and a romance blossoms. Calder is very good at characterisation - I felt I knew both these people by novels end, and was keen to learn more about them the more I read. So an engaging story, well told, if a little familiar - but aren't all love stories? This is a good one though and recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC.