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U Got to Have U Some Fun
Original ASIN B00O4EJ1M6
John Smith, a recently divorced man and as average as his name implies, arrives home from his job at a rubber band factory to find a ticket for a cruise ship vacation in his mailbox. He assumes the ticket is from his son because Carson made him promise to break free of his boring life and, for once, travel and have some fun and the note included simply said, “It’s Time.” John is puzzled because his beloved, only child was killed six months ago while serving in the Army in Afghanistan. In order to fulfill the promise John made to Carson and though filled with anxiety about leaving his routines and comfort zone, he goes on the cruise.
During seven days of various Caribbean destinations and sea days, John meets a diverse blend of passengers and crew who influence his life in monumental ways. Each new day brings new experiences, new pleasures, a new piece of information about the source of the ticket, and a new challenge to overcome.
As John begins to emerge from his shell—less and less average, more and more adventurous, and destined for a new and richer life—the question still looms: Who bought John’s ticket?
Ordinary and typical John Smith’s life-changing vacation where the average baggage is anything but, challenges you to take stock of your own life. U Got to Have U Some Fun will have you crying, laughing, crying while laughing, angry, rooting, and ultimately saying yes to one question: Would I do anything for my children, even change? Whether you are one of the 20 million people who cruise each year or someone who rarely even takes a vacation, this vivid work of fiction feels like the real thing.
John Smith, a recently divorced man and as average as his name implies, arrives home from his job at a rubber band factory to find a ticket for a cruise ship vacation in his mailbox. He assumes the ticket is from his son because Carson made him promise to break free of his boring life and, for once, travel and have some fun and the note included simply said, “It’s Time.” John is puzzled because his beloved, only child was killed six months ago while serving in the Army in Afghanistan. In order to fulfill the promise John made to Carson and though filled with anxiety about leaving his routines and comfort zone, he goes on the cruise.
During seven days of various Caribbean destinations and sea days, John meets a diverse blend of passengers and crew who influence his life in monumental ways. Each new day brings new experiences, new pleasures, a new piece of information about the source of the ticket, and a new challenge to overcome.
As John begins to emerge from his shell—less and less average, more and more adventurous, and destined for a new and richer life—the question still looms: Who bought John’s ticket?
Ordinary and typical John Smith’s life-changing vacation where the average baggage is anything but, challenges you to take stock of your own life. U Got to Have U Some Fun will have you crying, laughing, crying while laughing, angry, rooting, and ultimately saying yes to one question: Would I do anything for my children, even change? Whether you are one of the 20 million people who cruise each year or someone who rarely even takes a vacation, this vivid work of fiction feels like the real thing.
551 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2014
4 people are currently reading
207 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Harkless
4 books38 followersAndrew Harkless was born in Orange, California in 1970, but raised in Pennsylvania. His ultimate goal: arm an innate imagination with enough real life experiences to eventually be proficient in creating authentic, heartfelt, relatable characters to act out the scenes of his imagination through his novels.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 17, 2018
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].
‘U Got to Have U Some Fun’ by Andrew Harkless
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on May 24, 2018
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $4.99 on Kindle | $13.74 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
John Smith, recently divorced and the father of a deceased soldier, comes home from his job at a rubber band factory one day to discover someone has sent him a cruise ticket. He assumes it’s from his late son, Carson, because he made John promise to one day take a cruise and have some fun. He decides to take the ticket and fulfill his promise to Carson.
During seven days of various Caribbean destinations and sea days, John meets a diverse blend of passengers and crew who influence his life in monumental ways. Each new day brings new experiences, pleasures, a new challenge to overcome, and information about the source of the ticket.
As John begins to emerge from his shell—less and less average, more and more adventurous, and destined for a new and richer life—the question still looms:
Who bought John’s ticket?
MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
‘U Got to Have U Some Fun’ is a delightful, heartwarming novel about a man learning to leave both his mundane life and his grief behind. In a beautiful tribute to his son, John Smith shows the reader how important it is to honor those we love after they have passed. John continually steps out of his comfort zone to honor his son, and in doing so, he reinvigorates his life and comes to terms with the losses he’s faced. He learns he’s more capable (and likable!) than he ever imagined himself to be.
Harkless has written a charming novel with a lot of heart. Every character in this novel brings a brightness, a vitality, that rubs off on the main character, John. By the end of this book, you feel like you’ve become friends with these cruisers, too.
There are a lot of coming of age novels about teens or young adults, so it’s a nice change to see one about a grown man. Because it’s never too late to discover (or rediscover) who you are and what sort of life you want to lead. Every new and exciting challenge and adventure John faces, he takes on with gusto. He’s not afraid to look silly or to fail. We could all learn a lot from boring ol’ John Smith.
I’ve never taken a cruise. They actually sort of frighten me, but after reading this book, I wanted to! It was hard not to be inspired and invigorated by the things John experienced and the relationships he made along the way.
This is the first book I’ve read from Andrew Harkless, but I would not hesitate to read more of his work. ‘U Got to Have U Some Fun’ felt reminiscent of Paulo Coelho to me, so if the rest of his work is like this book, there’s a lot to enjoy from Harkless.
‘U Got to Have U Some Fun’ by Andrew Harkless
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on May 24, 2018
GIVEN A FREE COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW
FREE on Kindle Unlimited | $4.99 on Kindle | $13.74 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
John Smith, recently divorced and the father of a deceased soldier, comes home from his job at a rubber band factory one day to discover someone has sent him a cruise ticket. He assumes it’s from his late son, Carson, because he made John promise to one day take a cruise and have some fun. He decides to take the ticket and fulfill his promise to Carson.
During seven days of various Caribbean destinations and sea days, John meets a diverse blend of passengers and crew who influence his life in monumental ways. Each new day brings new experiences, pleasures, a new challenge to overcome, and information about the source of the ticket.
As John begins to emerge from his shell—less and less average, more and more adventurous, and destined for a new and richer life—the question still looms:
Who bought John’s ticket?
MY REVIEW:
I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
‘U Got to Have U Some Fun’ is a delightful, heartwarming novel about a man learning to leave both his mundane life and his grief behind. In a beautiful tribute to his son, John Smith shows the reader how important it is to honor those we love after they have passed. John continually steps out of his comfort zone to honor his son, and in doing so, he reinvigorates his life and comes to terms with the losses he’s faced. He learns he’s more capable (and likable!) than he ever imagined himself to be.
Harkless has written a charming novel with a lot of heart. Every character in this novel brings a brightness, a vitality, that rubs off on the main character, John. By the end of this book, you feel like you’ve become friends with these cruisers, too.
There are a lot of coming of age novels about teens or young adults, so it’s a nice change to see one about a grown man. Because it’s never too late to discover (or rediscover) who you are and what sort of life you want to lead. Every new and exciting challenge and adventure John faces, he takes on with gusto. He’s not afraid to look silly or to fail. We could all learn a lot from boring ol’ John Smith.
I’ve never taken a cruise. They actually sort of frighten me, but after reading this book, I wanted to! It was hard not to be inspired and invigorated by the things John experienced and the relationships he made along the way.
This is the first book I’ve read from Andrew Harkless, but I would not hesitate to read more of his work. ‘U Got to Have U Some Fun’ felt reminiscent of Paulo Coelho to me, so if the rest of his work is like this book, there’s a lot to enjoy from Harkless.
August 28, 2018
I had a most difficult time with this book. I loved the premise which is a man goes on an adventure at the behest of his son. I also liked that the adventure was a cruise. However, as a frequent cruiser myself, I had a very difficult time with the inaccuracies about cruising that peppered the story. Some would not be noticeable to non-cruising people and those were easy to ignore. There were other errors, however, that could have been fixed by a simple search of just about any major cruise line in operation today. Those were harder to forgive; mixed with the other little things I noticed, they all combined to take me out of the story. That being said, some of the messages of the book, such as “you only live once,” “take things on your own terms,” “be open to new experiences,” were all good ones, and put forth in a way that was not preachy. The lessons learned by the main character are ones that everybody can use. But the story was drawn out much longer than it needed to be, and the errors in the cruising experience made this less enjoyable than it could have been. I'm in between a 2.5 and a 3 for the rating. **I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, through Reading Deals, and I gave an honest review.**
April 25, 2020
Despite a title that makes me want to get out a red pen and correct it, this book is one of the best reads that I've had all year. Heartfelt, humorous and full of life, it is the story about an ordinary man, dealing with sorry and loss and his journey back to life. After losing his son, John Smith feels lost. He had promised his son that we would go out and start living after his divorce, but after his son passed, it no longer felt like a promise he had the heart to keep. Then a cruise ticket shows up in the mail. On the cruise, he meets a variety of people, that help him realize that his son was right, and there is more to life than going to work and coming home.
The characters are complex, and well-written with dialogue and actions that just feel organic and natural. The entire book has a flow to it, that keeps it moving at the perfect pace. This was a refreshing, fun and uplifting read.
The characters are complex, and well-written with dialogue and actions that just feel organic and natural. The entire book has a flow to it, that keeps it moving at the perfect pace. This was a refreshing, fun and uplifting read.
May 29, 2018
I have tried writing this review several times and can not quite find the words, to describe the vast amount of emotions I felt, while reading this. I have now read this five times and it moves me as much this time as each other time before. The main character is quite plain and this endeared him, to me. No one to get excited about, but through out this whole book, I found myself excited and rooting for this man. The people he meets and the experiences he has are fun, quirky, and worth each moment. Very well written and the scenery is quite descriptive.
I was given this book, by a friend, then went out and purchased a hard copy ( this is reserved for special journeys only). I have recommended this to all my friends, family and book clubs! I will definitely read more by this author. Thank you so much for letting me in on this journey!
I was given this book, by a friend, then went out and purchased a hard copy ( this is reserved for special journeys only). I have recommended this to all my friends, family and book clubs! I will definitely read more by this author. Thank you so much for letting me in on this journey!
August 24, 2017
I absolutely loved this book! It's such easy reading with some amazing characters and a great story! Definitely worth the read, I bought it randomly and am so happy I did!
September 24, 2018
The characters are all great. The story is about a journey from apathy to hope. The action takes place on a cruise ship in the Caribbean, and it makes you want to go on a cruise.
September 29, 2015
I love this book about a man who never ventured too far from home, and doesn't really know that he is just existing. This sounds just like me and a whole lot of people just like me. I read a great deal about the cruise ship industry, books from veteran travelers, and books on cruise "tips". Just like Jim Smith, I haven't been on a real vacation in ions. Andrew Harkless knows people very well. He should. He spent a large amount of time studying human behavior by being a bartender.
He said that magazines are full of celebrities. Who he wants to focus on in his books is the everyman. Most of us are an "everyman". We can relate to middle aged John Smith. We can see at least a small piece of ourselves in him. That is why I believe this book can really resonate with us. Mr. Harkless conveys to us, through his book, the same lesson that Mr. Smith learns by venturing out of his old reliable comfort zone and taking a cruise all by himself. When we allow ourselves to peek out of our cozy cocoons and try something scary and different, we may enjoy ourselves enough to obtain a complete metamorphosis. This is what John Smith discovered on his cruise.
He experienced a whole new cruise culture that he may never had known about, otherwise. With 2,000 passengers and about 1,000 crew all aboard a small floating city together for seven days one is bound to meet some interesting people, share stories from each other's lives, bond, and become new friends. John learns a lot about himself as much as he did about other people. He is able to spread his wings and fly. That, I believe, is what Mr. Harkless wishes for all of us. He gets his point across in a very fun and entertaining way. What is more fun and exciting than reading about a vacation upon a cruise ship. May we all get to take a cruise at least once in our lives. Live fearless and enjoy every moment of our lives.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and give my honest review.
He said that magazines are full of celebrities. Who he wants to focus on in his books is the everyman. Most of us are an "everyman". We can relate to middle aged John Smith. We can see at least a small piece of ourselves in him. That is why I believe this book can really resonate with us. Mr. Harkless conveys to us, through his book, the same lesson that Mr. Smith learns by venturing out of his old reliable comfort zone and taking a cruise all by himself. When we allow ourselves to peek out of our cozy cocoons and try something scary and different, we may enjoy ourselves enough to obtain a complete metamorphosis. This is what John Smith discovered on his cruise.
He experienced a whole new cruise culture that he may never had known about, otherwise. With 2,000 passengers and about 1,000 crew all aboard a small floating city together for seven days one is bound to meet some interesting people, share stories from each other's lives, bond, and become new friends. John learns a lot about himself as much as he did about other people. He is able to spread his wings and fly. That, I believe, is what Mr. Harkless wishes for all of us. He gets his point across in a very fun and entertaining way. What is more fun and exciting than reading about a vacation upon a cruise ship. May we all get to take a cruise at least once in our lives. Live fearless and enjoy every moment of our lives.
I was given a free copy of this book to read and give my honest review.
March 5, 2016
This was one of those books that I am very glad I didn't judge by it's cover.
There are many stories inside this gem. One is the story of John Smith. An everyman, ordinary, grieving, timid and content to stay in his own lane.
When he receives a cruise ticket in the mail with no hint of who sent it except a note telling him it's time.
Once on board the cruise ship, John is really out of his element! But it seems that the right people are there for him at exactly the right times. We watch as John emerges from his small view of life and really comes into his own.
The second story is the story of the cruise ship industry, woven into the story of John and all of the wonderful people he meets on and off of the ship.
I really enjoyed this book. As a life long cruiser, I was very interested in the behind the scenes look at the industry and I would have read the book just for that, but lucky for all of us Mr. Harkless has given us an excellent story of grief, hope, redemption and change and what power just a small amount of kindness can have on a life.
There are many stories inside this gem. One is the story of John Smith. An everyman, ordinary, grieving, timid and content to stay in his own lane.
When he receives a cruise ticket in the mail with no hint of who sent it except a note telling him it's time.
Once on board the cruise ship, John is really out of his element! But it seems that the right people are there for him at exactly the right times. We watch as John emerges from his small view of life and really comes into his own.
The second story is the story of the cruise ship industry, woven into the story of John and all of the wonderful people he meets on and off of the ship.
I really enjoyed this book. As a life long cruiser, I was very interested in the behind the scenes look at the industry and I would have read the book just for that, but lucky for all of us Mr. Harkless has given us an excellent story of grief, hope, redemption and change and what power just a small amount of kindness can have on a life.
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February 3, 2015Just a note to direct your attention to the author's website and Amazon sales listing where the reviews are stacking up at an average 4.5 stars! http://andrewharkless.com/the-reviews/ and at http://www.amazon.com/Got-Have-Some-F...
December 10, 2015
This was a very interesting book. I'm sure that there are lots of hidden meanings and very philosophical lessons but it is also just a really good read! Great characters, interesting locations, romance, adventure, friendships, loss and humor. Long read but well worth it! I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book, through Reading Deals, so I could give an honest review.
September 18, 2015
Awesome! And the artwork is not too shabby....
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews