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Life, Libby, and the Pursuit of Happiness
From the author of Hip to Be Square comes an urban tale of Libby Marshall, whose life seems to be going the wrong direction. She creates trip itineraries but never travels. She wants to attend church but winds up at a bookstore on Sundays. She longs for a love attraction yet settles for a "like" distraction. But when Libby receives a demotion instead of her overdue promotion, she vows to start living intentionally. Yet just when she is trying to be authentic, she is asked to keep a huge secret to redeem her career. Will a genuine life ever be within reach? And will Libby ever have enough faith to believe that happiness can be found in the detours.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2007
About the author
Hope Lyda
49 books14 followersHope Lyda has worked in publishing for ten years and is the author of Hip to Be Square in addition to several nonfiction titles, including the One-Minute Prayers series (more than 200,000 copies sold). When not journaling or aspiring to write and travel, Hope enjoys her work as an editor and living life in Oregon with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 28, 2020
Back in the day, I was all about exercising my rights as an American citizen; I once told a guy who was always reprimanding me for talking about Hilary Duff that, by doing so, he was infringing on my pursuit of happiness. He countered with the fact that my blabbing about the Duffster was a violation of his pursuit of happiness; he had me there, so, I never used that argument again.
Despite that instance, this book appealed to me, not only because it was Christian fiction, but the fact that the title alluded to the Declaration of Independence; I wish more people in America were better versed in historic documents such as that one or (especially) the Constitution! I'd actually seen this book on the shelves of my local library--where I happen to work--for quite a while, but just recently got around to checking it out.
What did I think of it? It was rather sweet and charming, with an imperfect yet admirable protagonist. The story was good, and, overall, it was fun.
The only disappointment was: In an ad on the last page, it said that the author had also written a book called Everything I Know I Learned from Home Improvement. I was excited; I grew up on that Tim Allen sitcom, and have seen it more times in my life than any other show, except for maybe Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. When I looked that book up, however, I discovered: It wasn't about the show! Can you say "bummer"?
Despite that instance, this book appealed to me, not only because it was Christian fiction, but the fact that the title alluded to the Declaration of Independence; I wish more people in America were better versed in historic documents such as that one or (especially) the Constitution! I'd actually seen this book on the shelves of my local library--where I happen to work--for quite a while, but just recently got around to checking it out.
What did I think of it? It was rather sweet and charming, with an imperfect yet admirable protagonist. The story was good, and, overall, it was fun.
The only disappointment was: In an ad on the last page, it said that the author had also written a book called Everything I Know I Learned from Home Improvement. I was excited; I grew up on that Tim Allen sitcom, and have seen it more times in my life than any other show, except for maybe Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. When I looked that book up, however, I discovered: It wasn't about the show! Can you say "bummer"?
July 5, 2008
A Pursuit Worth Reading
There’s a little bit of Libby Hawthorne in most of us. She’s the girl with lots of dreams, not a lot of time, who often settles for less than what she aspires to just because it’s easier. Libby’s character has spent years waiting for a promotion that won’t come, and trusting the wrong people in the process. Hope Lyda asks the question of her heroine: what happens when a girl like Libby decides to aspire to be more – in work, love, life, and faith? And how are the lives of her friends changed along the way?
Hope Lyda has a way with her words and characters. The reader walks briskly along the streets of Seattle, enjoying lattes and the rain, the stunning architecture and the quiet little bookstore that Libby visits as her Sunday morning ritual. The supporting cast is interesting, equally flawed, and mutually in need of some sort of redemption. Libby is the catalyst in more lives than she could ever imagine.
It is easy to wrap oneself in Libby’s issues, identify with her foibles, laugh aloud at the crazy antics of her psycho boss and finding solace in the daily downloads with her friends. When Libby is given an emotional and professional blow – demotion in her job, in order to keep her job – of course she runs to her best friend for counsel. What Libby fails to realize is that by completely focusing on her own dreams and plans, she’s failed to notice that her friends and family are going through issues of their own. What’s worse, when asked to keep an enormous secret, she finds herself enmeshed in a web of lies that further removes her from what is most important. Libby can only become the person she’s aspired to be by listening, learning, and risking all by opening her heart to the one she holds most dear.
Libby’s story is one we should all take to heart. Take your eyes off yourself and listen to those around you. My mother always said, God gave you two ears and only one mouth for a reason, and this is a lesson Libby seems to learn as well. By listening to and helping others, she finds herself able to come to grips with what really matters in her own life.
There’s a little bit of Libby Hawthorne in most of us. She’s the girl with lots of dreams, not a lot of time, who often settles for less than what she aspires to just because it’s easier. Libby’s character has spent years waiting for a promotion that won’t come, and trusting the wrong people in the process. Hope Lyda asks the question of her heroine: what happens when a girl like Libby decides to aspire to be more – in work, love, life, and faith? And how are the lives of her friends changed along the way?
Hope Lyda has a way with her words and characters. The reader walks briskly along the streets of Seattle, enjoying lattes and the rain, the stunning architecture and the quiet little bookstore that Libby visits as her Sunday morning ritual. The supporting cast is interesting, equally flawed, and mutually in need of some sort of redemption. Libby is the catalyst in more lives than she could ever imagine.
It is easy to wrap oneself in Libby’s issues, identify with her foibles, laugh aloud at the crazy antics of her psycho boss and finding solace in the daily downloads with her friends. When Libby is given an emotional and professional blow – demotion in her job, in order to keep her job – of course she runs to her best friend for counsel. What Libby fails to realize is that by completely focusing on her own dreams and plans, she’s failed to notice that her friends and family are going through issues of their own. What’s worse, when asked to keep an enormous secret, she finds herself enmeshed in a web of lies that further removes her from what is most important. Libby can only become the person she’s aspired to be by listening, learning, and risking all by opening her heart to the one she holds most dear.
Libby’s story is one we should all take to heart. Take your eyes off yourself and listen to those around you. My mother always said, God gave you two ears and only one mouth for a reason, and this is a lesson Libby seems to learn as well. By listening to and helping others, she finds herself able to come to grips with what really matters in her own life.
August 27, 2008
I loved the way this book incorporated faith in such a seamless way into a fun-loving, intriguing, & happy-ending tale.
July 23, 2008
It definitely starts out slow, as many of the reviews I checked out when I began to feel that way acknowledged. Slow, dreary, "why on earth did anybody try to write this book?".
It also lives up to further reviews, which rate it 4 or 5 stars, and rave about it.
What a great story! What an amazing book! The way it shifts and changes, becoming it's own metaphor for the life lessons being taught; the way it weaves so many different aspects and threads of life into one singular tale...
Truly a fun book, a great read, an interesting collection of many different lives and lifestyles bound together by singular things like faith, fate and friendship. Definitely one for the personal library collection.
It also lives up to further reviews, which rate it 4 or 5 stars, and rave about it.
What a great story! What an amazing book! The way it shifts and changes, becoming it's own metaphor for the life lessons being taught; the way it weaves so many different aspects and threads of life into one singular tale...
Truly a fun book, a great read, an interesting collection of many different lives and lifestyles bound together by singular things like faith, fate and friendship. Definitely one for the personal library collection.
February 17, 2008
I'm a sucker for a happy ending.
October 19, 2018
I enjoyed the underlying theme of this book, but the story was kind of flat.
February 3, 2018
Once again, I enjoyed the humor and wit of Hope Lyda's characters! Libby is trying to find her place in this world through her faith, career, friendships, and relationships. She has to work her way through a few rough patches, but she finds her way in the end with the help of her faith. Lots of laugh out loud moments - I couldn't put this book down until I finished it!
March 27, 2011
I enjoyed reading about Libby and her adventures/misadventures in Seattle. I like how she is surprised when even some of her dreams come true (I can relate to that - not expecting my dreams to come true, but being pleasantly surprised when a few of them do). The only thing I really didn't like about the book (besides Libby's awful sounding fringed skirt) was how EVERYONE ends up in a "happily ever after" relationship with each other. I like a happy ending, but it is too unbelievable and covenient when each main character and each supporting character ends up coupling.
April 24, 2009
This is a great book and Libby is a great character. The story is light, funny, and heartfelt. Libby's journey and discovery are profound yet realistic. Libby's life reminds me of my life...of everyone's life...we've all had moments when we've struggled hard for something in life or some certain path only to find that what we really wanted/needed was entirely different and once found knew it was PERFECT.
January 22, 2014
This book was much better than I thought it would be. I was looking for some light Christian Chick-lit but wasn't sure when I realized that not everyone in the book was already saved (which is too often what I find in this genre). Instead the main character works our her salvation with the aid of several very interesting people. It also references one of my favorite books as a major plot device - The Practice of the Presence of God. This one stays on my shelf to read again!
December 8, 2016
I almost gave up after the first couple chapters because the complaining was too much for me. But I'm glad I persevered it was so funny I laughed out loud so many times and it just had a really sweet ending.
September 10, 2010
I guess it's kinda alright!
April 26, 2015
It starts out a bit slow but worth sticking with it.
March 22, 2016
Solid read, likable characters. But wow, it was so different than what I expected. Such a wild ride! I read it so fast because I just had to see how it ended. I liked Mr. Diddle especially.
June 16, 2016
Neurotic insecure heroine. Made me anxious (and I am not even an anxious person) reading it and I had to quit.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews