What do you think?
Rate this book
The Happy Glampers
The Happy Glampers: A funny, uplifting and feel-good read for 2021
‘A warm, witty and endlessly wise story’ Cressida McLaughlin
‘Full of heart … I love the fabulous friendships’ Jo Thomas
‘What a great book. I loved it.’ Debbie Macomber
Is friendship meant to last forever? Charlotte Mayfield hopes so. Especially as she’s throwing some luxury glamping into the mix.
After fifteen years of trying to be the perfect wife, maybe Charlotte’s best friends from uni – Freya, Emily and Izzy – can still glimpse the woman she’d once set out to be.
Freya is up for it. Could a powwow with her yesteryear besties helps her knock some sense into her useless husband?
Emily’s hiding her own crisis from her parents, colleagues and now, her mates. Can a weekend under canvas get her to open up?
Izzy’s back from a decade abroad with an unexpected addition, her nine-year-old daughter Flora. She’s also keeping another big secret, one that’s brought her home for good.
Will a year of yurts mend two decades of hurts – or are some things, like shower blocks, burnt sausages and no wi-fi, best left in the past…
This novel was previously published on e-book in four parts
‘Full of heart … I love the fabulous friendships’ Jo Thomas
‘What a great book. I loved it.’ Debbie Macomber
Is friendship meant to last forever? Charlotte Mayfield hopes so. Especially as she’s throwing some luxury glamping into the mix.
After fifteen years of trying to be the perfect wife, maybe Charlotte’s best friends from uni – Freya, Emily and Izzy – can still glimpse the woman she’d once set out to be.
Freya is up for it. Could a powwow with her yesteryear besties helps her knock some sense into her useless husband?
Emily’s hiding her own crisis from her parents, colleagues and now, her mates. Can a weekend under canvas get her to open up?
Izzy’s back from a decade abroad with an unexpected addition, her nine-year-old daughter Flora. She’s also keeping another big secret, one that’s brought her home for good.
Will a year of yurts mend two decades of hurts – or are some things, like shower blocks, burnt sausages and no wi-fi, best left in the past…
This novel was previously published on e-book in four parts
416 pages, Paperback
First published May 14, 2019
101 people are currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Tate
9 books22 followersDaisy loves telling stories. Telling them in books is even better. When not writing, she raises stripey, Scottish cows, performs in amateur dramatics, pretends her life is a musical and bakes cakes that will never win her a place on a television baking show and writes other books under the name of Annie O'Neil, one of which is a Christmas Book called Miracle on Christmas Street. She was born in the USA but has never met Bruce Springsteen. She now calls East Sussex home.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
June 30, 2020
I loved this book. The story of friends who met at university and reconnected at Charlotte’s 40th. This is a tale of love and friendship and I didn’t want it to end. I won’t spoil it for you so just go get a copy and enjoy. You’ll thank me later.
June 23, 2020
Charlotte organises a glamping trip along with a big party for a special birthday. She invites her Uni friends and they find time to share chats and discover what has been going on in their lives since they last met. Secrets have been hidden - but they share more and try to support each other as little chinks in perfect lives rear their heads.
The characters are wonderfully written and you feel as though you were part of their uni circle. The book was a lot deeper than I was expecting from the cover and I loved the way the friends rallied round each other.
Modern day lives are explored with a lesson to keep talking to each other.
I am now keen to read more by this author.
The characters are wonderfully written and you feel as though you were part of their uni circle. The book was a lot deeper than I was expecting from the cover and I loved the way the friends rallied round each other.
Modern day lives are explored with a lesson to keep talking to each other.
I am now keen to read more by this author.
June 30, 2020
Freya, Izzy, Charlotte and Emily are four friends who have been together at University. They went their separate ways but now, after some time, they all get together to celebrate Charlotte's 40th birthday. Each of them has secrets and problems but they're determined to put on their party faces, not to burden each other with their troubles. However, friendship is stronger than some secrets, right?
What was really great in this book was the friendship between the women - it was real, realistic and honest, with all the ups and downs, and I loved how they supported each other. It is this kind of friendship that can pick up whenever it stopped, and some things can only be discussed with people that really know you. The characters' stories were really well drawn and nicely interwoven and I have never felt confused, I also could immediately tell who is who and to whom they belong, and what problems and challenges each of the families faces.
The story doesn't end after the birthday glamping trip, oh no, it's only the beginning, and we get to know the characters and their backgrounds more and deeper. There are several more get - togethers and the friends were all the time learning about each other's lives and the secrets were slowly progressing to the surface. I liked how very realistic the characters' lives were, their problems could be yours or mine, and I think the author has really excelled in capturing their feelings, emotions and reactions. They made mistakes and they often couldn't make up their minds but it's just like in real life, nothing is either black or white, life has many shades of grey as well. Daisy Tate is a great observer and she can write about everyday life in an engaging and captivating way.
The characters were really relatable and I think that I can't say that I had my favourite one. Sure, my heart went to one more than to the other, as some of the stories were truly sad and heart - breaking but on the whole I liked all the girls all the same, even if sometimes some of them made me feel desperate or made me want to roll my eyes at them.
However, it was this kind of book that I really didn't know where it's going to take us - it told us a story of a few random characters, in a period of time, but why this period of time I don't know. I'll be honest, I thought it is going to be a funny, uplifting and light - hearted tale about glamping but it turned out to be much deeper and more serious in tone. I don't mean it's bad but it is not what I was expecting. I also had a problem with the way it was written. The first part about Charlotte's birthday took so much time, it was almost half of the book, and then the story started to feel very chopped, giving us glimpses into the characters' lives, in different moments, in different periods of time, time was moving forward without a plan and it felt as if we were only given fragments of this what was happening, chosen moments and then we were moving again, not sure how much we have moved forward this time, if it was a day, a week, a month, with new characters popping in and out of the pages. I think that, in this case, the book worked better when read in the four - parts series that it was initially published.
Altogether, "The Happy Glampers" was a captivating, emotional story about all shades of a real, raw friendship that can help you heal and save you when everything in your life goes belly - up. Thought - provoking and uplifting, it is for sure worth reading.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
What was really great in this book was the friendship between the women - it was real, realistic and honest, with all the ups and downs, and I loved how they supported each other. It is this kind of friendship that can pick up whenever it stopped, and some things can only be discussed with people that really know you. The characters' stories were really well drawn and nicely interwoven and I have never felt confused, I also could immediately tell who is who and to whom they belong, and what problems and challenges each of the families faces.
The story doesn't end after the birthday glamping trip, oh no, it's only the beginning, and we get to know the characters and their backgrounds more and deeper. There are several more get - togethers and the friends were all the time learning about each other's lives and the secrets were slowly progressing to the surface. I liked how very realistic the characters' lives were, their problems could be yours or mine, and I think the author has really excelled in capturing their feelings, emotions and reactions. They made mistakes and they often couldn't make up their minds but it's just like in real life, nothing is either black or white, life has many shades of grey as well. Daisy Tate is a great observer and she can write about everyday life in an engaging and captivating way.
The characters were really relatable and I think that I can't say that I had my favourite one. Sure, my heart went to one more than to the other, as some of the stories were truly sad and heart - breaking but on the whole I liked all the girls all the same, even if sometimes some of them made me feel desperate or made me want to roll my eyes at them.
However, it was this kind of book that I really didn't know where it's going to take us - it told us a story of a few random characters, in a period of time, but why this period of time I don't know. I'll be honest, I thought it is going to be a funny, uplifting and light - hearted tale about glamping but it turned out to be much deeper and more serious in tone. I don't mean it's bad but it is not what I was expecting. I also had a problem with the way it was written. The first part about Charlotte's birthday took so much time, it was almost half of the book, and then the story started to feel very chopped, giving us glimpses into the characters' lives, in different moments, in different periods of time, time was moving forward without a plan and it felt as if we were only given fragments of this what was happening, chosen moments and then we were moving again, not sure how much we have moved forward this time, if it was a day, a week, a month, with new characters popping in and out of the pages. I think that, in this case, the book worked better when read in the four - parts series that it was initially published.
Altogether, "The Happy Glampers" was a captivating, emotional story about all shades of a real, raw friendship that can help you heal and save you when everything in your life goes belly - up. Thought - provoking and uplifting, it is for sure worth reading.
Copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
June 27, 2020
You can reconnect with friends even if you have been in touch all along. There is a point where two birthday calls in a year and one or two other random calls suffice to keep you in the other’s orbit. However, when there are ‘topics’ to be discussed, change in the offing and mental health requirements that need the support of those who know you really well, and those who knew you ‘before’, when you were younger and more optimistic, to remind you of different things – reconnecting takes up a whole new flavour.
In this book we have four college friends who have lost touch for almost two decades. This is the big fortieth party for ‘the socialite’ of the group. They all assemble a day before the big party and hang out. This is the start of a new lease of their friendship with renewed undIn this book, we have four college friends who have lost touch for almost two decades. It is the big fortieth party for ‘the socialite’ of the group. They all assemble a day before the big party and hang out. This is the start of a new lease of their friendship with a renewed understanding of the bonds that once tied them together. It is a tried and tested storyline with some events which might be a little too convenient. Despite what I just said, I enjoyed the book. The ‘tropes’ are well done, and in keeping with the tone of the book. All four women have a lot of testing times thrown at them from when we meet them, and with the support of the team, they persevere. The name is not wholly in keeping with the story because the camping or glamping occurs just twice throughout the tale except the tents are mentioned more often. Glamping is the point by which they all regroup so that might be the reason for the title. You might have noticed that I did not go into the details of each woman’s problem(s), and I have done that on purpose. Each introduction is followed by the description of their situation and what it might imply, and I think reading about it should be done with no prior information. Finally, I laughed out loud when I saw the twist for one of the women, if you do read it I think you can guess which one it was.
In this book we have four college friends who have lost touch for almost two decades. This is the big fortieth party for ‘the socialite’ of the group. They all assemble a day before the big party and hang out. This is the start of a new lease of their friendship with renewed undIn this book, we have four college friends who have lost touch for almost two decades. It is the big fortieth party for ‘the socialite’ of the group. They all assemble a day before the big party and hang out. This is the start of a new lease of their friendship with a renewed understanding of the bonds that once tied them together. It is a tried and tested storyline with some events which might be a little too convenient. Despite what I just said, I enjoyed the book. The ‘tropes’ are well done, and in keeping with the tone of the book. All four women have a lot of testing times thrown at them from when we meet them, and with the support of the team, they persevere. The name is not wholly in keeping with the story because the camping or glamping occurs just twice throughout the tale except the tents are mentioned more often. Glamping is the point by which they all regroup so that might be the reason for the title. You might have noticed that I did not go into the details of each woman’s problem(s), and I have done that on purpose. Each introduction is followed by the description of their situation and what it might imply, and I think reading about it should be done with no prior information. Finally, I laughed out loud when I saw the twist for one of the women, if you do read it I think you can guess which one it was.
June 16, 2020
It's a heartwarming, engrossing and entertaining book that made me smile and kept me hooked till the end.
It's well written, the characters are rounded and likable and I read it as fast as I could.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's well written, the characters are rounded and likable and I read it as fast as I could.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
I loved it and it's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
August 6, 2020
This book took me by surprise as I was fully expecting the typical girl meets boy and lives happily ever after storyline of a chick lit novel (not that there is anything wrong with that!!) instead this book feels like a quiet yet powerful statement about the power of female friendships, and a woman’s strength and perseverance. Each of the 4 main (female) characters are living different lives, with both challenges and triumphs which they beautifully support each other through without the need for unnecessary drama, or unrealistically villainous characters. I loved it 😊
June 24, 2020
This book was fantastic! Such a feel good read about friendship and the real highs and lows in life. And how true friends both support and celebrate you. So much detail and lovely visuals. I couldn't put it down! I also loved that within the group of friends the women were all so different, BIPOC, LGTBQ+ yet incredibly relatable and believable.
July 9, 2020
Wow, what a stroke of luck getting this book. Daisy tells us about a group of women who've known each other since university and are reuniting for a special birthday. Their new lives all begin as The Happy Glampers! Lots of tissues needed alongside the laughter. Lovely story. Thank you
June 17, 2020
Freya, Izzy, Emily and Charlotte are old friends from Uni, although they haven’t all been together for some time, Charlotte invites the other 3 to her 40th birthday weekend, glamping. They put on their party faces, despite all having their own problems which they don’t want to burden the others with.
This is a lovely tale of enduring, real friendship. It tells of the 4 women and their respective families and lives. The story is nicely woven, despite going from one characters story to another, it blends really well. I really enjoyed this book, My only slight quibble was at points I wanted to shout at Freya to grow up, but then real friends can do that. Lovely read
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review,
This is a lovely tale of enduring, real friendship. It tells of the 4 women and their respective families and lives. The story is nicely woven, despite going from one characters story to another, it blends really well. I really enjoyed this book, My only slight quibble was at points I wanted to shout at Freya to grow up, but then real friends can do that. Lovely read
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review,
August 1, 2020
Loved this book from start to finish. Really heartwarming and makes me want to ring my closest friends instantly. Huge smile!
June 9, 2020
I was given an early copy of this book from Netgalley and the Publisher.
This book features four friends who were at University together. They have not all met up for several years, but Charlotte organises a reunion for her birthday- a glamping trip. Each of the friends are hiding secrets from each other, and as the weekend progresses, some of the secrets start to unravel.
After the initial glamping trip there are several more get togethers as the four friends become closer again, and help each other with their problems.
This book was originally published as a four part series. I recognised the change from one part to the next one, but the story flows well nevertheless.
I thought that the book was well written and the characters were relatable. Although the friends were very different from each other, their friendship was realistic and they complement each other well.
This book is heartwarming and is a good enjoyable read. I was pleased to learn that the Author has a new book coming out next year. I look forward to reading more books that are written by her.
This book features four friends who were at University together. They have not all met up for several years, but Charlotte organises a reunion for her birthday- a glamping trip. Each of the friends are hiding secrets from each other, and as the weekend progresses, some of the secrets start to unravel.
After the initial glamping trip there are several more get togethers as the four friends become closer again, and help each other with their problems.
This book was originally published as a four part series. I recognised the change from one part to the next one, but the story flows well nevertheless.
I thought that the book was well written and the characters were relatable. Although the friends were very different from each other, their friendship was realistic and they complement each other well.
This book is heartwarming and is a good enjoyable read. I was pleased to learn that the Author has a new book coming out next year. I look forward to reading more books that are written by her.
June 11, 2020
I have loved reading this book.
Takes me back to camping as a family and I absolutely loved it.
It's full of entertainment and dilemmas.
I love this style of writing, it's very easy going. I love novels that deal with relationships and friendships because it make it more real. I can usually relate to something in them.
I love the ups and downs and internal monologue with the characters.
The novel also touches on and deals with some quite difficult topics and does this really well. Illnesses, broken homes with children involved, all of which is very relateable by me and imagine a lot of other readers. Single parenting is also a tough topic but this novel does it with ease and little comedy which I love.
Also there is cake, yummy.
Takes me back to camping as a family and I absolutely loved it.
It's full of entertainment and dilemmas.
I love this style of writing, it's very easy going. I love novels that deal with relationships and friendships because it make it more real. I can usually relate to something in them.
I love the ups and downs and internal monologue with the characters.
The novel also touches on and deals with some quite difficult topics and does this really well. Illnesses, broken homes with children involved, all of which is very relateable by me and imagine a lot of other readers. Single parenting is also a tough topic but this novel does it with ease and little comedy which I love.
Also there is cake, yummy.
June 11, 2020
Where do I begin? I couldn’t put this book down, I read it all in one sitting. It’s a heartwarming, easy to read story with just the right mix of humour, love and relatable life problems. I loved all of the characters and the fact that I got to learn so much about the supporting ones as well as the four main characters.
The use of letters, emails and a messaging group, as well as referencing to social media kept the writing fresh and up to date .
This story was an absolute pleasure to read and I can’t wait to get stuck into more of Tate’s work in the future.
The use of letters, emails and a messaging group, as well as referencing to social media kept the writing fresh and up to date .
This story was an absolute pleasure to read and I can’t wait to get stuck into more of Tate’s work in the future.
June 12, 2020
A lovely book about friendship
May 30, 2020
Thank you to NetGalley and Daisy Tate for the ARC of The Happy Glampers. This is my honest personal review in exchange.
Charlotte, Freya, Emily, and Izzy are best friends from uni. They get together to celebrate Charlotte’s 40th birthday. This celebration takes the women to places together.
Each of the friends has secrets and problems in their lives and they are hoping that being together will help them see who they are and what is in their futures.
The story takes the women to the very heart and soul of how friendship can help heal what may be wrong with your life.
Sit back and enjoy the love of true friends can do these women.
Charlotte, Freya, Emily, and Izzy are best friends from uni. They get together to celebrate Charlotte’s 40th birthday. This celebration takes the women to places together.
Each of the friends has secrets and problems in their lives and they are hoping that being together will help them see who they are and what is in their futures.
The story takes the women to the very heart and soul of how friendship can help heal what may be wrong with your life.
Sit back and enjoy the love of true friends can do these women.
May 21, 2020
The Happy Glampers: The complete novel by Daisy Tate a funny five-star read. This novel focuses on four uni friends Freya, Emily, Izzy and Charlotte, who are now getting older and celebrating big birthdays like the one that brings them all back together. This is a funny story and all of the characters have things that they are hiding, but as anyone who has ever been camping knows, you can’t hide anything when your camping. But that is only the start of this story, it follows the friends as they realise that life isn’t always smooth and sometimes you need to take a leap of faith and grab life with both hands and sometimes you need to let go. I don’t want to put any more as there is so much to love in this story, and you need to enjoy it I loved it as a complete novel, but I have also previously read part of it as the e-serial, it certainly isn’t one you should miss.
May 22, 2020
I had already part one of this series previously so I picked up where i had left off.
This a a cute funny story of four old uni friends all reunited for the weekend.
What has happened and gone on between these yeears?
This book had me laughing throughout.
A perfect summer read.
This a a cute funny story of four old uni friends all reunited for the weekend.
What has happened and gone on between these yeears?
This book had me laughing throughout.
A perfect summer read.
September 19, 2022
3 chapters in and I didn’t think I was going to like this book. Being the same age as the characters, the story lines being all to real and raw for me currently, I started to feel quite sad. But then things took a big wide turn and I’ve really enjoyed reading it, even if the start was a bit shaky. Dare I say it has given me some hope and perspective on my future self. The book deals with so many life issues, issues which are all to real for many. A gorgeous story of friendship about how those that truly love you know you, without a single word having to be said.
June 19, 2020
🌟I was waiting for the boyfriend to finish work last night so went and sat in the office whilst he finished up. I picked this up in the supermarket as one of their “summer holiday reads” and in the 3 hours I was waiting for him to finish, got half way though! 🌟 .
.
Synopsis : .
.
4 girls part ways at the end of University and sporadically keep in touch over the years. Fast forward to the current day and it’s Charlotte’s 40th birthday weekend. The girls are visiting the day before for a ‘pre party’ and everything is planned and organised to within an inch of its life... however just as Charlotte and the kids are about to leave for the weekends celebrations, her husband Oli announces he’s been having an affair. The rest of the story looks at the girls relationships, each of their own secrets they have been keeping over the years, the ups and downs of navigating long term relationships, friendships etc all bound together with laugh out loud moments in what is so far a witty, warm and full of heart story that I cannot put down! .
.
#coffeeandcurrentlyreading #reading #book #books #bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #bookrecommendations #summer #summerread #holidaybook #holidayread #fiction #womenauthors #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookphoto #instagram #goodreads #audiobooks #bibliophile #tbr #igreads #bookobsessed #cover #newbook #library #bookcommunity #currentlyreading #romcom @daisytatetastic
.
Synopsis : .
.
4 girls part ways at the end of University and sporadically keep in touch over the years. Fast forward to the current day and it’s Charlotte’s 40th birthday weekend. The girls are visiting the day before for a ‘pre party’ and everything is planned and organised to within an inch of its life... however just as Charlotte and the kids are about to leave for the weekends celebrations, her husband Oli announces he’s been having an affair. The rest of the story looks at the girls relationships, each of their own secrets they have been keeping over the years, the ups and downs of navigating long term relationships, friendships etc all bound together with laugh out loud moments in what is so far a witty, warm and full of heart story that I cannot put down! .
.
#coffeeandcurrentlyreading #reading #book #books #bookish #bookstagram #bookworm #bookrecommendations #summer #summerread #holidaybook #holidayread #fiction #womenauthors #readersofinstagram #booksofig #bookphoto #instagram #goodreads #audiobooks #bibliophile #tbr #igreads #bookobsessed #cover #newbook #library #bookcommunity #currentlyreading #romcom @daisytatetastic
August 11, 2022
Charlotte, Emily, Izzy, and Freya lived together while in college. They vowed to keep in touch, but time and responsibilities made that difficult. When Charlotte decided to celebrate her 40th birthday with a party, she invited her school friends to spend the weekend at the event location to catch up on each other's lives. After the party, they continued to remain in contact and support each other through some trying events.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love books where strong female relationships are featured. Each woman had to make difficult choices, but she had friends who loved her and offered their support. Knowing you have others in your corner sometimes makes all the difference.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love books where strong female relationships are featured. Each woman had to make difficult choices, but she had friends who loved her and offered their support. Knowing you have others in your corner sometimes makes all the difference.
August 18, 2022
I enjoyed the stories of each main character and the journey they were on. It was a beautiful story of friendship, love and forgiveness. Each girl had something to learn or a chance to grow and the lessons were relatable. I do think it was a bit long… if 25% of the info/words were removed it would have been better. Some parts did drag on but overall a good read.
*edited to add: I didn’t realize this was all the Happy Glampers books in one? It seems like it is, which explains why it seems so drawn out in some places. I think had I known it was separate books in one.. it wouldn’t have felt so long. Or if they had separated them in this book.. I would have realized it was separate books
*edited to add: I didn’t realize this was all the Happy Glampers books in one? It seems like it is, which explains why it seems so drawn out in some places. I think had I known it was separate books in one.. it wouldn’t have felt so long. Or if they had separated them in this book.. I would have realized it was separate books
September 15, 2022
friendship - what does it mean to you?
Good story about four women who have been friends since their school days. Bringing their families together for a camping trip. Each woman is putting up a brave face when each has serious issues they’re dealing with - cancer, divorce, serious debt. But through their friendship deal with the issues.
Good story about four women who have been friends since their school days. Bringing their families together for a camping trip. Each woman is putting up a brave face when each has serious issues they’re dealing with - cancer, divorce, serious debt. But through their friendship deal with the issues.
February 8, 2025
I got this book in an advent calendar at Christmas - it isn't my usual type of read but I quite enjoyed it. I loved the friendship between the characters and how unique each character was. It was nice to feel the distinct personalities and how they matched together within the friendship group. A nice light read!
October 7, 2020
I really enjoyed this book, it was an easy read and lovely that the four friends got together for a special occasion after years of knowing each other.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.
November 30, 2022
I’d say 3.5 stars on this one. It’s a good story with a lot going on. There were definitely parts I thought were glossed over and a few things that confused me, but overall it kept me reading. Deeper than I originally thought.
August 7, 2023
The characters seemed very realistic, and deeper than the usual "light chick lit" I expected. One of those books that you don't want to end, because you'll miss the characters!
There were some good laughs as well.. For example, the discussion between Emily and her parents!
There were some good laughs as well.. For example, the discussion between Emily and her parents!
August 22, 2022
Good holiday read.
October 11, 2022
Took a while to get into it but it was worth it in the end lovley heart warming book, great for a break between series!
February 28, 2023
Could not get into story - too many directions-finally gave up!
July 25, 2023
Easy read story about 4 friends.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews