Relatively Happy

Relativity #3

by Whitney Dineen

Sarah Hastings' life is chaotic. Between running her organic farm, her yurt-style holistic B&B, and her vegan café Eat Me!, she barely has time for an aura cleanse. What's more, her spirit guide just announced the universe is sending her a man.

Suddenly, a sexy pro-football player, a hipster photojournalist, and fellow organic farmer practically fall from the sky onto her doorstep. But which one is her cosmic soulmate?

While Sarah meditates on the answer, her parents show up unexpectedly throwing the mother of all monkey wrenches into her carefully laid plans.

With only morning yoga and her erotic book club to keep her sane, no wonder she's chucked her vegan diet in search of bacon. Will the stars of love align, or will the universe let her down in the biggest way possible?

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Adult

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2019

About the author

Whitney loves to laugh, play with her kids, bake, and eat french fries -- not always in that order.

She's a USA Today Bestselling & multi-award-winning author of romantic comedies, non-fiction humor, thrillers, and middle reader fiction. Basically, she writes whatever the voices in her head tell her to.

She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her husband, Jimmy, where they raise children, chickens, and organic vegetables.

Gold Medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards 2017.

Silver medal winner at the International Readers' Favorite Awards, 2015, 2016, 2019.


Finalist RONE Awards, 2016.

Finalist at the IRFA 2016, 2017, 2019

Finalist at the Book Excellence Awards and Top Shelf Book Awards, 2017

Reviews

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

A colorful cast of characters populates this romantic comedy and promises a roller-coaster ride of emotions.

Read full review in the 2019 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Moony (Captain Mischief) MeowPoff · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 52%
The main character is so boring and slightly annoying. Plus the suitors she has makes my eyes roll. Not my cup of tea.

1.5 stars.
I got this eARC from Netgalley

[AJ's Book ReMarks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatively Happy Is Sarah Hastings' story, she is the quirky vegan friend we were introduced to in Relatively Normal. The one who has a Yurt style holistic B&B, her organic farm, and her new vegan café Eat Me! Sarah is seriously questioning her life and her choices and thinks it's time for dating. So naturally, when in want or need, you ask the universe for assistance, just be careful what you ask for, you might get it in abundance.
Sarah is working on opening her new cafe when a letter comes letting her know that her old neighbors' farm is for sale, and her folks are coming back from Flordia early. When it rains, it pours and life can get messy and nasty.

While Relatively Normal & Relatively Sane are laugh out loud funny with hijinx's galore. Relatively Happy is more real-life, dealing with real issues, and all life has to offer. Whitney Dineen touches on love, life, dreams, and wishes. She brings a new perspective to her readers by writing more drama which ends this series with a laugh-out-loud, cry-your-heart-out tale. Life is more like a roller coaster rather than a merry-go-round.

[Melanie Summers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved Everything About It!

Whitney Dineen does it again in the third of her Relativity series. She made me snort laugh, smile, swoon, and sigh happily.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story! It is totally a standalone, with characters from the first two books popping up. I always enjoy knowing all the players but it is not necessary to enjoy this read.

I won’t retell the story; instead, let me tell you what I experienced – because it WAS an experience. The book started out very light and OMG funny. Sarah Hastings owns an organic farm, is a vegetarian/sometimes vegan who has been known to fall off the wagon at the sight of a piece of bacon. Orrrrrrrrr, at least have amazing daydreams about it. Seriously, I cannot begin to describe how her story plays out but it made me chuckle and giggle and belly laugh out loud. She asks the universe to being her some male companionship (overly simplified) and voila! Three different men arrive at her farm/yurt lodgings to complicate her life. Let’s just say a lot of the laughs have to do with her interactions with these three different men.

Her friends and neighbors also add to the fun, especially Nan, but it’s best if you read about it for yourself. And the love story between Sarah and the men is terrific. Lots of trials and tribulations with all three, and Sarah’s spirit guide, but I don’t want to give any spoilers.

Where the story started to realllllllllllly get into the “feels” was when Sarah’s parents come back to the farm. Again, I don’t want to give any spoilers but suffice to say I flat out cried in some places. Lots of great writing by the author and I felt as if my own family was being affected by life events. The ending was uplifting, and cute, and I totally enjoyed the rollercoaster of feelings I read in this book. Friends and family surround Sarah, whether she asks or not, and that is the best gift of all. Loved the story. And the HEA. I recommend.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Organic farmer Sarah: woman warrior ready for romance. Terrific😊

4.5🌟stars 👍👍
Author Whitney Dineen has added a bittersweet poignancy to her Relativity series here with Sarah's story. Sarah is quirky, with a whole armada of holistic rituals and recipes that she wants to share with the world. She's industrious, opinionated and not likely to suffer fools. While she thinks she's open to romance, she's wary and thinks she has good reason to distrust, especially Rix, the handsome former NFL player whose family owns the neighboring farm. And oh, do they lead each other a merry dance. I especially enjoyed Sarah's campaign to get back at Rix, be it through a pie gone to waste or a sauna treatment gone wild.

Nan, the in-your-face octogenarian who dreams of brawny, kilted Scots warriors, is hilarious, as is her unworldly sidekick Dorcas. Just like the earlier books in the series, I had repeated LOL bouts while reading their zingers. 😂

But there is a tragic, bittersweet twist to Sarah's story and the sensitively told storyline about Sarah's ailing father brought me to tears. I was not expecting this serious sadness, but I really liked Sarah all the better for the way her family troubles showed her softer, vulnerable side.

I did find the last few chapters before the epilogue a bit drawn out and some of the farm talk went over my head, but I loved the characters and the plot so, overall, a truly lovely read. Dineen is one of my go-to authors and I definitely was not disappointed!😀

[Susan (The Book Bag) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh! I loved this book so much, it made me so happy! (See what I did there?) 😀

This story was so much fun to read and I absolutely love Whitney's sense of humor. I honestly was laughing out loud in several parts. The part where the group of women were frolicking around in the field, braless, paying homage to their breasts, thanking their breasts—that part had me in stitches. And then when Sarah takes the two men through their "cleansing"—let me just throw out some words—super hot sweat lodge, naked bodies, mud pit, eucalyptus beating. I thought I was going to die. OMG so funny!

It's not all fun and games though. When Sarah's father gets seriously ill, she realizes how blessed she has been in her life and she doesn't take what she has for granted. This was such an entertaining, fun story while also having a serious side, dealing with topics ranging from organic foods, pesticides, global warming, death, loss and love.

This is book #3 in the Relativity series but it's definitely good as a stand-alone read. As a matter of fact, I haven't read books 1 or 2.... yet, but I sure am going to now!

[Hallie Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Spoilers*
I love Whitney Dineen’s “Relatively” series and awaited her third book in the series with great anticipation. Unlike the first two, this book focused not on Cat Masterton and her delightfully oddball family, but on Cat’s best friend Sarah Hastings. Sarah is a free spirit who believes the universe will deliver everything she needs. She listens to her spirit guide and reveres the family farm on which she runs an organic farm and offers healing services to paying guests. The only thing missing is someone to share it with. In order to find that soulmate, Sarah has to open herself up to what the universe has in store for her. For Sarah that means stepping off the familiar and routine merry-go-round and jumping onto the roller coaster. Along with the highs and lows of finding love, Sarah must deal with loss. Whitney Dineen beautifully addresses how we must learn to let go of those we love and move on. This book definitely moved me to tears, while still bringing in the humor I’ve come to enjoy in this series. A must read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ljones · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books this year!

This is a wonderful story. I laughed, I cried and I cheered for Sarah and her crazy, chaotic, busy life. Her spirit guide tells her she is sending her a man. When 3 men show up to her organic farm, she doesn't know which one she is supposed to be with. Then her parents come home early and her crazy life hits a brick wall. Can she trust the universe? A great book!

[Miriam Holsinger · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book was an entertaining diversion with a few hints of seriousness I was very disappointed by 2 of the 3 bits of serious. Keep in mind I am likely judging the author on criteria she likely wasn't aware existed when she wrote this book but I think as white privilidged people we all need to get better at taking this kind of criticism and widening our views to encompass perspectives from those who haven't had our privilege.

1. I really liked the way the author dealt with death and dying - I thought it was gentle, sensitive and allowing of the full range of emotions that hopefully we all get to experience when someone we love passes.

2. The main character's perspective of "the universe" telling her stuff is one of my pet peeves. I've heard many "new age" people talk about this like it is the answer to living the perfect life and it drives me crazy because it comes from such a place of privilege and self-contentedness. I always wonder what the universe would tell these people if they were found in a war torn country and/or were raped due to no fault of their own? Would they blame themselves for not "listening" to something the universe had told them? Is this an excuse they use not to try to change systems and work for justice because if everyone just "listened to the universe" it would all work out? I understand this is just a self pacifying mechanism to account for the lack of control we have over the world - but too many people don't think about how clinging to this belief helps perpetuate systems of injustice and remove themselves of responsibility for actually helping create a better world for everyone instead of just themselves.

3. (Warning - very minor spoiler) - The way the one character is shown as a do-gooder because he is helping inner city youth is yet another example of this idea that individual actions will help save the world and no sense that it is the system that is rigged. It reminds me of someone who is trying to save individual fish from dying in a pond by removing them but doing nothing to stop the factory from putting chemicals in the pond to begin with. That this character is a football player - an industry that both prays on the hopes and dreams of poor black men and then exploits their bodies for monetary gain for others only exacerbated this point. I'm not saying we shouldn't be trying to pull fish from the pond but we don't also acknowledge and work towards the bigger problem of crap being put in the pond in the first place we're only supporting the system that creates the bigger problem in the first place. To not use an anology, if we're trying to show poor black kids that they can do more but not talking about the systems that made them poor in the first place (lack of good jobs, redlining, over-hostility of police in their area, bias against them by teachers and most other figures of authority just to name a few) then while we may save a few exceptional youth we're not fixing the system that creates so many poor kids in the first place.

Now I know this is a lot of pressure to put on a simple novel but I think if we're going to try to make change and teach our youth better, we need to make sure the stories in the world are as enlightening (while being fun and entertaining) too. After all, part of the reason we white people fear black people and arabs is because of all the stupid (but entertaining) movies and shows that have them as the villains. For an author that seems to revel in the fish out of water story line - I hope she gains a little more awareness of what is going into the water in the first place that is creating such odd fish - not just families but also society and culture.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I didn't want it to end. This review will contain spoilers!

Welcome to the small midwest town of Gelson where everyone knows each other, but in the best possible way. This is Sarah's story and it is one of self discovery, heartbreak, and happiness. You'll be crying tears of laughter throughout the first half of the book and tears of sympathetic loss in the second. Each character is uniquely wonderful and this tale would be lacking if any of the other residents of Gelson weren't a part of it. I was pulled right into their world from the first page and experienced the entirety of Sarah's personal rollercoaster of emotions. I was rooting for Rix to pull through and be "the one" for her throughout. Although with the assortment of men sent her way I wondered just where they'd wind up. You'll adore Nan and Dorcas and their over the top personalities. (They reminded me so much of my own Memere 😂.) If you're in need of a couple of elderly gals to share in discussions about your love of steamy Scottish romance novels/movies while simultaneously knitting for their church group they've got you covered. Then, you've got Sarah's loving parents who are entering into their final chapter together. They remain thankful for every moment of their 35 blessed years together and you can't help but feel both envious as well as, on some level, at peace because of how at peace they themselves are with each other, their lives together, and the next stage.

My only complaint? That there isn't a sequel. I would love to see what comes next for everyone. Will Sarah become a mother? How well will she and Rix handle that? What about Cat and Sam? Will Sarah's mom return to Florida? How will she fill her time now? Will Nan continue her newfound love of letting her breasts flap in the breeze? What's in store for Emily and Ethan? I really hope we'll find out.

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Narci · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts out light and a bit slow; it’s a cute story. Sarah is funky, hilarious at times a vegan/vegetarian with dreams of eating bacon. Sarah teaches us about organic farming, holistic remedies and living off land. However, I wish there was more interaction between Sarah and Rix, most of the story is about Sarah offbeat unique style on life, the way she views universe, and how bad of a vegetarian she is. Sarah has a huge heart and a love of helping others heal spiritually and from illnesses. I love how determined and passionate she is to get everyone on board for a healthier way of life and get back to nature. Sarah does teach us a lot spiritually and about nature, as well as humanity. Life is full of ups and downs, good and bad but it’s how we manage to grow and learn from our struggles and accomplishments that make us better humans. There are so many laughs-out-loud moments, my favorite was heat barn with Rix and Jerry, as was when group of women play homage to their breasts while frolicking in the fields. We experience loss, healing, insecurities, longing and love with Sarah. Sarah’s interaction with the three suitor’s universe sends her is fun as well as so relatable. I wish I had a Nan in my life; she’s something very special. I loved reading characters from other books. Emily and Ethan are adorable. I really enjoyed reading her story. This story touches on many serious topics like the harm of pesticides, death, and love.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatively Happy is a super cute read, featuring Sarah Hastings, a busy farmer, daughter, and friend, who runs an organic farm and health retreat teaching people to get back to their roots, and the benefits of using organic, plant-based diets to battle disease. Time has Sarah in it's grip and before she knows it, she begins to think she's destined to be forever alone. A request to the universe for a man to share her life with turns Sarah's world upside down, as the universe delivers in a most comically twisted way.
When her parents return home from the south earlier than anticipated though, Sarah must put plans for her farm expansion on hold to spend time with her ailing father. As most fathers do however, Sarah's dad can't help but interfere. But dad knows best, and Sarah has to admit that he might have been right after all, maybe the boy next door isn't the devil after all.
This book was an adorably fun read, and I really liked Sarah's nature-based attitude, as more of us could be reminded of the benefits of nature. As technology takes over our lives, Relatively Happy is a cute reminder in the subtlest way that nature can be its own cure-all, if we just listen...or take a roll around in the dandelions.

[Myrna Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Relatively Series Books

When I finished reading the first book of the series, which I found enjoyable, I couldn’t wait to start on the second one! The final one, Relatively Happy, had me in tears of happiness and sadness. This book reminded me how important life is, caring for the farm land to the loving people that are in your life. The characters were interesting by choosing to return to their hometown and making it work for them, funny and sometimes wild, caring by supporting each other, and sadness that feels like real life events. I felt my heart break and tears stream down as I was reading about Sarah’s father - this hit me hard. I found the organic farm to be of interest and reading about the different ways Sarah used for healing the body is similar to what my mother, grandmother, and aunts used when I was younger. I believe a lot of the herbs and yoga do help heal the body. Enjoyed the series! Thank you for the stories! Can’t wait to start the next series of books!

[Evelyn Dotson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cat’s neighbor and best friend, Sarah has her own farm that grows organic foods, has yurt huts, a vegan café, an assortment of animals and offers a variety of health option treatments. She took on Cat’s ex and helped him. Her parents are coming home early, she is lodging an old crush who is a professional football player, is panting after a few other gentlemen and is doing her best to remain sane in face of all the issues that arose! The biggest two her dad and the football player, Hendrix! Many LOL moments, some sad, and just an overall feel good book as characters come back to life from the previous two books in the series! You will not want to miss any of these books…the author makes you feel like you are part of a huge community that is nothing but family~

[cecile clariza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprisingly Good

This has to be my favorite Whitney Dineen book and I have read several of her work. The first few chapters were a bit slow. When Rix was introduced into the story I thought this story is going to be predictable and tedious. I'm glad to be proven wrong. The pace picked up as the story deepened. I laughed so much. I also cried a lot. It's not a.romance novel. Rather one of self discovery. It's beautifully written and one that will touch your heart.

[PLP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warning! Lots of tissues needed

I cried a bucket of tears while reading this book. Several times I just had to put it down and walk away.

I’m 75 and identified with just about every female character in this book. Each character seemed to represent some age in my life. I laughed or cried with each one.

This book is filled with people who have live or are living a wonderful life. I wish this was a real town. I’d mover here in a heartbeat.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It wasn't at all what I expected. It was so much more.


Sara was quirky, independent and just so passionate about life.
This book has such wisdom.
I can't remember the last time a book made me laugh out loud one minute and cry the next.
I bought the other two in this series knowing I will read them again.
Thank you, Ms. Whitney Dineen, for sharing a part of your life.

🌺

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so funny, who knew being an organic farmer was so hilarious! The cast in this whole series was great. Sarah is quite the character and in some ways seems just a little ….cray cray????? You are laughing out loud with this book but beware you will also cry!!!. I didn’t expect the book to impact me so. And Whitney your note at the end, i hear you!. Alas the world does not wait.

[Kim Territo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this whole series! Likeable characters and storylines. I have liked everything I've read by her. I haven't wanted to read anything too heavy during the pandemic and this really fits the bill.

[Karen Benson · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, the third in the series isn’t quite as good. The cast of colorful characters is back, but are much tamer. In addition, there was a bit too much mumbo jumbo (rolling in dandelion fields, all vegan diets, yurts, bearings with eucalyptus branches) for my personal taste.

[melissa r weitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite well written and I am going to miss them

The characters are absolutely real easy to get to love them.I'm sad to not get more time with them in my opinion the best series I've read in a while

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!!!

Whitney writes in such a way that you feel that you are present with the characters and share their lives, especially their hopes and emotions. I found it difficult to take a brief break from reading. You won’t be disappointed with any of the “relatively” books!

[Beth Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite

I've read the other book in this series and this was my least favorite. Sarah's story isn't as interesting and feels forced. No laughs and kind of boring. Just meh, not my favorite.

[Beckie Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book…a down to earth romcom with some sexy leading men to keep you entertained. Looking forward to reading the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Alisa Henrich · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my favorite of the 3 book series. It did get a little too metaphysical for me at times but there were a lot of insightful points. The girl got the right guy amid some trials and arguments. I liked the whole organic farming life angle. Cute and easy to read!

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun rom com.

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Funny, tear worthy read. Follow our little group living organically and mainly vegetarian discover life’s merry go round. Enjoy this little gem

[Krista Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I am sorry to see this series come to an end. Great characters and storyline. Couldn't put the book down.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud good.

This book had me laughing out loud with tears Always enjoy reading
Whitney Dineen her books are so good for the sole Love Nan.