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(Im)Perfectly Happy
When four college friends formed the Brown Sugarettes Mastermind Group, they had very different goals--but matched each other in ambition. Yet ten years later they can't help wondering what happened to the hopeful, confident, driven women they used to be--and how to get
them back . . .
Radio personality Raina, known as "the black Delilah," hates the wholesome persona that's made her a success. Doling out syrupy versions of her grandma's wisdom feels worlds away from the sarcastic,
tell-it-like-it-is woman Raina really is.
Kara Jones was sure she'd be a master sommelier by thirty. Life and loss interfered with that plan. Now she has one more chance--but it's taking a toll on her self-esteem and her marriage.
Nikki Grayson hardly recognizes the stay-at-home mom she's become. When her band signed a record deal, she swapped the limelight for a minivan and a sensible 'do. Now she's wishing she had followed her heart. Instead, she's drowning her regret in alcohol.
Public defender Sienna Njeri willingly put her city council aspirations aside to support her fianc�'s bid for office--and now she's wondering if her loyalty is misplaced.
Longing for the support, advice, and tough love they once shared, all four resolve to start meeting up again. After all, their dreams may still be within reach. But are they worth the price they'll pay to achieve them?
them back . . .
Radio personality Raina, known as "the black Delilah," hates the wholesome persona that's made her a success. Doling out syrupy versions of her grandma's wisdom feels worlds away from the sarcastic,
tell-it-like-it-is woman Raina really is.
Kara Jones was sure she'd be a master sommelier by thirty. Life and loss interfered with that plan. Now she has one more chance--but it's taking a toll on her self-esteem and her marriage.
Nikki Grayson hardly recognizes the stay-at-home mom she's become. When her band signed a record deal, she swapped the limelight for a minivan and a sensible 'do. Now she's wishing she had followed her heart. Instead, she's drowning her regret in alcohol.
Public defender Sienna Njeri willingly put her city council aspirations aside to support her fianc�'s bid for office--and now she's wondering if her loyalty is misplaced.
Longing for the support, advice, and tough love they once shared, all four resolve to start meeting up again. After all, their dreams may still be within reach. But are they worth the price they'll pay to achieve them?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 28, 2020
89 people are currently reading
5537 people want to read
About the author
Sharina Harris
6 books337 followersSharina Harris earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgia State University. After college, she pursued a career in digital marketing and public relations. Although her profession required writing, she decided to pursue a career in writing in 2012.
Sharina’s contemporary romance series under the pen name, Rina Gray, was named Book Riot’s 100 Must‑Read Romantic Comedies. When Sharina’s not writing, she can be found with her head stuck in a book, rooting for her favorite NBA teams, and spending time with friends and family.
Sharina resides in Atlanta with her husband and son. Visit her at SharinaHarris.com.
Sharina’s contemporary romance series under the pen name, Rina Gray, was named Book Riot’s 100 Must‑Read Romantic Comedies. When Sharina’s not writing, she can be found with her head stuck in a book, rooting for her favorite NBA teams, and spending time with friends and family.
Sharina resides in Atlanta with her husband and son. Visit her at SharinaHarris.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 10, 2022
(Im)perfectly Happy is exactly what I want when I pick up a women's fiction story. Well written with characters that are relatable but will still have you shaking your head at some of their decisions; this was a fun read. This is an enjoyable story about four women deciding to reignite their passions so that they can be fulfilled both professionally and personally while facing large emotional obstacles. All four women face their distinctly personal weaknesses and learn to embrace their unique strengths instead of either running from them or hiding them under a bushel. The fact that these four women are able to encourage each other to be the best version of themselves while still calling each other on the excuses each uses as a crutch was well done. No petty jealousies or over the top drama, just realistic friendships that were not all equal realistically reflects the way a group of friends interact. Also, kudos to Sharina Harris for writing Black male characters that aren't all overly macho, doggish, or stereotypical in any way.
If you are a fan of Terry McMillan, Reshonda Tate Billingsly, Donna Hill, J.D. Mason, or Mary Monroe you need to put (Im)perfectly happy on your TBR.
***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
If you are a fan of Terry McMillan, Reshonda Tate Billingsly, Donna Hill, J.D. Mason, or Mary Monroe you need to put (Im)perfectly happy on your TBR.
***I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.***
Where you can find me:
•(♥).•*Monica Is Reading*•.(♥)•
Twitter: @monicaisreading
Instagram: @readermonica
Goodreads Group: The Black Bookcase
August 9, 2020
August 05, 2020: Imperfectly Happy almost perfectly creates a modern story of love and friendship as it crafts four women who have successfully continued to be close after years of graduating college. While it focuses on each of these women for what they're struggling through, what they're achieving, what they're saddened about, and what they're enjoying, it also greatly depicts them all together as a fantastic group. With an ownvoices representation of Black women, this contemporary fiction glides through romance, dreams, happiness, and growth in a manner that portrays the characters as distinct personalities while also setting up friendship goals.
March 17, 2020: Just got a review copy of this via Netgalley and I'm so happy! Thank you, Kensington Books.
March 12, 2020: In the author’s own words, (Im)Perfectly Happy is “a love letter to black women who have often sacrificed themselves, their goals, happiness and dreams for others.”
March 17, 2020: Just got a review copy of this via Netgalley and I'm so happy! Thank you, Kensington Books.
March 12, 2020: In the author’s own words, (Im)Perfectly Happy is “a love letter to black women who have often sacrificed themselves, their goals, happiness and dreams for others.”
August 28, 2020
I loved this group of friends. So different and unique and WONDERFUL! This is a story about women losing themselves and their way and then doing the hard work needed to find a path to where they want to be. It was beautiful and fun, and parts were completely unexpected (hello Louella), but it was absolutely lovely.
Trigger warning though, the book does deal with death and loss and rape. It deals with all of these in a really thoughtful manner (and bless the author for including counseling!!) but it is still in there.
Trigger warning though, the book does deal with death and loss and rape. It deals with all of these in a really thoughtful manner (and bless the author for including counseling!!) but it is still in there.
May 11, 2020
Set in Atlanta and focused on four women who’ve been friends since university, Harris has created a story that displays the best qualities of friendship and support, even when we aren’t being our ‘best selves’ in every situation. Four women with vastly different views on how the world should work for them, and goals that may have seemed unobtainable after choices dampened some of the resolve and options wide open some ten years earlier, there is something for everyone to relate to here.
From dreams passed over in favor of another choice, to fear of moving forward, grief, infidelities, relationship struggles and truly finding their lost “mojo” that was forefront and loud when leaving school, we see each character go through struggles, changes, challenges and self-examination: from learning to deal with grief, to finding your own purpose, even things as simple as redefining a marriage or finding a new job that doesn’t wear on a daily basis. Stay at home mum and frustrated singer Nikki, Radio Host Raina, grief-stricken Kara and lawyer Sienna all have challenges and choices thrown in their path: the beauty of this story is the way in which they tackle those choices and challenges, and find strength, course corrections and camaraderie within the friend group.
The voices and the characters are compelling and universal: the beauty of diversity in fiction highlights BOTH the differences and similarities, and allows readers to vicariously experience a situation or circumstance that may be similar to their own, or very different but compelling in the way the character attacks the problem. Harris has cracked a window into a secret that many readers just instinctively know (and that everyone should experience). We are more alike than different, it’s simply the circumstances and appearances that make us different. And, despite those differences, we can all learn from one another, as we are developing a new view of the world and people around us.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
From dreams passed over in favor of another choice, to fear of moving forward, grief, infidelities, relationship struggles and truly finding their lost “mojo” that was forefront and loud when leaving school, we see each character go through struggles, changes, challenges and self-examination: from learning to deal with grief, to finding your own purpose, even things as simple as redefining a marriage or finding a new job that doesn’t wear on a daily basis. Stay at home mum and frustrated singer Nikki, Radio Host Raina, grief-stricken Kara and lawyer Sienna all have challenges and choices thrown in their path: the beauty of this story is the way in which they tackle those choices and challenges, and find strength, course corrections and camaraderie within the friend group.
The voices and the characters are compelling and universal: the beauty of diversity in fiction highlights BOTH the differences and similarities, and allows readers to vicariously experience a situation or circumstance that may be similar to their own, or very different but compelling in the way the character attacks the problem. Harris has cracked a window into a secret that many readers just instinctively know (and that everyone should experience). We are more alike than different, it’s simply the circumstances and appearances that make us different. And, despite those differences, we can all learn from one another, as we are developing a new view of the world and people around us.
I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Review first appeared at I am, Indeed
April 27, 2020
You would think that someone who reads as much as I do would relish having to social distance at home surrounded by (physical and electronic) books. But I’ve had a hard time picking up something to read. The last book I read, a collection of science fiction short stories, was amazing but the subject matter combined with our real life circumstances (the pandemic that shall not be named) made it difficult to concentrate. (Im)perfectly Happy is the palate cleanser I needed.
Raina is a late-night radio host who gives relationship advice and she’s just made the commitment to move in with her boyfriend and that’s all she’s able to commit to. Kara has taken (and failed) the rigorous test to be a Master Sommelier (shout out to me for getting the spelling right on the first try) three times and is taking the all-encompassing, stressful steps to take it again. But the death of her mother and lack of support from her husband have her spiraling. Nikki is the perfect suburban, stay-at-home mom with a super loving husband and cool kids. She’s also an incredible musician and singer-songwriter who gave it all up to have the life she has now. Sienna, a public defender who actually cares about her clients, has set aside her dream of running for government office in order to support her fiance in his campaign to do the same. When the women were in college, they The Brown Sugarettes Mastermind group as a way to empower themselves and keep each other focused on their goals. Now that they’re in their 30’s, Raina decides that they need to resurrect the group so that everyone can reconnect with their true desires and goals.
I loved the four distinct voices of these women and the real life, grown-up situations that the author placed them in. While a couple of the stories wrapped up a little too nicely for me, I am very happy with the journey that Sharina Harris took me on to get there. I may or may not have stayed up past my bedtime because I was so engrossed in these women’s stories. Also, shout out to a book set in the city that I live in and also my neighborhood mentioned twice!! (Yes, I kept count)
Raina is a late-night radio host who gives relationship advice and she’s just made the commitment to move in with her boyfriend and that’s all she’s able to commit to. Kara has taken (and failed) the rigorous test to be a Master Sommelier (shout out to me for getting the spelling right on the first try) three times and is taking the all-encompassing, stressful steps to take it again. But the death of her mother and lack of support from her husband have her spiraling. Nikki is the perfect suburban, stay-at-home mom with a super loving husband and cool kids. She’s also an incredible musician and singer-songwriter who gave it all up to have the life she has now. Sienna, a public defender who actually cares about her clients, has set aside her dream of running for government office in order to support her fiance in his campaign to do the same. When the women were in college, they The Brown Sugarettes Mastermind group as a way to empower themselves and keep each other focused on their goals. Now that they’re in their 30’s, Raina decides that they need to resurrect the group so that everyone can reconnect with their true desires and goals.
I loved the four distinct voices of these women and the real life, grown-up situations that the author placed them in. While a couple of the stories wrapped up a little too nicely for me, I am very happy with the journey that Sharina Harris took me on to get there. I may or may not have stayed up past my bedtime because I was so engrossed in these women’s stories. Also, shout out to a book set in the city that I live in and also my neighborhood mentioned twice!! (Yes, I kept count)
May 13, 2020
Unfortunately this story didn't hold my interest. I had to force myself to finish it.
The book follows four friends who are in their 30's and who all, for different reasons, have stopped pursuing their dreams. They make a promise to one another to start pursuing their passions again and agree to hold each other accountable. The book is broken up into 5 months and each friend gets her own dedicated chapter for every month. In these chapters we are given snapshots of what was going on in the characters' lives at the time. The way the book was written prevented the reader from fully learning who each of the characters were and the little snapshots we were given made some of them completely unlikable to me. And of course by the end everything was wrapped up in a perfect bow for each of them. The message of the book was about finding happiness. In my opinion it's easy to be happy when everything you want turns out perfectly for you in the end (and in some cases even better than they originally dreamed). It would have been nice to see them find happiness even if everything didn't turn out exactly the way they wanted.
The book follows four friends who are in their 30's and who all, for different reasons, have stopped pursuing their dreams. They make a promise to one another to start pursuing their passions again and agree to hold each other accountable. The book is broken up into 5 months and each friend gets her own dedicated chapter for every month. In these chapters we are given snapshots of what was going on in the characters' lives at the time. The way the book was written prevented the reader from fully learning who each of the characters were and the little snapshots we were given made some of them completely unlikable to me. And of course by the end everything was wrapped up in a perfect bow for each of them. The message of the book was about finding happiness. In my opinion it's easy to be happy when everything you want turns out perfectly for you in the end (and in some cases even better than they originally dreamed). It would have been nice to see them find happiness even if everything didn't turn out exactly the way they wanted.
February 15, 2021
What a great read! Four college friends reunite ten years after graduation to remind each other of their dreams of the future. Now that they’ve had time to become fully-fledged adults, they have to assess if those goals are still viable, if they’ve made excuses for why they haven’t achieved them, and how they want to spend the next ten years of their lives. I loved each friend so much; strong, funny, hardworking women I’d love to meet for a glass of wine. Highly recommend!
November 2, 2020
Romance. Friend supporting friends. Dreams, struggles. This book has everything for a modern story of love.
March 14, 2020
Four best friends since college had dreams of what they wanted to do in life.They decided to go after what they wanted. Now in their forties they have realized they haven't done anything, they wanted to do, life happened. You know the saying better later than never, well that what they decided. Go on this journey with these four ladies getting just what they wanted. They loved each other, held each other and was also their for each other and held each other accountable to go after what they wanted. Being a woman in my forties and going after dreams that I never wanted, this book made me feel I can do this and its never to late. This is a new author for me and I'm here for the long haul with her. If you dont read anything this year, make sure you read this!!!
August 1, 2020
I needed this book. I laughed 3x within the first 5 pages and had a smile throughout the first section. These women felt like me and my friends.Then it turned, became a bit heavier. The book became much deeper than I expected as the internal struggles of the women came to the forefront. I liked the realistic portrayal of women in their 30s. I loved their friendship and the fact that most of the men in the novel were good guys. This is what I like in my women's fiction.
July 7, 2024
Really good feel good book, I liked how each of the characters were different and had a lot of personality.
May 3, 2020
I liked the premise but felt the journey was sometimes a bit doubtful. The characters were a bit one dimensional. I kept reading because I was fascinated with the plot but there was too much going on without any depth. A lot of telling vs showing in the writing style.
May 6, 2020
There has been a lot of discussions online about seeing positive reinforcement of women bolstering each other up. This is a prime example of one such book. We have four college friends, each with their own paths and one pair being closer friends than the other. It has been quite a few years since college and everyone has strayed from the original idealistic plan they had for their futures. One lousy day leads Raina to bring their old group back into focus and start to egg each other to do better.
All four women were black as were most of the supporting cast, which is also something I have not read since most mainstream books from the US that I have read have one or two characters maximum. This was, therefore, a new experience, something that I liked. I will not go into the details of the four women for two reasons, one is that there is enough in the blurb and the other being that each woman defines her life and goals in their own unique fashion and it is better to meet them one at a time. It might not appeal to people who do not like multiple voice narrations because we have four, pretty distinctive voices. Each has their own struggles, some they choose to share and the others they hold closer to themselves. I like the fact that their friendships had some realistic boundaries. The story also spans more than a single year giving us and the characters settle into their changes.
Overall, I would recommend reading it for the women and their bonds as well as for their journey. To anyone who has had a group of friends, enduring for years with only subtle changes, this will bring back memories of one form or the other. Finally, I should warn that at the end of the day, there is some form of happily ever after when it comes to the romance department for all of them. I like sappy parts, but given the depth of discussions previously handled not everyone would be happy with that style of ending. With this forewarning though, if it is something that appeals to you, I would recommend giving it a shot.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
All four women were black as were most of the supporting cast, which is also something I have not read since most mainstream books from the US that I have read have one or two characters maximum. This was, therefore, a new experience, something that I liked. I will not go into the details of the four women for two reasons, one is that there is enough in the blurb and the other being that each woman defines her life and goals in their own unique fashion and it is better to meet them one at a time. It might not appeal to people who do not like multiple voice narrations because we have four, pretty distinctive voices. Each has their own struggles, some they choose to share and the others they hold closer to themselves. I like the fact that their friendships had some realistic boundaries. The story also spans more than a single year giving us and the characters settle into their changes.
Overall, I would recommend reading it for the women and their bonds as well as for their journey. To anyone who has had a group of friends, enduring for years with only subtle changes, this will bring back memories of one form or the other. Finally, I should warn that at the end of the day, there is some form of happily ever after when it comes to the romance department for all of them. I like sappy parts, but given the depth of discussions previously handled not everyone would be happy with that style of ending. With this forewarning though, if it is something that appeals to you, I would recommend giving it a shot.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.
April 30, 2020
I like reading books with in depth characters that evoke emotions in me. I definitely had this with Imperfectly Happy by Sharina Harris. It made me wonder why I’m just now hearing about this author.
Imperfectly Happy follows four friends who start a mastermind group to help them stay on track in pursuing their dreams and passions. It didn’t work out how they expected since life got in the way. All four put their dreams and what they loved to do on hold for the cookie cutter life. And now find themselves unhappy and wanting change. This prompts them to start their mastermind back up again and it definitely has a different vibe.
These character’s journey hit home for me because I saw myself in a few of them. Raina is a radio host working at a job she doesn’t like because of them not allowing her to be her true self. Nikki wants to be back with her band so bad she turns to alcohol to dim her pain. Kara is letting the death of her mother stop her from passing a test she knows will make her a master at what she loves to do. Sienna is so busy making her fiancé’s campaign run well she doesn’t see the wrong doings right in front of her.
All four put others before themselves not realizing what harm they were doing to their hearts and how it was truly affecting their lives. I haven’t read a book in a while that’s brought me to tears but this one did. These women’s personalities and lives were well-defined as well as their backstories, which made it easier to connect with them and following their story lines. I do wish the publisher would have created a book cover that represent what the book was truly about, but that is just one person's opinion.
Overall, for me this was a heartfelt book of family, marriage, compromise and pursuing happiness once I got pass the secrets and some betrayal. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
Imperfectly Happy follows four friends who start a mastermind group to help them stay on track in pursuing their dreams and passions. It didn’t work out how they expected since life got in the way. All four put their dreams and what they loved to do on hold for the cookie cutter life. And now find themselves unhappy and wanting change. This prompts them to start their mastermind back up again and it definitely has a different vibe.
These character’s journey hit home for me because I saw myself in a few of them. Raina is a radio host working at a job she doesn’t like because of them not allowing her to be her true self. Nikki wants to be back with her band so bad she turns to alcohol to dim her pain. Kara is letting the death of her mother stop her from passing a test she knows will make her a master at what she loves to do. Sienna is so busy making her fiancé’s campaign run well she doesn’t see the wrong doings right in front of her.
All four put others before themselves not realizing what harm they were doing to their hearts and how it was truly affecting their lives. I haven’t read a book in a while that’s brought me to tears but this one did. These women’s personalities and lives were well-defined as well as their backstories, which made it easier to connect with them and following their story lines. I do wish the publisher would have created a book cover that represent what the book was truly about, but that is just one person's opinion.
Overall, for me this was a heartfelt book of family, marriage, compromise and pursuing happiness once I got pass the secrets and some betrayal. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of this author’s work.
4 Stars=Great Page Turner
March 25, 2020
ImPerfectly Happy is the story of 4 friends. In college they formed "The Brown Sugarettes Mastermind Group" as a meeting time to hash out plans for their goals. Years later, they're still friends. but none of them are living their dream lives.
Raina wants to be a best selling author. Instead, she's a call in radio host giving out watered down advice she doesn't even believe.
Nikki had dreams of being a musician, but a surprise pregnancy at the height of her band's fame set her dreams back. She loves her husband and her children, but music still calls to her, no matter how much she tries to drown her sorrows.
Kara had plans to be a master sommelier but a few failures and the loss of her mother have pushed her off her dream. She decides to try again but once again, it takes a toll on her life.
Sierra had dreams of politics. She's still living the political life, but as the fiance of a politician rather than the one running for office herself.
I enjoyed reading these women build up and encourage their friends in achieving their dreams. I liked how honest they were with each other. I even enjoyed the middle, but it seemed a little rough. I felt like the book needed to be a little longer. A few chapters to tell each woman's story was not enough. Toward the end, each story felt a little rushed. The theme was wonderful, I love it when other women succeed, but I just wanted... more.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my review.
Raina wants to be a best selling author. Instead, she's a call in radio host giving out watered down advice she doesn't even believe.
Nikki had dreams of being a musician, but a surprise pregnancy at the height of her band's fame set her dreams back. She loves her husband and her children, but music still calls to her, no matter how much she tries to drown her sorrows.
Kara had plans to be a master sommelier but a few failures and the loss of her mother have pushed her off her dream. She decides to try again but once again, it takes a toll on her life.
Sierra had dreams of politics. She's still living the political life, but as the fiance of a politician rather than the one running for office herself.
I enjoyed reading these women build up and encourage their friends in achieving their dreams. I liked how honest they were with each other. I even enjoyed the middle, but it seemed a little rough. I felt like the book needed to be a little longer. A few chapters to tell each woman's story was not enough. Toward the end, each story felt a little rushed. The theme was wonderful, I love it when other women succeed, but I just wanted... more.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my review.
March 19, 2020
This book is about 4 friends who have realized that 10 years after graduating collage their lives don't look like they dreamed they would. As a woman in my 30's myself, I found this premise to be very intriguing and very relatable.
There are somethings I loved about this book and some bits that were a rough. I loved the characters, I felt all of the women were honest and authentically written. They are smart, strong, beautiful women with flaws like the rest of us. The middle of the book for me was hard to get through. It was a necessary arc where all of them had gone for their goals and their personal lives had suffered. There are a lot of rough subjected touched on here, abuse and alcoholism to start.
I do not think the cover of this book represents the story inside, and this may be the first time I've ever thought about that. To me this cover says cutsy romance book, where that wasn't the case with this. There was an element of romance, but it isn't the main theme but I didn't feel this book was cutsy. The theme I think was relation ships with ourselves, our friends, and our love ones. Relationships can be beautiful but also complicated and at times ugly. I also felt forgiveness was a theme and I have a lot of respect for the characters journeys to get to the end of their story and have their forgiveness and their peace.
There are somethings I loved about this book and some bits that were a rough. I loved the characters, I felt all of the women were honest and authentically written. They are smart, strong, beautiful women with flaws like the rest of us. The middle of the book for me was hard to get through. It was a necessary arc where all of them had gone for their goals and their personal lives had suffered. There are a lot of rough subjected touched on here, abuse and alcoholism to start.
I do not think the cover of this book represents the story inside, and this may be the first time I've ever thought about that. To me this cover says cutsy romance book, where that wasn't the case with this. There was an element of romance, but it isn't the main theme but I didn't feel this book was cutsy. The theme I think was relation ships with ourselves, our friends, and our love ones. Relationships can be beautiful but also complicated and at times ugly. I also felt forgiveness was a theme and I have a lot of respect for the characters journeys to get to the end of their story and have their forgiveness and their peace.
March 31, 2020
The title and the cover of this book are appealing, but the story and the writing are by far the stand out.
This book tells the story of 4 best friends, Sienna, Raina, Nikki and Kara. Back in college these 4 ladies of colour started a group, the Masterminds, to hold them all accountable for their careers and their development. They are strong and opinionated women from different backgrounds and with different issues. Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the characters. You learn how they are not living the dream life they envisioned when they were in college, but now in their thirties they are breathing new life into their Mastermind group. Raina wants to become a bestselling author, Nikki a singer, Kara a master sommelier and Sienna a politician. They are starting on a path to achieve their dreams, sometimes their man is in the way and sometimes it’s their past and sometimes they are in their own way. The ladies support each other, tell them the truth and believe in each other.
The characters are strong, all different, and the different voices all shine in their chapters. I really liked this book because it is about female empowerment and female success and they seem genuine. Only thing I didn’t like was the ending of the book, felt a bit rushed. But all in all it’s a great read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
This book tells the story of 4 best friends, Sienna, Raina, Nikki and Kara. Back in college these 4 ladies of colour started a group, the Masterminds, to hold them all accountable for their careers and their development. They are strong and opinionated women from different backgrounds and with different issues. Each chapter is told from the POV of one of the characters. You learn how they are not living the dream life they envisioned when they were in college, but now in their thirties they are breathing new life into their Mastermind group. Raina wants to become a bestselling author, Nikki a singer, Kara a master sommelier and Sienna a politician. They are starting on a path to achieve their dreams, sometimes their man is in the way and sometimes it’s their past and sometimes they are in their own way. The ladies support each other, tell them the truth and believe in each other.
The characters are strong, all different, and the different voices all shine in their chapters. I really liked this book because it is about female empowerment and female success and they seem genuine. Only thing I didn’t like was the ending of the book, felt a bit rushed. But all in all it’s a great read.
*ARC received in exchange for an honest review*
June 21, 2020
This book came to me at a very opportune time in my life. The Brown Sugarettes are all 32, facing life ten years after their college graduation. I just turned 30, and while that’s not exactly the same, I found that reading this book of four strong, unique women getting their lives together was exactly what I needed right now.
Raina, Nikki, Kara, and Sienna all had different demons to conquer or dreams to reclaim in this book. But going along for the ride with them was almost like going through therapy. All the ups and downs that they face are realistic, and I liked how they stumbled and messed up like real people do. But throughout their mishaps and misfortunes, they stay true to each other and themselves, and that was the most satisfying part of all. I would recommend this book for anyone who needs a reminder that they can change their life around, or find that kernel of inspiration they’ve been missing, or just find the will to focus on their true goals again.
Raina, Nikki, Kara, and Sienna all had different demons to conquer or dreams to reclaim in this book. But going along for the ride with them was almost like going through therapy. All the ups and downs that they face are realistic, and I liked how they stumbled and messed up like real people do. But throughout their mishaps and misfortunes, they stay true to each other and themselves, and that was the most satisfying part of all. I would recommend this book for anyone who needs a reminder that they can change their life around, or find that kernel of inspiration they’ve been missing, or just find the will to focus on their true goals again.
April 23, 2020
Thank you Kensington Books and Netgalley for this arc.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book revolves around four women whom established their friendship way back in college remained best of friends over the years. Raina, Kara, Sienna and Nikki shares different personalities, goals and ambitions and these differences is what makes their friendship great. Their story reminds me my own, that regardless how much we desire or planned about our future, we can never control what happened in between and at one point we have to put our dreams aside and embrace a new path. But there’ll also be a time in our lives that we find ourselves trying to embark on our old dreams and make it happen but not without lessons in between as well. I really enjoyed this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book revolves around four women whom established their friendship way back in college remained best of friends over the years. Raina, Kara, Sienna and Nikki shares different personalities, goals and ambitions and these differences is what makes their friendship great. Their story reminds me my own, that regardless how much we desire or planned about our future, we can never control what happened in between and at one point we have to put our dreams aside and embrace a new path. But there’ll also be a time in our lives that we find ourselves trying to embark on our old dreams and make it happen but not without lessons in between as well. I really enjoyed this book.
January 20, 2021
Four friends: the masterminds. A radio host/writer, a sommelier, a musician, an attorney.
Each woman also has a man. Two are married. Two are engaged. All of them swear they are happy. But all of them need more from life than what they have. All of them will find their relationships challenged.
It's a rollercoaster of four women uplifting themselves, pushing themselves, taking themselves sometimes to the breaking point, but rising up to become the people they dreamed they could be. It's about love, loss and fear.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
Each woman also has a man. Two are married. Two are engaged. All of them swear they are happy. But all of them need more from life than what they have. All of them will find their relationships challenged.
It's a rollercoaster of four women uplifting themselves, pushing themselves, taking themselves sometimes to the breaking point, but rising up to become the people they dreamed they could be. It's about love, loss and fear.
http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...
July 19, 2020
Friends Nikki, Raina, Kara and Sienna formed a Mastermind group in college. Ten years later, none of them have achieved their goals, so they reunite to help each other fight for their dreams.
This was an entertaining read, and I liked how each of the four lives and the relationships with their friends and families developed through the book.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion **
This was an entertaining read, and I liked how each of the four lives and the relationships with their friends and families developed through the book.
** Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion **
September 26, 2020
Entertaining Enough
This was a decent read. It didn’t feel very original. It felt like it was a contemporary remake of Waiting to Exhale. I could see hints of other popular storylines, too. It was interesting enough to push through to the end.
This was a decent read. It didn’t feel very original. It felt like it was a contemporary remake of Waiting to Exhale. I could see hints of other popular storylines, too. It was interesting enough to push through to the end.
April 12, 2023
4 stars- pleasantly surprised!!! Really enjoyed.
The emotional depth in this surprised me a lot. Some books lack emotional connection and development for their main character, but the author crafted a story where all four main characters experience emotional growth. Super impressed. The book even made me emotional towards the end, and anything that can move me is highly regarded. The MCs are distinctive, the concept is interesting, the ending is satisfying, the diversity is perfect, and the character development is brilliant. Looking for a great women's fiction read? Here it is.
Longer, more specific review below. All main points are in bold if you'd rather skim :)
what I liked:
-the diversity and representation! A story focused on African American women pursuing their dreams is a very solid yes.
-the writing flows well. I was scared that the 4-way POV would be too much to keep track of, but the characters are distinctive enough that I never got confused as to who's chapter I was reading; the 4-way POV surprisingly worked quite well. I appreciated the chapter titles too.
-the MCs are realistic, strong and brilliant. They're distinctive from each other, as I've mentioned before, with each having specific hobbies, jobs, aspirations and situations. They're flawed, which makes them realistic, and they're good people at heart.
-their friendship is also super cute, they have such a lovely dynamic.
-the minor characters, specifically the MCs' partners, were really likeable. James, Nikki's husband, was URGH😭😍❤️ Chris was hot, Cam was sweet, and Darren was lovely. I love how they each had a conflict of their own; they're not just 2-D side characters, they're a part of the story. I also loved Sienna's dad 🥹
-I enjoyed the extended timeline. It made the plot realistic; nothing is achieved easily in a month or two, and this book spans over a year.
-the conflicts were really interesting and realistic. Each MC had something different, but similar, and each was resolved really well. I also liked how each resolution wasn't just based on luck. Each characters' success was a result of her own efforts and merit, and you got to watch them work for the dream/ relationship they wanted.
-the character development was probably my fave part of this. In resolving their conflicts, the characters grew so much.
-the ending, as the conflicts were resolved () made me tear up a little.
-the ending and epilogue were satisfying,
what could've been better:
-while the MCs are admirable, I didn't fully connect with them—I liked them, but I didn't love them. This might be because of the age difference between me and the characters. While their experiences are relatable, I can't yet relate because I'm not there yet. This was a great read, but I just didn't love it.
-though there are 4 MCs, I felt like Raina was given center-stage for most of it. Sure, each had her own POV, but I felt as if Raina's situation was privileged above the other girls', given more development and depth.
-I can't say I was a fan of the recreational drug use.
The emotional depth in this surprised me a lot. Some books lack emotional connection and development for their main character, but the author crafted a story where all four main characters experience emotional growth. Super impressed. The book even made me emotional towards the end, and anything that can move me is highly regarded. The MCs are distinctive, the concept is interesting, the ending is satisfying, the diversity is perfect, and the character development is brilliant. Looking for a great women's fiction read? Here it is.
Longer, more specific review below. All main points are in bold if you'd rather skim :)
what I liked:
-the diversity and representation! A story focused on African American women pursuing their dreams is a very solid yes.
-the writing flows well. I was scared that the 4-way POV would be too much to keep track of, but the characters are distinctive enough that I never got confused as to who's chapter I was reading; the 4-way POV surprisingly worked quite well. I appreciated the chapter titles too.
-the MCs are realistic, strong and brilliant. They're distinctive from each other, as I've mentioned before, with each having specific hobbies, jobs, aspirations and situations. They're flawed, which makes them realistic, and they're good people at heart.
-their friendship is also super cute, they have such a lovely dynamic.
-the minor characters, specifically the MCs' partners, were really likeable. James, Nikki's husband, was URGH😭😍❤️ Chris was hot, Cam was sweet, and Darren was lovely. I love how they each had a conflict of their own; they're not just 2-D side characters, they're a part of the story. I also loved Sienna's dad 🥹
-I enjoyed the extended timeline. It made the plot realistic; nothing is achieved easily in a month or two, and this book spans over a year.
-the conflicts were really interesting and realistic. Each MC had something different, but similar, and each was resolved really well. I also liked how each resolution wasn't just based on luck. Each characters' success was a result of her own efforts and merit, and you got to watch them work for the dream/ relationship they wanted.
-the character development was probably my fave part of this. In resolving their conflicts, the characters grew so much.
-the ending, as the conflicts were resolved () made me tear up a little.
-the ending and epilogue were satisfying,
what could've been better:
-while the MCs are admirable, I didn't fully connect with them—I liked them, but I didn't love them. This might be because of the age difference between me and the characters. While their experiences are relatable, I can't yet relate because I'm not there yet. This was a great read, but I just didn't love it.
-though there are 4 MCs, I felt like Raina was given center-stage for most of it. Sure, each had her own POV, but I felt as if Raina's situation was privileged above the other girls', given more development and depth.
-I can't say I was a fan of the recreational drug use.
April 27, 2020
ImPerfectly Happy by Sharina Harris is a wonderful storyline revolving around 4 female college friends, who are still friends 10 years after graduation. When life creates chaos for each of them, they resume their weekly get together to help each other get back on track on dreams and goals that have become sidetracked over the years.
This was a fun enjoyable story, and I really like all four of these wonderful ladies that have a bond many of us wish for.
Raina: She hates her job as a radio personality giving out advice. Raina is also having issues with her significant other, who wants to get married, but she having grown up with family problems, isn’t sure if she is ready. Raina’s goals back in the day was to be an author, and use some of her experiences to create this novel. But she has not had time, needing to stay on her job to make money, and now isn’t sure if Cam, will still want to marry her when she is ready.
Kara: She is a wine connoisseur, and though being pressured to take the test that will certify her, Kara hesitates to try again, as she fears that she will fail once again. Kara is married to Darren, and her self-esteem is already low, when she discovers that he is not sure if he really truly knows what love really is.
Sienna: She is a lawyer, who also helps out her fiancée, Keith, also a lawyer, who is running for office. Kara’s goals were to become a campaign manager or run for office herself in the future. When she catches Keith with another women, all hell literally breaks out, with the help of her friends. This was a fun part. Sienna will meet Chris, her campaign manager, and soon to be lover, who will help her make an attempt to run for office.
Nikki: She is a housewife, with two children and her husband James. Nikki always loved entertaining, as she has a wonderful voice. Her friends push her to try to resume the dream she always had and sing again, with help from her mom and husband to give her a chance. As she joins a band, she does go away for a couple of months to successfully start her singing career, but also picks up old habits (drinking), not to mention her husband’s displeasure of her being away so long.
What follows is a wonderful story line, with each of the ladies having their own POV. I loved their friendship, and how they encouraged each other to rise up and take control of their lives. Sharina Harris manages to pull on our emotions throughout; laughter, tears, sadness, fear, love and anger.
ImPerfectly Happy was a great read, with a fantastic group of friends, who were supportive throughout. This was a fun, sweet and emotional story that was very well written by Sharina Harris.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
This was a fun enjoyable story, and I really like all four of these wonderful ladies that have a bond many of us wish for.
Raina: She hates her job as a radio personality giving out advice. Raina is also having issues with her significant other, who wants to get married, but she having grown up with family problems, isn’t sure if she is ready. Raina’s goals back in the day was to be an author, and use some of her experiences to create this novel. But she has not had time, needing to stay on her job to make money, and now isn’t sure if Cam, will still want to marry her when she is ready.
Kara: She is a wine connoisseur, and though being pressured to take the test that will certify her, Kara hesitates to try again, as she fears that she will fail once again. Kara is married to Darren, and her self-esteem is already low, when she discovers that he is not sure if he really truly knows what love really is.
Sienna: She is a lawyer, who also helps out her fiancée, Keith, also a lawyer, who is running for office. Kara’s goals were to become a campaign manager or run for office herself in the future. When she catches Keith with another women, all hell literally breaks out, with the help of her friends. This was a fun part. Sienna will meet Chris, her campaign manager, and soon to be lover, who will help her make an attempt to run for office.
Nikki: She is a housewife, with two children and her husband James. Nikki always loved entertaining, as she has a wonderful voice. Her friends push her to try to resume the dream she always had and sing again, with help from her mom and husband to give her a chance. As she joins a band, she does go away for a couple of months to successfully start her singing career, but also picks up old habits (drinking), not to mention her husband’s displeasure of her being away so long.
What follows is a wonderful story line, with each of the ladies having their own POV. I loved their friendship, and how they encouraged each other to rise up and take control of their lives. Sharina Harris manages to pull on our emotions throughout; laughter, tears, sadness, fear, love and anger.
ImPerfectly Happy was a great read, with a fantastic group of friends, who were supportive throughout. This was a fun, sweet and emotional story that was very well written by Sharina Harris.
Barb
The Reading Cafe
December 21, 2020
This book was full of well worn tropes and cliches. The easiest way to sum this book up is this way:
There is a group of four women who were college friends who are all slightly disappointed with their lives. They all agree to change things and go after their dreams. But wait - they can’t do that without drama because they all have men in their lives (husbands, boyfriends, fiancés) who stand in their way/don’t understand them/lie/cheat. The women go off and do their own thing to find their true happiness and once they find it they are surprised that the men aren’t just happy for them. The men all do something stupid and the women all run away in tears before they let them explain. Then the men try to get them back by groveling and the women let them have their say and everyone lives happily ever after. Seriously, it was like reading the same story four different times while we watch each woman make the same mistakes and do the same stupid thing as her other friends. And once they make this big announcement that they are going to grasp their true happiness they barely ever talk to each other again. They are just so wrapped up in their own thing. Sigh...just didn’t work for me. So much eye rolling my head hurts.
There is a group of four women who were college friends who are all slightly disappointed with their lives. They all agree to change things and go after their dreams. But wait - they can’t do that without drama because they all have men in their lives (husbands, boyfriends, fiancés) who stand in their way/don’t understand them/lie/cheat. The women go off and do their own thing to find their true happiness and once they find it they are surprised that the men aren’t just happy for them. The men all do something stupid and the women all run away in tears before they let them explain. Then the men try to get them back by groveling and the women let them have their say and everyone lives happily ever after. Seriously, it was like reading the same story four different times while we watch each woman make the same mistakes and do the same stupid thing as her other friends. And once they make this big announcement that they are going to grasp their true happiness they barely ever talk to each other again. They are just so wrapped up in their own thing. Sigh...just didn’t work for me. So much eye rolling my head hurts.
April 28, 2020
First I want to say, Happy Release day!
I received this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley.
Don't be fooled by the rating, I enjoyed this book. If you're social distancing (which you are) this should be the next book you pick up.'(I'm)Perfectly Happy received a 3 1/2 star rating from me because I often had trouble distinguishing who was who at the beginning of the book and in the chapters where the 4 women would meet up. Another minor "issue" I had was I felt like Raina was the Beyoncé of the women, she felt more developed than the other characters. Kara, Sienna, and Nikki's storylines were good, it just didn't feel as complete to me like Raina's. Overall '(I'm) perfectly Happy' was a page-turner, these women are hilarious, and joining them on their journey as they worked through chaos was entertaining. If you're a fan of 'Waiting to Exhale' the movie and the book, I recommend this book to you. If you're looking for a fast-paced drama-filled escape or searching for the next read for your virtual book club, this is it.
I received this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley.
Don't be fooled by the rating, I enjoyed this book. If you're social distancing (which you are) this should be the next book you pick up.'(I'm)Perfectly Happy received a 3 1/2 star rating from me because I often had trouble distinguishing who was who at the beginning of the book and in the chapters where the 4 women would meet up. Another minor "issue" I had was I felt like Raina was the Beyoncé of the women, she felt more developed than the other characters. Kara, Sienna, and Nikki's storylines were good, it just didn't feel as complete to me like Raina's. Overall '(I'm) perfectly Happy' was a page-turner, these women are hilarious, and joining them on their journey as they worked through chaos was entertaining. If you're a fan of 'Waiting to Exhale' the movie and the book, I recommend this book to you. If you're looking for a fast-paced drama-filled escape or searching for the next read for your virtual book club, this is it.
October 26, 2022
Until about 90% in, I was thinking this would be a 3- or 4-star read. Until that point, the only things that were really bugging me were referring to a 4-year-old as a toddler (they're not) more than once, and some really disjointed storytelling in one of the four friends' (Nikki) storylines.
Around 90% in, Kara's story went sideways, too, and then this heaping helping of religious bullshit got added to the mix and it was over for me.
Do not ever, EVER, suggest that your god's plan for someone's life includes being raped as a 10-year-old, and that basically they should just get over it and trust in His plan. What the actual fuck is wrong with you?
Here's all you need to know about gods. If you saw an adult raping a 10-year-old, would you stop it or just let it happen? If you said you would stop it, congratulations! You've done more to prevent child rape than any deity ever sprung from a human's imagination. Sorry. Don't have time for that stupid bullshit. Won't read anything else from the author. Would give 0 stars if possible.
1 out of 5 stars
Around 90% in, Kara's story went sideways, too, and then this heaping helping of religious bullshit got added to the mix and it was over for me.
Do not ever, EVER, suggest that your god's plan for someone's life includes being raped as a 10-year-old, and that basically they should just get over it and trust in His plan. What the actual fuck is wrong with you?
Here's all you need to know about gods. If you saw an adult raping a 10-year-old, would you stop it or just let it happen? If you said you would stop it, congratulations! You've done more to prevent child rape than any deity ever sprung from a human's imagination. Sorry. Don't have time for that stupid bullshit. Won't read anything else from the author. Would give 0 stars if possible.
1 out of 5 stars
Want to read
April 25, 2020I'm not giving this book a star rating because it's a DNF for me. This book is boring. The main characters are essentially the same person. I had trouble remembering who was who. The characters are all upper-middle class to upper class, they're all in heteronormative cohabitating relationships. The characters narrate their own chapters, but there is no change in voice among any of them.
One character's biggest challenge is discovering her husband watches porn; this is apparently enough for her to consider ending her marriage. Ridiculous.
Another character ignores a coworker who attempts a fist bump with her. She says her silence will teach him about his racist inclinations. I suggest the author learn the history of fist bumps. There is nothing inherently Black or African American about fist bumps.
The characters are boring. The situations are unrealistic. No part of this book rang true for me. I could only read a third of it before throwing in the towel.
One character's biggest challenge is discovering her husband watches porn; this is apparently enough for her to consider ending her marriage. Ridiculous.
Another character ignores a coworker who attempts a fist bump with her. She says her silence will teach him about his racist inclinations. I suggest the author learn the history of fist bumps. There is nothing inherently Black or African American about fist bumps.
The characters are boring. The situations are unrealistic. No part of this book rang true for me. I could only read a third of it before throwing in the towel.
May 20, 2020
Four friends since college, Kara, Nikki, Rania and Sienna are navigating life . Nikki is a stay at home mom, but wondering what would it be like if she hadn't given up music. Kara's plans to be a master somilier was put on hold when she has a devastating loss. Sienna is standing behind her man as he runs for office, but secrets that end up coming out make her wonder in what direction she should move in next. Rania's radio show is a hit, but her telling the truth can be more than she bargains fore when the higher ups don't like it.
The story was a very enjoyable read. With what's going on, I've been a little emotionless. This book almost took me out of that. The characters were very relatable and It was a joy to watch their journey. It was engaging It was definitely a page turner, and I will be looking for anything else this author comes up with.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
The story was a very enjoyable read. With what's going on, I've been a little emotionless. This book almost took me out of that. The characters were very relatable and It was a joy to watch their journey. It was engaging It was definitely a page turner, and I will be looking for anything else this author comes up with.
I received a copy of this book via netgalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
October 29, 2022
I Am Perfectly...
Such a rich offering!
Four women who met in college; formed an encouragement group, and kept in touch. Their lives got busy, so when we meet them, they are reconnecting. And one of them held onto their Ambitions Journal, so they have a touchstone for each other.
What makes this book fly is that they are so disparate, that there is no competition vibe in their interactions and have time to learn how to support each other in their goals and in their lives.
One of my favorite passages was when the radio personality and the lawyer backed each other up. Hilarious!
But each of them is facing a crisis of confidence - in their life choices and in themselves. Different events have brought them to this stage. And each of them have to find their path out of what they settled for to get what their younger selves knew they wanted.
Well paced and distinct in voice, this was a pleasure to read.
Such a rich offering!
Four women who met in college; formed an encouragement group, and kept in touch. Their lives got busy, so when we meet them, they are reconnecting. And one of them held onto their Ambitions Journal, so they have a touchstone for each other.
What makes this book fly is that they are so disparate, that there is no competition vibe in their interactions and have time to learn how to support each other in their goals and in their lives.
One of my favorite passages was when the radio personality and the lawyer backed each other up. Hilarious!
But each of them is facing a crisis of confidence - in their life choices and in themselves. Different events have brought them to this stage. And each of them have to find their path out of what they settled for to get what their younger selves knew they wanted.
Well paced and distinct in voice, this was a pleasure to read.
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