Lolly Winston

“Me for You” tells the story of a middle-aged man attempting to come to terms with the death of his wife. In his work as a pianist at a major department store, Rudy meets and befriends a Hungarian woman, also a store employee. Thus begins the next chapter in his life, which is full of twists and turns before finally moving in a positive direction.

I fell in love with this book, and could not put it down. The author is spot on in her accurate descriptions of the emotional roller-coaster show more upon which one embarks when a spouse dies. This book spoke right to my heart, since I have experienced all the emotions of Rudy in the grief process, having been widowed myself and then finding a new love. She skillfully interweaves heartbreak, humor, and pathos to draw the reader into the story. (Rudy’s foray into internet dating is hysterically funny. As they say, I have “been there, done that.”)

The characters were well-drawn, realistic, and multifaceted individuals. These were people I would like to get to know. I liked the way the author alternated chapters between the different characters, allowing the reader to see and experience life through their eyes.

I highly recommend this book, not only for the casual reader, but for those who are themselves dealing with the loss of a beloved spouse. I only wish I had been able to read this book when I was newly widowed. This book would also help family members or friends to “see” grief through the eyes of the bereaved.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. show less

Before I read the "conversation with the author" at the end of the book, I just knew that Winston had to have been awfully close to some kind of grief in order to write so eloquently about losing someone. The book presents what turns out to be a delightful but heart wrenching picture of the losses the main characters, Rudy, and Sasha, are experiencing, but also Rudy's daughter, CeCe. As the author explains how she writes, she does exactly those things in this novel---voices for her show more characters as well as very descriptive pictures of where they are and what they are doing. Just a very, very sweet book. show less

Thank you, Lolly Winston, for writing a book with an authentic take on a real issue with a realistic ending. Happiness Sold Separately should be read by anyone who has ever been in a relationship where they find themselves not quite as enamored with their significant other as they once did.

Elinor and Ted have only been married for five years but have spent two of those years fighting infertility. As El struggles with the hormonal changes of invitro, failed conception, and lost pregnancies, show more she retreats within to spare her husband because he doesn't see or feel the events the way she does. Ted, on the other hand, feeling helpless and left out, begins to feel alone and takes to the gym. With the help of exercise and nutrition guru Gina, Ted loses that 15 pounds his contented married life has packed on and falls for the trainer.

The twists and turns are subtle and slight in Happiness Sold Separately, but they are poignant. Through a separation when El learns about Ted and Gina, a trial reconciliation, and an unexpected pregnancy, the couple learns that happy ever after does not always mean with the person they thought.

The beauty of this book is that there is no overt fighting, no mean-spirited hate spewed when faults are discovered. While emotions run high and unkind thoughts do prevail at times, the maturity of the plot and the writing leave the reader with positive introspection and positive lessons - people do fall in and out of love, and just because it doesn't work out doesn't mean someone is awful, and it is okay to move on when a relationship is done.

In a world where everything feels so contentious and yet authors write about fairytale relationships that leave readers resenting their actual real-life relationships (because of their inherent fissures and fractures and wondering why their life doesn't look like the movies), Happiness Sold Separately is a refreshing, honest look at what real relationships can go through.

This book should be required reading for married couples who are struggling. It won't save your marriage, but you may find a better way to disagree and let go if that time comes. So well done. show less

This novel tells of a widow who struggles to regain some measure of normalcy (with varying degrees of success). I was a little peeved when she would go out to eat at restaurants and attend theatre and then complain about not having enough money, but for the most part, she's a wonderfully human character, struggling through the loss of her husband, her house, her job, and her waistline. If she were a real-life person, I'd want to meet her for coffee. This novel balances the protagonist's show more hardships with many doses of humor, both wry and slapstick, and it delivers plenty of laughs. Although the book describes situations that are less-than-ideal -- that are tragic in many ways -- the book itself is neither depressing nor despairing. It simply tells the tale of a woman who, like any woman, is just trying to cope, and who finds sorrow, joy, and hilarity along the way. show less