Welcome, book friends!

To listen to my real-time reaction to this book and movie, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.

I’d love to know your thoughts on the book if you’ve read it, or the movie if you’ve watched it. I invite you to leave a comment on X (Twitter), Facebook, or Instagram.

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Katherine Center is a bestselling author known for her heartfelt, closed-door contemporary romances. Her stories spotlight relatable characters navigating real-life challenges with warmth, humor, and emotional depth. You can always count on her books to make you laugh, cry, and swoon—all in one sitting.

I’ve read two of her novels so far and quickly fell in love with her writing. She’s become one of my favorite romance authors, and I’m on a mission to read her entire backlist (yes, I want to read her to zero!). So when I found out Happiness for Beginners had been adapted into a movie, I couldn’t wait to dive into the book first and see how it compares to the film.

You can learn more about Katherine Center and sign up for her newsletter on her website.

My Reaction to Reading the Book

Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center

Format: Tandem – Kindle Unlimited & Audiobook – Narrator: Marguerite Gavin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Spice Level: Rated PG-13; Closed-Door Romance
GR Rating: 4.05 
My GR Rating: 4
Read more on GoodReads

GR Description: A year after getting divorced, Helen Carpenter, thirty-two, lets her annoying, ten years younger brother talk her into signing up for a wilderness survival course. It’s supposed to be a chance for her to pull herself together again, but when she discovers that her brother’s even-more-annoying best friend is also coming on the trip, she can’t imagine how it will be anything other than a disaster. Thus begins the strangest adventure of Helen’s well-behaved life: three weeks in the remotest wilderness of a mountain range in Wyoming where she will survive mosquito infestations, a surprise summer blizzard, and a group of sorority girls.

Yet, despite everything, the vast wilderness has a way of making Helen’s own little life seem bigger, too. And, somehow the people who annoy her the most start teaching her the very things she needs to learn. Like how to stand up for herself. And how being scared can make you brave. And how sometimes you just have to get really, really lost before you can even have a hope of being found.

My Review:

Katherine Center has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary romance authors—especially because she writes closed-door romances, which I always appreciate. While I enjoyed this book overall, it wasn’t quite what I expected. There was a lot of untapped potential that left me wanting more. Still, I really liked getting to know the characters and following them on this emotional adventure. It’s the kind of book that makes a perfect summer read—or even a great pick for those late spring days when you’re ready for something uplifting and warm.

Going in, I thought the story would center more heavily on Helen’s survival hiking trip, but that portion only made up about half the book. The first 30% is all setup before Helen even arrives at camp, and while it was interesting, it did feel like a slow start. Once the hiking began, I expected more in terms of daily life on the trail—funny moments in nature, emotional bonding, personal revelations—but those scenes felt rushed. The timeline jumped quickly from week to week, which made the middle feel a bit underdeveloped.

That said, I really liked Helen from the start. She’s relatable and easy to root for, especially as she’s trying to bounce back after a painful divorce. Her desire to heal and rediscover herself gave the story heart. Jake, on the other hand, took some warming up to. For much of the book, I wasn’t sold on him, but once we learn more about what he’s going through, my perspective shifted. By the end, I appreciated him much more.

Though it’s marketed as a romance—and yes, there is a romantic arc—I’d actually categorize this more as women’s fiction or “chick lit” with a romantic subplot. Helen’s journey of self-growth and emotional healing takes center stage. I just wish we’d gotten a deeper dive into that transformation. There were a few nice nuggets of wisdom, but I kept hoping for more introspection or powerful moments of discovery. Helen does grow through the hiking experience, but the change felt subtle rather than transformative.

There is a steamy moment early on, but it’s not graphic, which I was glad to see. There’s also some language, but overall it maintains that closed-door romance feel.

If you’re into women’s fiction or romance with themes like the brother’s best friend trope, a subtle enemies-to-lovers vibe, a 10-year age gap, and a backdrop of outdoor adventure and personal growth, then this might be your kind of read.

Now, regarding the movie adaptation: unfortunately, it didn’t live up to the book. It felt flat and lacked the emotion, richness, and character depth that made the novel enjoyable. A lot was cut, and it just didn’t capture the same magic. The casting also felt like it prioritized diversity checking boxes over staying true to the characters (cue the eye roll). If you’ve read the book, I’d honestly recommend skipping the movie. But if you’ve only seen the movie, definitely pick up the book—it’s a much more fulfilling experience.

I’m excited to continue my journey of reading the author’s entire backlist and finding more hidden gems.

If you want to listen to all of my thoughts and get my real-time reactions to this book and movie, listen to the episode above.