"Sweet MIsfortune" Review

Sweet Misfortune: A Novel

By Kevin Alan Milne

10/10

My Synopsis:

Sophia Maria Jones survived a tragedy at nine years old.  It changed her life forever.  She blames herself and thinks that all happiness is fleeting.  Twenty years later, while working in her chocolate shop, her ex-fiancé Garrett makes a surprise visit after a year-long disappearance.  Finding her in a state of unhappiness, Garrett challenges Sophie: He will put an anonymous ad in the paper seeking happiness.  If they get one hundred valid responses defining happiness, Sophie will go on a date with him to allow him to explain why he called off their engagement.  Will they meet their quota and if so, will Sophie find “happiness” in his explanation?

My Opinion:

I thoroughly enjoyed Sweet Misfortune by Kevin Alan Milne.  The characters were wonderfully developed.  I found myself immediately connecting with Sophie and sincerely hoping she found happiness.  I found myself impatient with and doubtful of Garrett, just as Sophie herself does.  But the real heart-warmers in this story are Jim and Alex.  Although minor characters, they are by far the sunshine within this story.  They make you smile.  The novel flowed well and was easy to read.  The chapters revisiting Sophie and Garrett’s dating experiences were a true delight.  It is a book that pulls the reader in and makes them feel as though they are part of the story themselves.  A definite page turner, I wanted to read instead of going to sleep at night just because I wanted to know what would happen next.  It is pessimistic and tragic while being romantic and hopeful at the same time.  Certain plot twists I could not have predicted and the ending is cute and conclusive – which I always hope for in a novel.  It is reminiscent of many of today’s romantic comedy movies but with a little something deeper.  It is a book that I will definitely read again somewhere down the road.  Makes you think and rethink what your definition of happiness is.  Sweet Misfortune is one of those sweet literary gems I was fortunate enough to find.  10 out of 10!