Reviewed by Kat
TITLE: Happy
AUTHOR: Chris Scully
PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press
LENGTH: 165 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 30, 2016
BLURB:
Growing up Greek-Canadian, Peter Georgiou always knew his duty was to his family, for whom twenty-first century rules don’t apply. In his early thirties, Peter still lives at home, dates who his parents tell him to, and works at the family restaurant. But watching his two best friends find happiness in each other’s arms has made him worry over his destiny.
When Louie Papadakis returns home to nurse his broken heart and start a new life, he can’t believe his sister is dating his high school crush, Peter. There’s a sadness behind Peter’s eyes that draws him in, and a chemistry he wishes he could ignore. After his closeted ex broke his heart, Louie is afraid to fall in love again, especially with a man who’s keeping secrets.
As Peter finds himself drawn to Louie in unexpected ways, old and new worlds collide. Then a family crisis forces Peter’s hand, and he must decide if he’s willing to sacrifice his happiness for family duty.
REVIEW:
“Are you happy?” This is the first line in the book and it made me really think. How many times do people ask you something so personal and then…do they really care about your answer?
We start off the book, with Joe and Adam, characters from previous Chris Scully books. In this book, which appears to be a spin-off, they are Peter’s best friends and they really are concerned about him. The book opens at a party where they share their secret, they’re engaged. One more set of his friends taking the jump and leaving Peter to feel like a further outcast. Joe and Adam just desire happiness for their closest friend. They are worried about what seems a down-hill spiral he is on, his heavy drinking, and they also know all about Peter’s deepest, darkest secrets.
It is hard to write a review for this book. It would be so easy to do if I wasn’t concerned with having it become one huge spoiler, but I don’t want to go there. Happy is the story of Peter’s life, such as it is, that he is living to try and please his parents at his own loss. He gets reintroduced to a former classmate and big brother of his girlfriend and sparks fly. This book had so many twists and turns that they got me sidetracked a bit. There were lots of “fringe” characters to build the backstory, I believe, but almost too many in such a short book.
Can a man, so far in the closet that he can’t even acknowledge his true desires for fear he will hurt his parents, find happiness? Can another man, after a disastrous relationship, learn to trust again? This was a quick read and at times I wish there was more to the story. We spent the first 70% of the book with both men skirting around and flirting with the obvious attraction and chemistry before we even get their first kiss. Then it was a little too quick to resolve, and I want to know what happens with them. Also, there is some sex but it is in the fade to black style. I am wondering if we will get the rest of the story in a sequel down the road and I think that would make the story more complete/resolved. Again, I really want to know what happens next! I guess we will have to wait and see if there is more to come. This was a fun read but it felt incomplete and rushed at the end.
RATING: 
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