Review: Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate

Pieces of Happiness: A Novel of Friendship, Hope and Chocolate by Anne Ch. Ostby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a beachy read of five women from Norway who take their sixth friend up on her offer to join her on her cocoa plantation in Fiji following the death of her husband. Each woman has her own challenges and is looking for a change. It was nice to see women in a post-family role, focusing on self and letting loose a bit. The chapters change point of view between women but also alternate with the prayers of the woman working for Kat, ending with "Emeni." While there is some interaction with the local population, let's be honest, this is a white person novel. Fijians are the helpers, the guides, the people with the connection to the land. I picture a cast starring Helen Mirren, adding to the films of women of a certain age claiming their lives.

Still, the rotating POVs serve to provide a lot of depth into each woman's lives, and I found myself caring for each of them by the end of the novel. And it's hard to hate a novel about chocolate!

Thanks to the publisher for providing access through this title through NetGalley.

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