Happiful – September 2019

Life unfiltered

#LivingMyBestLi(f)e

An influencer more by

chance than choice,

Millie’s dreams of

having her own fashion

line are far from reality.

While her Instagram

feed portrays a perfect

life – filled with new

outfits, a spotless home,

and perfect shots of her

little boy – in reality,

Millie struggles to make

ends meet.

Claire shows us first-

hand the impact online

trolling can have on

someone’s confidence,

sharing with us Millie’s

building anxiety and

dread around the

comments section

whenever she posts an

update. This snapshot

is a gentle reminder

that there is another

person at the other end

of our screens, who can

be more hurt by harsh

words than we may

realise.

While Millie’s struggles

to balance authenticity

while crafting

an inspirational,

aspirational feed are

interesting to read,

it’s the glimpses into

her experiences with

postnatal depression

(PND) that really make

readers stop and think.

Embarrassment and

guilt still plague Millie

at times. Despite all

that she does for her

son, she still can’t help

but fear she isn’t doing

enough.

Both reassuring and

heartbreaking, it’s

great to see big issues

being woven naturally

into the overall

narrative, rather than

being the sole focal

point of the novel.

Millie’s experiences

with PND are clearly

a part of her, but they

don’t define her.

Should I read it?

Living My Best Life is

a fun, light-hearted

read. Filled with new

friendships, relatable

struggles, and just

a touch of glam, it’s

refreshing to see a

It can be hard

to remember:

a single,

flawless

shot doesn’t

show the full

picture

Living My Best Life

By Claire Frost

(Simon & Schuster

UK, out 5 September,

£7.99)

GREAT FOR...

• Fans of light-hearted
  fiction


• Readers looking for
  feel-good vibes


• Insta enthusiasts
  looking for a healthy
  dose of reality

Approaching 39, Mummy

isn’t content with the future

she is facing. Clutching her

glass of wine, she mutters

FML over and over, until

she remembers the gem of

an idea she’s had...

A collection of poetry

and prose about survival,

the experience of love,

loss, violence, abuse, and

femininity. Journey through

the most bitter and sweet

moments in life.

Elizabeth has a house, a

husband, and they’re trying

for a baby – and she doesn’t

want any of it. Emerging

from a bitter divorce, it’s

time to search for the things

she has been missing...

Why Mummy

Drinks by Gill

Sims

Milk and Honey

by Rupi Kaur

Eat, Pray, Love

by Elizabeth

Gilbert

If you liked this, you’ll love...

Must

Reads

novel featuring women

of an older age than is

typical for the genre.

If you’re looking for

a book that weaves in

relatable issues without

losing its charm and

style, Living My Best Life

could be the right book

for you.