Here the author gives us four main characters – all likeable and even somehow familiar to us. They each come with a personal history and a few not-so-serious flaws that are, interestingly enough, extensions of their own best qualities. Elinor is accomplished and successful, but she can sometimes be an obsessive perfectionist and is a little too self-absorbed. Ted is generally easy going and eager to please, but he has moments of immaturity and is bit too compliant. Gina, the "other woman", is free-spirited and fun, but she’s also fickle and a bit of a floozy. Gina’s son Toby is sensitive and smart, but he’s a little needy and can sometimes be manipulative. None of the characters in this story means to hurt anyone; they just want to be happy. But, in this story, just as in real life, happiness means different things to different people.

The author has done such a good job of letting the reader know how these characters are likely to behave, that you sense that the end of the book isn’t necessarily the end of the story. Winston didn’t write an epilogue, but you might just find yourself working one out in your own head.

Lolly Winston has a tremendous gift for writing about difficult life issues and handling them with gentle understanding, wisdom, and even humor – the same ingredients that made her first book, Good Grief, so successful. Happiness Sold Separately would make a great book club selection and, in fact, it includes a book discussion guide.