Happy People Read and Drink Coffee by Agnes Martin-Lugand

Happy People Read and Drink Coffee
by Agnes Martin-Lugand

Martin-Lugand, a native of France, self-published this novel on Amazon e-books in late 2012 and was then approached by a publishing representative to go the traditional route and release it in print. It has since been optioned by famed movie producer Harvey Weinstein, and a sequel has been published as well. A modern-day ‘romance’ with a definite Gothic element, this is the story of a Parisian woman in her early thirties who has lost her beloved husband and daughter in an accident and how she ends up in a remote seacoast village in Ireland having a battle of wills with her brooding neighbor, all while her partying gay business partner (and best friend) runs their literary cafe — nearly into the ground, actually! — in her absence. Two or three times during the story I thought I knew what to expect next only to be somewhat surprised at the turn of events. Over all, it is a wrenching but eventually hopeful examination of grief, love, and resilience. One caution is that there is liberal swearing at times.

[ publisher’s official Happy People Read and Drink Coffee web site ]

Recommended by Becky W.C.
Walt Branch Library

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