-
Happiness for Beginners
- Fun-filled, feel-good fiction from the Sunday Times bestseller
- Narrated by: Emma Powell
- Length: 11 hrs and 43 mins
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
Buy for $21.81
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
Christmas for Beginners
- By: Carole Matthews
- Narrated by: Emma Powell
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Christmas is fast approaching at the new Hope Farm and Bev has convinced a reluctant Molly to organise an open day to raise some much needed funds ahead of the New Year. Their nativity tableau has everything they need: anti-social sheep, alpacas munching the Baby Jesus doll and a hairdresser dressed up as Santa Claus. But on Hope Farm it's going to take more than mulled wine and Christmas lights to get everyone in the festive spirit.
By: Carole Matthews
-
Sunny Days and Sea Breezes
- The PERFECT feel-good, escapist read from the Sunday Times bestseller
- By: Carole Matthews
- Narrated by: Laura Kirman
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jodie Jackson is leaving her London life, her career and her husband behind. She'd like a chance to turn back the clocks, but she'll settle for some peace and quiet on her brother Bill's houseboat. But from the moment Jodie steps aboard her new home, it's clear she'll struggle to keep herself to herself. If it isn't Marilyn, who cleans for Bill and is under strict instructions to look after Jodie, then it's Ned, the noisy sculptor on the next-door houseboat. Ned's wood carving is hard on the ears, but it's made up for by the fact that he's rather easy on the eyes.
-
-
ISLE OF WIGHT TAKE ME AWAY!!
- By Tiffany on 08-22-21
By: Carole Matthews
-
A Cottage by the Sea
- By: Carole Matthews
- Narrated by: Clare Corbett
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grace has been best friends with Ella and Flick forever. The late-night chats, shared heartaches, and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time. When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband. Then Flick arrives; loveable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah. This is going to be one week which will change all their lives forever...
-
-
Great Holiday Read
- By Jan on 05-05-13
By: Carole Matthews
-
Stuck on You
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organising his dry cleaning or dumping his never ending stream of girlfriends. But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met. With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along?
-
-
excellent
- By Lhr on 01-17-22
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
Honeymoon for One
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a published novelist, Lila Rose has been writing about fictional weddings all her life. But disaster strikes on her own big day when she hears her philandering fiancé, Daniel, whispering sweet nothings to someone else. With her dream day shattered, all Lila wants to do is run and hide, so she decides to fly solo on her own honeymoon. When Daniel arrives in the resort with his new squeeze, Lila strikes up a ‘showmance’ with hot new movie star Freddie Bianchi. Freddie is perfect for the part, and Lila soon relaxes into her leading lady role.
-
-
Funny book.
- By roseanna banana on 11-07-21
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
Faking It
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Life has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Ella. Growing up as the 'less successful' identical twin to her 'perfectly successful' sister, Emma, has left her feeling isolated, inadequate and let's face it...a little bitter. When Emma unexpectedly reaches out to Ella in a time of need, Ella suddenly finds herself with the opportunity to fill in for her sister and experience how the other half live.
-
-
Sheer Delight
- By Kristyn Rose on 08-18-21
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
Christmas for Beginners
- By: Carole Matthews
- Narrated by: Emma Powell
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Christmas is fast approaching at the new Hope Farm and Bev has convinced a reluctant Molly to organise an open day to raise some much needed funds ahead of the New Year. Their nativity tableau has everything they need: anti-social sheep, alpacas munching the Baby Jesus doll and a hairdresser dressed up as Santa Claus. But on Hope Farm it's going to take more than mulled wine and Christmas lights to get everyone in the festive spirit.
By: Carole Matthews
-
Sunny Days and Sea Breezes
- The PERFECT feel-good, escapist read from the Sunday Times bestseller
- By: Carole Matthews
- Narrated by: Laura Kirman
- Length: 9 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Jodie Jackson is leaving her London life, her career and her husband behind. She'd like a chance to turn back the clocks, but she'll settle for some peace and quiet on her brother Bill's houseboat. But from the moment Jodie steps aboard her new home, it's clear she'll struggle to keep herself to herself. If it isn't Marilyn, who cleans for Bill and is under strict instructions to look after Jodie, then it's Ned, the noisy sculptor on the next-door houseboat. Ned's wood carving is hard on the ears, but it's made up for by the fact that he's rather easy on the eyes.
-
-
ISLE OF WIGHT TAKE ME AWAY!!
- By Tiffany on 08-22-21
By: Carole Matthews
-
A Cottage by the Sea
- By: Carole Matthews
- Narrated by: Clare Corbett
- Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Grace has been best friends with Ella and Flick forever. The late-night chats, shared heartaches, and good times have created a bond that has stood the test of time. When Ella invites them to stay for a week in her cottage in South Wales, Grace jumps at the chance to see her old friends. She also hopes that the change of scenery will help her reconnect with her distant husband. Then Flick arrives; loveable, bubbly, incorrigible Flick, accompanied by the handsome and charming Noah. This is going to be one week which will change all their lives forever...
-
-
Great Holiday Read
- By Jan on 05-05-13
By: Carole Matthews
-
Stuck on You
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 7 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sadie doesn't have time for finding love. She's too busy as PA for famous artist Damian Banks. When she's not arranging exhibitions, she's organising his dry cleaning or dumping his never ending stream of girlfriends. But when she strikes up an unusual friendship with her desk share buddy, she finds a confidante and a new potential love interest. Problem is, they've never actually met. With Christmas just around the corner, can Sadie put herself first for a change and find what she's been looking for all along?
-
-
excellent
- By Lhr on 01-17-22
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
Honeymoon for One
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 9 hrs and 17 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
As a published novelist, Lila Rose has been writing about fictional weddings all her life. But disaster strikes on her own big day when she hears her philandering fiancé, Daniel, whispering sweet nothings to someone else. With her dream day shattered, all Lila wants to do is run and hide, so she decides to fly solo on her own honeymoon. When Daniel arrives in the resort with his new squeeze, Lila strikes up a ‘showmance’ with hot new movie star Freddie Bianchi. Freddie is perfect for the part, and Lila soon relaxes into her leading lady role.
-
-
Funny book.
- By roseanna banana on 11-07-21
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
Faking It
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Life has been a bit of a rollercoaster for Ella. Growing up as the 'less successful' identical twin to her 'perfectly successful' sister, Emma, has left her feeling isolated, inadequate and let's face it...a little bitter. When Emma unexpectedly reaches out to Ella in a time of need, Ella suddenly finds herself with the opportunity to fill in for her sister and experience how the other half live.
-
-
Sheer Delight
- By Kristyn Rose on 08-18-21
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
The Bright Side of Disaster
- A Novel
- By: Katherine Center
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 7 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Very pregnant and not quite married, Jenny Harris doesn’t mind that she and her live-in fiancé, Dean, accidentally started their family a little earlier than planned. But Dean is acting distant, and the night he runs out for cigarettes and doesn’t come back, he demotes himself from future husband to sperm donor. And the very next day, Jenny goes into labor.
-
-
Fantastic!
- By kathy on 07-10-20
By: Katherine Center
-
We Belong Together
- By: Beth Moran
- Narrated by: Marie Lawrence
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Eleanor Sharpley has been living a lie. Needing to escape her London life quickly, Eleanor throws her things into the back of her car, and heads to her erstwhile best friend Charlie’s family farm. But Charlie isn’t there. Instead she finds Charlie’s grieving brother, Daniel, her eight-month-old daughter, Hope (a daughter Eleanor had known nothing about) and a crumbling and unloved Damson Farm.
-
-
new author for me
- By Mary JME on 12-04-21
By: Beth Moran
-
Will They, Won't They?
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 8 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Emmy Palmer is the star of Bragadon Forest, the biggest fantasy series on TV, adored by the public, living the life of glamour and luxury in London. But when scandal breaks, Emmy must escape the city and return to her seaside hometown to lie low and wait for the storm to pass. And as tragedy strikes for her family, it is good timing to go back to her roots.
-
-
Uneventful
- By Joy on 04-25-22
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
And One Last Thing...
- By: Molly Harper
- Narrated by: Amanda Ronconi
- Length: 8 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lacey Terwilliger's shock and humiliation over her husband's philandering prompt her to add some bonus material to Mike's company newsletter: stunning Technicolor descriptions of the special brand of "administrative support" his receptionist gives him. The detailed mass e-mail to Mike's family, friends, and clients blows up in her face, and before one can say "instant urban legend", Lacey has become the pariah of her small Kentucky town and a media punch line....
-
-
For me this was such a HOOT!!!
- By d.e.matthews on 02-12-11
By: Molly Harper
-
The Party Crasher
- A Novel
- By: Sophie Kinsella
- Narrated by: Fiona Hardingham
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
It’s been almost two years since Effie’s beloved parents got divorced, destroying the image of the happy, loving childhood she thought she had. Since then, she’s become estranged from her father and embarked on a feud with his hot (and much younger) girlfriend, Krista. And now, more earth-shattering news: They’ve sold Greenoaks, the rambling Victorian country house Effie has always called home.
-
-
Avoid this - poorly written and kind of boring
- By Joan on 10-18-21
By: Sophie Kinsella
-
Just the Way You Are
- By: Beth Moran
- Narrated by: Eilidh Beaton
- Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When Olivia Tennyson - or Ollie to her friends - was 16, she wrote a Dream List of all the things she wanted for her life, including a happy marriage and a family. But at 29, Ollie is single, living at home with her over-protective and manipulative mother and is feeling like her dreams are getting further out of reach. It’s time for a change. It’s time to take matters into her own hands.
-
-
Cute Story!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-28-22
By: Beth Moran
-
Life's a Beach
- By: Portia MacIntosh
- Narrated by: Karen Cass
- Length: 7 hrs and 50 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Peach is excited to hear that her sister, Di, is getting married. Of course, she would have preferred her little sister to be engaged to someone she's known longer than a week - and the fact that his name is Charles doesn't bode well - but who is she to judge? After all, her own love life is non-existent, and who doesn't love a destination wedding?
-
-
light hearted and funny
- By magdalene williams on 04-11-22
By: Portia MacIntosh
-
Fat Chance
- By: Nick Spalding
- Narrated by: Heather Wilds, Napoleon Ryan
- Length: 8 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Meet Zoe and Greg Milton, a married couple who have let themselves go a bit. Zoe was a stunner in her college days, but the intervening decades have added five stone, and removed most of her self-esteem. Greg's rugby-playing days are well and truly behind him, thanks to countless pints of beer and chicken curry. When Elise, a radio DJ and Zoe's best friend, tells them about a new competition, it seems like the perfect opportunity to turn their lives around.
-
-
I freakin loved this book!
- By Maria on 10-20-14
By: Nick Spalding
-
How to Walk Away
- A Novel
- By: Katherine Center
- Narrated by: Thérèse Plummer
- Length: 11 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Margaret Jacobsen is just about to step into the bright future she’s worked for so hard and so long: a new dream job, a fiancé she adores, and the promise of a picture-perfect life just around the corner. Then, suddenly, on what should have been one of the happiest days of her life, everything she worked for is taken away in a brief, tumultuous moment. In the hospital and forced to face the possibility that nothing will ever be the same again, Maggie must confront the unthinkable.
-
-
An Uplifting Story
- By Tropicalart77 on 05-17-18
By: Katherine Center
-
Everyone Is Beautiful
- A Novel
- By: Katherine Center
- Narrated by: Kirsten Potter
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Lanie Coates' life is spinning out of control.
She's piled everything she owns into a U-Haul and driven with her husband, Peter, and their three little boys from their cozy Texas home to a multiflight walkup in the Northeast. She's left behind family, friends, and a comfortable life, all so her husband can realize his dream of becoming a professional musician. But somewhere in the eye of her personal hurricane, it hits Lanie that she once had dreams too.
-
-
Slower story, big payout
- By william e. setty on 10-03-19
By: Katherine Center
-
The Road Trip
- By: Beth O'Leary
- Narrated by: Josh Dylan, Eleanor Tomlinson
- Length: 10 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Four years ago, Dylan and Addie fell in love under the Provence sun. Wealthy Oxford student Dylan was staying at his friend Cherry’s enormous French villa; wild child Addie was spending her summer as the on-site caretaker. Two years ago, their relationship officially ended. They haven’t spoken since. Today, Dylan’s and Addie’s lives collide again. It’s the day before Cherry’s wedding, and Addie and Dylan crash cars at the start of the journey there.
-
-
Excellent writing, engaging story, and much laughter
- By Alice Hilary Dawson on 06-05-21
By: Beth O'Leary
-
Escape to Willow Cottage
- Willow Cottage Series
- By: Bella Osborne
- Narrated by: Elisabeth Hopper
- Length: 14 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Beth is running away. With her young son, Leo, to protect, Willow Cottage is the lifeline she so desperately needs. Overlooking the village green in a beautiful Cotswolds idyll, Beth sees a warm, caring and safe place for little Leo. When she finally uncovers the cottage from underneath the boughs of a weeping willow tree, Beth realises this is far more of a project than she bargained for, and the locals are more than a little eccentric!
-
-
hard at first
- By Nujbird52 on 05-13-20
By: Bella Osborne
Publisher's Summary
The brand-new audiobook that will make your heart sing from the best-selling and beloved Carole Matthews.
Molly Baker is living her best life.
Thirty-eight years old, she lives on the 25-acre Hope Farm in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by (mostly) four-legged friends and rolling hills. An ex-teacher, Molly runs the farm as an alternative education for kids who have special needs or behavioural issues. It's full on, but she wouldn't have it any other way.
So when the well-groomed Shelby Dacre turns up at Hope Farm asking to enrol his son Lucas, Molly isn't fazed. But Lucas is distant, and soon Molly realises he might be more of a handful than she anticipated. And then there's the added problem that his dad is distractingly handsome.
Molly has her beloved farm to think of - could letting Lucas and Shelby in be a terrible mistake or the start of something wonderful?
Critic Reviews
"Fabulously enjoyable...full of heart and fun." (Milly Johnson)
"Gorgeous." (Katie Fforde)
"I laughed and cried and marvelled." (Cathy Bramley)
More from the same
What listeners say about Happiness for Beginners
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- MoPooWrites
- 01-17-20
Must read for animal lovers
If you’re an animal lover, this is your romance. I loved mature, optimistic Molly Baker who operates a farm for misfit animals and children. Each animal, named after celebrities, are characters in their own right. However, Matthews pairs the creatures with children who also have difficulty fitting into the status quo. The children and the animals had me at page 1, but enter the local soap star and his teenager with problems and the story takes off.
I’m not usually a fan of authors as narrators, but Matthews pulls it off. I loved the rhythm of the speech and the interesting differences between the US and UK use of words.
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Gina
- 09-12-19
Wonderful story & narrator!!
As always Carole Matthews does not disappoint with her fabulous and creative stories. I was instantly in love with the characters and all the animals! And Emma Powell did a lovely job narrating. I found it so soothing listening to her narrate this story. I cannot wait for the next novel!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Lee, Maui Hawaii
- 05-11-19
Great listen
Slow beginning, but hang in there, it picks up it’s a moving story.
Great read
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
- vicki
- 03-12-19
Happiness for Beginners
I loved this hopeful, big hearted book. I am a teacher so I enjoyed reading the accounts.of.the kids.and how the main character and her crew dealt with them. Descriptions of the animals, farm routine and the English.countryside were fun. We also get a little glimpse into soap opera show biz.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- Paula Beavan
- 03-04-19
Love love love
I've loved every Carole Matthews book so far. But this one is by far the best yet. <3
-
Overall

- Vics
- 03-05-19
For teachers is a must
wow a book that any teacher of alt provison this is must!!! this catures all emotion ,stories of a every day alt provision that seems to happening to more and more children every day yet another amazing book from her
5 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mr
- 03-05-19
Brilliant escapism
Carole Matthews never fails to write an interesting book, well written and good characters. Loved it. Narration was great too!
4 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Ayling
- 03-02-19
A very, sweet, pleasing read!
An easy, uplifting, pleasant read! Funny, sad, thought provoking but leaves you with a nice feeling!
2 people found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- mrs l page
- 03-13-19
Fantastic book
Didn’t want it to end, great story. Funny with great characters. Read well. Will look for more by same author
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Little Fowler
- 03-12-19
Amazing!!!
I loved this book. A thoroughly enjoyable story with plenty of laughs and giggles. Another one of Caroles best books to add to my top 5 must reads xxx
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- lynsay g
- 03-09-19
Fantastic
This is a brilliant story, Carole Matthews at her very best. If you are a fan of an ultimately feel good book then look no further.
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Amazon Customer
- 03-03-19
Just lovely
A really lovely story from Carole Matthews. I feel her stories just keep on getting better and her story lines more varied. Loved this one about the little guy versus the big guy - it was enchanting. Just one thing Carole - teachers haven’t been able to qualify by going to college for a very long time!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Valerie Kerr
- 05-26-22
absolutely rubbish
I gave this a chance up to chapter 9 to get better its awful boring as hell.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- loopy1526
- 05-18-22
Takes too long to get into
To much time spent introducing the farm normally live Carole’s book but the main character wasted far too much time talking and introducing her farm and the animals that I gave up 😴😴
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- William
- 12-10-21
Life inspiring romantic comedy
This is romantic literature
at its best,
Characters are beautifully created and depicted. Nearly every player has a clear and fascinating arc. Even the animals.
The story starts quickly and ends magnificently.
Well it had me in unmanly tears.
Well done, Carole Matthews! Thank you!
I'm moving onto the sequel, Christmas for Beginners, immediately!
😃😃
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Mountain Queen
- 03-21-21
Lovely story
Light hearted, fun book. Life always changes. Nothing is permanent. It's what you do!
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story

- Anonymous User
- 09-05-20
easy listen
i love caroles sense of humour in her books. will listen to this one again eventually.