2024 the best comedies of all time review

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A modern classic first published in 1978 that is as much a sophisticated romantic comedy about the love between two partners as it is a novel about the powerful bonds shared by family members, friends, colleagues and confidants.

"A funny, loving, celebratory book in which everything is perfect." —The Boston Globe

Guido and Vincent, best friends (and third cousins), aren’t expecting to fall head-over-heels in love, but that is exactly what happens. Guido is smitten with Holly, a dazzling young woman who chafes at the idea of complacency, while Vincent falls for Misty, a work colleague with an acerbic sense of humor who seems as uninterested in romance as she is in Vincent (at first). In the months that follow, both couples will experience the rituals of courtship, jealousy, estrangement, family entanglements, and other perils of the heart as they try to find love in spite of themselves.

Colwin is a master of portraying the messiness of life: here, in hilarious and endearing prose, she follows these two improbable pairs, and their families, as they navigate and ultimately find happiness together—not all the time, but for most of it. 

With a foreword by Katherine Heiny, author of Early Morning Riser.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage (March 23, 2010)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 213 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0307474402
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0307474407
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.15 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Reviewer: Julie
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: this beautiful story by a refreshingly talented author
Review: 20 years after reading this gem of a book, I searched Amazon and eventually found what I was as looking for; this beautiful story by a refreshingly talented author.I remember while reading this book as a 20-something and I felt like I wanted to be a character in her story. These like able characters would hang out, eat lovely meals together, while learning to navigate romantic relationships and the world. It was something I could relate to back then.When I heard the author died, it made me very sad Her writing was the equivalent of comfort food! Im glad I can order this book as a reminder of what I was going through and be nourished again by Laurie. I wish she were here to write more and nourish me through this stage of my life.Good job, Laurie!PS I will tell Amazon that your book should come up first with this title search (not advertising, give me a break Amazon)!

Reviewer: Patrice A
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Fun, quick read
Review: The characters in the book are very interesting and the story is engaging. After reading the book, the title is a bit of mystery. The book provided great discussion at our book club.

Reviewer: Jennie Reece
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Enjoyable, but...
Review: I enjoyed this novel, but it took me a while to read it. I’d often pick up something else instead. I wasn’t engrossed with the story, although the characters were interesting, I didn’t feel engaged with any of them. I did love the ending however!

Reviewer: B. Kozlowski
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: This is a very satisfying read.
Review: Sometimes you just need to get away from all the doom and gloom. This book will do it for you nicely. Loved the characters—especially Vincent.

Reviewer: TRod
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Finally!
Review: Laurie Colwin is one of my favorite authors. I am so glad her family commissioned audiobooks of her works. The narrator is wonderful and brought to life characters who have stayed with me for years.

Reviewer: Amazon Customer
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A different, compelling look at relationships
Review: A very interesting exploration of relationships between people that seem so inscrutable, uncomplicated in a complicated way, and so human. Quite fascinating. I was sad when it ended, curious to know more about how their lives played out.

Reviewer: Dora L. Davison
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title: A light, pleasant read
Review: Here we have the tale of Guido and Vincent cousins and best friends. We follow them as they finish their college years and take up their careers. One thing that these young men have in common is that they are both attracted to women who they find very inscrutable. However, the heart being the heart, each young man marries the woman of his desire. Although there are some bumps along the way for the most part life runs smoothly for these couples.I enjoy the late Colwin's writing style. She is able to give us a great sense of place. I enjoyed the description of Holly and Guido's apartment.I think that if you are looking for a well crafted novel that is more character than plot driven, this may be the book for you. If you have been reading a lot of dystopian books or nonfiction, this might be a good palate cleanser. It is a short book and a fun read.

Reviewer: Susan Nuccio
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title: Entertaining
Review: Smooth , easy reading and interesting characters. Fun NYC sophistication, but where's the plot? It feels like I'm reading a sitcom.

Reviewer: D. C. A. Price
Rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Read this when it was first published. Still brilliant.

Reviewer: peter rauhoeft
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: ,but, it is sometimes complicated to live together with another person, however love and afection helps to overcome doubts and fears and the feeling of beeing left alone, with a little bit of help from friends. Stile and expressivnes are wonderfull . Its enjoyeable reading.

Reviewer: Maria Rosa Garcia Sole
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Compré el libro después de leer una crítica. Vale la pena, a veces, hacer caso de las críticas. Es bueno

Reviewer: R. A. Cookson
Rating: 4.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: A real pleasure to read. Two couples fall in love ... and that's pretty much it. It shouldn't work, but it does. Like one of the best Woody Allen films (Annie Hall, Hannah and Her Sisters) minus the angst. A simple joy

Reviewer: SusannahB
Rating: 3.0 out of 5 stars
Title:
Review: Laurie Colvin's 'Happy all the Time' focuses on Guido and Vincent, childhood friends and third cousins, who both have a happy start in life and would very much like life to continue that way. And, in many ways, their lives do turn out they way they want - although not without a couple of hiccups along the way. And that is pretty much what this story is about - there is no real plot as such, no cliffhangers, nothing to tax or unsettle the reader, just a very pleasant story of two men who find, by chance, two women (Holly and Misty) they fall utterly in love with and both of whom are unsure what these women really feel about them. And gradually, as time passes, both men, who have fallen in love with very different women - although there is a similarity in that their partners do not reveal their innermost feelings and it is not easy for Guido or Vincent to be sure whether their love is returned in quite the same way - learn more about the women they have fallen in love with and what it is to be happy.First published in 1978, this is a well written, enjoyable and, in places, a rather funny story which makes for an entertaining, feel-good read; however, the blurb on my copy says "endless surprises" and "lingers...in the memory", and I'm afraid I can't fully agree with that because although I enjoyed the story and I particularly enjoyed reading about Guido and Holly's 'perfect' life and, overall, this made a really nice, easy downtime read, there was not enough here for me to become as caught up in the characters' lives as I would have liked and, writing this review a few days after having finished the book, I'm finding it a little difficult to articulate exactly what it was about the story that I enjoyed. So, a very pleasant and undemanding read - but, due to my resolution to keep only books that I know I will read again, this is not one I'm likely to return to my bookshelves.3 Stars.