The Cornerstones of Happiness

LOCAL AUTHOR

I don’t think I’ve read a book quite like The Cornerstones of Happiness. The story of guidance and self-destruction revolves around twenty-six-year-old Lindsey, a former stripper and current seeker of happiness. Lindsey has some baggage from birth and her past that she carries throughout her life, unsure of how to let it go. The theme of abandonment is strong throughout the story.

Lindsey is now an adult living on her own in New York with three roommates. Through a plethora of self-help books, she has discovered the common factor between them all—the four cornerstones of happiness. Because of her past decisions, she is needing to feel “right” again, and not become absorbed in the aftereffects of her past trauma. She thinks she has it figured out: she quits her live-in nanny job and rediscovers an assumed lost co-worker while shopping for a new bed. They rekindle an old connection, Lindsey obtains a new job, and she is on the verge of living out the cornerstones of happiness. This is the seemingly sweet first half of the book.

The second half is when things get a little crazy. Drugs, sex, control, punishment, and the desire for forgiveness are themes seen throughout this half. Lindsey’s life choices become questionable, and it won’t be uncommon for the reader to experience bewilderment over what is happening. Questions like, “will Lindsey make it out of this?!” and “why?! were going through this reader’s mind. The character’s true colors show with a surprise ending that evokes mixed feelings.

I appreciated the educational aspect of this book. When Lindsey is aware of her problems; she conducts research and presents her findings to her audience. Facts about mental health are prevalent throughout the book, which makes this story applicable to a diverse audience. The correlation between mental health and drug use is eye-opening. The way that the author described Lindsey’s highs and lows are descriptive. Everything in the story, including her various relationships, is descriptive and has a way of pulling the reader into the text. While reading about Lindsey’s life, I felt all of the feels. I even noticed myself feeling disappointed and proud of her, much like a parent reading about their child. This is very much a coming-of-age story for a girl with no proper upbringing, who ends up, after a long, hard road, discovering herself. In the process, her audience learns the key goals to strive for happy lives for themselves.