Review: Happily Ever After by Trista Sutter

Happily Ever After

by Trista Sutter

Publisher: Da Capo Lifelong Books

Pages: 264

Format: eARC

Buy the Book: Amazon

Goodreads:  Trista Rehn was a pediatric physical therapist moonlighting as a Miami Heat dancer when she heard about casting for a new reality show—one guy getting to know twenty-five girls in the hope of finding a fiancée. As improbable and crazy as it sounded, Trista took the chance—and had her heart broken on the very first season of The Bachelor. But the next season, as the first Bachelorette, her fairy tale fell into place during a whirlwind courtship with poetry-writing firefighter Ryan Sutter and, eventually, a dream-come-true wedding on national TV.

In the midst of building a life with Ryan and raising two kids, Trista started to make a conscious effort to remember her favorite part of each day. And she’s made sure to post these thoughts, her own personal expressions of gratitude, almost every night on Twitter and Facebook—even on days she was dealing with fertility issues, a difficult pregnancy, family deaths, and other challenges that many of us face.

Sometimes it’s the smallest gestures and the most unassuming things that can have the greatest effects. Trista is often asked her secret to being one of the rare reality-TV relationships to make it to the altar and beyond. In this heartfelt book, she shares the simple yet profound keys to finding everyday happiness: gratitude and grace. From the blink-and-you’ll-miss-them moments we have with our kids, our spouses, our pets, or even strangers, to the more obvious lessons we pick up from reading the news or hearing an inspirational story, knowing how to recognize, accept, and be grateful for all of our daily blessings is truly what “happily ever after” means.

Kritters Thoughts:  Trista was the first bachelorette and is still married to the prince charming she met on the show.  This book is part memoir and life stories combined with a little self help and for me it was the perfect combination.  I enjoyed getting to know Trista and her life before, during and after the show and I really appreciated her perspective on gratitude and the different areas in one's life where extra gratitude could be a good idea.  

Each chapter took a different part of your life and she gave examples on how to add a little gratitude to improve that area of your life.  The two that made the biggest impact on me were relationships - both friendly and romantic and work.  Both giving and receiving at work are important and I don't know how to advise my boss that a little extra gratitude could be great, but I know how I can increase my giving of it at the workplace and hope that it can improve things.  

This book was published in 2013, so I wouldn't mind an update and/or another book from Trista on a completely different topic where she can share personal stories, but also teach a life lesson or two!   

I had the audio book from amazon and the ebook from Netgalley, so I was able to read this in both formats basically at the same time and I loved having Trista i my car reading me the book as I commuted.


Rating: absolutely loved it and want a sequel

Disclosure of Material Connection:  I received one copy of this book free of charge from Netgalley.  I was not required to write a positive review in exchange for receipt of the book; rather, the opinions expressed in this review are my own.