Pieces of Happiness

Ostby’s compassionate and uplifting debut novel is an examination of the intricacies of friendship, the power of freedom, and the potential of inspiration. Kat, owner of a cocoa farm in Fiji, reconnects with her old high school girlfriends by offering them a tempting opportunity: leave their homes in Norway and live together in paradise. The thought of uprooting all they’ve ever known is daunting, but with minimal hesitation, Sina, Ingrid, Lisbeth, and Maya, all in their 60s, soon land on Fijian soil. Each has a defining problem: Sina has a parasitic son, Lisbeth is shackled to a not-so-idyllic marriage, Ingrid has always suppressed her adventurous spirit, Kat wrestles with the fact that the situation with her longtime partner is no longer sustainable, and Maya faces a progressive illness. But together, the friends bloom with confidence and are reinvigorated by the bonds of friendship and the prospect of a successful business endeavor—chocolate making. Finding strength and comfort in one another, the women rediscover the gift of friendship and the blessing of independence. The cast of rich and textured characters drives home the hopeful themes of love and companionship. (Aug.)