Happiness for Beginners: A Novel

Helen Carpenter, newly divorced at thirty-two, feels unable to rebuild her life after it falls apart. When her younger brother Duncan persuades her to enroll in a wilderness survival course in Wyoming, she hopes the experience will help her recover. The course proves to be far more difficult than expected. Helen faces a summer blizzard, blisters, rutting elk, and a group of hostile sorority girls. She also encounters Jake, her brother's best friend, who was enrolled in the same course. His presence complicates her experience, though they eventually develop a connection. Through the hardships of the wilderness course, Helen learns resilience and discovers inner strength. The novel explores how struggle can lead to personal growth, the value of love, and the importance of seeking positive things in life.