Secrets of Happy Families Book Review, Tour, and Giveaway (Litfuse)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of The Secrets of Happy Families in exchange for honest review from Litfuse. Part of the copy was provided by Litfuse. All opinions in the review are my own. 

Why I wanted to read the book:

I wanted to read the book because I wanted to have a happy family. I love my brats, but some days, they can stress me out. Even now, Kalen just woke up from a nap, while Brad refuses to go to sleep, knowing he has school in the morning. In the other news, my great aunt died yesterday. She was 64 years old. Her health was failing for years. The house has been a meeting point for relatives, old and new today. I am also waiting once again for divorce papers. I hoped when we got married, we would not be in the same boat as my parents. They was married 20 years, but was separated for most of the time. My mother and father finally divorced in 2004. I am in the same boat. I have been separated longer than I been married. If we stayed together, our 14 year anniversary would have been yesterday. I was hoping to be divorced before the 14 year mark.

Our family has a plenty of single parents. My great uncle is married. The rest of my great aunts and uncles are single parents. My uncles never been married and don't have biological kids. My sisters never been married. I have some cousins, who are married, but not many. Plenty of single parents. Plenty of divorces. A few spouses have died.

My Review:

The book teaches about families, no matter the dynamics. Whether you married, single, or divorced. kids or no kids. Christian, Atheist, or Catholic. No matter the type, families need to find happiness. I was hooked on the book during the first chapter. Feiler discussed a typical family, The Starrs,  doing typical things, except the father had Aspergers and two of the kids had Aspergers and ADHD. My oldest son has Autism and ADHD. My youngest has a global development delay and a possible heart condition. Raising special needs kids is hard work.

The book made me consider what could I do to make my family happier. I could give Brad an extra treat to calm him down, even if it's midnight and he has school in the morning. I could be nicer to relatives, even when I am in a bad mood. I definitely need to stop yelling when I am upset, especially at the kids, no matter whose kids they are. I can teach Brad how to clean up the bathroom, when he makes a mess. I can let Kalen play with an app on my Kindle Fire, despite him cracking my Kindle DX, a week after I got it.

The book asked a powerful question, presented by the Starrs: What can I do to improve my family this week? What can I change to be happy versus angry. I can also ask what went right and what went wrong this week?

Other things I liked:

1. Having a family dinner isn't about the food, but family. 
2. Learning about your family's background is important. 

About the book:

In The Secrets of Happy Families, New York Times bestselling author Bruce Feiler has drawn up a blueprint for modern families — a new approach to family dynamics, inspired by cutting-edge techniques gathered from experts in the disciplines of science, business, sports, and the military. Written in a charming, accessible style, The Secrets of Happy Families is smart, funny, and fresh, and will forever change how your family lives every day.


Bruce is celebrating the release of his book with a family fun "Happy Family" Kindle HDX giveaway.

One winner will receive:

• A brand new Kindle Fire HDX
• The Secrets of Happy Families by Bruce Feiler

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 15th. Winner will be announced February 17th on the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by the Litfuse blog on the 17th to see if you won.