Lessons in Laughing Out Loud
Read Lessons in Laughing Out Loud Online
Authors: Rowan Coleman
“Coleman displays her usual charm and wit as she creates genuine characters and explores love, life, and sisterhood.”
—BOOKLIST
ON
THE HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP HIDING—AND START LIVING?
W
illow Briars only has to glance at her identical twin sister, Holly—slim, happy, married with two beautiful children—to see how her life might have turned out differently. The divorced Willow, who works at a London talent agency, has all the outward trappings of success, yet her dissatisfaction is growing along with her dress size. Add in a long-term, fruitless crush on her friend Daniel, and Willow has started to feel invisible.
Then she buys a mysterious pair of vintage shoes that make her feel sexy, daring, more confident. Since she’s also babysitting a disgraced starlet and caring for the ex-stepdaughter who just landed on her doorstep, her life is suddenly full. Willow must reevaluate everything she once believed about love, heartache, and her own worth. But can she learn how to stop running from her past and embrace whatever her future may hold?
This heartfelt, uplifting novel is a story of courage, second chances, and learning how a thousand small pleasures—shared laughter, beautiful shoes, an unexpected kiss—can make all the difference in the world.
FEATURING A GALLERY READERS GROUP GUIDE
ROWAN COLEMAN
is the author of
The Accidental Mother,
which became a bestseller in the United States and Great Britain, and its sequel,
The Accidental Family; Another Mother’s Life,
which was named an Indie Next Notable Book; and
Mommy by Mistake
. Her most recent book was the well-received
The Home for Broken Hearts
. She lives with her husband, daughter, and son in England.
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COVER DESIGN BY ANNA DORFMAN • COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY AKIKO KAWANA/GETTY IMAGES
Praise for Rowan Coleman’s novels
The Home for Broken Hearts
“A mature, thoughtful story. . . engaging. . . .”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Touching.”
—
The Guardian
(U.K.)
The Accidental Family
“Winning . . . turns up the heat on Coleman’s trademark romantic humor.”
—
Booklist
“A tale of romance and love that is fast-paced and sure to keep you speculating.”
—Fresh Fiction
Mommy by Mistake
“Entertaining . . . will have readers laughing and crying.”
—
Booklist
The Accidental Mother
“Fun, poignant.”
—
OK!
magazine
“A disarmingly sweet tale of motherhood and reluctant love.”
—
Publishers Weekly
“Witty and endearing characters . . . an exceptional and touching read.”
—
Booklist
All of Rowan Coleman’s novels are also available as eBooks
Also by Rowan Coleman
The Home for Broken Hearts
The Accidental Family
Mommy by Mistake
Another Mother’s Life
The Accidental Mother
Gallery Books
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1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Rowan Coleman
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Gallery Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.
First Gallery Books trade paperback edition March 2012
GALLERY BOOKS and colophon are trademarks of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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.
Designed by Kate Moll
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Coleman, Rowan.
Lessons in laughing out loud / Rowan Coleman.—1st Gallery Books trade pbk. ed.
p. cm.
1. Twins—Fiction. 2. Sisters—Fiction. 3. Overweight women—Fiction.
4. Family secrets—Fiction. 5. Domestic fiction. I. Title.
PR6103.04426L47 2011
823’.92—dc22
2011030578
ISBN 978-1-4516-0641-6
ISBN 978-1-4516-0644-7 (eBook)
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Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
A Gallery Readers Group Guide
Lessons in
Laughing Out Loud
Chapter
One
T
here are moments in every person’s life when something as simple as a wrong turn, an impulsive decision or a door softly drawing to a close can change everything forever. Moments that are impossible to turn back from—that, if you aren’t very careful, can shape the rest of your life. Willow Briars knew this better than anyone.