Think You'll Be Happy Format: Paperback

USA TODAY BESTSELLER

An intimate and uplifting story of one family’s journey from tragedy to triumph, inspiring readers to transform life’s obstacles into opportunities for growth and change.

"Nicole Avant gives a raw and courageous look into how she found the light in her darkest moment. She reminds us that grief is different for everyone, and we have the power to move through it in our own unique way." —Cleo Wade, New York Times bestselling author

"A love song to a great woman told through the eyes of the great woman she created." —Tyler Perry

Nicole Avant—diplomat, philanthropist, filmmaker—shares her deeply personal journey of resilience and legacy. Raised in a vibrant home where artists, politicians, and business leaders gathered, Nicole's extraordinary upbringing shaped her into a force for positive change.

Her parents—entertainment mogul Clarence Avant and philanthropist Jacqueline Avant—turned their home into a place of refuge and inspiration for a generation of geniuses, from Ella Fitzgerald to Bill Withers to Quincy Jones. This foundation guided Nicole through a trailblazing career in music, diplomacy, and film. Then, an unthinkable tragedy struck: her mother was fatally shot in December 2021.

In this powerful memoir, Nicole transforms grief into a catalyst for profound personal growth and a renewed commitment to service. Think You'll Be Happy—her mother's final words—becomes a mantra for resilience, guiding readers toward hope, purpose, and positive change, even in life's darkest moments.

Nicole Avant is a philanthropist, businesswoman, filmmaker, and former diplomat. After a career in entertainment and political fundraising, she served as the United States Ambassador to the Bahamas under President Obama. She has produced the critically acclaimed films The Black Godfather and Trees of Peace, and Six Triple Eight, a Tyler Perry movie about the all-female, all-Black battalion in World War II. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Ted, and their dogs.