Lives intersect in unexpected and comical ways in this breezy, engrossing novel. When 77-year-old Charlotte Rainsford is mugged on a London street, her misfortune sets off a ripple effect of consequences for both loved ones and strangers. Lively infuses her motley cast of characters with a blend of pathos and sharp satire, and though How It All Began is light fare, this deftly paced novel remains compulsively readable throughout. B+