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reading_and_roaming20's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
When I picked up ETHAN JOELLA’S first novel, A LITTLE HOPE, I knew little about it and was pleasantly surprised by the five star read. This time, it was not a surprise. The moment this book was announced, I knew I would love it. (Please never stop writing, @joellawriting. I will read it all!)
This is the type of book you want to cozy up with and slowly meander through. It is a tender story of love, loss, grief and hope with characters that felt so very real. JOELLA has a beautiful way of writing that gives a sense of calm while also tugging on your heartstrings.
The journey Chuck, Ella and Kirsten each took to work through their heartbreak and healing was raw and real. I was moved by their growth, though reaching the conclusion was a double edged sword. The outcome was beautiful, but I didn’t want it to end. I was so sad to have to leave these characters behind when I ran out of pages.
Oftentimes when I read a five-star a book, my review gets a little crazed. This time around, I can’t help but try to mimic the gentle atmosphere of A QUIET LIFE, so I find there’s not much more I can say to express my affection for it.
If you loved books like SIGNAL FIRES, THE READING LIST or WHAT COMES AFTER, this is an absolute must. (As is A LITTLE HOPE.) I’d also highly recommend JOELLA’S work to fans of FREDRIK BACKMAN. I know it won’t let you down.
This is the type of book you want to cozy up with and slowly meander through. It is a tender story of love, loss, grief and hope with characters that felt so very real. JOELLA has a beautiful way of writing that gives a sense of calm while also tugging on your heartstrings.
The journey Chuck, Ella and Kirsten each took to work through their heartbreak and healing was raw and real. I was moved by their growth, though reaching the conclusion was a double edged sword. The outcome was beautiful, but I didn’t want it to end. I was so sad to have to leave these characters behind when I ran out of pages.
Oftentimes when I read a five-star a book, my review gets a little crazed. This time around, I can’t help but try to mimic the gentle atmosphere of A QUIET LIFE, so I find there’s not much more I can say to express my affection for it.
If you loved books like SIGNAL FIRES, THE READING LIST or WHAT COMES AFTER, this is an absolute must. (As is A LITTLE HOPE.) I’d also highly recommend JOELLA’S work to fans of FREDRIK BACKMAN. I know it won’t let you down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence
mrsboomreads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This was the absolute best choice to bridge last year and 2023. An absolutely beautiful story about how love and loss shapes us, and the power of human connection. Read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Death of parent
caseys_chapters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
4.5
Ethan Joella did it again with another moving, tender story. Thank you @scribnerbooks for the gifted copy of A Quiet Life.
Similar to Joella’s last novel (and @readwithjenna pick) A Little Hope, A Quiet Life rotates the POVs of intersecting characters. Both deliver on feels, but I enjoyed how A Quiet Life takes a closer look at fewer characters.
First there’s Chuck, an older man grieving the recent loss of his wife and debating if he will take their annual trip without her. Then there’s Ella, who is determined to find her missing daughter. Last but not least is Kristen, mourning the tragic loss of her father and hoping for clarity in her love life.
Grief and healing from painful experiences are the core of the story. More detailed content warnings are listed at the bottom.
I cried by page four (a personal record), over a moment that reminded me of my grandparents. Joella does a fantastic job showing the little moments of tremendous emotion that come with loss.
I wish the characters overlapped more substantively, but getting to know them separately first made their eventual connections more touching. I also wish we got to see further development of a specific relationship.
Please be mindful of the content, but I would recommend A Quiet Life if you’re looking for a deeply human tearjerker.
Similar to Joella’s last novel (and @readwithjenna pick) A Little Hope, A Quiet Life rotates the POVs of intersecting characters. Both deliver on feels, but I enjoyed how A Quiet Life takes a closer look at fewer characters.
First there’s Chuck, an older man grieving the recent loss of his wife and debating if he will take their annual trip without her. Then there’s Ella, who is determined to find her missing daughter. Last but not least is Kristen, mourning the tragic loss of her father and hoping for clarity in her love life.
Grief and healing from painful experiences are the core of the story. More detailed content warnings are listed at the bottom.
I cried by page four (a personal record), over a moment that reminded me of my grandparents. Joella does a fantastic job showing the little moments of tremendous emotion that come with loss.
I wish the characters overlapped more substantively, but getting to know them separately first made their eventual connections more touching. I also wish we got to see further development of a specific relationship.
Please be mindful of the content, but I would recommend A Quiet Life if you’re looking for a deeply human tearjerker.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
deagaric's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"Cardinals are the most special birds because they kept us company in winter when the other birds leave [...] Be someone's cardinal."
Heartwarming story about processing grief from the perspective of three main characters. We are introduced to an elderly man who loses his wife to cancer and struggles to deal with regrets of unresolved arguments, a young woman who unexpectedly loses her father during an armed robbery and is trying to make sense of the unexplainable tragedy, and a mother of a kidnapped child who is trying to remain under chaotic circumstances.
Joella captures the multifaceted aspects of grief, loss, and loneliness, and leaves the reader with a sense of hope by the end. Very character-driven plot with plenty of character development throughout. Also, remarkably short book even for 304 pages (there are blank pages between many of the chapters). Quick, comfy read for winter.
Heartwarming story about processing grief from the perspective of three main characters. We are introduced to an elderly man who loses his wife to cancer and struggles to deal with regrets of unresolved arguments, a young woman who unexpectedly loses her father during an armed robbery and is trying to make sense of the unexplainable tragedy, and a mother of a kidnapped child who is trying to remain under chaotic circumstances.
Joella captures the multifaceted aspects of grief, loss, and loneliness, and leaves the reader with a sense of hope by the end. Very character-driven plot with plenty of character development throughout. Also, remarkably short book even for 304 pages (there are blank pages between many of the chapters). Quick, comfy read for winter.
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Death of parent, and Murder
readingwithtrey's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Book Review || A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
A Quiet Life follows 3 main characters as they navigate through loss and grief. Chuck has lost his wife to cancer and seems to be at a standstill of what to do next. After her father dies unexpectedly, Kirsten can’t seem to make herself move forward in her life. One day a few months back, Ella’s ex-husband picked their daughter up early from school and no one has seen or heard from them since. All of the stories intertwine with each other and create a unique, vulnerable, and hopeful view of what it’s like to live with and through loss and grief.
This one is a pretty quick read. The chapters are short with the total book being just under 300 pages. Novels with multiple story lines and MCs can get muddled pretty quickly, but Joella does an excellent job of carefully weaving the stories so that they don’t get confusing. Each chapter gave us just enough story and background so that we got what was happening but are able to keep each storyline separate. I’m not sure if it was intentional, but I felt that the short chapters along with the perfect amount of detail in each, really set apart each MC. I felt like I really got to know Chuck, Kirsten, and Ella in their own light and in turn, this made each of them feel so real. I personally love when I feel invested in the lives of main characters.
It’s hard to choose a favorite character as I felt that I could relate to a small part of each one. When you unexpectedly lose a loved one that was such a big part of your life, that loss and grief can feel crushing and overwhelming. It almost feels hard to catch your breath and the thought of moving forward feels daunting. Ella’s situation is every mother’s nightmare and my heart truly broke for her. I don’t want to say too much about how each story ends. But know that this is one of those profound reads that definitely stays with you after finishing. It was absolutely beautiful.
5/5 stars
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer, Gun violence, and Kidnapping
cassiereadsbooks_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Kidnapping, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence and Murder
ems_rxlibrary's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Cursing