Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - A Quiet Life

<strong>I have a newfound appreciation for cardinals</strong>

This book creeps on you (not in a spooky or weird way) but in the soft build up of three seemingly different people who interconnect and teach us that there are multiple forms of love & heart ache. You learn that even though each character has lot someone, hope has not left them. It’s a wonderful sophomore novel and I’m looking forward to more from Mr. Joella. My only critique would be I would have liked a tiny nod of what direction Kiki takes with a certain person but minus that- this is worth the read.

Content Warnings

ulviyyask's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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karyan1's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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thenecessarysalamander's review against another edition

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hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.0

Content Warnings

astifelreads's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

A Quiet Life ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

By Ethan Joella

“Maybe that is love. Maybe loving someone so deeply means accepting the fact that they occupy a specific, clear place in you. You accept that there will be a hole if you lose them - the same way a painting or a photograph will leave its shadow on the wall after it’s gone, the way a tree will leave a crater where the roots and stump were.”

Ethan Joella does it again. After reading his ‘A Little Hope’ this was going to be an instant buy. This book follows three different individuals dealing with grief in their lives. Chuck Ayer is an older gentleman who just lost his wife to cancer and deciding how to live his life without his wife. Ella Burke’s daughter is missing and she’s just trying to hold the pieces of her life together while waiting for news. Kirsten Bonato is a young woman trying to cope with the loss of her father. She’s working at an animal rescue and has given up her dreams of being a vet while dealing with the feeling of being lost without her dad.

“Happy New Year, he thinks, because he is lost, and he hopes he finds something this year that will stop the hurting.”

Ethan Joella captured grief so beautifully and authentically in this book. By the end it had me in tears as I connected with the characters and their ups and downs so much. Having lost my mom nearly a year ago I connected to the characters quite a lot. And while this book dealt with loss and grief there was also hope in it. It was a balm to my soul as I go through my own grieving process. I would recommend this book if you’re looking for a quick read with a hopeful ending.

“Be someone’s cardinal.”

Content Warnings