A review by amy_alwaysreading
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey

4.5

Many thanks to my friends at @gallerybooks and @simon.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

Harvey’s books are a mainstay for me each summer.  They give me the same kind of uplift that sitting in a rocking chair on a sundrenched front porch with a glass of sweetened iced tea in hand does.  Tinged with nostalgia and laced with charm, this southern bred reader always feels at home in KWH’s storylines.  And this newest may just be my favorite yet.  

 

Keaton’s grandparents’ home sat vacant-- wholly untouched-- for decades, ever since that fateful night Rebecca and Townsend both disappeared.  

 

Suddenly unemployed, Keaton is tasked with preparing the house for sale.  But there’s more than dust to be uncovered, and those long-buried secrets she discovers could lead to unease or catharsis.  

 

I had a sweet relationship with both of my grandmothers, so watching Keaton get to know hers in this unconventional way impacted me deeply.  As Keaton learned to love Becks, so did I! I savored every recipe, every entertaining tip, every purposeful interaction outlined in the guide she left behind.  (I need that guide!) There was a genuineness found in Becks that I adored and admired. 

 

But Rebecca wasn’t the only character I was taken with.  The small-town setting allowed for a full cast- nosy, quirky, and endearing- that I easily became smitten with.  In particular... a certain young boy and his trusty sidekick.  There’s nothing better than when a cast of characters begins to feel like family.

 

This story hit all the right notes for me, and as I closed the last pages, I felt like I’d been hugged by my grandmomma.  

 

☀️Knowing where you come from is often the key to finding a happier life.

 

➡️While the coastal town setting is lush and inviting, this book is so much more than a beach read.  It’s perfect for any time of year.  

 

🎧 Narrators Cassandra Campbell and Devon Sorvari brilliantly embodied Keaton and Becks breathing life into KWH’s words in a way that made these characters leap off the pages.  And Fred Sanders depiction of Townsend made his journal entries a warm addition.