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A review by lovelymisanthrope
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.0
I selected this as a Book of the Month pick and was excited to indulge in a cozy contemporary during these colder months.
"A Quiet Life" follows three characters as they try to move on in their lives and move past their immense grief. Chuck, an elderly man, has recently lost his wife, Cat, and he is struggling to find the will to keep moving forward without her. He used to look forward to their annual trip to Hilton Head every year, but now the thought of being in their happy place without Cat is too much for him to bear. Ella is a struggling young mother who works multiple jobs to fill her time as she anxiously waits to hear any news about her missing daughter. Kirsten put her own dreams on hold following the death of her father. Now, she works in an animal shelter and is plagued with thoughts of what she wants to do next.
Despite these three characters living independent lives, with their own tragic stories, the novel feels very cohesive, and you can see how their stories and grief overlap. Every person on the planet is going through their own hardships, but we are all still human. It is our humanity that connects us, and even during the darkest of hours, it is the connection to other people that keeps us moving forward. I also really appreciated that all three characters are at three different points in life. Their differences in age and life experiences again highlights that despite differences, we are all connected.
I felt most heartbroken for Chuck, but Ella's story really kept the novel moving forward. The mystery around who took her daughter, why they kidnapped her, and where she is was just the right amount of intrigue to bring hope to this humbling story.
Hope is the big message and key takeaway for all of these characters. Life is not perfect, and we will all inevitably face hardship, but life can and does get better, if you never lose hope.
I highly recommend this story, and I am excited to pick up more from the author in the future.
"A Quiet Life" follows three characters as they try to move on in their lives and move past their immense grief. Chuck, an elderly man, has recently lost his wife, Cat, and he is struggling to find the will to keep moving forward without her. He used to look forward to their annual trip to Hilton Head every year, but now the thought of being in their happy place without Cat is too much for him to bear. Ella is a struggling young mother who works multiple jobs to fill her time as she anxiously waits to hear any news about her missing daughter. Kirsten put her own dreams on hold following the death of her father. Now, she works in an animal shelter and is plagued with thoughts of what she wants to do next.
Despite these three characters living independent lives, with their own tragic stories, the novel feels very cohesive, and you can see how their stories and grief overlap. Every person on the planet is going through their own hardships, but we are all still human. It is our humanity that connects us, and even during the darkest of hours, it is the connection to other people that keeps us moving forward. I also really appreciated that all three characters are at three different points in life. Their differences in age and life experiences again highlights that despite differences, we are all connected.
I felt most heartbroken for Chuck, but Ella's story really kept the novel moving forward. The mystery around who took her daughter, why they kidnapped her, and where she is was just the right amount of intrigue to bring hope to this humbling story.
Hope is the big message and key takeaway for all of these characters. Life is not perfect, and we will all inevitably face hardship, but life can and does get better, if you never lose hope.
I highly recommend this story, and I am excited to pick up more from the author in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Grief
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Kidnapping, and Death of parent