A review by readingwithtrey
A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

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
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