I LOVED THIS BOOK!! After reading Kristy’s Peachtree Bluff series and this book, I would love to go to Beaufort. It seems like the greatest coastal town! Keaton’s life in NYC has just been torn apart and she is heading to her grandparents’ house in Beaufort, NC to get it ready to sell. Her mother and uncle haven’t been back to the house since their parents died decades ago. Keaton has no idea what she is getting into, but she can make a to do list and accomplish anything. It would be a boring story if things go exactly as planned and this is NOT a boring story. The story is narrated by Keaton and her grandmother Becks. Keaton learns so much about her grandmother and grandfather, her mother, and herself as she prepares the house for its next owner. I loved the advice, traditions, and point of view Becks shares with us and how Keaton embraces it all. There were parts that made me tear up and parts that made my heart swell for the Saint James family. Kristy Woodson Harvey, you have written another fantastic book! Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 STARS

A Happier Life was absolutely impossible to put down! The characters were so well-crafted and relatable, each with their own unique depth and charm. The story kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I loved every moment of it and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read!

I loved the characters and the setting in this book! I liked how I felt I was in the house with its perfect descriptions from the 1960s. The dog named Salt was a great addition and this was a book I looked forward to picking up and getting back to the characters stories!

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a heartwarming and inspiring novel about self-discovery, healing, and embracing change. The story follows main character Kate, who finds herself at a crossroads in life and sets out on a journey to reinvent herself and find true happiness. As she navigates personal challenges and relationships, the novel emphasizes the importance of resilience and finding joy in the simple things. With relatable characters, uplifting messages, and an emotional yet hopeful narrative, this book is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy stories about personal growth and new beginnings.

Kristy Woodson Harvey takes us on a healing journey from New York City to Beaufort, SC. We meet Keaton as her life is imploding in NYC as her mother and Uncle come to decide it's time to deal with their childhood home.

With the upheaval of her life, we follow as Keaton discovers a side of her family she never knew and discovers a life she didn't know was an option.

This is a beautifully written story that leaves you hopeful that life changes can be for the better.

If you want all a little mystery with all the feels, run and grab this book!

A perfect beach read! I always enjoy Kristy Woodson Harvey's book, and this was no exception!! Highly recommend.

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey was a fascinating novel from start to finish. This novel kept my attention and I literally could not put it down. There was just the right balance of suspense and nostalgia and ancestry— this book was masterfully planned and written. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to reading many more. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

If I could give this book more than five stars I would. It gave me all the feels and even made me emotional at times. It had the most realistic characters and I never wanted the book to end!

“There's a place that I know, it has called out to me, where the sea meets the sky, and the sky meets the sea."

Present- We meet Keaton, she’s a young woman who is searching for a new beginning sin e her life in New York basically collapsed around her. But when her mother and uncle inform her about a house at the beach that they grew up in in Beaufort North Carolina, Keaton wonders how she was never told about this house. They want her to clean it and get it ready to put on the market. Keaton never met her grandparents because they died in a tragic accident 50 years earlier. Their bodies were never found and Keaton’s mom abandoned the home, so it’s still sits as it was left a time capsule from the 70’s. When Keaton arrives She gets to know her charming next-door neighbor, and his precocious ten-year-old son, along with a group of woman who had been friends with her grandmother. As she goes through the home she realizes it holds secrets, secrets that may hold the key to what happened that fateful night.

1976: Rebecca “Becks” Saint James, Keatons grandmother we follow her as she meets Townsend her husband, as she becomes one of the the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend. Behind this facade this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make.
Both woman different times face challenges in their lives while living at Sunset Lanes and this summer will be different and be prepared to cry!!

Kristy Woodson Harvey has proven herself once again. Loveable characters, great character development, and a setting that makes you yearn for small town traditions! Treat yourself!

Told in dual timelines evolving the same family we see how one family has secrets, hopes and dreams and one home. This book was good showing us how things change overtime, but the route situations tend to stay the same.

If you're looking for an easy summer/beach read look no further. This book tells the story of family, love and takes you on a journey of self discovery. I really enjoyed the ease with which this story unfolded and I know other readers will too.

This book is my favorite that author Kristy Woodson Harvey has written. It is set in Beaufort, NC and encompasses her love for the historic seaside town and the people who live there. Rebecca Saint James, one of the protagonists and the town’s preeminent hostess, reflects the town’s past. Her granddaughter, Keaton Smith, delightfully intermingles the past and present of her family and town. I highly recommend this book!

Oh, how I dreaded the end of this captivating book by Kristy Woodson Harvey. (We wouldn’t expect anything less from her, would we?) It’s a heartwarming tale of Keaton Smith’s life spiraling out of control. Her job, her relationship, her apartment, and her volunteering—all are falling apart. But that’s the present.

The story also takes us back to 1976, when Rebecca “Becks” Saint James was the epitome of hospitality in North Carolina. However, Becks’s life is about to take a dramatic turn.

Becks was Keaton’s grandmother, who passed away long before Keaton was born. Years ago, a mysterious event occurred that remained hidden from Keaton. When Keaton’s mother asks her to prepare her grandparents’ house for sale, it becomes a daunting task. The house has been abandoned for decades, and Keaton is hesitant to take on the responsibility.

But this might just be the opportunity Keaton needs to uncover the secrets of her grandparents’ past.

While Keaton is in North Carolina, she is thinking about what she will do next in life. Meanwhile, Becks’s story unfolds, revealing her own life and the choices she made. Despite their different paths, the two stories are connected in a way that provides answered that have long been hidden. Dreams and hope intertwine, and the circle of love and connection is complete. This wonderful story came to an even more wonderful ending.

Many thanks to Gallery Books and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This was a very enjoyable story. I enjoyed the authors writing style and character development. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

The way I squeal every time I read a Kristy Woodson Harvey book. Since I first read the Peachtree Bluff series a few years ago, I look forward to reading her books and savoring them for the perfect beach read each year. I just love the coastal settings, love stories, and all the summer vibes each book brings!

In A Happier Life, the story takes the reader to the historic and small coastal town of Beaufort, North Carolina, which I’ve had the chance to visit before. It was so fun to get swept away into Keaton and Beck’s stories.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-multi-generational family
-small coastal town
-romance and women’s fiction
-dual timelines; present day and summer of 1976

🎧The audio performance was great, and I was delighted to find it narrated by a full cast, including Cassandra Campbell, Devon Sorvari, and Fred Saunders.

*many thanks to Gallery Books and Simon audio, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Forgot to send this review in!

This was such a good feel good summer read! This was my first book by the author but won’t be the last. Just got the cover reveal for the next book

I always count down until I can read the next KWH book and ran to read A Happier Life the second I got my hands on it.

Synopsis: After a work disaster, Keaton is in need of a fresh start. She leaves NYC behind and ends up in Beaufort, North Carolina to help put her late grandparent’s house on the market. In the past, we learn about Keaton’s grandmother Becks from her POV and the years leading up to her and her husband’s deaths.

What I loved:
- I always love multigenerational stories and the way KWH weaved together Keaton and Beck’s stories was perfect
-KWH did a great job describing the small NC town, making me feel like I was part of the historic community
-The blend of women’s fiction and romance with a tiny bit of history
-The single dad trope with Keaton’s love interest and his amazing kid!!
-All the townspeople and how they went out of their way to help Keaton while she was putting the house on the market
-The theme of finding where you belong
-How this story was full of so much depth

I love the dual timeline of this story. It was fun to switch from Keaton to Becks and back. I felt like the house was it's own character with both women having history and discovering the history of each other.

The pacing was slower and I had a hard time staying in the story. There also wasn't as much character development in this book as there typically is in Kristy's books. I did love the tribute to her hometown and seeing the cuteness and charm. I did enjoy the recipes in the book though! That was super fun!

A Happier Life by @kristywharvey is a captivating story that effortlessly pulls you in, blending the past and present in a way that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Listening to the audiobook was an incredible experience, thanks to the narrators’ amazing talent in bringing each character to life.

Harvey’s knack for describing her characters makes them feel like real people you might know. Each character is so well-crafted and relatable that you find yourself deeply invested in their lives and stories. The narrators capture these nuances perfectly, making the emotions and personalities of each character stand out.

One of the things I loved most about this book is how smoothly she transitions between different timelines. The way she weaves together past events with the present-day story adds depth and richness, helping you understand the characters on a deeper level. It never feels confusing or jarring – just a beautifully seamless flow.

A line that really struck me was, “Only the truly lucky are given the gift of dying from a broken heart.” This quote captures the emotional intensity of the story and Harvey’s ability to touch on deep, universal truths in such a poignant way. Several times while reading, I was moved to tears.

Overall, A Happier Life is a fantastic read (or listen!). The audiobook narration is top-notch, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to an already great story. Kristy has created a novel that’s both heartwarming and thought-provoking, leaving a lasting impression long after you’ve finished it.

Really like this one a lot, although I enjoyed the past timeline better than the present day. Sometimes I wished we'd been given more action-- much seemed to take place off page, which took me out of the story a bit. The middle wasn't quite as snappy as the beginning and the end, but overall it was an enjoyable family drama with great writing. Looking forward to this author's next work!