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Run date for when the review will be posted/published: 6/17/24
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Review: Ammalie recently lost her husband, job, and role as a mother which leaves her wondering about her purpose in life. She takes three house keys that she & her husband accidentally collected over the years and goes on a squatter's adventure as she re-orients to what comes next in life.

This book was funny, quirky, and quick to read! I loved the writing style & being in Ammalie's perspective. I'm drawn to stories of adventure and this was one that was full of heart. A coming-of-middle-age story that's good for readers of any age, this really captivated me & made me giggle at several points

Late mid life crisis? Hit the road and let the adventure begin. Ammalie is the likable and relatable main character who has three keys and three destinations. Her deceased husband plays a part in her selection. She meets some interesting characters along the way and gets to know herself. A timely character for me to root for. The setting descriptions evoke feelings of wanderlust. This is my first read of this author and I look forward to her work.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

We jumped straight into the plot which was a bit abrupt, rather than giving a bit of background and easing into the story which I didn’t love. The overall story was enjoyable and I can see why others would love this one, but nothing stood out to me to make this a 4 or 5 star. I did enjoy it and would recommend, it just isn’t a favorite of mine!

Three Keys is an interesting story of Ammalie searching for purpose after the death of her husband. She also lost her job and her son in college has distanced himself from her leaving her feeling lost. She packs up her car and heads west for an adventure. She starts with visiting a place she and her husband, Vincent, had visited then moved on to two places he had been without her, first Arizona and then New
Zealand. She stays in places Vincent had stayed, without the owners knowledge.
The story was interesting and her struggles realistic. The way she goes about reaching her goals is a bit unethical and can be hurtful to others at times. I also felt the story dragged at tines but I’m glad I
finished reading it. It has a wonderful, healing ending.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this book. All thoughts are my own.

First of all, I absolutely love this cover!! The book I didn’t enjoy as much. I think it may resonate with a reader who is in the same stage of life as the main character, whereas I have a ways to go before then. I liked the general idea of the 3 keys, but sometimes it felt confusing because I didn’t know what she was talking about or it just seemed so random that I wish the author gave a little more of an explanation. I was also just a bit bored because I couldn’t relate to any of it.

I would recommend this to a reader in the same stage of life, but not really to somebody in their 20s.

Ammalie is a women of a certain age who is starting over in life. Her husband has died right before she left him, her child off to join the world. She decides to find out who she is on her own she goes on wonderful adventures. Her travels are fraught with problems, a abused stray dog who needs her to save him and laughs along the way. Her misadventures and her adventures are full of joy, heartache for her past life and the thrill of finding out who she truly is. I cheered for her bravado, for her accomplishments and for her growth as a person. A wonderful read .

Thank you to Net Galley, to the publisher and to the author for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

I requested to read and review this book for free from Dell an Imprint of Random House. This story is about life, adventure, realism, truth and growth. When a family member you were very close to dies. What does it mean for a loved one left behind? How do they cope and move on. And when they move on how to know its ok. In this story you meet Ammalie will face these questions and more. How to start a new life, can wrongs be rewritten? How do you know what life is the life you truly want? And to know it's ok to find out who you really are as you not someone husband or parent. This book is for a mature audience and can be read anywhere.

I wanted to love this books. At times I liked it. Occasionally it was really inspiring. But mostly it was hard for me to follow? It felt really jumbled. I didn't understand most of Ammalie's choices and honestly, if a friend was doing the things she did, I would be staging an intervention STAT. Still, there were moments of beauty, and a quirkiness that could be enjoyable. I liked her growth.

All I can say is what a great read. All the feels. Laugh, Cry, Cheering with a ending that brings everything together. Love this read and if I can convince others to pick this up they will not regret it.

Three Keys tells the story of a woman in her 50s who goes off on a grand adventure after her husband dies. We learn that she had been planning to leave her husband, so his death leaves her with a lot of complex feelings. She takes her own 'heroine's journey' to work through her grief and guilt, and ends up finding herself along the way. I was afraid this might be a bit light for my tastes, but the writing and story were much more interesting than I expected. I was delighted to read a book about a middle-aged woman my own age and could relate to a lot of the issues brought up in the book. I found that I didn't want to put this down. I recommend it!

The second act of life, as it's sometimes called, can be more than challenging. Setting out to redefine who she is in middle age without a husband, child, or job, Ammalie is in for more than adventure.

You'll enjoy this tale of discovery, mishaps and danger, surprises and cautions. A likable character, a complex plot, and a satisfying story. What's not to love?

An interesting story of self discovery and soul-searching. Ammalie's journey was amazing and full of adventure. I enjoyed it tremendously.

Oh how I related to Ammalie. I just wish I had the courage to let myself find myself. I wish she and Richard would have reconnected, but the letter gave some closure to their story. Over all, great women's fiction and I will recommend this book to friends.

A compelling exploration of middle-age crisis and self-discovery, framed within an unconventional narrative of adventure and criminal antics.

Ammalie Brinks is dealing with losing her husband, job, and her role as a mom as her son goes off to college. Suddenly finding herself in middle age, she feels lost and invisible. But then she discovers three old keys from her past and decides to embark on an international journey to find herself.

From Nebraska to far-off places, Ammalie’s adventure is filled with unexpected challenges, including some hilarious criminal antics. Turns out, middle age invisibility can be a superpower when you’re reinventing yourself!

“Three Keys” is a heartwarming and thought-provoking read that resonates with anyone who has ever faced the daunting task of rebuilding their life. It is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the boundless potential for growth at any stage of life. Laura Pritchett has crafted a story that is as entertaining as it is inspiring, making “Three Keys” a must-read for those seeking a narrative that beautifully intertwines self-discovery with adventure.

A touching, funny, and inspiring story about finding purpose and embracing the bold, new you. Highly recommend!

This sounded as if written for me but I struggled to get through it. I was not a fan of the writing and felt the character was wooden and lacking development. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher

Unexpected and thought provoking book. The overriding theme surrounds searching for your identity when everything you’ve always identified yourself as is gone. The underlying theme is just as important to the story. Helping others whether human, animal, or plant. Letting go of the past to step into an unknown future is what the protagonist does, sometimes with humor, sometimes with trepidation, but always seeking who she will become.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

I went into this not really knowing what it was about. I related to the MC since i am about the same age and i thoroughly enjoyed her journey.

Ammalie has lost her husband, her job and her role as mom now that her son is college aged. Feeling completely unmoored she sets off across the country, taking her cue from NomadLand, with three keys that tie her to her husband and their history together. She's out to find a new her, the her she wishes had been stronger in her marriage and in parenting her son. Her adventures take her places she never thought she'd see and may not survive but she presses on to find her happier ending.

It's not often that a book resonates so deeply, connecting readers with a character or story in a profound way. Ammalie stands out as a character because of her imperfections - she embodies secrets, flaws, unconventional thoughts, and a kind heart. Her quirky and caring nature, mixed with moments of eccentricity, makes her incredibly relatable. As we strive to make the right decisions and navigate life, sometimes we just need to push past our barriers and take action. Joining Ammalie on her journey of self-discovery, meeting various characters along the way, was a delightful experience.

This heartfelt and adventurous tale brims with soul-searching moments, making it a truly enjoyable read. I look forward to exploring more works by this author.

I express my gratitude to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group for the ARC!

This is one of those unexpected books where there's never a dull moment.

Ammalie was a one-of-a-kind middle-aged woman who could be loving one minute and disrespectful the next which followed the mixed relationship she had with her late husband, Vincent. She was the wife that did everything right but also had a feeling of being alone, irritated and resentful.

A year or so after he died of a heart attack with her son away in college, Ammalie wanted to prove to herself that she was strong and could handle a certain type of independence. She found three keys from trips her husband took years ago and decided to take these to unlock adventures that would give her closure in their life together.

She went from the high-paced, busy city of Chicago to low-traveled areas of the mountains, desert and ocean and opened up places with the keys that gave her a new perspective to her life. She met friendly folks along the way and did some mischievous things like minor acts of theft, break-ins and lies.

Nevertheless, I found the book to be fascinating and frustrating with this character. One minute, I liked her; the next minute, I didn’t. Ammalie acted like she was poor in order to get what she wanted but it wasn’t always the case as shown in her travels. She made up stories that weren’t true and justified taking things. However, it was an easy fictitious book to read with the idea of a woman who had lost her husband and needed to find herself.

The book also included parts on climate change and how the earth needs great care. Because of this book, I ordered water purification tablets and thought about buying another first aid kit for the car. There were some key issues that made me think about in this story about survival and what is good for the planet.

My thanks to Dell and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date on July 16, 2024.