This book was not immediately drawing me in and I did not care for the main character, Josie. She did grow on me when she went to Happy Harbor, but some of the storylines were farfetched or just over exaggerated. I did enjoy getting to see her daughters growth in the right place as I went through something similar, but I just felt that Josie was too far one way and then too far the next.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. In the beginning, I could not stand Josie, and I didn't think I could get through this book, but she grew on me, and in the end, I loved the story.

Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for an ARC of Happy Harbor!

I’m a big fan of Rachel Hanna, and this book just became my new favorite of hers!

What I love about Rachel Hanna’s books is that she draws you in right away with her storytelling, and this was no exception! The story keeps you reading and leaves you rooting for the characters.

My favorite aspect of this story was the development of each of the characters - becoming softer versions of themselves (as described in the book).

The only thing about this book that didn’t work for me was some of the more far-fetched plot lines, by which the characters do some pretty out of character things.

Overall, loved this one!

At first I almost gave up on this ,as Josie was so negative but I thought the moral of the story is people can change if given a chance so I stuck with it .It is a good storyline, After Josie loses her job , fiance , home and her grandma, shes given a choice to stay in Happy Harbor her child hood home to run her late grandmas restaurant, she will meet people who needed a chance ,she will try to reconcile with her past/her mom.Im hlad i stuck with it, the ending was a bit abrupt, would have like a epilogue but otherwise it ended well.

Within a few days, Josie is fired from her job, her fiancé dumps her, her daughter is expelled from school, and her grandmother died. She heads home to Happy Harbor- a place she swore to never return to- for her grandmother's funeral. Her grandmother left her her house and the family restaurant. With the requirement that Josie stays for six months- and she can't fire anyone during that period. She agrees since she has really no where else to go right now- then she discovers that her alcoholic mother has been working at the restaurant. Her grandmother meddled. Didi has been sober for a while, but Josie doesn't believe she really changed.

This started off really rough for me- Josie was intolerable. I knew she was being set up for a growth arc, but it was still hard to get through. Then there were just a bunch of things that didn't make sense- example- Josie's grandma didn't tell her she was sick because she wanted her to stay at her successful career. Yet she devised a plan to trap her in her hometown for six months. Um, the math ain't mathin'.

I just don't think I ever got over Josie's deplorable attitude and the multiple conflicting scenarios.

Rebecca Gibel narrates the audiobook. No complaints.

I received an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Readers who enjoy generational family drama will like this story. Josie who has a rocky life had just lost her job when her beloved grandmother dies. Moving back to a Happy Harbor is unthinkable but is it really? Lots of trusts issues, an alcoholic mother and rebellious teenager along with an offer of a lifetime makes for some hard decisions. Loved the small town atmosphere. The narrator did a great job voicing the many characters. The story was predictable and long at times but enjoyable. Recommended.

Read if you like:
Small town
Home coming
Single mom
Third person, multiple POV

Josie is a single mom who is riding the struggle bus.

Her daughter is a teenager feeling her angst in the worst ways.

After finding out about an inheritance she ends up going home for a bit.

She ends up inheriting a tenant as well.
A handsome, swoony tenant who romances her socks off (not literally, this is a clean novel after all).

CW/TW: Alcoholism, child abandonment, mention of abuse.

Rachel Hanna does it again! Josie gets let go from her high paying job and her fiance dumps her all in the same day. To make matters worse her beloved grandma passes away. Leaving Josie with very little choice left from her Grandmother's wishes has to go back to her hometown for 6 months. Dreading this move, Josie's daughter who got suspended from school is excited for a fresh start. Being forced to work with her estranged alcoholic mother at the restaurant Josie works with, she is put to the test. This enjoyable read is full of teenage drama, family issues, work life balance, hot guys and sweet tea. Highly recommend this fun summer read.

Reading Happy Harbor reminded me of all the high points of living in a small town. It's the stereotypical 'tagedy leads you home when you're at rock bottom' trope, but covers the perspective of 3 generations

Audiobooks can easily be ruined by a bad narrator - The choice of narrators for this one was spot on ... super articulate and in line with the theme of the book.

This book was the first I've experienced by Rachel Hanna and I look forward to reading more.

Reads like a great Hallmark movie. The South Carolina low country setting is wonderful. The four generations of women at the heart of the novel are all beautifully written and complex. It will have you rooting for these characters and not wanting it to end.

I've enjoyed other books by Rachel Hanna, but I couldn't get into this one, although I did finish it. I really disliked the main female character. She is nasty, judgmental, and has no empathy. She does love her daughter and she has a strong work ethic, although she trusts no one except herself to get a job done.

Every other character has positive characteristics and I liked all of them. There is a strong small town vibe. The townspeople pull together to help each other. And they work to bring out the best in each other.

I listened to the audio. The narrator was great.

I listened to this book rather than read it. I like listening to books when I'm running, going on errands, or doing chores. This is my first book from this author, but I don't plan for it to be my last in either audiobook or print form. I've been trying to read more books in other genres and have been enjoying throwing in lighter romance and beach reads in my rotation.

The book is told mainly from the perspective of Josie Campbell, mother of Kendra, daughter of Diane, and granddaughter of Adaline. We do get some chapters from Diane's perspective as well. Josie had Kendra when she was young and Diane had Josie young. Diane is also a former alcoholic, but is now sober. Josie seems to have the "perfect life from the outside- a great job, a lovely home in Atlanta, and her daughter enrolled in a nice school. But one day it all comes undone and this leads Josie back to her childhood home in Happy Harbor.

What ensues is a combination of predictable and unpredictable in my opinion, but I want to keep my review spoiler free, so I'm not going to share any more. What I will say is that I enjoyed the development of the different characters (I especially enjoyed that there was a neurodivergent character because I was not expecting it), and the themes of forgiveness, second chances, and believing that people can change. Some of the things that occured were a bit predictable and cheesy, but I also appreciated how the author explored some big topics with grace. The daughter (Kendra) was my favorite character and I did find Diane to be more sympathetic as the book went on.

All in all, I give the audiobook narration 4.5/5 and the book itself 4/5, so that's where my 4/5 star rating comes from.

A complimentary audiobook copy was provided by Blackstone Publishing via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I felt Happy Harbor was well done. An overworked, stressed single mom of teenage girl acting out, Lost job, grandma dies, go to small town for inheritance - all is good with many bumps along the way while finding self. I felt Josie’s character was rather simple minded but daughter Kendra has huge character development to help shape her mother’s growth in the end. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced audiobook of this book. Rachel Hanna and narrator Rebecca Gibel did not disappoint. This is a great feel good summer read.

I love the books from this author. She has a wonderful style of writing about small town living and the communities around them. This one is about life changes and forgiveness and starting over. Her characters are always real with their own life baggage and this one was so good. When her beloved grandmother dies she return home with her daughter to attempt to live out the conditions of her will. She is now working with her estranged mother in her grandmother’s cafe. The way this lady transforms is believable and such a great story. Thank you #NetGalley and #Blackstone for the ARC.