Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advance reader's copy of this book.

This author is an auto-buy for me now. I just love this type of gentle literary fiction, where emotions run high and there's plenty of drama but the story goes down easy and doesn't stress me out with twists and turns. He's a very skilled writer.

i first read (and loved!) A LITTLE HOPE back in 2021 and it was a book that flew under the radar! i was really excited to read Ethan Joella’s second book, A QUIET LIFE.

this story may seem simple, but it’s anything but. it’s a story of three characters who have experienced loss and tragedy and have to find their way through grief in different ways. surprisingly, their stories intersect in really surprising ways and they have the chance to show kindness and help each other in really beautiful ways.

this book is heavily character driven which i tend to struggle with but i was so invested in all three characters and how they fought their way through their grief and trying to turn their sadness into something beautiful. it was an emotional
yet beautiful reminder that grief is an ongoing journey that looks completely different for each individual - and you never know how the impact of an act of kindness can completely change someone.

This is one of the best books I've read all year. I have recommended it countless times since finishing and will continue to do so. I haven't stopped thinking about it. A stunning and poignant picture of life, grief, and moving forward, there's something for everyone that will pick up this book.

I have another book by Joella on my bookshelf that's been sitting there for awhile and after reading this one, I was moved to push the other book to the top of my TBR simply because of how beautiful Joella's writing is. He eloquently puts words to the feelings that all humans experience: love, loss, grief, growth. Though I didn't personally identify with any of the narrators' stories, I did find myself empathizing with their feelings. The reader feels every emotion of the characters so deeply as they develop throughout the book.

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella somehow got lost in the myriad of books I have on my TBR.
As the title suggests, this is a quiet book about three distinctive characters. One a widow, one mourning a daughter gone missing and another that is lost due to her dad's sudden death. The writing is this book is tender and evocative. As you read, you'll be asking yourself when it happened - that moment that you were totally hooked.
Of course these characters intertwine and it makes for a successful story.
Formal review and links coming soon.

Sad and heartwarming and thought provoking. Even though lately I have shied away from sad stories that sometimes hit too close to home, this one had the right balance of uplifting insight and introspection to keep me going.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella.
A Quiet Life is the story of how our day-to-day interactions can lead us to people who can make a difference in our lives. Three separate stories that are brought together through circumstances. Each person searching for meaning and finding it in unexpected places. Ethan Joella creates a beautiful story reminiscent of A Man Called Ove.

A Quiet Life starts slow, but continues to build. I found I needed to be in the right emotional space for this one. Very character-driven, as opposed to plot based, we delve into the lives of the characters navigating their way through grief and emotional turmoil. Ethan Joella writes with quiet grace as he examines the humanity found within us all.

I enjoyed this one but found it decently slow and pretty sad. If you are immersed in grief at the moment, it may not be the right time for this one.

A Quiet Life is a heart-rending and heart warming story of three grief engulfed strangers who come together in unexpected ways. I cried both sad and happy tears. It's a lovely way to spend a weekend.

The stories of Chuck, Kirsten, and Ella and how their lives intersect and impact each other, as they deal with their own grief and regrets.

I loved this book. So well told, with wonderful characters. The writing reminded me a lot of Jonathan Tropper. I immediately went and found his other books.

Adored this one but be warned you have to be in the right frame of mind to read.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Absolutely loved! A little hope was one of my favorites of all time and I was a bit concerned the second from this author wouldn't live up to my expectations. But I am so happy that wasn't the case. Bye-making this book my whole personality!

After reading and loving, Ethan Joella's A Little Hope, I was thrilled to be granted access to A Quiet Life. I'm always intrigued by how authors portray grief in novels and this was a gorgeous exploration.

Joella follows the lives of three people whose lives intersect as they struggle with their own pain. Chuck lost his beloved wife Cat and can't decide whether to continue with some of their beloved traditions. Ella is struggling through life desperately waiting for news about her kidnapped daughter. Kirsten is biding time working at an animal shelter, deferring vet school as she grieves the loss of her father to a senseless shooting.

Joella seamlessly weaves their stories and lives together in a powerfully quiet book about pain, healing and the beauty of community.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Scribner for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

In a Nutshell: A slow but fairly satisfying read. Character-oriented plot, so it won’t work for all. Good if you want to read stories about characters with emotional baggage trying to move beyond the grief that drags them down.

Story Synopsis:
Chuck Ayers, who is in his seventies, doesn’t want to go Hilton Head alone without his beloved wife Cat who passed away recently. At the same time, he doesn’t even want to stay alone in the home they shared for so many years.
Ella Burke is working hard at two jobs to keep herself going while she await news about her daughter Riley who has been missing for a few months. All Ella wants is her daughter back.
Kirsten Bonato, who works at an animal shelter, misses her dad who was killed in a convenience store robbery. She feels like her life has changed track after his death, but she doesn’t know how to get it going again.
How these three characters and their stories are interlinked is what you need to read and find out.
The story comes to us in the limited third person perspective of the three main characters.

Where the book worked for me:
✔ The three main characters are complex, layered people. Each is guilt-tripping over something in the past because of which they cannot immerse themselves in their present. It’s nice to see characters that feel relatable even if their circumstances may not be what we have experienced ourselves. Their journey to seek closure feels genuine. Also worth remembering is that each main character belongs to a distinct age group, so their situations and emotions are distinct to them.
✔ The link between the characters is well-explained without being too convenient.
✔ As with most character-oriented stories, this one too proceeds at a slow pace. But the progress is steady and you feel like you know the characters better with every turn of the page.
✔ The prose isn’t too jazzy but impressive enough to keep one invested. This book shows how good storytelling doesn’t need a thesaurus to buttress it. (I don’t know what made my brain think of the word ‘buttress’ when I am trying to prove that simple words work better! Yikes!)

Where the book could have worked better for me:
⚠ The story becomes a little repetitive in between, especially in Chuck’s arc.
⚠ It is somewhat predictable. Of course, this is not a genre you read for thrills and twists but for thought-provoking scenes and emotional content. In that sense, the book delivers, I just wish it had been braver about pushing the boundaries.


Overall, this is a story of broken hearts and unresolved issues. With the three main characters stuck in the past, disconnected from the present, and wary about the future, you get to see a variety of human emotions at play. Kirsten’s story was the least impressive for me, but Chuck’s and Ella’s tracks made the book a worthwhile read.

Recommended to those who like character-oriented emotional stories. (Think Hallmark movie without a Christmas theme.)

3.75 stars.

My thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the DRC of “A Quiet Life”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Beautiful written story. A quiet life is about three people who are dealing with loss and grief in their lives. The story begins with Chuck. We learn he is in his early seventies and has lost his beloved wife to cancer. Next we are introduced to Ella. Ella’s life is at a standstill as she awaits news of the whereabouts of her young daughter who was taken by the child’s father. Lastly we learn about Kirsten. Kirsten is a young lady who works at an animal rescue and is torn between two coworkers she had feelings for. She lost her father when he was murdered inside a gas station during a robbery. I really loved how we gradually learned about each character and slowly realized how their lives intertwine and are dealing with similar experiences in their lives. This is such a great story about love, loss and grief. Many thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own

Unfortunately I really couldn't get into this one. It was solidly sad without a break at the point where I stopped reading. The writing was good it was just too depressing to continue.

A Quiet Life is aptly named. It is a lovely quiet story about 3 characters experiencing grief in their lives. Their lives are intertwined and the author does a nice job of helping the reader connect with each of the 3 characters. Joella is becoming very popular due to the heartfelt emotion of his books and I'll be interested in what comes next.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Quiet Life is on sale now.

A Quiet Life was exactly what the book title stands for. This book was quiet but packed quite the punch.

This book follows three different perspectives coming off of major events in their life. As you read in to the story you start to see how all three stories start to interconnect. While this story starts off dealing pretty heavily in the category of grief, hang on because there is a very, very sweet story coming.

This was my first book by Ethan Joella and it will definitely not be my last. He truly is a gifted story writer.

Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner Books for allowing me to read an early copy!

I was really hoping to like this book because I’ve enjoyed others by this author but ultimately this books was a DNF for me. I prefer books that have more action and this didn’t move quickly enough to keep my attention.