I absolutely loved this book!

If you’re looking for a book that is wholesome, beautiful, sweet and filled with amazing characters, this book is for you! Isadora is simply the best and I want to be friends with her. There were so many laughable moments and I wanted to live and work in this town. Marty was one of my favorite characters and his wisdom and love made me so happy! Darby and her family were just what Isadora needed and I would absolutely read a sequel with all of these characters. The way Isadora overcomes her past with Cals help was so great to watch and I would definitely reread this book!

This book came to me at the just the right time. I’d been struggling with my own happiness, not letting go of frustrations, worrying over little things, etc. I needed to smile and laugh a lot and this book did just that. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud and my face hurt from smiling. So I guess I need Step One: Smile More more than I thought. And I also cried. This is my first book from Courtney Walsh and it was wonderfully delightful, sweet and downright hilarious at times. The David Attenborough thoughts were so funny. The book is so well written, I didn’t want it to end. The exceptional people Isadora meets in her own happiness journey were wonderful, and inspiring. Marty, Darby, and especially Deliah and especially, especially Cal. I won’t go into the specifics of the story because of spoilers but do yourself a favor and read this book.
Thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley approval. All opinions are my own.

If you need a dose of sunshine in your life, this book is it. It’s one happy, nerdy pill! Isadora is lovable, Cal is a walking green flag, and Darby, Delilah and Marty are the kind of friends you’d want to have. Isadora’s scenes were so funny, and her interactions with her found family were all so touching.

As Isadora does her experiment to prove the 31 ways to be happy article wrong, I found myself trying the tips out too! Yes, the romance parts of the book were cute and Cal is swoon-worthy, but what I loved most about this book is Isadora’s quest to find happiness, and the message that real happiness doesn’t equate with just finding romantic love (though that is a bonus!) Isadora coming into her own and accepting who she is was beautifully written, and I loved her journey of becoming brave, fighting her demons, and eventually accepting her amazing and unique self.

thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely re-read this!!

Courtney Walsh does not wrong and this book is another to add to that list. I absolutely loved this latest release and I found the concept of the story so fun.

The pace of this book was great, loved the main characters and seeing her grow was really fun. Such a great one and I highly recommend!!!

Shoutout to one of the best book I ever read this year! The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a book that explores about happiness, life lesson, found family, low self-esteem, & in a discovery to love yourself. This book is like a huge big hug to me. I cried when reading this, I cried when it ends. I finish this less than a day, and finish this within 5 hours (that shows how good the book is).

Isadora Bentley is an 30 years old woman who work as a university researcher. All of her life, she lived it quietly, no friends, no lover, always being alone. But it all change when she found a magazine cover that highlight "31 ways to be happy' which she sets on researching if these 31 ways is actually a valid research to spread on society. Isadora character is definitely hard to like at first, as she quite giving me a secondhand embarrassment with her bluntness and always put herself in very odd situations. But that is the point. She socially awkward, she is not good at human connection, hence why she avoid from involve with people and prefer to work alone. I enjoy her journey to discover the happiness and at the same time how the list hugely affect her personality to be the best version of herself. from step 1: Smile to People to the last step which is 'Confront What is Making You Unhappy in The First Place". She is slowly gaining her confidence and have a place where she belong to. I also love her inner monologue, it was so funny.

I love the found family troupe in this book. I love the fact that the love interest didn't play a whole part in helping Isadora in her journey, but instead become one of 'that' part. I love that every people, Marty (the old man), Darby (her neighbor), Cal (the Doctor) & Delilah (this cute kid) helping her a lot by giving her different insight of life and giving the advice that she need to hear. They're such a precious people. This book is beautifully written on how it seems that life is so unfair, but at the end, all of it makes sense. Seeing how Isadora got the people she deserves is so heartwarming.

Overall, I give it 5 stars. A lot of things just perfectly crafted. I love how it hugely focus on self acceptance, and also discuss about bullying, narcissistic mother, trauma. The author really did know what she is doing and I love it so much. The life lesson I got from this book will lasted lifetime. Thank you Netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy.

This was a fun, quirky, and heartwarming read about what it means to be happy. It was a little slow at first but picked up more during the second half. I think I would like this book even more as an audiobook.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in return for my honest review.

#book55of2024 The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh Five huge stars for one of the best books I’ve read this year. The lessons in this book will last for the rest of my life. I resonated with Isadora so so so much as an awkward kid and still an awkward adult. The internal dialogue and justification she gives to actions done by others is so spot on. The life Isadora leads when going on a self exploration of happiness brought on by twinkies, a tabloid magazine, and a coke is so endearing and triumphant (no other word comes to mind). The cast of characters she encounters are fantastic and unique and I love them all. Happiness is found in this book 100%. #kristalreads

A huge thank you to #netgalley and #ThomasNelson for an advanced readers copy of this book. I intend to buy multiple copies to have and to share.

I’ve read nearly all of Courtney Walsh’s books, and this right here might be my absolute favorite. Heroines these days have begun to fall flat for me, caricatures who are faux-quirky, two-dimensional try-hards we’re told to like but I just don’t connect to. But Isadora, oh how I get her. She’s authentically herself, a complicated mess standing in her own way and blind to the joy right in front of her. She’s real. She’s torn between two warring parts of herself, and yet both are completely *her*. Ms. Walsh did a beautiful job crafting Isadora and her mishmash found family of supporting characters who come alive on the pages and yet serve a clear purpose in aiding Isadora’s journey to understanding happiness.

I’d have liked a little more faith built into the book, but that’s likely less to do with the author than the publisher, as it’s a common trend I’ve noticed with Thomas Nelson the past few years. As is, it’s a solid 4.5 star book, but had Ms. Walsh included some of the stronger faith ties I’ve read in her many other books, it would easily push it to a 5. So much emotional push and pull, which Ms. Walsh excels at, bringing us to tears as easily as laughter and everything in between. I truly loved it, and agree with the conclusion Isadora herself came to, but acknowledging the Source of the deepest happiness would have really brought everything wholly home, honestly.

It’s a joy to read a book where the heroine shines as brightly as the side characters and vice versa.

My favorite Marty wisdom (and such a poignant scene): “What is it you always used to say? ‘Life is beautiful and horrible and wonderful and awful all at the same time’?” He looks at me then. “And that is the adventure.”

And this realization (gah! So good!): Is it possible that the happy days and the sad days, I don’t know, need each other somehow? As if the two things have to coexist for either to matter at all?

Isadora Bentley is on the search for happiness - she's close to an internal breakdown as she hits her 30th birthday, so she does the thing that she does best - creates a hypothesis of 31 ways to find happiness and sets on researching if these 31 ways actually do bring her happiness.

Found family, love, and finding confidence in herself - Isadora's journey was a joy to follow along with. I was rooting for her to stand up to her ex, believe in her friends, believe in love, and most of all, believe in herself.

While I do have the e-ARC, I was also lucky enough to be able to get the ALC. This was narrated by Jorjeana Marie and she had me smiling throughout the whole book. I loved her energy as she told Isadora's story and she made it even more delightful than I could imagine.

Huge thank you to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! Also, thank you to LibroFM for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book, all opinions are my own!

I loved this book! I gave this book 4 stars because Isadora got on my nerves just a bit in the beginning, but I really grew to love her! I really enjoyed all the characters in this story and highly recommend!!

When I picked up A Cross Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh this past December, I had no idea I would instantly become a Courtney Walsh super fan. I grabbed her next book, My Phony Valentine, immediately when it came out, and then did not hesitate to request an ARC when The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was announced.

Unlike the previous two books I’ve read, I would classify THLOIB more in the women’s fiction genre rather than romance. This book is about Isadora, a 30 year old researcher on a quest to find her happiness and the connections she makes along the way. I instantly loved Isadora- she’s smart, quirky, and endearing- but she goes through a lot of self discovery and soul searching to be able to get to a place where she is able to accept and love herself. I truly believe everyone who reads this book will find a way to connect with Isadora. I can’t tell you how many times her internal monologue had giggling, then tearing up, then smiling like a goofy kid. She really is one of my favorite characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading about!

A major theme in this book is found family, and while my family is fantastic, there is also something to be said for the friends who come into your life along the way. For Isadora, simply smiling at someone, an act that makes her feel incredibly vulnerable, is step one in finding not only her happiness, but also a friend. Between Marty, Delilah, and Darby, Isadora opens her heart to the most perfect group of friends who give her support, encouragement, and tough love. And then Cal, who is patient and kind, comes along and opens Isadora’s heart up to the possibility of sharing experiences with someone- I MEAN I SIMPLY CANNOT Y’ALL.

I think there is a lot we can learn from Isadora and her friends. I wanted to plop myself right into their group and never leave. I truly cannot recommend this book enough! Make sure you grab your copy Tuesday when it hits the shelves!

I’ve loved Walsh’s books in the past and was expecting to love this one, but that wasn’t the case at all. Isadora is socially awkward, nothing wrong with that, but unfortunately I found her character to be boring as well. Also, I was a fan of the inner monologue.

DNF @ 22%. I can just tell this book is going to continue to annoy me. First of all, Isadora is way, way too *manic pixie dream girl* quirky for my liking. She also seems like she's not a person capable of being a fully-functioning adult? Like??? Are we still writing characters like this in 2023? I know I am going to have a hard time connecting with Isadora if I keep reading this book, so I am choosing to stop now. Also, I'm not too fond of the style of writing Courtney Walsh uses here. Since this is the first book I have read from her, I don't know if this is just her typical style or if it is a one-off occurrence, but either way, I detest it. Sorry, I don't have the capacity to try and finish this one. Way too cutesy and try-hard.

Thanks to NetGalley, Courtney Walsh, and Thomas Nelson for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

This book was a joy to read. Isadora is simply inspiring and the rest of the characters were just adorable and perfect.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for early access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very cute story about finding happiness. I always enjoy when a character is a little bit awkward, not so good to interact with people socially and put herself in very odd situations. That's how you can describe Isadora's life. I recognized myself in some parts of this story, in Isadora's thoughts/decisions.
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I enjoyed this story a lot! If you are looking for a book with themes like friendship, loneliness, emotional insecurities, romance and grief (well, all the emotions at the same time), then I can really recommend this one.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley gave me a major book hangover! I didn’t want it to ever end, and I want to follow these characters for the rest of their lives! They, along with the story, made my heart so full of all the feelings! It’s hilarious and sad. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s all the things I love about a Courtney Walsh novel and more! I think this is my favorite so far. Though my personality is not like Isadora’s, I was Isadora as I was reading. Courtney Walsh writes in a way that sweeps you into the book and into the main character’s life.

Isadora likes her ordered life the way it is. She keeps to herself. All.Of.The.Time. She would say she’s happy. She’s not lonely because she has a running narrative going on in her head almost all of the time. This is a problem at her job since part of her as a research scientist at the university is to mentor students. If she has to interact with them at all, her inner narrative distracts her, so she has no idea what they just said! Basically, she interacts with no one. I like to think that I’d have befriended her as a child since I was the type of girl who took the lonely girls under my wing (to quote my first grade teacher).

On Isadora’s 30th birthday, on a whim she picks up a women’s magazine that screams out Thirty-One Ways to be Happy. She scoffs at this and sets out to disprove the author’s article. And so it begins….

I can’t begin to describe my love of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley! I was constantly cracking up and interrupting my daughter’s reading time (yes, I am annoying like that) to tell her what was going on in a scene. And, I’m bad at describing how hilarious it is, and she doesn’t read this genre or I’d have left her alone…maybe. There were times I was sobbing, but the entire time, I was just basking in the delightful story that this is.

I really want to share the characters and my favorite parts of the book with you, but they are something you have to experience first-hand. Discovering who these characters are and how Isadora’s story unfolds contribute to the joy I felt reading this book and I want you to experience that same happiness. Needless to say, I adored The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley and highly recommend this rom-com to all who love the genre.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

This book was cute but had things that I found issues with. Isadora definitely comes of neurodivergent women with some mental health issues and could definitely be addressed in therapy. But that doesn't happen in this book. It really missed its mark from being able to address real life situations. Choosing to be happy doesn't work for a majority of people.

In this book, we follow Isadora Bentley who was left extremely hurt after an ex-boyfriend stole her research and didn't give her credit and left her in the dust after he was published. She has since put up walls and preferred to do everything alone; including work. On her 30th birthday, she decides that she is going to conquer the list of 31 ways to make you happy in attempts to prove the writer wrong. Isadora goes on a journey with each of the steps and pushing herself outside her comfort zone. It takes an even bigger turn when the new faculty staff member is assigned to work with her and is handsome! Will she be able to prove the list wrong or will it actually be true?

I wanted to love this book as I have loved all of Courtney Walsh's other works. However, this one just felt a little flat to me. I did give it four stars as I enjoyed the growth of the main character as well as finding out who she really is. I think that is a big thing that a lot of women struggle with the older that they get. I went in expecting more of a romance based on her other books and while there is a romance, it is not the biggest part of the plot here. Overall a good book with great character growth and a slow burn romance.

You know what? I loved this one... It's a bit cheesy, but in the best way. Isadora was relatable to me and I could see her struggles as real; her "experiment" allowed for funny moments and super cute interactions, the supporting cast was great and I was rooting for her to complete her goal. I also liked that the romance part was a bit slower to develop. This is one of those books that give you warm fuzzy feelings without avoiding the cringy ones and I'm here for it!

And just when I thought I couldn't love Courtney Walsh more, she comes out with The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. I was immersed in the story of this lonely woman from the beginning, anxiously following along with her quest to discover how to be - or not to be - happy amid past hurts, broken relationships, and unfulfilled dreams. Romantic, heart warming, and oh so satisfying, Walsh knows how to tell a delightful story! From the quirky characters, to the charming prose, to the emotional filled plot, I was hooked! .

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.