The book was alright, but I didn't feel any personal connection to it, I've a hard time relating to the main character, It wasn't a perfect fit for me but it could be for someone else. I don't believe that this author's writing or stories are suitable for my taste.

Thank you Netgalley and Publisher for the eARC.

This was overall a cute book. I loved the ensemble cast. Cal and Darby were great, but I especially loved Marty and Delilah; they were the best.

Unfortunately, I didn’t love Isadora. I felt bad for her and the life she’s led, but I just didn’t vibe with her all that much. Some of her sarcasm seemed a bit derisive and rude to me. However, because I knew that it was a defense mechanism caused by her childhood trauma, it didn’t bother me that much.

What really knocked the stars off for me was that it was lacking in Christian message. This is classified as Christian fiction and published by Thomas Nelson, but I didn’t feel like it had Faith content at all. (Other than one mention of prayer). If you had told me this was just a clean fiction, I would’ve been fine. However, since it’s classified as Christian fiction, I felt like it should have some Christian in it.

Overall it was cute though, and it did make me laugh in a few places, so I gave it three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for a review copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a beautifully written novel about what it means to find one's place in the world. The theme is all about embracing the good, bad, ugly, and amazing experiences that compose a life. Isadora is complex and quirky, yet so many of her struggles are universal. I liked her found family, her bold quest to disprove her hypothesis about happiness, and of course, as a romance reader, I'm here for the sexy professor love interest.
Isadora's journey is poignant and relatable. Even though she's fictional, I saw pieces of myself reflected in her thoughts and actions. The secondary characters are so funny and really add to the story. I appreciated the hopeful, encouraging tone and the happy ending.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

I didn't really like Isadora at the beginning, she is always in her head and not listening to everyone around her. But as she goes through this list, she starts to open herself up more and become who she is supposed to be.
She still wasn't my favorite character but I did like seeing her find happiness.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.

Read in a day, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a wonderfully heart warming novel that highlights the importance of being open to life, choosing happiness and of human connection.

Isadora Bentley, academic and introvert, is closed off to life and all it has to offer, insistent that she is better on her own. Having been hurt by so many, including her own mother, Isadora is determined to prove that she has no need or desire for human connection and the happiness it could bring. While utterly heart breaking, I connected to (as most people who have been hurt would be able to), Isadora’s need to protect herself; her determination never to be vulnerable again.

Feeling so connected to her character, I enjoyed her journey, watching her open up even as she remained resolved not to do so. Determined to debunk the idea that making 31 simple changes to her life would bring her happiness, I loved watching Isadora embark on a journey of self discovery, building the most beautiful and unlikely friendships along the way.

A novel of friendships, romance and second chances, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was unputdownable, giving me all the feels. Highly recommend.

Isadora is turning 30 and celebrates by having a junk food party for herself and while she's buying her candy and junk food, the sees an article titled "31 ways to be happy (today!)" on a tabloid magazine. She decides the author of the article - Dr. Grace Monroe - is mistaken and as Isadora is a researcher, she will prove that the Dr. is wrong. Isadora has let her unhappy childhood affect her adult life and in proving Dr. Monroe wrong, she must do tasks that are outside of her comfort zone. This was a good story with the people Isadora meets along the way to proving Dr. Monroe wrong are interesting additions to her present and future.

#TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #NetGalley

What a great story! Isadora Bentley has a standing date with junk food on her birthday, at the checkout lane with her loaded cart, she decides to buy a magazine withan article titled 31 Things to do, to Guarantee Happiness, she is skeptical as a researcher, she decides to perform an experiment to prove that the authors ideas won't bring happiness.
Working at a university allows Isadora to work on research projects with professors. When she is assigned to Cal Baxter she puts her foot down and refuses to work with him, on his book, but her boss tells her she doesn't have a choice.
Isadora has pretty much lived a solitary life, not getting close to anyone since being hurt by someone she thought she could trust. When she begins to work on her happiness project she starts to connect with people. A next door neighbor Darby and her four children, Marty an older gentleman who is lonely and missing his wife who has passed away. She sees herself as a young girl, in Delilah, Darby's ten year old daughter. Cal becomes interested in Isadora's happiness project, even though Isadora is determined to not let him get close to her. I absolutely loved this book I was sad when I came to the last page, I didn't want it to end. There were so many good quotes I can't wait to buy a copy of the book and read it again.

Isadora is such a quirky heroine. She's blunt and awkward and utterly adorable. And she's like all of us, she wants to be happy.

I'll be honest in saying that I was scared to read this book and was scared most of the time I was reading it. I didn't read the blurb before starting it. I'd never actually read a book by Courtney Walsh. I tried to read one once and it felt more like women's fiction than romance. I'm definitely here for the romance. I kept waiting for this book to shatter my heart in some way. And it did. But not in the way I expected.

I related so deeply to Isadora. But then the more I thought about it, I think most of us will relate to her. She just says what we feel perhaps more than we do.

I am not one to annotate or highlighbooks as I read. But the deeper I got in to this story, I found myself highlighting more and more. So many of the thoughts resonated with me. That is unusual. I don't usually read books and identify with characters like this.

Anyway, back to the actual story and characters. I loved them all, I especially Delilah. And Cal. Oh Cal. 😍 The journey Isadora goes on tontry to find happiness is sprinkled with heart and humor and love and more.

My takeaway : Don't be scared to read this book. Read it and embrace your inner Isadora.

"Life is beautiful and horrible and wonderful and awful all at the same time."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What to expect:
-Clean Romance
-Forced Proximity
-STEM
-Personal Journey
-Friendship

Every now and then you read a book that just makes you happy and gives you all the feels in the best possible way. That was The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley for me. It was a fresh, beautiful, & heartfelt romance novel. I lost count of the number of times tears rolled down my cheeks. Courtney Walsh’s writing tugged at my heart strings with this story.

Meet Isadora a researcher who is turning 30 and as she is getting ready to celebrate finds an article on 31 things to make you Happy at the store checkout. She feels very strongly about the author saying that if you do these few things you will be happy. This sets her on a journey to disprove the article but unbeknown to her it would change her life.

She meets a cast of characters as she follows each prompt and before she knows it she has a circle of friends. They are a vastly eclectic bunch and make her life a lot more fun and interesting. Marty a widow, Darby a young Mom, Delilah (my favorite), and Cal. They are funny, witty, and full of wisdom.

This is a story of resilience, kindness & romance where you don’t need a hero to swoop in and save the day. Instead if focuses on finding your people and acknowledging that no one can make you happy except yourself. It’s a choice.

It was sweet and funny I totally recommend it. Definitely of my favorite books of 2023 already.

Isadora isn’t happy, and she wants to prove to Dr. Grace Monroe who has written an article, 31 Ways to Be Happy that well, she wants to prove that it isn’t possible.

Why would Isadora want to prove that you can’t be happy?

She has a lot of reasons why she isn’t happy; like parents who have never been supportive, or understanding of her, friends who weren’t loyal, and a boyfriend who wanted to keep their relationship a secret. Isadora has been really hurt by the people who she thought loved and liked her but instead let her down and misunderstood who she was.

Slowly, Isadora starts doing the items on the list to prove that Dr. Grace Monroe doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but each time she does, she finds that by being open to trying new things there are people who see Isadora for the unique and special person she is, and in turn she sees it in herself.

I can’t say I was really liking The Happy Life of Isadora until about halfway through when Isadora starts seeing herself for who she really is, unique, but then something happens that triggers her to go back to old behaviors that didn’t work for her and didn’t do her any favors.

In the beginning, I really didn’t like Isadora but when she began seeing she needed to forgive those in her life that had hurt her and she had worth. S saw that she did have friends who did love and supported her, and were honest with her even if she didn’t make the best judgments. All I wanted was to cheer her on and yell at her when she didn’t make the best choice but smile when she did. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was an honest look at what it means to be human but know that there are second chances and people who will see you and love you for who you really are.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are mine.

Isadora Bentley turn thirty, have quite life, single and enjoy her simple life. Her birthday make she think again, if she want to changing life but that isn’t as easy as everyone makes it sound. When she saw “31 Ways to Be Happy” on magazine, her adventure begin. Reading this book feel like read my life. Prefere alone, awkward, strange, hard to make friend and the list continue. I enjoy Isadora experiment to prove that 31 ways to be happy was wrong, when she open up many people come into her life, accept the way she is, understand her. I love how strong and brave Isadora is, able to speak her mind, stand for herself and choose to be happy.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #CourtneyWalsh #ThomasNelson #ThomasNelsonFiction #NetGalley #ARC

This book was exactly what I needed to get over the brief reading slump I had entered. Such a fun, fun book! When I first started reading, I had to do a double-take to remind myself that I was reading a Courtney Walsh novel. I’ve read a handful of her books and loved them but this fresh, laugh-out-loud, poignant romantic comedy is different from her previous books. And I absolutely loved it from the beginning to end! Isadora's delightfully quirky, witty, hilarious, honest, and self-deprecating first person voice will charm you and make you cry all sorts of tears - tears from hysterical laughter and tears of empathy, sadness, pain, self-realization, and (of course) happiness and worth. There isn't a faith thread in the story but it is a clean read.

Isadora is unforgettable. Though an introvert in a self-imposed isolation, she braves the outside world for the sake of research and discovers more than what she bargained or hoped for. The eclectic group of friends she collects is as unforgettable as Isadora. And Cal.... I loved his gentle but unrelenting pursuit of Isadora. His tender heart, passion for the human connection, and enchanting whimsical ways made him perfect for Isadora.

This is one of the best rom-coms I've read. I received the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Ok. I sobbed. I cried a lot. I had no idea this book would be so emotionally cathartic. I have so many thoughts about this incredibly beautiful story!

I loved how unique Isadora was and that I could totally connect with her character. I always tell people that the desire to be loved is really the desire to be understood, and I felt that so deeply in this book. I loved that it was full of JOY in unexpected ways. I felt that deeply as well.

Here’s what to expect:
💛 sweet swoony romance par the course in true Courtney Walsh fashion
💛 opposites attract
💛 found family trope with amazing side characters you will fall in love with
💛 FMC on a unique search for happiness
💛 heart touching moments and fantastic character growth/development
💛 you just might cry

I don’t know if everyone will feel the same way I do about this book, but I think that the beauty of it is while the story is great, it really can touch each reader’s heart in a different way. Truly an incredible job by the fabulous Courtney Walsh and can’t wait to keep reading what she writes.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

This is likely going to make my best of the year list. And I mean, the cover is just 🤩

On her 30th birthday, Isadora is checking out at the grocery store with a cart full of candy she plans to binge alone when a magazine headline catches her eye:
“31 Ways to Be Happy (Today!)”
With a researcher’s careful methodology, she sets out to disprove the entire list. What happens next is funny, sweet, and heartwarming in the best way. I truly loved everything about this. With a quirky main character reminiscent of Elinor Oliphant and a cast of supporting characters who would be friends with A Man Called Ove’s neighbors, this story will leave you with the biggest smile on your face and a renewed hope in humanity and community (at least that’s what it did for me). ❤️

“It’s as if she’s got a handle on who I am and she’s fine with it. Maybe [she] is the kind of person who simply allows people to be who they are. I might as well be having coffee with a unicorn.”

“Maybe happiness isn’t about what you do, Isadora. Maybe it’s about who you do it with.”

Many many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the advanced digital review copy. This was such a delight. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh releases on June 13.

Meh. Not my favorite book. The blurb made it out to seem way more interesting than it was and in fact, the side characters were written better. Right off the bat, Isadora annoyed me. Her internal monologue was all over the place and it was excruciating to read.

If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, you will enjoy The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley.

Isadora, a researcher, isn't sure that happiness is for her and she's perfectly okay with that. When she stumbles upon a magazine article that highlights Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy, Isadora sets out to prove the author wrong.

While working through the list, Isadora finds herself surrounded by a cast of characters that help her with her project.... and maybe even finding happiness?

I love books with quirky main characters... but a book with a strong supporting cast ? Yes... yes please. I mean, read this book and tell me you don't fall in love with Marty.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Did I just find a new Courtney Walsh favorite?!?! As a huge Courtney fan this is big. Where to even start with the joyful book! Courtney has created a fictional story that some may as well as myself read as a self discovery book. The main question being “Are you Happy?” & following along on Isadora’s journey to see what the heck Happy looks and feels like.

Along the way you meet characters that become a found family for Isadora… they show honesty, Delilah. Enthusiasm, Darby. Wisdom, Marty and compassion, Cal. This little group stole the show and I’m so sad to leave them.

This book shares a few sensitive topics that Courtney has handled with gentle hands and she has really just blew my mind with this book. This one will be one that many will hug upon completing!

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC

I absolutely loved this book! Isadora Bentley is for sure someone you want to root for and spend time with. The little truth bombs sprinkled through this book are incredibly insightful and encouraging. What a joyous read! I have pre-ordered it and can’t wait to re-read it.

Although this book is categorized as romance on Goodreads, I would argue that this is more of a coming of age story with a love interest sprinkled in. The main focus of this book is Isadora’s study of happiness and the relationships that she develops as a result - both platonic and romantic. It was a slow start for me but once I was finally hooked then this book brought all the happy feelings! I loved all the characters and wish I could meet them in real life. Give this one a shot when you need a light palette cleanser, or when you want a clean romance with substance.

"Happiness isn't that hard to find, you know. It's everywhere. It's all around us. But it's not something that happens to us. It's something we seek. It's something we pursue. And you'll never find it if you never let anyone in."

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is going to resonate with so many; heartfelt, witty, and chocked full of life lessons! Courtney Walsh had me laughing out loud with the most relatable quotes and the MC’s inner monologue. (Enter Sir David Attenborough)

I adored the quirky MC, Miss Isadora Bentley. She wasn’t afraid to speak her mind, even if it resulted in sticking her foot in her mouth (on more than one occasion); she was all of us, stepping outside our comfort zones, and embracing the good that can come from human interaction.

I laughed, (obvi), I cried, and I fell in love with flying kites again! 🪁 This book completely embraced me and left me with a smile on my face- see Step 1 to happiness.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is the perfect sweet rom-com/women’s fiction (a sprinkle of kisses, hold the spice); That will leave you with the beautiful reminder that you are enough!

All opinions are my own.