Such a nice cozy romance! I highly enjoyed this one! Isadora is a great main character and I enjoyed following along with her. I will recommend this to those who enjoy a cozy Romance!

I enjoyed the characters in this story. It had a great storyline that kept me up late. look forward to more by this author. Thank you.

Isadora Bentley has been burned before, when a man kept their relationship a secret, and then stole all the credit for her research. Now, she works alone. When she runs across an article claiming that if she follows a set of steps, she can find happiness, she sets out to disprove the author. But what if it actually works?

I have never read another book like this one; one where the author is smart, yet blunt and considered prickly by her co-workers, but she finds people who allow her to be who she is, while helping her see herself the way they see her, thus allowing her to become more of whom she's meant to be.

The cast of friends gathered to Isadora during her happiness experiment are fantastic characters. My favorite, perhaps, is the 10-year-old Delilah, in whom Isadora finds a kindred spirit, and sees what she could have had if there had been supportive people in her life at a young age.

I also love that once Isadora starts to look beyond herself, she sees the other women in her profession who have also been overlooked, or taken advantage of, and she becomes a source of encouragement for them.

I give this book 5 stars. Isadora will resonate with any woman who's worked in a male-dominated field, or who finds themselves at odds with societal norms.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

I love this book! This is a voice I’ve not read from previous books by this author and I so so so so so hope she writes more books like this because I’m totally here for all of them! So many one-liners that had me chuckling out loud. In fact, on many occasions I caught myself reading with a perpetual grin on my face. This is a fun with meaning and one you’ll be thinking about even after you close the cover. Also, I’d like to adopt Darby, Marty, and Delilah. And Cal is just great. *happy sigh*

Reviewed for NetGalley:

Isadora, an extremely socially awkward academic researcher reads an article on 31 ways to happiness and takes the challenge on. But rather to find happiness, she plans to disprove the article.

Her plans are shortly derailed after making friends with an older grieving widower, a mother of 4, a quirky ten year old, and a very disorganized, yet handsome psychologist.

I really, really enjoyed Isadora's development throughout the novel. Walsh did a fantastic job fleshing out background that made sense for Isadora, why she is so closed off, and illustrating the joy as Isadora begins to grown as a person and in her relationship with others.

Also, all the secondary cast of characters Delilah, Cal, Darby, and Marty were wonderful in rounding out Isadora's new life and journey.

Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will.

As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever.

But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything “on a whim” makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong.

As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she’s stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there’s something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.

I adored this book! What a wonderfully uplifting read. While it is essentially a romance, it is so much more. It explores found families, and finding your place in the world.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Courtney Walsh is one of my favorite authors! I read everything she publishes. But I struggled to love The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. It’s Courtney Walsh’s first book that I didn’t love from the first page. It felt choppy to me and I couldn’t connect with the characters. That being said, I can’t wait to read Courtney Walsh’s next book.

The cover of this book drew me in, but the story kept me reading! "The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley" was such a good book. Isadora is a very relatable character to those that are quiet and keep to themselves due to past negative experiences. She meets some unexpected friends along the way that help her in more ways than just her research. Great story!

This book was not it for me. I went into it with high hopes, but I was sadly left disappointed. I don’t know if I’ll be right anymore of this authors books after this.

I have been SO CONFLICTED on how to rate this book. Because I really, really, REALLY enjoyed reading this. Like, I LOVED the journey of this book. SO MUCH. It is from such a unique point of view and just...the relationships! The premise! The drama! It was SO GOOD!!!!

But. I didn't care for the ending *sobs*. I'm really kind of surprised, being that this was a Thomas Nelson book, how it ended. It felt like a big ol' shrug in the faith direction. Now, I don't expect characters to fall in line with me because I know the AUTHORS don't, so, duh. BUT. The whole book was about pursuing happiness. And while I do know that being happy and content on several levels IS a choice, it's also due to the abiding peace of God and His grace that gives us the victory we need to live a happy life. I felt like that was very much missing from an inspirational publisher. Happiness does not come only from oneself, else a lot more people in this world would be happy. I did feel like a faith journey could be in the future for Isadora. There was just something about the end that made me wish for something more.

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

Well, this was a cozy, nice, and happy read! There was kindness throughout the book, from a stranger that looked up and returned a smile, to a ten year old neighbor that prayed for a friend and saw her prayers answered. These moments really put a smile on my face and made The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley a joy to read.

Isadora Bentley self chosen reclusiveness had saved her from hurt and heartbreak. After being disappointed and stabbed in the back by people she trusted, she finally found a way to live her academic and private life alone and closed off to other people.

But then Isadora turned thirty and ran into an article titled Thirty-One Ways to be Happy - and she just felt she needed to prove the article wrong. For scientifical purposes, of course!

I liked The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. There’s romance, but I wouldn’t call this book a romance novel per se. The romance is part of Isadora’s growth to open up and trust herself again, and I would totally call this an one-sided dummy to lovers, if that trope would’ve existed. More interesting were the people Isadora met and befriended. Her new friends were all so supportive and lovely! Marty, Delilah, Darby… You’ll love them!

This quirky little novel by one of my favorite authors, was just what the doctor ordered! I loved Isadora so much as a main character- I especially loved her growth as we see her come into her own throughout the story. Absolutely a pleasure to read

This book served as such a good reminder of what really matters in life and taking the time to seek out a bit of happiness in each day. Contemporary fiction may not be my go-to genre, but I can't resist picking up a Courtney Walsh book each time one is published.

Isadora is an awkward introvert who isn't sure she has what it takes to ever consider herself happy. She's been hurt by those closest to her in the past and can't seem to get over that. Until she reads an article that catapults her into confronting her fears.
The transformation that takes place is hard-won, but the journey is worth the discovery. Recommended.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher and all of the opinions expressed are my own.

This was a great premise for a book, because who among us wouldn’t want to have more happiness in our lives? Isadora knew she needed to make a change and step out of her comfort zone, and what a wonderful world opened up for her when she did! I enjoyed her blossoming relationship with steady, sensible Cal and I found myself liking the other friends she made along the way too. A lot of people (including me!) are going to relate with Isadora and find this story really compelling and delightful!

What a story! I loved every character in this story. Really enjoyed the storyline and felt the message of the book was really inspiring.
100% recommending this to everyone and will read from the author again

Thank you so much Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Isadora is alone. She works as a researcher at a university, and she keeps to herself. She avoids people. On her 30th birthday, she decides she will try everything on a 31 ways to make you happy list. She wants to prove the writer wrong. As she does her research, she finds out that maybe she is surprising herself.

OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK. It made my heart soar and I was crying with happiness over so much of it. I felt Isadora's pain and heartache. I felt her joy and how careful she was as she tried to figure out if she was deserving of happiness. I understood as she weighed if it was worth the risk of being hurt in order to enjoy life. This book was so magical and I cherished every page.

Eine richtig süße nerdige Protagonistin, es macht wirklich Spass mit ihr mitzuwachsen, neue Freundschaften zuschliessen und die grosse Liebe finden.
ich freue mich schon auf weitere Bücher von Courtney Walsh!

I have to confess I found the beginning of the story too rambly. But it's Courtney Walsh so I stuck with it and I'm glad I did because it's an adorable book.

Isadora is a researcher and she thinks in a clinical fashion. She sets out to prove an article about happiness is wrong and along the way she grows, discovers herself, and finds friends who become like family.
Cal is one of those friends who also grows to love her and support her.

Like I said, the beginning rambles a bit, but get past that and the rest is golden.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Isadora Bentley is a researcher who has always dealt with some challenges in life. Always a quiet child, introvert girl, a lonely childhood with a few friends and a lot of desilusions in the adult life. However, on her 30th birthday, She finds and article suggesting 31 ways of being happy, and She begins a scientifc project journey, along and with the help of a charming and sweet Professor trough some path innerself as walks the step by step of How to live a happier life.

I knew I would love this book juts reading the title! It was an incredible journey between the pages of this story, and I could relate with some of the feelings of Isadora and her pathway to a better and free life, being true to herself, and to the ones She love. There's a lot of learnings and lessons in this narrative that was delicate, clear, honest and romantic as well. I love Cal and his behavior and also the steady personality, that made me fall in love with him just like Izzy.

The main message is You are the only one who choose everyday to be happy, let go of the past and see to the future day by day with a little hope and joy, having faith that it'll be better than what has passed. With no pressure or hustle, and counting with the support of the people Wh You love and love You back, You will get to where You need, and want to be.
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5 stars and all love <3