BOOK REVIEW: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

What I liked: I absolutely love a gimmick in my
romantic-comedies, so following Isadora as she makes her way through a list of “31 Ways to be Happy” was super fun. I love when stories are structured around a certain set of steps like this, and Walsh did a really great job with it. The writing was really easy to digest, and made reading a pleasure.

What I didn’t love: Isadora. Unfortunately I found her to be kinda annoying and almost…immature. Now, I don’t mind an awkward “brains-over-beauty” character but good grief—we getttt it. It just felt a bit to heavy handed. I did love all our other MCs though, so that’s a win.

I’m sum this was very wholesome, sweet and fun. If you’re looking for a lighthearted rom-com that touches on the importance of quality human connection—pick this one up.

Immediately after starting this book I knew I was going to be wanting more. I loved the way Courtney Walsh set up Isadora's life and her experiment. This book was clever and lighthearted but also touched on some true and difficult emotions. I completely empathized with Isadora and loved the group of friends she gathered along the way to discovering who she really is. An easy recommendation for almost any reader!

I really loved Isadora and the family she slowly creates for herself as she undertakes her experiment on 31 things to do to make yourself happy. Though she doesn't want to admit it at first, she has come to a place where she wants more. She wants to be happier. And by working through her past she is able to find it.

This book made me happy. It was a great read and the main character was so special to me. I loved this book. Also, the cover is perfect.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh was a inspirational, funny contemporary romance novel.
I really enjoyed this book. There is an interesting and nice story line, the characters are refreshing, and there is a sweet romance too.
Here everything is excellent—the writing, the characters, the plot.
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley absolutely got me in the feels! I loved watching Isadora and Cal together.
My first time reading this authors work and I’m so excited to read her previous titles and the ones to come.

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

Thank You NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Isadora is perfectly content to remain alone with her research. She avoids professors and the students that she's supposed to mentor. On the night of her 30th birthday, Isadora impulsively picks up a magazine that advertises, "Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy." She sets out to prove this theory wrong. While she conducts her research by completing each step, Isadora inadvertently makes friends. Despite her best efforts not to. She is pulled far out of her comfort zone, forced to confront her own feelings and even fall in love. Courtney Walsh is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She has created characters that will stay with you for a long time and everyone can relate to in some way. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is one you won't want to miss out on.

Oh, how I love a romcom that features a main character that you just can’t help but fall in love with! Isadora snatched up my heart within the first few pages - her quirkiness, intelligence and unconventional outlook on life were so endearing and I knew she was going to take us on an incredible adventure! Little did I know that this adventure would be one of heartfelt self discovery on the search for happiness!

Sounds like a tall order to fill, but Walsh absolutely nailed it. Isadora, a scientist through and through sets out disprove that happiness can be achieved in completing 31 simple steps (as established in a trashy grocery store tabloid). During the course of her experiment Isadora makes her way through these steps and ends up getting way more than she bargained for; friendship, inspiration, love and maybe even her own perfect version of happiness…

Book Title: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley
Author: Courtney Walsh
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Pages: 348
Genre: Inspirational - Women's Fiction
Pub Date: June 13, 2023
My Rating: 4.2 Stars

Isadora Bentley is an academic researcher and thinks logically; makes decisions without emotion. Everything is black or white no gray areas. She believes that happiness is something that does not exist especially in her life. She is out to prove an article about happiness is wrong.
As the story unfolds, we learn why Isadora is so introverted, cautious, and insecure.

We watch her develop unlikely friendships with Marty, Darby, Delilah, and aww Cal.
Trust me you will love these characters.
She finds that there are people who actually treated her well.
(This is a bit of s spoiler) Isadora has been hurt and decided it is best to be alone. She feels she is broken and different therefore pushes people away. She has decided she doesn’t like people.

This story touches so many people in many ways. It is an emotional read.
Happy to say I had a smile on my face at the end!

One message I am going to print and post. It is the importance of forgiving.
You do it not for their benefit but for yours. If you don’t, it will constantly eat you.

Want to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for granting me the pleasure of reading this early eGalley. Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 13, 2023.

Isadora Bentley is turning 30 and her life is far from perfect. After a hard childhood, lack of friendship and a humiliating break-up, she comes across an article listing 31 keys to happiness. In an effort to disprove the author of the article, she meets people that change her life, experiences highs & lows, and learns some major life lessons. Oh, and she may or may not find love along the way...you'll have to find that out for yourself.

This book is light and fun while also unpacking a lot of Isadora's childhood trauma and how that made her into who she is today and how she can overcome it as well!

I really enjoyed watching her character grow so much along the way! Isadora is one I won't soon forget!

Read this if you love:

🍭Junk food
💖Found family
📝Research
🧘Yoga
🙊Proving people wrong

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for the chance to read and review this book prior to release. This will be available on June 13th.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was without a doubt a five-star read for me. From the very first page, I was intrigued and invested in Isadora. Her introverted awkwardness was so relatable to me! I thought it was a fun twist on the curmudgeon theme that seems to be popular lately to have the grouchy character be a young woman, plus I loved that she has a STEM job. It's always fun to read about intelligent female characters.

I would say The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is best classified as a cross between romantic comedy and women's fiction. While there is a good thread of romance and lots of funny moments, this story is ultimately about Isadora discovering how to like herself and be at peace in her life. It's a story of learning how to give and receive friendship in a fulfilling and healthy way. Courtney Walsh wraps some big, important themes in a fun and delightful little package. Highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this digital ARC!

Isadora Bentley, an introverted researcher at a nearby university, purchases a magazine with an article entitled “Thirty-One Ways to be Happy”. She decides this article is absolutely bologna, and begins her own secret research project – using herself as the test subject – to prove the article wrong.

This is a delightful novel about the impact of positive relationships, forgiveness, happiness, and personal growth. With some memorable and remarkable secondary characters, Isadora’s story isn’t one that will be easily forgotten. The star of the show here is not really the romance (IMO)– it’s more of a secondary plotline – but the personal growth.

I am choosing to rate this 4 stars. While I loved the plot and the characters, Isadora’s internal dialogue was a bit excessive and got on my nerves just a little, resulting in dropping 1 star from my original 5-star rating. With that aside, I would highly recommend picking up this book.

THE HAPPY LIFE OF ISADORA BENTLEY is a sweet and charming read about how to live life in the midst of past trauma. The premise really drew me in, and I love the idea of someone trying to follow magazine advice about how to be happy.

At first I had a hard time connecting with Isadora, and felt like the author was beating us over the head with her quirks and personality. Anything we needed to know was told over and over again. I even wondered if the novel was meant for a younger audience, but it does say adult. The more the author hammers the reader with what's obvious, the less Isadora seems like a real person...

Overall, the various challenges Isadora goes through are entertaining, and the romance angle is handled nicely. Isadora really does go on a journey in terms of her character development, which makes for an uplifting and heartwarming narrative.

I wanted to like this book. The FMC is quirky, and in some ways very sweet. The romance that develops seems fairly natural, and the storyline flows well. I found this book overall kind of slow, and there is zero spice, so if that’s what you’re looking for then this isn’t the book for you.

It reminded me of the books they stocked in my church library. Very innocent type of romances. The portions of the book about happiness and letting things go and healing old wounds was the best part of this book.

I’d like to thank Thomas Nelson publishing and NetGalley for my advanced readers copy.

I dare you to read this book and not smile and be filled with joy!

Isadora is an introverted research assistant who thinks she’s better off alone than by forming relationships because people have always disappointed her.

On her 30th birthday she reads an article with 31 ways to find happiness and sets out to try everything on the list- mainly to disprove it. Along the way she finds her tribe and realizes relationships are worth it- she just hasn’t met the right people yet.

✨⭐️✨

I found this book to be so heartwarming. Isadora grows so much throughout the story. Every one of the side characters (besides one) is perfection!

The story, characters, and relationships are endearing and kind of remind me of A Man Called Ove. I loved every second of this book! It publishes June 13th but you should pre-order it now!

This is my favorite Courtney Walsh book that I’ve read so far!

This novel was a delightful, relatable story of finding happiness in your own way.

Isadora is such a fun, quirky protagonist. I enjoyed her unique personality and the ways she sees the world in ways different than I expected. She felt so real -- experiencing things like anxiety, fear, loneliness and surprise. I haven't read many characters like her and I finished hoping to encounter more like her in future. Her life hasn't gone according to plan. She has been hurt, betrayed, let down, and put down. Those hard experiences have shaped her life. In many ways, they have hindered her ability in the past to change, move on, and find happiness. Then on her 30th birthday, things start to change. It is an impulsive decisions, but it becomes life changing.

Isadora's happiness experiment is clever and so fun to read about. I loved hearing how she completed each step of the "31 steps to be happy" magazine article. And I loved that some of them she didn't like and even hated (like yoga, although I think she liked that more than she expected). It's such a simple idea to complete all these steps. But they really change her. I loved her journey from awkward smiles to life changing friendships. Flying kites and eating gourmet chocolate (that sounds divine!), self care and deep breathing, planning a trip (actual travel optional) and spending time with good people, exercising and decluttering. Each of these steps adds to Isadora's story and I love how they bring her dear friendships along the way.

At the heart of this story are beautiful relationships. In simple ways, Isadora makes friends that truly change her. I loved Darby and her strength and wisdom. She inserts herself into Isadora's life and refuses to go away providing everything from delicious meals to fashion advice, an exercise buddy to mom wisdom. Her loyalty is so beautiful! I loved what Isadora and Delilah mean to each other and how they accept each other. They are so similar and their shared interests and personalities make them so endearing. I love that their relationship is tied to an answer to prayer and that Isadora is able to help give Delilah the support she lacked as a child. Marty is one of my favorite characters in this story. At first, he is lonely and feels unsure about his future as a widow. I loved how he befriends Isadora whether she wants it or not. His patience, wisdom, and kindness were so lovely. We all need an old man friend like Marty. And of course, Cal is at the heart of this story as well. He treats Isadora with respect and kindness. His love and genuine interest in her projects and her life were so beautiful. Theirs is a relationship that I aspire to emulate. I love how these characters become Isadora's people. The friends that center her world.

Isadora's journey is not perfect or simple. She gets anxious. She pulls away from her friends. She has to overcome difficult betrayals and let downs. She has to have faith and choose happiness. I love the journey and the beautiful lessons she discovers along the way.

A cozy, quirky story about the power of happiness, friendship and everyday love.

When I saw Courtney Walsh was coming out with a new book, I just knew I had to read it! Once again a super cute book. It will definitely be one that I have to buy as soon as it comes out!

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley

I am a Courtney Walsh fan, and this book is one reason why. The quirkiness yet relatable struggles of the characters really shine through. The way she writes the book almost makes you feel like you are watching everything happen on a movie screen.
Isadora takes you on a journey from being reclusive, to proving an article wrong, to finding her own happiness. And it’s a beautiful thing.

Thank you netgalley for an arc copy!

-Got a free copy from NetGalley-

This book is a really nice read for me. Isadora is a really brave character for being able to venture out of her comfort zone for her experiments. Bringing herself to do stuff she usually tries to avoid doing. Also really loving her lunch crew, all from different walks of life gathering together and becoming friends(secretly hoping I can find mine too). Loving them for sticking by her even when she thought she was weird and even after she tries to push everyone away, they stayed. :') Personally, I really resonate with Isadora. Her being unable to trust others after getting hurt multiple times in the past, and her quest to find happiness.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the writing style of the author. Thanks to this book, it's making me want to go out of my comfort zone and try something new in my own little quest for happiness. Now I'm looking to read more works from this author!

📖Review: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh 

A delightful exploration of happiness with a quirky and reclusive heroine. 

Isadora Bentley is turning 30 and she has not accomplished any of what she has wanted to. She was supposed to prove her childhood wrong — those bullies and her mom who always said she didn’t measure up — but she is a low level researcher who has isolated herself from the world around her. Until on her birthday, in a sugar-coated haze, Isadora decides to prove an article entitled 31 Steps to Happiness wrong. As Isadora begins trying the steps, she finds herself immersed into the world she was trying so hard to avoid and confronting some of her long held beliefs. 

Isadora is a fabulous character. From page one, I found her inner dialogue relatable and funny. The secondary characters were also lovable and their interactions were a perfect mix wise words and witty banter. 

I highly recommend this book if you like:
🏡Found Family
❤️Romance
🪞Self-Discovery
💁🏼‍♀️Lovable characters
📚Books like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, or The Last Chance Library. 

This heartwarming novel is available on June 13th — just in time for summer. I received this complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, but opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.