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

Isadora is a book-smart woman who has just turned 30. She spends her days as a university researcher, immersed in data and scientific thinking, which leads to a fairly sheltered and introverted way of life. To celebrate her 30th birthday, Isadora treats herself to junk food at the grocery story, and on a whim, throws in a magazine featuring an article about 31 Ways to be Happy. Isadora is immediately sure that she can prove this article wrong with her own research and experiences.

As Isadora begins her own happiness study, new people begin to enter her life, whether she likes it or not. She is pushed way outside of her comfort zones, but it may not all be a bad thing. This book is refreshing and entertaining. Isadora's quirky behavior and train of thought kept me entertained.

ARC BOOK REVIEW 🖤

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The good thing is that’s part of life, right? Unfortunately, hearts break. Fortunately, they mend.”

- found family
- Coming of age
- Women’s fiction
- Top notch chemistry in a friends to lovers type of way.

Isadora, a professional researcher, sees an article in a magazine which claims “31 steps to happiness”. Isadora - being the researcher that she is- goes on a journey to disprove the theory but as she completes each step, she finds herself feeling lighter and lighter. And also more confused than ever. Growth never comes without pain, and Isadora has so much to learn.

My thoughts:

This book is golden. The characters are so lovable and relatable - even in their flaws. I found myself relating to Isadora in so many ways - in many ways that I’m not proud of, per se.

This book needs to become a movie, because the premise is just that good. It was so well done. Courtney Walsh pulls you into Isadora’s journey and almost pushes you, the reader, onto a journey yourself. It was touching, hilarious, adorable, and heartwarming. I came away with so much joy and an even deeper understanding of human connection. This one feels very women’s fiction/coming-of-age, but the romance is SO there. It honestly has everything a book should have. It’s rare that I read a book and there’s absolutely nothing I would adjust or change- but this one hits that standard and beyond.

Just add it to the TBR immediately. Releases June 13.

Thank you so much to Courtney Walsh, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a gem of a book. If you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and/or The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, you will love the quirky brainiac and The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. A wonderful cast of characters comes together to make this book shine. (I am shocked that there aren't more reviews for this book.)

Isadora isn't happy with her life and happens to see an article about 31 things to do for a happy life, so she sets out to prove/disprove the article. Step 1 of smiling is a challenge, but that leads to her first friendship.

You just never know what is going to come out of Isadora's mouth, there isn't really a filter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley for (once again) introducing me to a "new-to-me" author, Courtney Walsh. Thank you to Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson-Fiction (publisher) for approving my advance read request. Publication date is June 13, 2023.

In the same vein as The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this has a quirky heroine who sees the world slightly differently from many other people. Lonely and frustrated by her life , Isadora spends her 30th birthday debating the merits of junk food while stuffing her face with them. But an article (31 ways to become happier) in a supermarket magazine may well save her from herself. She decides to disprove the author by doing those 31 steps and showing that she was no happier at the end than she was to begin with. What she doesn’t anticipate is meeting people along the way that will drag the happiness out of her. They can see what she cannot. She isn’t broken and unlovable at all.
A treat of a book, Isadora is a wonderful character and the friends she picks up on her journey are joyous, endearing and the sort of people we all hope to meet in our life.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

I have read books by Courtney Walsh for many years, however, this time she really hit it out of the park. Just reading the first few pages, I was totally immersed in the life of Isadora Bentley. It begins on her 30th birthday at the grocery store buying a cart full of junk food to celebrate her birthday, alone. Isadora has perfected the art of avoiding people and being alone. Whether or not you have ever experienced any of the things Isadora has, I think this book will grab your heart right from the beginning.
While standing in line to pay for her purchases, a tabloid article of “31 Ways to Be Happy (Today!)” catches her attention. She thinks there might be something there she never considered so she buys the magazine. Upon reading the article, Isadora is on a mission to prove none of the suggestions work. To prove her position, she is determined to try them all.
Isadora works in the world of academia as a researcher – a brilliant, gifted researcher. After assisting a professor get published by mostly writing his entire article and him taking full credit for it, the personal consequences to Isadora went much farther than having her name left off the manuscript, it also left her with a broken heart. After such a dreadful experience for her personally, her boss assigns another research project to her assisting another profession who is writing a book. If she wants to keep her job, she has no choice but to accept the assignment.
This is a fascinating story that I could not put down. I read is straight through in one day. As Isadora sets out to disprove how to be happy, she ends up making unexpected friends including a 70 year old man who is a widower that she eats lunch with each day, neighbors she had skillfully avoided, now feel like family and what a surprise that the professor she is partnering with to help with his research offers to help her research the 31 ways to be happy. As each item is checked off, Isadora’s life changes.
Although the last page has been turned, this story will stay with me for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book had me laughing out loud at various spots. Isadora is quite a character and has shut herself off from everyone until she tries an experiment. Her people that came alongside of her are my favorites--Marty, Cal, Darby and Delilah.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed Isadora’s story. She’s quirky, and awkward, and sometimes frustrating, but so lovable. I was rooting for her the whole time! The entire cast of characters is wonderful.

I've heard such great things about this author and was so excited to be able to read her new title! After reading the synopsis of this story, I was sold! I could see myself so clearly in Isadora and loved getting to read her love story. Cal was the perfect book boyfriend and I loved their love. This has me so excited to read more from Courtney Walsh!

“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.”

-Isadora will prove that happiness is not for everyone, or is it? It’ll only take 31 ways to find out 😊⛅️🪁🐶
-Cal Baxter throws her research off course
-such a light hearted and wholesome book
-cute characters and overall fun read
-I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC 🙌🏻

This was a perfect book! I loved every page of it. It was s9 good. I think it needs to be on everyone's book shelf.
I just reviewed The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh. #TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Isadora Bentley’s voice captivated me from the first page. This book is so fun and charming. Isadora is delightfully awkward, yet internally honest and it is refreshing. I rooted for her the entire time.

There was just something about this story and the characters that I really enjoyed and it was a good read.

This book follows Isadora who at the beginning of the book had just turned 30 and was unhappy in life. She didn’t have friends, she worked alone, didn’t really talk to people and was lonely. She finds and article about 31 steps to happiness and because she’s a researcher decides to test them out and see if it would lead her to happiness.

We see her go on this journey towards self love, self discovery and happiness which was so refreshing and emotional at times. I really liked the lessons and how she found friendships in the most unlikely places with people that became her family. There was a part towards the end of the book where she had to confront things people in her life had done to her and free herself and it was a great moment in the book.

There’s also a nice romance plot in this book, Isadora meets a psychologist named Cal who needs help with book he’s writing and along the way they build their relationship and start doing some of the 31 steps together. Cal and Isadora were adorable and I really enjoyed seeing them develop and seeing Isadora learn to trust and see the best in him.

This was a really good book, with great characters, found family, fun and heartfelt moments. If you love women fiction and clean heartwarming romance this is a good one to pick up.

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for this arc. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh is a book I believe everyone can relate to. Simply put, Isadora is all of us. Courtney has woven together a story of self-discovery story filled with humor, heartbreak, and frustration. As Isadora sets out to disprove an article on happiness, she experiences a whole new world of people and connections. Watching her struggle to grow, mature, take ownership of her life, choose happiness, make friends, and possibly even love is a journey not to be missed.