It took a bit to want to like Isadora but once it happens, this super cute story is well worth the read. A found family helps each other grow and love and celebrate differences.

Discussion of childhood traumas and narcissistic parent, academic workplace treatment of women, plagiarism among research colleagues were among the discussions throughout.

#arc
#netgalley
#thehappylifeofisadorabentley

It seems like an unpopular opinion, but this book didn't work for me. Mainly because of the writing style and the main protagonist. I couldn't connect with either. I understand the woman is socially awkward (which I found interesting in the blurb), but she's trying too hard to be happy (?). She's a scientist but all her lengthy, repetitive monologues are about being happy, smiling more and all that (and I don't know why she is unhappy). The writing is conversational, which I like, but here it's too repetitive.

Thank you for the copy. And sorry, it didn't work for me. Not posting the review anywhere else.

Synopsis: “To most people, maybe turning thirty isn’t that big of a deal. It’s just another trip around the sun. Easy. All I have to do is stand here. But it feels like I’m standing with my toes peeking out over a precipice. An Enter at Your Own Risk sign. A line in the sand. Life before and life after. A moment and a checkpoint.” Isadora Bentley is extremely intelligent, has a wonderful job as a researcher, and is happy right where she is in life. Until on her thirtieth birthday she discovers an article entitled 31 Ways to Be Happy by Dr. Grace Monroe. Her mission is clear: she obviously needs to run a research project on whether this doctor actually knows what she’s talking about, which she obviously doesn’t. So Isadora sets out to prove her wrong. Could happiness really be that simple? Isadora’s experiment quickly begins to lead her down an unexpected path of friendship, self-discovery, and maybe even love? Perhaps there’s more to happiness than just a list.

Analysis: Oh, Isadora, how I love you. If I could just wrap a book in a hug, it would be this one. Isadora, while extremely unique and quirky, is someone who I think everyone relates to in someway. We all desire the friendships that she comes to have and love that are formed throughout the book. Friendship, finding yourself, and falling in love are all major themes in this story. And I don’t think you can go wrong with any of those. Plus Cal and the humor 😍 Courtney Walsh has such a fun writing style that I completely got lost in. It’s not often I completely escape in a fictional world, but this book had me living right alongside the characters. When I turned the last page, I felt like I was saying “see you later” to a bunch of new friends. And somehow I still feel like they’re right here with me walking around. And that is what I loved so much about it.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Loved this charming story! The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is feel good fiction at its best. Courtney Walsh weaves a wonderful story of romance, found family and happiness.

From the cover to the closing you will thoroughly enjoy this tale of quirky Isadora and her research into the 31 steps to become happy.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this delightful book. All opinions are my own.

The premise of this book is that Isadora sets out to prove that happiness cannot be found by following a list of 30+ suggestions found in a magazine article. She is determined to also prove that living her life solo and keeping to herself does give her true happiness. However, those around her do not agree. Through newfound friendships, unexpected life happenings, and even a little romance, Izzy finds out the true meaning of happiness at last. And, yes, the list DOES have something to do with it - just not what you will expect.

Loved this so much! Great found family vibes, academic setting, and quirky main character. It had surprising depth and lots of honest conversations about difficult relationships. The pace was great, and the story was engaging. I especially loved Marty and Isadora's lunches!

5 stars!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy to review.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courney Walsh - My sincere thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book and give my unbiased opinion of it in the following review.

Isadora Bentley is plugging along in her life. One day she reads an article that purports that one can find happiness by following a list of simple steps. Isadora scoffs at the article and sets out to prove it false by trying out all the things on the list. While doing so she encounters some new people who become part of her every day life. Cal, who she feels drawn to romantically; Marty, an elderly man who she discovers eating lunch on a bench near her work; and her neighbor Darby and her 10 year old daughter Delilah who is esentially an adult trapped in a kid's body. All of these people start adding color and substance to Isadora's life. Could she actually be happy?

While this is the kind of book I normally love, I had a hard time with this one for some reason. I had a hard time going back to it once I put it down. I would read parts of it and really feel connected to the story, and then I would find myself skimming through other sections. Perhaps it just wasn't the right book for me at the time I was reading it and I may enjoy it more another time. I will definitely recommend the book to friends I think will love it and I plan to do a re-read at some point because I just have a feeling I was not in the right mood to read it when I did. 3 stars for now.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Yes, there are 10 stars up there and this book DEFINITELY deserves each and every one of them!

This fantastically fast paced book from Courtney Walsh has definitely become my all time favorite book of hers. There are so many things I could say about this book but they are easily summed up in three little words… I Loved It!

Isadora is my new book bestie. Everyone talks about book boyfriends, why can’t we have book besties also? I think there is a small part, well in my case a LARGE part, of Isadora in each one of us.

This book made me laugh, cry, and laugh and cry at the same time. It is a fast paced roller coaster ride of emotions you won’t want to put down, while at the same time, not being ready for it to end. I instantly fell in love with all of the characters, well except for Alex because “he is a tool”. While Isadora’s biological family is not the best in the world, her new “found family” is amazing!

If you have ever second guessed yourself or your worth in life, felt left out, bullied, lost, alone, unloved, or just not enough, then this book is definitely for you. Oh and if you’ve never felt any of that…well…this book is for you also. I highly recommend it and will definitely be reading it again.

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Oh my god. I cannot stop talking about this book! I read a lot of thrillers so this was a welcome change because sometimes you need a book like The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley and trust me I am so glad I read this! As a nerdy researcher myself, I was such a fan of the way that Courtney Walsh wrote Isadora. This book had me feeling every emotion from laughing to crying to crying from happiness.

This is the perfect summer read and if you love Book Club Fiction, you'll love this book!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the eARC!

Isadora Bentley likes things orderly. She does not like to be surprised. She loves comprehensive research. She knows that happiness does not exist, Or does she? Isadora decides on her thirtieth birthday to purchase a magazine with an included article, "Thirty-One Ways to be Happy." Isadora does not care to be happy but creates a research project to prove this article wrong.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley reminded me of a quote by Eleanor Roosevelt, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Isadora had a lot of emotional baggage going back to her kindergarten years. She stayed away from friendships, away from love, and away from others because she was afraid of being hurt.

I loved this book. It was eye-opening in so many ways. Isadora reminds us a lot of how we can close ourselves up to stay away from that pain. I loved her new friends; Darby, Marty, Delilah (she was precious), and Cal.
I would recommend this book to anyone! I cried several times, and Isadora tugged at my heartstrings.
5/5 well-deserved stars!

"Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I absolutely loved this book! The characters were interesting, the storyline kept me engaged and it resounded the theme of the goodness of humankind. Such a sweet, uplifting read.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

I absolutely adored Isadora as a character. I found her so incredibly relatable, which obviously led to me being pretty invested in this book! Romantic comedies can be a tough "trope" to get right, but this author did it so well!

Isadora is a bit of an awkward introvert, [ same girl same ].
MMC Cal is pretty much the opposite of Isadora, but in the best ways that compliment her.

This book is wholesome. So definitey don't go into this expecting any sort of spice or smut, haha!

Isadora Bentley always follows the rules but when she turns 30 she decides to buy a magazine article about ways to be happy. She decides to research it and make it her own project. She also meets a handsome professor who helps her with her research.

I had a fun time reading this book and enjoyed it. I thought Isadora was a fun character and different from other books I've been reading.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the arc.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was an easy to relate to story about a woman who has been dealt a tough go of life, and decides to use a magazine article to show her whether or not changing 31 things in her life to can lead to happiness.
Isadora has been scorned by a previous lover, and has deemed the best way to live her life is in isolation, down aisle number 8, everyone's favourite grocery aisle, the candy section. On her thirtieth birthday she decides to make some changes and figure out if the 31 steps to happiness are real. Being a researcher Isadora decides to conduct a happiness experiment.
One thing this book does beautifully is the found family trope. The side characters in this are absolutely adorable and loving, and willing to accept Isadora as herself, but also give her the opportunity to break out of her shel[. Isadora meets Marty, Darby, Cal and Delilah who help her become a more active and willing participant of society.
I loved that this book promotes women in stem, and shows how sometimes you need to see yourself from other peoples point of view.
If you are looking for a charming book, that focuses on a brilliant woman figuring out how to break out of her shell finding a new kind of family and falling in love with both her self and a kind gentleman I would highly recommend this..
I rated this book 4/5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for this ARC.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, by Courtney Walsh is a story about a quirky, self-conscious scientist, Isadora Bentley who has a hard time relating to others, making friends and adjusting to social norms. She is happy in her own way, but still struggles with it in general terms. On the eve of her 30th birthday, she decides to disprove the methods related in a magazine article, entitled “31 Ways to be Happy”. She also is tasked with working with a new professor on his research about social media and the negative effects it has on society. She strongly prefers to work alone, but he is persistent and perhaps just what she needs.

As Isadora goes through the process of discounting these steps to happiness, she realizes how unhappy she actually is. Along the way she meets various, unique people who help her expand her boundaries, break out of her shell, and who support her as she works through issues and hurts from her past.

Isadora is definitely an interesting and unusual person, and at times this story felt a bit silly and a lot unrealistic. But it definitely had it’s humorous, romantic, sweet and thoughtful moments and the premise and points made are good ones.

If you want to read a happy book, this one is a heartwarmer! You are never in doubt about what is going to happen, but I decided that was okay after the first few chapters because the characters are so charming.

Isadora has had supremely bad luck when it comes to friends and relationships (and family as well). She has zero self confidence in anything except her work as a university researcher. When she finds an article about 31 Ways to be Happy (Today!), she decides to do each item on the list and prove that they don't actually make you happy. And since she is a professional researcher, she goes about it very scientifically.

But of course, through doing items on the list, she makes friends with an older man, a neighbor with four kids (the oldest of which is just like Isadora was when she was 11), and a sexy and sweet professor who asks her to help with his upcoming book. She just might be happy, if she can convince herself to trust others and take a leap of faith.

The book is predictable, the characters are too good to be true, the ending is sappy, but I loved it anyway! Sometimes you need a sweet story that makes you feel things!

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

I’ve read a few books by Courtney Walsh. When I saw her newest release I jumped at the chance to read it. Y’all this book, though not her usual romcoms, was such a joy to read. It’s sweet, funny, and inspiring.

I started reading this book while I was at the park. I thought, why not read it while at a place that makes me “happy?” After a few quiet tears and some blurry reading, I realized there is a bit of Isadora Bently in me. I’ll bet there is a little bit of her in you too. Her journey is so relatable. We all want to be happy. We all struggle with what happiness means and where to find it. Let’s just say I made sure I had tissue for the rest of my reading. This book was like a big ‘ole hug I didn’t know I needed.

READ IF YOU LIKE
Endearing heroine
Workplace romance
Researcher + Psychologist
Force proximity
Found family
Self-discovery
Single POV
Clean romance

“Don’t be afraid to occupy your space. You have as much of a right to exist in this world as everyone else.”

“Life is beautiful and horrible and wonderful and awful all at the same time.”
“And 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 is the adventure.”

“If I’m not willing to feel the pain of life, how can I ever expect to feel the joy?”

Thank you @courtneywalsh for writing this sweet gem of a book. Thank you to @thomasnelson and @netgalley for the opportunity to read and review it. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

Thank you to @thomasnelson and @courtneywalsh for my eARC. This book was the easiest 5 ⭐️ and I loved it so much I needed my own copy!

Every new book by Courtney Walsh becomes my favorite of hers but Isadora may hold my favorite place forever.

Shy and introverted academic researcher Isadora turns 30 and is on a junk food buying spree in the opening pages. At the checkout, she sees a magazine advertising “31 Ways to Be Happy” and picks it up planning to disprove it. But during each step, Isadora realizes how small her life has become and works to change herself. Along the way, she meets a kind and swoony professor, a loveable elderly man, a 10 year old version of herself, and a dear neighbor who becomes her best friend.

This book is a love letter to all of us who have been hurt in life and our tendency to circle the wagons and retreat. Walsh so expertly highlights the power that simple joys hold to change our outlook, the beauty of friendships, and the empowerment that comes with truly knowing yourself.
I can’t recommend this book enough!

This was such a heartwarming books. I loved all the characters but Isadora most of all. It reminded me of A Man Called Ove. It didn’t really make me cry at the end tho, so that’s why I am giving this a 4 instead of 5 stars. But I would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a feel good book where a grumpy loner make friends. with some romance thrown in.

Isadora Bentley, a university researcher, likes her simple and orderly life. She likes being alone. She wants things to stay just so. Then she reads an article entitled "31 Ways to Be Happy"...and sets out to prove it wrong.

Through her research, she begins getting to know the people in her every day life that she's previously avoided. And unintentionally begins to build relationships...which was not her plan at all.

Thoroughly enjoyed this sweet romcom. It made me smile and laugh multiple times. Isadora is so endearing. You can't help but be on her side.

Always appreciate Courtney's clean yet non-cheesy romances. And just when I thought I couldn't love her more...she drops a Capt. Mal Reynolds reference.