I absolutely loved this book. This was my first by this author but will not be my last. The summer vibes were so good and I loved the characters. I loved how the beginning of the book was so messy but how everything worked out in the end.

This story has everything, beautiful setting, likable characters, family legacy and mystery. Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This was a fun and light read. I really Enjoy KWH's books in between my thriller binges because I know I will always come out of them feeling good. I am excited for what she comes out with next!

I thoroughly enjoyed this as usual for this author. The mystery element is nice but lacked a bit in character development. I loved the southern setting and liked it’s storyline.

A Happier Life was everything I wanted in a Southern family drama—beautifully written, full of heart, and layered with secrets just waiting to be uncovered. Kristy Woodson Harvey has such a gift for creating strong, relatable women and capturing the complicated ties of family and home. I loved the coastal setting, the emotional depth, and the reminder that sometimes looking back is the key to moving forward. A perfect summer read!

A beautiful story about family, friendship, and forever-lasting love. I really enjoyed the dual timeline, particularly traveling back in time to follow the epic love story of Townsend and Becks. The perfect read to kick off the summer season!

I just adore this author! She was one of the ones that got me back into reading so I will always read her books!! This one was wonderfully written! I enjoyed every single page! I highly recommend! So excited about her next book!

This was a great book! I loved the story and the history surrounding this story! I love the trials and tribulations of Becks and Keaton! I loved the mystery with the family! Why was the home vacant for so long????? Such an interesting story! This author is wonderful- and if you are looking for a book that is romantic but has zero spice, this is for you! Thank you to netgalley.com for an ARC in trade for my honest review!

Short synopsis: Keaton is desperate for a change, so she moves to her grandparents forgotten beach house to fix up to sell.

My thoughts: I really liked how the author intertwined the past and present timeline. I loved learning about Beck’s story along with Keaton.

I also really enjoyed the people of the town and how they banded together to help Keaton with her renovation. Small town settings are my favorite!

Read if you love:
* Multigenerational stories
* dual timelines
* Single dad
* Small towns and Neighbors

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! After reading Kristy’s Peachtree Bluff series and this book, I would love to go to Beaufort. It seems like the greatest coastal town! Keaton’s life in NYC has just been torn apart and she is heading to her grandparents’ house in Beaufort, NC to get it ready to sell. Her mother and uncle haven’t been back to the house since their parents died decades ago. Keaton has no idea what she is getting into, but she can make a to do list and accomplish anything. It would be a boring story if things go exactly as planned and this is NOT a boring story. The story is narrated by Keaton and her grandmother Becks. Keaton learns so much about her grandmother and grandfather, her mother, and herself as she prepares the house for its next owner. I loved the advice, traditions, and point of view Becks shares with us and how Keaton embraces it all. There were parts that made me tear up and parts that made my heart swell for the Saint James family. Kristy Woodson Harvey, you have written another fantastic book! Thank you!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

5 STARS

A Happier Life was absolutely impossible to put down! The characters were so well-crafted and relatable, each with their own unique depth and charm. The story kept me hooked from the first page to the last. I loved every moment of it and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a captivating read!

I loved the characters and the setting in this book! I liked how I felt I was in the house with its perfect descriptions from the 1960s. The dog named Salt was a great addition and this was a book I looked forward to picking up and getting back to the characters stories!

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a heartwarming and inspiring novel about self-discovery, healing, and embracing change. The story follows main character Kate, who finds herself at a crossroads in life and sets out on a journey to reinvent herself and find true happiness. As she navigates personal challenges and relationships, the novel emphasizes the importance of resilience and finding joy in the simple things. With relatable characters, uplifting messages, and an emotional yet hopeful narrative, this book is a perfect choice for readers who enjoy stories about personal growth and new beginnings.

Kristy Woodson Harvey takes us on a healing journey from New York City to Beaufort, SC. We meet Keaton as her life is imploding in NYC as her mother and Uncle come to decide it's time to deal with their childhood home.

With the upheaval of her life, we follow as Keaton discovers a side of her family she never knew and discovers a life she didn't know was an option.

This is a beautifully written story that leaves you hopeful that life changes can be for the better.

If you want all a little mystery with all the feels, run and grab this book!

A perfect beach read! I always enjoy Kristy Woodson Harvey's book, and this was no exception!! Highly recommend.

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey was a fascinating novel from start to finish. This novel kept my attention and I literally could not put it down. There was just the right balance of suspense and nostalgia and ancestry— this book was masterfully planned and written. This is the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to reading many more. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

If I could give this book more than five stars I would. It gave me all the feels and even made me emotional at times. It had the most realistic characters and I never wanted the book to end!

“There's a place that I know, it has called out to me, where the sea meets the sky, and the sky meets the sea."

Present- We meet Keaton, she’s a young woman who is searching for a new beginning sin e her life in New York basically collapsed around her. But when her mother and uncle inform her about a house at the beach that they grew up in in Beaufort North Carolina, Keaton wonders how she was never told about this house. They want her to clean it and get it ready to put on the market. Keaton never met her grandparents because they died in a tragic accident 50 years earlier. Their bodies were never found and Keaton’s mom abandoned the home, so it’s still sits as it was left a time capsule from the 70’s. When Keaton arrives She gets to know her charming next-door neighbor, and his precocious ten-year-old son, along with a group of woman who had been friends with her grandmother. As she goes through the home she realizes it holds secrets, secrets that may hold the key to what happened that fateful night.

1976: Rebecca “Becks” Saint James, Keatons grandmother we follow her as she meets Townsend her husband, as she becomes one of the the best hostess North Carolina has ever seen. Her annual summer suppers have become the stuff of legend. Behind this facade this summer she is facing a dilemma that even she can’t solve. And as the end of the season looms, she is brought to a decision she never wanted to make.
Both woman different times face challenges in their lives while living at Sunset Lanes and this summer will be different and be prepared to cry!!

Kristy Woodson Harvey has proven herself once again. Loveable characters, great character development, and a setting that makes you yearn for small town traditions! Treat yourself!

Told in dual timelines evolving the same family we see how one family has secrets, hopes and dreams and one home. This book was good showing us how things change overtime, but the route situations tend to stay the same.

If you're looking for an easy summer/beach read look no further. This book tells the story of family, love and takes you on a journey of self discovery. I really enjoyed the ease with which this story unfolded and I know other readers will too.