Seeing Kristy's acknowledgement of the story being inspired by the death of her grandparents made the mystery and of Keaton's grandparents an extra nice touch to the novel. Beaufort NC is the author's home town, and she writes the setting well, making the reader feel like they are in the setting. An additional added touch were the recipes included in the book. Alternating POVs made this multigenerational story tug at the heartstrings. A Happier Life was the perfect beach/summer/small town/mystery vibe to read this time of year.

THE HOUSE ON SUNSET LANE

A Happier Life is by far my favorite novel by Kristy Woodson Harvey! I enjoyed her characters (present and past), the setting of Beaufort, North Carolina, the plot involving both the present and 1976, the family home on Sunset Lane, and a mystery. Harvey has added a unique dynamic by surrounding her present-day characters with characters alive in 1976. It gives an extra perspective to the story. I enjoyed this story, which centers around a multigenerational family and allows readers to see the inner workings impacting it. Hopefully, the new generation will learn from the older generation's mistakes. The biggest lesson learned is that even though there was a Guide to Entertaining left for her daughter, there wasn't a Guide to Mothering left for her, which would have been much more helpful.

Gallery Books and NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

Keaton Smith's life is falling apart in New York City. There's a scandal at her work involving her boyfriend who has betrayed her and she leaves it all behind to return to her grandparents' home in Beaufort, North Carolina. They are putting the house up for sale and this would be a normal situation, except for the fact that no one in her family discusses her deceased grandparents and she didn't even know this house existed. Once Keaton enters her grandparents' house she is surprised to see that it has been unchanged since 1976, which is when her grandparents went missing. The house is like stepping back in time, like a museum. Townsend and Becks, her grandparents, are presumed dead as their car was found in the creek and they were nowhere to be found. Slowly Keaton realizes there may be more to their "disappearance" than initially thought and living in their house amongst their things, she starts to get to know the grandparents she always wondered about. Harvey alternates with Townsend and Beck's point of view in 1976, which also slowly sheds light on their situation and what exactly happened to them. A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a family saga that is heartfelt and moving; the coastal setting of Beaufort makes this a delightful beach read.

My favorite parts of the novel were when Keaton learns more about their grandparents and then when Harvey has the narrative jump to Becks's perspective, this adds to the story even more and fills in the blanks. I will admit that Keaton's storyline did not suck me in like Beck's, as I felt the pacing was much slower. I was rooting for Keaton to find her place in Beaufort, get a better understanding of her family, and maybe even find love.

Becks loved to entertain in Beaufort and hosted incredible dinner parties in A Happier Life. Her marriage to Townsend was seemingly perfect, even if the start was rough. Harvey brought to life Beck and Townsend's story so well, so much so that I was drawn to it a bit more than Keaton's. Townsend and Becks went through so much in their life, whether it was a war separating them or dealing with horrible illnesses, I really enjoyed their story. Lastly, the setting of Beaufort, North Carolina was fantastic. Harvey is a resident there and it truly shows as she knows the town inside and out. After reading A Happier Life, I am determined to visit Beaufort, which seems like a coastal gem.

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey isn't my favorite of her novels, but I think it's a solid beach read, especially for those who like an emotional tale about family and secrets that span generations. Let me know in the comments below if you are fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey and if A Happier Life is on your summer TBR list.

A Happier Life includes a range of emotions from pure joy to utter sadness.
It’s a living tribute to Harvey’s beloved Beaufort, NC and she lovingly described the town, events, and the people.
I loved the inspiration behind the story from the author’s life both about the house being dormant for so long and what really happened to the missing couple.
I loved that the house was a character because a house holds all the secrets of its residents and also feels sad and rejected when it’s not kept up.
When the truth is revealed about what happened it was befitting and shattering.
I kept thinking I would never have been able to wait 50 years to discover the truth. I would have been digging instantly.
Another lovely book to fill your summer days!

KWH is one of my favorite southern fiction writers and A Happier Life has become my new favorite book. Told in dual timelines it is the story of a young woman who spends a life changing summer in North Carolina and discovers the family she has longed for.

After losing both her boyfriend and her job, Keats mom and Uncle ask her to go to her grandparents home in NC to get ready to sell. When she arrives at the house, she finds the house has been untouched for 50 years. While cleaning up the house she finds both her grandfather Townsend's diary and her grandmother Becks dinner party instruction manual. She begins to wonder if her grandparents really died in a car crash.

In the past we follow Becks from falling in love with Townsend, to marrying him against her parents wishes, to throwing the perfect summer dinner parties. Their love story is one to rival "The Notebook". Becks was truly an amazing woman and some of her recipes are in the book.

I love how the stories of Keats and Becks intertwined. The Dock House Dames helped Keats learn more about her grandparents and helped her become a part of the community. My favorite character was 10 year old Anderson who was wise beyond his years. There is a sweet romance with Anderson's dad Bowen and Salt the dog added amusement to the story. I was at times laughing and at times in tears and I loved how everything came together.

Thank you @gallerybooks and @netgalley
For the ebook.

For the past few years I have kicked off summer with the latest book by @kristywharvey and this year’s book was perfection!

☀️ When Keaton Smith heads to Beaufort, North Carolina to put her mom’s childhood home up for sale, she discovers secrets about her grandparents who died before she was born. With small town busy bodies, and an attractive next door neighbor that captures her attention (along with his young son), the questions start piling up about her family.

☀️ The book takes us back and forth between Keaton in present day and her grandmother Rebecca in the 70’s as secrets are revealed and the house connects it all.

☀️ I absolutely love a good multi generational story, and the secrets that families hold. Love this dual timeline historical women’s fiction with a bit of romance, a gorgeous Southern setting and written with Kristy’s incredible talent and summer appeal.

Another great from Kristy Woodson Harvey! She always delivers! Great for a summer escape, perfect for the beach or a rainy day on the couch. I wish there was a bit more focus on Keaton’s mother as a child/teenager, but loved the setting. The mystery of the disappearance added a fun layer to it as well. Definitely recommend!

When NYC gal Keaton goes back to her mom's hometown of Beaufort, NC to clean out her childhood home in an effort to put the house on the market, she enters into a time-warp. It's 1976 - and the house looks like her grandparents just walked out and never came back. Rumor has it that her grandparents died in a car wreck, as their car was found in the nearby rive, even though their bodies were never recovered. Among all the things found in the house, Keaton finds her grandmother’s journal, where Rebecca Saint James details her tips for entertaining (her dinner parties were a coveted invitation, as she was the ultimate hostess), for choosing menus, and for choosing guests for a party. Keaton comes to understand a bit about this grandmother she never knew, and wonders why her mother and uncle refuse to set foot in the house after the disappearance of their parents. As she makes friends with the locals - hello Dockside Dames! - Keaton begins to feel that maybe Beaufort is her place, and she has truly come home. And it helps that she’s struck up a friendship with next-door-neighbor Bowen and his 10 year old son Anderson. As she tries to solve what happened tin the past, she discovers more about herself as well as her grandparents. Written in a dual timeline, Kristy seamlessly weaves Becks’ (Rebecca) and Townsend’s life with present-day Keaton. Family drama with a bit of mystery too, this is a love letter from Kristy to her beloved town of Beaufort. I love all of Kristy’s books, but this one is now my new favorite!

I have enjoyed this author since I read her Peachtree Bluff Series. I was so disappointed when I was refused an ARC of this book (NetGalley/Gallery Books I’m looking at you!). So just imagine the happy dance when I was sent a widget from the author! I downloaded it quicker than you could say sweet tea just in case it was a mistake.

I think I found my retirement home in Beaufort, NC! The town has the small town charm and friendliness that we all crave. I loved the multigenerational storyline about a young woman, Keaton, finding herself thru the writings of her long deceased grandparents. The dual timeline, the 70s for Becks and Townsend, who shared a beautiful love story and current day for Keaton, who is at a crossroad in her life. The main characters were all so vivid, and the stories relatable. The secondary characters came shining thru, they are the friends you choose as family. This story had a little bit of everything….regret, drama, mystery, family, friends, idyllic location and, at the center of it all, love. I read this with a huge lump in my throat, remembering fond memories of my grandparents, long gone.

I highly recommend this book! Grab a sweet tea, pull up a lounge chair or settle in your favorite comfy seat and clear your calendar for the day. A perfect summer read.

Thanks to Kristy Woodson Harvey, Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.

I was enraptured by the ultimate entertainer and Queen of etiquette (Rebecca Saint James), drawn to their exquisite historic home and charming community of Beaufort, NC!

Great characters filled with enjoyable subplots. Author maintains the mystery behind what happened to the Grandparents seamlessly throughout the book. It was a pleasure to read and look forward to her future books!

Thanks to Kristy Woodson Harvey, Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC opportunity!

This book is full of Southern charm and drama, with characters that will stay with you long after you finish reading. It tells the story of a young woman who spends a life changing summer in North Carolina and ends up discovering the family which she has always longed for in her life. The story goes between present day with Keaton and 1976 with her grandmother, Becks. Fans of Elin Hilderbrand will love this story. A great beach read for the summer.

Keaton’s Mom and Uncle want her to go to their family home in Beaufort and get it ready to sell. She is currently jobless with nothing else to do so why not. The house holds so many memories, it’s too much for them to do.
This book was so good! I loved it! The story just grabbed me from page one. It’s full of great characters and I didn’t want it to end. I think this is my favorite book of hers yet.

This book touched my heart. Having been raised by a mother who, much like Victoria expected that I do things for myself I empathize with Keeton. This is my favorite Kristy Woodson Harvey book. I felt the emotion that Keaton was feeling, I could relate to how Keaton was raised to be independent and do things on her own. I loved the way Becks got to tell her story and how Keaton was immersed into the Beaufort community. A beautiful love story that entwined the life and love that Becks and Townsend shared. Against all odds, their love was unfaltering. How they died was the underlying question but the depth of their love and all they did for their family and friends is inspiring. This book touched me in so many ways. I highly recommend it to all of my friends and followers. I was given an advanced reader copy by NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This is one of the best books I have read this year!!!!!!!!!! I laughed, I loved, gasped, learned, & cried with these characters. This is a story that will stay with a person for years to come.

As always, a feel good story with a bit of mystery for a perfect summer day of reading. (Yes I read this in a day!)

I love the two timelines. One is Keaton who is tasked by her mom and Uncle to go to get their childhood home ready to sell. They haven't been able to step in it since their parents' deaths. The other timeline is of their parents/Keaton's grandparents. We see their one of a kind beautiful love story (kind of like The Notebook) through a journal of Townsend and a how to throw dinner parties instruction manual/recipe book of Becks.

I adored a lot about this book. The Dockhouse Dames, Anderson and Bowen and how they wove into Keaton's life, the summer feel, the mystery to solve... Just another amazing KWH book!

Be sure to read her author's note as it's very important and personal.

Here’s what it’s about. Keaton Smith is having a ROUGH time. She finds out that her ex boyfriend (whom she works with) is going to marry her boss (whom she ALSO works with). She obviously quits, but is now left with essentially no home, no job, no boyfriend…it’s bad.

So, when Keaton’s mom calls her to ask if she would be willing to help flip an old family house in Beaufort, NC (for a cut of the profit), she jumps at the opportunity at a chance to escape her hell hole life.

Keaton knows that her grandparents died decades ago in a car crash and that her mom hasn’t been home since, but she is still shocked to see that the house is still frozen in time in the 1970s.

Keaton gets to work and meets the locals. She discovers a group of people she deeply cares for (especially the single dad living next door). In the process of cleaning the house, she finds old diaries and starts to wonder if her grandparents’ deaths weren’t as simple as she once believed. Is there a mystery in it? (spoiler: yes! There is).

For fans of Mary Kay Andrews or Elin Hilderbrand, this is a solid choice for a summer read. We have no spice (honestly just a touch of romance) and dual timelines with both Keaton’s perspective and her late grandmother’s.

I will note that this has the vibes of a cozy mystery/ romance, so I was surprised that the historical timeline did have a heavier theme that may not be for everyone. You can DM me if you are unsure if you want to proceed.

I still enjoyed this one, but I definitely teared up. So grab the tissues. That’s A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey.

I absolutely devoured this book on vacation! Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of my favorite authors and, with the added element of mystery/suspense with the disappearance of Keaton’s grandparents, this is my favorite one yet! As a pancreatic cancer survivor, this hit right in the gut, but I love how the author handled it!

Kristy Woodson Harvey’s "A Happier Life" is a charming novel that intertwines the stories of two women, Keaton Smith and Rebecca “Becks” Saint James, across different timelines, connected by a historic home in Beaufort, North Carolina. This novel is full of Southern charm and richly drawn characters that resonate long after the last page is turned.

Present Day Keaton Smith is at a crossroads in her life and seeks a fresh start. 1976 Rebecca “Becks” Saint James narrative follows Becks, a renowned hostess whose summer suppers are legendary.

Both Keaton and Becks are well-developed characters with distinct voices and compelling personal arcs. The secondary characters add richness to the story, creating a vibrant community. Harvey’s depiction of Beaufort is immersive, capturing the charm and beauty of the Southern landscape. The historic home serves as a poignant backdrop that ties the past and present together.

I enjoyed the themes of family, legacy, and self-discovery. The intergenerational connection between Keaton and Becks through the house is particularly engaging, highlighting the nature of family ties. Some plot twists were a little too predictable, which lessened the emotional impact for me.

"A Happier Life" is an good read that will appeal to fans of Southern fiction and family sagas. While it has its predictable moments the strong character development and setting make it a worthwhile read. If you're looking for a nostalgic summer read with a touch of mystery, "A Happier Life" is a solid choice.

I am a huge Kristy Woodson Harvey fan, and I didn't think any book could top last year's The Songbirds of Summer but Kristy pulled off yet another perfect summer read. This was so different from her previous books, but with that same southern charm, giving us a glimpse into the past and present tense of a family with rich history.

In the current timeline, Keaton finds herself single, without a place to stay and desperate to run away from the job that's all tangled up in drama. She soon finds herself in Beaufort, North Carolina preparing her mother's childhood home to sell. Having never met her grandmother, Rebecca Saint James, the abandoned house and it's current state are a complete surprise to her and as she gets to know her neighbors, the community and more about her grandparents she finds herself wrapped up in trying to find out how they died.

With flashbacks to the 70s from the viewpoint of "Becks" you're sure to fall for this contemporary romance mixed with historical fiction. The characters were endearing and interesting, full of hope. love and dreams that made you want to get to know them better with every page. The dreamy location had me wishing I could pack up and move to a small town with idyllic views and start over!

Thank you Gallery Books for sending me a copy to read and review, definitely one of my favorite books of summer.

A huge thank you to Uplit Reads, Gallery Books, and Kristy Woodson Harvey for my Advanced Readers Copy of this book and to Simon Audio for my ALC!

I really enjoy a book that alternates between timelines so seamlessly. A Happier Life follows present day Keaton as her life is upended and she is sent to Beaufort, NC, by her mother to sell the home of late grandparents. A home she never knew existed. The house hasn't been touched in 50 years, preserved just as it was the last time Keaton's mom was there. Keaton finds a notebook in which Rebecca Saint James (Becks) tells of her life and leaves tips on hosting the perfect dinner party (but its the same for living life). This is how the reader is transported back to the life of Becks and Townsend Saint James... and what a life they lived!

Stories such as these, are the reason I read. A book that truly transports you right into the life of someone else. Becks Saint James is full of grace, poise, strength, and wisdom. From marrying Townsend against her parents wishes to meticulously planning her dinner parties, I longed to be in her presence and sit at her dinner table. To love so fiercely without fear. Such an amazing character.

But we can't live forever in the past and Keaton's story was just as intriguing. How, in learning about her family and their past, she learns so much about herself and where she belongs. The secondary characters were crafted with love and expertise.

I read the physical book and when I couldn't do that I was listening to the audio. With a great cast of narrators, I felt even more connected. It was like talking to my family on the phone and getting caught up on the latest gossip. Extremely well done.

A true nod to first loves, defying and beating the odds, of letting go, and the things we do for friendship. If you read one book this summer whether at the beach or tucked in bed, let it be this one!