I can always rely on Kristy Woodson Harvey to deliver a heartfelt, feel-good read with a dash of Southern charm, but 𝗔 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 exceeded my expectations in every way!! With subtle nods to 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, this richly layered story explores the power of love in many different forms and its capacity to connect us and heal us, even across generations and in ways we least expect.

☀️ Set in the picturesque small town of Beaufort, North Carolina in an abandoned beach house that’s been frozen in time since the 1970s, the story alternates in dual timelines between newly-single Keaton’s life in the present, and her grandmother Becks’ life almost 50 years ago.

Keaton’s mother has always been emotionally closed off and a bit of a mystery to her. When she asks Keaton to travel to Beaufort to clean out the house she grew up in, Keaton can’t resist the opportunity to learn more about her mother and the grandparents she never knew. What she finds, in both the house and the local residents who rally to support her, will change her life forever.

🌊 Harvey’s writing is so effortless and always makes me feel like I’m chatting with an old friend. When reading Becks’ journal I felt as if she was speaking directly to me with her little pearls of wisdom. Maybe it’s also because Becks reminds me of my own grandma. She loved to entertain, was always the life of the party, and loved me and my sister unconditionally. I saw shades of myself in Keaton as she peels back the layers of her family’s history.

There’s so much to love about 𝗔 𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 - a charming coastal town, a historic home full of secrets, a brooding single dad and his sweet son across the street, and a gregarious group of elderly ladies known as the Dockside Dames. Blending the past and present, this book sneaks up on you with an emotional message about the power of true love and will have you reaching for the tissues! It really is the perfect beach read, and one of my favorite books of the year!!

Kristy Woodson Harvey is an auto-read author for me, but A HAPPIER LIFE may just be my favorite novel of hers yet. I adored the hint of mystery in the premise, the dual timelines and POVs, and the way the story transported me to beautiful Beaufort -- the perfect summer setting by the sea. I adored spending time with the characters in this book and didn't want it to end.

I’ll read anything Kristy writes. This book might be one of my new favs by her. I absolutely loved the multi generational POV and timelines. Such a beautiful heart wrenching story

WOW this is definitely her best yet!!! What a fantastic, emotional story. Loved every moment of it- and loved the past/present timelines. Such a bittersweet story that had me weeping by the end. Highly highly recommend.

As a fan of Kristy's books, I was really excited to read her newest novel. However, "A Happier Life" was a bit of a miss for me. I don't know exactly what didn't work for me. I think it was a combination of a handful of things -- I can't share here because I don't want to ruin things. BUT I did love the following tropes within the book:

Multiple POV
Southern small-town setting
Single dad romance
Finding yourself

I also absolutely loved Becks and Townsend. Their storyline was so beautiful, I would have loved a book just focusing on the two of them.

Keaton has just moved back to her family home after losing her job in New York City. She is asked by her mother and uncle to move into their parents' (her grandparents') home in New Bern, NC and empty it and get it ready to be sold. The trouble is no one has stepped foot in the home in about 50 years. Her grandparents died suddenly and mysteriously so the family was afraid to be there at first, and never went there afterward. With the help of a group of local ladies, Keaton learns about Southern customs and fine entertaining, and also makes some special new friends along the way. This book has well-developed, lovable characters, lots of Southern hospitality, a bit of romance and a touch of mystery. All these contribute to A Happier Life!

Thank you to Net Galley and Gallery Books for allowing me to read and give my honest review of this book.

3.5 stars - rounding up because I just love Kristy & the book had some seriously beautiful parts.

I absolutely loved Becks & Townsends story, and I think if that would have been the majority of the story, I would have liked it more. I just couldn’t connect to the other characters & it was very slow to get into.

The ending had my heart though - all the emotions!

This was my first Kristy Woodson Harvey book, but it won’t be my last. I’m excited to look forward to her other books and backlist. The characters in this story were well-developed. Beaufort and the house most certainly were also characters. I loved the many facets of the story that encompassed current time as well as the 1970s. This is one of those books where I wish I could get regular life updates on the characters because their stories were that good. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

A Happier Life by Krsity Woodson Harvey is amazing! She raises the bar with each book she writes. This one tugged on the heart strings. I could not put it down. You can never go wrong with KWH.

Kristy Woodson Harvey is a QUEEN! She delivers another incredible book!

I loved Keaton’s journey. Not only discovering who she was, but who her grandparents were.

The story goes back and forth between Keaton and her grandparents. Becks and Townsend leave journals behind detailing their lives together as well as a secret that has been buried for a very long time.

What follows is a beautiful story about forgiveness, redemption, and true endless love.

By the end of the book I was ugly crying, but in a good way. The story is so beautiful. I felt so connected with the characters.

I love this book so much. It has my heart. My favorite book by her and one of my top books this year!

Huge thanks to Netgalley for my copy and thank you for your talent @kristywharvey !

Amazing. Another great read by Harvey. You will find her normal romance, family connections, and southern living woven into a mystery that will shine light on the history of her grandparents deaths/disappearance. The story is one of self discovery and growth as the main character is discovering how she wants to move on in her life and create a new life for herself that is vastly different than the one she thought she craved.

a delightful summer romp!

my first book by kristy, but it won't be my last (: i flew through it! i adored both the female leads, but especially becks, it was amazing to see a woman so comfortable in her femininity represented.

the writing was smart and fast-paced. highly recommend for beach reads.

When Keaton loses her job, she heads to Beaufort, South Carolina to help sell her family’s home. Keaton’s mom and uncle left the home in the 1970’s and never looked back after losing their parents. The description of the home, with shag carpet, avocado appliances, brings the reader back to the ‘70’s, as does the journal left behind by Keaton’s grandmother, Becks. Alternating with that story, in the earlier time period, Becks and Townsend have a marriage to be envied. Once they moved to Beaufort, they established a family of friends and community. The novel tugs at your heart strings, with some twists that give depth to the story. The author writes with insight, empathy and obvious love for family and home. Recommended. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I loved this book! It was my first Kristy Woodson Harvey book and definitely won't be my last. She is an excellent and very descriptive writer. I enjoyed the characters and their relationships, and it was very easy to get involved in the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this advanced readers copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful book! I really enjoyed the dual timelines and how they interconnected between Keaton in the present and her grandmother Becks in 1976. For Keaton, she was in NC to figure what’s next after a bad breakup. While there she finds healing as she goes through her grandparents house, a found family of friends and an adorable neighbor and his dad. This was a great mix of women’s fiction, family drama, a hint of romance and a bit of mystery.

Such a heartfelt book! The characters were all so well developed that it was easy to get attached to them and their lives. I loved the mystery element that Kristy Woodson Harvey added in this book. I've always loved her romance and family elements but the mystery element added a little extra weight to the story and it was carried through successfully. A great summer read!

I loved this story so so much. The mix of past with present, a bit of mystery and love story makes for the perfect summer read.

I absolutely LOVED A Happier Life. It was giving me Peachtree Bluffs vibes which is one of my all time favorite series. Kristy Woodson Harvey's writing is pure perfection. I want to move to Beaufort and be friends with all of the characters. This is the perfect beach read! I highly recommend it!!!!

A Happier Life is going on my list of favorite books of 2024. I loved this novel so much! The setting in Beaufort, North Carolina, is so charming and vivid – you can almost feel the coastal breeze and see the breathtaking historic homes.

The story is told through a dual timeline, which I found super engaging. It kept me hooked as I pieced together the past and present. The subtle romance was perfectly done, adding just the right amount of sweetness without taking over the main story.

The characters are so compelling and well-developed. Each one has a unique story that adds depth to the narrative. The mystery element was fantastic, full of fun plot twists that kept me guessing right up until the end. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, something new would pop up and surprise me!

And let's not forget the adorable dog Salt– such a delightful addition to the story. Salt brings a lot of warmth and extra charm.

Overall, A Happier Life is a wonderfully crafted novel with a perfect blend of mystery, romance, and heartfelt moments. If you're a fan of Kristy Woodson Harvey, you’re going to love this one. Five stars for sure!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary digital copy. I'm buying a hardcover edition for my keeper shelf.

The first book I read by Harvey was The Summe of Songbirds, and I absolutely ate it up and swore I would continue reading er work! I'm so glad I did because this book was just as good - if not better! The stories and the people of the house on Sunset Lane will not be forgotten by. me! Beautiful!