3.75 stars
A Happier Life, by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a romance with historical elements. It has family dynamics, a bit of mystery, small town charm, quirky characters and significant life traumas and evocative events. A Happier Life is filled to the brim with a summery, atmospheric setting in small town, beachside Beaufort, North Carolina. This engaging story is sure to capture your attention.

Keaton returns to her mother and uncle’s family home years after it was abandoned, with the intention of selling it so they can finally be free of the memories associated with it and move on. Keaton soon realizes that it’s a much bigger job than expected and one she doesn’t want to rush through. Once there, she discovers family lore and the poignant histories of the grandparents she never knew.

This dual-timeline, multi-generational tale is moving, cathartic and engrossing with a lot of content woven throughout the plot. I’ve enjoyed all of Harvey’s stories and her signature Southern style, and though this story was not my favorite from the author, it was entertaining, impactful and a lovely choice for the summer, or any time of year.

🌊 A Happier Life 🌊
Thank you, Gallery Books & Uplit Reads for the gifted copy of Kristy Woodson Harvey’s new book! {partner}

Genre: Fiction
Format: 🎧
Pub Date: 6.25.2024
Star Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

“But that is the plight of old houses. At some point in our seemingly infinite lives, we may be forgotten. And so, we must cling to the joys and secrets forever sorted within our walls, until we are remembered again.”

When Kristy Woodson Harvey says that A Happier Life is her favorite book that she’s written, I can unquestionably see why.

There was just something so comforting about this story. I adored how the first few pages were presented to the reader, especially as someone who lives in an old home (one of the kit homes mentioned, actually). It made me have a grander appreciation for the place I’ve called home for the last eight years. As I kept reading AHL, I kept thinking about all the things these old homes have seen over the years.

And the characters! Oh, I loved them all; Keaton, Becks, Townsend, Bowen, Anderson, Salt, and the Dockhouse Dames stole my heart. We could all be so lucky to have them in our lives, and like KWH said, I don’t have my own Dockhouse Dames, but I will be searching them out because we all need a group of women to count on when things get tough.

Read if you like:
🧍🏽 Single Dad
🐕 Adorable dogs
✌🏼 Dual timeline
🗣️ Multiple POV
⛵️ Small coastal Town
🔎 A bit of mystery
🥰 Found Family

A Happier Life is a beautiful tribute to all the lives that have come before us and all that will come after. It makes for the perfect beach or pool reach for this summer!

I’m also thrilled to share that Kristy Woodson Harvey will be coming to Joseph-Beth Lexington on June 26 at 7 pm to discuss the book. If you’re local, I’d love to see you there!

A book that pulls at your heartstrings and sucks you in. My favorite character: Salt! KWH has a gift at writing a story that grabs your heart and keeps twisting all the while weaving multigenerational points of view along with values such as acceptance, reliability, and commitment. A Greta book for summer! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

A Happier Life is the summer gem to read! What a heartwarming story. I loved the small town beachy vibes and the love stories interwoven throughout the book. The ending was perfect and a bit teary too. The must read beach/pool book to pick up!

4.5 stars rounded to 4 stars.

This was my first book by this author, and I guarantee it won't be my last. I now see why people love this author and her books. I loved that this book had elements from 3 different genres: historical fiction, romance, and even a touch of mystery. I loved the multigenerational POV's with Keaton in the present and her grandmother, Becks, in the past. Reading this book made me want to visit Beaufort, NC and see for myself all the charm that this town holds. This book is the perfect summer read, and I'm so excited to check out more books from this author.

I loved this story, Becks Saint James is so good she comes off the pages. The whole cast of supporting characters and the town of Beaufort are great too.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

A Happier Life is a wonderful book to curl up with on the beach or by your favorite body of water. While I found the story predictable overall, I enjoyed the plot as readers follow Keaton to Beaufort, NC to work on cleaning out her grandparent's long deserted home after they disappeared nearly 50 years prior. Her mother and uncle are finally ready to sell but can't bring themselves to go. When she arrives, she discovered everything is left just as it was like they would be coming back.

Per usual, Kristy Woodson Harvey has put together a wonderful cast of characters that brought the story to life. I LOVED Anderson (IYKYK).

Even though I was able to guess certain aspects, I still really adored the story and the book.

Thank you Uplit Reads, Gallery Books and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

A Happier Life was not what I expected. Although, it seemed to fit Kristy Woodson Harvey's writing perfectly. It was full of romance, family & a little mystery. Trying to figure out exactly what had occurred kept me wanting to read more and more. Well done. Well done.

After an unpleasant experience at the office, Keaton desperately needs a break. She quickly accepts the opportunity to get away from NYC and travel to North Carolina, where she will put her mom’s childhood home on the market.

Coastal living in the South is very different from her hectic life in the city, but as Keaton settles in and gets to know the community where her mom grew up, she feels a sense of calm and begins to appreciate the small moments in life. While preparing to list her grandparents’ home, she learns things about them that her mom never talked about, sparking her curiosity to find out more. The more she uncovers, the more questions arise, and soon finds herself looking to her handsome neighbor for support.

A Happier Life is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that allowed me to consider possible options if faced with difficult, life-changing situations. It was easy to connect with the lovely characters in this touching and heartfelt tribute to love and what matters most!

Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of the best of the "new" generation of beach read authors. The history and family connections in this one were the best parts, and while it is bittersweet, the characters are written in such a way I fell in love with all of them. It captures its setting beautifully, and is truly one of the most "summer" books I've read yet this year.

Keaton is at a crossroads in her life, so when her mother asks her to clean out the family home in Beaufort, NC prior to listing, she agrees. Untouched since the late 1970s, Keaton begins to learn about her late grandparents after discovering her grandmother’s journal, and secrets that have been concealed for years. In 1976, Keaton’s grandmother Rebecca “Becks” St. James hosted regular dinner parties, tying people with a common thread together. As she prepares for her final dinner party of the summer, she’s forced to face her own problems, and make the biggest decision of her life.

Kristy Woodson Harvey does it again with another emotional, beautifully written novel that was actually inspired by her own family, dog {Salt!} and friends, and set in her beloved hometown of Beaufort, North Carolina. The research and time that went into this novel is evident, creating an incredible and moving story. I enjoyed the dual timeline and dual perspectives of Keaton in present day, and her grandmother, Becks, in 1976, and think both voices were strong and well-developed, equally contributing to the powerful book. The novel also has a dynamic cast of supporting characters, and is set against the beautiful Beaufort backdrop, which acts almost like a character itself! Full of hope and promise, A Happier Life is focused on family, finding yourself, and following your dreams, and I’ll highly recommend this outstanding book!

Thank you Uplit Reads for my gifted copy and including me in this book campaign, and NetGalley and Gallery Books for my gifted e-ARC!

Southern Historical Fiction at its absolute best is how I would describe this book in one sentence.

A Happier Life is a dual timeline book that tells of a life-long Beaufort, North Carolina family and the home they lived in. I love that the history of the town plays such a huge part in this story. The family is a big part of the history, and they are well respected. Everyone who enters the story plays a part and has a story to tell to enrich the family’s story.

I love that there is a mystery of what happens to the grandparents in this book. Along with all the family history that was revealed, there is a romance, an adorable neighbor boy, and so many wonderful friendships formed. The setting

This book is a great addition to my collection of KWH books and I love that I can add it to my book shelves.

A Happier Life is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year. It is a story about friends and family in a cute beach town.
Keaton heads to Beaufort, NC to help prepare her mother’s childhood home to be sold . She is shocked when she quickly finds friends that knew her grandparents and want to help her sort through their belongings.
There has always been mystery surrounding her grandparents’ disappearance but when Keaton finds their journals she starts to wonder .
Becks and Townsend ended up in Beafort early in their relationship after their families didn’t agree with them getting married. They ended up making their own family with their friends they made. Their story is so sweet as their granddaughter discovers it through their journals .
A Happier Life is an amazing book that you won’t want to put down. Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for a copy for my opinion.

A definite winner! With a dual timeline, past 1976 and present. Keaton life has been turned inside out and to getaway from New York she as a favor to her mom and Uncle Lon heads to Beaufort. The family home she never knew about. The home of her grandparents she never knew anything much about. As she learns about her grandparents in the time capsule of their home, she finds herself in her grandmother’s journal. But also tries to discover the mystery of their deaths. Several theories but no evidence.
I love the storyline and the development of the characters. I had an inkling of where the story was heading and was so wrapped up in the characters I just couldn’t put it down. FYI tissues were needed. Well done Kristy!

What a story. This one will pull you right in and keep you turning the pages. It's maybe the happiest, sad, story I've read in a while. Of it's kind for sure. A true Southern story. From the hearts of a granddaughter, grandmother and grandfather. They tell you everything you need to know. This is a true love story. A love so deep. So true. So beautiful.

As you get to know these characters they worm and weave their way right into your heart. A young woman, Keaton, who just had her heart broke. A grandmother, Rebecca/Becks. And grandfather, Townsend. Keaton goes to her grandparents family home to fix it up to be sold. Her mother and uncle have finally decided it's time. What happens in this small town in Beaufort, NC is going to melt your heart. Bring big ugly tears to your eyes. Make you laugh a bit. But mostly it will make you fall in love with Becks and Townsend and dream of a love as deep as theirs. So true and open. So honest and complete. The way they know each other. It's beautiful.

This is a beautiful story. It has sadness in it but mostly it's full of the life of a couple who started life together even though neither's parents were very happy about it. It was the religious thing. But they lived a long and very full life together. Had two beautiful children. And grandchildren that they never got to meet.

This was a light read but with a couple of heavy subjects. Cancer and Alzheimer’s. It is about two people who try to hide these diseases from each other. Two people who know each other so well that of course they know. Of course they see the changes. Of course they know that the other is sick. They have a deep connection that will prevail and outshine almost anything.

I enjoyed reading this story even through the tears that I shed and there was some big ugly tears too. Especially near the end. But it's such a good story. I'm so excited to read more of this author's books. This one really touches the heart. Brings into focus things that we may take for granted. Love and love hard while you can. No matter who it is. Go in with your whole heart.

Thank you #NetGalley, #KrisyWoodsonHarvey, #GalleryBooks, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

FIVE huge stars and probably that many boxes of tissues. It's great.

Some books remind you of life’s precious moments. Moments that you don’t even realize until you know, the end is near. A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is the book to remind you. The book is set between two different generations (grandmother and granddaughter) in a southern town on the coast. To me, the book hit on some of my favorite genres of second chances, the love of family, single dad next door and secrets…family secrets. I loved the feel of the small town feeling of Beaufort. The chapters moved between Becks (Grandmother) and Keaton (Granddaughter).

Keaton lost her job and apartment in NYC. Her family asked her to clean out her grandparents house in Beaufort. Keaton walked into a time warp when she went into her grandparent’s house. Keaton’s family never mentioned the house in Beaufort. Grandparents that were never spoken about. A place where her mother grew up, never spoken about. It was like the house had just been left with everything in its place. They never explained what happened to their family, mostly because they really didn’t know. The secrets were slowly revealed as the story progressed.

Becks and Townsend were small town people who lived a robust life in Beaufort. Both kept a journal of their life and struggles. They loved and were loved. Becks knew that she had a gift for bringing people together and she found pleasure in putting on parties. When Keaton started to clean, she found their journals as well as other treasures and through their words began to put together what happened. As Keaton starts to understand their life, her life changes with the man next door and a group of older women who were friends with her family. Suddenly moving back to NYC wasn’t as important.

I loved this novel! I loved the characters! A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a fabulous read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 Stars

Happy Pub Day to Kristy Woodson Harvey, one of my absolute favorite authors! A Happier Life is my favorite book to date!

Thank you to Kristy, UpLit Reads ( @uplitreads ), and Gallery Books for allowing me to read a gifted physical copy of this book for an honest review!

“Tip: Dearest darling, food is love. Flowers are jewels. No good party is complete without both. Come to think of it, no good life is complete without all four.”

Rebecca Saint James, best Beaufort dinner hostess in the 70’s, and her husband Dr. Townsend Saint James died too early in a tragic car accident according to most. Their children, never could muster the nerve to return to their family home after their parents died.

Becks and Townsend’s granddaughter, Keaton, has been charged with cleaning out the house so that it can be sold. The taxes and overhead to keep the house up have become too much of a stressor. Keaton immediately feels a connection with the grandparents she’s never met as soon as she walks in the front door of their coastal bungalow. She yearns to learn as much as she can about them. Throughout the process she learns a lot about herself. She opens her heart and mind to so many new opportunities and possibilities.

Being a native of North Carolina for 23 years, I really appreciate Kristy’s detail and commitment to capturing the allure of Beaufort both perfectly and with such ease! The southern charm that lived in the hearts of Becks, Townsend, and the Dockside Dames shined through and through. Easily a 5 out of 5 stars for me. I know in a few years, I’ll re-read this book while wishing I could read it again for the first time!

Grab this book and a box of tissues as soon as you are able! It’s the perfect summer/beach read!

When Keaton Smith heads to Beaufort, North Carolina, she doesn’t know what she’s about to get into. Armed with the task of listing her mother’s childhood home, she’s instantly embroiled in family drama she never knew existed that trace back to her deceased grandparents.

In an alternate timeline we meet said Rebecca “Becks” Saint James, the grandmother who once made a quite a name for herself by hosting spectacular dinner parties. When Keaton finds Rebecca’s bible to entertaining, she inadvertently opens a window into a past she never knew existed. Keaton knew her grandparents died in a car crash, but the more she digs, the more she begins to question what really happened.

Part mystery, part romance, A Happier Life is a dual timeline story that touches upon the difficult choices one has to make in life. It also focuses on the judgments others make about those choices without knowing the whole truth. I found both Keaton and Becks timelines to be interesting and heartbreaking, each in their own ways. A well rounded beach read, A Happier Life is a novel that highlights how happiness can surface in some unexpected ways.

This was my first read by Harvey and wow, just wow. It was a book full of so much heart and the NC beachside settings was absolutely everything. And in a turn of events I actually wept at one point, not a few tears, it was a full on deluge! I loved this book so much and have already bookmarked her backlist to start reading asap!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc!

A beautiful southern town, family traditions, community expectations, a house that hasn’t been touched since the 1970s, and the mysterious murder/disappearance of the towns mist popular couple. Granddaughter Keaton has been charged with cleaning out the house and preparing it for the sale. But what she finds changes everything…answers to questions, new friends, a renewed sense of family, and even a little love. Great summer read!!!