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!!!

⛱️ A Happier Life - Kristy Woodson Harvey

5 ⭐️ - I now have to read everything Kristy Woodson Harvey writes. She is 2/2 with me. I am obsessed with how her books make me feel. They have so much heart, nostalgia, growth, and connection. I will be thinking about this one for a while. I love the story, all the changing POVs, the mystery, the familial connection and growth. Ugh it was all lovely. I wish I could read it over again.

What an engaging book! I definitely enjoyed my time with all of these wonderful characters. The setting is in North Carolina and is perfect for a summer read. The story is told in two timelines so the plot is multilayered. Keaton’s story is present day and her grandma Becks is 1976. Keaton is trying to find meaning and happiness in her life and going through her grandparents old home and the journals they left helps to give her clarity. This is such a heartwarming story and I highly recommend it.

You can always count on Kristy Woodson Harvey to deliver the perfect summer read! | have read all of her backlist and while the Peachtree Bluff Series will always have my heart, A Happier Life is right up there as one of my new favorites! This book has it all - there are long buried family secrets, mystery, a gorgeous Southern setting, and of course a sweet romance.

Keaton is in need of a fresh start and leaves NYC to help clean out her late grandparents house in Beaufort, NC. Keaton’s grandparents died before she was born so she is eager to learn more about her family. The house hasn’t been touched in 50 years as secrecy has surrounded the family and Keaton is determined to find some answers.

Told in alternating timelines, I love a multigenerational story as we get to know Keaton in present day, and her grandmother Beck in the past. The connection between these two was beautiful and Keaton was able to learn so much about herself and figure out truly where she belonged.

I think one thing that Kristy Woodson Harvey always does a beautiful job of is placing the reader in these coastal small town settings with unforgettable characters that just scream summer living! I wanted to be living in Beaufort with Keaton and the sexy next door neighbor and meeting for coffee with Beck’s friends. There is truly something for everyone in this book and should be on your TBR for the summer!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars

[ thank you @gallerybooks for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

PUB DATE: June 25, 2024 (out now!)

Well my friends, Kristy Woodson Harvey has done it again! This was another great book by her.

If you are looking for a book that has secrets, mystery, some family drama, light romance and set in North Carolina, this is for you.

I loved the dual timelines, I loved the journal entries. I truly enjoyed it every time I picked it up to read. And she also includes two recipes in the back. I made the oatmeal cookies (shown in the picture) and they were delicious! 😋

>>Do you keep or write in a journal?

Kristy Woodson Harvey is an auto-buy author for me. I have been waiting for this book for a year.
Keaton has gotten some bad news at the office. Or, is it bad? Keaton now has the opportunity to get her grandparents' beach house ready to sell. She makes new friends, learns some things about her family, and there is a good-looking man next door. This is a great read for the beach, pool, porch, or for listening to while walking.

This is definitely a different type of love story. The tag line being can true love happen twice with the same person. Liz and Tobin are struggling in their marriage and work to try and see if it is worth saving. Their second chance fight was a little heavier than the cover indicated. Even Liz’s attempts at improv to prepare for a pitch at work aren’t light.

I loved the MCs’ occupation was wilderness guides for a company. And I loved the MC was shown in all her social awkwardness even though I do wish it wasn’t every moment in the book. This would have helped me to connect with Liz earlier in her story.

I loved the yes and philosophy practiced as part of the improv and how that ultimately helped Liz figure and get what she wanted.

There was heart in the writing style that included both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. And that ultimately there was redemption and hope in all of the couple’s trials and tribulations.

Gail Shalan did an excellent job voicing Liz and showing the ups and downs and anxiety that encompass her daily life. I wasn’t terribly fond of the male voice she used and that she used it for every male character. It made it a little harder to remember who Liz was speaking with. But I did appreciate that she made Tobin’s voice a little quieter than Liz’s. That seemed to fit with his personality.

While this wasn’t what I was expecting, I enjoyed this second chance romance between Liz and Tobin.

My gosh I absolutely love Harvey’s writing! She is a favorite of mine and her writing never gets old!
A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is another beautifully written novel!
I really loved this book along with her writing and storytelling. She writes the ultimate comfort reads.
The love, mystery, family and drama made this story so unputdownable!
This was the perfect feel good summer beach read!

Thank You NetGalley and Gallery Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

A Happier Life should be in everyone’s beach bag! The book takes place in a small, coastal town in North Carolina and I thought the dual timelines was a creative way to show how the community developed over time.

One timeline is told in the present where Keaton is looking for a fresh start by organizing and getting her late grandparents’ house ready to sell. The other is told from Keaton’s grandmother’s perspective as she faces a difficult diagnosis and prepares to say goodbye to her family, friends and neighbors. The chapters were connected in subtle ways and I loved how Keaton was able to learn about her family’s history while also giving herself a new beginning. This southern family drama had a mix of romance and historical fiction making it a unique read perfect for a summer day at the beach. Thanks for sharing a copy with me!

A HAPPIER LIFE by Kristy Woodson Harvey

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy pub day to this gem. Thanks for the gifted copy @gallerybooks!

Oh man, what a good summer read (as always from KWH!). I just loved Keaton and Becks, the dual timeline and POVs, the dreamy location & the many, many historical touches and references. Oh, and Salt of course! #doodlemom

While somewhat a love story, A Happier Life also touches on family drama/history, self exploration & discovery and finding friendships, love and sense of home in the most unexpected places.

It gave me Peachtree Bluff vibes in the best way, so if you haven’t read that series by Kristy, please do yourself a favor and dive in. I can definitely say this one is right up there with that series as my fav KWH. I’m kicking myself for being too slow to get to see her this week at @mjudsonbooks but encouraging you to go see and support Kristy on tour if she’s coming to a city near you!

A fifty=year-old mystery set in a small, coastal town, wrapped in Southern charm and hospitality. Just like all Southern girls do, Kristy Woodson Harvey will wrap you around her little finger, weaving friendship, love and mysteries of the past with love and enlightenment in the present, Recipes included!

Keaton’s life has been turned upside down after breaking up with her boyfriend and losing her job. Her mother then asks her if she could go to Beaufort to prepare her grandparent’s house to be sold. Against her better judgement, Keaton decides to go. She finds her grandparents home to be untouched since the 1970’s and is transported back to their world via journals.

In this multigenerational story told through multiple POVs (past and present) you learn that through life, love and grief, there’s always a greater purpose and lesson to be learned. I loved most the character development throughout the story. Seeing Keaton blossom and her coming to understand her mother and uncle much better. I enjoyed that second chances are always an option!

I wasn’t expecting to cry with this one, but I did. Again, I thought of my own mama while reading this and found myself wondering if she knew her time was coming. Was she being intentional in how she spent her final months…weeks. I’m so grateful I was able to get one last hug and one last “I love you!”

I highly recommend this summer read to any and everyone. It’s a beautiful story filled with a bit of mystery, love, family and friendship 💕

Happy Pub Day to one of my favorite authors, @kristywharvey! I know I say it every time she has a new book out, but Kristy Woodson Harvey has really outdone herself with A Happier Life. It was everything I hoped it would be and so much more!

A Happier Life is one of those great reads that has a little something for everyone. It’s part women’s fiction, part romance, but then I would also consider it to be historical fiction with an element of mystery as well.

The story follows Keaton, a young woman who is looking for a new beginning after her life in New York basically implodes. Keaton travels to Beaufort, NC to help her mom sell her childhood home. 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 when Keaton enters the home, it is exactly as it was the day her grandparents died. Keaton slowly begins the process of preparing the house for sale, getting to know her grandparents along the way as she reads journals and her grandmother’s guide to entertaining guests. What soon becomes clear to Keaton though is that all things are not as they seem and preparing the house for sale gives way to unraveling the many secrets that it holds about her grandparents.

I absolutely loved how KWH has crafted this story as a dual POV/dual timeline where we get to know Keaton’s grandmother Becks in the past & watch the beautiful romance unfold between Becks and her beloved husband Townsend as well as the many challenges they faced together, while in the present we follow Keaton as she slowly falls in love with Beaufort & its fabulous residents, including her sexy neighbor and his son. I was rooting hard for Keaton to dump her NYC life & move to Beaufort because she & her adorable dog Salt just seemed so happy there.

If you love charming coastal towns, single dad romances, found family vibes, & compelling mysteries, this is the book for you!

This is another Kristy Woodson Harvey book that I could not put down! I was immediately transported to Beaufort with Keaton as she goes to settle her family's estate. The pull of the family mystery and secrets also swept me right in! With flashbacks to Rebecca St. James's life and present day, a slow build story unfolds. I enjoyed everything about this book! Thank you to Gallery Books and Kristy Woodson Harvey for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!