Kristy Woodsen Harvey is the queen of dual timelines and her newly released, A Happier Life perfectly aligns to that concept. When done well, dual timelines make for an interesting read.

What I liked most about this story were that the characters’ flaws were not masked over, which made them be a little more raw. I enjoy the small town feel and community of support for someone in need. It was nice to have insight into Keaton’s grandmother’s view and her loves and beliefs. And I thought Keaton and her handsome next door neighbour worked well together; providing just enough romance that didn’t overwhelm the rest of the book. Additionally, I can’t forget to mention the even better love story; the one of Keaton’s grandparents. Their dedication and love for each other was superb and one I won’t forget about it.

I am a big Kristy Woodson Harvey fan.. Her newest book A Happier Life is an absolutely perfect summer read. I love how Harvey takes us to a different beach community in the south with each of her books and then really makes us feel like we’re part of the community. I love a “a fresh start” book for my summer reads and Keaton deserved a fresh start! Also as somebody who loves home decor and home projects that part of the story was right up my alley!

Thank you #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @uplitreads and @gallerybooks for my gifted ARC and #gifted finished copy!

Reading the new KWH book has become a true highlight each summer and A Happier Life absolutely nailed it. Another 5 ⭐️ winner! This book has it all. A little mystery, a little history, a little romance and lots of sweet old ladies. This would make a great book club pick or one to read with your mom and family.

I really liked Keaton, the main character. She’s in that period of life where she doesn’t know exactly what she wants, but she knows she needs to make some changes. When the opportunity to take a break from her city life and regroup arises, she takes it. I loved the relationship between Keaton and her brother, Harris. They always were there for each other. The romance between Keaton and Bowen was the perfect flirtation, but Anderson really steals the show!

Keaton’s grandmother, Becks reminded me so much of my own grandmother. She was a member of her local garden club and she would also throw lavish dinner parties. She was also an incredible seamstress and would make herself a dress and my grandfather a matching tie! Sadly, she also has the same illness that Becks has. I loved reading that Kristy based a lot of Becks on her own grandmother.

This is easily one of my favorite books of the year. If this isn’t on your TBR, it’s a must read!

A Happier Life

Kristy Woodson Harvey is back again with a must have summer read. A Happier Life is set in beautiful Beaufort, NC. The story follows Keaton whose life implodes right before her eyes. After losing her boyfriend, job, and apartment, Keaton is sent on a mission to ready her grandparents’ Beaufort home to be sold. Frozen in the 70s the home hasn’t been touched since her grandparents’ death in 1976. Keaton isn’t prepared for what she meets and is quickly overwhelmed by the momentous task of cleaning out the house. Her grandmother, Rebecca Saint James, known, as Becks, left behind a Guide to Entertaining that helps Keaton get to know her grandmother for the first time. Along the way, she is surrounded by neighbors & new friends who support her journey to learn about her grandparents’ life & the mystery of their death.
I loved the dual storyline of Keaton & Becks’ lives. Learning more about Becks helps Keaton better understand the relationship between her mom & herself. Keaton’s (& Kristy’s) dog, Salt provides comic relief to the story line.

Keaton is desperate for a fresh start and when the opportunity presents itself to move to Beaufort NC for the summer to fix up her grandparents abandoned house to put on the market she decided to take it. After being confronted with the secrets of their disappearances and deaths, what she didn’t expect to find was a whole new life, love and answers.

This might be my favorite of her books so far and I loved The Wedding Veil. This book was full of mystery and love and it even made me cry because it was so beautiful.

Master Southern storyteller Kristy Woodson Harvey, a long-standing favorite author, returns with her eleventh and most compelling novel yet, A HAPPIER LIFE! The past and present intertwine in this captivating multi-generational mystery of family secrets and love story — a tapestry rich in history, place, and character, true to the author's heart, with a special nod to her charming town of Beaufort, NC.

Prepare for a literary feast with the ultimate Southern entertaining tips and more!

A HAPPIER LIFE is masterful and lauded as one of the Top Books of 2024 and the ultimate perfect summer beach read—a testament to the author's signature winning style, engaging narrative, natural-born gifted storytelling, genuine Southern personality, and universal appeal, which fans adore and keep returning for more.

With its blend of Southern charm, a multi-generational mystery, and a perfect beach read for those who enjoy Southern fiction, literary, multi-generational family mysteries, and small towns with a touch of romance (both past/present). These characters will remain with you long after the book ends.

WARNING: Please include the highest SPF sunscreen in your beach bag to accompany your copy of A HAPPIER LIFE, as you will not move from your coveted beach spot once you start this treasure. All KWH books need their own SPF logo label!

A HAPPIER LIFE is destined to fly off the shelves and is prime for the big or small screen! I want a front-row seat.

About...

Present Day:
Keaton Smith is ready for a new start. Her job, relationship, social life, and home blew up in New York (due to Jonathan/Allison), and thankfully, her mom offers her a much-needed respite for the summer. The family needs someone to go to Beaufort, NC, to prepare the house on Sunset Lane to put on the market for sale. It has been sitting for years and is owned by her deceased grandparents and handed down.

She leaves New York for the beautiful North Carolina coastal town of Beaufort, NC, wondering what to expect. Her grandparents died mysteriously before she was born. The folks in her family are big pilots. However, Keaton and her mom are the only people in the family without their pilot's license (both afraid of flying).

The minute she steps into the house, it is as if they never left—like time traveling back in time. Everything is just like they left it as they were to run out for an errand and never returned. There are many personal things and memories. She also finds her grandfather's journals and her grandmother's popular entertaining notebooks, among other clues into their lives.

Keaton is befriended by the cute little ten-year-old boy, Anderson next door, his dad, Bowen, a Marine Biologist (they do not hit it off immediately), a group of older, lively eccentric ladies called the Dockhouse Dames (loved) who take her under their wing for morning coffee and gossip at The Dockhouse, and an entire own who loves this charming coastal seaside town with loads of history, home tours, events, history, and everything you would want. Plus her Goldendoodle, Salt (Kristy's own Salt makes a debut)!

At the same time, she is concerned about her career, future, and what she is supposed to do with her life. Where does she belong?

Past 1976:
Townsend and Becks moved to Beaufort as soon as they married forty years ago. The house they left to Townsend, the first grandson, is a lovely clapboard home rich in history located in the beautiful coastal town of Beaufort, NC. The town, with its boardwalk and surrounding water, is a character in itself, adding depth and charm to the story. The Becks loved the town, and their love for it is palpable in the narrative.

Everyone knew Rebecca "Becks" Saint James's (her grandmother) dinner parties and summer suppers were legendary. They were the hottest ticket in the small seaside town of Beaufort, NC. Her secret was the magic formula, the guest list. Her grandparents were madly in love; he (Townsend) was the local doctor, and she was the elegant Southern host, wife, mother, and community leader.

After their last dinner party in 1976, Becks and Townsend's convertible was found sunk in Taylor Creek, but they were not inside, which has always been a mystery. There have been many conspiracy theories.

As the summer moves ahead, Keaton falls in love with Beaufort, the people, and especially the little boy and his dad, next door. As she prepares the house, she learns more about her grandparents through her notebooks by Becks that preserved all her entertaining details, her recipes, and her secrets, which make Keaton feel confident her grandmother was truly happy in life.

Will she be able to solve the mystery of her grandparents? Will she take a page from her grandparent's life and apply it to her life? Could Keaton stay here in Beaufort and make a new, happier life?

My thoughts...

Oh, my, I loved, loved A HAPPIER LIFE! DAZZLING. My favorite and a must-read. I adored the Dockhouse Dames, hilarious and wise! A book you will want to read more than once. I wanted to savor each page and did not want it to end. KWH is at the top of her game, and her passion is reflected on each page as it comes alive. Inspired by her family history and her lovely town, she honors throughout this book with her magical, enchanting storytelling and passion.

Kristy has an appealing signature style and charisma that draws people to her writing, setting, personality, and characters—a delight! She is in a class of her own. She flawlessly captures the past and how it connects with the present, how we learn from other generations, and how their wisdom is applied to our present everyday lives while blending humor and a thought-provoking takeaway message. Her writing style is engaging, immersive, and filled with heart, making each page a joy to read.

The author loves and is passionate about the real Beaufort, NC, her family, the residents, and Salt, her dog. (fun). She embraces all the town's and residents' activities, and we see her passion shine throughout each page of her books (especially this one) and all her social media posts.

It makes you want to head to Beaufort, NC now, to experience a bit of the love, the quaint charm, the history, the scenic backdrop, and all that the past and present bring.

I have been a huge KWH fan since her debut and have read every book, and each one is 5 STARS. A HAPPIER LIFE is a 5 Stars ++ and one of my top books of 2024! I cannot recommend this highly enough.

From clever title chapters starting with Tips from Rebecca's Southern entertainment notebook, the recipes, and the journal entries, with a blending of family drama, small coastal towns, historical, contemporary, secrets of the past, Southern fiction, mystery, romance—making for an ideal beach read and book club pick. These unique features, such as entertaining tips and recipes, add a layer of authenticity and depth to the story, making it a truly immersive reading experience.

Recs ...

For fans of the author, as well as Nicholas Sparks' The Notebook, and those who enjoy authors Emily Giffin, Dorothea Benton Frank, Elin Hilderbrand, and Mary Kay Andrews.

Thank you...

I am truly honored to be included in the Acknowledgments and forever grateful. I enjoyed reading Kristy's story, which is based on the Beaufort of her real life, which she loves dearly, and her notes.

A very special thanks to the author and Gallery Books for a digital reading copy via NetGalley and the stunning #CoverCrush hardcover copy with the autographed Salt art card! One I will truly treasure.

Audiobook...

I also pre-ordered the audiobook and look forward to listening to my favorite talented narrators: Cassandra Campbell, Devon Sorvari, and Red Sanders, perfectly matched with KWH.

If you could pick one beach read for the summer, A HAPPIER LIFE should be the one.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 25, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
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3.5 stars.

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey is a charming novel that alternates between the present and 1976.

In the present, thirty-three-year-old Keaton Smith is re-evaluating her life after a shocking announcement from her boss. Having devoted her life to her career, Keaton is uncertain what comes next for her. So, she takes her mom and her uncle up on their offer to get their family’s house ready to go on the market.

In 1976, Keaton’s grandmother Rebecca “Becks” Saint James is busy with her charity work and weekly dinner parties. She jots down tidbits of advice to her daughter in her journal where she also details information about her dinner party menus and guests. Just as she preparing her last summer party, Becks receives very unexpected news. Becks is also a little concerned about small changes she notices in her beloved husband, Townsend.

With the chapters seamlessly moving back and forth in time, Keaton begins to make a life for herself in Beaufort. She is also immersed in her grandmother’s notebook and she is puzzled by the mystery of what happened to her grandparents that fateful summer. With the house getting closer and closer to being ready to sell. Keaton must decide what she wants for her future.

A Happier Life is sweet novel that is very slow-paced. The cast of characters are a delight with the secondary characters sometimes outshining Keaton. Beaufort is an appealing and inviting small town. The mystery surrounding Becks and Townsend’s disappearance is intriguing and often overshadows Keaton’s story arc. Kristy Woodson Harvey brings this lovely story to a very satisfying conclusion.

I don’t think 5 stars are enough to rate this beautiful story! I have read all of Kristy’s books and loved them all but I think this is her best book yet!

This is a story about family and tradition. It is a story of true love. It is a story of trying to find your happier life while learning about and understanding your past. It is a love letter to Kristy’s beloved Beaufort and it is a tribute to families…past and present.

I can not recommend this book highly enough!!!

Thank you Netgalley and Gallery Books for the chance to read and review this amazing book!!!

A Happier Life
By: Kristy Woodson Harvey
Gallery Books
Women's Fiction
Pub Date: June 25, 2024

Author Kristy Woodson Harvey is at the top of her literary game with her novel, A Happier Life. She excels with the dual timeline, in this freshly original, multi-generational book set in Beaufort, North Carolina.

In the present day, Keaton Smith goes to Beaufort to prepare her childhood home to sell. She settles in with neighbors and community members, but also seeks answers to a mystery about her grandparents. Her story alternates with that of her grandmother, the famed hostess Rebecca St. James, in the 1970s.

Woodson incorporates so much richness and love into the book, with the coastal setting, historical home, family history and relationships, and intriguing characters. This is Southern fiction at its very best, by one of my favorite authors who just gets better with each book!

I received an advance reader's copy from Net Galley and Gallery Books. My review is my own.

4.5 stars.

I love Kristy Woodson Harvey’s feel good summer reads. A Happier Life continues the trend! From the first couple of chapters, I knew I would be pulled into the cozy story about family, love, secrets, mother-daughter relationships, and a mystery surrounding the disappearance of one of the main character’s grandparents.

Told in dual timelines and from the perspectives of Keaton, a young marketing professional recently betrayed by her boyfriend, and Becks, Keaton’s grandmother, a dynamic, self-assured woman, the story centers around a family home in Beaufort, North Carolina. The setting is well described so much so that I felt I was there with the characters. The characters are likeable, the plot unfolds at a good pace and there is a satisfying, heartwarming ending. My only quibble is that one of the plot points required some suspension of belief but this is a small point in a novel that made me very happy as I was reading it.

Highly recommend this engaging, warm-hearted read that is the perfect summer read!

Can’t wait for this author’s next novel!

Thanks to the publisher for the complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

To be posted to my book IG account and Amazon on pub day.

This is a terrific summer book with a mystery in addition to the beach town and hunk next door.

Keaton heads to North Carolina to get her grandparents' house ready to sell. Her mother and uncle never talk about the grandparents and have never been back to their hometown. When Keaton arrives in Beaufort, she finds the house is exactly as it was the 1976 summer night her grandparents died.

She's befriended by a sassy group of senior citizens and the adorable little boy next door whose single dad is understandably cautious. The seniors knew her mother and her grandparents and they help answer some of her many questions. Keaton's grandparents' POV is told through their journals. Becks Saint James was known for hosting wonderful dinner parties and her planner gives a glimpse into the how and why she plans each party. Along the way Keaton better understands her family and creates a found family in the charming seaside town.

I especially liked the dedication and the subsequent explanation in the acknowledgements. It is always interesting to me when authors share their inspiration for story lines - even when it's seemingly disparate events that come together into one fictional story.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

Keaton Smith’s life in NYC is falling apart. She’s recently lost her boyfriend, her apartment, and her job. So when she finds out her mother’s childhood home has been vacant for decades, she jumps at the chance to fix it up and escape to Beaufort, NC for a while. But she has no idea what’s waiting for her there.

This is officially my favorite KWH book! I honestly couldn’t decide which timeline I enjoyed more. I love the life Keaton is creating for herself in the small coastal town of Beaufort but I also really enjoyed learning about her grandparents, Becks and Townsend, back in the 70s. Now I want to go to a famous Becks dinner party. A Happier Life is romance mixed with historical fiction mixed with a mystery and it was the perfect mashup of all three.

The parent/child relationships in this book were so interesting to me. Keaton’s understanding of her mom’s relationship with her mother changed the way she viewed her own childhood.

Read this book for:
-Salt, the hilarious goldendoodle
-Dual timeline
-The dockside dames
-Beaufort, NC
-Small town romance
-Single dad
-Lots of secrets
-Love, mystery, and grief
-A house that’s stuck in the 70s

Why is it so hard to find the words for a book that you loved so much? KWH, this book was simply magnificent. I loved every word.

Multigenerational novels are so fun to read and the way Keaton and Beck's lives were woven together was perfect. The town of Beaufort sounds like a place I'd love to visit and the tribute to Kristy's IRL historic community was the perfect touch.

I loved the way she blended women's fiction, mystery, romance and some history creating a novel that has a little something for every reader. This one will tug at your heartstrings.

Read If You Like:
Charming Small PicturesqueTown
Dual POV - Multigenerational Stories
Single Neighbor/Dad Trope
Adorable & Witty 10 Year Old Neighbor
Emotional Depth
Journals
Family Secrets

Simply put, read this one!! Add it to your beach bag, asap! Easy 5 stars!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🅡🅔🅐🅓 🅘🅕 🅨🅞🅤 🅛🅘🅚🅔:
☀️small town southern charm
☀️single dad trope 🔥 but with little to no spice
☀️multi-generational family secrets
☀️dual POV
☀️adorable dogs, in this case a golden doodle!
☀️complicated family relationships
ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛs:
If KWH is writing it.. I’m reading it! A Happier Life certainly didn’t disappoint! This is the perfect book to kick off your summer reading!

When I picked up this book I was transported to Beaufort, NC — I think other than the sweltering heat that I would thrive living in the south! The hospitality, the close-knit groups, the welcome atmosphere, the traditions.. these were all some of the reasons that I flew through this book and enjoyed it so much! As Keaton learned more about her grandmother and her family as a whole, I felt like I was right there along with her on the journey. Reading from old journals is extremely personal, but I thought it was perfect since she had practically no information on this part of her life. I thought it was a very sweet way to connect with her grandparents after all this time.

If you’re looking for a quick read that is going to make you want to book a trip down south and tour some amazing homes full of charm and class— this is your book! Sometimes happiness is found in unexpected places and we all deserve a happier life

Kristy Woodson Harvey has a lock on Southern women’s fiction, which is one of my favorite genres. A Happier Life is filled with charm, a bit of mystery, interesting characters, and one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve come across in a while. The setting is the beach town of Beaufort, which makes this a perfect summer read. The dual timeline of the family’s history made this so much more interesting. I recommend that you pick this up for a delightful beach read!
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this wonderful advanced copy.

A Happier Life was a remarkable story I won't soon forget. The author really knows how to keep readers engaged. Highly recommend!

Kristy Woodson Harvey is one of my all time favorite authors. I’ve enjoyed so many of her books, and this one is equally worthy of praise.

Keaton is desperate for a fresh start. When her mother needs help preparing her childhood home for sale in Beaufort, NC, Keaton jumps at the opportunity. Prior to this, Keaton had no idea that the property even existed because her grandparents died in an accident prior to her birth. Keaton is welcomed into a historically charming town and slowly begins to learn about her late grandparents and inevitably uncovering the mystery surrounding her grandparents death.

A Happier Life is a story about everlasting love, loss and the overwhelming grief that follows a love so great. The story has a layer of mystery and another of historical fiction, and it’s packed full of southern charm. This is undeniably the book to read this summer.

This title releases June 25, 2024.

5/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kristy Woodson Harvey and Gallery Books for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another moving family summer dual timeline story perfect for fans of books like The notebook. This multigenerational story focuses on a recently dumped woman who gets tasked with making the family home ready to sell and ends up falling for a single father and discovering the mystery of her grandparents' death. With great chronic illness and Alzheimer's rep, parental abandonment issues, infidelity and second chances (both romantic and familial), this was a heartfelt beach read perfect for fans of authors like Dorothea Benton Frank or Elin Hilderbrand. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Perfect summer read! A dual timeline with multiple generations of family surrounding this charming, beach house where memories are made and secrets are held. Love, laughter, mothers/daughters and the magic that happens near the water all play a key role in both the unsolved mystery and the decisions Keaton and her grandmother Becks are forced to make.

I love a good Summer Southern Beach story and “A Happier Life” by New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey, is hitting all the marks! The story is set in the picturesque seaside town of Beaufort, North Carolina, where the historic houses have witnessed centuries of secrets. One of the most enduring mysteries is the disappearance of Rebecca and Townsend Saint James in 19761.

The narrative intertwines two timelines: the present, where Keaton Smith, the granddaughter of the missing couple, seeks a fresh start by returning to her mother’s childhood home; and the past, where we follow Rebecca “Becks” Saint James during the summer of 1976, as she grapples with challenges behind the facade of perfection.

As Keaton delves into her grandparents’ past, she becomes enchanted by their legacy of love and southern traditions. Meanwhile, Becks’ struggles and her renowned summer suppers paint a vivid picture of a woman ahead of her time. The novel explores the boundless nature of love and the idea that understanding our past can lead us to a happier life.

The book is being praised for its emotional depth and the evocative portrayal of a family’s connection through time. With a cast of endearing characters, including a charming neighbor, his precocious son, and a flock of feisty town busybodies, Harvey creates a community that readers will yearn to be a part of.

Kristy Woodson Harvey’s “A Happier Life” is a novel that celebrates the power of family, the resilience of love, and the strength found in the places we call home. It’s a heartwarming read that is setting up to be a memorable novel of this year for me.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy an arc copy of A Happier Life before it releases on 6/25.