A great adventure story! A better (fictional) Eat,Pray,Love. Also, the writing was so well done. Relatable and beautifully written descriptions of nature and how humans interact with the world. Loved that I couldn't predict what would happen next in her travels and how the author wove in little bits of life philosophy into the narrative.

I received an electronic ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine through NetGalley.
I was intrigued by the synopsis and wanted to learn more about the main character's journey. Readers meet Ammalie after she has begun her solo journey to places that were meaningful to her late husband. She is a recent widow seeking to find her place again. As the story unfolds, we learn more about her marriage and her reasons for finding closure in locations that were important to Vincent. Though I struggled with some of her choices, I was delighted to see Ammalie grow and figure out who she wanted to be beyond a wife and mother.
Some of the transitions from scene to scene were disjointed which disrupted the overall storyline. The side characters were interesting but never fully developed (except for how they interacted with Ammalie). The ending wrapped up a bit too smoothly with everyone being happy to be connected together.

Sometimes huge life events, whether tragic or joyous, cause us to stop, take stock and figure out where we are and where we want to go, or who we are, have become and what we might like to be in the future. Laura Pritchett explores these themes through Ammalie, a recent widow who embarks on a solo trip to explore herself and her life, as well as reflect on her now deceased husband (and their relationship, for better or for worse) as well as her only child.

Overall I liked this book, I am in a very very busy season of life (my firstborn just had her firstborn!) so my reading was a bit disjointed and distracted. This was no fault of the book or writer, however.

3.5 stars

I could relate to so much of this book. The whole feeling of being invisible, superfluous once you’re past your child, rearing years.. compounding it with widowhood has got to be so difficult. I I totally understood the main characters need to go on an adventure and expand her horizons. I just didn’t understand the methods that she was using.. Breaking and entering, living like a popper, sleeping in her car. The writing was good, the scenery was stunning, there were just pieces of the puzzle that didn’t fit for me..

This is the book I never knew I needed!
I remember back when I read Cheryl Strayed. I felt SEEN and HEARD and so did millions of others. Now at the same age of the author Laura Pritchett, I nearly didn't pick this story up. So, so, so glad I did.

Ammalie Brinks, is still grieving her husband's death. Her son is in college, her job is irrelevant. She decides to take a trip and utilize keys that she has kept in her home over the years of marriage. What happens next is a hero's journey. Ammalie changes the lives of everyone she encounters and we are truly on the edge of our seat and she makes decisions that put her safety at risk but also allow her to live life.

I was charmed by her willingness to name her inanimate objects (I do the same) and Fluffiest Red, her trusty sleeping bag never seemed to let her down. There are dogs, woman, children and men that can be dangerous, but Ammalie journeys on. It is incredibly hard to describe just how magical this book is, but it is safe to say that if you are over 40, this is a book for you! Grab this book, journey with Ammalie and then begin to plan your own.
#randomhouse #ballantine #threekeys #laurapritchett. #refugia #fluffiestred #ladyshackleton

Going into this book, I had really high hopes. I loved the concept of the book, and the cover I thought was great. Unfortunately, this just didn't resonate with me. Ammalie didn't seem invisible to me, and her "privilege" seemed to consist of her socio-economic status, which allowed her to take all these fanciful excursions. The self-deprecation was a little wearing after a while, and several of the situations seemed really contrived.

This is not to say I didn't enjoy reading this -- I did. I think there's a large demographic who will really identify with the character and her struggles. I just didn't think the book was written for me.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This novel has a very unique and interesting conceit: a middle-aged woman, recently widowed, embarks on her personal voyage of discovery to do some adverturizing at three remote cabins that figured prominently in her former husband's life, using actual keys that can open the doors of said cabins. Along the way, she meets some interesting characters, finds out all sorts of cool stuff about the world around her and her own self, and manages to avoid breaking and entering charges. She ends up using these places as refugias, places that creatures large and small could live during momentous events. The plot could easily move into the mundane, or the trite and trivial, but steers clear of both and the novel has some meaningful moments that spoke to me, a 60s-something male. Her adventures seem very realistic and momentous, and the people she meets along the way just the sorts of folks that one who travels on their own would intersect with. The keys are of course a metaphor for decisive points in the heroine's life choices and unlock further insights, but the book doesn't get heavy-handed about applying them. Highly recommended.

This was such a beautiful story. I loved it. Ammalie is such a well developed character. She is humorous, human, brave, hurting and so much more. As a woman of similar age (ok, a few years older) she just resonated with me and my current view on the state of the world. From climate change to social injustice, to the marginalization of women. Her ability to put herself out there and pursue her adventure was awe inspiring. Having nearly lost my husband to illness last year, I found myself wondering if I could have been so bold and daring as she was. All of the character development was great. So many characters to love. Lulu, Kat, Kit, Rita…Ammalie gave back to the world and humanity in so many unique ways while taking relatively little in the grand scheme of things.

Laura Pritchett’s “Three Keys” invites readers on a captivating journey alongside Ammalie Brinks, a woman navigating the complexities of middle age while grappling with loss and newfound freedom. This delightful exploration of rediscovery and self-realization is a testament to Pritchett’s storytelling prowess.

Ammalie Brinks finds herself at a crossroads after losing the pillars of her life—her husband, her job, and her role as a mother. As she embarks on a spontaneous road trip through Nebraska, adorned with a broken plastic fork in her hair, she stumbles upon three literal keys from her past. These keys unlock doors to homes from her and her husband’s history, sparking a journey of self-discovery and adventure.

Pritchett skillfully weaves together themes of love, heartbreak, and the quest for personal fulfillment as Ammalie grapples with the fear of irrelevance and obscurity. Through Ammalie’s exploits, including forays into minor criminal behavior, Pritchett highlights the liberating power of embracing one’s true self, even in the face of societal expectations.

“Three Keys” is a poignant reminder that life’s second acts are ripe with opportunities for growth and reinvention. Pritchett’s prose is imbued with a zest for life, capturing the essence of Ammalie’s journey with humor, heart, and authenticity.

Winner of the PEN USA Award for Fiction and the Colorado Book Award, Laura Pritchett delivers a masterful narrative that resonates with readers of all ages. “Three Keys” is a compelling tale that celebrates the beauty of embracing life’s unexpected twists and turns, making it a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and adventure.

In conclusion, “Three Keys” is a captivating and uplifting read that reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of self-discovery. Laura Pritchett’s storytelling shines brightly in this charming tale of second chances and newfound purpose.

I tried to enjoy this story but it felt messy and strange. I couldn’t connect to Ammalie at all. Much like another reviewer, I was bothered by the negative self talk of being crazy at middle age. Can’t we get past that? The whole abandon my life and travel the world like some Eat Pray Love idea is so unrealistic.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thought I'd really enjoy Laura Pritchett's novel Three Keys. I'm also in my mid-life with my last child heading to college in 4 months.
However, the book didn't resonate with me. I was turned off by Ammalie's choices and by calling herself crazy. As women in mid-life we don't need further stereotypes that we are "crazy" or "unstable." Plus I just couldn't get past that she was breaking into homes. I just couldn't connect.

Three Keys
A Novel
by Laura Pritchett
Thank you, Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advance copy. I did enjoy the three keys.
It touched on many things. Ammalie Brinks has just lost the three keys of her life’s purpose—her husband, her job, and her role as a mom, after her son went off to college. She’s also mystified to find herself in middle age: How exactly had that happened? The terrifying idea of becoming irrelevant, invisible, of letting her life slip away Into obscurity, has her driving distracted through Nebraska with a broken plastic fork in her tangled hair.
Shad me laughing, feeling her loss and how to move on alone. She really could be thankful for everything. I would like to meet her, ok, not in the Deloses Clayborn way. She was a feisty one. I cheered her on.

Thank you, Random House and NetGalley for this luminous novel to read and review. It just missed 5 Stars, which for me is pure pefection.

Ammelie, mid-50's and menopausal, her husband Vincent died 18 months ago. She has three actual keys she has decided to use to open up places where Vincent had stayed in the past to see the places he travelled without her and find the answer to their alienation before his death.

She packs up her old junker car with sleeping bag, first aid supplies and a head lantern and heads off to break in to three places her husband had stayed, one in Colorado, on in Arizona and the last in New Zealand. It proves to be a most adventurous trip, during which Ammelie becomes aware of ecological problems, helps various people she meets, and in solving her survival problems, becomes more fit, more aware of birds and the beauty of nature, and her own need to make the rest of her life count. (And she rescues an adorable dog,)

Pritchett's characters are so interesting, but you will be blown away by the things she experiences and learns and is changed by. There is glorious scenery, survival and a moving metamorphosis. I could not stop reading.until the last page, thoughtful about my own life. And isn't that the best kind of book?

Fans of women’s fiction will enjoy this book. It was a four star read for me. I’ll be on the lookout for the next book from this author.

I was asked to review “Three Keys” by Laura Pritchett. I have been reading a lot of novels of women searching for their purpose in their midlife and this novel is a great example of how this topic can be developed in a thoughtful and memorable way.

Ammalie has lost her husband, her job, and her son has headed off to college. Hence, she sets off on a journey of self-exploration both literally and figuratively. As someone who is just a few years behind Ammalie really relate to second-guessing life choices while trying to figure out who you are. I found Ammalie to be a flawed character who you cannot help but root for.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and Laura Pritchett for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This literary, contemporary women’s fiction is a journey, personal and physical, and full of travel.
Ammalie is a wife, mother, and waitress who loves her job. But when she loses her three keys- her husband passes, her son moves out and on, and where she works burns down- she feels lost. She is also surprised to find herself in middle age, which makes her feel invisible to those around her. Although not all of her endeavors are, shall we say, legal, so perhaps being invisible is not the worst.
When she finds 3 literal keys to past travel destinations, she decides to travel the west to revisit shared memories and visit places her late husband talked about but she has not yet experienced. Not all of these places are scheduled, approved stays, but an empty house and an entry key is pretty close. One bit from this book that I love is when Ammalie exclaims that tourists should read a book that takes place where they are visiting, as I completely agree. The people she meets along her travels add to Ammalies life, sometimes in unexpected ways. There's also a tidbit about doing a happy dance upon seeing a beautiful bird, and same! Been there.
Full of incredible destinations, unique people, and exciting adventure, three keys offers unique armchair travel for readers.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This genre isn't typically one I choose but something about the description intrigued me, maybe because like the main character Ammalie I too am middle aged, about to launch my kids in a few years, and not sure where I quite fit in anymore. Plus, she is breaking and entering? Cool!

The book was a lot more quirky than I expected. Some portions are basically stream of conscious reflections, and there were a lot more "heal the Earth" sermons than I expected (they weren't bad - it just wasn't what I was expecting).

The last half of the book was a quick read and I was eager to see how Ammalie fared in her adventures. Was glad it had a HEA ending.

This was a lot of fun! Full of surprises, adventure, and self-discovery. The writing is lovely.

Ammalie feels like she is losing it. Her husband died a year and a half ago, her sister is sick, her son isn’t speaking to her. To get things back on track, Ammalie decides to go on an extended trip and may or may not be engaging in some (well-intentioned!?) breaking and entering. Follow along as Ammalie sees new places, meets new people, and finds out more about herself and what she is capable of.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read Three Keys by Laura Pritchett. I loved sharing this adventure with this quirky character!

A beautiful romance! I loved the characters. I laughed out loud, and rooted for the romance. A must for all rom com lovers!