The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

I loved this book.. It was sweet, funny and downright inspiring. I really enjoyed watching Isadora grow throughout her journey. But I think the cast of characters was what I enjoyed the most, and will miss the most after reading this wonderful book. Definitely recommend and will be looking for more by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thanks so much to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my goodness this was absolutely amazing!! Funny, raw, emotional and heartfelt - The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was a phenomenal read.
From being drawn in immediately with Isadora’a inner monologue and Doctor Who references to loving every single character on the page this book had me hooked!
Throughout the story we follow Isadora at her job as a University Researcher as she sets out to disprove a magazine article (that she bought at the grocery checkout counter) that details “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”. Her research takes her on a journey, forcing her out of her comfort zone and connecting her with the world and people around her.
Full of self discovery, friendship, a whole lot of post-it’s, empowerment and love - The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh Is coming to a shelf near you June 13, 2023!



Thank you to NetGalley and NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After reading the blurb, I thought “This book sounds like me!” I was hooked on the story from the very first page & ended up reading the entire thing in one sitting because I was so invested!

Isadora is quirky, socially awkward, a hardcore introvert, and oh so relatable! Perhaps not in all her mannerisms & behaviours, but definitely in her mental dialogue, core fears, and her journey. Plus, her romance with Cal is absolutely adorable!

Cal is simply wonderful! He’s the opposite of Isadora & compliments her perfectly. He gently encourages her to get out of her comfort zone & defends her. I love how he interacts with his family & how his family welcomes Isadora.

And then there is the found family angle! This made me so happy as it’s one of my favourite tropes, and I love how it played out! Precious Marty—his interactions with Isadora & his sweet memories of his wife are beautiful. Bubbly Darby—she is definitely the sunshine to Isadora’s rain cloud & their unexpected friendship is so fun. And dear Delilah—this girl is truly a 70-year-old woman in a 10-year-old’s body & the bond between her & Isadora absolutely melted my heart.

In addition to the fantastic characters, this book’s themes surprised me in the best of ways & reduced me to tears more than once. Because in so much of Isadora’s (& Delilah’s) story, I saw mine. Isadora has to discover that she actually doesn’t hate people but instead she just hasn’t met the right people who accept & love her for who she is without trying to force her to be who/what they think she should be. And that just because she’s different doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with her. And how she views the past & those who have hurt her affects her present and her future.

I can’t explain how timely this book’s appearance in my life is, which is why it effected me so much. Do I expect others to cry over it? Probably not. But it was a gut punch for me, highlighting things I’m wrestling with & learning in my own life.

This book completely captured my heart & is definitely one of my top reads of the year!! 😭💛


Content: kissing; mentions of cheating (not the main characters)


*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Courtney Walsh’s upcoming book, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, is a real laugh out loud romantic comedy sure to entertain and delight!!! 5 fantastic stars!

Romantic comedies can be tricky, and some are borderline silly for my tastes, but such is not the case with this amazingly well done adventure into the life of Isadora Bentley. Her innermost thoughts are lived out on the page and introverts or others who have ever felt like “odd man out” in life will see the effect it has on her and her attempts to change.

Isadora's professional and personal relationship with Professor Cal Baxter was adorable and hilarious at the same time. His patience and understanding with her exploits was pure charm. Neighbors Darby and especially Delilah add so much personality to the story they could each have books of their own. The story builds and strengthens as it moves forward and I couldn't have enjoyed it more!

There are so many wonderful quotes in this book, a few favorites,
"I don't have any desire to clip my return address tag onto someone else's baggage."
"CHOOSE to be happy." Then get out of your own way.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was the most fun and enjoyable book I've read in a long time. I'd love to see Courtney Walsh continue writing in this genre. I appreciate Thomas Nelson, via NetGalley, making a copy of this refreshing and witty book available for review. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

This book! *chef's kiss* I do not have enough words to describe how much I loved this book!!! I laughed and I cried. Isadora was just such a wonderful heroine and the entire cast of characters were a delight.

THLoIB was my first book by Courtney Walsh and it's not going to be my last. I will be purchasing this book. As an aside, I just bought and read My Phony Valentine which was also a five star read.

One comment I wanted to make is I saw in the description that this is billed as "contemporary Christian romance" but I think this book would appeal to anyone who loves a great story regardless of their faith.

Wonderful romance. No sex.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Thomas Nelson!

A fantastic read from Courtney Walsh! Isodora is a researcher and does her best work alone, diving deep into data. However, one day she decides to conduct her own research project based on the bold claim of a magazine article: “31 Ways to be Happy.” The biggest question.. is what will be Isadora’s findings at the end of the experiment?

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I loved how this book read and I thoroughly enjoyed the stream of consciousness writing style. It was like I was a fly on the wall of Isadora’s clever and hilarious thought process. Watching her grow over the course of the book was a gift!

Courtney Walsh has done it again! This was absolutely delightful. The plot was well-paced and captivating from start to finish. The characters were well-developed; complex, and intriguing. I highly recommend this beautiful telling of the power of love. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

This was a perfect book! I loved every page of it. It was s9 good. I think it needs to be on everyone's book shelf.
I just reviewed The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh. #TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

I've heard such great things about this author and was so excited to be able to read her new title! After reading the synopsis of this story, I was sold! I could see myself so clearly in Isadora and loved getting to read her love story. Cal was the perfect book boyfriend and I loved their love. This has me so excited to read more from Courtney Walsh!

This book had me laughing out loud at various spots. Isadora is quite a character and has shut herself off from everyone until she tries an experiment. Her people that came alongside of her are my favorites--Marty, Cal, Darby and Delilah.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I have read books by Courtney Walsh for many years, however, this time she really hit it out of the park. Just reading the first few pages, I was totally immersed in the life of Isadora Bentley. It begins on her 30th birthday at the grocery store buying a cart full of junk food to celebrate her birthday, alone. Isadora has perfected the art of avoiding people and being alone. Whether or not you have ever experienced any of the things Isadora has, I think this book will grab your heart right from the beginning.
While standing in line to pay for her purchases, a tabloid article of “31 Ways to Be Happy (Today!)” catches her attention. She thinks there might be something there she never considered so she buys the magazine. Upon reading the article, Isadora is on a mission to prove none of the suggestions work. To prove her position, she is determined to try them all.
Isadora works in the world of academia as a researcher – a brilliant, gifted researcher. After assisting a professor get published by mostly writing his entire article and him taking full credit for it, the personal consequences to Isadora went much farther than having her name left off the manuscript, it also left her with a broken heart. After such a dreadful experience for her personally, her boss assigns another research project to her assisting another profession who is writing a book. If she wants to keep her job, she has no choice but to accept the assignment.
This is a fascinating story that I could not put down. I read is straight through in one day. As Isadora sets out to disprove how to be happy, she ends up making unexpected friends including a 70 year old man who is a widower that she eats lunch with each day, neighbors she had skillfully avoided, now feel like family and what a surprise that the professor she is partnering with to help with his research offers to help her research the 31 ways to be happy. As each item is checked off, Isadora’s life changes.
Although the last page has been turned, this story will stay with me for a while.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

In the same vein as The Rosie Project and Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this has a quirky heroine who sees the world slightly differently from many other people. Lonely and frustrated by her life , Isadora spends her 30th birthday debating the merits of junk food while stuffing her face with them. But an article (31 ways to become happier) in a supermarket magazine may well save her from herself. She decides to disprove the author by doing those 31 steps and showing that she was no happier at the end than she was to begin with. What she doesn’t anticipate is meeting people along the way that will drag the happiness out of her. They can see what she cannot. She isn’t broken and unlovable at all.
A treat of a book, Isadora is a wonderful character and the friends she picks up on her journey are joyous, endearing and the sort of people we all hope to meet in our life.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

This is a gem of a book. If you loved Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and/or The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett, you will love the quirky brainiac and The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. A wonderful cast of characters comes together to make this book shine. (I am shocked that there aren't more reviews for this book.)

Isadora isn't happy with her life and happens to see an article about 31 things to do for a happy life, so she sets out to prove/disprove the article. Step 1 of smiling is a challenge, but that leads to her first friendship.

You just never know what is going to come out of Isadora's mouth, there isn't really a filter.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the advance review copy in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley for (once again) introducing me to a "new-to-me" author, Courtney Walsh. Thank you to Courtney Walsh and Thomas Nelson-Fiction (publisher) for approving my advance read request. Publication date is June 13, 2023.

ARC BOOK REVIEW 🖤

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“The good thing is that’s part of life, right? Unfortunately, hearts break. Fortunately, they mend.”

- found family
- Coming of age
- Women’s fiction
- Top notch chemistry in a friends to lovers type of way.

Isadora, a professional researcher, sees an article in a magazine which claims “31 steps to happiness”. Isadora - being the researcher that she is- goes on a journey to disprove the theory but as she completes each step, she finds herself feeling lighter and lighter. And also more confused than ever. Growth never comes without pain, and Isadora has so much to learn.

My thoughts:

This book is golden. The characters are so lovable and relatable - even in their flaws. I found myself relating to Isadora in so many ways - in many ways that I’m not proud of, per se.

This book needs to become a movie, because the premise is just that good. It was so well done. Courtney Walsh pulls you into Isadora’s journey and almost pushes you, the reader, onto a journey yourself. It was touching, hilarious, adorable, and heartwarming. I came away with so much joy and an even deeper understanding of human connection. This one feels very women’s fiction/coming-of-age, but the romance is SO there. It honestly has everything a book should have. It’s rare that I read a book and there’s absolutely nothing I would adjust or change- but this one hits that standard and beyond.

Just add it to the TBR immediately. Releases June 13.

Thank you so much to Courtney Walsh, Thomas Nelson Fiction, and NetGalley for providing me with this ARC. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Isadora Bentley is a researcher who has always dealt with some challenges in life. Always a quiet child, introvert girl, a lonely childhood with a few friends and a lot of desilusions in the adult life. However, on her 30th birthday, She finds and article suggesting 31 ways of being happy, and She begins a scientifc project journey, along and with the help of a charming and sweet Professor trough some path innerself as walks the step by step of How to live a happier life.

I knew I would love this book juts reading the title! It was an incredible journey between the pages of this story, and I could relate with some of the feelings of Isadora and her pathway to a better and free life, being true to herself, and to the ones She love. There's a lot of learnings and lessons in this narrative that was delicate, clear, honest and romantic as well. I love Cal and his behavior and also the steady personality, that made me fall in love with him just like Izzy.

The main message is You are the only one who choose everyday to be happy, let go of the past and see to the future day by day with a little hope and joy, having faith that it'll be better than what has passed. With no pressure or hustle, and counting with the support of the people Wh You love and love You back, You will get to where You need, and want to be.
.
5 stars and all love <3

Thank you so much Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advance read in exchange for this review.

Isadora is alone. She works as a researcher at a university, and she keeps to herself. She avoids people. On her 30th birthday, she decides she will try everything on a 31 ways to make you happy list. She wants to prove the writer wrong. As she does her research, she finds out that maybe she is surprising herself.

OMG I LOVED THIS BOOK. It made my heart soar and I was crying with happiness over so much of it. I felt Isadora's pain and heartache. I felt her joy and how careful she was as she tried to figure out if she was deserving of happiness. I understood as she weighed if it was worth the risk of being hurt in order to enjoy life. This book was so magical and I cherished every page.

What a story! I loved every character in this story. Really enjoyed the storyline and felt the message of the book was really inspiring.
100% recommending this to everyone and will read from the author again

The cover of this book drew me in, but the story kept me reading! "The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley" was such a good book. Isadora is a very relatable character to those that are quiet and keep to themselves due to past negative experiences. She meets some unexpected friends along the way that help her in more ways than just her research. Great story!

I love this book! This is a voice I’ve not read from previous books by this author and I so so so so so hope she writes more books like this because I’m totally here for all of them! So many one-liners that had me chuckling out loud. In fact, on many occasions I caught myself reading with a perpetual grin on my face. This is a fun with meaning and one you’ll be thinking about even after you close the cover. Also, I’d like to adopt Darby, Marty, and Delilah. And Cal is just great. *happy sigh*

Isadora Bentley has been burned before, when a man kept their relationship a secret, and then stole all the credit for her research. Now, she works alone. When she runs across an article claiming that if she follows a set of steps, she can find happiness, she sets out to disprove the author. But what if it actually works?

I have never read another book like this one; one where the author is smart, yet blunt and considered prickly by her co-workers, but she finds people who allow her to be who she is, while helping her see herself the way they see her, thus allowing her to become more of whom she's meant to be.

The cast of friends gathered to Isadora during her happiness experiment are fantastic characters. My favorite, perhaps, is the 10-year-old Delilah, in whom Isadora finds a kindred spirit, and sees what she could have had if there had been supportive people in her life at a young age.

I also love that once Isadora starts to look beyond herself, she sees the other women in her profession who have also been overlooked, or taken advantage of, and she becomes a source of encouragement for them.

I give this book 5 stars. Isadora will resonate with any woman who's worked in a male-dominated field, or who finds themselves at odds with societal norms.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

“The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.”

Zinger! This book was another perfect zinger from Walsh.  “It comes out of nowhere and hits you like lightning.  And when it does, you’re never, ever the same.”

It starts off with Isadora freaking out about turning 30 and celebrating by visiting the forbidden Aisle 8, the junk food aisle.  While checking out, a tabloid touting ’31 Ways to be Happy (Today!)’ catches her eye and starts her down a path of proving the author and article wrong.  After all, she is a researcher, so this should be an easy experiment to conduct to collect the necessary data to disprove this theory.  What she doesn’t expect to happen is that her little experiment will start to slowly change her and her views on happiness.  And while it might not always be easy, it may just be worth it.

I LOVED this book!  Isadora and all the side characters are just wonderful.  She was so relatable that I couldn’t help but want to cheer her on or feel completely devastated when she felt crushed.  This story held so many touching and adorable and hilarious and heartwarming moments throughout.  I love when a book makes me laugh out loud one minute and then makes my heart just ache the next.  I loved the important messages about found or made family, self-growth, the depth and importance of human connection, and how true happiness looks different for everyone and only you can choose to be happy.  But when you do, it can be truly amazing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.  Thank you again to Thomas Nelson Fiction, Courtney Walsh, and NetGalley for this wonderful e-arc.

Pub Date: June 13, 2023

Courtney Walsh is a storyteller. I loved how she wrote this book. The character development was beautiful and I didn't want to put the book down. I loved the romance that went along with the self-improvement was just perfect. I will recommend this book to anyone.

This book was great! I couldn't put it down! The premise was fresh and new, which is hard for me to say as I read so much each year! Sometimes it feels as though I keep reading similar stories, but this was a so original!

I’m in love with Isadora. I thoroughly enjoyed her journey to happiness. I know where she has been and had to learn the same things she did around the same age, except I was married with 3 under 3. And now 8 yrs later with 4 kids, I am telling them the exact same things.

I fell instantly in love with all the characters. I want my own Marty, and I’m pleased that have I have several Darby’s in my life. (Now) I’m not sure if there is a swoonier man than Cal. He is the absolutely best person for Isadora.

Thank you Courtney Walsh, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson for this ARC. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Watching a character who is so much like me learn the secret to happiness was quite an eye-opening adventure. I loved getting to know Isadora's quirky nature, loved her inner monologue, and loved learning through her that I don't have to change who I am for other people to like me. Just be me. But also that we can choose our happiness. I laughed and I cried (literally) and loved every moment.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pub Date: June 13, 2023

Courtney Walsh hits it out of the park again! I loved hearing Isadora’s thoughts throughout the story. She’s quirky and relatable, and really overcomes some challenges. This is a story of self-love, friendship, and romance all rolled into one. This is a fun, uplifting read, and will be a great one to take with you on vacation this summer!

You’ll enjoy this story if you like:
📝quirky main character
📝friendship with unlikely people
📝a little bit of romance
📝self-discovery
📝College campus setting
📝Chicago

A very good surprise !
This book keeps getting better with each new page ! Even though Isadora is funny and witty from the start, I found it difficult to enter in the book because of her inside voice who speaks like a documentary and his very present at the beginning of the book .
But once she starts to meet our found family/friends the book really takes a turn for the best. I found it so relatable, I too feel the pressure of doing something impactful, I too sometimes wonders if it's better to be alone than to be heart broken ... This book gives hopes and some precious reminder on happiness !
A very happy read thanks to netgalley who provided this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

Publish date: June 13 2023

I am determined Courtney Walsh can do no wrong. This book was so good! This is also my first book of hers that wasn’t a holiday story and I am here for it!

First impression is- why am I on the cover of this book and secondly this book is beyond relatable.

I haven’t felt a connection with a character like I did with Isadora. Buried under trauma and unsure if life at one point was ever meant to be happy.
Isadora is smart and quirky and real. But when she turns 30 she finds herself loading up on snacks in aisle 8 and grabbing a magazine with the article of “31 ways to be happy” as an academic researcher Isadora set out to disprove this article but what she didn’t expect to happen was the life hiding in plain sight.

Watching Isadora break out of her constant comfort zones made you feel a roller coaster of emotions. At times I felt myself smiling uncontrollably, laughing out loud and even finding myself tearing up. I just understood the connections she was having and how she was able to break herself from those traumas.

The relationships that Isadora builds throughout the story are beautiful and unexpected. From her loud outgoing neighbor with 4 kids to the old man in the quad at the university to her swoon worthy love interest.

I am looking forward to sharing this book with my friends when this book comes out in June.

Thank you so much @netgalley @thomasnelson and @courtneywalsh for allowing me the opportunity to review this book. I received this complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are entirely of my own.

I adooooored this book!!! I felt my heart literally squeeze with emotions for Isadora and that is the rarest of feelings for me, when reading a book.
What a great story and an amazing writing style.
Thank you Courtney Walsh for such a great journey with your imagination!

So, let’s not skip the basics.
The happy life of Isadora Bentley starts on the day of Isadora’s thirtieth birthday. She is a talented researcher, super intelligent, extremely introvert and wired to be unhappy. Or maybe not?
She finds this article on 31 steps ways to be happy and she decides to start her own personal project. What kind of serious psychologist would boil down a universal recipe for happiness and publish it as an article in a magazine? Her research will certainly prove Dr. Monroe wrong.
And so, Isadora starts with her first step: it’s out of character for her, but, hey, what is this unpredictability going on, now?
The die is cast, and events start flowing.

The book started off quite slowly and melancholy and grey and ... you name it. Not really engaging. I found myself checking the remaining pages and started to ponder how much longer should I read before giving up. But I held a bit longer and, wow, was it worth it!
With hindsight, the beginning really makes sense, it sucks you into Isadora’s lifestyle and it prepares the setting for better understanding what is going on with her project.

After the slow beginning, it picked up very quickly, and what astonished me was that it didn’t need anything super dramatic to remain captivating. This is something I find rarely, an author that can write irresistible pages without over-using big drama events or out of characters reactions. Courtney Walsh created superb characters, who interact delicately yet charmingly. Sometimes the side characters are fillers for the main characters stories, but in The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley all characters had a well-defined personality. I enjoyed reading them all, I did not feel like they were taking away pages from Isadora and the handsome professor. Even if the side characters were not really in my mainstream preferences, they were so well depicted: the way Isadora interacted with them made me discover new sides of Isadora that I enjoyed reading.

Most of all I loved the perspective, the metaphors, the general take on life. When I find a nice metaphor or a concept expressed in a witfully effective way, I highlight it to be able to savour it later. I usually highlight 5-6 paragraphs tops in a good book. Here I lost count, I felt like I was taking notes on every page! I loved the funny comparisons, the dry introvert sentences, the revelations, the awkwardness, the scientific approach to everything.
“My parents were submarine Christians – they only came up for air twice a year, on Easter and Christmas”
« I reset my face to factory settings and sigh »
« the hygienically impaired sales clerk »
« I’m totally counting that as a full-on workout, though, because the calories I burned worrying about it warrant it »
I am definitely going to re-use so many of them !

Maybe, the only thing that felt a bit off is the fact that there was no steam. I did get the feeling that it was a choice, and I like chaste books as much as steamy ones, and I do get that some authors prefer to keep stories less explicit. But I did not even get a hint if there had been any « follow up », to the point that I felt it was an important part of Isadora’s evolution with her love interest to know what was going on in that department. Even without writing explicitly about any scenes : she is thirty years old, after all, and you do wonder if that’s all they did and, if not, how it affected the relationship. It felt a bit like a teenagers kind of love, at times, in contrast with the depth of their great and profound personalities.

This book is one of those few ones that I cannot put down and read avidly and, 10 pages to the end, I start reading super slowly because I am not ready to leave the characters. By the end of book I was almost angry with Isadora, for leaving me : I felt like I was invited to her lunch bench and now she is cutting me out. That’s how good this story has been for me. Such a great gift of good meaningful emotions : what an unfrogettable journey.
Thank you Courtney Walsh.

📖Review: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh 

A delightful exploration of happiness with a quirky and reclusive heroine. 

Isadora Bentley is turning 30 and she has not accomplished any of what she has wanted to. She was supposed to prove her childhood wrong — those bullies and her mom who always said she didn’t measure up — but she is a low level researcher who has isolated herself from the world around her. Until on her birthday, in a sugar-coated haze, Isadora decides to prove an article entitled 31 Steps to Happiness wrong. As Isadora begins trying the steps, she finds herself immersed into the world she was trying so hard to avoid and confronting some of her long held beliefs. 

Isadora is a fabulous character. From page one, I found her inner dialogue relatable and funny. The secondary characters were also lovable and their interactions were a perfect mix wise words and witty banter. 

I highly recommend this book if you like:
🏡Found Family
❤️Romance
🪞Self-Discovery
💁🏼‍♀️Lovable characters
📚Books like Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, The Bookish Life of Nina Hill, or The Last Chance Library. 

This heartwarming novel is available on June 13th — just in time for summer. I received this complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson and NetGalley, but opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

-Got a free copy from NetGalley-

This book is a really nice read for me. Isadora is a really brave character for being able to venture out of her comfort zone for her experiments. Bringing herself to do stuff she usually tries to avoid doing. Also really loving her lunch crew, all from different walks of life gathering together and becoming friends(secretly hoping I can find mine too). Loving them for sticking by her even when she thought she was weird and even after she tries to push everyone away, they stayed. :') Personally, I really resonate with Isadora. Her being unable to trust others after getting hurt multiple times in the past, and her quest to find happiness.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and the writing style of the author. Thanks to this book, it's making me want to go out of my comfort zone and try something new in my own little quest for happiness. Now I'm looking to read more works from this author!

I am a Courtney Walsh fan, and this book is one reason why. The quirkiness yet relatable struggles of the characters really shine through. The way she writes the book almost makes you feel like you are watching everything happen on a movie screen.
Isadora takes you on a journey from being reclusive, to proving an article wrong, to finding her own happiness. And it’s a beautiful thing.

Thank you netgalley for an arc copy!

When I saw Courtney Walsh was coming out with a new book, I just knew I had to read it! Once again a super cute book. It will definitely be one that I have to buy as soon as it comes out!

I received this book as an ARC on Netgalley

This novel was a delightful, relatable story of finding happiness in your own way.

Isadora is such a fun, quirky protagonist. I enjoyed her unique personality and the ways she sees the world in ways different than I expected. She felt so real -- experiencing things like anxiety, fear, loneliness and surprise. I haven't read many characters like her and I finished hoping to encounter more like her in future. Her life hasn't gone according to plan. She has been hurt, betrayed, let down, and put down. Those hard experiences have shaped her life. In many ways, they have hindered her ability in the past to change, move on, and find happiness. Then on her 30th birthday, things start to change. It is an impulsive decisions, but it becomes life changing.

Isadora's happiness experiment is clever and so fun to read about. I loved hearing how she completed each step of the "31 steps to be happy" magazine article. And I loved that some of them she didn't like and even hated (like yoga, although I think she liked that more than she expected). It's such a simple idea to complete all these steps. But they really change her. I loved her journey from awkward smiles to life changing friendships. Flying kites and eating gourmet chocolate (that sounds divine!), self care and deep breathing, planning a trip (actual travel optional) and spending time with good people, exercising and decluttering. Each of these steps adds to Isadora's story and I love how they bring her dear friendships along the way.

At the heart of this story are beautiful relationships. In simple ways, Isadora makes friends that truly change her. I loved Darby and her strength and wisdom. She inserts herself into Isadora's life and refuses to go away providing everything from delicious meals to fashion advice, an exercise buddy to mom wisdom. Her loyalty is so beautiful! I loved what Isadora and Delilah mean to each other and how they accept each other. They are so similar and their shared interests and personalities make them so endearing. I love that their relationship is tied to an answer to prayer and that Isadora is able to help give Delilah the support she lacked as a child. Marty is one of my favorite characters in this story. At first, he is lonely and feels unsure about his future as a widow. I loved how he befriends Isadora whether she wants it or not. His patience, wisdom, and kindness were so lovely. We all need an old man friend like Marty. And of course, Cal is at the heart of this story as well. He treats Isadora with respect and kindness. His love and genuine interest in her projects and her life were so beautiful. Theirs is a relationship that I aspire to emulate. I love how these characters become Isadora's people. The friends that center her world.

Isadora's journey is not perfect or simple. She gets anxious. She pulls away from her friends. She has to overcome difficult betrayals and let downs. She has to have faith and choose happiness. I love the journey and the beautiful lessons she discovers along the way.

A cozy, quirky story about the power of happiness, friendship and everyday love.

I dare you to read this book and not smile and be filled with joy!

Isadora is an introverted research assistant who thinks she’s better off alone than by forming relationships because people have always disappointed her.

On her 30th birthday she reads an article with 31 ways to find happiness and sets out to try everything on the list- mainly to disprove it. Along the way she finds her tribe and realizes relationships are worth it- she just hasn’t met the right people yet.

✨⭐️✨

I found this book to be so heartwarming. Isadora grows so much throughout the story. Every one of the side characters (besides one) is perfection!

The story, characters, and relationships are endearing and kind of remind me of A Man Called Ove. I loved every second of this book! It publishes June 13th but you should pre-order it now!

This is my favorite Courtney Walsh book that I’ve read so far!

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was without a doubt a five-star read for me. From the very first page, I was intrigued and invested in Isadora. Her introverted awkwardness was so relatable to me! I thought it was a fun twist on the curmudgeon theme that seems to be popular lately to have the grouchy character be a young woman, plus I loved that she has a STEM job. It's always fun to read about intelligent female characters.

I would say The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is best classified as a cross between romantic comedy and women's fiction. While there is a good thread of romance and lots of funny moments, this story is ultimately about Isadora discovering how to like herself and be at peace in her life. It's a story of learning how to give and receive friendship in a fulfilling and healthy way. Courtney Walsh wraps some big, important themes in a fun and delightful little package. Highly recommend!

This book made me happy. It was a great read and the main character was so special to me. I loved this book. Also, the cover is perfect.

Isadora is perfectly content to remain alone with her research. She avoids professors and the students that she's supposed to mentor. On the night of her 30th birthday, Isadora impulsively picks up a magazine that advertises, "Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy." She sets out to prove this theory wrong. While she conducts her research by completing each step, Isadora inadvertently makes friends. Despite her best efforts not to. She is pulled far out of her comfort zone, forced to confront her own feelings and even fall in love. Courtney Walsh is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She has created characters that will stay with you for a long time and everyone can relate to in some way. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is one you won't want to miss out on.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh was a inspirational, funny contemporary romance novel.
I really enjoyed this book. There is an interesting and nice story line, the characters are refreshing, and there is a sweet romance too.
Here everything is excellent—the writing, the characters, the plot.
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley absolutely got me in the feels! I loved watching Isadora and Cal together.
My first time reading this authors work and I’m so excited to read her previous titles and the ones to come.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

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

Immediately after starting this book I knew I was going to be wanting more. I loved the way Courtney Walsh set up Isadora's life and her experiment. This book was clever and lighthearted but also touched on some true and difficult emotions. I completely empathized with Isadora and loved the group of friends she gathered along the way to discovering who she really is. An easy recommendation for almost any reader!

I've read many fantastic books by Courtney Walsh, so I was excited to see that she has another book coming out soon! "The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley" is about the afore-mentioned Isadora, a scientific researcher who has closed herself off to love. Having endured insults from both her peers and her parents growing up, Isadora doesn't believe in herself, and she especially doesn't believe that she can ever be happy. But her scientific mind is intrigued when she comes across a study titled, "Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy." Isadora decides to test this for herself and, along the way, she discovers that happiness is a choice she can make. She also develops some new relationships and discovers that she is capable both of receiving love and giving love.

I really enjoyed this book and the premise behind it. Isadora is easy to root for, and I resonated with her bravery and struggle to find happiness. I also really liked the side characters, and loved them too. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I started reading The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley with the expectation that it would be similar to many other contemporary romances. I sure was wrong. I LOVED this book. It totally took me by surprise and I couldn't put it down.

Here are some of the things I loved the most:
- Isadora. She is so quirky, but it works so well in this book. I found myself relating to her in SO many ways. I was riding the emotional roller coaster right with her.
- Isadora's found family - she finds the most perfect group of people to love her. I was laughing and crying at these amazing characters.
- The romance was SO sweet. Cal is such a great male lead. I love his determination and patience.
- The Happiness Experiments. Isadora finds an article called "31 Ways to Be Happy" and decides to try them all to prove it wrong. But each step is so much fun, especially as her new friends join her in her adventures.
- This book made me think a LOT about happiness and what I can do in my own life to feel happier.
- This book had a depth that I didn't expect. Complicated pasts, hard family relationships, and painful journeys of self-love and acceptance.

This is definitely a book that I will be thinking about for a long time, and I can't wait to own a copy for myself!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Publishers, and Courtney Walsh for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinions!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for this complimentary copy of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. This review is based solely from my reading of the novel and was not persuaded by any other source. Five stars!
Before your life really begins, times can be tough and they were for Isadora. She didn’t see herself as others did and it blurred the image of herself. While she was a fascinating and brilliant woman, people used her for what they could get, because she was phenomenal at her job as a researcher. Then she started a challenge to prove someone wrong in a magazine article and it all spiraled into the right direction from there for Isadora.

She had many discoveries along the way, lots of fun and it was an enjoyment to take this journey with Isadora. Never having a best friend would be a lonely way to live, but sometimes you don’t know what’s missing until it’s gone.

Many people will never be happy, because they settle for less, but Isadora realized what she wanted and went after it. Marty was such a wonderful addition to the novel and helped shape and mold the deeper points throughout the book. The insights he provided really added to the writing, in my personal opinion.

Then Cal appeared and Isadora was skeptical, but had to fulfill her job as a researcher and put her personal feelings aside. Their relationship I found to be of a professional basis, and I loved how Cal was portrayed throughout the novel. A very sweet and stand-up guy that wanted Isadora to only have the best personally and professionally. He pushed her towards a better Isadora. I loved that about the writing and it created a happy swoon mood for readers.

All the characters were lovable and easy to follow. They all had their quirks, but I found them to all fit well together.

This novel wasn’t like the others I have read by Courtney Walsh and I really enjoyed that. Given I have not read some of her kindle only reads, but have read most all her novels and have enjoyed them as well, but enjoyed a different pace with this one. Sometimes a change of pace is important for an author, so they do not become indistinguishable from the others. I loved this novel, because of that change. It had humor (laugh out loud moments), heartache, best friendships, light-hearted romance and was a delight to read. Great read!!!!

The Happy Life of Isadore Bentley
By Courtney Walsh
Pub Date: June 13: 2023
Thomas Nelson
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Romance, fiction, contemporary
I loved this book! It was a quirky story of an introvert and so relatable!
The themes were great! The book captured me from the beginning.
5 stars

Isadora is a quirky and socially awkward introvert. Spending her days as a university researcher, she doesn’t have time for friends or hobbies- and she likes it that way. She avoids the university students, who she’s supposed to be mentoring, and ignores her neighbors. And yes, sometimes she gets anxious and overwhelmed. On the day of her 30th birthday, Isadora finds herself at the grocery store loading up with junk food to celebrate at her party of 1. In the checkout line, a magazine with an article called “31 Ways To Be Happy” catches her eye and she buys it on impulse. After reading a few of the “31 Ways,” she decides to conduct some research of her own by trying all the ways- and hopefully creating some happiness of her own.

Guys- this book really spoke to my introvert-leaning soul. Even if you’re not a fully introverted person, there are plenty of things you can relate to in this story. We all have times of self-doubt, thoughts of past-traumas, have gone through a terrible breakup and I bet you still remember the person who bullied you back in 3rd grade (I’m looking at you Ashley W). All those experiences can have you second-guessing yourself well into adulthood. And if you don’t have a good family or friend support system, like Isadora, it can be even harder to overcome. To that point- she ends up with her “found family” of a group of wonderfully random and different people and a genuinely kind love interest. It made me so happy for her and I was just so pleased with this book and author.

You know those characters that get under your skin and into your heart? Isadora is one of those for me. There were so many parts of her that were so recognizable and that made me need her to find her happiness so much.
On her 30th birthday Isadora sees a magazine article “31 ways to be Happy”
Convinced the writer is a charlatan she decides to apply her researcher skills and scientific method and try and prove the author wrong.
Isadora will have to break her routines and habits to complete the project and confront the real question at the root of her experiment “is she happy”
I loved this book, I definitely recommend checking it out if you want a feel good story (that might make you cry, but in a good way) Releasing June 12 2023
Thank you to @netgalley @courtneywalsh and @thomasnelson for letting me review this book. #bookstagram #readforfun #readforjoy #readersofinstagram #reading #readmore #bookreview #bookrecommendations #thehappylifeofisadorabentley #readmorebooks

The Happy Life of Isadora

This book was so unexpected! I absolutely loved it. It’s deep and fun and is the ultimate definition of character growth.

I loved Isadora. I loved getting to see why she is the way she is and how she ticks. To be completely honest, in the first chapter or two I wasn’t sure I would like her. But as I got to know her, I made connections with her. I grew to love her and the things she was learning. I loved learning along with her on her quest for happiness and learning to let people in.

I loved so many of the themes and lessons in this book. learning to let people in. Choosing those who make you feel accepted and good about who you are. Reaching out to others. Learning to enjoy people when you’re an introvert. Standing up for yourself. It was a beautifully written book and I will definitely read it again. And it’s yellow. I love yellow books.

I had the pleasure of talking about this book with a fellow reader and I found it funny that at the same time we messaged each other about one small element. I said I liked it, she said she wished it had been resolved. And I love that it’s a book that let us to ponder how to handle difficult people and relationships. In truth we all cope differently and each difficult relationship is so unique. What a thought provoking book to read, especially if you’re an introvert or have ever felt a little on the outside of friends and society.

A cute, relateable story that truly lifts your spirits. I love isadora, i root for her throughout, commiserate with her in the bad, and really feel connected to her at the end. The story line is different, fresh, and entirely adorable. I loved it!! I wish there was a sequel!! It made believe in happy, even though im generally more of a negative nelly. Definitely recommend this book!!!

This book was written for me!

Isadora is such a relatable nerdy mess, and her story is giving me all the feels! It made me smile, the romance made me swoon, there were some laugh-out-loud moments, and it tugged on the heartstrings big time. Overall, while some aspects might have hit a little close to home, I loved the strong theme of making connections and I adored this particular found family Isadora managed to pick up along her way.

CW: bullying (recounted), death of a spouse (recounted), parental estrangement, parent with narcissistic personality disorder, heart attack

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson - Fiction for providing me with a free e-ARC.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a Christian romance full of self-discovery and letting go of past pains I would absolutely recommend!

When Isadora Bentley finds herself alone for her 30th birthday and comes across a magazine article claiming to know “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”, Isadora finds herself on a mission to prove the author wrong. But, after encountering new friends in the least likely of places and inviting Cal, a new researcher Isadora has to help edit his manuscript for, she realizes that the magazine article might be right after all.

Now, if you read Authentically Izzy, you’ll appreciate the character development Isadora goes through in The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. Walsh does a great job with creating Isadora and I feel like a lot of readers can relate to her struggles of feeling on the outcasts of the world around her (including me and I think Isadora might be autistic/neurodivergent). This book not only ties in Christian themes of acceptance (as well as strategically using the found family trope), but you also get to see Isadora learning how to let go of her past regrets and hurts in order to fully heal.

I also really liked Walsh’s writing style for The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley and it’s not just because of the David Attenborough-like commentary that portrays Isadora’s inner monologue. This book felt like a nice and cozy hug after a long day and finding the solace of connecting her characters that you can relate to and root for. While some parts of the book did feel a bit slow, Walsh makes up for it by her characters and the swoon worthy romance between Isadora and Cal (I mean, the things Cal does for Isadora in the book will totally melt your heart).

So, if you’re a fan of the found family trope mixed with self-discovery, personal research projects, and sweet romances, you came to the right place.

I loved this book from the first page and honestly, I didn’t want this book to end. Not only did I love Isadora Bentley but all the people she adopted along the way! An excellent group of characters and a unique and interesting storyline. I thank Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Is Courtney Walsh inside my brain? This book is such a triumph for the girls who never fit in and were never stood up for. Everything about this book makes me feel seen and loved. Plus, it’s been a minute since a book has made me laugh and cry so much.

While I can't relate to all of Isadora's experiences, her thoughts felt so real. The negative self-talk in the first 20% of the book was frustrating and almost felt intrusive! But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I needed my own negative self-talk to be pointed out. And watching Isadora learn to extend grace to herself throughout the story has helped me remember to extend grace to myself, too.

Making friends as an adult is hard. And it’s easy to put your head down and tell yourself that you don’t need people. Isadora is so so relatable in this regard. But the character growth is so good. And the friendships in this book are so wonderful and satisfying. All of us need friends like Marty, Darby, and Delilah.

While the sweet romance in this story is important to the plot, I love that it doesn’t claim to be the main thing or overshadow the other elements of the story. Cal is the dreamiest, and we love him. But he adds so much more than romance to the story, and I love that. Because all of us need a friend like Cal, too.

This book is a new favorite. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Courtney Walsh for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The pleasure was all mine.

Isadora Bently is vey unhappy and has nothing to look forward to as she spends her thirtieth birthday planning to eat junk food. Isadora works as an academic researcher. She has no friends and prefers to work alone.
While waiting to buy junk food Isadora browses through a magazine and notices an article titled “31 Ways to Be Happy (Today)”. Isadora does not believe that it is possible to be happy and buys the magazine intending to prove that it is not possible to be happy by following the 31 ways to be happy.
I loved the way the story unfolded as Isadora worked through the 31 steps and the way she interacts with the characters she meets.
This was about families, friendship, grief and academic research. At about page 100 I found myself saying “I love it, I love I Love it”.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is truly heart warming! You are sure to fall in love with Isadora and her quest for happiness through the feat of defending her view on what creates happiness.

Isadora is celebrating her birthday with a junk food night in when she is in Aisle 8, she stumbles upon a magazine with a headline about "31 ways to be happy." Isadora scuffs at the thought and sets out on her quest to disprove this researchers findings.

Along the way, Isadora begins to interact with some unique and interesting people. I fell in love with the entire cast of characters. Cal, the researcher, Marty, the widower, Darby, the chaotic neighbour, and Delilah, the 13 year old going on 30 (if she even is 13 lol). The characters were all so relatable and funny. With such a fun plot and interesting cover, Courtney Walsh does it again !

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Inspiring and Life changing! That's this book.

I had trouble connecting with the book at first but immediately I got a hang of it, I was sold. The characters had my heart especially Isadora. She was so relatable. My heart went out to her a couple of times reading the book. I understood her struggles. Her support system was solid. Everyone needs friends like that of Isadora. Friends that turned to family.

The writing style of this book is unlike the author's previous books but it a beautiful story of love, change, healing from childhood wounds, God sending help from unexpected sources...

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.

Simply amazing!! This book is everything I didn’t know I needed. I was able to immediately relate to Isadora and enjoyed seeing her quest to prove an article “31 ways to be happy” is wrong. Along the way, she meets interesting characters who help her on her journey to discover how to be happy. I felt like this was a subject that a lot of people struggle with because of all the hardships going on in the world. I also loved the uniqueness of Cal, Derby, Delilah, and Marty. This book was so fast-paced and interesting that I couldn’t put it down. Highly highly recommend!!

*I received and e-ARC copy from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a sweet book. I adore Isadora. I love how she grows and changes. And the other characters are lovely too!

If you're looking for a heartwarming and inspiring read, then this is the book for you. Author Courtney Walsh takes us on a journey with protagonist Isadora Bentley, a university researcher who believes that happiness is something that simply doesn't exist in her life. But when Isadora impulsively decides to prove that happiness is a myth, she embarks on a life-changing adventure that will have you rooting for her every step of the way.

Walsh's writing is both witty and insightful, as she explores the themes of self-discovery and personal growth. Isadora is a relatable and complex character who will tug at your heartstrings and leave you feeling inspired. Her transformation from a rule-abiding and closed-off individual to someone who is willing to take risks and embrace the unknown is truly remarkable.

What's particularly impressive about this book is how Walsh weaves in scientific research on happiness without it feeling forced or contrived. The book provides valuable insights into the benefits of positive psychology, mindfulness, and the power of human connection.

Overall, "The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley" is a delightful read that will leave you feeling uplifted and inspired. Walsh has created a relatable and engaging protagonist in Isadora, and her journey of self-discovery is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a feel-good read that will leave them with a renewed sense of hope and optimism.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you so much!

This books was everything I never knew I always wanted.

Isadora is having a midlife crisis of sorts. Only, she thinks she is just out to prove an article and it's author wrong. As a researcher, Isadora knows how to be accurate, conduct experiments, surveys, gather the data, and arrive at conclusions. She's pretty sure her hypothesis will be proved correct. But Isadora neglected to add in the human elements of friends and feelings.

My heart hurt for Isadora. She had a pretty rough go of things as a child with no friends and no support. Isadora also processes things differently. (Perhaps a little neurodivergent if you will, although that's my interpretation as it is never stated in the book.) Where she was at 30 was not quite where she wanted to be. The supporting cast (including our favorite leading man - Cal) was so great! We all need people - our people. And the truths that Isadora discovers are necessarily new, but it was all written so beautifully!

"The desire for happiness, it seems is universal. And needed now more than ever..."

"It was about me realizing that I have the power to change my ow life. Happiness is a choice... That a big revelation."

Buy this book. Read it again and again. It's everything.

Thanks to netgalley for an eARC.

I want to give Isadora a great big hug!

I loved this book - it was such a feel good read. Never have I enjoyed a cast of characters more... every single one of them (with the exception of you Alex) was so endearing and really well rounded. Isadora gave me Sheldon Cooper vibes for all you Big Bang Theory fans out there, but minus the condescending attitude towards people... she had a very tough childhood, an even tougher experience in adulthood and has trouble trusting. She also is a bit socially awkward which just made me want to befriend her.

Courtney Walsh develops characters and storylines so well and this book was no different. There was an unexpected twist as well. I hope everyone gets the chance to fall in love with Isadora - you won't be disappointed!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Isadora Bentley has a routine. She doesn't vary her routine or her solitude. At least she didn't' until the night of her 30th when she buys a magazine with an article on 31 ways to find happiness. As a well respected university researcher, Isadora doesn't believe an article can help readers be happy and makes it her mission to disprove the author. But in her mission to do so, she may just prove the author right!

This book gave so much insight to Isadora now and her younger self. Through the people she meets during her research, we see both the vulnerability and hope in Isadora that is in us all.

The cast of characters in this book was AMAZING! I want to be part of their group!

5 STARS!!!!

”Isadora believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life.” She aims to refute Dr. Monroe’s claim in an article, “The 31 Ways to a Happier Life.” It didn’t exist. It’s simply not possible. Can anyone really be content? This would be Isadora Bentley’s secret project.

I enjoyed seeing Isadora carefully observe the 31 guidelines in order to further strengthen her theory. Along the way, readers will feel a range of emotions and have a few “ah-ha” moments with Isadora. I enjoyed the way the author enlists readers and fictional characters in this effort to disprove the 31 ways to happiness.

The author encourages everyone to live life to the fullest, rather than letting it pass you by. In this tale, everyone learns that life is a gift meant to be shared. We were designed to live together in community. The characters quickly realize that embracing life is more important than simply observing it. I applaud the author’s ability to entertain, engross, and make readers laugh out loud. I loved this novel filled with wonderful relatable, endearing characters to root for and hang out with. It’s a delightful ride you don’t want to miss.

This is a wonderful escape and one that your book club will love talking about. The author includes discussion questions.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book by the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

Thank you to NetGalley for this free preview in exchange of an honest review. I simply adored this book. I loved the main character and while it was never addressed, she is on the spectrum which makes her honest and lovable. I loved the quest of the book, happiness. And I loved how she made it a research project, complete with experiments and gathering data. This book was simply charming and delightful.

I absolutely loved this book! Isadora Bentley is for sure someone you want to root for and spend time with. The little truth bombs sprinkled through this book are incredibly insightful and encouraging. What a joyous read! I have pre-ordered it and can’t wait to re-read it.

Did I just find a new Courtney Walsh favorite?!?! As a huge Courtney fan this is big. Where to even start with the joyful book! Courtney has created a fictional story that some may as well as myself read as a self discovery book. The main question being “Are you Happy?” & following along on Isadora’s journey to see what the heck Happy looks and feels like.

Along the way you meet characters that become a found family for Isadora… they show honesty, Delilah. Enthusiasm, Darby. Wisdom, Marty and compassion, Cal. This little group stole the show and I’m so sad to leave them.

This book shares a few sensitive topics that Courtney has handled with gentle hands and she has really just blew my mind with this book. This one will be one that many will hug upon completing!

Thank you to the publisher for this ARC

If you enjoyed The Love Hypothesis, you will enjoy The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley.

Isadora, a researcher, isn't sure that happiness is for her and she's perfectly okay with that. When she stumbles upon a magazine article that highlights Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy, Isadora sets out to prove the author wrong.

While working through the list, Isadora finds herself surrounded by a cast of characters that help her with her project.... and maybe even finding happiness?

I love books with quirky main characters... but a book with a strong supporting cast ? Yes... yes please. I mean, read this book and tell me you don't fall in love with Marty.

Thank you, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

This is likely going to make my best of the year list. And I mean, the cover is just 🤩

On her 30th birthday, Isadora is checking out at the grocery store with a cart full of candy she plans to binge alone when a magazine headline catches her eye:
“31 Ways to Be Happy (Today!)”
With a researcher’s careful methodology, she sets out to disprove the entire list. What happens next is funny, sweet, and heartwarming in the best way. I truly loved everything about this. With a quirky main character reminiscent of Elinor Oliphant and a cast of supporting characters who would be friends with A Man Called Ove’s neighbors, this story will leave you with the biggest smile on your face and a renewed hope in humanity and community (at least that’s what it did for me). ❤️

“It’s as if she’s got a handle on who I am and she’s fine with it. Maybe [she] is the kind of person who simply allows people to be who they are. I might as well be having coffee with a unicorn.”

“Maybe happiness isn’t about what you do, Isadora. Maybe it’s about who you do it with.”

Many many thanks to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the advanced digital review copy. This was such a delight. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh releases on June 13.

This book was exactly what I needed to get over the brief reading slump I had entered. Such a fun, fun book! When I first started reading, I had to do a double-take to remind myself that I was reading a Courtney Walsh novel. I’ve read a handful of her books and loved them but this fresh, laugh-out-loud, poignant romantic comedy is different from her previous books. And I absolutely loved it from the beginning to end! Isadora's delightfully quirky, witty, hilarious, honest, and self-deprecating first person voice will charm you and make you cry all sorts of tears - tears from hysterical laughter and tears of empathy, sadness, pain, self-realization, and (of course) happiness and worth. There isn't a faith thread in the story but it is a clean read.

Isadora is unforgettable. Though an introvert in a self-imposed isolation, she braves the outside world for the sake of research and discovers more than what she bargained or hoped for. The eclectic group of friends she collects is as unforgettable as Isadora. And Cal.... I loved his gentle but unrelenting pursuit of Isadora. His tender heart, passion for the human connection, and enchanting whimsical ways made him perfect for Isadora.

This is one of the best rom-coms I've read. I received the book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

Ok. I sobbed. I cried a lot. I had no idea this book would be so emotionally cathartic. I have so many thoughts about this incredibly beautiful story!

I loved how unique Isadora was and that I could totally connect with her character. I always tell people that the desire to be loved is really the desire to be understood, and I felt that so deeply in this book. I loved that it was full of JOY in unexpected ways. I felt that deeply as well.

Here’s what to expect:
💛 sweet swoony romance par the course in true Courtney Walsh fashion
💛 opposites attract
💛 found family trope with amazing side characters you will fall in love with
💛 FMC on a unique search for happiness
💛 heart touching moments and fantastic character growth/development
💛 you just might cry

I don’t know if everyone will feel the same way I do about this book, but I think that the beauty of it is while the story is great, it really can touch each reader’s heart in a different way. Truly an incredible job by the fabulous Courtney Walsh and can’t wait to keep reading what she writes.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Isadora Bentley turn thirty, have quite life, single and enjoy her simple life. Her birthday make she think again, if she want to changing life but that isn’t as easy as everyone makes it sound. When she saw “31 Ways to Be Happy” on magazine, her adventure begin. Reading this book feel like read my life. Prefere alone, awkward, strange, hard to make friend and the list continue. I enjoy Isadora experiment to prove that 31 ways to be happy was wrong, when she open up many people come into her life, accept the way she is, understand her. I love how strong and brave Isadora is, able to speak her mind, stand for herself and choose to be happy.

Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.

#TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #CourtneyWalsh #ThomasNelson #ThomasNelsonFiction #NetGalley #ARC

Isadora is such a quirky heroine. She's blunt and awkward and utterly adorable. And she's like all of us, she wants to be happy.

I'll be honest in saying that I was scared to read this book and was scared most of the time I was reading it. I didn't read the blurb before starting it. I'd never actually read a book by Courtney Walsh. I tried to read one once and it felt more like women's fiction than romance. I'm definitely here for the romance. I kept waiting for this book to shatter my heart in some way. And it did. But not in the way I expected.

I related so deeply to Isadora. But then the more I thought about it, I think most of us will relate to her. She just says what we feel perhaps more than we do.

I am not one to annotate or highlighbooks as I read. But the deeper I got in to this story, I found myself highlighting more and more. So many of the thoughts resonated with me. That is unusual. I don't usually read books and identify with characters like this.

Anyway, back to the actual story and characters. I loved them all, I especially Delilah. And Cal. Oh Cal. 😍 The journey Isadora goes on tontry to find happiness is sprinkled with heart and humor and love and more.

My takeaway : Don't be scared to read this book. Read it and embrace your inner Isadora.

"Life is beautiful and horrible and wonderful and awful all at the same time."

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #NetGalley

What a great story! Isadora Bentley has a standing date with junk food on her birthday, at the checkout lane with her loaded cart, she decides to buy a magazine withan article titled 31 Things to do, to Guarantee Happiness, she is skeptical as a researcher, she decides to perform an experiment to prove that the authors ideas won't bring happiness.
Working at a university allows Isadora to work on research projects with professors. When she is assigned to Cal Baxter she puts her foot down and refuses to work with him, on his book, but her boss tells her she doesn't have a choice.
Isadora has pretty much lived a solitary life, not getting close to anyone since being hurt by someone she thought she could trust. When she begins to work on her happiness project she starts to connect with people. A next door neighbor Darby and her four children, Marty an older gentleman who is lonely and missing his wife who has passed away. She sees herself as a young girl, in Delilah, Darby's ten year old daughter. Cal becomes interested in Isadora's happiness project, even though Isadora is determined to not let him get close to her. I absolutely loved this book I was sad when I came to the last page, I didn't want it to end. There were so many good quotes I can't wait to buy a copy of the book and read it again.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a beautifully written novel about what it means to find one's place in the world. The theme is all about embracing the good, bad, ugly, and amazing experiences that compose a life. Isadora is complex and quirky, yet so many of her struggles are universal. I liked her found family, her bold quest to disprove her hypothesis about happiness, and of course, as a romance reader, I'm here for the sexy professor love interest.
Isadora's journey is poignant and relatable. Even though she's fictional, I saw pieces of myself reflected in her thoughts and actions. The secondary characters are so funny and really add to the story. I appreciated the hopeful, encouraging tone and the happy ending.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions shared here are my own.

Isadora isn’t happy, and she wants to prove to Dr. Grace Monroe who has written an article, 31 Ways to Be Happy that well, she wants to prove that it isn’t possible.

Why would Isadora want to prove that you can’t be happy?

She has a lot of reasons why she isn’t happy; like parents who have never been supportive, or understanding of her, friends who weren’t loyal, and a boyfriend who wanted to keep their relationship a secret. Isadora has been really hurt by the people who she thought loved and liked her but instead let her down and misunderstood who she was.

Slowly, Isadora starts doing the items on the list to prove that Dr. Grace Monroe doesn’t know what she’s talking about, but each time she does, she finds that by being open to trying new things there are people who see Isadora for the unique and special person she is, and in turn she sees it in herself.

I can’t say I was really liking The Happy Life of Isadora until about halfway through when Isadora starts seeing herself for who she really is, unique, but then something happens that triggers her to go back to old behaviors that didn’t work for her and didn’t do her any favors.

In the beginning, I really didn’t like Isadora but when she began seeing she needed to forgive those in her life that had hurt her and she had worth. S saw that she did have friends who did love and supported her, and were honest with her even if she didn’t make the best judgments. All I wanted was to cheer her on and yell at her when she didn’t make the best choice but smile when she did. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was an honest look at what it means to be human but know that there are second chances and people who will see you and love you for who you really are.

My gratitude to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson. All opinions expressed are mine.

What to expect:
-Clean Romance
-Forced Proximity
-STEM
-Personal Journey
-Friendship

Every now and then you read a book that just makes you happy and gives you all the feels in the best possible way. That was The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley for me. It was a fresh, beautiful, & heartfelt romance novel. I lost count of the number of times tears rolled down my cheeks. Courtney Walsh’s writing tugged at my heart strings with this story.

Meet Isadora a researcher who is turning 30 and as she is getting ready to celebrate finds an article on 31 things to make you Happy at the store checkout. She feels very strongly about the author saying that if you do these few things you will be happy. This sets her on a journey to disprove the article but unbeknown to her it would change her life.

She meets a cast of characters as she follows each prompt and before she knows it she has a circle of friends. They are a vastly eclectic bunch and make her life a lot more fun and interesting. Marty a widow, Darby a young Mom, Delilah (my favorite), and Cal. They are funny, witty, and full of wisdom.

This is a story of resilience, kindness & romance where you don’t need a hero to swoop in and save the day. Instead if focuses on finding your people and acknowledging that no one can make you happy except yourself. It’s a choice.

It was sweet and funny I totally recommend it. Definitely of my favorite books of 2023 already.

This was my first book by Courtney Walsh and I really enjoyed it! I really liked her writing style and will definitely check out more of her books.

Isadora wasn’t the typical main character and I feel like there need to be more leading ladies like her in the books we read.

This story follows Isadora Bentley, a researcher, whose life wouldn’t be described as “happy”.

Isadora has a highly analytical and straightforward thinking style, which led me to believe that she may be neurodivergent/on the autism spectrum, although this was never explicitly stated. I mention this because I believe this aspect of her personality adds significance to the relationships she forms on her journey toward happiness. Despite being rejected and made to feel like an outcast by those who expected her to conform to their expectations (Lookin’ at you Isadora’s mom 😠), the people she meets accept and cherish her for who she truly is.

I feel this is an extremely important thing to recognize and appreciate in the story. Past experiences of rejection and hurt have made it difficult for her to open up to others, hindering her ability to pursue happiness as an adult. Her hesitation is understandable.

Her mom and the people in her childhood made her ashamed of who she was because they wanted her to be the way they thought she should be, so as an adult, to remedy the loneliness that made her feel, she just simply avoided people…but this created a life that she wasn’t living, just existing in.

On her 30th birthday she comes across a magazine with a list of “31 Ways to be Happy” and decides to conduct an experiment hoping to prove the list wrong…that these things don’t actually improve your happiness in life.

Though through her experiment, she discovered that happiness isn’t something that just comes to you. It’s something you decide. It’s the people you’re around. Sometimes, you have to put yourself out there and the right people will accept you for the person you are and love you even more for it. Those people who don’t, don’t matter anyways.

I adored every single character in this book. Marty was a source of wisdom, while Darby brought Isadora sunshine. Delilah was relatable for her, and Cal provided the gentle push that she needed to keep going. Although at times he seemed a little too good to be true,, his caring nature towards Isadora was sweet and endearing.

This book was a very heartwarming story of acceptance (from others and acceptance of self), self-discovery, personal growth, bravery, and forgiveness, with a little bit of an endearing, clean romance, too.

Although not overtly Christian, those who follow the faith will recognize Christian themes in it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Courtney Walsh, and Thomas Nelson for letting me read the ARC.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley will be released June 13th!

Wow. What a uniquely fun book! I related to Isadora a whole lot more than I expected to. Each one of us has had experiences where the only perceived solution is to "fix" your personality to blend in, avoid being embarrassed, or feel accepted. I saw so many of my own insecurities mirrored in Isadora's story.

Even though Isadora is following the "31 Steps to Happiness," she's not finding happiness in the literal doing of those things. It's through the new atmospheres and interactions she experiences. The friends Isadora finds along the way are so genuine. I felt happy that Isadora was feeling happy!

I love the other characters so much as well: Darby, Marty, Delilah, and of course, Cal. They all mutually blossom and grow because of the friendship that is fostered and sought after (on Darby's part, anyway lol). They're loyal to Isadora when she feels the need to withdraw, but they'll also confront her when she's making poor choices.

Cal and Isadora......such a beautiful love story. "I secretly hope his smile finds its way to me simply because I exist" (Isadora Bentley). My heart was filled with satisfaction in their relationship.

Overall, a beautifully written story and worth the read!

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

It took me awhile to get into this book, but once I did- wow! I absolutely loved this book! The first few chapters were challenging for me to get into as I couldn't decide if I actually liked Isadora (spoiler- I ended up LOVING her character). I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes a quirky, clean romance and a quick read!

This story far exceeded my expectations!
Make no mistake, I've been a fan of Courtney Walsh's books for awhile already, but this one is by far my favorite!
The voice and style are quite different from her normal books, and I loved being able to get into Isadora's head in this way.
Isadora was a fun, funny, and very relatable character. As I first started reading, I found myself laughing out loud at her quirks and sayings. But then, I also found myself crying at the heartbreaking things she'd been locking away inside herself. Yes, I very much saw myself in Isadora's life. And I so much empathized with her.

I loved seeing Isadora's character growth and progression as she took the steps to do a Happiness Experiment. She focused on others, rather than turning inward, and seeing her blossom was so satisfying.

I'm guessing most of us will find bits and pieces of ourselves in this story (unless you are, by chance, an extreme extrovert...?! Then you might find this story hard to relate to). An important lesson I learned is that we need other people in our lives--no one is an island! And we can all make a difference.

This book is a clean read, not necessarily Christian, but the themes are very much along those lines. I personally can easily see those parallels.
This is a rom-com, fun, and very humorous at times, but also faces some of the harder issues of life.
I recommend it for anyone looking for a good read.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Isadora Bentley is out to prove that happiness is not something you choose. She is a rule follower, a loner, and does not open herself up emotionally to others because that’s how you get hurt.

On her 30th birthday, she comes across an article that outlines the “31 Steps To Be Happy.” She decides that she will use her research skills and prove this author wrong. She has no idea how this experiment will alter the course of her life!

This was such a feel good read! I enjoyed all the wonderful cast of side characters that had me laughing throughout! If you are wanting a pick me up, this is your book!

Read if you like:
📝 Single POV
📝 Making new friends
📝 Found family
📝 Finding the path to happiness
📝 Laughing while you read
📝 Character growth

"Do Humans really need other humans to be happy?"
Is Happiness a choice?

These are one of the many questions our lovely is Isadora asks herself throughout the book.
Isadora Bentley is a 30 year old woman and academic researcher in Behavioral and Social Sciences at the university of Chicago. Her whole life revolves around her work in other words is Isadora and her job are ONE but recently that doesn't seems enough. She's lonely no friends no family no activities and most importantly heartbroken.
However, when she comes upon an article 31 ways To Be Happy Isadora is filled with some kind of energy she wants to try and do an experiment to prove that those steps are misleading and the doctor behind the article is wrong but when a handsome Dr. Cal Baxter joins to help her, flowers starts to bloom in Isadora's life in the most unexpected ways.

What she didn't expect that by doing each step her life will change dramatically. Isadora is finally stepping out of her comfort zone will she proves the article wrong or vice versa?
I could try and write pages to describe how BRILLIANT this book is but nothing will be enough. It's an exploration of feelings and emotions
Sadness,grief,love, happiness, friendship, and so many other. Its about the importance of human connection and the happiness it brings and that being HAPPY is a choice and its ok to be different it's what makes you special.
It also about letting go and forgiveness
It's really a powerful and emotional novel that you MUST read.
And of course, the love story between Isadora and Cal was the cherry on top

Absolutely Perfect ❤️
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Love this book so so so so much!!! My new favorite. Courtney Walsh is so talented! I related to Isadora right away, she had a good sense of humor and was strong and just a great main character.

I will always and forever read anything and everything @courtneywalsh writes! She is an amazing author, creates the best banter between characters, along with the best internal monologue, and investigates contemplative experiences for today’s reader. THE HAPPY LIFE OF ISADORA BENTLEY is a shift from some of her recent writings, and it really shows her growth as an author! Thank you [partner] @thomasnelson for my copy of THLOIB which releases June 13th!

Isadora is a quirky, incredibly smart, brutally honest MFC that reminded me of a cross between Tova and Marcellus from Remarkably Bright Creatures. She represents so much internal monologue that should have WAY more representation in novels today! I cherished her uniqueness and her love of the sweetest little neighbor ever. Such a great part to include in the storyline. She works in search of disproving an article about happiness, and what she finds in the process is a group of the most beautiful friendships- friends that love her for her.

The beginning of the novel took a bit to get into the groove of following Isadora’s internal monologue, but once I did, she became one of the most endearing characters I’ve read recently.

Isadora likes things a certain way and prefers to be alone. It’ll be happily ever after with her work as a university researcher! Until her 30th birthday, when she unexpectedly buys a magazine with an article featuring 31 Ways to Be Happy. She decides she’s going to prove the writer wrong by testing out all the steps and documenting her findings because she doesn’t believe “you choose happiness”! Or will she be surprised to discover maybe you can?

This one made my heart happy! 🥰
And had me literally laughing out loud! 😂

Isadora didn’t have it easy starting at a young age repeatedly hurt by people close to her. It’s understandable as a result she closed herself off for protection! She’s introverted, quirky, smart, and instantly wins the affection of new friends she meets in the process of her new research including me 🙋🏼‍♀️ I hope you love Isadora too!

I loved all the side characters we met along the way on this social experiment! I can’t wait for you to meet everyone! A super friendly sweet old man, the accepting encouraging insta bestie you always wanted but never had, a 10 year old with no filter who tells you like it is but also Izzy sees so much of her younger self, and the swoon worthy loyal professor who has a lot of patience.

This is a journey of stepping outside your comfort zone, self discovery, and getting out of your own way!

Thank you so much @netgalley @courtneywalsh and @thomasnelson for the early complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

3 for 3!!! Courtney’s become an auto read for me! If you’re looking for clean, feel good books with great character development then I highly recommend! I cannot wait to see what’s next!!

What a gem this book is. Here I am finding myself relating to Isadora in quite a few ways. Isadora Bentley prefers to be alone, at least that's what she tells herself. On her 30th birthday she stumbled across an article: 31 Ways to be Happy. She wants to prove the article wrong so she started to do an experiment which led her to meeting people that would change her life. I love all the side characters esp 10 year-old Delilah, who acts more mature than her age. This book is about loneliness & choosing to be happy, stepping out of your comfort zone, standing up for yourself, and self love & discovery.

Did this bring tears to my eyes? Yes, a whole lot if I'm being honest. I read this book during those days when it seemed like everything sucked. Reading this felt like a one big hug that I very much needed at that time.
I didn't have any expectations in this book at all, but The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley ended up being one of my favourite reads this year.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Loved this book!!! Courtney Walsh does it again! I love how the author takes us through Isadora’s hurt, past and her feelings. I loved all the new people in her life. It was such a great story!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for this advanced copy I’m exchange for my honest review.

Publish date: June 13, 2023

This is a heartwarming contemporary fiction - almost like a coming of age but middle age style. The characters are loveable and the plot fun. Overall an excellent reading experience.

I love a good book. I love a good book that also helps me examine my own points of view. This book definitely met both markers. I identified with the main character even though I only shared a couple parts of her story. As she worked through her emotional mess I felt like in a way I was working through mine but while loving the story and how it read!

This was most certainly a charming book, and a unique one. How many levels I could not relate to Isadora, as I have a wonderful family both as a child, as a mom, and now as a grandmom. However, I most certainly could relate to her issues with being socially, awkward and often find myself having to push myself in those situations.

One of the most delightful aspects of this book is in the supporting characters. They are so well written, and so utterly wonderful. And Cal, the love interest, stole my heart. I was sometimes frustrated at how long it took Isadora to respond to his patient pursuit of her.

I certainly enjoyed this book, and I am thankful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read it in advance. I was not obliged to give a positive review, but I definitely recommend it!

I have found one of my favorite books of the year! This story is absolute perfection! It made my heart so happy. Here are just some of the things I loved…

• the philosophical older gentleman
• the sexy academic
• the socially awkward female MC
• the found family

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

Yet again, Courtney Walsh has completely charmed me. I absolutely adored this book. Isadora Bentley is a socially awkward 30 year old who has a lot of baggage. Her life hasn’t been easy and she’s carrying a lot of hurt around with her. It makes for a very lonely way of life. When she comes across a magazine that claims to have 31 ways to be happy, she sets out to prove the article wrong.

This was SUCH a fun concept for a book! Isadora does each of the 31 things listed in the magazine and as she does her life intersects with some really quality people. Those relationships are rich and filled with meaning. I just loved how each friend she makes helps her learn something about herself. And in the end she is able to engage with past hurts and move forward.

You guys HAVE to read this one. Seriously. I laughed so many times, but I also got caught up in the feels a number of times too🥹 I love a good heart warming story and this one is definitely it!

I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I highly recommend you check it out for yourself! It is set to release on June 13th. Go get yourself a copy!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Review: You could not conjure up a better summer read than this! This is one of those books that sticks with you- I have found myself incorporating the list of 31 things into my own life after finishing! The plot and characters were so endearing and well written, I was actually bummed to have finished it.

Isadora is the perfect main character- she is quirky, stubborn, endearing, and relatable. I loved witnessing her character growth throughout the novel, as slow and painful as it sometimes was! I loved watching her perspective and understanding on happiness change throughout the novel, both explicitly in her dialogue/inner monologue and implicitly through the writing style and descriptions.

One of my favorite things in this book was the cast of characters. First, the gradual inclusion of support characters allowed the reader to really get to know each one individually. Second, it was great to have so many characters at different stages of life; this felt like a great contrast to Isadora’s exploration and transition of life stages.

Yes, the romance element of this book is absolutely adorable, but Isadora’s independent exploration of life, relationships, and happiness are what make this a stand out read for me. I will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy for my shelves on release day, June 13th

This book was great!!! I could relate to the female main character so much!!! If you are looking to learn how to let go of your past, find joy and happiness, then this is the book for you!!! What a beautiful story of healing, redemption and found family!!!

✍🏻The Happy Life Of Isadora Bentley✍🏻

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub date: June 13, 2023

This book has my heart! ❤️ Everyone deserves to be happy, and so does Isadora. Some people have been made to believe that they aren’t worthy of happiness by family, exes, or others. I love how Courtney Walsh proves through Isadora that happiness is possible. 🥰

Courtney’s writing flows so smoothly. I just wanted to keep reading. I love how she used the main characters to fully acknowledge real-life struggles with self-love and acceptance.

I want to read this book again! Now!🎉
Thank you, @courtneywalsh for such a heart-warming, encouraging reading experience! Also, a big thanks to @netgalley and @thomasnelson for the advanced ebook copy!

Loved this book! I flew through it in mere days as I could not put it down.
Isadora Bentley is a researcher. She loves her job, everything except dealing with the people around her. She reads an article about how to be happy in 31 steps. Isadora decides to try the 31 steps as a research project to prove the article author wrong. It takes her far out of her comfort zone but along the way she finds quite a few wonderful new friends as well as herself.
This book is heartwarming, realistic and humorous. The supporting cast of characters are perfection. Its a fun little rom com about finding your place in the world and letting go of what is weighing you down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Researcher Isadora Bentley is spending her 30th birthday alone. On a trip to the grocery store, she purchases a women's magazine with 31 ways to be happy. When Isadora decides to prove the author wrong by trying all of the listed activities, she sets in motion a chain of events that lead to surprising results. Similar to Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, this hopeful and insightful read will be great for book discussions.

I couldn't wait to dive into this one, and if I'm being honest, I had pretty ridiculously high expectations for it. I've loved every other book by Courtney Walsh I've had the pleasure of reading, and I had high hopes that this one was going to be no different. Unfortunately, at the start I was worried it was going to end up being a disappointment, as I found the story to be a tad slow moving, and I had a hard time truly being invested in the unfolding story. My worries were quickly proven unfounded though, as once the story got rolling, I could barely bring myself to put it down, and rarely have I ever found myself relating to a main character as much as I did Isadora.

Isadora stumbles upon a quest of trying to disprove a magazine article showcasing the "31 steps to happiness." What starts out as a singular, simple endeavor soon blooms into something more than she ever could have imagined or hoped for, and her research starts going in a different direction that she could have possibly hypothesized. For someone who has spent a lifetime being alone, Isadora is about to discover there's so much more to life, if she's only brave enough to take the steps to discover what that truly is.

As the reader follows along on Isadora's journey, so many important messages are brought to the surface about needing to truly forgive and release past hurts instead of letting them control you in the present. She was a character that was so relatable and endearing, and I loved how she was ridiculously smart and stubborn, but also quirky and honest and perhaps a teeny bit sarcastic. The cast of characters is perfectly rounded out with a misfit group that truly come to love Isadora as she is, while encouraging her to become whoever she wants to be.

This is undoubtedly going to be one of the best books I end up reading this year, and I truly adored the characters, the plot, and the swoon worthy, adorable romance. I recommend setting aside a good chunk of time if you choose to pick this one up, as more than likely you're not going to want to put it down once you get invested into the story.

My only slight complaint was that I wish the faith element had a bit more of a presence. In a book where the main character is setting out on a journey to find true happiness, it just felt like it missed the mark a bit to not have Jesus end up being the focus.

Final Rating: 5/5.

Still a wonderful read, and one I can't possibly recommend enough.



Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Isadora feels like a drab nobody at the beginning of the book. She then initiates a happiness experiment and almost immediately sees results. Her little band of merrymakers are so sweet and amazing! I absolutely adore the characters and who Isadora ends up being. I wish I was part of that story and that it was real. What a refreshing book! Run, don’t walk, to get your hands on this lovely book. It will make you happy! Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I loved this funny and heartwarming journey of Isadora's to overcome the difficulties of her past and perhaps find elusive happiness. So many times I laughed out loud. I love the awkward and scientific-minded Isadora Bentley, and the hysterical way her mind works. She's never been accepted for who she is, so for years, she has shut everyone out of her world. On her 30th birthday, her way to celebrate is with copious amounts of junk food and while at the grocery store she finds a tabloid with a title "31 Ways to Be Happy (Today!). She scoffs at the idea, but then wonders "Are there really thirty-one ways to be happy?" As you can imagine, a science experiment ensues. What follows is more hilarity, friendships, freaking out, and honest introspection. I would love to have friends like Isadora, Marty, Darby, Delilah, and Cal.

Sweet, hilarious, and completely captivating! I highly recommend The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by the talented author Courtney Walsh.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book "The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley" and all opinions expressed are my own. This was a great book. Really interesting and Isadora was wonderful. I looked forward to reading this each day.

This book made my heart so happy! That may sound strange, but I was in a major reading funk before I started this story and it was so wonderful to read a book that was so fun! I was laughing before the end of page 1 and though there were a couple cringey moments, Isadora's inner monologue even made those funny, too.
I found the premise for this book intriguing and it absolutely surpassed all of my expectations - which admittedly, weren't many. I loved Isadora's dry sense of humor, her inner (and sometimes out loud) commentary, and definitely all of the people she collected along the way! I usually find, when reading a book written from just one perspective, that I miss having a variety of characters weighing in. I did occasionally really want to know what Cal was thinking/feeling, but the story was so enjoyable, that I really didn’t think about it too much.
This is a story of a search for happiness and though there isn't a deep theological theme, there is definitely wisdom to be gleaned and remembered often. Honestly, I finished this book and then thought about rereading it almost immediately. I haven't, yet, though. Hopefully soon! But alas, life calls me to other things, peoply things, so Isadora will have to wait.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a book that will encourage you to laugh, probably cry (yes, there’s a few sad moments), and maybe learn a new way to look at happiness. I would also recommend buying a paperback (I hope to do so, soon!) so you can loan it out to friends who need an extra dose of happiness, too.

*My thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Chicago University researcher, Isadora Bentley, is celebrating her thirtieth birthday. Alone. (Does that qualify as celebrating?) Alone except for the local mini mart’s sugary delicacies that await her in Aisle 8. Twinkies, chocolate, and a 2 liter of Coke have medicinal properties that the science world has yet to recognize. (If you know, you know.) While checking out, Isadora spots a headline on a magazine: 31 Steps to Happiness, by Dr. Grace Monroe. Ha! 31 Steps. What a crock. On a whim of rebellion, Isadora buys the magazine with the intent of testing Dr. Monroe’s theory. She will implement one step per day–in any order–record her findings, and prove, unequivocally, that happiness can never be achieved so simplistically.

Unfortunately, most of these steps involve interacting with other people. Yuck. People. People lead to feelings, and feelings lead to loss and sadness and hurt. And Isadora has been hurt. A lot. Who wants that? Alone is safe. Alone is comfortable. Alone is…sometimes not all it’s cracked up to be.

Except that when you are a university researcher like Isadora, who is supposed to be working with other people, being alone isn’t always an option. Her self-imposed solitude is interrupted when Isadora’s boss assigns her to work with opposite-of-ugly Dr. Cal Baxter, a psychologist preparing a book for publication and conducting his own experiment.

Over the next year, Isadora Bentley embarks on a roller coaster ride of self-discovery, soul-searching, emotions, and regret. This sounds heavy–and it is–except that all of this wisdom is dressed in so much hilarity (her inner dialogue made me LOL on multiple occasions) that you almost don’t realize that you, the reader, are learning something too. And there are feelings–deep, deep feelings–as our beloved heroine goes on this journey, realizing that, while defensive walls are sometimes necessary, they aren’t always the answer.

I adored this book, its writing, characters, and many insightful nuggets. It’s a treasure. I highly recommend it!

Isadora has my heart. There were so many great moments in this book. Parts that made me laugh, parts that made me cry, and parts that made me feel seen. I love Isadora’s found family and the way she conducts her experiments. I love how flashbacks are incorporated. I really didn’t want to put this book down.

I’d recommend this to those who love clean romance with a lot of laughs, finding one’s self, and found family.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

This book!!!! Great writing. Fun internal dialogue. Strong characters and setting. You will love getting to know Isadora: a quirky, endearing, and utterly charming 30year old academic researcher who embarks on her own “happiness experiment”. Gave me “How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days” vibes!

Beyond the inspiring (and in some ways healing) love story, this is a story of Isadora learning to let go of her past and choose happy. I deeply related to some of the things she worked through and the various epiphanies she had throughout the book. And that made me lover her character even more. I also really connected with her love story, seeing me and my sweet husband in many of the interactions between Isadora and Cal.
Alongside an eclectic group of supporting characters, readers get a front row seat to Isadora processing her hurts & griefs.

Completely clean with no language and only a couple sweet kisses!

Favorite quotes:
“It was the kind of awkward that makes other people’s skin hurt by just watching.”

“What I realized is that I have to be the one to change it. Me. I mean, I can’t change the past—unfortunately— but I can change the way I think about it. I can change how much attention I give it.”

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is the first book by this author I have read and it definitely will not be the last!
Isadora was hilarious and real. I could completely understand her and her reasons 100% throughout the story!
This book was like a fantastic Rom-Com but on page! The ups and downs of Isadora's story are heartwarming and breaking but this book leaves you with such joy and a smile.
After turning 30 Isadora feels she's needs a change and decides that she's going to prove an article from a tabloid is completely wrong about how to find happiness in 31 steps. She decides to complete these step and catalog her findings. This leads to an eclectic cast of characters, humourous encounters, and true deep soul searching.

It has been a very long time since I stayed up way past my bedtime binging a book I couldn’t put down, then posting about it the very next morning - but THIS BOOK!! 😍 I think it might be my favorite book of 2023!!

I’m struggling a bit with my thoughts - which is why I should probably wait and think through my review - but sometimes you just want to tell people ASAP!!

“Maybe happiness isn’t about what you do, Isadora. Maybe it’s about who you do it with. Or simply about accepting who you are.”

Walsh’s recent books are full on romcom and she steps away from that with this one. It is very much women’s fiction with a side of the absolute sweetest, most kind and patient romcom you’ll ever read. The combination of Isadora’s personal growth + the swooniest hero was almost too much for my heart!!

It was just such a thoughtful book. An incredibly vulnerable and openly awkward look at social isolation, self discovery and the concept of finding true happiness. There are LOL moments thrown in and moments that every single adult can identify with. I found myself in tears multiple times because the feelings were SO REAL. 💓

Isadora’s group of found friends are just the absolute icing on the birthday cake - Marty, Cal, Darby, and Delilah are the friends everyone deserves in their corner. I could read another entire book about this group.

This is a way longer review than I usually write, and I could go on so much longer, but friends, I am telling you I love this book so much. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

I want to be Isadora Bentley's best friend. She's quirky, atypical, intelligent, and at times irreverent. She made me want to cringe and cheer in every chapter. The only thing better than Isadora in this book is her cast of supporting characters. Marty, Darby, Delilah, and Dr. Cal brought joy into my life just as they brought happiness to Isadora's.

I was given an advanced copy to review by the author and publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I’ll be honest, when I started this book I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. After a few chapters in, I was wholeheartedly in. This book is a fun read but also insightful.

We are all Isadora in some way or another. We all have those people who have spoken into our lives negativity or who have hurt us. We have given them too much power and hear their voices in our head. But…, we all have others (Marty, Darby, etc) who speak life into us. We have to enjoy those people and celebrate the victories in life daily.

Isadora is a researcher who pretty much keeps to herself after being let down too many times in life. Until she meets an older gentleman at the university where she works and a noisy neighbor that she has to get used to and she finds herself opening up in ways she never thought possible. Throw in a handsome psychologist and it makes a great story. Is life always a happy ending? No, but it’s definitely worth living.

This was a delightful story of metamorphosis. I was immediately drawn into the story – and how often do we root for the character to be proven wrong? Very well written, to achieve that. And there are a lot of us who strongly resemble who Isadora is at the beginning of the book, so the ending brings us hope that maybe, just maybe, this condition of life isn’t immutable. Maybe there’s hope.

Total feel-good book; I was sorry to reach the end of it, but glad for the sense of hope and possibility it engendered in me. And I’m so happy to see this author has a number of additional titles I can go devour!

My thanks to NetGalley for a free preview copy in exchange for my honest review.

I can seriously say that anything Courtney Walsh writes is amazing, and this book was no exception. The plot, the characters, the scenery. It was all amazing. A wonderful, feel good story to start out the summer.

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving the advance copy has not colored my opinion.

Genre: Romcom, Romance, Women's Fiction, General Fiction, Christian Fiction
Spice Level: Sweet (Yay! It's so hard to find something without spice.)
Language: Clean

I'm so thrilled to report that I have a new favorite author to add to my list! (Woohoo! She has a backlist of books too!) This book had me putting down my copy to just laugh. There were other moments when I teared up for Isadora—she's incredibly relatable.

Haven't we all felt misunderstood and awkward at times? And haven't we also looked at those magazine lists, rolled our eyes but still wonder if there's something to what they're saying? The very beginning hooked me with her magazine binge purchase and its *31 Ways to be Happy*, and I had to keep reading! In fact, I finished this book in about a day because it's so compelling. There are about three references to praying to God—so it's light and fits into the novel seamlessly.

It's not just the plot—it's always the characters for me. It's in the vein of *The Rosie Project* without the sexual innuendo and such.

Characters:

Isadora—brilliant, awkward, truthful
Cal—disorganized, brilliant, golden retriever-style man
Marty—70s, engaging, mourning
Darby—mom of 4 kiddos (including Delilah), loves life, yoga attendee
Delilah—10 years old, an old soul, brilliant, awkward
Swearing baby—I'm throwing this one in, and I promise you're going to want to find the reference. (I'm giggling even as I think about it.)

I absolutely recommend this book to any fans of romance! There's great chemistry and real-world people.

Happy reading!

Absolutely adored this book. I've had the ARC for awhile and have been putting it off and I'm actually so glad I did because I wasn't in the right place and I might not have loved it. But now I'm in a better place and reading about how Isadora found her happiness was perfect for me.

This book is a little more women's fiction than Walsh usually writes but have no fear there is still plenty of romance to keep us die hard romance fans happy. I absolutely fell in love with Cal. He is very swoon worthy.

I loved the setting of this book too. I don't see a ton of books set in the world of academia and I absolutely loved that she was a researcher and he was a professor at the same university. The workplace trope was very well done.

I really loved the subject matter of this book too. I think it is truly important for us to be reminded how happiness works while at the same time being reminded that forgiveness and letting go of grudges is key as well. I loved all of Isadora's self discovery in this book.

As much as I loved Cal I think that Darby really stole the show with how she befriended Isadora. I could use a Darby in my life.

I definitely recommend this to anyone that loves a romantic women's fiction.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

OH MY HEART!!! I cannot even tell you how much I adored this book! What a beautiful and heartwarming rom-com that will have you smiling, laughing and crying. Is it a love story? Yes. However, it is so much more! The story is about confronting your past, dealing with loneliness, knowing your worth and choosing happiness everyday. Once I started reading I couldn't stop and I finished it in a day. Hands down one of my top reads this year!!🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷

Isadora is extremely intelligent, socially awkward and is a research scientist. Growing up Isadora never had friends or the support from her family. As a result, she works better alone and has chosen to close off her broken heart to others. While standing in line to check out at the store she comes across a magazine article of "Thirty-one ways to be Happy". Isadora does not believe happiness is a choice nor is it in the cards for her life. Therefore, she decides to perform her own experiment to prove the author wrong. Will she be able to prove the article wrong? What Isadora does not expect or factor into her project is the amazing friends she meets and the feelings she develops for them. I loved the character development Isadora goes through.

Overall, I loved every moment of this inspiring and wholesome read. Courtney Walsh is easily becoming one of my favorite authors! I cannot recommend this book enough!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Courtney Walsh has a gift: writing heartwarming, thoughtful books about real & relatable characters! I loved her newest - The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. I found Isadora to be a very understandable and likable character, and loved reading about her exploring the world outside of her comfort zone! Would definitely recommend this one, and any of her other books.

When I pick up a book by Courtney Walsh, I know that I am going to be in for a wonderful read every single time. I have yet to read one that I did not like... but I must say, this one might just be my favorite yet (or it's tied right up there with My Phony Valentine at least!)

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley felt different to me than the books by Courtney Walsh I had read in the past... but in the best way possible. The romance is still definitely there (and super swoon worthy, I must say), but it's about so much more than that. In this story we get to go along with Isadora as she finds her people and heals from her past, and I LOVED it!

I related to Isadora on a very personal level too. I'm definitely the quiet, socially awkward girl who struggles in making friends. There was an even a moment in the story where she reflects back on a memory that happened with a grade school best friend that felt almost eerily similar to my own childhood experiences. I'll admit, I got tear a few times with this one... but I loved it just the same!

This is without a doubt an absolute must read!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

I loved this book…so much.

Isadora is a 30-year-old university researcher who, because she has an analytical mind and a lifelong history of emotional abuse, has a hard time with social interactions.

She is tasked with helping a psychology professor with his new book research while she’s also conducting her own personal study to disprove the validity of a magazine article entitled “31 Ways to be Happy”. As she tests each item on the happiness list, she begins to notice changes in her life…new connections, new outlooks, new possibilities. But can her fear of being vulnerable and hurt ever truly be overcome to find her way to happiness in life?

Isadora was such an endearingly unique revelation…frustrating at times but also cheer worthy and relatable. As we watch her grow and gain confidence through shared experiences with new people, she becomes a brave and self-aware woman who must decide if and how she can move forward with her newfound life lessons while also living with her fears.

Funny, heartbreaking and with a stellar cast of secondary characters, this one is special and such a lovely inspirational story.

Highly recommend.

Special thanks to the author, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing the free early arc of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

And just when I thought I couldn't love Courtney Walsh more, she comes out with The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. I was immersed in the story of this lonely woman from the beginning, anxiously following along with her quest to discover how to be - or not to be - happy amid past hurts, broken relationships, and unfulfilled dreams. Romantic, heart warming, and oh so satisfying, Walsh knows how to tell a delightful story! From the quirky characters, to the charming prose, to the emotional filled plot, I was hooked! .

I received this book from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley gave me a major book hangover! I didn’t want it to ever end, and I want to follow these characters for the rest of their lives! They, along with the story, made my heart so full of all the feelings! It’s hilarious and sad. It’s heartwarming and heartbreaking. It’s all the things I love about a Courtney Walsh novel and more! I think this is my favorite so far. Though my personality is not like Isadora’s, I was Isadora as I was reading. Courtney Walsh writes in a way that sweeps you into the book and into the main character’s life.

Isadora likes her ordered life the way it is. She keeps to herself. All.Of.The.Time. She would say she’s happy. She’s not lonely because she has a running narrative going on in her head almost all of the time. This is a problem at her job since part of her as a research scientist at the university is to mentor students. If she has to interact with them at all, her inner narrative distracts her, so she has no idea what they just said! Basically, she interacts with no one. I like to think that I’d have befriended her as a child since I was the type of girl who took the lonely girls under my wing (to quote my first grade teacher).

On Isadora’s 30th birthday, on a whim she picks up a women’s magazine that screams out Thirty-One Ways to be Happy. She scoffs at this and sets out to disprove the author’s article. And so it begins….

I can’t begin to describe my love of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley! I was constantly cracking up and interrupting my daughter’s reading time (yes, I am annoying like that) to tell her what was going on in a scene. And, I’m bad at describing how hilarious it is, and she doesn’t read this genre or I’d have left her alone…maybe. There were times I was sobbing, but the entire time, I was just basking in the delightful story that this is.

I really want to share the characters and my favorite parts of the book with you, but they are something you have to experience first-hand. Discovering who these characters are and how Isadora’s story unfolds contribute to the joy I felt reading this book and I want you to experience that same happiness. Needless to say, I adored The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley and highly recommend this rom-com to all who love the genre.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

When I picked up A Cross Country Christmas by Courtney Walsh this past December, I had no idea I would instantly become a Courtney Walsh super fan. I grabbed her next book, My Phony Valentine, immediately when it came out, and then did not hesitate to request an ARC when The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley was announced.

Unlike the previous two books I’ve read, I would classify THLOIB more in the women’s fiction genre rather than romance. This book is about Isadora, a 30 year old researcher on a quest to find her happiness and the connections she makes along the way. I instantly loved Isadora- she’s smart, quirky, and endearing- but she goes through a lot of self discovery and soul searching to be able to get to a place where she is able to accept and love herself. I truly believe everyone who reads this book will find a way to connect with Isadora. I can’t tell you how many times her internal monologue had giggling, then tearing up, then smiling like a goofy kid. She really is one of my favorite characters I’ve had the pleasure of reading about!

A major theme in this book is found family, and while my family is fantastic, there is also something to be said for the friends who come into your life along the way. For Isadora, simply smiling at someone, an act that makes her feel incredibly vulnerable, is step one in finding not only her happiness, but also a friend. Between Marty, Delilah, and Darby, Isadora opens her heart to the most perfect group of friends who give her support, encouragement, and tough love. And then Cal, who is patient and kind, comes along and opens Isadora’s heart up to the possibility of sharing experiences with someone- I MEAN I SIMPLY CANNOT Y’ALL.

I think there is a lot we can learn from Isadora and her friends. I wanted to plop myself right into their group and never leave. I truly cannot recommend this book enough! Make sure you grab your copy Tuesday when it hits the shelves!

Isadora is one of the most unique characters I’ve ever read about! I loved her journey to find happiness and to find herself. While Isadora struggled with social connections at the beginning of the book, I enjoyed her journey to discovering that humans need connection.

I absolutely LOVED the family Isadora found for herself. Darby. Delilah. Marty. Cal. They each added so much to the story and helped Isadora in her journey to find herself.

I don’t want to spoil too much about this book, but it was so special. It was deep and raw and emotional and made me feel all the feels. I highly recommend checking this one out!

Read it for:
✍🏻Women’s fiction
✍🏻Romcom vibes
✍🏻Workplace romance
✍🏻Found family
✍🏻A journey of self-discovery

Thank you so much to the author, Thomas Nelson, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

There is a *spoiler* in the content warning below.

Content warning: heart attack

Isadora Bentley is on the search for happiness - she's close to an internal breakdown as she hits her 30th birthday, so she does the thing that she does best - creates a hypothesis of 31 ways to find happiness and sets on researching if these 31 ways actually do bring her happiness.

Found family, love, and finding confidence in herself - Isadora's journey was a joy to follow along with. I was rooting for her to stand up to her ex, believe in her friends, believe in love, and most of all, believe in herself.

While I do have the e-ARC, I was also lucky enough to be able to get the ALC. This was narrated by Jorjeana Marie and she had me smiling throughout the whole book. I loved her energy as she told Isadora's story and she made it even more delightful than I could imagine.

Huge thank you to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! Also, thank you to LibroFM for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve read nearly all of Courtney Walsh’s books, and this right here might be my absolute favorite. Heroines these days have begun to fall flat for me, caricatures who are faux-quirky, two-dimensional try-hards we’re told to like but I just don’t connect to. But Isadora, oh how I get her. She’s authentically herself, a complicated mess standing in her own way and blind to the joy right in front of her. She’s real. She’s torn between two warring parts of herself, and yet both are completely *her*. Ms. Walsh did a beautiful job crafting Isadora and her mishmash found family of supporting characters who come alive on the pages and yet serve a clear purpose in aiding Isadora’s journey to understanding happiness.

I’d have liked a little more faith built into the book, but that’s likely less to do with the author than the publisher, as it’s a common trend I’ve noticed with Thomas Nelson the past few years. As is, it’s a solid 4.5 star book, but had Ms. Walsh included some of the stronger faith ties I’ve read in her many other books, it would easily push it to a 5. So much emotional push and pull, which Ms. Walsh excels at, bringing us to tears as easily as laughter and everything in between. I truly loved it, and agree with the conclusion Isadora herself came to, but acknowledging the Source of the deepest happiness would have really brought everything wholly home, honestly.

It’s a joy to read a book where the heroine shines as brightly as the side characters and vice versa.

My favorite Marty wisdom (and such a poignant scene): “What is it you always used to say? ‘Life is beautiful and horrible and wonderful and awful all at the same time’?” He looks at me then. “And that is the adventure.”

And this realization (gah! So good!): Is it possible that the happy days and the sad days, I don’t know, need each other somehow? As if the two things have to coexist for either to matter at all?

#book55of2024 The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh Five huge stars for one of the best books I’ve read this year. The lessons in this book will last for the rest of my life. I resonated with Isadora so so so much as an awkward kid and still an awkward adult. The internal dialogue and justification she gives to actions done by others is so spot on. The life Isadora leads when going on a self exploration of happiness brought on by twinkies, a tabloid magazine, and a coke is so endearing and triumphant (no other word comes to mind). The cast of characters she encounters are fantastic and unique and I love them all. Happiness is found in this book 100%. #kristalreads

A huge thank you to #netgalley and #ThomasNelson for an advanced readers copy of this book. I intend to buy multiple copies to have and to share.

Courtney Walsh does not wrong and this book is another to add to that list. I absolutely loved this latest release and I found the concept of the story so fun.

The pace of this book was great, loved the main characters and seeing her grow was really fun. Such a great one and I highly recommend!!!

Shoutout to one of the best book I ever read this year! The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a book that explores about happiness, life lesson, found family, low self-esteem, & in a discovery to love yourself. This book is like a huge big hug to me. I cried when reading this, I cried when it ends. I finish this less than a day, and finish this within 5 hours (that shows how good the book is).

Isadora Bentley is an 30 years old woman who work as a university researcher. All of her life, she lived it quietly, no friends, no lover, always being alone. But it all change when she found a magazine cover that highlight "31 ways to be happy' which she sets on researching if these 31 ways is actually a valid research to spread on society. Isadora character is definitely hard to like at first, as she quite giving me a secondhand embarrassment with her bluntness and always put herself in very odd situations. But that is the point. She socially awkward, she is not good at human connection, hence why she avoid from involve with people and prefer to work alone. I enjoy her journey to discover the happiness and at the same time how the list hugely affect her personality to be the best version of herself. from step 1: Smile to People to the last step which is 'Confront What is Making You Unhappy in The First Place". She is slowly gaining her confidence and have a place where she belong to. I also love her inner monologue, it was so funny.

I love the found family troupe in this book. I love the fact that the love interest didn't play a whole part in helping Isadora in her journey, but instead become one of 'that' part. I love that every people, Marty (the old man), Darby (her neighbor), Cal (the Doctor) & Delilah (this cute kid) helping her a lot by giving her different insight of life and giving the advice that she need to hear. They're such a precious people. This book is beautifully written on how it seems that life is so unfair, but at the end, all of it makes sense. Seeing how Isadora got the people she deserves is so heartwarming.

Overall, I give it 5 stars. A lot of things just perfectly crafted. I love how it hugely focus on self acceptance, and also discuss about bullying, narcissistic mother, trauma. The author really did know what she is doing and I love it so much. The life lesson I got from this book will lasted lifetime. Thank you Netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy.

If you need a dose of sunshine in your life, this book is it. It’s one happy, nerdy pill! Isadora is lovable, Cal is a walking green flag, and Darby, Delilah and Marty are the kind of friends you’d want to have. Isadora’s scenes were so funny, and her interactions with her found family were all so touching.

As Isadora does her experiment to prove the 31 ways to be happy article wrong, I found myself trying the tips out too! Yes, the romance parts of the book were cute and Cal is swoon-worthy, but what I loved most about this book is Isadora’s quest to find happiness, and the message that real happiness doesn’t equate with just finding romantic love (though that is a bonus!) Isadora coming into her own and accepting who she is was beautifully written, and I loved her journey of becoming brave, fighting her demons, and eventually accepting her amazing and unique self.

thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely re-read this!!

This book came to me at the just the right time. I’d been struggling with my own happiness, not letting go of frustrations, worrying over little things, etc. I needed to smile and laugh a lot and this book did just that. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud and my face hurt from smiling. So I guess I need Step One: Smile More more than I thought. And I also cried. This is my first book from Courtney Walsh and it was wonderfully delightful, sweet and downright hilarious at times. The David Attenborough thoughts were so funny. The book is so well written, I didn’t want it to end. The exceptional people Isadora meets in her own happiness journey were wonderful, and inspiring. Marty, Darby, and especially Deliah and especially, especially Cal. I won’t go into the specifics of the story because of spoilers but do yourself a favor and read this book.
Thank you to the publisher for the Netgalley approval. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book!

If you’re looking for a book that is wholesome, beautiful, sweet and filled with amazing characters, this book is for you! Isadora is simply the best and I want to be friends with her. There were so many laughable moments and I wanted to live and work in this town. Marty was one of my favorite characters and his wisdom and love made me so happy! Darby and her family were just what Isadora needed and I would absolutely read a sequel with all of these characters. The way Isadora overcomes her past with Cals help was so great to watch and I would definitely reread this book!

Isadora is fabulous! First of all, I love that this story is written in first-person. And boy oh boy do we get an inside look into what makes Isadora tick—her thoughts, her emotions, her past, why she thinks the way she does—everything about her. I don’t know that I’ve ever stepped away from a novel and felt like I knew the main character so well. The professor and others that come into her life are just perfection. There are some touching and raw moments, some funny moments (quite a few actually), and also some deep insight into what it takes to actually be happy. What does it mean? Why is it important? How does one go about finding happiness? All of this is touched upon in an authentic and meaningful way in this novel.

Such a wonderful book. Some may say that this story of reinventing or finding one’s self has been done before. To them I would say, “Sure, but not like this.” This story is different. You will find yourself connecting with Isadora in some way in this story. It is well worth the read!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so heartwarming and funny. It got me out of a long reading rut and didn't disappoint any step of the way.

This book was so much fun!! But this was also a book that really tucked at my heartstrings. I felt a real connection with Isadora and the journey she was on - on one hand she was willing to open up to other people and smile when happy things happened to her but on the other hand she was afraid to trust anyone ever again because the fear of getting hurt was always there and a life of professional competence and solitude was the much safer option.

I flew through the pages of this sweet and heartwarming book, I laughed out loud, I cried, I smiled - in other words, this book was just the perfect read on a snowy spring day.

"Life is beautiful and horrible and wonderful and awful all at the same time. [...] And _that_ is the adventure."

Thank you so much Courtney Walsh for letting me take part in Isadora's adventure! I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Isadora has never really fitted in, which didn't make for an easy childhood. Now thirty and with a more recent bad experience to reinforce all her negative feelings about herself, the sight of an article about 31 ways to be happy sparks the idea of a research project to prove the author wrong. But somehow, as she tries out the different steps, she finds herself inadvertently developing a 'family' - meaning that she once again has something to lose. But does she really want to prove the author wrong, or has she really been searching for happiness all along? And what - or who - has really been making her unhappy all along? Most frightening question of all: is she brave enough to open herself to possible pain in order to achieve happiness?

This was a deeply touching, moving and at times heart-wrenching story of someone who has given up on human connections. It's also the inspiring story of how she managed to change that and make a 'real life' for herself. While I was certainly never treated the way Isadora was by others, I'm similar enough in some ways that I really felt for her in her struggles - and I really admired Cal's perseverance in trying to get through to her. In fact, all of the characters were memorable in various ways (perhaps particularly Delilah?). I was enthralled from page 1 and somewhat reluctant to see it end, despite the satisfying ending. All in all, great characters, an amazing storyline and and inspiring message, mixed in with enough humour to stop it getting too heavy. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Isadora Bentley had my heart from the first page and she will have yours too.

“I want to belong to someone. I want to be safe. I want to be lifted up. I want to have a spot, I want to share unspoken secrets with a look, and I want the wind to make me soar.”

So much of what Isaorda goes through is incredibly relatable and representative of so many of us. I absolutely loved her and Cal and everyone else Isadora meets on her journey to self discovery. There is beautiful mental health representation as well as kind and thoughtful characters! This was such a heartwarming, feel-good read and one I highly recommend!

5 stars

Thank you @netgalley and #tnzfiction for the early physical copy and @librofm for the early audio

Grab your copy out tomorrow!

#favoriteread #fivestarread #bestbookoftheyear #readingismagic #littlebrown #tnzfiction #netgalleyarc #netgalleyarcreader #netgalleyreview #newread #newbook #highlyrecommend #highlyrecommendedbook #bookaholic #readingtime #bookshelf #writing #booklove #literature #bookphotography #booksbooksbooks #instabooks #bookblogger #myfavoriteoftheyear #characterlove #mentalhealthawareness

It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but I absolutely loved Isadora's journey from severe social anxiety to trying to disprove a tabloid article about happiness and finding friendship and belonging along the way. Isadora, an academic researcher, is determined to use her research skills to prove the article about happiness wrong, but she somehow manages to pick up some unexpected companions along the way. Courtney Walsh's characters is this book have such depth and the story is so unexpected. I loved all her characters and would love to see more about some of the side characters in this story. I highly recommend this book for lovers of romance.

I received an eARC of this review from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

On her thirtieth birthday, Isadora Bentley is loading up on junk food at the supermarket when she sees a magazine article featuring thirty-one ways to be happy. A researcher by trade, Isadora decides to run her own one-person experiment to see if they work. It seems more promising than a one-night stand with Reese's. 😉

This book is about Isadora's quest to find happiness. Once she starts putting herself out there, she finds an assortment of charming side characters that help her work through her issues and find the true source of happiness.

I loved Isadora so much. She has so many relatable quirks and thinks she has figured out how things work and what she wants from life, although she is going through a bit of a rough patch. I immediately wanted to root for her. I loved that she was brave enough to say what she was thinking! I highlighted some really great quotes that made me laugh out loud.

Cal is absolute perfection. He was perfect for Isadora and I loved how she helped him as well. The rest of Isadora's found family were completely charming and I wish I could hang out with them all!

The last part of this book was heartwrenchingly good, but luckily everything comes together in a satisfying conclusion. This book was so heartwarming and I loved all the thoughts on happiness and the importance of human connection. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Courtney Walsh, Thomas Nelson Fiction & NetGalley.

Courtney Walsh hit this one way out of the park!! I fell in love with Isadora from the very first few pages and I was rooting for her to find her happiness throughout this entire book.

Perfect for fans of character-driven novels like The brilliant life of Eudora Honeysett or Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine. Isadora is a woman happy to focus on her academic research and ignore the people around her having been burned badly by love.

Fortunately for her, after reading an article espousing 30 ways to find happiness on the eve of her 30th birthday, Isadora is challenged to step outside her comfort zone and take chances, make new friends and maybe, just maybe, find someone who loves her for who she is, quirks and all.

Swoony, heartfelt and absolutely unputdownable. This is going to be one of my favorite books of the year and by far the best book by Courtney Walsh I've read to date. Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and Librofm for the early digital and audio copies in exchange for my honest reviews!

I absolutely devoured this book. Isadora is not your average woman, and yet readers will find her extremely relatable. She walks to the beat of her own drum not realizing that her unique perspective on life might just be the most amazing thing about her. She is a breath of fresh air with her quirky ways and will be adored by every woman or girl who has ever wondered how they fit into the world. Funny, heartfelt, and serious in all the right moments, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a page turner.

Isadora Bentley and her quirky, intelligent, socially awkward personality will steal your heart and run with it! This book has everything we love from a fantastic rom-com. It's funny, it's heart-warming, it's heart-wrenching, and I believe, most...if not all of us can relate to Isadora in some way. This story is about confronting the things in the past that shaped who we are today. And sometimes, those things aren't pretty. They're hard. They hurt. But Isadora teaches us what beauty can come from stepping out of our comfort zone to do hard things! The beauty of love, friendship, healing, and self-worth. I dare you to pick up this book, read it, maybe put some of Isadora's challenge into practice, and grow from it. That's the kind of book this is. The kind that you enjoy, you love, you laugh through, and you learn from. When you finish, take a deep breath and exhale a sigh of contentment! Courtney Walsh has nailed it with this story and I cannot recommend it enough!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was exactly what this introverted, awkward, and quirky girl needed. I related a lot to Isadora. I may not be as negative as she is but I can be critical and hard on myself. I loved Marty and Delilah. They were probably my favorite characters in this book. They were so down-to-earth, funny, and caring beyond belief. I also just appreciate how Cal never expected anything from Isadora and was dead set on making sure that she knew all he wanted was for her to be herself. This book was the perfect serotonin boost that I need to kick off summer!

Isadora Bentley is a researcher who believes that happiness just doesn’t exist for her life. On her 30th birthday she purchases a magazine that features an article on the ‘Thirty-one Ways to Be Happy’, and sets out to do what she does best - research - by doing each of the things the article says to do, all with the intent to prove they won’t make her happy. Her research ultimately opens her up to making new friends and meeting new people - all which may end up being the key to happiness she never thought she’d find.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This. Book. 🫶🏻 There aren’t enough words to describe how much I loved this one - easily one of my favorites of the year.

I loved going on this journey to happiness with Isadora. Her character is a bit socially awkward, relatable and grows a ton throughout. I equally loved the supporting cast of characters - Isadora’s new friends who become more like her family, especially 10 year old Delilah, who delivers some of the funniest lines in the book.

If you’re looking for a feel good story with a bit of romance - pick this one up! It’s sure to teach you a few lessons and leave you smiling well after the last page.

Courtney Walsh is a favorite of mine for Christmas Rom-coms. I can’t wait to read whatever she’s working on next!

I loved everything about this book. Isadora Bentley is very work oriented and a top researcher. But when it comes to human interaction, she’s not so great at it.

There were so many moments in this book that made me laugh out loud, or highlight my ebook copy, or just want to message my friends and tell them they HAVE to read this book.

In the quest for happiness, Isadora must come to grips with things in her past and understand what happiness looks like for her. It’s uncomfortable (as personal growth often is) but so worth is.

The cast of characters in this book add richly to the story and I must admit to wanting to swoon over the hero. There’s also a character I wanted to adopt as an honorary grandparent, a best friend, and of course, I’d want to add Isadora to my collection of heroines I absolutely love.

I hope Courtney Walsh continues to write books like this one and My Phony Valentine. I’m so there for it!!

*I received a complimentary copy from publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

LOVE everything about this book! Isadora was so fun! Every book by this author has me smiling but this one felt even more special! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this beauty!

THE HAPPY LIFE OF ISADORA BENTLEY

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🍭

This book 🥹🥹🥹. It came into my life at the perfect time. It reminded me a lot of “Elinor Oliphant is Completely Fine” (which I absolutely loved). I connected with a lot of the characters, especially Isadora. There are so many sweet moments of friendship and kindness. I feel inspired to be a better human after reading this! Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the eARC.

This is such a delightfully fun book that touches on all the emotions with laugh out loud moments as well as seriously sad ones. Isadora is a smart and unique nerd who has decided that being alone is better than getting hurt, something that she has endured since kindergarten. She enjoys her job as an academic researcher but has minimal interaction with her co-workers. When she sees an article in a tabloid about 31 ways to happiness, she sets out to prove the author wrong. Her research leads her through steps where she had to interact with people on a personal level and her social awkwardness is hilarious with her straightforward ways of interactions with others. This is a sweet story to read and watch as Isadora makes friends and opens herself up to possibilities, maybe even romance. I highly recommend this story.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Since I discovered Courtney Walsh a couple years ago I have never been disappointed by reading her work.

Great characters, and not just the main characters. We have great supporting characters who add to the mains and the overall storyline.

The storyline flowed well and was a nice quirky mix that really appealed to me.

I love a dry sarcastic humour, and that’s totally Isadora!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
🧼

Isadora Bentley is researcher in Behavioural and Social Sciences. Everything she does it calculated, and she likes to plan. She also isn’t happy.

On her 30th birthday while stocking up on junk food at the grocery store, Isadora comes across a magazine with an article called “31 Ways to Be Happy.” She sets out to disprove the steps by trying them out.

Starting with a smile, Isadora begins to connect more and more with those around her. She’s also forced to work with Dr. Cal Baxter, a psychology professor, to help him organize his research. He becomes interested in her happiness study and helps her out there too.

What I loved most about Isadora was her blunt honesty - definitely no miscommunication in this book! This story was so much more than a romance - it was about finding yourself, self improvement, and letting go of your past to live in the present. There was a lot more about friendship kind of love than romantic, and it was so so sweet!

Read if you like:
⭐️ Workplace romance
⭐️ Forced proximity
⭐️ Opposites attract
⭐️ Researcher & Psychologist
⭐️ Witty
⭐️ Self improvement/discovery
⭐️ Found family
⭐️ Clean romance
⭐️ Single POV/first person

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for an advanced copy for review. All opinions are my own.

I don't think I can even put into words what this book means to me, but I'll try.

Courtney Walsh has a way with words and this story had me on the verge of tears, with a lump in my throat, throughout most of it. Isadora Bentley is an inspiration and a definite favorite.

In her quest to prove an article entitled "31 Ways to Be Happy (Today!)" wrong, what results is something both precious and unexpected, and I was touched. Researcher Isadora is quirky and unique, set in her ways and routines and anything but personable, and I loved her determination to see this personal project through. It's easy to give up on things, but she is anything but a quitter. I found myself reflecting on my own life quite a bit as I read this. Am I happy? Do I take the time to do the little things it takes to find that fulfillment and true happiness in life or do I just float along in my typical and comfortable patterns? I don't think I'm ready to answer that...

By putting herself "out there" and placing herself in uncomfortable places and situations, she found her people, her family, and her cheerleaders in the most unlikely places and this rag-tag group grasped my heart in the most wonderful way. Marty--the lonely elderly widower; Darby--the loud, fiercely loyal and protective, frazzled mother of four; Delilah--the young girl who was Isadora 20 years ago; Cal--the gentle psychologist who grasps life by the horns and lives and loves in every moment, while truly seeing people.

I could ramble on and on, but just know that you'll be a better person by reading this and possibly even applying even a portion of it to your own life. With dabs of romance and heaps of emotion, this is one book that will stick in my soul for a very long time.

Content: moments of mild past trauma to deal with; mild romance

Isadora’s story touched me very deeply and although it took me a chapter or so before I became fully engaged, the story has really stayed with me. I laughed out loud quite a few times over Isadora’s mishaps in awkward situations and I cried over her pain and her belief that happiness was unattainable for her. I especially loved the secondary characters in the book. Marty, Isadora’s first friend, was so loving and accepting. Isadora’s neighbors, Darby and her daughter Delilah, were such a delight and Darby taught me a lot about how to give comfort and strength to someone who is being bullied. Darby encouraged Isadora by explaining that maybe her negative experiences with relationships were due to her not having yet found her people and not due to her being lacking or unworthy. And Cal—handsome, kind, patient, charming Cal was such a wonderful character who is such a role model for men. Can you tell I loved this book? I did. It’s one I will probably read more than once. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary digital copy from the publisher via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I don’t think I’ve related as much to a main character as I did to Isadora. She’s a 30-year-old academic researcher that decides to debunk a magazine article on finishing happiness. As she walks through the steps with the aim to disprove them, she discovers loads about herself and the lenses through which she views the world.

I don’t usually highlight fiction, but when Isadora said something that resonated, I highlighted it. And when the people in her life spoke words of wisdom to her, I highlighted that too.

This is the first book I’ve read that dealt with the main character working through social anxiety caused by betrayal, bullying, and childhood emotional neglect—fighting against the story that she’s believed about herself for so long so that she can live out her future differently. And as someone that’s dealt with some of those same things, it struck a cord. I’m still processing, y’all!

The side characters were stellar. The story was endearing. It gets all the stars from me! Courtney, thank you for sharing Isadora’s story with us!!

So grateful to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for access to this ARC! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely adored Isadora. This was all around such an enjoyable story. I loved the main character Isadora and her quirks and loved everything about the friends that she made along the way and how each of them added to her story. An absolute delight to listen to & read. Thank you libro.fm, Net Galley, & Thomas Nelson for the advanced copy of this gem. This is such a great summer read!

This was such a cute book! Isadora might be one of my favorite characters I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading! This was such a deep heartwarming story. Isadora is socially awkward, and very intelligent. This is her story of finding herself, confronting her past, being happy. Everyone should read this book!

This is one of those reviews where my thoughts are swirling every which direction, and I’m going to try to rein them in but probably won’t succeed. Just fair warning that this will likely be a review where I babble on incoherently about how much I loved this story and you’ll be like, “Ok. We get it. Wrap it up” and I’ll be like, “But I still haven’t talked about this or this or this.” So… yeah. This is where we’re at. Lol.

Isadora is a delightfully neurotic and socially awkward protagonist who has Sir David Attenborough narrating her internal monologue and is smart about everything except relationships. Like… with anyone. Not just romantically. In fact, she’s never really had any friends, her parents give her zero emotional support (actually it’s more like negative zillion than zero), and her only significant romantic relationship to date ended in a dumpster fire of humiliation and heartbreak. Because of these things, she isolates herself even from her colleagues and pours her energy and time solely into her work as a research scientist. She’s endearingly irritating but you can’t help loving her, like with a Sheldon Cooper or Temperance Brennan type of character. I adored her. I laughed over her, I grinned big over her and yep I even cried over her. I would almost say that she single-handedly took me on a roller coaster ride through every last one of my emotions… except it wasn’t single-handedly. And that, dear readers, is the beauty of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley.

When Isadora sets out to disprove the “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy” article, she never would have predicted that her solitary existence would soon be overrun with people. And honestly, neither did I as a reader. This book took me by surprise in the very best ways. It’s a romance, yes, and whew I’m still swooning over that part of it. But it’s so. much. more. The supporting characters in Isadora’s story make this one of my hands-down favorite reads of the year and my absolute favorite of Courtney Walsh’s books (and I’ve loved all of hers that I’ve read). Martin twisted my heart every time he was on the page, not out of sadness – I promise this is a very uplifting read lol – but because I just adored him so much. I fell head over heels for him, and no he’s not the romantic lead. Darby filled my heart with laughter, her ‘i will barge into your life and force you to be a friendly human’ attitude exactly what Isadora needed even though I would have honestly been tempted to run from her at first. I gave mental standing ovations to the role she played in Isadora’s life and for her refusal to let Isadora quit on her new relationships. Delilah – oh be still my heart. I loved that little girl & related to her so much. And then there’s Cal… but on second thought I’m going to let you discover him for yourself.

Bottom Line: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh is a truly enjoyable and heart-tugging read from start to finish. There’s laughter and love and friendship … even chocolate and homemade cookies. There’s also an exploration of loss, regrets, and isolation, and after the pandemic I feel like this story is a timely reminder that happiness can rarely be achieved in seclusion. To be honest, as an introvert, I allowed the shutdowns to give me the perfect excuse to hibernate (my default setting) and over the last couple of years I’ve struggled to force myself to get back out and do things with friends and family. Isadora’s journey gave me a lot to think about for my own life, too, and I can’t properly express how much I loved this story Walsh has told.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Are there really 31 ways to be happy?

That’s what Isadora Bentley wants to find out after coming across a magazine article. With her background as a researcher, she puts her skills to the test.

Within the first few pages of reading, I knew Isadora and I were going to have a lot in common. I turned 30 last year, and had a lot of these same questions, taking a good look at my life and where I wanted to go in the next 30. I also work at a university, though not as a researcher. But, I digress.

Maybe that’s why it took me a few times before sitting down to devote my time to reading through. Whenever a Courtney Walsh book is involved, I tend to devour it in one sitting, which I eventually did.

This is one of the most real and practical love stories because Isadora, as a researcher, sees things through the lens of science — sticking to data, facts and the probable outcome. She “works better alone” and in some ways, has become good at self-sabotaging, leading herself to believe that she won’t ever be happy, because of XYZ — That’s what the outcome was before, so why would it be different this time?

Working through the past, with a little help from the new friends she collects along the way, pushes her out of her comfort zone by tackling a list of activities and exploring new opportunities. She likes her safe bubble, which I can really relate to, so this hit very close to home in a way that I haven’t experienced in a long time.

While it isn’t necessarily the story of daydreamy romance and whimsy, it is a story with a lot of heart and characters that make you FEEL. It is real life on display. Yes, life comes with pain, but that’s no reason to hold back and try to stop living from happening.

This is a story with an important message about happiness and essentially, what it means to keep that childlike faith and wonder for life as we get older. It’s a story with many nuggets of wisdom and one-liners that will leave you thinking, long after you’ve read the last page. It’s been a couple days since I finished, but I keep going back to the feeling I held onto while I was reading.

Here are just a few of my favorite lines from the book:


“Being alone isn’t a bad thing when it’s your choice. But a lonely life, chosen or not, really isn’t living. And frankly, I’m tired of my own company.”

“If happiness is a state of being, how does a person continue to exist in that state? How do I hold onto it when it seems so fleeting?”

“Happiness isn’t that hard to find, you know? It’s everywhere. It’s all around us. But it’s not something that happens TO us. It’s something we seek. It’s something we pursue. And you’ll never find it if you never let it in.”

Do yourself a favor and grab your copy today, and search for your own happiness along the way.

**Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.**

Have you ever felt invisible? Have you felt like you don’t belong? Then you can relate with Isadora Bentley. She is a researcher for a university in Chicago and is more comfortable with data and statistics than with people. Her life has been a series of disappointments and she believes she is better off alone. While spending her thirtieth birthday alone she comes across an article promising 31 ways to be happy. Believing herself incapable of being happy she decides to do her own research project to disprove the article. At the same time she is assigned to help a handsome professor research and organize the book he is writing. Her project starts with her doing little things like smiling at people and exercising regularly. In the process of trying these steps she makes some very unique friends, such as a kind elderly widower, an exuberant mom of 5, and a 9 year old who doesn’t quite fit in with her peers. Along with the professor, this group of unique individuals help bring Isadora out of her shell and discover true happiness.

Isadora Bentley’s story spoke to me on so many levels. I related to her life-long struggle to fit in and be accepted by others. I also understood her fear of rejection based on the rejections she experienced in her past. I see a lot of myself in her and surprisingly I see a lot of my husband in Cal. His ability to enjoy life in the now and his ability to read others is just like my husband. Opposites truly do attract each other. Her realization about the main cause of her unhappiness is true for all of us. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I had to reread it right away. When I like a story that much I give it 5 stars.

This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to give a favorable review. I also immediately bought my own copy as soon as I finished this ARC.

"Are there really thirty-one ways to be happy?
Ridiculous. It's the same magazine that is telling me that eating chocolate in the morning will fix my metabolism. Which, incidentally, I'd totally be willing to try."

After a milestone life event, Isadora Bentley realizes that she is living a narrow life. When she reads an article suggesting 31 ways to be happy, she scoffs. So she decides to disprove the steps. Is she right that there is not a clear path to being happy?

I was skeptical of Isadora at first. She was a bit too blunt. But over the course of the book, I came to appreciate her honesty and genuineness. Not only did she grow on me, but throughout the book, she transformed. I could identify with Isadora feeling awkward and out of place at times. One could not help rooting for her to continue to realize that she never wants to go back to living such a solitude life.

With an eclectic cast of characters, this book was an unexpected joy on so many levels. At times, I wanted to cry, and I also laughed often. I am with Isadora that yoga should never make the happiness list. But I loved that she kept trying, and when she wanted to give up, her new community wouldn't let her. Pretty sure that this is my favorite book by Courtney Walsh , and that is saying something since I have read almost all of her titles. I loved it and highly, highly recommend it!

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for letting me read an advanced copy. I requested to read this book. All opinions are my own.

📝GUMPTION 📝
Summary:
Isadora is turning 30, and she is NOT flirty and thriving. IYKYK
When she’s having her annual junk food binge birthday, she happens upon a magazine article titled “31 Ways to be Happy” by Dr. Grace Monroe.
Isadora is determined to conduct an experiment to prove Dr. Monroe wrong. She’s going to try every single item on the list and show what a fraud this doctor is.

Thoughts:

🥰Happy sigh. This book was all the feels. I would actually call this book solidly found family which is RIGHT UP MY ALLEY. Don’t ask me to pick a favorite character. I can’t. I won’t.
🖤Marty. The septuagenarian who eats lunch alone on a bench everyday.
💙Cal. The bookish, kind professor.
♥️ Darby. The neighbor/yogi/mom.
💜Delilah. The 10-year-old kindred spirit.

All. Of. Them.

✨This book is a solid kick in the pants, and if you have struggled with anxiety, depression, or a negative mindset, this is THE book for you. It’s comforting and funny and sweet, but speaks truth.

✨The book doesn’t say, but I felt like Isadora may be on the spectrum, and I LOVED that representation. It was beautiful. 🥹

🌟Similar vibes🌟
The Very Secret Society of Irregular witches by Sangu Mandanna
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams
The Holiday movie with Kate Winslett and Cameron Diaz ( this is why I said gumption at the beginning. Again - IYKYK)

Okay, sorry for rambling.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC of this book. Looks like I’ll have to buy the paper copy anyways. 🙃

I have to confess I found the beginning of the story too rambly. But it's Courtney Walsh so I stuck with it and I'm glad I did because it's an adorable book.

Isadora is a researcher and she thinks in a clinical fashion. She sets out to prove an article about happiness is wrong and along the way she grows, discovers herself, and finds friends who become like family.
Cal is one of those friends who also grows to love her and support her.

Like I said, the beginning rambles a bit, but get past that and the rest is golden.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This book- I loved it!! I kept turning to my husband during each of my reading sessions with a grin on my face and an exclamation of how much I love this book. Some of my favorite parts were:

- Isadora’s journey to accept and love herself
- the Fire scene
- the punch
- her sweet friendship with Marty and Delilah
- Finding her people.

When I need a pick me up I’ll definitely be rereading this one! Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Hilarious! Amazing! I love the rhythm of the whole book. The dialogue is so relatable and realistic. It’s genuinely funny. Not in a forced way. I found myself laughing out loud a lot! The metaphors and word choice are on point. The characters are normal people, not fake-written but like people I actually know or want to know. Isadora is so funny. I love her personality. Love her story. She’s brilliant.
This book is great. You should read it. Or listening to the audio book is even better. The reader is perfect for isadora.
I received a copy from NetGalley. I was in no way required to write a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

I won’t lie. It took me almost the first third of the book to get into the story, mostly because I didn’t identify with the main female character, Isadora, at all. She was so miserable and so focused on her own problems, and her brand of humor didn’t resonate with me at all. Thankfully, the story got better and I got hooked, and had a hard time putting it down! Isadora learns a lot and ends up being the kind of person I wouldn’t mind being friends with.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #NetGalley

What a lovely read!
To me, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is the perfect combination of romance and a story about a woman coming into her own.
The character growth throughout this book is fantastic. Isadora is so easy to fall in love with and seeing her navigate meeting new people and having new experiences is both enjoyable and endearing. As a reader, you want so desperately for Isadora to get everything she deserves, but you can also relate to her standing in her own way. Her growth to get over her long standing fears is something we should all take note of.
The romance in this story is lovely! It's relatable in the best ways. The personality, understanding, and kind heartedness of the love interest is perfect and makes the reader swoon for him! He definitely gets the best fictional boyfriend award.
The side characters in this story bring so much to its pages! I love that these characters allow for representation of multigenerational friendships and show the importance of found family at any age.
I can't recommend this book enough! My hope is that you fall in love with it as much as I did.

Isadora Bentley is an introverted loner, spending most of her time by herself at work and at home. On her 30th birthday, she finds an article that boasts the 31 seemingly easy steps to happiness. As a professional researcher and analyst, Isadora feels like she can take on his experiment and make it her own. This experiment results in her entire life changing. Everything that she thought she knew, gets turned upside down from the beginning by just smiling at a friendly elderly gentleman while eating lunch. From there, everything she thought she knew about herself and her life is changed in a very positive way.

This was just an absolutely positively uplifting breath of fresh air of a book. It was so fun, at times it made me laugh out loud because of how funny Isadora is, and was tender at the perfect times as well. I found the characterization to be perfect. I love character driven novels, and this is certainly that. It had elements of romance, but was definitely not overwhelming. The chosen family component was heart warming as well. I finished the book with a smile on my face, as I spent most of the time reading it, which is always the sign of a fantastic book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this fantastic book. All opinions within this review are my own.

I adored this book- maybe the best I've read in 2023. Isadora was such a relatable character, and I loved the journey she took and the friends she made along the way. Courtney Walsh is a great storyteller and this book cemented her place on my list of favorites.

It’s been a long time since I stayed up WAY past my bedtime because I was so immersed in a story. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh had me laughing and crying and just absorbing. There are SO many amazing nuggets of truth and opportunities to be free from expectations and past hurts. Isadora is my kind of girl: brainy, bold, calls it like she sees it, and content. Until she reads an article that stirs something, and she sets out to prove the happiness theory wrong. I absolutely adored her attempts to disprove that certain things lead to happiness. People, connections, acts of kindness, nature, and many other prompts have Isadora coming out of her comfort zone and I loved watching her bloom. I won’t give specific and ruin your delight of experiencing it while reading. However, the people that surround her during her discoveries are amazing. The kind of people we all need; people willing to love, speak the truth, draw out your inner self, encourage you to try new things, provide a safe place, and let you be you. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

This book was so good! It has great characters and will keep you turning the pages. It was a fun yet emotional read. I really enjoyed this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson--FICTION via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is the most delightful book I've read all year. If you love "found family" stories, this one's for you. Isadora Bentley is a scientific researcher. Life has left Isadora a little bit bruised and hesitant to get involved with others. When she sees a magazine article touting strategies to ensure a happy life, she sets out to test the strategies, thus proving that this article is inaccurate. But what ensues is a beautiful journey where she opens herself up to some new situations & people and gives herself a chance at a different type of life than the one she's been living. Will Isadora take this opportunity to live differently?

Isadora is such a quirky, awkward character but I absolutely adored her. This is more than just a romcom, it's a love letter to showing up to your own life and leaning into the relationships, adventures and opportunities that come your way despite the risks of getting hurt.

When Isadora Bentley was ten, she friend. Now that she is 30 she has given up. People just don't get her and her past is littered with hurts and disappointment. While shopping for birthday treats she notices an article listing 31 steps to happiness. She sets out to try the steps herself and prove the author wrong. #1 is Smile more. #3 is Exercise regularly. One of my favorites advises eating chocolate (in moderation). As Isadora tries each new step more people come alongside to try them with her. I loved the varied supporting characters like 70-year-old Marty and 10-year-old Delilah. As Isadora works through the list themes like friendship and forgiveness are explored. A feel good book that just might help you be happier too.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Oh science and research lovers are going to enjoy this novel. I found the premise and storyline unique and enjoyable. (see summary above) My left brain ate it up.

Our heroine is unhappy, and rather disliked by her coworkers. At times it’s clear she has no idea how unusual and quirky she is. But readers will sympathize with her, and they’ll likely see aspects of themselves too. We spend the entire story in her first-person, present-tense narrative. She perceives herself as fragile and she hangs on to control, hiding behind analysis in order to remain “safe.” Really she’s containing her world, and herself, within a small space—a type of self-repression. Some readers will relate.

There’s a message within the pages that we should occupy our space. For some of us, that is a life-long pursuit. First, learning we’re worthy enough. Second, practicing. Third, living in the new reality.

As a scientist, she’s the perfect expert to study these so-called steps to becoming happy. I loved that she went into this experience determined to prove the article wrong. Really, perhaps she was looking for a way to defend and excuse her unhappy life.

Courtney includes many profound concepts and statements. Here’s an example. Context: a secondary character is trying to help the heroine understand herself better. She says, “Isadora, you’re not self-aware; you’re just seeing yourself through a very specific lens.” (location 668 in the ARC) Isn’t that what we sometimes do? We lock in on our own self-perception and possibly miss bigger truths that are obvious to those around us.

Though likable, the hero is a little more difficult to understand because we don’t spend any time in his POV. He’s kind and gracious. He doesn’t let Isadora’s idiosyncrasies turn him away. He represents an unconditional acceptance that’s missing from her life. I liked that symbolism.

I loved the theme and progression of not recognizing one’s own worth, of having others point it out, of learning to accept it for one’s self. It was enjoyable watching Isadora’s world expand as life forced her beyond her comfort zone. The secondary characters were great additions to the story. This novel would make a great book club choice, because there’s a lot to explore in included themes.

This women’s fiction book has enough of a romantic thread that romance readers will enjoy that element. There’s humor, science, inner growth, and so much to like here.

A great read.

For anyone who’s ever felt less than, invisible, unheard, misunderstood, or unimportant, this book is for you.

I liked this book from the very beginning and it only got better as it progressed. Isadora is a perfectly wonderful and complicated character and I’m pretty much jealous of the amazing people she has in her life. This book is about so much more than being happy. I don’t even have words. Just read it. Bravo, Courtney Walsh !!

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed on my own.

The characters in this book are what win you over immediately but the story itself will keep you going until the last page. Isadora's journey to find happiness was inspiring and really had me thinking about my own life. She is such a unique character and you can't help but root for her every step of the way. If you were a fan of the books Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting or Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine (although MUCH less heavy) then I think this will be a great choice for you. I highly recommend this book for all readers, but especially readers who gravitate towards character-driven stories. Thanks to Courtney Walsh, NetGalley, and Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This contemporary novel was everything and more than what I’d hoped for.

I laughed out loud more times than I could count, teared up while reading about Isadora’s struggles, and loved every bit of the story.

As someone close to turning 30, it was uncanny how much I related to many aspects of Isadora’s way of life and thoughts!

Courtney Walsh’s writing style is candid, hilarious, and full of heart. There’s even a dramatic flair to it. Her analogies and metaphors made my reading experience even more enjoyable.

And to top it all, her words make you feel seen; it was almost as if the author knew exactly what to say to create a healing atmosphere for the readers.

This premise of having a character who feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere and then having her embark on a journey of self-growth – it can very easily become preachy. But the author makes sure it doesn’t.

Courtney Walsh superbly brings out her characters’ weaknesses and strengths in a way to celebrate their individuality.

Isadora and Delilah are my favourites from the book. That said, I also loved reading the scenes with Darby and Marty.

Isadora is witty and relatable. Her self-deprecating humour doesn’t take away from showing just how vulnerable she is. Even when she is straightforward about her self-isolating tendencies, her sense of awareness is commendable!

I thought that the author did a great job introducing a character like Delilah into the story. Not only does she mirror Isadora’s younger self, thereby creating a sense of camaraderie, but also brings Isadora out of her shell.

I typically don’t like the damsel in distress trope wherein a male figure helps strengthen or transform the female protagonist for the better. But Cal is such a green flag. Plus, I associate Isadora’s growth with HER efforts after meeting not just him but Darby, Delilah & Marty too!

This cast of characters has got to be one of the best of all the contemporary novels I’ve read. They have been portrayed realistically and bring warmth to the story.

The epistolary elements of the article and the text messages were a great touch. I enjoy reading books where there are lists that are integral to the plot.

Here too, the “tips” to becoming happy are seamlessly incorporated as an experiment in Isadora’s life. It doesn’t weigh too heavily on subsequent plot points.

“Darby is like sunshine. Every time I’m with her, I feel like I have a place where I belong. And I never, ever feel like I have to be anyone other than me.” This quote brought out the waterworks. Also because it reminded me of the Korean drama Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Darby is to Isadora what Choi Su Yeon is to Woo Young Woo.

I read the e-book while also listening to the audiobook. I highly recommend that you try that if you can.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is a giant warm hug to all those who have ever felt lost in their search for happiness. It is a gentle nudge reminding you to “CHOOSE to be happy. Then get out of your own way.”

All this to say, stop what you are doing and read this. I can’t wait to get my hands on a paperback copy that I can treasure in my library.

Easily one of my top favourite reads of 2023.

Isadora Bentley on her 30th birthday is making a trip to Aisle Eight in the supermarket to celebrate with some chocolate when she sees an article called 31 steps for happiness. Isadora decides to prove the article wrong by doing what she does best: collecting and analyzing data.

The book was so delightful! Yes, one can pretty much guess what's going to happen every step of the way and what kind of people she is going to find. The side characters are not the most developed. But they are so charming and I just wanted to spend a lot of time following them. How they made space for Isadora was just so endearing to watch. Speaking about Isadora... I really liked her. It's funny that I'm also reading another book that has on paper a similar kind of main character. However, Courtney Walsh treates Isadora with a lot of care that made me love her so much and feel everything with her. On the other book, the author keeps the character and their emotions far away and seems to have a grudge against them.

And even though the premise may sound that the book is going to veer into love and positivity solve everything, I thought the author was skilled enough to steer clear from what would be a simple answer to a complex character.

By the end, my rating is solely based on how this book made me feel: happy.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

Ever close a book and just sigh because the book was just that good? That was after you could just not put the book down?

Well, I definitely experienced that with this book!

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh is not my typical rom com. This book was about the journey of one woman to prove that an article about achieving happiness was wrong and in doing so finds so much more than she expected.

Isadora spoke to me in so many ways and the ensemble of characters were phenomenal. She found family, friendship, and love. Her growth was immeasurable and a lesson that small actions can lead to big results.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Isadora is brilliant and quirky. I loved watching her work through the steps in an article she was researching. It was beautiful seeing her blossom as she let people into her life. As a fellow introvert, I could relate to some of her experiences and felt for her.

This is a book about happiness and living all the parts of our messy lives with those we care about. I loved the interactions between Isadora and Delilah as well as Isadora and Cal and Marty too. The characters were delightful and the relationships were rich. This book made me cry and laugh out loud. I loved it.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved this book so much! It was so real, well written and I found Isadora so relatable. All the characters were likable and the story was so heartwarming. It reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and A Man Called Ove. Two of my favorite books. Isadora just turned 30, she’s a university researcher and a loner. She has trust issues, prefers to be alone, and follows the rules. But on her thirtieth birthday that changes. I love how she decided to do stuff out of her comfort zone, and pushed all of her boundaries. I loved the themes of found family, friendship, love, relationships. This was a fantastic read and definitely one of my favorites this year!

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh

This book was such a great read. Not only was the main character relatable, she was also inspiring. The characters were so well written and I loved every minute of this book. I highly recommend this as a sweet romance. Choose happiness and give this book a read!

#TheHappyLifeofIsadoraBentley #NetGalley

So cute. Loved this new story from Courtney Walsh! The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is the perfect read to stash into your beach or pool bag this summer!

Courtney Walsh’s books never disappoint! This book is funny, emotional, challenging, and entertaining with lovable characters. It is one of those books you sit down and devour and hate to see it end.

As I traveled with Isadora Bentley on her journey to discredit the 31 ways to happiness, I found myself reflecting on my own life. This book challenged me to reflect and recognize some of the ways I hinder my own happiness just as Isadora did. This book will be one that stays with me for a long time.

Do yourself a favor and read this book! It will not only entertain you, but might also leave you changed as it did me.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Isadora is beyond lovely and real. Her character mirrors so many "nerdy" girls who never fit in and continue to struggle with poor self image and self love. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the rawness, honesty, and beauty built into this lead female. Isadora is a role model who is striving to find happiness in her own life. While she starts out alone at the beginning, she finds the most delightful and fulfilling friendships along the way. Her journey to discovering happiness is both heart-wrenching and wonderful. I love you Isadora, as will all the other bookish friends you have yet to meet.