BOOK REVIEW: A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey

A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey

Gallery Books (June 25, 2024)

Women’s Fiction/Southern Fiction

The historic houses in the seaside town of Beaufort, North Carolina, have held the secrets of their inhabitants for centuries. One of the most enduring refuses to be washed away by the tide: What happened to Rebecca and Townsend Saint James on that fateful night of their disappearance in 1976?

Now, the granddaughter they never knew, Keaton Smith, is desperate for a fresh start. So when her mother needs someone to put her childhood home in Beaufort on the market, she jumps at the chance to head south. But the moment she steps foot inside the abandoned house, which has been closed for nearly fifty years, she wonders if she’s bitten off more than she can chew. Wading through the detritus of her grandparents’ lives, Keaton finds herself enchanted by their southern traditions—and their great, big love. As she gets to know her charming next-door neighbor, his precocious ten-year-old son, and a flock of endearingly feisty town busybodies, Keaton begins to wonder if the stories she has been told about her grandparents are true.

Keaton’s grandmother, Rebecca “Becks” Saint James’s annual summer suppers are the stuff of legend, and locals and out-of-towners alike clamor for an invitation to her stunning historic home. But, in the summer of 1976, she’s struggling behind the facade of the woman who can do it all—and facing a problem that even she can’t solve.

As Keaton and Becks face new challenges and chapters, they are connected through time by the house on Sunset Lane, which has protected the secrets, hopes, and dreams of their family for generations.

BUY LINKS:

The Books – Kristy Woodson Harvey

REVIEW

A fantastic story which is beautifully written. Told with dual timelines, Keaton learns about her grandparents’ lives via journals and the local townspeople. I adored the idea of her arriving at her grandparents’ home which has stood untouched since their disappearance in 1976. I would love to walk through that 1970’s house which to me was a character in itself. With a family mystery, family drama, a bit of romance, and wonderful wisdom from her grandmothers guide to entertaining. I so enjoyed this book and highly recommend!

I received a signed purchased hardback copy via the Brenda Novak’s Monthly Book Box (July) which I will treasure on my Keeper Shelf!

Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (May 2, 2022)

Purchased hardcover copy via the Brenda Novak Book Box/Book Club Read (July 2024)

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times bestselling author of nine novels, including Under the Southern Sky, Feels Like Falling, and The Peachtree Bluff series. A Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism, her writing has appeared in numerous online and print publications including Southern Living, Traditional Home, USA TODAY, Domino, and O. Henry. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing and a finalist for the Southern Book Prize. Her work has been optioned for film and television, and her books have received numerous accolades including Southern Living’s Most Anticipated Beach Reads, Parade’s Big Fiction Reads, and Entertainment Weekly’s Spring Reading Picks. Kristy is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic, and loves connecting with fans on KristyWoodsonHarvey.com. She lives on the North Carolina coast with her husband and son where she is (always!) working on her next novel.