A Happier Life by Kristy Woodson Harvey @kristywharvey @campbell_cass @DevonSorvari #FredSanders @SimonAudio

the setup…
Keaton Smith is a highly successful marketing guru for an infamous lifestyle writer and personality. She loves her job and New York but when things suddenly hit the ditch, she’s given a lifeline by her mother Virginia. She wants Keaton to prepare her childhood home in Beaufort, North Carolina to be put on the market, one Keaton hadn’t even known about. Virginia hasn’t returned to the house since her parents died in a car accident almost 50 years ago. When she arrives at the house, it’s like walking into a time capsule, untouched since 1976.

the heart of the story…
The story is presented in two timelines, present day from Keaton’s point of view and from her grandmother Rebecca (Becks) St. James’ perspective in 1976. The transitions were executed skillfully as Keaton explored and learned of her family’s history, primarily from Beck’s notebook but also from a group of delightful women who knew Becks. They took Keaton under their charming wings and did a bit of matchmaking with Bowen, the neighbor across the street whose 10-year old son Anderson captured her heart first. But it’s Becks’ story that I found captivating, especially her great romance with husband Townsend.

the narration…
Multiple narrators were used to tell this story and all were pretty wonderful, especially Becks’. The storytelling captured her charm, elegance and savviness. Kudos to the audio edition.

the bottom line…
There were multiple genres at play here as Becks and Townsend’s deaths weren’t resolved. The fusion of mystery, contemporary and historical fiction made this an intriguing story as I learned about Keaton’s history at the same time she did. It was if her grandmother was giving her guidance as she faced new career and relationship challenges, sharing her wisdom and grace. It’s just a wonderful journey full of delicious twists and turns.

Book Info

• Release Date: June 25, 2024
• Narrators: Cassandra Campbell, Devon Sorvari & Fred Sanders
• Audio Length: 12 hours, 16 minutes
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

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(Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)