The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

Title: The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

Author: Courtney Walsh

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction

Source: Library

My Review:

Two things drew me to The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, the cover and the author. I have enjoyed all the books I have read by Courtney Walsh.

Once again, we have come to a book that I am going to have a hard time reviewing. The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley had a slow start. But, at the same time, I wanted to keep reading to see what happens next. Isadora Bentley is the nerdiest nerd, socially awkward, an introvert to the extreme, snarky, had an inner monologue, and is afraid of relationships because you get hurt.

The problem with holding in that hurt is that you're stuck at that door, hand on the doorknob, every day. You don't move forward because you're too busy holding things back.

The more I read, the more I loved Isadora. Her story is heartbreaking, and she is irritating, but you can't help but love her. Walsh has given Isadora a lovely cast of friends, from Martin to 10-year-old Delilah, I loved them all. They add so much beauty and depth to the story.

The only downside is that the story seemed to have a "new age" feel to it, rather than Christian faith (which is what we have come to expect from Courtney Walsh). This did not diminish my enjoyment of the story, but a few lines made me stop and think, and one even hit me wrong. So, if you were thinking to avoid the story for the "Christian" label/publisher, there is no need.

I loved this story and will continue to read Courtney Walsh's books.

★★★★★/5

Synopsis (Goodreads): 

She’s out to prove that there’s no such thing as choosing happiness.

Isadora Bentley follows the rules. Isadora Bentley likes things just so. Isadora Bentley believes that happiness is something that flat-out doesn’t exist in her life—and never will.

As a university researcher, Isadora keeps to herself as much as possible. She avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays away from her neighbors and lives her own quiet, organized life in her own quiet, organized apartment. And she will never get involved in a romantic relationship again—especially with another academic. It will be just Isadora and her research. Forever.

But on her thirtieth birthday, Isadora does something completely out of character. The young woman who never does anything “on a whim” makes an impulse purchase of a magazine featuring a silly article detailing “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”—which includes everything from smiling at strangers to exercising for endorphins to giving in to your chocolate cravings. Isadora decides to create her own secret research project—proving the writer of the ridiculous piece wrong.

As Isadora gets deeper into her research—and meets a handsome professor along the way—she’s stunned to discover that maybe, just maybe, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to this happiness concept, and possibly there’s something to be said for loosening up and letting life take you somewhere . . . happy.