Book Review of
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh was published in 2023.
Isadora Bentley is someone who follows the rules and likes things just so. She believes that happiness doesn’t exist in her life and never will.
As a university researcher, she keeps to herself and avoids the students she’s supposed to befriend and mentor. She stays to herself and lives her own quiet, organized life in her quiet, organized apartment. She plans to never get involved in a romantic relationship again, especially with another academic.
On her thirtieth birthday, though, Isadora does something out of character. The young woman who never makes impulsive purchases impulsively buys a magazine with an article titled “Thirty-One Ways to Be Happy”. She decides to create her own secret project to prove the writer wrong.
When Isadora gets deeper into her research, she meets a professor . She is stunned to discover that maybe instead of proving the author wrong, she’s proving herself wrong. Perhaps there’s actually something to being happy.
Lynn's Review
The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh was published in 2023.
I picked this up because I needed a light fun read. I had read multiple reviews on it, saying that it was a good, clean romance read. I even paid full price for the Kindle version which is something that I rarely do.
This book was not what I expected, but I am so glad that I read it.
Isadora is a university researcher who keeps to herself. She thinks it is better that way because then you can’t get hurt.
On her thirtieth birthday, though, she takes a challenge called Thirty-One Ways To Be Happy. She is out to prove the challenge wrong, instead, she learns something that she did not know. Happiness is a choice.
I thought this was going to be a light, fun read, and for the most part, it was, and I think for most people it will be. What I did not expect was that I would relate to Isadora so much.
Several times, while reading this book, I was in tears. I can’t relate to all of Isadora’s life, but some of the childhood loneliness and stories of mean kids are something I remember well.
I was that kid. I was the odd one. The one with very few friends. The unpopular one.
Reading how mean kids can be brought back memories that I had not thought of in a long time.
Thankfully, now I have friends, but if I am honest, I still often don’t fit in.
I don’t care if my clothes are trendy. I rarely wear make-up. I am a jeans and T-shirt girl. I hate large crowds. I would often rather stay home and read a book than be with friends.
But like Isadora, I have learned that I need people. I need friends. I just need the right ones for me. Life is better with the community and people.
But have to be a good friend if you want good friends.
And happiness really is a choice.
This book was a five-star read for me. It was a five-star clean fun romance read, great for summer. But it was also a five-star read because it was a good reminder of the importance of friends. Friendships take work, but they are worth it.
About the Author
Courtney Walsh is the best-selling author of over thirty books. Her books are both conventionally published and self-published.
She writes low spice romance, clean romance, contemporary romance, and clean rom-com books. If you love The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley, check out my list of all of Courtney Walsh’s books.
Our library has it! Yay! I hadn’t heard of it, so thanks for the recommendation.
This is a new release so I am so glad that your library has it! It is a good summer read.
This book was delightful! Just the best encouragement in the 31 ways that I needed to revisit.
Thank you for your review because after reading it I checked out the book from the library.
I am so glad that you enjoyed The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. It is such a great read. And I am glad that you found it at the library!