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.
I think I've read every book by Courtney Walsh and while there are some I've really liked and some not as much (they definitely weren't bad books by any means, just maybe didn't connect with the story line or characters.) but this book has a noticeably different feel to it. With saying that, I liked this book so much!
Right from the start Isadora is someone I think we can all connect with on some level. I could really relate to Isadora and how she thinks and especially her view on happiness. I did think that Isadora at the very beginning was a little mean but that is just part of the story and the journey she goes on to find (or try not to find in her case!) happiness.
I so enjoyed all of the characters. Marty, Cal, Darby, and Delilah were all so well written, believable, and enjoyable.
For some reason this book has been a really hard one to write a review on. I really liked it but it's just hard to put into words how I felt about it. This story is really for anyone who has ever felt like they don't fit in, are introverted, awkward, have past hurts, struggle with happiness, or just have ever felt like they don't belong.
It's definitely not a book that is going to be for everyone, but it's going to feel so relatable to others! It's also maybe not the most exciting or suspenseful, but if you enjoy a good character/emotional journey than this just may be the book for you!
