davinareads 's review for:

A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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You all know I love stories that highlight the slower side of life. Of losing a loved one and being left behind to figure it all out. Of carrying hope that something taken might one day be returned. Of finding love and kindness from strangers when we’re at our lowest.

A Quiet Life explores all these themes so beautifully. I was immediately drawn into the lives of Chuck, who’s grieving the loss of his wife; Ella, who’s battling despair while searching for her missing daughter; and Kristen, who’s trying to find herself again after her father’s death. These separate stories come together to create one of the most tender and heartfelt reads I’ve picked up in a while—a reminder that love and kindness really do go a long way.

What I loved most about this book was how realistic it felt. Nothing was overly dramatized. It wasn’t full of Disney-perfect endings but rather a blend of highs and lows. It gave me that nostalgic feeling of early mornings when frost still clings to the grass and everything is hushed. The writing was so vivid that I felt like I was right there at family gatherings, private moments of grief, and joyful celebrations.

I’ve always felt like contemporary reads are either a hit or a miss, rarely in between. But A Quiet Life filled my contemporary-loving heart. Maybe I’m just a boring person, but I truly enjoy the mundane things. When they’re written with such intention that they make me feel deeply emotional.