The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

Isadora has reached another birthday...alone. As she loads up on junk food at the grocery store to celebrate solo, she catches a headline on one of the checkout line magazines about living a happier life. Being a researcher, Isadora is compelled to buy the magazine just so she can disprove that misguided author. And so ensues a social experiment to try the suggestions.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Isadora has been voluntold that she will be assisting a professor in writing a book. Flashbacks of a similar arrangement that left her doing all the work and receiving ZERO credit come to mind. She reluctantly participates and what is truly annoying, begins to be attracted to the guy. 

I loved Isadora's relatability--having been spurned in love, prefers numbers and data to people and conversation, and has a guard on her heart that seems impenetrable. Definitely not someone who has it all together. When she agrees with the arrangement to have the prof help her test out the happiness suggestions in return for her help with the research analysis, it seems like maybe there is hope for Isadora after all. Until she finds out that this guy who she's beginning to really like was referred to her by the lowlife loser who stole her analysis and presented it as his own. Will Isadora ever learn or is she destined to be the sucker yet again? 

I liked the dual storylines with Isadora's research partnership going on while she also is testing out the suggestions for increasing one's happiness. Her personal experiment may yield some interesting results--you'll have to check out the book to know for sure! A pleasant story with no objectionable content--a great summer read for the beach or poolside. 

Disclaimer: I received a free digital copy of The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley from NetGalley for the purpose of review. No other compensation was received and the opinions expressed are my own.