A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella
Summary
Set in a close-knit Pennsylvania suburb in the grip of winter, A Quiet Life follows three people grappling with loss and finding a tender wisdom in their grief.
Chuck Ayers used to look forward to nothing so much as his annual trip to Hilton Head with his wife, Cat--that yearly taste of relaxation they'd become accustomed to in retirement, after a lifetime of working and raising two children. Now, just months after Cat's death, Chuck finds that he can't let go of her things--her favorite towel, the sketchbooks in her desk drawer--as he struggles to pack for a trip he can't imagine taking without her.
Ella Burke delivers morning newspapers and works at a bridal shop to fill her days while she anxiously awaits news--any piece of information--about her missing daughter. Ella adjusts to life in a new apartment and answers every call on her phone, hoping her daughter will reach out one day.
After the sudden death of her father, Kirsten Bonato set aside her veterinary school aspirations, finding comfort in the steady routine of working at an animal shelter. But as time passes, old dreams and new romantic interests begin to surface--and Kirsten finds herself at another crossroads.
In this beautifully crafted and profoundly moving novel, three parallel narratives converge in poignant and unexpected ways, as each character bravely presses onward, trying to recover something they have lost. Emotionally riveting and infused with hope, A Quiet Life celebrates humanity in the midst of uncertainty.
Book Setting: Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania
Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania: The novel takes place in this beautiful area of PA. Check out the author insights for more (#1 - #3).
Palmerton, PA
Fogelsville, PA
Bethlehem, PA
Bear Creak: David and Kirsten going night skiing and a spark is lit
Quakertown: One of the towns Grayson and Kirsten pass by on her way to find closure
Spring Lake, NJ: Kirsten “tried to forget” by taking a day trip here with Bria and her mom
Reviews
"Community and grief are at the center of this tender novel in which three residents of a tightly knit Pennsylvania suburb are each grappling with losing loved ones when their lives begin to converge in unexpected ways." --The New York Times Book Review
"Joella develops his characters with enormous empathy... The pleasure of discovering connections is one of the most basic joys of reading and is key to Joella's storytelling.... The soothing tone and warm worldview of this grown-up bedtime story will be good for what ails you." --Kirkus
"Heartwarming, character-driven charm. Empathetic without becoming saccharine, A Quiet Life highlights the power of closure and the importance of a connected, compassionate community." --Booklist
"A Quiet Life is filled with people I'd like to meet. Ethan Joella's latest novel reminds us that life is made of journeys, not only destinations. Read this one slowly; you'll want to savor the details." --Charmaine Wilkerson, author of Black Cake