A Quiet Life

A Novel

By: Ethan Joella

Narrated by: Stacey Glemboski, Melissa Redmond, Byron Wagner

Length: 8 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

From the author of A Little Hope—a Read with Jenna Bonus Pick—comes another “heartwarming, character-driven” (Booklist) life-affirming novel about three individuals whose lives intersect in unforeseen ways.

Set in a close-knit 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 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 belongings—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.

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 beautiful 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, “the soothing tone and warm worldview of this grown-up bedtime story will be good for what ails you” (Kirkus Reviews).

©2022 Ethan Joella. All rights reserved. (P)2022 Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

"In this novel narrators Stacey Glemboski, Michelle Redmond, and Byron Wagner present interwoven stories of loss and grief in suburban Pennsylvania. The featured characters are elderly Chuck, single mom Ella, and young Kirsten, who is launching into adulthood. Each chapter reveals their experiences of immeasurable sorrow, taking us on a journey through a time and place. Wagner does an especially respectable job of narrating Chuck’s chapters. The characters’ stories reinforce the age-old beliefs that the world is small, we are all connected, and being kind will get us through."—AudioFile Magazine

Three sad stories, that end happy.

I liked this book even though it was slow going and sad throughout! I would have even given it a 4 star but I’m never ok with characters who sleep together on their first date and after weeks of this, call it love. What the character Chuck had was love.

Multiple storylines

It was good. I had to restart because I was initially confused with all the different storylines but about 1/4 way in it all came together. Good characters and a good ending.

Not so Quiet

Loved how all the characters lives are connected and the compassion and care for each other without prejudice of age and gender. Such a beautiful story.

Easy to Listen

Enjoyed the book, easy to listen to. Good story lines. Recommend to a broad audience.

Heartwarming

A lovely well-written story of strangers becoming integral parts of each other’s lives - just like a real family. Heartwarming. Loved it

This is a good one

A great story of overcoming! Definitely has sad moments, but realistic and hopeful! I loved it.

Loved it!

Anyone dealing with grief should read. Intertwined stories provide a landscape of life that all can relate too.

Wonderful audio

Tissue alert!!

This is a story of grief. I was thoroughly moved by the story because, although many scenes feel manufactured, I didn’t care because the story is kind, sweet, and hopeful. It’s a story that will make you sad for the grief the three main characters suffer; yet it’s a story of how everyday people find their way through the emotional fog of grief. One character stated that after a death there are so many regrets. I agree. When a loved one dies, we examine our time with them under a microscope, looking for all the wrongs and slights (generally unintended) that we did. Some, just big mistakes.

Chuck Ayers lost his wife to cancer. His wife was a beloved friend of many; she was artistic and supportive and gregarious. Chuck is a bit more reticent. He has a huge regret that he cannot let go of: his wife wanted to help a struggling artist and he nixed it.

The saddest, at least to me, is Ella Burke. Her husband kidnapped her 8-year-old daughter. She’s alone and obsesses all the time over her little girl. She takes a paper route and a job at a bridal shop to make ends meet (her husband abandoned her with her child). She’s alone and struggling…it was heartbreaking to me.

Kirsten Bonato’s father was murdered during an armed robbery at a gas station. This sudden death left her unmoored. She was intending to go to Veterinary school, but after this shocking event, she’s not sure what to do so she works at an animal shelter.

Through silly and manufactured events, their lives merge. In their own grief, they help each other. It’s a beautiful story of showing how random kindness can make a huge different in a person’s life. It made me feel hopeful for the human race! Manufactured events be damned. I loved being taken for the ride.


I listened to Ethan Joella’s “A Quiet Life” narrated by Stacey Glemboski, Melissa Redmond, and Byron Wagner.

Slow

The basic story is good, about grief and healing. However it progresses
Slowly and spends entirely too much time in the characters heads, especially Ella’s.

I was sad when it ended

I lost my mom not long ago so I really resonated with Kirsten and Chuck. Well written and enjoyable.