The Way Life Should Be

A Novel

By: Christina Baker Kline

Narrated by: Caitlin Davies

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train, and the critically acclaimed author of Bird in Hand, comes a novel of love, risk, and self-discovery—includes a special PS section featuring insights, interviews, and more.

Angela can feel the clock ticking. She is single in New York City, stuck in a job she doesn’t want and a life that seems to have, somehow, just happened. She inherited a flair for Italian cooking from her grandmother, but she never seems to have the time for it—these days, her oven holds only sweaters. Tacked to her office bulletin board is a photo from a magazine of a tidy cottage on the coast of Maine—a charming reminder of a life that could be hers, if she could only muster the courage to go after it.

On a hope and a chance, Angela decides to pack it all up and move to Maine, finding the nudge she needs in the dating profile of a handsome sailor who loves dogs and Italian food. But her new home isn’t quite matching up with the fantasy. Far from everything familiar, Angela begins to rebuild her life from the ground up. Working at a local coffeehouse, she begins to discover the pleasures and secrets of her new small-town community and, in the process, realizes there’s really no such thing as the way life should be.

Mainely the Best

The Way Life Should Be is the best book I have read this year. Of course, I may be prejudice since I grew up near Mount Desert Isle Maine and now live in New Jersey - the opposite journey of the main character Angela.

While this novel contained a few sex scenes, I wouldn't consider it a romance; more like Angela's life story with family drama, career decisions, new friendships and dating adventures. I could relate to Angela, a mature twenty something who wanted a more rewarding life, not just a husband and/or wealth.

I was sad when the book ended and hope there is a sequel in the future.

Yummy

I loved the story line but also the way the author weaves in the impact the grandmother had in her life. It also makes me want to take an Italian cooking class.

Liked!

St first was disappointed but as story developed I could really enjoy it. Thank you.

eh

ut starts out slow and disappointing but had a strong middle and ok ending. I had much higher hopes after reading her last book. seemed like different authors

Eh...

The narrator drove me a bit batty; her accents and pronunciations were off. Nice story but a bit predictable.