The Way Life Should Be

A Novel

By: Christina Baker Kline

Narrated by: Caitlin Davies

From the number-one New York Times best-selling author of Orphan Train comes a novel of love, risk, and self-discovery.

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.

©2007 Christina Baker Kline (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

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.

The narrator is awful

I was expecting more from the story. It's a delightful easy story but lacks the depth of the Orphan train. Not sure I will read any of her other books now
The narrator is terrible. I couldn't get past her improper pronunciation of the TT sound think mitten her pronunciation? mih-en Even some single Ts - Latin - La-in she mispronounced. Even espresso! She said expresso. It's a regional pronunciation so I looked up thinking she was an amateur but she has an MFA and has narrated 80 audio books. Unfortunately for me it took me out of the story with every mispronounced word. Probably won't bother others

Okay book. Narrator takes away from the writing.

I was excited to read this! I just finished The Exiles, which I really enjoyed. It felt feminist and like a meaningful read without being cumbersome to get through. Furthermore, I was excited because I’m a native Mainer (my parents actually live on the island the book is set on) and I’m currently dating a NJ Italian boy who moved here a few years ago for a fresh start. Seemed like the book was made for me. It was very fun to hear all the small references to the actual roads I drive and harbors I go to in real life. I also got a kick out of her very accurate description of what the dating apps in Maine are like (really, you set a 100 mile radius from Mount Desert Island and 95% of men have either their truck, the last fish they caught, the last deer they killed, their motorcycle or their snowmobile pictured in their dating profile.) Otherwise, I found the book to be lacking. The first book I read by the author had me thinking this book would be deeper - not a beach read romance. If that is your thing, you will probably enjoy it. Also, I find the narrator annoying. I can’t imagine the protagonist to be laid back or down to earth or cool because the narrator sounds like a theater girl, if that makes any sense. Overall, I think it is good for the type of novel it is but I personally don’t like these types of books. And narration takes away the ability to get lost in the story.

Well done but a little slow

Light on much suspense or anticipation in the plot. But it was well narrated pleasant to listen to.

Didn't want the book to end

I loved this book, loved the narrator. I got so involved with the characters that I didn't want the book to end.

Simple story

The story was interesting. there was some language and sexually explicit content that did not need to be there with less detail would not have taken anything away from the story Personally I feel if you can do without the extra language and details then you should.