And Then Life Was Beautiful: Hanson Family, Book 1

by Asia Monique

Couri

August Hanson was the silent type, the kind who spoke through his actions and not his words. He possessed enough power to make me feel safe and secure. I was ready to open up and share the parts of myself I’d never shared with another, and then I got hit with a truth that changed everything. There was a slight chance he’d still want me, only he had to accept our baby, too.

August

Couri Mitchell was my type, the kind you married the first chance you got. She possessed enough power to silence the chaos around me. I was ready to grab ahold of her and never let go, and then I got hit with a truth that changed everything. There was a slight chance she’d still want me, only she had to accept my daughter, too.

Genres: Romance, African American Romance, African American, Friends To Lovers, Audiobook, Fiction, Book Club

Audible Audio

Published September 11, 2024

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️
- This book was everythingggg and more!! This was the first book I’ve ever read with this trope and it definitely won’t be my last! I don’t know why people hate it so much because the mmc was just so loving, caring, and thoughtful!! Who wouldn’t love that?!
- If you’re wanting to read about an independent strong woman that learns how to let her guard down to a cinnamon roll boy you’ll eat this up. This story also deals so much with grief and themes of friendship which I loved too.
- So excited that book two has already been released because I’m immediately going to pick it up!! The writing reminds me so much of Natasha Bishop’s writing. Really easy to read! You’ll finish this book so fast!

[Jahda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couri's mother dies of lung cancer, and the story begins with her funeral. In addition to her loss, Couri may be expecting a child. August's life is turned upside down when he finds out he is a father and that the mother of his infant daughter died during childbirth. Couri and August had a sexual relationship, but they now need to find out how to handle their relationship in light of the changes they are both experiencing. I had my doubts about August's ability to care for a baby in addition to his pregnant lover, but he managed. August and Couri had to deal with a lot, but they had genuine people behind them. They were simply two people in love, and everyone truly cared about them. Books like this excite me because I know that no matter what obstacles the protagonists face in life, they will prevail. It warmed my heart to see how much August and Couri meant to one another . Couri claiming January as her own. Throughout the story, there were glimpses of black excellence representation. The writing was beautiful. Helen had some serious audacity to try and take January from August. Especially when her daughter was going to give her away from the jump. I truly enjoyed this book I would like to see more books like this from Asia.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not sure where to begin with this one as it was so good. Within the first couple of chapters, I was hooked and I seriously did not want to put it down. It’s an easy and quick read and could be read in one or two sittings.

Every woman needs an August Hanson in their life. He was so caring, loving and considerate you couldn’t help but love his character. This book centers around grief, love and friendship, but O will also want that there is quite a bit of spice, so if that is not your thing then you may have to skip a few pages here and there. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and now want to read the next book. Highly recommended.

[sometimesrobinreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“and then life was beautiful” is the prefect title for this book because it was such a sweet love story. it been a while since i read a low angst book that kept me entertained. i shouldn’t be surprised though because asia monique is a master at writing beautiful love stories.

i loved couri and august’s journey together. it was clear from the moment they met they were meant for each other.

i can’t wait to see what’s next for the hanson bunch!

[adoseof.adri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Certified accidental pregnancy trope hater here to say, Asia Monique done got ME! This was a ROMANCE in every sense of the word. My goodness 🥺

[LaToya Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 🌼

I thought the story was beautiful. I loved how mature this couple was - the way they communicated and supported each other 🤌🏾

[Breeee Ranae⚜️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

May This kind of LOVE pls FIND ME !!!

I haven’t read a book my Asia Monique in a while & I was quickly reminded why I love her SO BAD. This book was BEAUTIFUL from beginning to end.

I despise accidental pregnancy tropes but the way this was carried out made my heart hurt & smile at the same time. The love between Couri & August was SO INTENSE from the beginning. No toxic drama, no miscommunication, & no unrealistic situations. While they both suffered with grief and loss they truly were meant for one another.

This is literally a perfect love story. 🥹
& the multiple epilogues ? I WAS SOBBING when I finished them. If you are truly a lover girl you will definitely LOVE THIS. 🫶🏽

The Bonus chapter ??? GET ME OFF TGE FLOOR!!😭🥺

[The Love Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

Eeek, this was such a beautiful read! Couri and August's relationship was truly one of love and commitment. These two meet through a mutual friend, and what starts as a one night stand turns into a friends with benefits situation. However, on the same day that Couri loses her mother to cancer, August gets a call from his ex's mom that she gave birth to his daughter that she kept a secret the entire pregnancy. Needless to say, both their worlds are about to change.....because Couri is also pregnant.

These two have a lot to navigate, but the author writes it in a way that feels like Couri and August vs. the world. Once August realizes he has a daughter, and that the woman he was falling deeper for is pregnant, he steps up to the plate for his family. Their support system was beautiful (August is a quadruplet and comes from a huge family) and there was never a time where it felt like these two wouldn't make it work. Sure they had a few arguments and disagreements, along with Couri still grieving the loss of her mother, but for them, being apart is not an option.

I couldn't put this book down. I loved the extended epilogues showing how their family grew over time. I cannot wait to get the other siblings/cousins' stories that were hinted at. This was my first read from this author but definitely won't be my last!!

TROPES: black romance/BIPOC/OWN voices; single dad (not for long); friends to lovers that are really soulmates; pregnant heroine; amazing family/support system; tattooed hero; surprise pregnancy; rich H/h

TRIGGER WARNINGS: loss of a parent due to cancer; parental abandonment (August's ex had no intentions of keeping the baby once she was born, and left him a letter just in case she died)

[Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ugh this was such a beautiful story! Loved the bond between August and Couri. Some grief, but also a lot of love was shown. Author did a wonderful job!!

[Cassandra Jerido · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way Too Long

This should have been a very short novella. It just wasn’t enough content for a full novel. Towards the end it just was too slow.

[lacie.reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall this was a unique storyline that I mostly enjoyed. Loved the single father piece, the emotions and the vulnerability the characters demonstrated throughout. Loved the family piece and the reality of grief as a journey rather than something someone “gets over”.

That said, there were some moments when the dialogue felt forced or nonsensical. I also felt that the author missed some major opportunities in the storytelling - including the actual wedding ceremony or the exchange of vows. I was so disappointed that this part was not included. I felt that some of the scenes were too long and others were not long enough or missing altogether. The fact that there were four epilogues felt strange. Finally, there were quite a few grammatical errors in the Kindle version that distracted me from the overall story.

[Lette Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful story! I loved this book!

[JBucky · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Death must exist for life to have meaning.”–Neal Shusterman

WHAAAATTTT A BEAUTIFUL STORY! I done cried more times than I can count! This story gripped me up and didn’t let me go 😭😭😭! I loved August Hanson & Couri Mitchell!

['The Book Queen' · Rating 4 out of 5]

So freaking good

You all... This story had all my emotions humming. The names were too cute. I loved meeting the Hanson crew, especially the siblings, June, July, and September. And you know August stole my entire heart. Couri and August were synergies in motion in this undertaking. The couple loved, lived, and thrived in their relationship—no complaints from me about this unique love story.

[Nay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couri and August are both dealing with grief. Couri has just lost her mother and August finds his ex died during childbirth after having their daughter. While dealing with grief Couri finds out she’s pregnant with August baby. Couri and August wasn’t in a committed relationship but you could see and feel the love they had for each. I loved Couri keeping the tradition of having a month baby name. I low key thought she was going to have twins. It was so cute seeing their love blossom after committing to each other. The epilogue updates was cute too. I hope there will be a spin-off with Bea and London.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

..Audiobook reread 6✨️✨️✨️✨️

I really enjoyed this story; I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Trope: Black Love, found family, surprise pregnancy, surprise baby

Enjoyment: 5 ⭐

Hero: 4 ⭐

Heroine: 4 ⭐

Character development: 5 ⭐

Emotional: 5 ⭐

Sweet: 4 ⭐

Romance: 4 ⭐

Heat\steam: 3.5 ⭐

Intrigue: 4 ⭐

Action: 0

Violence: 0

Story\plot: 4 ⭐

World Building: 4 ⭐

Enjoy!!!

[Tay · Rating 5 out of 5]

NTMA and I absolutely loved it🔥♥️

[thebookcritic_ · Rating 2 out of 5]

story was good but too many grammatical errors

I feel like this story was very unique. I love creative occupations. I also love a family saga. Two people afraid to make the next big move with each other because life and babies. A kind of found family story. The fact that the custody case never really stood a chance made it unnecessary but it did show that some people make irrational decisions when grieving. I think it was also to set up other books in the family saga. I also don’t understand the anger after the lawyer. Seemed a little dramatic.

This book needed another pass through of editing. Not every page but a substantial amount of grammar errors. It definitely got sloppier in the second half. It also can’t be January 1 but January’s birthday was the day before. Unless the epilogues were throwing out random dates. I also don’t understand the reference, “March had come and gone….” The epilogue said it was January and we were referencing her birthday. Also, no need for 4 epilogues.

[BookmarkedByAlia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing story of two beautiful people who find love during their lowest points and crawl out of the mud together.
August was a perfect example of how a man should be with his woman. He took care of her in every way possible but especially mentally and physically.
Couri was such a good hearted person and put not only Augusts’ but everyone’s feelings and well being first.
I was so appreciative of the multiple epilogues allowing us to see how life treated them all over a 18 year span.
The only thing that I wasn’t a fan of was the redundancy of them saying how much they loved each other every other page after they made it official-and I LOVE love, but it just got to the point that I was like “ok we get it!” LOL
Overall this was a very good read and I would recommend.

[Toya Davis-Stokley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful indeed! The minute August and Couri met you could feel the chemistry sizzling. I loved the ease in which these two came together, they just fit. Then life happened. With all that was going on one or both of them could have run. But they showed maturity, talked it out and chose to have faith in their love. August is just swoon worthy! Period! 😍 The way he handled the situation with Snowflake, and still cared and nurtured Couri was beautiful. Couri never batted an eye about stepping in to assist August when she knew he needed her. The Hanson clan is wild, loud and crazy, but full of love. Looking forward to more of the Hanson family. 👍👍👍

[Darcy J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend the Youtube audio - it's a duet and flows like a movie

Sometimes you just want to read something that feels like love. Unconditional love. Love that warms your heart. Some parts may break your heart. But in the end, love is what kept you.

New life, love, and loss came at Couri and August in a matter of HOURS but...love. "I don't do one night stands." "...and I believed him."
August Hanson, a master distiller, is the only son out of his parent's quadruples and has been dating Couri, his best friend's sister-in-law for a few weeks. Just as he starts falling for Couri, he learns that he is now a new father. What?! And within 24 hours of meeting his new baby girl, he also hears
"I'm pregnant."

Everything that should've pulled August and Couri apart, brought them together even closer. I was so glad Couri spoke up in that parking lot and didn't hide her secret from him.
That was the start of their beautiful communication. She was going through the worst time while also experiencing the most beautiful moments in her life and more stress was the last thing she needed. Her sister, August, and their families were such a sate space for the both of them and they needed that support. But most importantly, love was their foundation.
"You and me."
And I love how in the future, the girls adopted the phrase and made it their own. 💞

I love stories with large families and this one did not disappoint. I love how the Hanson's welcomed Couri and Journi into their families with open arms. August sisters immediately loved on Couri and admired how she accepted and loved January. I'm excited to get the next Hanson sibling story but right now, my heart is so full from the love between August and Couri. 💛💛

💛 What I Loved: The families • Cousin Lola • June, July, and September • Kali and Couri's relationship • Norbank Shores

[Q. Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love blossomed through grief....

It seems like this book was suggested to me subliminal and I had to indulge. It was one of those reads where it was unexpected situations happening frequently. August and Couri experienced grief differently but simultaneously together. Couri losing her mother took a hard toll on her as August gained a child from a deceased ex. Grief was the sole driver of the relationship for a while but they went through it together. August had to learn how to tackle fatherhood. Couri went through a few issues during her pregnancy. However, August was there through it all, he wanted to be a part of his unborn child's life. He wanted to experience the pregnancy with Couri as well. He didn't get that opportunity with his ex. His ex did him wrong especially how she hid the pregnancy for nine months. It was heart-wrenching to read a mother not wanting their child. Shondra was that woman. But January had Couri and that was all the mother she needed in her life. August was there from day one to learn how to take care of his daughter. This book showed the ups and downs of a budding relationship with curve balls coming at different angles. August and Couri treaded through the muddy waters and built a solid family. Their love shined through them and the two babies they created. I absolutely loved how attentive August was to Couri through everything her mother's death and pregnancy. He was Couri's other half. I had a couple of drawbacks though the first being I felt like August deserved a namesake. He needed a son he could pass down and teach how to be a master distiller. I also thought that it was odd that Kali got her cousins to call her Auntie. Kali wanted to be an aunt just that bad. Overall it's a good read, I feel like it's a standalone with the epilogues but I think it's the start of a series. It will be interesting to read the next installments in the series.

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

And Then Life Was Beautiful by Asia Monique

This book really hit me. I’m such a romance girl, but this story had me completely in my feelings. There are some grief triggers, so be aware. This story explores grief, unexpected challenges, and how two people can find comfort in each other.

Couri Mitchell and August Hanson are both coping with loss. Couri is coming to terms with a recent personal loss, while August is dealing with his own loss and a major life change. They weren’t in a committed relationship, but you can see the care and connection growing between them.

August was perfect from the start, a true book boyfriend, and his chemistry with Cori is magnetic. I loved the full journey the author took us through, including the multiple epilogues.

The story slowed a little after about 60 percent, but I read it in under 24 hours, so maybe that’s why. I highly recommend this for anyone who loves emotional, heartfelt love stories with a some spice.

[Joreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️
This book was indeed beautiful. Anyone would have fallen in love with August, the man honestly had no faults, he was so caring, thoughtful, considerate, intentional, attentive, I can go on for days. What a man.
Couri and August’s love story truly was beautiful and tender and swoon worthy but then again it’s Asia so I expected nothing less. Couri was so strong, kind, considerate, what a woman! Whew. Now the situation was messy but the way Asia wrote the story? It didn’t feel messy at all. I really enjoyed this book🥺 I loved how family was such a big part of their lives. I loved everything. I need more of the side characters😭 I’ll miss this book

[Gina Loves 2 Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful isn't enough to describe this story! I was hooked from page one!
I loved how August and Couri navigated grief and loss together.
They treated each other with so much love, care and respect.
The extended epilogues took this book to the next level for me.
This was my first novel by Asia Monique and she did not disappoint! I think it's say to say, I'll read anything she writes. 💕

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a beautiful read 🤎 August & Couri were refreshing to read about. I could feel them falling in love, and how they communicated with each other was just sooo good! I adored and appreciated the healthy/unproblematic relationship between August & Couri, their relationships with their family, and how beautifully they all blended 🥹

[Sunshine Summaries · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just beautiful 😍 this is what maturity, commitment, communication, and love looks like. August Hanson was pure perfection and Couri was the best kind of fmc. Loved the epilogues going into time jumps leaving no questions unanswered.

[Samara · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars ⭐️⭐️

I really wanted to like this book so bad. The beginning really pulled me in and I was following along for the first 40-45% of the book. Around the 50% mark, my attention started to waver and I struggled to get through this book. I’m not one to not finish a book so I powered through. It got to the point where I found myself skimping through the book just to get it over with.

There was so much fluff! Literally fluff galore and it jaded absolutely nothing to the storyline. So many unnecessary dialogue’s that I glossed over. A good 100 pages felt like nothing but fluff just for the sake of it. This book could’ve easily been only about 250 pages but almost 500 pages?! It was very unnecessary.

I love spice just like the next person but it felt a bit forced and excessive in this book. I never thought I would be complaining about spice, yet, here I am. I hate this for me 😩. Then at one point, August called Couri a slut during sex. Where did that come from? That wasn’t even their dynamic! It was weird and cringe.

Now, I did appreciate the epilogues and it gave a lot of closure. I’m happy that January learned the truth and we were able to see the girls grow up.

I hate writing bad reviews but this book just didn’t do it for me.

[Pascale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Welp, not what I expected at all…. boring yet cute is what I am going for!

So I thought I picked up a great book, but then I realized a few things: 1) this is about Journi little sister and Kingston best friend, 2) kali grew up, 3) we get to start learning about the Hansons whom we didn’t hear too much about.
I must say it was ok first couple lines and pages, but it grew to be so boring, unrealistic and unrelatable with the characters. Couldn’t understand how understanding and acceptance that Couri did from the beginning and forth, specially regarding Shondra, remarkable of her but disinterested for me.
One of the reason why I read books it’s to get away, also to get to live in a fantasy for a little bit with hardcore gangsters who gets putty for their woman, protect them and let nothing fly. I want to read about beautiful romance and hood, steamy, hot, shower, wall, balcony, sexcapades. I want to get away and dream, not reminiscing about real life experiments…. That’s what I want when I am reading…
In any case and unfortunately I did finish it but didn’t enjoy it at all…

[TwinTLC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️: DNF at 60%.... August and Couri's story is great. It's just at 60% in, there was nothing keeping me interested in the story anymore. It a great easy read though!