Happier Here With You

by Amy Gail Hansen

A widowed mother finds the recipe for happiness when she visits a long-lost relative in a heart-lifting novel about family, food, and second chances.

Widowed and overworked, museum curator and food historian Maggie Brodbeck struggles to spend quality time with her five-year-old daughter, Hannah. Fueled by on-the-go meals, she doesn’t even have time to breathe, let alone pursue personal happiness. Then, out of the blue, Maggie receives an invitation from her estranged great-aunt Alice to visit her Wisconsin farm. The time has come, Magpie.

Desperate for a break, for herself and for Hannah, Maggie finds Rosehill Farm to be a revelation. In the enigmatic Alice, Maggie finds a kindred spirit. Whether baking together or just looking at the stars, they share a natural rhythm. The calming pace of country living is made even sweeter when Maggie meets the charismatic Brady, a local pastry chef.

Then Maggie opens her aunt’s treasured box of generations-old recipes and discovers the surprising threads of her heroic family history. The recipes not only shed light on the past, but reconnect Maggie to her love of cooking and to a life of contentment close to her heart—and back to herself.

Genres: Contemporary, Fiction, Family, Romance, Food

303 pages, Paperback

Expected publication July 1, 2026

About the author

Amy Gail Hansen is the author of HAPPIER HERE WITH YOU and THE BUTTERFLY SISTER. A former English teacher and journalist, Amy is also a professional food-history lecturer on topics ranging from Midwest sweets to New Orleans cuisine. She is an avid cook, baker, and reader, and never ceases to be amazed by the story of food and the remarkable ways it shapes our lives. She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[Erika Bazzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ Time to grow like wild! Happier Here With You is a story about finding your true purpose & connection to where you came from. It’s the kind of delicious story Nancy Meyers would cook up if she was from the Midwest. Prepare for major kitchen envy, with a side of historical fiction and romance.

Loved learning about the WLA farmerettes! It’s really amazing how much loving efficiency can get done when you get a good group of women together.

For those you who understand the power and community of food… this one is for you.

[Courtney Rabideau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blast from the past

Maggie is a single mother raising her 5 year old daughter after her husband dies. She is contracted by her great aunt who lives in a small town. Supposedly the two never met, but that turns out to not to be true. Maggie and her daughter love the town and she meets a man who runs a camp for people who like to cook. There are mysteries surrounding her great grandmother and the women who lived with her during the war. The book was great and couldn’t wait to find out more. Thought for sure that the great aunt was going to turn out to be Maggie’s grandmother, so was glad that that didn’t happen.

[Susan Apps-Bodilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from the author.
Happier Here With You tells the present-day story of Maggie, a tired, stressed-out food historian and museum curator. Along with her daughter, Hannah, she is summoned by her Great Aunt Rose when she receives a mysterious letter in the mail. Maggie does not know who this is or why Rose says, “The time has come, Magpie. Spend the summer here on Rosehill Farm. . . it will be the best summer of your life.” Maggie is drawn to this farm for unknown reasons and indeed finds joy in nature, slowing down, and spending time in Rose’s farm kitchen.

Interconnecting chapters describe Rose’s backstory, including the farm's use as a boarding house for women in the Women’s Land Army of America. They were hired to replace men who left for military service in WWII. The women become family to each other as they work and play together.

Many fun and interesting secondary characters join Maggie and Rose to describe the importance of farm-to-table food in the past and present. This book celebrates women and their role in supporting one another through kindness, empathy, and a good recipe from the past.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie is a widowed, overworked museum curator who struggles with the feeling that she isn't giving enough of herself to her young daughter, Hannah. When an unexpected invitation arrives from her great-aunt Alice to spend the summer on the family farm, Maggie sees it as a chance for a change of pace. What she discovers is so much more—a deeper connection to her family, a renewed sense of purpose, and a mission to help save the farm that has been part of their history for generations.

I absolutely loved this novel. As an Amazon First Reads selection, it immediately drew me in and never let go. Amy Gail Hansen beautifully weaves together family relationships, food, history, and personal growth into a story that feels both comforting and meaningful.

One of my favorite aspects was learning about the Women's Land Army, the young women who stepped in to help American farmers during World War II. As someone who loves food history, I found this fascinating and appreciated how seamlessly the historical elements were incorporated into the story.

Heartfelt, hopeful, and rich with history, this is a novel that will stay with me long after the final page. I highly recommend it.

[Margaret Balwierz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Heartwarming, and compelling novel with authentic characters about discovering and connecting to your place in the world, and of course, food!
A letter from Maggie's black sheep great aunt Alice comes, inviting her to visit the farm in Wisconsin. A widowed and busy food anthropologist who needs some serious relaxation, Maggie decides to finally meet the much whispered about aunt Alice, and takes her up on the offer to visit the farm with her daughter Hannah for a week. The two take instantly to Rosehill farm, enjoying the sunshine, fresh food, and aunt Alice. As Maggie unplugs and reconnects with her love of cooking, she also begins connecting with the handsome pastry chef, Brady.
While going through old recipes, Maggie and Alice discover memorabilia from Alice's grandmother Rose, revealing an important history of the farm. As they learn about the past, they deepen their ties to community, food, and the land.

Thank you to Amy Gail Hansen for this Advanced Reader's Copy.

[Jennifer Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely captured my heart from beginning to end. Happier Here With You was emotional, comforting, and beautifully written in a way that made me feel deeply connected to the characters and their journey. Every chapter pulled me in more, and I found myself smiling, reflecting, and even tearing up at times. It reminds us the importance the role of food and cooking can have during difficult times. How it can bring people together.

What I loved most was how relatable and heartfelt the story felt. It reminded me of the importance of love, healing, and finding happiness in the people and places that truly matter. The writing was easy to fall into, and the emotions stayed with me long after I finished the last page.

This is the kind of book you never want to end, and I already know I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. Absolutely recommend to anyone looking for a touching, uplifting, and unforgettable read!

[Debbie Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Your Roots

I truly enjoyed this book finding it very real as it started with an overwhelmed single mother. She suddenly learns of a past she really didn’t remember but one that was hidden in her memories. Even though, as a reader, you realize exactly what will be happening, it is a delight to read/watch it all come together.

Since I live in a small town that values its history, I enjoyed reading a story of a family discovering their history and the history of the home where they lived and loved. Homes and buildings listed in the National Register are valuable and so worth saving, as discovered in this story.

This story reminds us that love can overcome so much and that yes, where there is a will, there is a way.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

mothers, mothering, family, food, love

Makes for a great life and a good book.
I am a daughter, a granddaughter, a mom, and a grandmother. This story is that old fashioned word - heart warming. Even the part where everything is supposed to look like it supposed to feel like it is all coming unraveled, can’t be too bad, because everyone is working together.

I loved learning about the WLA; have read so much about the British Land Girls, but did not know there was a similar program here.

I used this book for my Happily Ever After square for the KCLS/SPL/SAL Summer Book Bingo.

[Granny Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book

So heartfelt and warm. Enjoyed reading this book, feeling like I was a part of this big connected " family". Highly recommend it to everyone who loves a bit of history, bit of romance, bit of family connections, and wonderful hometown country goodness. Not to mention good food!!

[Laura Barrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartfelt and immersive, Happier Here by Amy Gail Hansen is the kind of book that feels like eating a warm chocolate chip cookie. Hansen has woven a beautiful tale of found family, community, romance, and the healing power of food. I savored every page!

[Karyn Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

a story recipe of happiness & learning where you belong

I want to be there with them. Community, nature, family & traditions being made current make this a cozy book without being too cloying. Highly recommend!

[Sharon Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful Story

I loved this book! I do believe that I read it again. The characters are so well fleshed out that you can't help but feel as though you know them by the end. It's around 3:00 am, but it was worth staying up to finish the story.... oh, no!!!...it is finished!!!

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read in a day and half

I could not put this book down. Optimism is amazing, and although there are downs in this book, the characters are delightfully resilient and make lemonade of lemons

[Gayle Padfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous!

I am so glad that I found this book when I needed a break from some heavy reading. It was a gift to lighten my soul. However, where is the recipe for Lucy's Victorycake ?!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Journey of discovery

So many secrets revealed during this journey. Such descriptive prose about the menus made me want to dig out my Julia Child cook book. Liked the inclusion of the WWII land girls, just enough history of the farm.

[Carolyn Lax]

Excellent story and characters.

I had to keep reading until I finished the book. The story was about family and the importance of family traditions.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. History, family, food, home..

[Shannon Beasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet Hallmark type feel about found family.