[full review on blog]

This book was a great story of friendship, hope, and forgiveness. Each of the women found themselves in situations of life they never expected to be in, but then you realize that you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Even when it’s a storm, you’re growing inside as you learn about yourself and if you have the courage to push through. It was just a very uplifting book and I really enjoyed the characters and community that Reay created.

I also enjoyed Reay’s use of perspective in each character’s points of view, and especially how they were even called out within the characters’ narrations. It was something that didn’t actually register with me until I flipped to the discussion questions in back, and then I was more aware of how each woman’s story was told. The interesting thing is that by the end, they all tell the story in first-person present-tense to signify that they’re living in the moment, and I honestly think that was very clever of the author.

A final note on this book is that it is classified as a Christian Fiction book, but don’t let that keep you away from reading it. It’s not going to preach at you, but it does teach of forgiveness and does include some Bible references that are left in Aunt Maddie’s letters to Madeline, Janet, and Claire. Honestly, it’s such a good book and I’d hate to see anyone turn away from it because of its genre placement.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one and I also might want to open a bookshop of my own someday!