Book Review: What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson, a Women's Fiction Novel
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and I was not required to post a positive review. Also, this blog post includes affiliate links. You can view my affiliate disclaimer here.
"Everyone has a story, and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing."
Popular podcaster and ex-reporter Faith Byrne made a name for herself telling stories of greatness after tragedy--but her real life does not mirror the stories she tells. While her daughters spend the summer in Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife, she must manage life on her own. All of that changes when she's asked to spotlight her childhood best friend's missing person case on her podcast.
Dora Crane has never accepted that her younger daughter could be dead, keeping her home looking the same as when her daughter disappeared. But when her husband leaves her and her older daughter intervenes, she agrees to counseling and to pack up her missing daughter's belongings under one condition: Faith Byrne comes to Deep Valley and sheds light on the cold case.
As the long-abandoned investigation moves forward, old wounds and long-buried secrets are exposed. Will these two women, whose lives have never been the same, finally get the answers they need to reconcile the past and the future?
"This heartbreaking story will keep you guessing--and hoping--with the turn of every redemptive page."--ERIN BARTELS, award-winning author of The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
MY REVIEW: ★★★★★/5
My first five star read of the new year! Author Christina Suzann Nelson delivers a powerful, emotional drama that alternates between the summer of 1987 and present day; a compelling narrative that held me in its grip and drove me discover what happened next.
HIGHLIGHTS:
Women’s Fiction · Suspenseful · Moving & Emotional · 1980’s Throwback · Multiple Points of View · Strong Connection · Compelling
What I liked:
Nelson is a master in creating characters that are so lifelike, I couldn’t help but relate to them in different ways, causing them to burrow deep into my heart, connecting with the characters on a soulful level. Told from three different POVs, this deeply interwoven story came alive with suspense, intrigue and connection.
Podcaster Faith Byrne is grieving the loss of the family she’d always imagined after a recent divorce that’s left her reeling. When her daughters go to Hawaii for the summer with their dad to celebrate his new marriage, Faith suddenly finds herself alone and in the midst of memories from the summer of 1987 in Deep Valley, Oregon, a summer that changed her life forever. Faith’s portion of the story is told in present day and creates a wonderful sense of curiosity, suspense and even a hint of romance.
Dora Crane is the epitome of every mother’s heart in this story as she grieves the disappearance of her daughter some thirty years prior. What mother would refuse to hold out hope on finding their child? Certainly not Dora. Her plucky, grieving present day POV in this story warmed my heart, elicited a few good chuckles and ignited my deepest emotions in this story.
Ten year old Heather Crane’s POV transports readers to the coming-of-age, carefree days of summer in the late 1980’s when riding bikes through the neighborhood with friends and building backyard forts were the only important matters of the day. Her innocence and insightfulness was so tender and beautiful, lending a playful sense of excitement to this story.
I simply couldn’t put this book down. Every new chapter drew me in further until I was lost in the story world Nelson had created. My heart was invested, my curiosity peaked. This novel was well-written and had the most bittersweet ending that literally brought me to tears.
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Summary:
A no-holds barred, must-read. If you’re a reader who enjoys an emotional drama, I highly recommend this clean novel. This is faith-based fiction and includes light threads of hope and faith that I believe even secular readers will enjoy and find uplifting.
Content and Trigger Warnings: Divorce, Separation, Child Loss.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Photo Credit: © Katey Tryon | Image Courtesy of Baker Publishing Group.
