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cindysbookcorner's review
5.0
Nicole Deese has written another beautiful novel, The Words We Lost. She has quickly become an author I will automatically read when I see her name. Her books are deep, gritty, and carefully crafted. While this novel deals with grief, it is not as heavy of a read as anticipated. I actually put off reading this novel because of that.
Ingrid needs a miracle to keep her job. So, when Joel shows up with an envelope with their names, she wonders if she might have found what she was looking for. However, choosing to go back to her hometown leads her on an unexpected journey, with a discovery Ingrid and Joel never knew existed. Unfortunately for Ingrid's career, it is not what she expected. Will she find what she is looking for?
The Words We Lost is a powerful book of friendship, love, loss, and second chances. From the beginning, I was rooting for Joel and Ingrid to get back together. As the story progressed and I realized what tore them apart, I wanted it even more but wondered if it was possible. Prepare yourself because once the story hits its stride it is impossible to put down. I was mad at myself for not giving myself more time to read when I had to set it aside to sleep (it was HARD!). There are many layers to this story, and they are masterfully woven together. There is so much more I want to say about this story, but I don't want to give a hint of spoilers. The Words We Lost is a must-read. My copy will be staying on my "keeper" shelf.
On a side note, while this is labeled "Christian Fiction," it is more mentions of prayer and church. It is not heavy on the "Christian" side, which I know can be off-putting to some readers.
Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ingrid needs a miracle to keep her job. So, when Joel shows up with an envelope with their names, she wonders if she might have found what she was looking for. However, choosing to go back to her hometown leads her on an unexpected journey, with a discovery Ingrid and Joel never knew existed. Unfortunately for Ingrid's career, it is not what she expected. Will she find what she is looking for?
The Words We Lost is a powerful book of friendship, love, loss, and second chances. From the beginning, I was rooting for Joel and Ingrid to get back together. As the story progressed and I realized what tore them apart, I wanted it even more but wondered if it was possible. Prepare yourself because once the story hits its stride it is impossible to put down. I was mad at myself for not giving myself more time to read when I had to set it aside to sleep (it was HARD!). There are many layers to this story, and they are masterfully woven together. There is so much more I want to say about this story, but I don't want to give a hint of spoilers. The Words We Lost is a must-read. My copy will be staying on my "keeper" shelf.
On a side note, while this is labeled "Christian Fiction," it is more mentions of prayer and church. It is not heavy on the "Christian" side, which I know can be off-putting to some readers.
Thank you to Bethany House for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
makaylasauce's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I liked this book, but I couldn’t seem to love it. I liked both characters but never truly felt their chemistry.
Also, the bits with God could end up on the preaching side, which could take me out of the book a bit. Still, I respected it, because it felt like a realistic legitimate way a person deals with grief.
The grief part was beautifully explained and written.
The most difficult part was at the end, as SaBrina fell short as a villain. She felt very one dimensional, which is how quite a few characters ended up feeling.
Overall, an interesting book and worth the read.
Also, the bits with God could end up on the preaching side, which could take me out of the book a bit. Still, I respected it, because it felt like a realistic legitimate way a person deals with grief.
The grief part was beautifully explained and written.
The most difficult part was at the end, as SaBrina fell short as a villain. She felt very one dimensional, which is how quite a few characters ended up feeling.
Overall, an interesting book and worth the read.
windmillcat's review
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
readwithmolls's review
4.0
When I started reading this book, I wasn't really sure what I was going to be reading. At first I thought it was literary fiction, and then I realised it was romance. But as I continued to read it, I realised this book was an unusual romance novel because it actually had some depth and dealt with the real topic of loss.
I really enjoyed Indy as a main character. She's reeling in the loss of her best friend Cece's death, and it's impairing her basic functioning in her job and personal life. Joel, her high school sweetheart and Cece's cousin, is also dealing with loss himself.
I felt like my expectations in the book were low, but I was pleasantly surprised. The main thing that bothered me was that I felt the end wrapped up too neatly. I had a hard time believing that Indy's trauma and loss would be so magically fixed in such a short time frame.
It's evident that Nicole Deese has been through loss in her life. Her experience is clear in her writing, and I think this book is worth the read. It's not a life changing read, but it actually felt like it had some weight to it.
I received this ARC book in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed Indy as a main character. She's reeling in the loss of her best friend Cece's death, and it's impairing her basic functioning in her job and personal life. Joel, her high school sweetheart and Cece's cousin, is also dealing with loss himself.
I felt like my expectations in the book were low, but I was pleasantly surprised. The main thing that bothered me was that I felt the end wrapped up too neatly. I had a hard time believing that Indy's trauma and loss would be so magically fixed in such a short time frame.
It's evident that Nicole Deese has been through loss in her life. Her experience is clear in her writing, and I think this book is worth the read. It's not a life changing read, but it actually felt like it had some weight to it.
I received this ARC book in exchange for my honest review.
ejhollister's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sv25's review against another edition
This wasn’t a bad book, I just found it a little slow and a little too heavy for me right now. I may return to it later
readkpalacios's review
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
jess_b94's review against another edition
Super religious undertones I didn’t expect
tracihunziker's review
5.0
I always love Nicole Deese's books, and this was no exception. Her deeply emotional stories of Christian fiction draw you into the well-developed characters' lives and leave a long-lasting impact on your life. Our main character is dealing with loss, grief, trauma, and guilt, which was powerfully written in a healing way. There are also lighter moments of fun and friendship. I highly recommend this beautiful book and look forward to the next one in the series.