From the highly acclaimed author of The Outcast and The Alliance, which New York Times bestselling author Lisa Wingate called “a book that begs to be savored,” comes an engrossing novel about marriage and motherhood, loss and moving on. When Ruth Neufeld’s husband and father-in-law are killed working for a relief organization overseas, she travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and … Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law Mabel to bury her husband. She hopes the Mennonite community will be a quiet place to grieve and piece together next steps.
Ruth and her family are welcomed by Elam, her husband’s cousin, who invites them to stay at his cranberry farm through the harvest. Sifting through fields of berries and memories of a marriage that was broken long before her husband died, Ruth finds solace in the beauty of the land and healing through hard work and budding friendship. She also encounters the possibility of new love with Elam, whose gentle encouragement awakens hopes and dreams she thought she’d lost forever.
But an unexpected twist threatens to unseat the happy ending Ruth is about to write for herself. On the precipice of a fresh start and a new marriage, Ruth must make an impossible decision: which path to choose if her husband isn’t dead after all.
more
How the Light Gets In is one of the most emotionally charged books that I have read in a long time. You get to meet Ruth, a recent widow, and her struggles of life without her husband and being now a single mother of two little girls! Jolina writes of heartbreak, healing, finding your place, your worth, and love with such intensity. Tears and all, this story will grip you by the soul and take you on a ride you weren’t expecting! HTLGI is a must read and is a book that has stayed with me!
This book took me a few days to write! I had to reread the last chapter a few times and couldn’t wrap my head around it! Jolina wrote an extraordinary book that will stay with me for awhile!
#LightBook #HTLGI #christianfiction #heartbreaks #healing #selflove #selfworth #mennonitecommunity #amish #ruth #bookshelf #booktoread #bookstagram #bookstagrammer
This is a masterpiece of a novel. I love the authors voice and how well she writes this book. I’m always mentioning, when authors ask what I’m looking for in a book, that I want more books beyond the wedding. Perhaps it’s not as romantic, but I really enjoy reading books that have life lessons and are realistic….books to which I can relate.
There are several things in this book to which I relate, the biggest one really is adoption as we adopted a child that required much time and care. There is much to love about this read.
There is a twist in the book that I still am not sure exactly what I thought. One thing in particular I didn’t like, BUT this book evokes so much emotion that I as a reader was totally invested in these characters ( and kids in a book- I LOVE that!).
The twist is really totally brilliant and skillfully done on the authors part…but it doesn’t feel so much that way on the readers part as the reader makes their way through the plot twist. If a writer can pull so many emotions from a story, though…it’s gotta be a good one. Whether the reader is perfectly happy with the ending or not, I just had to give my rare five stars because I was confused, a bit upset, yet somewhat happy at the same time…and those emotions have changed as I’ve thought on the novel. This is a book i will be thinking about for a long time to come. This novel is really exceptionally done!
I highly recommend you read this book…and I’m so looking forward to reading everyone’s thoughts on this read. I’ve never read a book like this one.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
“Her children brought to her by genetics and divine intervention were her life’s greatest gifts.”
How the Light Gets In filled my heart with love and hope. This book is beautifully written, emotionally-driven, and unputdownable from the first page to the last. I was completely immersed in Ruth’s story, through her grief, her love for her children, her hope for her future. Ruth’s journey is heart-wrenching, as she is faced with impossible choices that will hurt the people she loves the most. I read this book through many tears, my heart aching for Ruth, her daughters, and the two men she loves, Elam and Chandler.
How the Light Gets In had me feeling almost every emotion under the sun. I was compelled, intrigued, dismayed, sad, confused, elated, and even angry. From the very first page I couldn’t wait to read what would happen with Ruth, Chandler, and Elam.
I find writing a well-rounded review a bit difficult without giveaway any of the twists and turns in the plot. So, let me just say this, Jolina Petersheim is a magnificent story teller! She has a way with words that makes it easy to envision the story as it takes place. The imagery in this book is just enrapturing. And I enjoyed it immensely.
There is a plot twist near the end of the book that has readers in great discussion. Without saying anything about it, I recommend reading the book and deciding for yourself how you feel. It was definitely not something I saw coming and I can’t say I particularly loved it, but the book as a whole was very enjoyable!
I received a complementary copy of the book. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book is outstanding in every way! Beautifully written and stunning! Jolina’s Petersheim’s literary voice is unique. I rode the figurative roller-coaster of emotions as my heart broke for Ruth in this story filled with multiple twists and turns. After the unexpected death of her husband, Ruth seeks refuge with her husband’s extended Mennonite family. Ms. Petersheim gives us a story of the journey from grief to healing. Not only is Ruth grieving the loss of her husband, she is also grieving the loss of a broken relationship.
Through a series of journal entries and letters, the broken pieces of the past are slowly revealed. Jolina Petersheim expertly reveals the light of God’s love in this story of heartbreak, love, hope and forgiveness. The reader will be challenged by soul-searching. I found myself immediately immersed in Ruth’s story. But it was when she learned to forgive, to find hope, that I found the tears flowing.
Faced by a couple of moral dilemmas, I was unsure of how I wanted the story to end. While my heart wanted one ending, I knew another would be better. Please don’t peek ahead to the last page, the ending is so much more satisfying if you wait.
Petersheim’s books are not a light, feel-good read. You will find yourself challenged, but possibly a better person. I believe the title How the Light Gets In can apply to how this light that can be shed on our lives as well. I find I think about Petersheim’s stories, her characters and dilemmas, long after the last page has been read. Her stories will remain on my keeper shelf.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.