Jillian Thatcher has spent most of her life playing the family peacemaker, caught in the middle between her driven, talented older sister and her younger, spotlight-stealing twin sisters. Then on the night of her engagement party, a cancer diagnosis threatens to once again steal her chance to shine.Now, Jillian’s on the road to recovery after finally finishing chemo and radiation, but residual … effects of the treatment keep her from reclaiming her life as she’d hoped. And just when her dreams might be falling into place, a life-altering revelation from her husband sends her reeling again.Will Jillian ever achieve her own dreams, or will she always be “just Jillian,” the less-than Thatcher sister? Can she count on her sisters as she tries to step into a stronger place, or are they stuck in their childhood roles forever?
more
Delightful to spend time with the Thatcher sisters once again! We feel like part of the family and cheer as Jillian, Johanna, and Payton find their way back to each other.
Beth Vogt is the master at writing an emotional filled novel and Moments We Forget is no different. The characters are likeable and relatable going through true to life events. I loved Jillian right the beginning. Having many friends who fought through cancer, I was rooting for her. I could see their strength and bravery in her. Her story made me want to grab a box of tissues at times.
I would give Moments We Forget one hundred stars if I could but will have to settle with five stars. I do want to note that I was not aware this book was part of the Thatcher series. I have only read this one of the series. With that being said, in my opinion, it could be read as a stand alone.
Moments We Forget is a great book! One of my favorites of the year. I highly recommend this book. It is most definitely not one to be missed.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
Moments We Forget is a story of three Thatcher sisters who love and can’t stand each other at the same time! This is probably true of most sisters even if we don’t admit it! Moments We Forget focuses on the middle sister, Jillian, who has survived breast cancer but has to face the realities of life after cancer. Beth Vogt has created wonderful realistic characters! I received my copy of Moments We Forget through a Book Fun giveaway. This is my honest opinion.
This will make you laugh and cry. I did not want to put the book down. I love each sister but probably know best how Jillian feels being a middle child myself. I did not read the first book in the series but I wish I had. I was able to catch on to most of what was happening though. Each sister is going through many trials just like we all do. I enjoyed this story. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Moments We Forget by Beth K. Vogt is an unforgettable story. It is so poignant and heart-wrenching I’m still emotional days after finishing. My heart absolutely goes out to Jillian and her sisters, Payton and Johanna. Life really does a number on all three of them in this book. Even though my heart is a little more tender after having read this story, I am leaving these pages with such a pervasive sense of hope. I am so encouraged by Jillian’s and Payton’s new-found ability to leave it all to God’s will. They don’t know what their future’s hold, but they are OK with that. God’s got capable hands and He will get them through anything that comes their way. I’m leaving this novel with the same sense — God’s got this, and He’ll take care of me and my walk with Him. What a lovely, hope-filled way to leave a story!
Jillian is perfectly written. Her number one problem? Not the after-effects of cancer, not the side effects of chemo and dealing with chemo brain, not even a semi-disastrous kitchen remodel. Nope, these are not Jillian’s biggest problems. Her biggest issue is that she has always been “just Jillian.” Jillian is not like her perfect older sister, Johanna, who is always impressive and always has it together. She’s not like her amazingly athletic, talented, and beautiful twin sisters either. She’s “just Jillian,” and she hates it. As “just Jillian,” she is often dismissed and invisible. She is the girl who cannot catch a break, and she often has to watch as her dreams die. To the world, “just Jillian” is nothing. Honestly, the world sees her as a bit of a loser. Jillian almost caves and begins to believe that maybe she is just a “just” kind of girl. But then Jillian discovers the Truth — to God, Jillian is just the woman He needs.
I’m not going to lie, I bawled my eyes out. I’ve been “just Nicole” my entire life. Someone has always been better than me. No matter how hard I played, my brother Joey was seen as the better soccer player; everyone went to his games, not mine. No matter how hard I worked, when I presented my family with my Master’s Thesis the first thing they saw was a typo I didn’t catch. And, when I introduced my family to the man I was going to marry, all they could do was cut me down in front of him — of course, it was all a good joke at my expense. To my family, I have always been “just Nicole.” Like Jillian, it bothered me so hard. It took me a long time and a lot of tears, but as Jillian learns in Moments We Forget, I too learned that I am just the woman God needs. When we “just” girls realize who we are in Christ, we can overcome all the soul-hurting comments and judgments of the world, of our families. And we can handle being overlooked or ignored by those we love because we know God sees us, and that is all that truly matters. This is such a hopeful, positive message. One I am going to strive to remember the next time someone in this world makes me feel like a “just.”
Moments We Forget is a fantastic novel. I very much enjoyed every minute of this thought-provoking, heart-wrenching, hope-inducing story. I am sad my time with the Thatcher sisters is over … for now. Moments We Forget is another 2019 must-read — one I cannot recommend enough!
I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the publisher, Tyndale, via NetGalley. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
“And me? I would always be the designated driver of the emotional vehicle that carried our merry little trio.”
Brace yourself for an emotional impact when you pick up this book. This book, written in first person perspective from middle sister Jillian and third person from oldest sister Johanna and youngest sister Payton, will burrow deep into your heart with its raw, real, and heart-rendering discovery of self, love, sisterhood, and faith as the sisters battle the hard things of life like cancer survival, insecurity of never being seen and never being enough, past family tragedies, betrayal, and loss of hopes and dreams. I didn’t read the first book (Things I Never Told You) and I do feel that I missed some background history of Payton and her deceased twin sister Pepper but the author did an excellent job of weaving the past and Payton’s story from book one into this storyline. I don’t have sisters but felt the sisterly dynamic and the struggle of sisterhood all the way down to my bones due to the author’s gift with words. Beth Vogt paints a beautifully broken world full of hurting people striving for hope in the Thatcher sisters and those looking for a stirring and insightful contemporary women’s fiction will love this book.
Jillian, the forever peacemaker in the family, is at the bottom of the pit, even after surviving breast cancer. As her life spirals out of control, her oldest sister Johanna, who has had her life in a neat and tidy square box all her life, faces personal challenges and work changes that send her life spinning. Payton, the youngest, is still trying to come to grips with her newfound faith and her budding feelings for Zach as her overloaded school and work schedule threaten to topple her. The three sisters are very different but compliment each other so well when they’re actually in agreement. Payton and Jillian’s walk toward faith is natural and encouraging.
I can’t wait to read the third book, which will likely feature Johanna as the first person narrator. She’s the least likable of the three sisters but I’m sure that she’ll have the biggest change of heart and spirit that will draw the sisters in a tighter bond than just genetics alone.
I received a copy of the book from Tyndale House Publishers via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
“But maybe . . . maybe faith wasn’t so much about believing enough. Being enough. Maybe faith was realizing that the truth of who God was, and what He promised, was enough for all her doubts.”
The Thatcher sisters—Jillian, Payton, and Johanna—each have their own struggles, pain, and disappointments. You’d think that would spur them to treat each other with gentleness. But not so much. They tend to push each other’s buttons and bring up old hurts before they finally get around to reacting with love.
Book #2, Moments We Forget, focuses on Jillian as she experiences one shocking life change after another. Her search for some kind of help or meaning leads to fledgling steps of faith. She experiences peace and hope—for the first time in a long, long time. We also catch up with what’s going on in Payton’s life as she weighs her doubts and fears against the possibility of a joyful future. And about half way through the story, Johanna’s problems get the best of her. As the story delves into what makes her tick, I found myself truly appreciating this character.
Thanks to Beth Vogt for bringing these characters to life. Now I’m invested in knowing—will the Thatcher sisters find redemption, learn to love each other unconditionally, and band together for strength and support? I’ll be lining up for book #3 to find out!
Quotes I liked . . .
“It’s not that I don’t believe in You, God. I do. I just don’t know why I believe in You.”
“Coffee is the gasoline of life.
All I need is coffee and mascara.
Behind every successful person is a substantial amount of coffee.
I drink coffee for your protection.”
“Chemo brain. I’d said the words out loud. Another label to live with. How many undesirable labels would I have to carry in my life? The words weighed on my heart like the breast form I wore. Awkward. Unwelcome.”
“Every noise beyond the walls was muffled. Footsteps. Ringing phones. Voices. If I closed my eyes, the silence in the room surrounded me. Separated me from anything waiting for me. I could just be here. There was something comforting about the clean scent of ammonia that lingered in the room. I didn’t have to think about the mistakes of the past week that left me unemployed. Or the unknowns that loomed ahead of me.”
“You’ve taught me to believe there is a God. I’m going to do my best to find my way all the way to Him . . . and hope He leads me back to you. But if . . . if He doesn’t, I’m going to believe it’s for the best.”
‘A single thread of hope is still a very powerful thing.’
Part of me wished that if I turned over all those slips of paper from the glass jar Harper had given me, if I pieced them together, I’d discover a map that led me closer to God . . . or offered me the ultimate words of comfort so I would be fine without Him.
“This is a hospital, Dr. Miller, not a sports arena. We are taking care of patients, not . . . not playing volleyball.” He laughed. Laughed. “That’s true. However, it turns out that team dynamics work on the court, in the boardroom, in the operating room . . . and in a pharmacy. Humans care about being valued and believing they are doing something important.”
“Soft winter sunshine streamed down through the windows, surrounding the piano and the player in a golden glow. Johanna escaped into a shadowed corner and closed her eyes, exhaling as the music found its mark. It was as if the woman offered her a cup of water, lifting the glass to her parched lips and whispering, ‘Drink . . . drink.’ How she longed to lean in, to accept what the woman offered. What she’d missed. To let each chord touch the dry fragments of her soul. There’d been no music in her life for so long.”
“It was like trying to translate something for him when I barely knew the language myself. I mixed up the words. Definitions eluded me. Had I ever understood what peace was—peace that reached deep into my heart? Or had I settled for something temporary, like the warmth of the hot chocolate as I sipped on it?”
I loved so much about this book I’m not sure where to start!
Moments We Forget, by Beth Vogt, moved me. Just as real-life sisters are different from each other, the Thatcher sisters are each unique, and the tone of this story reflected Jillian’s personality so well.
Jillian Thatcher has come out on the other side of her cancer journey and is ready to get on with life. Only, her post-cancer brain and body are not cooperating. As she grapples with how to find her “new normal” with the chemo residual effects, she struggles to accept that she can’t just get back into the life she was living before the diagnosis.
And, to top that off, her husband, Geoff, shares something with her that will determine a big piece of their future. She and Geoff discover what choosing to love well looks like, even through the hurt.
This is a beautiful story of learning to thrive when all you thought you knew is no longer your reality. Jillian grapples with real-life issues in such an honest way, I can’t help but like her and cheer her on when she faces disappointments and changes.
I loved the way Vogt weaves the three sisters’ lives together and brings healing to areas in their relationship. They are each committed to figuring out their relationship with each other, even when they don’t entirely understand each other. She writes about the various trials each sister faces with sensitivity and authenticity. None of these three women are cookie-cutter characters.
This story’s twists and surprises had me grinning and, at times, tearing up. The themes or perseverance, loving well, and standing by each other stand out. I can’t wait to read the third book in this series.
This book is a great read for those who enjoy relational stories that don’t have easy answers, for those who appreciate a story that makes them think about their own lives. Jillian, Johanna, and Payton Thatcher will stay with readers well after they finish the final page.
**I received an advance complimentary copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
“If I believe that – that God loves me – then what? . . . . . . .Then your story changes.”
Jillian Thatcher Hennessy’s story was all out of sequence. Her cancer diagnosis had rearranged her life, even stealing parts of it, and now no one; including her husband of one year, or her different- as-night-and-day sisters were capable of putting the pieces back together into anything that looked, or even felt, remotely familiar. But Jillian wasn’t the only Thatcher sister with changes burrowing beneath the surface. Johanna and Payton had issues of their own to deal with.
Was it even possible to think that forging a deeper friendship between the older Johanna and the younger Payton, with Jillian always inhabiting the middle, could happen between the pages of a book that none of them ever read?
It was all about perspective, “the great equalizer”. Or perhaps it was going to be all about a Person – the great promise keeper.
It’s so refreshing to read a story that isn’t, not does it try to be, all wrapped up into a neat little package. Life gives us moments that we want to remember, and moments that we certainly want to forget.
I absolutely loved Moments We Forget by Beth K. Vogt! It is the second book in the Thatcher Sisters series and you won’t want to miss it if you love reading Christian Women’s fiction.
Jillian is trying to find her place in this world since being diagnosed with breast cancer. She has always been the peacekeeper in her family especially when dealing with her sisters and doesn’t want to be in that position anymore. She has recently lost her job since she has been struggling keeping up with work after her cancer treatments. She thought she and her husband were on the same page with what they wanted for the future, but his recent honesty has rocked their marriage and has them questioning whether it will survive. She is struggling to find what in this world will make her happy and in doing so finds herself seeking God for the answer.
I’m looking forward to reading more books in this wonderful series!
I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.
I wasn’t ready for this to be over!!! That is the danger of kindle books. I’m not paying attention to the pages, and it ends before I’m emotionally prepared to say goodbye! Now I have to wait again.
I love this family! All the themes of Little Women get meshed with modern struggles, and it reinforces the timelessness of the original. I think my favorite part of the story is how you can put yourself in each character’s shoes. Maybe you have never had breast cancer, but I don’t know anyone who hasn’t felt alone. Maybe you have never lost a sister, but at some point all of us face the reality of death. This was such a rewarding read!
This is the first book for me by this author, I really enjoyed it. This book follows the journey of three sisters each faced with a time in their lives that they have been hit the hardest. When the book first starts out you are reading about Jill, I would have to say most the book is about her and the journey she faces after dealing with breast cancer. However there are parts of the book that you read about the other sister, I wish those were labeled who you were catching up with, as the book is written in a first person telling and sometimes it takes a second to realize the characters have changed. This book is a good clean read, some parts will really get to your heart. Over all I really enjoyed this read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
Last week I read a book that was hard to read. Not, like, technically difficult, but challenging. It didn’t make me cry then, but it might now. It was a book about cancer, and the chaos that comes after it. A book about hope that comes from Jesus and not from career, family, finances, friends, or health. But it was especially a book about sisters. The way we try to do the right thing, but hurt each other anyways. The way we should be closer than best friends, but we still just don’t understand each other sometimes. And how Jesus changes who we are as sisters, too.
Moments we Forget tells the story of Jillian after she beats cancer.She’s still caught in the middle of the battle between her sisters, even as they try to intentionally build a closer relationship by starting a book club together. She’s struggling to go back to work, struggling to keep track of things at home, struggling in her relationships…just struggling. And no one understands, not really. How lonely she is, and yet how hard it is to keep it together long enough to hang out with people. How scary it is to forget things or get lost.
Jillian reminded me of my own sister, who has battled not cancer but a TBI. It gave me such insight into what her life has been like in the two years since the accident that turned our lives upside down. And such insight into how I want to be there for my sister in ways I haven’t been in the past. I definitely recommend this book – especially if you have a sister!
I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
Moments we forget
About the Thatcher sister’s. There is three but once was four. They are all so much different. The book mainly focuses on Jillian but also has a story for Payton and Johanna. I loved that they were doing a book club.
Jillian is dealing with a lot of things. I really loved her character. She is so strong but definitely has her weak moments. There was something that she had to overcome that I could relate to. Read and see if there is something in the book you can relate to.
The book was very inspiring and interesting. It was a long book but fast reading. Actually I didn’t realize this was the second in the series. I definitely need to read the first book. Of course, this book is a stand alone but might have been better to read the first book.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
When I began reading this book it was apparent that there was a lot of tension in the relationships of the three sisters in Moments We Forget. Jillian is the middle Thatcher sister and she considers herself the peacemaker between her older and younger sister but she also feels like she is a little overlooked. She feels like she has been branded “just Jillian” and that she has worn this brand most of her life! Jillian is now fighting the after effects of her cancer diagnosis.The chemo and radiation treatments have zapped her energy, messed with her memory and her ability to complete her daily tasks, and she is currently unable to have a baby. Jillian also senses a distance developing between her and her biggest champion, her husband Geoff.
As I read this story, I realized that having a sister (or sisters) may not always be as perfect as some would have you believe. Family dynamics don’t always make for a perfect sibling relationship and these Thatcher sisters are also missing the comfort that faith can offer. The Thatchers are non-believers during much of Moments We Forget but Beth K. Vogt does show two of the sisters reaching out to God. I was especially touched as Jillian contemplates her problems and her family’s lack of belief in God. As she wondered about God loving someone as insignificant as her, Jillian realized that if she could find her way to a big, loving God who could fix all of her problems she would run straight to Him! Vogt allows readers to witness how God has a way of turning the coldest hearts warm and drawing the most reluctant people closer to Him.
Moments We Forget is the second book of The Thatchers series and I didn’t feel like I needed to have read the first book. I do, however, hope to read Things I Never Told You because I believe I would have an even deeper understanding of these three sisters. I look forward to learning more of their story!
This is a contemporary fiction novel and it focuses on some of the issues that many of us have encountered: death. grief, infertility, adoption and unfaithfulness. It isn’t, however, all doom and gloom because the author also reminds us of the importance of family, of moments to remember and moments to forget, and the ever-present hope that comes from believing and trusting in God!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the author and Celebrate Lit but I wasn’t obligated to write a positive review.
This book should come with several warnings. You should make sure you have set aside a proper amount of time to read this book. Be warned that once you start, the book will continue to absorb you until the last page. Don’t forget to have tissues handy as they will come in handy while reading the story. The three sisters in the book will have you examining your own life and relationships with others. If you follow these warnings, you may begin the book.
I can’t quite put into words how deeply this book touched me. Each sister has their own insecurities and struggle with finding happiness. I really understood how Jillian felt about being unimportant. She was always in the shadow of her older sister who was beautiful and smart and her younger twin sisters who were gifted in many things. Finding out she has cancer puts Jillian’s life into perspective and I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She has strength that is undeniable but still feels inadequate around her sisters.
I really loved reading how the three sisters tried so hard to bond but something prevented them to really open up to each other. It was interesting to read about how they each questioned their faith. You can”t believe in something unless your whole heart is in it. The story is powerful and blends faith and family in a compelling way. I liked that the author didn’t just focus on one sister, but gave us a story with three powerful yet vulnerable sisters trying to find their purpose in life.
Payton and Johanna are so different yet they share a sense of belonging and a bond that sisters can’t deny. It was funny to see them try to all get together for a book club. They can’t be in the same room without arguing and Jillian playing referee. There are a few surprises in the book that defines the sisters to look at themselves. Why are they unhappy? Is there something from their past that has caused them to be cynical at times?
The dynamics between the three sisters makes the story come alive with realism. I can even go as far as to say it would make a great movie. There are moments of pain, confessions and anger that make this story so touching. It has all the elements of a wonderful drama with a message of faith, family and hope.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Moments We Forget by Beth K. Vogt invites readers to return to the Thatcher sisters. This story reminds me a lot of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott after Beth dies. How are the three sisters getting along? What secrets keep them tied together or apart? I really enjoy seeing the fresh reality of their emotions and dilemmas. In Moments We Forget, Vogt dove deeper into the faith issue. A sister grapples with the idea of God, another grasps onto a full relationship with God, and the last one is still skeptical. Not that the entire plots focuses on coming to faith. It really is a small part of the novel. The sister dynamics run the story. I stayed glued to the pages and wanted to know more about each character. Being the middle child, I can relate to Jillian in a lot of instances in this story. I am the good kid who had to pick up the slack of my troublemaking siblings. I really love this series, and can’t wait to read Johanna’s story. Fans of Little Women or Catherine West’s stories might enjoy this novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Moments We Forget by Beth K. Vogt by Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own
This is an incredible Women’s Fiction book.
I enjoyed getting back into the story of Jillian, Payton, and Johanna. In this second book Jillian is the main focus. I am amazed at how well the author is able to present all the different dynamics of this family. Each of the sisters are still working through their own emotional issues. But at the same time they are trying to figure out how to be better sisters with each other.
The depth of these characters is great. The intricacies of their problems and the journeys they are taking to work through them definitely kept my interest. I look forward to seeing what comes next for these women.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
In Moments we Forget, Beth Vogt gives readers a deeper look at the Thatcher sister that believes she is the ‘less than’ of the sisters. Jillian thinks she’s never been as good as her sisters in any role in life she has been through. Though I didn’t read the first book in this series, I enjoyed getting to know Jillian as I followed her life and the issues she has lived with for a long while.
Author Beth Vogt does an amazing job of creating realistic characters that told this story so well. In this book she deals with really bad, messy family problems, told through sisters that each have their own issues, and all having problems getting along with each other. Julian always seemed to be the peacemaker. Will she always be trying to keep her sisters straight? Will one of her sisters step forward when she needs them?
In this amazing, emotional story full of the heartwrenching real life issues and tensions of three sisters and all that goes with them, Beth Vogt weaves together a story full of faith, forgiveness, redemption, and of three sisters who needed their story told. Why? Maybe there is a real life Jullian out there that needs to read this, or perhaps many, those who feel they are a Jullian. Maybe this book can help you. As I sometimes laughed and cried throughout this story, I could relate with several issues these ladies were facing, especially Jullian. My Kindle copy is full of highlights, so that I can come back and read over and over the parts I need thr most. Don, delay, grab your copy of this book today and read it for yourself. You will be most happy that you did.
A copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author to read. I was not expected or required to write a positive review. The opinions included here are mine only, no one else.