Betty Sweet never expected to be a widow at 40. With so much life still in front of her, she tries to figure out what’s next. She couldn’t have imagined what God had in mind. When her estranged sister is committed to a sanitarium, Betty finds herself taking on the care of a 5-year-old nephew she never knew she had.
In 1960s LaFontaine, Michigan, they make an odd pair. Betty with her pink button … pink button nose and bouffant hair. Hugo with his light brown skin and large brown eyes. But more powerful than what makes them different is what they share: the heartache of an empty space in their lives. Slowly, they will learn to trust one another as they discover common ground and healing through the magic of storytelling.
Award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner offers fans a novel that invites us to rediscover the power of story to open the doors of our hearts.
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This book is so well written and the characters are heartwarming. I would love to sit and chat with Betty. Hugo melts my heart, I just want to scoop him up and squeeze him. I love how God’s love and goodness are ever present in their lives, even in the heartbreaking times.
Susie Finkbeiner never disappoints. This may be her best yet. A timely examination of all the hurts (and hope) a heart can hold.
Susie Finkbeiner knocked it out of the park again. I feel like I’m living in quaint LaFontaine with the whole Sweet family. Their last name suits them perfectly. They’re such a kind, caring, & loving family. Heartbreak comes early and often for Betty Sweet but she’s reminded of God’s enduring love.
Special memories early are the stories that bind us. The places Betty travels brings back such good memories for me. Even the places I haven’t been or don’t exist anymore I can completely envision myself there.
Betty’s story reminds us that sometimes we don’t know how much we are lived until much later in life. Hard times can cloud the good memories. I teared up when Betty realized that her mother really did love her all along.
Forgiveness comes theyh action much more so than words. I am so grateful for Betty’s heart and love that she shared with so many. Betty showed such love, compassion, & encouragement to her sister and others. I can’t imagine how she didn’t realize just how special she was.
Here are my two favorite quotes from the book. “God was in the whisper. But sometimes that whisper burned like fire. ” “Don’t let the scary things of the world keep you from seeing the good, ” I whispered, as much to myself as to him. “Even ther darkest night can’t put out all the light.”
“So much love that sometimes it hurts.”
Stories That Bind Us is a novel to be absorbed, not devoured or speed read. Upon completion you’ll need some time to process the experience. This book is about the human condition, our hopes, our fears, our brokenness and the ultimate truth.
Events of the past affected me profoundly at the time, and once again in retrospect as events were depicted throughout this book. Finkbeiner brought the past to the present in such a clear-sighted manner, at times bringing me to tears as the story progressed. These stories that bind us are memories of a time that I know so personally, I couldn’t help but be emotionally overwrought at times.
I can relate intensely to the depth of this story, a biracial boy/child, mental illness, country life. The time is a reflection my own life and youth. I commend the author for her solid, earthy approach to a time in our nation’s history that was beautiful, yet ugly in the same breath. I highly recommend this book, and it is my hope that the author will follow up with a sequel!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All expressed opinions are honest and my own.
Stories that Bind Us is another amazing story from Susie Finkbeiner–a story of a family who has captivated this reader’s heart and will not easily be forgotten. It is a story that is heartbreaking and yet, oh so heartwarming too. The author infuses a little humor throughout the story that keeps the hard parts from becoming dark and desolate. The richness of the characters and their emotions is genuine and deeply moving, resonating within the reader. Betty, an all too young widow, and a wonderful auntie-mama; Pop Sweet who made everyone feel as if they were God’s gift to him; Marvel, a woman who knew just what to do at just the right time, and each of the other characters that bring so much into the story. The author tackles the gritty subjects of depression and mental illness, death and grief, and does it well. Readers will get caught up in the lives of these characters and their stories. The author has captured well the setting and era of Stories That Bind Us as she has expertly written the distinctive dialogue and descriptive scenes of the book. Having lived in Michigan for much of my life, I loved the references to places I know and have visited. Poignant and intense, this character-driven story takes the reader into the heart and soul of a family and their hard journey to a place of hope. Don’t miss the chance to fall in love with the Sweet family as they find the power and beauty in stories–the power of stories that can change a life, can bring healing, and beauty in the words that can work their way into one’s heart to bring wholeness.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.
Last year, when I read Susie Finkbeiner’s All Manner of Things , I stated that it immediately went on my Keeper Shelf.
Well, I just placed Stories That Bind Us right beside it.
This book feels like one big hug from Betty Sweet as she shares her stories with you!
I absolutely recommend Stories That Bind Us! It’s available for preorder at Baker Bookhouse and Christian Book and will release next Tuesday June 2!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through LibraryThing Early Reviewers. A positive review was not required. Opinions expressed are completely my own.
My heart is full.
Such a moving, heartwarming story of family. I have found another fictional family to love in the Sweet family. Storytelling is used to unite the family, memories the glue that binds them together. Susie Finkeiner navigates the hard topics of mental illness and grief with grace and finesse.
Although this is nostalgic work set in the early 1960’s, the story of family is relevant regardless of historical setting. I find it refreshing that Ms. Finkbeiner pens stories that are set in time periods that are not overwhelmed on the fictional market today. Her message that our memories of loved ones are a gift is timeless.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine.
Another magical read from Susie Finkbeiner, and she does not disappoint, you will be drawn in from the first page. She sure has a way with words, and while you will find your heart breaking at times for the main character here, you will also find that it is being warmed and bringing smiles to you at a different time.
We are offered Betty Sweet, but with her comes her husbands family, and they will wrap you up in their warmth and kindness, they sure lived their faith!
I found myself wondering how this was going to end, but we are entertained through out this read with delightful made up stories, and we find that the gifts keep giving, in the most unexpected ways!
I received this book through LibraryThing, and was not required to give a positive review.
Susie Finkbeiner has done it again with Stories That Bind Us! She has created emotional and relatable characters that go through extraordinary circumstances to give the reader a story they will not want to put down, and that they will want to re-read over and over again. The attention to detail, use of historical events, and powerful subject matter sucks you in and makes you feel like you’re one of the characters and part of the family. Bravo!
Susie Finkbeiner has done it again – woven together a compelling, delightful, thought-provoking story with an incredible sense of place and flawed, lovable real characters. Set in the early 60’s, history is delicately woven in to this story about loss, love, conflict, the power of story, sacrifice, and other timeless, and at the same time timely, issues. You will fall in love with, and no doubt relate to, Betty Sweet and Finkbeiner’s wonderful cast of “ordinary” characters thrown into extraordinary circumstances. Be prepared to laugh, cry, and maybe even grumble (or worse) at the characters as they experience life with all its joys and sorrows. A delightful, emotional , hopeful read well worth every word.. Stories That Bind Us is a must-read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for purpose of review.