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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Susie Finkbeiner is fast becoming one of my tap favorite authors. Her ability to share a story about life without sensationalism or over-the-top drama or action is superb.
Stories That Bind Us hits some hard topics that are relevant, including grief, mental illness, and prejudice.
Betty Sweet is grieving the loss of her husband. When little Hugo is brought into her life, her love and care for her nephew help her heal as well.
Finkbeiner weaves a tale where the joys of life exist within the grief, where love and family help us cope, and where hope is told through stories.
If you have not yet read a book written by Finkbeiner, you are missing out.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Beautiful! That’s the simplest way to describe Stories That Bind Us, just beautiful! This story will warm your heart and break your heart. It pulls you into the past as if a friend is sharing their own story with you over a hot cup of tea. The characters will make you love them and hope their story has a happy ending. It will leave you thinking over your own stories and how and who they bind you to. A story that will touch your heart and leave you moved!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
This was the first of Susie Finkbeiner’s books I’ve read, although I’ve heard a lot of great things about her. The premise of this novel sounded intriguing and timely, and it turned out to be a beautiful story.
I really enjoyed the authenticity of the relationship between Betty and her nephew Hugo, and seeing how their love for each other helped them both in ways they didn’t know they needed. I also loved Betty’s sister-in-law Marvel and twin nephews, Nick and Dick – they provided plenty of moments that were both lighthearted and poignant! The stories Betty told Hugo were a beautiful way of tying in her memories of her childhood and the early years of her marriage with the main storyline. This isn’t a fast-moving, attention-grabbing story, but it does draw you in in a quiet, gentle way.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!
The synopsis does not do this story justice. Then again I don’t think I could even begin to properly include everything this novel has to offer. This is such a beautifully written work with heavy topics that are handled exceptionally well.
Betty’s husband passes too young and when her sister Clara arrives on her doorstep with her son, Hugo, life takes Betty on a course she couldn’t imagine. The author wrote this novel around the time where Martin Luther King speaks to the masses, the catastrophic Birmingham Bombing occurs and the assassination of Kennedy shocks the nation. Racial inequality, prejudices, racism and mental illness are penned with the ink of hope as the reader goes through the story.
This novel came at a really good time for me. As everyone looks inside themselves to do better and be the change the world needs the main character in this novel comes face to face with prejudices too. She questions if she’s been an unknown cause in her life as she sees how neighbors and strangers treat her and Hugo because of his skin color. This is not an Own Voices book but it touches on a lot of the inner thoughts I’ve had myself and it really makes you think. I was really able to connect with the characters in this story with their real life grief and inner struggles. Even with all of the hard topics this is truly a story of hope and strength in so many ways.
Thank you to Revell Baker Publishing and Susie Finkbeiner for the opportunity to review this novel for an honest and unbiased opinion.
Possible triggers not mentioned above: depression, suicide, child abuse, electroshock therapy.
I really needed a distraction from the news, and this book totally provided it. The story of Betty Sweet, her sister Clara and her young nephew Hugo is one that I will long remember. It is the tale of love, loss, acceptance, addiction and family. Betty and her husband Norm share a love that is right out of fairy tales. Clara and Betty had not seen or spoken to each other in years, even though they were sisters. When Clara suddenly shows up on her doorstep, Betty opens her door, her home and her heart wide to accept Clara as well as her young nephew Hugo. The fact that Hugo is black does not seem to bother Betty at all and she shields him from the stares and glares when they go out in public. I think my favorite thing about this book was the family relationship between Betty and all of her in-laws. They loved her and helped her with her losses, being the ones who showed her that she needed to keep on living. I also really enjoyed the stories within the main story, the tales that Betty told little Hugo when she was tucking him in at night. They were imaginative stories, told from her heart and with so much love that the emotions that she felt for Hugo jumped off the page and into my heart. I cried, I laughed, I enjoyed, and anyone who loves historical fiction (although not that historical since I lived in this era), will delight in this newest book by Susie Finkbeiner. She has a real fan in me because her books are so real and so heart-warming that I just want to spend days with her creations and feel a sense of satisfaction and contentment when the book is done.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. I was not required to write a positive review. The 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 Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Loved this new novel by Susie Finkbeiner. It touches on all kinds of important issues. Family, love, loss, mental illness, national crisis, and racial injustice — deep topics but with hope woven throughout. With what’s going on in our nation right now, this is the perfect time to read this powerful story set in the early 1960s. Also, as in her novel All Manner of Things, the author writes in an understated tone, yet does it in such a way it makes the story more powerful. To top it off, I must say the book’s cover is even prettier in person than it is in photos. Gotta love that! 🙂
I learn through story. I’m changed through story, and I relate to people through story. Stories draw us together and they bind us to one another. So how wonderfully perfect that Finkbeiner wrote a story about stories binding a family together. She once again wrote a book that draws you in right away to care deeply about a suffering family, and yet weaves love and hope and moments of great joy throughout. She has an incredible talent for drawing the reader in to truly feel like they are part of the story. You will find your heart breaking and soaring right along with these beautiful people whose lives you are blessed to join in. I also found it deeply moving how some events in the story linked so well to current events, making it all the more poignant. I highly recommend this book, and all of her other novels. Finkbeiner is an incredibly talented storyteller and every time I feel myself grow and expand as I read.
(Note: I received an advanced copy of this book for an honest review. The above opinions are mine alone.)
Not many authors can pull a reader in as quickly as Susie Finkbeiner. I cried within 20 pages of text! This is a touching read that I savored. The characters were so real that I loved each one and felt so attached, I felt like I was right there with them experiencing the book. The Sweet men are truly some of the most thoughtful, sweet characters I have ever read about. This book has a timely message right now with all that is going on in the world with a biracial nephew. This is Betty’s story/point of view, but it shows how Hugo, an unexpected blessing in Betty’s life, teaches her how adults learn from children with their loving innocence and how stories help us all.
I cannot begin to say how much I enjoyed Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner. Usually I read books very quickly, within a day or two. This one took me several weeks. I did not want this amazing, emotional story to end. Each chapter made you think and ponder and wonder and feel. I cried so many times. Happy tears, frustrated tears, devastated tears, overjoyed tears. I just could not read more than a few chapters at a time. I lived with each one until the next reading session. There’s no big plot, there’s no big climax. It is simply the story of a woman and her life. And it is a wonderful life, full of sorrows, pleasures, and so many memories. I love how the author parallels the stories from the past with the current events in Betty’s life. Topics in the story include mental illness, infertility, death of a spouse, and racism. All interwoven in one woman’s life. This is not a book easily forgotten, and it is one you will want to read again and again.
Once again Susie Finkbeiner has given us a book (Stories That Bind Us) that we can treasure. The people are real and relatable and you want to be a part of their lives. I am a child of the sixties and remember all the historical content about which she writes. (I now have “da-do-ron-ron” back in my head!) Susie is on my list of the top five favorite authors precisely because of her ability with words and how she touches my heart with every one of them!
“Don’t let the scary things of the world keep you from seeing the good…. even the darkest night can’t put out all the light.”
Stories That Bind Us is a beautiful narrative of grief and heartache, but also healing and hope. As Betty Sweet experiences tough situations including the loss of her husband, she develops strength and trust in God’s goodness and love. An unexpected renewed relationship with her sister and nephew allows Betty time to heal particularly through story-telling. I love that the characters have real, raw emotions that are easily relatable. The author doesn’t shy away from the hard topics (death of a spouse, mental health, and racism), but tackles them head-on in a way that is also healing for ourselves. I also love the idea that we each have our own story to share, a story that matters.
So real and true. Stories are what bring us together. Remembering connects us to our families, and I love how Susie wove the stories of these families into the storyline of what was happening in the current time of the novel. I always love how believable the characters are in Susie’s novels. I find them easy to connect to and understand. I also appreciate that Susie doesn’t shy away from addressing big issues like mental illness, civil rights, and widowhood at a young age.
Susie Finkbeiner did a wonderful job of creating a charming story of healing and growth after sadness and loss. I fell in love with the Sweet family and their different personalities. This is a recommended read!
Oh, friends, you definitely should read this book! Susie Finkbeiner has done it again! This book introduces you to characters you wish were your real friends and neighbors while weaving in historical events from the early 1960s. I especially appreciated the way she dealt with the mental health issues of one of the characters as well as the way that affected the people who loved her. You will experience a wide range of emotions reading Stories That Bind Us, but ultimately you will feel an overwhelming sense of hope.
This book is so good!!! The author did such an amazing job describing the characters and scenes that I could easily picture every beautiful moment in my mind. This book shares the ups and downs of real life and how those around you can draw you closer. I laughed and cried. I can’t wait to read it again!
I don’t know how Finkbeiner does it. She puts her characters in horrendously difficult circumstances, makes me weep, and yet feel good all at the same time. She creates powerful characters that manage to be deep, light, fun, serious . . . so real and likable. How does she do it in every single book?
And Stories That Bind Us is no exception. Finkbeiner tackles racism, mental health, loss all while forming a story about the real meaning of love and constancy. The love story between Betty and her husband is poignant, one of the best romances I’ve ever read. The unconditional love Betty has for her sister and nephew is priceless.
If you haven’t read Finkbeiner, go buy this book, read it, love it, and repeat with all her other books. You will not regret it.
Susie’s writing has the power to transform you to another time where you come away a better person. I highly recommend Stories That Bind Us. Enjoy!
“When I married Lacy, I didn’t take her from God and I wasn’t borrowing her.She belonged fully to Him before and above anything.”
Susie Finkbeiner can take a simple story and create a masterpiece of a novel. It’s the messiness of every day life, the trying to do right in the midst of hardship, and the individual stories that make up our lives. Her books are what make me realize all over again that everyone has a meaningful story to tell.
Just on a personal note, I remember when I realized truly and wholly that my husband was not mine, and that I was relying on him to take care of me. I was wrong…though i am disabled, though I went from my father’s house to my husband’s house, I fully remained under the care of my Heavenly Father. When my husband lost his job a few years into our marriage, I was scared…so very scared. During that time,God spoke to my heart. I realized that God controls all…and the He was the one in whom I needed to place my trust as my precious hubby spent months finding a job. He’s been out of work since…and I’ve never experienced the extreme fear I did the first time. God is faithful.
The characters are friends…so wonderful! I love children in stories so that was special. Betty is a character I know would give anyone a hug! She struggles through some tough situations, but God is there to help.
This book had my stomach in my throat a few times, and I came close to tears. It has real life situations, wonderful believable characters, and a story that flows so well. The faith theme is an intricate part of the story, and it speaks on a personal level- at least it did to me.
“ We were God’s little ones. We belonged to Him. It didn’t take away all the worry. But it made it easier to bear.”
Several sweet nuggets of Gods truth sprinkled in a story that touches the heart in such a deep way…and brought a contented sigh at the end. It’s beautiful lyrical prose…get a copy and savor it.
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Stories That Bind Us is the story of Betty Sweet and the events that happen to her in the present and in the past.
Shortly after her husband’s death, Betty is reunited with her estranged sister and becomes the guardian for her five-year-old nephew.
Within a very short time, the reader understands why the book is called Stories That Bind Us. Betty is a story-teller. She tells the reader the story of her life. She tells stories to her family.
Betty’s voice is sweet and clear. She uses stories to express her world and the reader is connected to her through them.
Stories That Bind Us is a sometimes sad story but it’s also a story of hope and perseverance. It’s a tale of the power of story to bind people together. It’s a reminder that story can be powerful and can change your life.
Over the course of the book, readers will see how Betty Sweet and the other characters grow through their challenges. I loved how Betty found ways to incorporate her stories into real life for Hugo expanding his horizons and making what could have been a difficult time into one of joy and growth.
Susie Finkbeiner weaves a powerful tale that will tug on your emotions. You will root for the characters celebrating their victories and experiencing their sorrows.
I received an advanced reader’s copy from the publishers and NetGalley; a positive review was not required.
Stories That Bind Us is a heartwarming historical novel that takes place in the early 60s. The story touches on mental illness, grief, prejudice, faith and the powerful bonds of family love.
Betty is a young widow still grieving the loss of her husband when her long lost sister, Clara shows up at her door with Hugo her mixed race son. Struggling with mental illness Clara must depend on Betty for the stability her son needs. Through their trials, each sister must come to terms with her own issues, and find her way to wholeness.
The lives of Betty, Clara, and Hugo are intricately twined with the lives of their family. Each secondary character has a specific part to play in the healing process, and are well written with their own distinct personality and purpose.
If you’re tired of fluff, and want a book of substance, this book is for you. One of the best I’ve read this year.
I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group by Interviews and Reviews through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.