“We Hope for Better Things has it all: fabulous storytelling, an emotional impact that lingers long after you turn the last page, and a setting that immerses you. I haven’t read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. This book will change how you look at the world we live in. Highly recommended!”–Colleen Coble, USAToday bestselling author of the Rock … bestselling author of the Rock Harbor series and The View from Rainshadow Bay
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When Detroit Free Press reporter Elizabeth Balsam meets James Rich, his strange request–that she look up a relative she didn’t know she had in order to deliver an old camera and a box of photos–seems like it isn’t worth her time. But when she loses her job after a botched investigation, she suddenly finds herself with nothing but time.
At her great-aunt’s 150-year-old farmhouse, Elizabeth uncovers a series of mysterious items, locked doors, and hidden graves. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding. And as Elizabeth soon discovers, the past is never as past as we might like to think.
Debut novelist Erin Bartels takes readers on an emotional journey through time–from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to the Underground Railroad during the Civil War–to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.
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“A timely exploration of race in America, We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul.”–Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Perennials
“I applaud [Erin’s] courage, her authenticity, her beautiful turn of phrase, the freshness of her imagery, and the depth of her story that speaks to a contemporary world where understanding is often absent. We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel.”–Jane Kirkpatrick, award-winning author of Everything She Didn’t Say
“Erin Bartels’s We Hope for Better Things shares the joys and sorrows of three women from different generations. A roller coaster of emotions awaits as you share the lives of these women and hope along with them for better things.”–Ann H. Gabhart, bestselling author of River to Redemption
“Storytelling at its finest. Erin Bartels delivers a riveting story of forbidden love, family bonds, racial injustice, and the power of forgiveness. We Hope for Better Things is a timely, sobering, moving account of how far we’ve come . . . and how much distance remains to be covered. A compulsively readable, incredibly powerful novel.”–Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List
“There is the Detroit we think we know, and there is the Detroit full of stories that are never brought to the forefront. With We Hope for Better Things, Erin Bartels brings full circle an understanding of contemporary Detroit firmly rooted in the past, with enthralling characters and acute attention to detail. It’s a must not just for Detroit lovers but also for those who need to understand that Detroit history is also American history.”–Aaron Foley, city of Detroit’s chief storyteller and editor of The Detroit Neighborhood Guidebook
“In this powerful first novel . . . Bartels successfully weaves American history into a deeply moving story of heartbreak, long-held secrets, and the bonds of family.”–Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
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We Hope for Better Things has it all: fabulous storytelling, an emotional impact that lingers long after you turn the last page, and a setting that immerses you. I haven’t read such a powerful, moving story since I read To Kill a Mockingbird in high school. This book will change how you look at the world we live in. Highly recommended!
Three women, three turbulent times in American history, three stories braided together to create one poignant and unforgettable novel. This is a book that you’ll remember long after you’ve turned the last page. I highly recommend it.
Storytelling at its finest. Erin Bartels delivers a riveting story of forbidden love, family bonds, racial injustice, and the power of forgiveness. We Hope for Better Things is a timely, sobering, moving account of how far we’ve come… and how much distance remains to be covered. A compulsively readable, incredibly powerful novel.
Erin Bartels’s We Hope for Better Things shares the joys and sorrows of three women from different generations. A roller coaster of emotions awaits as you share the lives of these women and hope along with them for better things.
I applaud Erin’s courage, her authenticity, her beautiful turn of phrase, the freshness of her imagery, and the depth of her story that speaks to a contemporary world where understanding is often absent. We Hope for Better Things is a remarkable debut novel.
A timely exploration of race in America, We Hope for Better Things is an exercise of empathy that will shape many a soul.
This fantastic new novel follows three generations of women in Michigan as they fight social issues of their day. Even though it’s told in three different voices, the story melds together perfectly. The book is so well written and the characters so realistic that it’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
It was very interesting to read a book with three women’s voices looking at crucial times of war and racism. Mary fights against racism when she opens her farm to escaping slaves during the Civil War. Nora’s struggles are set against the racism in Detroit in the 1960s and the Detroit riots. Elizabeth fights to bring their stories to light during the present day. Even though their times were turbulent, the three woman are strong. The main feelings that I got from this book were of strength, love and resilience in the face of adversity.
Thanks to Bookish Firsts for a copy of this book to read and review.
Ms. Bartels debut novel, We Hope for Better Things, is a thought-provoking must-read! This book is not necessarily an easy read due to the turbulent times it is written, but the three stories are intertwined beautifully. This is a split time book in which you actually have three main characters that the book is centered on from three different generations- the Civil War times, the 1960’s, and present day. The book examines family issues, relationships, and forgiveness. The historical accounts in this book were interesting to read about our history as a nation. The three main characters are Elizabeth, Nora, and Mary. Each one has a unique story. As you read, you will want to learn more about each one and how their story continues. This is not necessarily an easy read, but I highly recommend you read this book! You will not be disappointed!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.
Full disclosure… I lived through the 1967 riots in Detroit, and I am an unapologetic lover of Michigan with all its warts and wonders. And… I’m a Michigan novelist, both historical and contemporary. So I have my bias. That said, I am gobsmacked by Erin Bartels novel, We Hope for Better Things. With beautiful language and depth of research, she has woven the stories of three eras of inter-racial relationships in southeastern Michigan with the backdrop of a country home, a family and a city. The underground railroad, the Civil War, the riots in Detroit, and the rebuilding of a city surround a complicated family with secrets and ties that keep the reader riveted.
This is one of the most ambitious projects from a debut author I’ve ever read.
The author’s writing flows from the Civil War to the Detroit race riots to the present day as if she’s pouring water from a pitcher into a glass. And she doesn’t spill a drop. Her story is seamless, timely and when you reach the last page you too will hope for better things.
A beautiful story of three generations of remarkable women and the men they love. Using the settings of the Michigan Underground Railroad during the Civil War and the violent Detroit riots of the 1960s, two interracial couples embrace love in spite of society’s racism.
Detroit journalist Elizabeth Balsam is approached by James Rich and asked to find a relative unknown to her to deliver an old camera and photographs that have been in the possession of Mr. Rich. Elizabeth is reluctant to get involved until suddenly she is fired from the newspaper she worked for. Now she has plenty of time on her hands.
Elizabeth tracks down Nora and makes her acquaintance. Soon she is moving into her elderly relative’s 150-year-old farmhouse. She is soon captivated by the house – as was I – and her inquisitive nature leads her to exploring this house that is sheltering two generations of secrets. A locked trunk, beds lined up in the attic, a locked room, gravestone markers buried in the garden. Elizabeth is the link between generations to draw out the stories of Mary and Nora. And she also finds love with Tyrese.
Mary Balsam is strong and admirable. It is 1861 and her husband Nathaniel leaves her to fight in the Civil War. Escaped African American slave George soon enters her life. In Nathaniel’s absence Mary and George struggle together to manage the farm and soon fall in love. Yet they know their love is doomed.
Then, in 1963, Nora met William and they fell in love, another love that is doomed. Shortly after moving into the house William disappears. But what happened to him? Like Mary, Nora also has secrets locked away in her house.
It is hard to believe that this is Erin Bartels’ debut novel. It is so beautifully written with great characters. She masterfully weaves together the stories of Mary and Nathaniel, Nora and William, and Elizabeth and Tyrese. The shift from generation to generation is seamlessly done. The settings are so well described I could close my eyes and see myself right in the story. As I turned the final page and sighed with a gentle smile upon my face, I knew this was a book I would be highly recommending to others. Great for fans of historical fiction and multi-generational family sagas.
I received this book from the publisher via BookishFirst. All opinions expressed are my own.
Detroit, Michigan. Elizabeth Balsam is a reporter aiming for her big scoop. However, life has other plans. A man who has pictures from the historic Detroit riots approaches Elizabeth saying he wants to get them back to the original owner, Nora. Nora is actually Elizabeth’s great aunt that she doesn’t know. After Elizabeth’s big story falls apart, she ventures out to the countryside to Nora’s home and begins to learn about the past as well as her own history. But, in addition to THAT, the story goes back even further to Nora’s ancestor, Mary Balsam who is struggling keeping her homestead going while her husband off fighting a war that eventually frees the slaves. So, really this is kind of three stories in one: Elizabeth’s, Nora and William’s and Mary and Nathaniel’s.
I can honestly say I was riveted by all three of these women’s stories and thought the author really did an excellent job of tying them all together. Some of the descriptions of the riots and the times about the slavery were disturbing and some of the struggles with Mary and Nora were heartbreaking, but in a way that made me think.
This was a very different type of story and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I am looking forward to the author’s next book.
What an incredible story! Author Erin Bartels skillfully transports the reader to 1960’s Detroit’s inner city and the Underground Railroad on a small farm outside the city to current day in both places. Despite the years, the story interconnects in surprising and very deep ways. Revealing piece by piece, from time to time, Bartels has woven a story of deep love and hidden things.
We Wish for Better Things is a story that wove itself around my heart and will stay with me for a long time to come. I highly recommend this story, it is a must read!
EXCELLENT writing!! This story is a gradual build-up. I felt like the writer was taking me on a leisurely stroll through time, casually relating events in the lives of three women, blood relatives. As we continued to walk along I could feel the tension mounting until it reached a crescendo, and I couldn’t bear to abandon it until I turned the last adventure-filled page!
We Hope for Better Things is set in and around Detroit, MI, and follows a triple timeline—Lapeer County, 1861 (civil war); the 1960’s (civil rights movement and Detroit riots); and modern day Detroit.
When Journalist, Elizabeth Balsam, is given a camera and the promise of some old photographs to deliver to a great aunt she’s never known, by a black man who claims his uncle was married to her aunt, her interest is piqued. The photos, which were allegedly taken during the ‘67 Detroit riots, are just the thing Elizabeth could use to develop the kind of story that aligns with her reputation as one who exposes corruption and neglect. Recently fired, Elizabeth is eager to get her hands on the elusive photographs, but first she has to visit with their rightful owner, her old great aunt, Nora Balsam. Nora lives in the old family house in Lapeer County, Michigan, which was also the home of Nora’s great-grandmother, Mary Balsam. All three women, Mary, Nora and Elizabeth, are linked by blood, and as Elizabeth stays on at the Lapeer house and gets to know Nora through the many objects in her home, where she finds treasures from the attic to the cellar, she’s intrigued. What does it all mean? Close-lipped thus far, Elizabeth hopes that in time Nora will open up and contribute to her story in her own words. As time goes on, and Nora starts talking, secrets about the past overshadow Elizabeth’s career ambitions and she becomes more determined to devote herself to contributing to her family’s legacy.
Forbidden relationships, racism, secrets, lies, betrayals, tragedy. Yup, it’s all in there, cleverly constructed with each little fragment eventually coming together to form a unique, atmospheric tale that was impressive. I couldn’t believe this was the author’s first book.
Here’s another thing that I loved. Although there were tumultuous scenes and turbulent times depicted, there was not one profane word or gruesome account. That’s what I call excellent writing. When I can envision what a riot must be like through dialog or prose, without having it described to me in expletives, I consider that the mark of a great writer. Very highly recommended.
Debut author Erin Bartels is receiving a ton of “author to watch” buzz, and it’s so well-deserved. Her debut novel about a family navigating some of the nation’s most tumultuous times is an inspiring testament to the power of love, hope, and courage that spans the ages.
We Hope for Better Things by Erin Bartels was a pleasant surprise for me. The novel is about three generations of women who live in Detroit and rural Lapeer, Michigan, spanning from the Civil War to the 1960s to today.
I found the novel to be engaging, with interesting storylines and settings, nicely paced, and with well-drawn and sympathetic characters. As a Christian novel, Bartels message is, “God has a plan.”
Elizabeth has lost her job at the Detroit Free Press. She is asked to visit her great-aunt Nora to determine if she is the rightful owner of a camera and photographs in the possession of an African American family. With nothing holding her back, Elizabeth agrees and leaves Detroit for Lapeer.
Nora is confused and reclusive. Over time, Elizabeth pieces together a family history that involves the Underground Railroad, forbidden love, and the Detroit riot.
I was interested in reading the book because of its setting. I grew up and now live in Metro Detroit and remember vividly the 1967 riot. Other connections include my husband’s family roots in Lapeer and adjoining villages including a great-grandfather who married a Farnsworth, a name which appears in the novel.
A bonus for me was the quiltmaking that takes place! A 19th c. Crazy Quilt, a yellow hexagon quilt, and a contemporary crazy quilt are central to the story. I love that Nora is a fabric hoarder, her stash spilling out of the closet and filling dresser drawers!
Piecing a life, piecing the mystery of the past, piecing things whole–the book’s theme could be said to be the work of taking the worn scraps life hands you and creating something of beauty out of it.
A kaleidoscope of color, it was formed from varied patches of jewel-toned velvet and silk, each piece edged with multicolored embroidery thread in a hundred different patterns. from We Hope For Better Things by Erin Bartels
Historical fiction fans will enjoy the book. Women’s fiction readers will respond to the challenges the women face. Plus, there is romance and heartbreak and hope. The story addresses racism throughout American history.
I recieved a free ebook through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I enjoyed reading We Hope for Better Things, a compelling time slip novel that easily slips between three very different times in our country, specifically in Detroit. From the Civil War to racially charged Detroit in the sixties to present day unrest. Each time centers on a strong female character who is faced with finding her voice in circumstances beyond her control.
Erin Bartels has woven the subject of race discrimination among beautiful descriptions of the big family farm that is almost its own unique character in the story. We meet Mary Balsam, a young, barely married wife sending her husband off to war, not knowing how she will manage the crops or the big house. Mary’s granddaughter, Nora, married a black man in the sixties after a Martin Luther King Jr. rally in 1963. They found refuge at the abandoned farm after she was disowned by her father. Forbidden love is all the sweeter when it is requited in the smallest way. Nora, after seeing the big picture said, “William was the right man, all right. But it was the wrong time, that’s all.” Elizabeth Balsam, Nora’s great-niece found a reclusive Nora after losing her job as a journalist at the Detroit Free Press. A generation is skipped between each woman’s story and each is so tightly woven the reader will keep reading to see what is going on next in each era.
The stories of the Civil War and its aftershocks were still a bit freshly written when I was a child. While most of the players were long gone, the stories were rich but not always pleasant. That was a terrible time for our country. When we think we cannot emerge stronger or better today, we can look back on how bad things were after President Lincoln was killed and the war ended.
I remember the turmoil of the sixties although I lived far from those hot spots of the time. We did not have cable news and in a way, I am glad of that. Today, with news at the ready, it seems we get so many theories and guesses that it still takes a few days to sort things out. The turmoil in our country today is not new. We may have thought we were past some of the injustice handed to others based on their race, politics or faith. We have not, though, I pray some day we will.
This book is a gentle reminder that we need to tell our stories so that our family history continues to the next generation. I am grateful for the stories that my mother wrote down and eagerly share stories with my grandchildren. We Hope for Better Things is an engaging family story that was worth telling. While it is fiction, it could be pieces of many stories. I recommend this book with 4 stars.
Debut novelist Erin Bartels has taken on difficult subject matter in her novel We Hope For Better Things. This split time narrative explores relationships between blacks and whites through the stories of three different women in the Detroit, Michigan area. Their individual stories take place during the civil war, the volatile sixties, and the present time. While the reader is presented with views from both sides of the equation, it is evident that we still have a long way to go if we are ever to resolve the divide between the races.
Overall, the story is well told although I found myself lost a time or two when the plot switched from one time frame to another. The characters are strong ones but I would have liked to get to know each of them more thoroughly than was possible in a split-time story. I did feel like the story was well researched and presented a historically accurate view of the respective time frames, especially the effects certain choices made on the women and their families. By the end of the book, most of my questions had been answered with the exception of the true cause of one death. I have my suspicions but I imagine the author intended for her readers to draw their own conclusions.
Erin Bartels definitely has a way with words and should find more of her novels on store shelves in the future.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Debut novelist Erin Bartels takes readers on an emotional journey through time–from the volatile streets of 1960s Detroit to the Underground Railroad during the Civil War–to uncover the past, confront the seeds of hatred, and discover where love goes to hide.
I enjoy taking a chance on an author’s debut novel, and Erin Bartels didn’t disappoint me. This book is incredible! Not only well written, it has a timely message for us, but never in a preachy way. Bartels isn’t afraid to write about racism, slavery, judgment, interracial relationships, and so many other difficult topics that are very emotional but she does it with grace.
Written from three different points in time, Civil War, 1960s Detroit, and current time Detroit, I wondered if it would be confusing but I found the way the author tied it each time frame together to be very interesting. The entire book was compelling and caused me to lose sleep because I didn’t want to stop reading. Being from Michigan, and remembering 1960s Detroit as a young child, I found it especially intriguing.
This story is a poignant look at our past and our present day. A reminder to me that if we don’t learn from it, history will repeat itself. I highly recommend We Hope for Better Things.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
This novel was a multi-generational split-time story that focuses on 3 different generations of Balsam women living near Detroit, Michigan. Mary Balsam’s story takes place in the 1860s during the Civil War. Her great-granddaughter Nora Balsam’s story takes place in the 1960s during the Detroit riots. Nora’s great-niece Elizabeth Balsam’s story takes place during present day. The novel explores the racism in our country’s history that is evident in all three generational stories in this novel, from the treatment of escaped slaves in the North during and after the Civil War, how interracial relationships were treated in the 1960s and the civil rights movement, and the law enforcement related shootings with minorities that are happening in present day.
I enjoyed this book, and it definitively gave me a lot to think about. Some parts were a little slower with the action, but I think that was necessary for the author to build the storyline. A few sections of the story may make some readers uncomfortable with how racism has been present throughout the centuries, but it is important to be aware of what is happening in our society today and what we can do to try to make our world a better place for future generations. I would recommend this book and look forward to reading further books by Erin Bartels.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Revell Publishing and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.