I had previously watched Shadowlands so was familiar with this story. However, I didn’t feel this book portrayed the story as well.

Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get into this. No fault of the author, it just wasn’t for me. Many thanks for the opportunity to read it.

Knowing the story of Joy Gresham and CS Lewis already, with both the stage version and film of Shadowlands being particular favourites, I find this did not capture the same essence. The writing was pretty, but maybe my expectations were too high, and were not met.

I really loved this book. It is an imaginative portrayal of the friendship which became love between an American writer called Joy Davidman, and the author C.S Lewis. These were two people who were in many ways unlikely to have much in common, but their intellectual bond was first begun by correspondence, and when they met they gradually became closer. I totally believed in this story. The author never seemed to put a foot wrong in the way she imagined the growing love between them. Ultimately tragic and yet uplifting, this is a book I shall not forget.

i was quite excited for this book, having grew up on the narnia books and as an adult i still love them now but it just didnt cut it for me. Based on a bit of fact and a lot of fiction i felt and it just didnt draw me in which i thought it would.

An absolutely delightful piece of historical fiction. Telling the story of Joy Davidham and CS Lewis, it charts Joy's life from when she first reached out to Lewis via letter and through their burgeoning friendship than romance.

A gentle tale, it sucks you in and enchants you, leaving you gripped until the bittersweet end.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

A must for all C.S. Lewis fans.

The true account of an American woman who struck up a friendship via letter with C.S. Lewis; initially interested in his religious beliefs and against all odds, finally ending up in marriage.

A great read.

I was keen to read Becoming Mrs Lewis by Patti Callahan as I have read many of C S Lewis’ books and was enthralled watching Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, and Julian Fellowes in Shadowlands (not a dry eye in the cinema) some years ago. Shadowlands is about his meeting with Helen Joy Davidman and about the events that led to their marriage. I think the blurb summarises the events that led to Jack and Joy’s marriage very well and it was what made me want to read the book.

When I’d read part of the book I discovered that Patti Callahan was giving an online blog tour. It was very helpful, as I had been wondering whether the correspondence between Jack (as C S Lewis was known to his family and friends) and Joy that she quoted in the book was taken from their actual letters. She clarified that their letters had been lost – Jack had destroyed Joy’s letters to him because they were personal, whilst Joy had kept his letters to her in a trunk, but later it was vandalised and all the letters had gone. So, she had read the letters they had written to other people and used those as a basis for the letters in her book. In other words the letters in the book are imagined but inspired by those letters. She also said that the bones of her book are based on the facts – the dates and times are correct the rest is fiction.

However when I went back to the book I became disappointed. Written as though Joy herself is telling their story it is intense, passionate and very personal and I felt very uncomfortable reading it – as though I was eavesdropping on the characters. If I had been reading romantic fiction I wouldn’t have felt that way – but then I probably wouldn’t have read it at all.

Joy’s marriage was portrayed as a nightmare, her boys were in fear of their father and what he wanted from Joy was not the independent woman she was, but the little wife at home, submissive and obedient to him. He was abusive, an alcoholic and subject to rages. She found acceptance and understanding from Jack both in his letters and in person when she met him in England. What I found difficult to read is the personal thoughts and feelings ascribed to Joy and her desire for a physical relationship with Jack. I couldn’t warm to her, which is a shame as Patti Callahan’s admiration of her came over very strongly in her talk and she said that she had written the book so that people would care about her. It appeared to me from this book that she was almost stalking Jack. I was surprised that she felt able to spend so much time in England, despite missing her sons. She had left them at home with her husband and her cousin who was so obviously the kind of woman her husband desired.

I was in two minds several times about finishing the book, but I’m glad I persevered to the end as overall I did enjoy it even though I think it went into too much detail. It has inspired me to look back at the books I have by and about C S Lewis and to find out more about Joy Davidman.

My thanks to Harper Collins Inspire for a review copy via NetGalley.

This was simply stunning. A great way to escape into another world and be swept away with the characters. I wanted to read on at the end, the writing style was superb.

I loved this unusual love story - as so often is the case, truth is stranger than fiction. American mother of 2 corresponds with Oxford professor, and thus begins a most engaging book. I thoroughly recommend that you read it.
Thank you,NetGalley, for allowing me to read it in exchange for an honest review.

omg this book, really enjoyed it. epic love story bought a tear to my eye, beautifully written and portrayed.

It did take me a couple of goes to finish this book Well written but it did struggle to hold me attention

An interesting, true and well written story of C. S. Lewis and his wife Joy.

I found it difficult to get into the book, giving up after a couple of chapters. I did eventually go back to it as I grew up reading C.S. Lewis and felt I owed it to him to finish! It starts very slowly, but does get better. Had it not been about real people I wouldn't have carried on reading it.

I enjoyed this and it is a well written, well plotted book but... there is a but and I am not sure how biography works as novel. I know little of CS Lewis's wife Joy Davidman and I haven't watched Shadowlands the movie, but I will get Shadowlands the book. My problem was that although I was often swept up in the story and the lives of the characters, I still found myself wondering how much was "real" and how much was made up by Ms Callahan for the sake of her narrative. When I stopped analysing and just went with the writing, it was interesting, heartbreaking, frustrating and at times stunning. I need to know the "truth" now and that is testament to this author's writing.

You do not need to be knowledgeable about the works of CS Lewis to enjoy this and it might be a good way into learning about the romance that came into his life as a 60 year old bachelor.

A good summer read but keep the tissues handy.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This was a beautifully written and carefully researched fictional account of the life of Joy Davidman and her relationship with Chronicles of Narnia author C. S. Lewis. I knew a little of the story having seen the brilliant film Shadowlands and having read various biographies of Lewis - but the perspective of Joy gave the story a new dimension and I found it fascinating how two such different people from different parts of the world were drawn to one another. I enjoyed reading about the development of their relationship and I found the whole book to be inspiring.

This is the true love story about how Joy Davdman first writes to, and then comes to the UK to meet CS Lewis, with whom she has been corresponding about Christianity, and faith. SHe writes novels, and non-fiction but wants to know more about how Lewis writes, and for what reason.
SHe falls in love with him, and his brother Warnie, who is an alcoholic. She also eventually brings her two sons, Douglas and Davy to England to get them, away from their drunken and unfaithful father. He keeps them short of money and refuses to accept that she wants a divorce, and custody of his sons.However, as soon as their divorce is finalised, he marries her cousin, and turns his back upon them.
As Lewis is such a moral man, he first refuses to admit he is in love with Joy, and aslo claims that the church will now allow them to marry because of her divorce. However when Joy becomes dangerously ill, he finds a friend who is a vicar, who will marry them privately, and Joy and Lewis can settle for another few brief years,.

Another endearing novel that captures the heart from Callahan. This book was everything I wanted and more, it was what I needed. She delves into the very heart of Joy, exposing her in a way that you forget she's writing fiction. The spirit and character of Joy is complex and wonderful just as is her counterpart, C.S. Lewis himself (or Jack as he is known).

Joy has a journey that takes us through most of her adult life, the pain she goes through, the poverty and spiritual healing and love, all of it is tantamount to, well, becoming Mrs. Lewis. This was the definition of a spiritual journey and for those who forget C.S. Lewis was quite a spiritual man himself, he helped Joy through her journey and in return realized that there was love for him yet.

Honestly, I love Callahan's style, I love her works, and this is no exception. Once more she's knocked it out of the park with capturing the essence of the author and most importantly, the woman in his life, who, was an author herself, successful in her own right.

This beautifully written book moved me to tears. The prose and language used is perfect for the story. I will deffinatly be recommending this to friends and family. Books rarely make me cry but this one sure did!

Patti Callahan's story of the life of Joy Davidman and how she came to correspond, then meet, fall in love and eventually marry C. S. Lewis is beautifully written and knowing nothing about the lives of these two authors before I found it riveting. The story is told in the words and feelings of Joy who is a complex lady struggling to find who she really is and how to be happy within herself.

A great read for anybody, you definitely don't have to be C.S. Lewis or Joy Davidman fan as it is almost the perfect love story with heartbreak, happiness, passion running throughout.

When Joy Gresham first decides to write to C S Lewis - little did she realise the impact he would have on her and change her life. Over the coming years they would write and discuss/debate life, writing, poetry, and God. She quickly realises how wrong and unfulfilled her life with Bob is.
After several visits to Oxford and their friendship blossoming does Joy realise where her true feelings lie - but to have the dashed when Jack (to his friends) pushes her away.
When he finally realises and acknowledges his true feelings for her - Joy's health has taken a turn for the worst and the learn to make the most of the short time they will have together.

The heartwarming story of how these two meet, fall in love but deny the feelings until its almost too late. Some of Joy's thoughts and descriptions of feelings and desires can be a bit repetitive but still a great book