A book that is filled with sadness, grief, love, hope, recovery and forgiveness.
Catherine and Nathan are a married couple living Maine with their two young boys. A tradgey happens, concerning Nathan and the boys. Nathan has been given the blame because of his lapse of judgement.
I felt deeply sad and yet understanding for both Catherine and Nathan. I was tore by who side to be on, within saying that I felt like their feelings were caught in a loop everytime they saw or talked to each other. I often skipped these parts as I felt like it was dragging on a bit.

I have share my review on Goodreads and Instagram.

Thank you to both Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for an ARC for my honest review.

This was an incredibly challenging book to read…and well worth the investment of time and attention! I highly recommend it.

Nathan and Catherine Osgood are the parents of two adorable sons ages 4 and 6 years old. They live an almost idyllic life in a small, rural town in southwestern Maine surrounded by the beauty of nature. Nathan has a successful financial planning firm and Catherine voluntarily gave up a rising career as a bankruptcy lawyer to raise their family. One Saturday morning, in early spring, an adventure turns into a heart-breaking tragedy and, in the aftermath, their marriage hangs in the balance.

The book explores a broad spectrum of emotional issues including love, grief, sorrow, blame, forgiveness, recovery, and redemption. The descriptions of Nathan’s and Catherine’s reactions and responses to the trauma are raw and compelling without becoming maudlin. The author, who is a Unitarian pastor, addresses the deep, personal work required to heal with great sensitivity and compassion. There is definitely a spiritual overtone without being overtly religious in nature, which I appreciated. The storyline kept me fully engaged and I applaud the author’s realistic and inspiring ending, which reveals that even in the midst of great loss, there is the opportunity to heal into a meaningful future.

My thanks to the author, Atmosphere Press, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This book was full of heartbreak with a little hope scattered in. I found myself feeling so sad for them, and then getting frustrated because I wanted them to made different decisions. I couldn’t put it down once I’d started!

Frustrated with the book at times, only because I wanted the characters to make other choices. Likeable characters, storyline was a difficult one, overall good book. Well worth it.

Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Nathan and Catherine are living an ideal life in Maine with their two young boys. One day tragedy strikes and how they each cope with grief and try to move on with life is the basis for this story.

This book was very well written and really gives you a glimpse of how people grieve in different ways. My heart broke for both Nathan and Catherine. Even without twists and suspense, this book kept my interest, it seems like something so simple, but it had so much depth. I never felt that the story dragged, although I do feel it could have been a few chapters shorter. I truly appreciated the emotions conveyed in the story and I appreciated the ending. There were a few "too good to be true" parts, where things just worked out too easily, but it was a really good depiction of how someone can move past and unfathomable tragedy.
Thanks to Netgalley and Atmosphere Press for the review copy of this book.

Ok, wow, this was a difficult one to read. Not because the writing is bad (it is absolutely beautiful), but because the content was heart-wrenchingly sad, yet so full of hope. This story pulled open a can of emotions I did not even know were in me.

I loved every second of reading this book. Don't get me wrong, it is not a page-turner where you are rushing to find out how it ends. This book needs time. As a reader, you will need time to reflect on the many, very human, issues discussed. From loss, grief, depression, suicidal thoughts, seething hate and blame to ultimately finding a road to recovery, forgiveness, redemption and a new purpose, the chapters had me alternatively rooting for one of the couple and then for the other. Coming to the end of the story, tears were streaming down my face and I could not do anything but root for both.

Highly recommend this book, but please do read only when you have the time and headspace to dedicate to this very deserving story.