"To watch someone live their heart's deepest, purest desire was an inexpressible fulfillment."

Sara Brunsvold has a gift for storytelling and speaking into her readers' hearts and souls. I loved going on this book-themed adventure through middle America with Edie, Lauren, and Chloe. The book was provocative, emotional and thought-provoking. It delved into bonds of motherhood and sisterhood and poignantly addressed roots of fear. I loved the journey and how the main characters grew through their road trip. I did not love any of these main characters at the beginning though. Edie was extremely opinionated and narrow-minded with a terribly overactive imagination. Lauren was self-righteous, overly regimented, and completely self-focused. Chloe was impulsive and believed her way was the right way in every situation. All three women were self-centered and selfish in their own way. Despite not loving them at first, they grew on me and I learned to understand them better, even with Edie and Lauren's relentless complaints and grumblings. Chloe's unshakable faith and optimism were bright spots. I did love Grant, Edie's husband and the girls' father, who stayed gentle, humble, loyal, and loving through all of his family's ups and downs.

If you enjoy women's fiction, you will absolutely adore this book. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell via Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.

“On a road trip aimed at celebrating perspective-shaping books, her mom and sister staunchly remained the main characters in their own stories.”
A spur of the moment road trip to visit towns with literary connections was concocted by Chloe Vance so she could bond better with her mother Edie amd reveal a life changing opportunity. Her sister, Lauren, reluctantly joins them after being let go from her job. But neither wants to reveal their secrets just yet. Mom Edie tells herself she is protective of her daughters but her relationship in the past with her own mother colors her perspective.
I loved the scenes in St. Louis, Mansfield and Branson because I live in Missouri. The references were so much fun to learn about.
A defining moment came near the end when secrets came out in the open and the women realized that they really saw each other for the first time.
This was a book that caused me to deeply reflect on family relationships. A stabilizing character was dad Grant, who supported the three women and kept confidences.
The story was somber at times but had humor and showed the stages of spiritual maturity of all the women. It was very different from the other books by this author but not any less significant.
* A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

With an artfully subtle magic, Brunsvold's pen writes with a richness of heart in her newest novel, The Atlas of Untold Stories, a well-crafted story that will hit home to all women as it explores the many relationships we hold, that of mothers, daughters and sisters. As the irrepressible Chloe begins a bookish road trip with her mother and sister, she realizes that each holds secrets. Chloe's strong faith gives her the wisdom to allow the time needed as each finds the courage to release burdens that have weighed heavy, unintentionally building walls between the very thing they need most. The beauty of finding value in unconditional love and grace. Brunsvold deftly develops her characters, with an elegant and sensitive pen. The characters wound their way into my heart, wonderfully flawed people whose hearts grew as the long erected barriers came tumbling down, and allowed a wealth of love to flow in.

I was initially drawn to the premise of the bookish road trip but found the story of relationships and love so very heartwarming. The bookish road trip was delightful and has inspired me to take some of my own.

I experienced a rollercoaster of emotions as I laughed and cried with the main characters until the very satisfying ending. A book for the keeper shelf!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a treat this book was! No, it did not generate lovely feelings; in fact, I was annoyed with the women most of the way through. As I told my daughter, two of them acted childish, while one was childlike! However, there was a lot going on inside them. As with all of us, these women had a lot of issues that God needed to work on, and that happened throughout the course of the story. I could hardly tear myself away from this book, because I wanted to find out how they worked through their problems.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

This book explores the complexities of mother-daughter relationships through Edie and her two daughters, Chloe and Lauren. The three women embark on a book-themed roadtrip of the Midwest while Chloe works up the courage to tell them that she will be moving to Prague for two years for her new job. Meanwhile, Edie is struggling with the loss of her own mother, and Lauren feels like her life is falling apart and she has no control.
I appreciated the insight into all three perspectives and liked seeing how the way Edie was treated by her mother directly affected the way she engaged with her own children, and similarly how Edie’s mindsight echoed into Lauren’s relationship with her body.
It was frustrating to see the characters seemingly refuse to communicate with each other for so long, but the breakdown that brings the women together was touching. I was especially glad Edie realised she might have judged her own sister too harshly, and that both women realised Chloe was more capable than they gave her credit for.

Being a lifelong bookworm and Midwest native, I was eager to read The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold. What an intriguing idea to design a road trip around favorite books and authors. It was especially enjoyable to read about areas that I have personally traveled. The relationship between the mother and her two daughters made me reflect back on my own family dynamics. How many times do we keep information about ourselves hidden from family members in fear of their judgment. Thanks to NetGalley, Revell and the author for a copy to read and review.

The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold is an unforgettable story of a mother and her two daughters on a literary road trip. The story is told from the viewpoint of each of women as travel through America’s Heartland visiting places associated with authors or settings connected to the cities and towns they visit in this literary road trip.
The characters each have their own struggles, hurts and disappointments, but grow as they gather memories and learn the importance of family, forgiveness, and sharing the ups and downs of life with each other. There are many bumps and bruises on the road, but relationships between mother and daughter and sister to sister are rebuilt along the way.
This is a very heartwarming story of family dynamics with splashes of humor thrown in that provide some comic relief. This would be a great read for a book group and would be fun to plan a bookish road trip with a group of book lovers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and NetGalley, but all opinion are my own.

Go on a bookish girls road trip with a mom and her two daughters as they navigate through their relationships! This sounds like such a fun idea to do with girlfriends who love books.

My favorite characters were Chloe and Grant. Chloe possessed this unimaginable joyous spirit despite those around her. Grant also loved the women in his life and didn't try to change them but let them make their own discoveries.

Sori and Seymour were also pretty great. Sori cheered on Chloe and kept her accountable. Seymour was just a grumpy older fella with a big heart.

Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed all of Sara Brunsvold's books. It is amazing to me how different each one has been! This book was so interesting to me in two ways. I loved the story of the dynamic between the different generations of women in this book. Everyone needs to learn to not take so much to heart what other people say to them because they don't know what life experiences are clouding their comments. This is definitely true for this group of women. The second thing that I loved was the journey that they traveled. I am from Red Cloud and live in Kansas. I have been a lot of the places that they were and it was so great to picture them in my mind. The author did such an amazing job!

5+ stars!!!!!!

My thoughts are rather jumbled and I hope that I can make some coherency of them as I type. I know Brunsvold to be a fantastic author but I kept procrastinating on reading the advanced reader copy. I knew it was very likely to rub raw.... on repeat. I finally put my big girl pants on yesterday and finished today - Release Day. (Pardon me while I give myself a big ol' smack to the forehead for procrastinating when I could have completed this fabulousness sooner!).

- Did the subject matter rub raw on repeat? YES. But it was a good thing!
- Was I emotional and re-reading parts? YES.
- Did I highlight passages? YES. A 'mere' 22 times!
- Will this book stick with me forever? YES.
- Was I impacted and did I learn anything? YES.
- Did I see myself in the three main characters? YES-all!
- Did this novel exceed my expectations? YES.
- Did I marvel at the author's way with words? YES.
- Will I recommend it? YES. On repeat!

The 3 main characters are Chloe and Lauren (sisters) and Edie (their Mom). In a way, Moria (Edie's late Mom) is a fourth. They embark on a road trip to literary classic locations. Chloe needs to tell her Mom that she's moving to Prague for 2 years to something that she loves and feels called to.

1. Chloe is joy, positivity, and courage with a strong faith. She is rather spontaneous and maybe in too much of a hurry sometimes. She overlooks details but is still goal-oriented. She desperately seeks approval from her Mom, not just for the trip, but in life.
2. Lauren was fired from her job and secretly struggles with some mental health issues She is a perfectionist, one who wants control and an image of confidence and ease-when she is anything but. She seeks acceptance and belonging of who she truly is under it all.
3. Edie is strait-laced, very proper woman, a pessimist, critical, and one who just can't seem to let go and just BE. She also strongly desires to be close with her daughters yet cannot understand the division. She has issues with her own sister, Gab, as well. She relies on her husband, Grant, too much and doesn't let her girls see the woman he does. I must note that Grant is an amazing husband and father-a shining example of a godly man. I saw my husband in him.

Their adventures are interesting but it's what goes on between the three women that is the real story. Some stops include an orphan train, a tank float down a river, Laura Ingalls Wilder's home, and the recreation of the set from The Outsiders movie. These are backdrops for fears, misunderstandings, poor communication, and the like. Close proximity-on a whirlwind trip in a car with little air conditioning-is a precursor to some meltdowns, arguments, and more.

I saw parts of myself in each main character at different points. I could also relate to the relationship dynamics of mother-daughter and sister-sister. As Shakespeare would say. "There's the rub." WHEW!!!

My one wish is that the cover looked like a sketch or watercolour befitting Chloe's talent.

I cannot really pick a favourite passage but the one that sums up so much of this novel is early on: "“But the sense clung to her that the proposed trip was more than just adventure seeking. It was a shell over something unspoken, and shells almost always proved fragile.”

I recommend this book to anyone and everyone. Mothers, daughters, and sisters will particularly embrace this book, but I think men would really benefit also. Prepare to do a lot of reflecting. It is powerful in the difficulties AND the triumphs. Both will impact you.

*** My gratitude to Revell (publisher) and Net Galley for providing an Advanced Reader Copy to me. My honest opinion and review are voluntary and solely in my own words.

I loved this book! I’ve enjoyed all of Brunsvold’s books so far, but in my opinion, this one is a strong contender with The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip for my favorite. I love deep, character-driven stories—especially those with more internal conflict than external. This book was all about that; each character was rich, dynamic, and relatable. Multiple times, I wished I could wrap Lauren, in particular, in a hug—she needed it so badly! I also deeply sympathized with the situation Edie found herself in, but loved that she kept pushing herself for the sake of her daughters, even if her efforts didn’t always pay off. And Chloe…such a dear! I loved her heart, desire to help others, and the way her faith kept her moving!

The literary side of this book was fun, although I was familiar with only maybe half of the authors featured in here. It provided a great structure to keep the story moving.

If you enjoy Christian women’s fiction with a focus on internal growth and letting go of the coping mechanisms we all have, I’d highly recommend you check out this book. Perfect for fans of the Sensible Shoes series or Amanda Cox’s books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book, and this is my honest opinion of it.

The Atlas of Untold Stories
Details told the story, and there was a story in those details. Whatever it was, she couldn’t force it before its time. Light always found what was hidden. Eventually.

- Sara Brunsvold The Atlas of Untold Stories

The truth will out. It always does.

This is a slow starting book that illustrates the above. A build up of a lot of details that slowly unfold throughout the story.

The literary road trip helps break the heavy things up, especially with some of the harder moments.

I enjoyed the road trip and the stops. I learned so much and want to take the same trip.

The family aspect will hit a lot of readers is numerous waves. At times it was slow going, which is good because change takes time. The compromise, the gradual communication and trust, the determination to do better. This novel drives home the importance of family, quirks and all, and is a reminder that no family is perfect. We all have things that are unique to our family dynamic. We can either let those things drive a wedge, or we can work to move
through and past them.

Thank you to Revell for the copy of this book. All views are my own.

Emily Gilmore, is that you?
That was my thought as I read through this tale of a disconnected mother and her daughters. The author does an inspiring job of untangling family dynamics. There were times I didn't care for certain characters (Edie and Lauren) and times I sympathized with them. The pace felt a little slow though, especially since I wasn't really familiar with some of the authors and landmarks they visited. Some parts made me want to lecture the characters into having an actual conversation.

The faith flowing through Chloe was represented well, and I really appreciated that thread being so prominent.

While this wasn't my favorite by this author, I'll still check out her next one. If you're more familiar with Midwestern authors, you'll likely really enjoy this!

*I received a copy to read and honestly review.

4.5/5*
Female relationships within a family can be so challenging…irritating even!
In anticipation and with great expectation, the youngest invites her mom on a literary road trip. Her older sister ends up kind of inviting herself for fear that neither of them would survive the trip. Sometimes, I wondered if they would either!

Sara Brunsvold expertly captures three distinct female main characters with totally different approaches to life and unveils the not-so-perfect side of being mother, daughters, sisters…All the while, she bids us to potentially see ourselves in the selfish attitudes that we can possess. Well done! Sometimes, the journey is well worth the trip!

This book is suitable for teens and older with no inappropriate intimate scenes and no bad language. I received this book from the author/publisher free of charge, with no expectation of a positive review.

There is something equal parts unusual and compelling about Brunsvold's prose. It's refreshingly different and incredibly readable. And for a second time in as many books, I have read the final pages through tears because my heart was too full to contain them. The Atlas of Untold Stories is an incredible journey. While Chloe's insane road trip might have gotten off to a rocky start for all parties involved, some profound healing took place along the way. The relationships between mother and daughters, between sisters and even with themselves, were radically changed for the better.

“Have you ever had something you’ve always wanted to do? An idea that wouldn’t leave you alone? An experience you wanted to have that you were sure would make you feel alive and fully appreciate your time on earth in ways you can’t even imagine? ... A dream, Mom. Have you ever had a dream?”

We have three perspective characters here, Edie Vance and her two adult daughters, Lauren and Chloe. I didn't expect to see myself reflected back at me from all three of these characters. But I did. I related to each of them in different ways. Here’s a brief profile of some of their strengths and weaknesses:
Edie - codependent, too reliant on her husband. Fearful without him. Loves her daughters deeply, even when she doesn’t understand them. Resents how stiff her own mother was with her, but doesn't see how she's propagating that same cycle with her daughters. (I’m incredibly grateful that I’ve never had this kind of stiff, fraught relationship with my own mom.) I found her menopausal hot flashes incredibly relatable.
Lauren - Appearances masking fear. Terrified for anyone to see her as a failure, as a liability, as anything less than perfect. Especially in regards to Edie. All of life is a series of tests to be passed. She studies up on literally everything. I do that, too.
Chloe - A beautiful free spirit who loves Jesus with all her heart. But she has been cowed by her mom's disapproval and feels that nothing she does will ever make her seem like "enough". Even still, she sees the potential and the bright side in everything. Which is something I'm known for in my family. (Chloe was my favorite.)

“But the truth is, I trust God with all that I hold dear, including my dreams. If I succeed, great. If I don’t, I’m not afraid, even though it definitely doesn’t ‘feel good.’ You know why I’m not afraid? Because it means he is leading me to something worthier. He is my net, my hope, my rock. He’s my courage to be still. And no matter what…I will always want you to know that kind of courage too. It’s the sweetest freedom there is.”

This is a book for book lovers, chock full of literary references and bookish allusions. I was so happy to bask in the literary glow of this road trip, as Chloe and Edie and Lauren toured some of the most famous literary sites in the U.S. Midwest. There are so many lessons to be learned from literature, from history, from the lives of the authors who gave us both. Some of the works and authors explored were: The Grapes of Wrath, O Pioneers! and other works of Willa Cather, Charlotte's Web, The Outsiders, the poetry of Langston Hughes, The Wizard of Oz, Orphan Train Adventures, The Bridges of Madison County, Shoeless Joe, Little House on the Prairie, Mark Twain, T.S. Eliot, The Shepherd of the Hills, John Irving, Flannery O'Connor, Kate Chopin, Maya Angelou, Tennessee Williams, William S. Burroughs, Ayn Rand, Sinclair Lewis, and the translation work of Sequoyah.

“Nature was a pulsating testimony of the Creator. It touted his love of beauty, his benevolent tilt toward the insignificant and defenseless, and his intricate order that gave butterflies life and made hills trundle. Creation invited the suffering soul to believe that if God could proved a home for swooping swallows and teach the grotesque spider to catch its food with delicate artistry, he could also hold every moment of a human life. He could ignite dreams in the the heart that pointed to his will.”

I absolutely adored The Atlas of Untold Stories. It made me want to plan my own literary road trip, and to explore more deeply the authors and stories that have touched me the most. It also made me thankful for my relationships, specifically those with my parents and my brother and my Savior. If you’re looking for a story that is equal parts sweet and unafraid of hard topics, funny without shying away from pain, I highly recommend this one.

I loved the premise of this book- a bookish road trip with a mom and her two adult daughters. It did have relatable characters and conflicts, and redemptive qualities by the end. The author related stops were interesting, especially since I haven't been to the midwest before and Sara does a great job describing them while tying lessons that each woman may be learning throughout the trip to it. However this book wasn't quite as strong as Sara's other books (which were top favorites of 2023 and 2024 for me). I loved Chloe, but was really frustrated with her sister throughout the book and it felt like she didn't get a strong redeeming arc by the end. Still, a good read!

I don't think I fully knew what I was in for when I picked up this book to read it. What I found was a story of 3 women, each with their own hurts and pains they had been carrying for years, venturing on a road trip. Told through each characters point of view, this story shares the ups and downs of the mother-daughter and sister-sister relationships and what happens when the hurts and pains in life are left unshared and uncared for.

Chloe has invited her mom, Edie, on an impromptu road trip, and Edie invites Lauren (her other daughter) along on the trip. Each woman enters this journey with different understandings of who the other women are and what life should be like. The opening pages felt like a stark reminder that hurt people hurt people and this family was perpetuating the sting of rejection and misunderstanding in their interactions with one another.

But through their road trip to different literary stops in the midwest, each woman is prompted to look outside themselves and consider new ways of thinking. They find healing and hope.

One thing I did wish for as I was reading this book was that Lauren's issue with an eating order was addressed more head on. It is talked about in the lack of food Lauren eats and in her excessive running, and the epilogue assures us Lauren is eating more. But never does she seek counsel or help, nor does the family address that issue head on. Eating disorders are so serious and it felt like a side story that took up a lot of pages but then was not fully resolved in the end.

Despite that, this story brought me to tears at the end as I saw the healing take place for this little literary family.

4.5 stars

“Until the fear is quieted, the hope can’t be heard.”

Sara Brunsvold is an exceptionally talented author whose stories shine a thoughtful light on the messiness of life and the restorative work of grace. The Atlas of Untold Stories is the latest of her novels that I wanted to sink into and soak in every profound and tenderly-presented truth. On the surface appears to be a road trip story with bookish detours and a deep dive into complicated mother-daughter-sister dynamics. The kind that would make the perfect next read for your book club or vacation. And yes, it is each of those things. All of those things. But it’s also just as witty and heartfelt and fun as it is moving. And its explorations of how those family dynamics are shaped by a potpourri of expectations, secrets, forgiveness, friendships, faith, courage, trauma, art/music/literature, memories, love, and purpose will wrap around you like a hug that lingers long.

Chloe Vance is, in a word, adorable. I absolutely loved her. She’s full of life and endearing, and she exudes a contagious delight that overflows from her creative personality and close relationship with God. At least… it’s contagious for everyone except her exacting mom Edie and older sister Lauren who are her immune-to-Chloe’s-joy companions on this impromptu bookish road trip. The one Chloe concocted as a means of buying more time to tell her mom that’s she moving to Prague for two years. She isn’t the only one with a secret though, and Lauren proves correct the book’s observation that secrets grow heavier until the truth is told. Edie and Lauren grew on me over the course of this novel, and I came to love them just as much as I did Chloe. My heart ached for all three of these women though as they navigated close quarters and stilted conversations while dealing with unexpected bumps in the road and dancing around what they really need to be saying to each other. But I also felt that same heart growing lighter with each page I turned, watching God’s grace fill in the gaps and smooth out the rough edges. I also laughed several times (and grinned several more), usually at something unexpectedly-humorous from pragmatic Edie… like this observation about juice boxes:

“Women her age had no business drinking out of a straw the width of an eyelash.”

Bottom Line: Chloe, Lauren, and Edie Vance may think they are on a nine-day road trip to bookish places in America’s heartland, but the journey they’re really on could change their lives – and ours too. In The Atlas of Untold Stories, author Sara Brunsvold has masterfully crafted an emotional, witty, uplifting, and bookish story that illustrates several thoughtfully-sketched truths: that no relationship is too far beyond God’s ability to restore, that we are all products of the stories going on around us – even the ones we don’t tell anyone else – and that He alone is our courage to be still when we want to run ahead or away. Brunsvold’s writing voice is layered with warmth and humor, and she paints vibrant pictures that immerse you in the fabric of the story. I saw something of myself in each of the three Vance women, which means I also found healing while I watched theirs unfold. Fans of Cynthia Ruchti, Katie Powner, book club fiction, and Robin W. Pearson will love The Atlas of Untold Stories too!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This is one of those stories that readers love because it's a book about books! But instead of highlighting the expected titles that are familiar to many readers, it focuses on more obscure books that are deeply connected to the mid-west. If you live in the states of Kansas, Nebraska, or Iowa, you would enjoy this book to a greater extent because various landmarks of those states are an important part of the story!

This is story of family bonds, the good and the challenging; of honesty in relationships, both with others and with yourself; and the importance of embracing the wonder around you and the simple beauty that is found when you do. It's told through the eyes of three characters, the mom and her two daughters, as they take an unexpected road trip together. As they spend time together, in sweet & endearing moments and pull-your-hair-out frustrating ones, it's revealed they each are carrying an untold story that requires a bravery to disclose to one another. But it's in the courage of honesty that freedom and acceptance are found.

This is a heavily character-driven story with a writing stye that is beautifully poetic. I personally related in specific ways to the older sister (her inflated sense of responsibility and required perfection), but for some readers the characters may not hold connection points. Readers of Brunsvold past titles will find this one holds less overt evangelistic tones, but still hold true to faith themes of forgiveness and the beauty of creation. With a sweet romance thread woven in and no language, this is a wonderful book for any lover of contemporary inspirational fiction.

Thank you to Revell Publishers and the author for a complimentary book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Maybe one could be a fluke or two good luck, but Sara Brunsvold has definitely solidified her place as an outstanding author of contemporary literary ‘wisdom’ books, because the third time’s the charm with The Atlas of Untold Stories. This book hits all the notes – multigenerational, family secrets, pain and loss, struggling with faith and forgiveness and the changing of seasons – and it hits them expertly.

I love the way that Brunsvold has crafted this story: with three women heading out on a roadtrip in search of adventure. The reality is that they’re really learning about themselves, each other, and how to handle all kinds of relationships. Layered in is Brunsvold’s signature wisdom about faith and families. I loved every bit of that. While I think everyone has at least one complication in their family tree, much of the relationship wisdom is really applicable to any relationship – and we can all use more of that. I felt like I was learning right along with Chloe, Lauren, and Edie.

What made this book even more fun than Chloe’s antics were the literary adventures. I love books, and my grandmother used to take me on bookish adventures when I visited her in the summertime. I haven’t read many of the authors whose work they explored, but The Atlas of Untold Stories has me rethinking that – and wanting to create a bookish adventure in my own area.

One thing that I didn’t expect was for this book to hit home in quite the way that it did. The city of Prague plays a role, as does changing seasons of life, and I read this book as my daughter was returning from a field trip to that far-off city – only days after my son graduated from high school. So many big events all at once was a lot to process, and I enjoyed Brunsvold’s wisdom in this area.

So don’t wait for this one – The Atlas of Untold Stories is the perfect book for women of all ages. It’s funny, meaningful, authentic, and deep; you’ll be revisiting these characters long after you’ve turned the last page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.