The Atlas of Untold Stories is a heartwarming story of generational trauma, optimism, and family. Told in three alternating points of view, Brunsvold has crafted the story of three women who care for one another but who don't truly know how to connect yet are forced to understand each other as they embark on a literary road trip.

The story features three women: Edie, Lauren, and Chloe, AKA Mom, Oldest Daughter, and Youngest Daughter. Although the three women love each other, their personalities are such that they don't mesh together. Edie was traumatized by her cold, strict upbringing, leading her to be a cold, strict mother. Lauren has always tried to win her mother's approval and now that her life is crumbling, she's afraid to be seen as a failure. And Chloe is more like her father, leaning on her faith and her optimism to move through life with warmth and joy. No one is surprised at the ensuing drama when these three decide to take a road trip to see famous literary sites around the Midwest.

Brunsvold does a fantastic job of creating unique characters. Edie, Lauren, and Chloe are each their own person, but it's easy to see how their past and both their dreams and fears have molded them into the people they are. Edie and Lauren are both serious and meticulous, and their reticence to partake in the road trip is obvious almost to the point of over-the-top. But Chloe's warm, unputdownable spirit keep the road trip and the story moving. Even though there's a lot of repetitiveness of Chloe planning something, Edie and Lauren grumbling about it, and Chloe staying upbeat and having fun even after having her plans altered, the small changes as Edie and Lauren start to thaw become more and more apparent. By the end, the changes seen in Edie and Lauren (and in Chloe, to some extent) feel realistic because readers have seen what has prompted those changes and how everything has played out.

Also realistic are all the fascinating facts about the different authors that the ladies "visit!" I loved seeing all the places Chloe had chosen to visit as well as Lauren's facts about the various sites. I learned a lot and added a few places to my own bucket list. Brunsvold also does a fantastic job of organically weaving faith and fear into the story; Edie, Lauren, and Chloe are at very different points in their walks with God, yet God uses simple things to bring them each closer to Him and to each other. The ending is a powerful testament to how God can use anything to break down the walls around a person's heart and help them realize they can't do it alone.

The Atlas of Untold Stories is a fun road trip book but also a shining story of how God can shine so brightly through a person that the people around her can't help but be changed.

The Atlas of Untold Stories by Sara Brunsvold is yet another compelling story. The story concerns three women. Two sisters and their mom, on a trip to literary stops in the heartland of the US.

Chloe Vance decides to take her mom, Edie, on a road trip to all the places of literary significance. Cloe's motive is to ease her mom into her decision to move to Prague to teach art. Chloe's enthusiastic spirit fuels the trip, which includes her "responsible" sister, Lauren. Lauren is hiding the fact that she recently lost her job. But is resolve to watch over her sister and mother. Chole's love of exploring new places and things kept the pace of the book moving. Her love of the Lord was displayed in her quiet time with God. It was her way of honoring the Lord along every step.

This was a beautiful story about relationships between mothers, daughters and sisters. And how the relationships can sometimes be complicated. I loved how Chole patiently meets her mother and sister with joy and faith. This is a journey of untold stories that leads to healing and forgiveness. Along the way they find out more about themselves, and each other. Clean, beautifully written with deep characters who settle in your heart as you learn their stories.

I received a complementary copy from Revell and the author. All opinions are my own.

Talk about a beautiful book, poignant and lovely. The blurb grabbed me immediately but the story is even better! Chloe decided to accept a missions job of sorts in Prague for two years but couldn't bring herself to tell her mother, Edie, who presumably would be against it. She invited her mother to have coffee with her and found herself spontaneously inviting her on a nine-day literary road trip through America's midwest. Edie reluctantly agreed as long as her other daughter, Lauren, went. She and Lauren were more alike and could relate to her better than Chloe who was a dreamer. The three visited museums and monuments and enjoyed meals where literary greats did. More importantly, they got to know each other in a deeper way. Misgivings, overcoming adversity, dreams and pain were rife. There were happy moments and there were reflective moments.

Each of the three had secrets they were desperate to hide. I like the way Christian faith is quietly portrayed. The characters are interesting and I liked each in different ways; however, one of my favourites is the girls' dad, Grant. He was besotted with his wife and daughters and supported them. Edie didn't want to hold back her girls yet wanted to protect them and the girls had their own paths to follow.

There ought to be more novels like this. It is tender and wholesome, yet impactful and at times reminded me of my life journeys, especially leaving my home country for a year at a time. Mother/daughter stories are incredibly special, as this is. It whispered and it shouted. I enjoyed observing growth in the characters and pondered my own familial relationships. Immersing myself in the story was so easy, comfortable and natural. Very nostalgic.

This is the kind of book that I will re-read multiple times for the rest of my life.

A mother and two daughters take a road trip, visiting literary sites. (this is my dreaaaammmmmmm) This isn't an ordinary road trip. Edie, the mother, has recently lost her mother and is very set in her ways. She loves her girls, but wants everything to stay the same. Lauren, aka the responsible one, is keeping a secret that she was fired after a stupid mistake, and is floundering while trying to find her next move. Chloe, a dreamer, has accepted a job as an art instructor, in a low-paying international school in Prague.

As with any road trip, there's long stretches of time to talk, and read, and grow. The women find out more about each other and themselves during the trip, with every stop along their literary journey.

This isn't a book that some elite New Yorker reading type of person would enjoy. This is a Midwestern book. It's clean. It's comfortable. It warms the heart and made me put several of the road trip stops on my 'to-do' list in my life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous book.

The Atlas of Untold Stories is a beautiful book of discovery. A mom and her two daughters go on a literary based road trip where they not only discover fun things about their favorite authors but more importantly discover truths about themselves and their relationships with each other. There is so much healing that occurs within the pages of the story that the reader can’t help but ask themselves questions like the characters have asked and then maybe find healing right alongside them. This is definitely a book that will find its way into your mind and heart and will have you pondering all that you read long after the book has been laid down.

Bottom line: family is hard.
The family dynamics in this story are not the same as my own family's, but, as the story progressed, I saw my sister, my mother, and myself on the pages. We are all so much more beneath the onion layers than what is seen on the surface.
Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for providing a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I’m a huge fan of Sara’s books! All of Sara Brunsvold’s books go deep, and her characters are always written in a way that makes you feel like you truly know them. She does such a beautiful job creating people who feel real.

The Atlas of Untold Stories centers around three women—two sisters and their mom—who go on a bookish road trip through America’s heartland. Along the way, they’re not only visiting literary landmarks, but also learning more about themselves and each other. It’s a story about identity, relationships, and what it looks like being a mother, daughter, and sister.

I loved seeing all the different places they stopped—especially the little museums and small towns along their route. Book lovers will really enjoy traveling with them through cities tied to classic authors and stories. Sara brings those settings to life in such a charming way.

That said, I’ll be honest—the book was a little slow for me at first. It took me a while to really care about the storyline. But I’m so glad I stuck with it, because the last 45 minutes or so were by far my favorite. The emotional depth we finally get from the characters hit me hard—I even teared up at one point. Sara’s writing is just so beautiful when she digs into those deeper moments.

If you’re looking for a clean, contemporary read that steps away from romance and dives into family, identity, and healing—this is a great one to pick up this summer.

I loved the book's premise of traveling with your mom and sisters to literary stops in neighboring states! Fun, especially for those of us who live in a visited state!

Many of the characters were memorable and relatable. I adored Chloe's enthusiasm and heart for people and for life. I would have loved being on a trip with her, though I'm not sure I would be up for a downriver float in a stock tank. :) Her dad was so loving and wise; his gentle support of his anxious wife was heartwarming. Her landlord was a loveable, grumpy old man that added interest, as did many of the other secondary characters.

The hurt that is handed down to generations is a worthy topic to tackle in this thought provoking and satisfying read.

This award-winning author writes books that I can crawl into to spend time with characters that feel real. If you haven't read The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, I urge you to add it to you TBR List!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced galley copy with no obligations. My remarks are entirely my own.

Posted at Goodreads

How do you map out the stories that live within us—the quiet fears, the small triumphs, the tender hopes? In The Atlas of Untold Stories, Sara Brunsvold takes readers on a literal and emotional road trip with a mother and her two daughters, weaving together faith, family, and the enduring power of literature.

For me, Chloe’s gentle joy and unwavering faith were what kept me turning the pages. Her bright spirit was a steady light through every mile of the journey, even when the story itself felt more like a meandering road trip than a deep exploration. I was especially drawn to the quiet conviction with which Chloe lived her faith—she didn’t tuck it away for convenience or comfort. This adventure was her way of honoring her Savior and Lord with every step she took alongside her mother and sister. It was a vivid reminder that faith isn’t just for the mountaintop moments; it’s for every muddy road and winding path along the way.

There’s a warmth and sweetness in this story, with moments that made me smile and others that prompted me to pause and ponder. I loved how the book wove in gentle humor and literary nostalgia, adding a cozy touch to their journey. Chloe’s love for exploring new places and her quiet resolve to honor God in the midst of family tensions felt like a soft thread of encouragement, inviting me to do the same in my own relationships.

Two quotes in particular echoed in my heart:

“Imagine the questions the disciples must have asked as they crossed into Samaria. Imagine the doubts they must have expressed, or how many times they tried to convince Jesus to go a different route. They couldn’t see what He did. They didn’t understand that being about the Father’s business often does look incomprehensible to the world. But how many lives were changed because of Jesus’s “unwise” choice? How many generations of lives?”

“She needed to be there. She needed to be about the Father’s business there. The certainty was immovable.”

This was a gentle, warm, enjoyable, and quietly luminous journey, with Chloe’s faith shining as a steady light throughout, lived out with quiet strength and joy.

She reminded me that the best stories are the ones that invite us to keep our eyes open to the Author of them all, and to live each chapter in wonder, grace, humble worship, and steadfast obedience.

I received a digital ARC and paperback of this book from the author. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on writing and story’s content, ensuring transparency and reliability.

I think what I love most about this author is that all her works, to date, don't just entertain- they leave the reader with moral and spiritual lessons/thoughts worth revisiting.
The Atlas of Untold Stories is a treasure trove of inspiration on a relational, spiritual, AND literary level! I found myself challenged to have a faith like Chloe, encouraged to make the most of my time with my beloved family, and inspired to read the works of some of the literary greats mentioned (and experience some of the "bookish road trip" for myself!).
Relatable characters, vivid descriptions, and well- crafted storyline details give this book depth and quality that other Christian/inspirational fiction sometimes lacks.

I want to thank Sara Brunsvold for allowing me to be on her Launch Team. This was such a fun book to read. I enjoyed reading it and going on a bookish road trip with Chloe, her mom Edie, and her sister Lauren in the Midwest. In Lawrence, KS, you can visit The Watkins Museum of History and find out about African American Poet Langston Hughes. Visit Wamego, KS, and visit the Wizard of OZ museum. Also in Kansas is a town called Concordia, where Joan Lowery Nixon has written the Orphan Train. and where there is a National Orphan Train Museum and Complex.
I can name so many other places, but I don't want to give too much away. It's important to know the history to understand it. This is very well written, and I would love to take a road trip and visit these places mentioned in the book.
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THE ATLAS OF UNTOLD STORIES is a poignant, humorous road-trip story that should appeal to fans of Christian fiction and women's fiction. The three women are all unique in their own way. At times they can be frustrating. Chloe is a sweet, free spirit (at times maybe too perky/ perfect?) Edie had a fairly snarky attitude. Lauren could use some advice. The bookish stops along the way are fun. The pacing is a tiny bit slow. The supporting characters are cute as well. I enjoyed the weaving in of some faith elements. There is quite a bit of wisdom here, which makes for enjoyable reading.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for this #gifted book!*
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Title: Atlas of Untold Stories
Author: Sara Brunsvold
Genre: Contemporary Fiction/Women’s Fiction
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Synopsis: When Chloe Vance finally finds the courage to break the news of her big move to her mom, she instead finds herself inviting Edie Vance on a bookish road trip where hopefully she can tell her mom about Prague in the perfect moment. But Edie is hesitant at best because is her daughter really responsible enough to plan a trip like this for them? Soon Edie finds herself inviting her older daughter Lauren along for the sake of comfort and stability. Lauren agrees to go since unexpected job loss has freed up her schedule and she feels the pressure to watch over her mom and little sister. It’s one thing she can try to control in her world that feels like it’s spinning out of control. As the three women embark on an unlikely adventure, each face questions of dealing with the past, finding who they really are now, and discovering what their relationship looks like in the future.

Analysis: Sara Brunsvold is a master storyteller when it comes to family history and relationships. In this newest novel, she dives deep into questions of identity, healing, and courage. I absolutely loved reading the three different perspectives of these women as they went on a unique adventure for each of them. Chances are you’ll find you relate to at least one of them along the way. I also loved the writing style, and the short chapters. It made for a relaxing escape that was easy to get lost in! With themes of adventure, family, and faith, this book is the perfect summer vacation read!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This book had all the feels for me. I can honestly say that I laughed, I teared up a bit and I had moments of frustration. There were times that I wanted to tell the characters, especially Lauren, what to do differently. I liked Chloe's sweet, enthusiastic spirit throughout the book. Sometimes, Edie's attitude was a bit much for me. She could be pretty snarky.

Being from the Midwest, I enjoyed all the stops they made on their bookish trip. In fact, there are a few that I have been to myself. Now, I have more that I'd like to see.

I felt like Sara did a fantastic job with the supporting characters as well. I really liked Grant, Chloe's dad and his relationship with both his daughters and his wife. I felt like he really grounded all of them.

I always like that Sara adds faith elements to her stories in a way that doesn't appear to be too preachy, just natural. Especially the section with Chloe having her quiet time and the lessons she learns through that time with God.

This was a pretty quick read for me, I was looking forward to how relationships were going to be resolved. One of my favorite quotes was "A person's greatest need was often the one they refused to acknowledge."

Thank you to the author, publisher & Netgalley for the early copy to review. This is my honest opinion.

I love bookish books. Okay, that might sound a little redundant, aren't all books bookish? But you know the kinds I mean... those that feature bookish characters or themes... that really just celebrate that love of reading and literature. With a bookish road trip visiting sites of literary importance along the way, this one certainly fits that bill and I found myself enjoying seeing those literary references throughout the story. More than that though, this was a beautiful story about the relationships between mothers and daughters and sisters... and how those relationships can sometimes be complicated especially when secrets are being kept. I loved getting to know these three women, each of them with their own unique story and struggles to deal with. Each of them had a lot of personal growth to make throughout the story, but we also got to see their relationships evolve as well. It felt like a bit of a slower read, but it worked for their story. If you enjoy Christian women's fictions and stories of mothers and daughters, this is certainly one you'll want to add to your TBR.

**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Chloe Vance has just been offered the opportunity of a lifetime—teaching art at an international Christian school in beautiful Prague. But sharing the news with her mom, Edie, won’t be easy. Edie is still grieving the recent loss of her own mother and carrying a complicated relationship with her sister Gabriella, who chose to live her own life instead of staying close to home. Chloe’s sister Lauren, usually the “responsible” one, has just lost her job over a silly but embarrassing mistake and is feeling completely off balance. In the middle of all this chaos, Chloe—full of hope and heart—spontaneously plans a literary road trip to bring them all back together.

This story was such a sweet, soul-nourishing read. I absolutely adored Chloe—her joyful spirit, her faith, and the way she met her critical mother and overwhelmed sister with patience and love was honestly something to admire. The setting was just perfect too. Their journey through Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, and Iowa, visiting the homes of literary icons, gave the book a warm and nostalgic charm. I found myself wanting to plan the trip myself!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Revell for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book was a delight from start to finish—I truly loved it.

This is a beautifully written story about the complicated relationships between mothers, daughters, and sisters. Chloe, the younger daughter is the flighty one, always leaping into the unknown. Lauren is the older daughter who has spent her life picking up after Chloe. She is wound so tight she is one fall away from shattering. Evie is their mother, who has mother issues of her own. She lives in fear. Chloe plans to move overseas for two years and can’t quite figure out how to tell them so she invites her mother on a road trip to visit places related to midwestern novels and novelists such as Little House on the Prairie and The Grapes of Wrath. As they travel from town to town learning the stories of these books and authors, they begin to learn each other’s stories.

If you haven’t read any books by Sara Brunsvold, just go buy everything she has written. She is a phenomenal writer, and this book is no exception. This is a deeply moving family drama. This is also Christian fiction so expect prayer and discussions of faith.

I loved this book and would recommend it to lovers of good books.

Family friendly.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Wow! In my opinion, an extraordinary book is one that makes you laugh, makes you cry, and makes you ponder. This book accomplished all three for me. Sara Brunsvold's writing touches the deep parts of my heart.

The characters are written brilliantly! I became totally invested in the lives of the main characters. My heart hurt when theirs did. I cheered for them in their successes. Chloe is optimistic, compassionate, full of energy, and loves adventure! She sees beyond the surface of people to the very heart of the matter. Lauren, I'll admit, I didn't connect with her right away. As her story unfolded, I saw a lot of me in her. She keeps things hidden because she's afraid to show weakness. Edie is the one who touched my heart the most. As a mother of young adult women, I sympathize with her. She tried to shield her daughters from hurt, but instead, she distanced herself from them. Her biggest fear is that they will think that she's not worth coming back to.

My new trip to put on my bucket list is a bookish road trip! Traveling to different towns that have connections to books or authors sounds like an awesome idea. I will, however, do my research when looking for places to stay. Lol!

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book from Revell via Netgalley through Interviews and Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sara Brunsvold's writing just keeps getting better and better. I really enjoyed "The Atlas of Untold Stories" which is about a mother, Edie and her two adult daughters Chloe and Lauren. Each woman has things they are dealing with in their lives, things they are afraid to tell one another. As Chloe asks her mom to go on a road trip of Midwestern Literary sites, and Lauren ends up coming alone - these women discover more about themselves and each other than they ever thought they would during a 9 day road trip.

I loved how many nuggets of Christian faith are woven into the writing in this book. I highlighted so many passages so I could go back and ponder the words. This is definitely a book that will appeal to any avid readers of Christian fiction who enjoy faith-filled stories. This is a book I hope my church's book club will read together.

The sites the characters visit in the book are well researched and it's interesting how Brunsvold wove the sites into the character's thoughts and emotions as they progress to each site along the trip. Some of the sites in the book are ones I have visited before and others were new to me and are ones I'd like to visit in the future.

This book brought laughter and tears. I was rooting for the characters along the way and hoping they could grow closer together. There were some moments that really spoke to me as a reader and made me look back on events earlier in my life in different ways. A great book speaks to the reader and this is a book that really spoke to me.

Thank you to the author and Revell fiction for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

As any bookworm can tell you, most readers find tremendous consolation in books - whether it is because they are trying to escape from events in the real world, or from challenges in their own lives.

Edie is no exception, and her two daughters - Chloe and Lauren - are wrestling with their own issues. So the opportunity to leave all this behind in favour of a 9 day literary sojourn is pretty irresistible for all three of the family members.

The end result is a novel that is also irresistible to bookish readers. This one is not to be missed, earning an easy 3.5 stars!