[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
“You are cordially invited to the Fifth Avenue Story Society.”
Jett receives his invitation after a night in jail for a drunken brawl where he tried to defend a bridesmaid from a groomsman who refused to hear the word “no.”
Lexa receives her invitation at work where she’s been the executive assistant to a rising star for years. She could be running the company, but she’s afraid of what would happen if she applied to be CEO and her boss said no.
Chuck was in jail with Jett because he waded into the fight. It was a huge mistake to get involved. It could have cost him the most important people in his life. He found his invitation in his car – the one he drove for Uber after his life fell apart.
Ed and Coral round out the group. All five of them received invitations. None of them know who sent them. But in time they all start to see their Monday nights together as one of the most important parts of their week. They process life together and encourage one another. And they wait to discover who called them together – and why.
Review
This was great! There was a connection to the author’s previous work The Writing Desk (which I loved!) that I didn’t expect, but thoroughly enjoyed.
This breaks with the pattern of an historical story alongside a contemporary one that the author used in the last couple books of hers I have read. I loved that this one is set entirely in the present. The set up of five mostly-strangers coming together gave the author so much to explore. Everyone was holding something back – from the group and in some ways from themselves. There’s a strong element of “the truth will set you free” in this.
The stories of the two women in the group were probably my favorites – although Ed’s story had the biggest emotional punch for me. But I enjoyed how all five stories wove together and built on one another. I also enjoyed the thread about writing that worked through the stories of the three men in the group.
There was plenty of tension in this – several spots where I thought the group might fracture beyond repair. But one character’s new relationship with God led her to be the example for the group, sharing her story and waiting to see if the others would be brave enough to share theirs. I completely enjoyed the journey of watching it all play out.
Fans of Rachel Hauck’s work – as well as fans of contemporary Christian fiction – should check this one out!