My husband gifted this to me for my birthday on Monday. I really enjoyed it. Part of the story took place in a fictional Arkansas town based on the town of Ozark. ( )

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This was a book club pick and I'll be the first to admit that this isn't a book I necessarily would have chosen to read on my own, so maybe I have no business reviewing it. The author clearly has a following and I don't want to take away from that. This book just did not work for me on a very fundamental level. Lewis has allegedly written enough books (more than 90 according to her author bio) that I would think she might know to inject some actual conflict into her stories. The only times this book approached having any, it was so quickly and pleasantly resolved that it felt entirely contrived. The characters had almost no depth (I assume even the Amish have personalities) and I really felt like the entire book was more superficial sketch of Amish culture than it was novel with a plot. Again, I don't like leaving negative reviews in general and readers who are fans of Lewis's work will probably enjoy this perfectly pleasant little read, too. It definitely wasn't for me and if Lewis is a book club pick in the future, I'll probably skip it. ( )

Good story about friendship and forgiveness. Leona had always wished for a sister, and when a new family moved in, she got her wish. The friendship she developed with Gloria brought them as close as sisters. Leona spent a lot of time at Gloria's house, envious of her friend's young and fun parents. Leona's parents are older and are not very demonstrative. As the girls got older, romance was in the air. Leona's cousin, Orchard John, started courting Gloria, while Leona's friendship with Gloria's older brother, Adam, seemed to head that way also. But all that came to an end when Gloria's father was expelled from the church and the family packed up and left. Leona was heartbroken at the loss of her friend.

Leona was surprised to get a letter from Gloria several years later, asking Leona to call her. While talking to her, Leona could tell that Gloria was not happy in her new life. I loved that Leona's love for her friend compelled her to make the journey from Pennsylvania to Arkansas to try to help her. Leona was certain that if Gloria came back to the Amish church, she would find what she was looking for. I liked that Leona and her fiancé, Tom, spoke honestly about her trip. His concerns were real and she didn't take them lightly, but she needed to see her friend. Tom's support and his trust were important.

Leona's visit to Arkansas was eye-opening for her. She was stunned at the changes she saw in her friend's family. I liked how time and distance gave Leona a bit more objectivity about Gloria's parents, and that she saw things she hadn't noticed before. Leona began to appreciate her own parents more when she compared them to what she now knows. Leona also got a better idea of how conflicted Gloria was as she saw Gloria in her current life. Leona was determined to be a supportive and loving friend at the same time she tried to encourage Gloria's return to the church.

I ached for Gloria, who hadn't wanted to leave Lancaster and had begged to be allowed to stay with Leona's family. She was an obedient daughter and followed her father's wishes, but always felt that something was missing. That feeling grew as the man she was dating pushed harder for a commitment from her. I liked that she had the courage to reach out to Leona for help. As she showed Leona around her new life, it was pretty clear that she was working just as hard to convince herself that she was happy. Her decision to drive Leona home herself, and spend some time in Lancaster, was her attempt to see if it was possible to return to that life.

I liked seeing Gloria open up to Leona a little bit on the drive back to Lancaster. She still held back on some things that clearly bothered her, but Leona didn't push. Once they arrived back in Lancaster, Gloria took the time to look at her life and dreams. I liked seeing her slip back into her old life without too much effort, but she is still troubled. She had conversations with Dawdi Benuel and the bishop that gave her much to think about. She also encountered Orchard John. I enjoyed their cautious reconnection and what he shared with her. Things looked promising until her father showed up to bring her home to Arkansas. I ached for Gloria as she faced up to the issues that haunted her. I wasn't surprised by her decision. The portrayal of her struggle was realistic, heartwrenching and heartwarming at the same time.

I also liked the scenes with Leona and Tom. It was clear that their relationship was solid, as Leona was able to share her hopes of helping Gloria. I liked the bits that were told from Tom's point of view, highlighting his worry but also his love for Leona. There were some very sweet scenes between them.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Life with the Amish was shown fairly realistically, not through rose-colored glasses. There were a few times when I felt as though the story dragged a little bit, but I was invested enough to keep going. I did like the ending, as it felt logical and real. ( )

Nice story. ( )