Happy Friday! The weather here has felt like spring the last couple of days – almost nice enough to make up for the hour we’re about to lose this weekend! For today’s edition of the First Line Friday linkup hosted by Hoarding Books, I’m featuring The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson.

“The most beautiful things are those that survive a storm and find their glory in the restoration.”

The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson

The Basics

Title: The Way It Should Be

Author: Christina Suzann Nelson

Publication Date: February 2, 2021

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover: After years of estrangement, the lives of Zara Mahoney and her twin sister, Eve, are suddenly and completely intertwined again. Eve’s troubled lifestyle causes the state to take custody of her two children and contact Zara and her husband, asking them to consider foster care. Newlywed Zara thought she’d finally been given a fresh start and feels wholly unprepared to care for a niece and nephew whose existence she wasn’t even aware of.

Meanwhile, Eve may have a real chance to start over this time with the help of Tiff Bradley, who’s dedicated to helping women everyone else has given up on after facing a heartbreaking tragedy in her own family.

Over the course of one summer, all three women’s hearts and lives hang in the balance as Eve desperately works toward a new life. Can they redefine their expectations of how life should be to find the hope they–and those they love–so desperately need?

My Thoughts

Christina Suzann Nelson has written a powerful, emotionally engaging story full of compelling characters. She did a great job of telling the story from the perspectives of three different women. The variety of viewpoints and the range of emotions all of the characters felt gave the story authenticity. The book doesn’t shy away from the gritty parts of life, but tackles topics like addiction, domestic violence, and foster care with honesty and grace.

While the book does deal with serious issues, there are still light-hearted moments throughout. Ultimately it is a story of hope, healing, and forgiveness, as each woman experiences transformation in her own unique way. While you might see yourself more in one than the others, Eve, Zara, and Tiff are all characters we can relate to in some way. All of the loose ends were not tied up with a bow at the end, and I thought that made the ending realistic and true to the story. This story tugged at my heartstrings and made me think – it will stick with me for a long time! I definitely recommended this book, especially for fans of Beth Vogt, Amanda Cox, and Rachel Linden.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Hoarding Books to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.