Review: Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling

Title: Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling
Publisher: FaithWords
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Fiction
Length: 369 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

A heartwarming story that celebrates how life-changing friendships can be found in all seasons of life.

The sprawling lake home Lynn Lundberg built with her husband has been an epicenter of joyful family life, from summer holidays spent around the water, to cookies baked in the kitchen with grandchildren in the fall. But since her husband’s sudden passing two years ago, Lynn has been lost in the grief and solitude she feels without him at home. She doesn’t want to sell the big family place, but she can’t exist there on her own much longer.

After hearing of a new way of living–where single women share responsibilities as housemates–Lynn thinks she’s found the answer to her prayers. Soon she meets two ladies with whom she could begin this journey. Angela Bishop, a successful real estate agent accustomed to the finer things in life, has just been jilted by her husband of twenty-five-years. Judith Rutherford, who has devoted her adulthood to caring for her ailing father, must leave the only home she’s known now that he has passed.

These three women seek a place to grieve, to laugh, and to be renewed. But coming from such differing circumstances, will the new challenges they face undo their plans? Or will they begin a friendship to see them through the years to come in this SOMEDAY HOME?

Review:

Someday Home by Lauraine Snelling is a lovely novel of new beginnings for three women who have experienced life altering events. This faith-based story is also a beautiful journey of resilience and forgiveness as they heal from the wounds of their past.

Lynn Lundberg is a widow whose busy days keep her loneliness at bay, but her empty nights are becoming harder to bear. When she learns about shared housing, she decides to give it a try as long as she can find the right women to move in with her. She meets Judith Rutherford at a crafting event where Lynn learns that she is looking for a new place to live while she goes back to college after devoting years of her life to caring for her elderly father. Through her son, Lynn learns that Angela Bishop, the mother of one of his friends, needs a place to live after being blindsided by divorce after 25 years of marriage. The three women begin the uneasy task of getting to know one another while trying to maneuver the intricacies of cohabiting with strangers.

Although he has been gone for almost two years, Lynn is still mourning her husband’s unexpected death. Although her days are a mix of helping run the family owned business and taking care of her grandchildren, she is struggling with a resurgence of grief and sudden anger at her loss. Praying for a way to ease her sorrow, shared housing sounds like the perfect answer to help herself and others in need.

Judith is stunned to discover that her father did not follow through on his promise to take care of her after his death. Although she has plenty of work experience, she has no job references or degree, so she decides to go back to college. The only problem is she needs an inexpensive place to live and with few options open to her, she tentatively agrees to move in with Lynn. Judith is a bit uncomfortable with Lynn’s grandkids, but otherwise, she is happy with their new arrangement. Eager to get started on earning her degree, she quickly signs up for classes and she is soon immersed in her studies.

While not exactly happy in her marriage, Angela is nonetheless stunned when her husband tells her he has filed for divorce. She has tried very hard to live up to his ideal of the perfect wife and she is a successful real estate agent. In the days immediately following the divorce announcement, Judith tries to accommodate his requests regarding the house and their finances, but when several of her real estate deals fall through, she begins to panic. After moving in with Lynn and Judith, Angela struggles with depression briefly as she tries to figure out what comes next both personally and professionally.

As to be expected, there are a few missteps and mistakes as the three women begin the next stage of their lives together. Lynn’s tendency to mother everyone is not always appreciated although her heart is in the right place. Judith ruffles a few feathers when she makes decisions without consulting Angela or Lynn. Angela easily transitions from her previous life but the lack of job opportunities is worrisome. The three women slowly form a surprising friendship as they try to help one another cope with the abrupt changes they are experiencing.

Although a little slow paced in the beginning, Someday Home is an overall compelling novel. The premise is quite unique and Lauraine Snelling skillfully weaves the spiritual aspect into the storyline without being overly preachy. It is an absolutely delightful novel of faith, family and friendship that fans of contemporary Christian fiction are sure to love.