Beauty In The Broken Places by Alison Pataki is a raw and real account of the author’s struggles to rehabilitate her husband and pull their life back together after he suffers a very rare stroke. Traumatic Brain Injury is so hard on a patient, but exponentially so on their families. I had an advantage reading this because of my own medical training, but it really struck home as I reflected on delivering our children during my husband’s days as an Orthopedic Resident. This story is heart-wrenchingly honest and very well written. I recommend it highly to anyone, medical or not. I recieved an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.

I have actually never read an Allison Pataki novel before, but now I think I will start! She writes beautifully. I read this in a matter of hours -- perfect for a night of insomnia -- and I actually didn't want to put this book down! I cuddled up to my husband a little closer and hugged him a bit tighter. You are right there in Allison's shoes as she draws back the veil and lets you in to see this absolutely harrowing and horrifying time. Books don't make me cry, but this one almost did. Allison talks of miracles and angels, faith and four-leaf clovers... and having to juggle a career, married life, a newborn baby girl, all while caring for her husband Dave. I highly recommend this book, and I fully expect to hear high praise about it.

**Many thanks to the Allison Pataki launch team/Netgalley for this digital review copy!

It depends on what you’re looking for. An avid reader, I have high expectations of strong writing and emotional connections. Beauty in the Broken Places did not do that for me. The book opens vividly with Pataki’s husband having a stroke on a flight to Hawaii. Pregnant with their first child, Allison relates this in a straightforward, disconnected way. (I keep reading, hoping this is just a writer’s device to show her detachment in the situation.)

Next chapter - Jump to the couple meeting, New chapter - now back to an emergency landing in Fargo. “For us, this was a horror story very much still unfolding, and our route had changed. Our route had changed forever.” Next chapter - Jump to their dating, “And so we fell. We fell hard. We were young, and we were drenched in the chemical flood of endorphins that comes from a new love and a new relationship...I was lucky to have found Dave.” (What I’m missing here is how Allison FEELS. The best writing SHOWS, not tells.)

After the dating chapter, we’re back in Fargo telling relatives and friends. Chapter 6 heads back to New York, eight years earlier. I found this predictably alternating time frame to take away from the intense unpredictability of the medical emergency. Allison puts in brief parts of the letters she wrote to Dave, including one that relates a dream she had. “Dear Dave, I had a dream last night that you told me Jesus was holding you by the hand, and you told Jesus about the situation; you had suffered a stroke on an airplane. Your wife was expecting a baby, our first. “Yes, I know you,” this dream version of Jesus told you “I’m familiar with your story. And let me just tell you that I’ve received more prayers for you than I’ve ever received for anyone. I hear, and I’m on the case.” (Cute story, I do believe God sometimes gives us dreams, but I don't think Dave was the 'ultimate prayer recipient.'

There is more, now we’re back in New York, 2009, getting engaged. You guessed the next chapter. Another letter, then an update on Dave’s dire condition. The pattern continues. “Although Dave hadn’t died, though I wasn’t a widow at the age of thirty, though I wasn’t planning a funeral and grieving the premature death of the love of my life I was grieving.” The writing is just so mundane. Though it is a distressing time, the emotions just don’t come through.

The love story, how we met parts are too sugary. From another of her letters to Dave: “I repeated our daily mantra; “Every day, in every way, I’m getting better and better.’ I asked you if you truly believed that and you told me you did. I couldn’t stop hugging you. I’m just so happy to have you here. You are so beautiful to me…” I commented in my notes: I wish this book was getting better and better. The good part is I could skim one sentence per paragraph at the end and not miss any content or emotions.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for granting access to an arc of this book for an honest review.

Beauty in the Broken Places is the beautifully written memoir (and love letter) by Allison Pataki detailing the unexpected stroke her husband, Dave Levy, experienced while on a flight from Chicago to Seattle. The love that Allison and Dave have for each other is evident in the words written on these pages. That love carried them through not only years of medical school and surgical residency but the devastating medical event that occurred on their way to a much-needed vacation (“babymoon”) when Allison was five months pregnant.

Beauty in the Broken Places is an inspiring story of love, the power of faith and always remembering how lucky you are. I highly recommend this memoir just make sure you have tissues handy!

This story grabbed my heart from the moment I heard the news of what had happened on the plane to Alison Pataki’s husband. I followed the story closely and with great concern. When I learned she was sharing their story in Beauty in the Broken Places, I had hoped to be honored with an advance copy. You will be inspired by the author, the circle of family and friends who provide support as well as the medical team. Add this to your must read list and if you haven’t read Ms Pataki’s historical fiction titles add those as well.

When Allison's husband, Dave, had a stroke, while on an airplane on their way to a vacation, both of their lives changed drastically. Allison was five months pregnant with their first child, and Dave was a medical student. After the stroke, which he was lucky to survive, he had no short term memory and had to relearn many things. Allison had to rely on her faith and help from others and she wrote letters to Dave throughout his recovery to help keep her own sanity and document his journey for him when he recovered. The memoir is well written and inspiring.

This book was well written and easy to read. It was inspiring, as well as raw and real. The grit and determination along with loving family and friends helped this couple through a crisis of a major life threatening event as well as the ftermath and recovery.

MY REVIEW OF “BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES: A MEMOIR OF LOVE, FAITH AND RESILIENCE”

Allison Pataki, Author of “Beauty in the Broken Places : A Memoir of Love, Faith and Resilience” has written an amazing, emotional, heart-wrenching ,captivating and thoughtful memoir. Can you imagine a thiry year old pregnant woman, and her thirty year old husband, (who is a third year medical resident), facing an unknow tragedy?

The author and her husband were off on a “baby-moon” to enjoy a much-needed vacation, when her young husband has a life threatening stroke on the airplane. The Airplane is forced to make an emergency landing, and Allison Pataki is faced life threatening challenges.

The Author starts to write everything down, to keep it as something to show her husband if he survives. I admire the author’s honesty, courage, dignity, resourcefulness, compassion, and loyalty. When the author was struggling to cope she turned to loved ones for help, and she kept praying. Allison Pataki had hope and faith. I would recommend this beautiful written memoir to other readers. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

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4.5 stars

I received an ARC of "BEAUTY IN THE BROKEN PLACES" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, Random House, and Allison Pataki for the opportunity to read this book.

OMG, I have no words - this book was amazingly beautiful and well-written.

This book and memoir is a love letter from the author to her husband who suffered a horrific stroke at the age of 30. His wife, the author, was pregnant at the time creating even further challenges. The book goes through flash-backs to tell their love story and also goes through the one year of her husband's recovery.

This book was easy to read, beautifully written (like ALL of her books), and just touched my heart and soul so much. I am so grateful that they had a wonderful group of friends, family, and medical professionals to help them through this recovery journey.

HIGHLY recommend this moving and lovely book!! Please read it!!

My eyes aren’t leaking. I promise. That’s just some drool coming out of my tear ducts.

Seriously, though. This memoir is so beautifully written, and I’m so glad that the author chose to share her family’s journey.

I wish, oh, how I wish I could give this book 10 stars. Allison Pataki has written a deeply moving memoir of what could have been a tragic story. At times I wanted to feel utter delight for them and then there were times of deep despair for what they were wading through.
The author invites the reader to know the couple's backstory so glimpses of their history are scattered throughout the book. This makes what they're going through even more tragic. At the time of Dave's stroke, Allison was very advanced in her pregnancy and they were blissfully on a 'babymoon' to Hawaii. The stroke took place during the flight there.
Pataki perfectly relayed the sorrow and frustration that family members of stroke victims encounter. My father had a stroke and, unfortunately, didn't recover as well. It's heart-wrenching to see the change that takes place following a stroke.
I haven't had the pleasure of reading her other works but will have to check them out. This one was a pure joy and blessing to read. Special thanks to Dave and Allison for sharing their story.
I received an Advance Reader Copy from netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I was worried about reading this memoir after loving Allison Pataki's fiction so much. Would it be as good as her fiction books? I did not need to worry. This is a fabulous book on the issues her family had to deal with after her husband had a stroke. This book is an exceptional read and I enjoyed it very much. Allison did not hold back on all of the feelings that she went through during this time, even the not so good ones. She really opened up her heart and her lives to us and it has made me hold my family just a little bit tighter. What an inspiration that her family was able to stay together through everything that they went through. 5+ stars.

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Such an intensely emotional read about stroke and commitment. She describes so vividly and raw about the entire event. She displays a strength in being honest with her feelings with her husband's recovery. Health issues, especially in young marriages, are not always thought about or talked about with each other. It is a testament to their love for one another that they were able to work through the difficult road of recovery together and come out on the other side stronger and filled with greater faith.

May we always remember...

I cannot put into words how beautiful this memoir is. It is heartbreakingly wonderful. The love between Allison and Dave is so pure, so easy to see. I could never imagine how I would be in this situation, but I would hope I would be as strong as Allison. Her words are true. They are moving and descriptive and they invite you in. She gives you a window into Dave's stroke, their long lasting relationship, and how it all intertwines. I could not recommend this memoir enough.

I received an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are mine.

I loved this book. So well written. I found this book unputdownable!!

Many thanks to Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy of "Beauty in the Broken Places" in exchange for an honest review.

Allison Pataki's vulnerability and authenticity made me love this book. Not that what they went through wasn't amazing - it was - but the soul of the story is a real human being struggling to move forward after a tragedy. She has a very approachable style making it seem as if you are listening to your best friend. I am so grateful to have read her story and am looking forward to reading some of her historical fiction.

Beauty in the Broken Places is a beautiful read. Author Alison Pataki"s husband suffered a severe stroke at 30. The book darts back and forth from before the tragedy occurred and after. It's a harrowing read, but how much worse to experience it for both of them. Patience, persistence, and perseverance are just some of the themes. I had no idea what trauma Pataki endured while composing Sisi, the first book I read by her. A touching read with the reminder to make the most out of every day.

A stroke at any age can be devastating, but at the age of 30? A young doctor, his wife the writer, their supportive families and a vast amount of medical staff are all given the jobv of getting Dave back on his feet.

The story is Alli's recollections during that time (and also their back stories) so as Dave regains his memory, he can know what hard work he accomplished. A sweet story, a scary experience.

I loved this book. I like books about "illnesses" and found this one so interesting as the stroke victim was only 30. Having cared for a husband who was quite ill, I really identified with Allison's comment about the frustrations she felt caring for her husband and trying to take care of herself and then their baby. Such an interesting, well written book.

A beautifully wrought true story by a historical fiction author. This memoir has its genesis in the daily letters she wrote her husband following his ischemic stroke at age 30. It is very powerful and poignant. She voices her sadness, her fears and her frustrations but mostly her love of their family and her faith in God. We read a lot in the media these days about being grateful, but this memoir drives the thought home that we should not take our lives for granted and to enjoy every day to the fullest.