I don't know why I waited so long to read this book. Once I started it, I flew through it in a few hours. Heartbreaking and hopeful all mixed up together, this is the story of year of foster parenting. The story of two little children whose parents simply couldn't understand how to care for their children, not that they didn't deeply desire to, but an overzealous pediatrician didn't take the time to understand everything before jumping to conclusions. The story of two teenagers whose lives were broken open because of their mother's poor choices. The stories of trauma that the Berry's adopted children continued to go through as they wrestled with the trauma of their early life. So much heart break in the world and yet to see one family bravely step up to the plate and say yes and yes and yes again brings hope to this sin-torn world.
I wonder why it took me this long to read the book and yet I think the timing was perfect for me as I am watching a really good friend of mine and her family step into fostering after adoption and watch and listen as they battle some of these same things. It helps to bring perspective to what they are going through to read about other stories and I hope it helps me know a little more how to care.
I received this book from Harvest House via NetGalley and was not required to give a positive review. But I would totally recommend picking up this book and reading it for yourself.

Foster parents have always inspired and awed me. In fact I have had several friends who have fostered children, some even adopted afterwards. So I'm somewhat familiar with the system and the process and the emotional toll it takes on a person and a family. Therefore this book was a no-brainer. I had to read it.

It is the true story of a family who determines that they will keep the doors open to any foster child in need of a home for an entire year. And what a trying year that became.

Most of the writing was written in such a way as though the reader already knows and understands the foster system. I know some, but there were parts that were entirely new to me and I wish the author would have explained more of the process they had to go through. Maybe she thought it would be boring, but I feel like it could have been done in a simplified way while also being interesting. But that's just me.

Each story with each child was so different, as it would be in reality, but I didn't feel like the author got her flow until about halfway through the book. One story in particular, turned the emotional spectrum for me. At first I felt like she was keeping her emotional distance from the story, but then I realized that this year of fostering actually happened a while ago in her life. So then I just felt like the writing was emotionally stunted. But then it all shifted with one of the foster children, and from then on I felt her motherly emotions surfacing. Her descriptions flourished and I really felt her pain as well as her love.

The story itself was beautiful of course. Although I felt like the end just sort of ended. There didn't seem to be any resolution, anything letting me as the reader know what they determined to kept doing after the year was up. But then I found in the about the author that the family now has 8 adopted children...when they only had 3 in the book....which led to more wishing for more of a conclusion.

All in all, this was a beautiful book about fostering and why there is such a need for foster parents and a heart for these families. I loved that they were all about family reconciliation and focused as much on helping the parents as the children. It was beautiful.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

This is a beautiful, heartfelt and honest book from a foster family that have fostered 23 children and been through ups, downs and everything in between. This book made me laugh and cry and hug my own daughter tight. Foster parents are such wonderful people when they do it for the children, and this book shows this family are amazingly dedicated and have so much to give the children placed into their care. The world needs more people like this in it. Thank you for sharing such a heart on your sleeve story with us, I really hope this book helps people thinking of fostering in the future, I definitely recommend you read this if you do have thoughts of becoming a foster parent.

A beautifully uplifting but honest tale of foster parenting. I laughed and cried my way through this book. Recommended.

Kristin Berry knew from a young age that she wanted to make a difference in the lives of children who needed a loving home and family. She and her husband adopted a baby and then embarked on a year of taking on the role of foster parenting. Reading her memoir was like sitting down and talking to a friend or neighbor. She reveals both the highs and lows of the fostering experience. I greatly admire those who give so much of themselves in this role. Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the opportunity to read and review Keep the Doors Open.

A well put together book of encouragement for parents.
I would recommend this book.
Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher.

This last year, we had friends who fostered some children (and are continuing to do so) and my heart started opening to the fact that I might want to foster. Then I came upon this book and got so excited. I stayed up late last night reading through it and am so impressed by Kristin's heart for the foster care world. These children so need homes and I'm excited to think we might start our journey soon. I love her gentle honesty and I'm grateful to know the ups and downs that come with fostering. Thanks for writing this book!

Keep The Doors Open by Kristin Berry is such an amazing and interesting look into what it means to be a foster parent. It's certainly not an option for everyone, but for those who wish to open their doors to kids and give them a loving home, this is the book to read.

Because I read an arc, I did notice a couple of spelling errors, but they weren't drastic enough to take away from reading.

5/5 stars and I definitely recommend reading Keep The Doors Open.

"Keep the Doors Open" is an honest, transparent depiction of what the Berry family experienced throughout their foster care journey. I appreciated the humility and honesty that was displayed in the book. I wish the book had a more conclusive ending, but I suppose that's indicative of the foster care system as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a truly beautiful book, following Kristin Berry and her family through a year of adventures in fostering. Fostering is something I would love to pursue in the future, so I always knew I would enjoy this one. But I loved the fact that Kristin shared both the good and the bad, not giving a one sided perspective but instead showing the heartbreaking beauty of the world of fostering.

My only critique would be that there is a rather blunt ending - what happens next?! I personally would have loved an epilogue, just to wrap a few details. Like with regards to Manny and Angel: Kristin says at the end of their section that she wouldn’t see them again for 10 years. I would have loved an epilogue just to tell us what happened with them, and any of the other foster children who they stayed in the lives of. Plus, the authors bio at the end says Kristin and Mike have 8 children - how did they get from 3 to 8?! I just became so engrossed in the story, I desperately wanted to know what came next. I really hope Kristin continues to share her stories, and I would be first in line to pick up the next book!

A heartbreaking and heartwarming story about foster care, the Berrys recall how they came to be foster carers and how each child they cared for had a different story, It was a beautiful read.

I received this book for free from NetGalley.

Kristin and Mike decide to Foster for a year, this is their memoir of that time and the children they looked after.
I cried a few times. It's heartbreaking to read about the Foster system and how the children can be an afterthought. I really empathised with Kristin and her family.
Overall, I enjoyed the book, its well written and honest. It would be a good read for anyone considering fostering or adoption.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I really enjoy books which give an insight into different people's roles, and this was no exception. Berry writes compassionately and with great honesty, and I admire her unconditional love and basis of faith as she gives insight into the world of fostering and the challenges it poses.

As a mom who adopted two boys from the foster system this book really brought feelings home. This was a very good book not only for people thinking of being foster parents but ones that are that already ones. It was good to know that some of what we feel that we are not alone. I highly recommend this book.

Kristin Berry and her husband are already the authors of several published titles on fostering. This book explains how they came to get into it, and tells the stories of some of their early successes. Of course, all the children come into care with their different problems, and sometimes the parents continue to make these problems worse. Kristin and Mike throw themselves into every challenge with enthusiasm, and although some of the stories are very sad, you feel that the children have had the very best possible care. This is a lovely book, and recommended for anybody who enjoys Cathy Glass or Casey Watson.

Fantastic insight into Foster Carers and there family’s but I felt unsatisfied by the book I wanted to know more about each case etc and the other children they have looked after I wanted to know how they met back up with manny and angel 10 years later