Five, apparent, strangers brought together by a mysterious invitation, leading them to a library. A library where these five become a family of sorts by the end. A family drawn together to the "Fifth Avenue Story Society". Each of these individuals begins the story as needing help in some way or the other, even if it's not entirely evident how they need help.


I got wrapped up in each of these character's lives and became invested in their stories. Watching their friendships grow and the changes they went through, was an emotional ride that only Rachel Hauck can take you on. Everything she touches is pure genius. Hauck's way with words is beautiful and draws me into her stories every single time.


Told from multiple viewpoints, I never got lost or confused in the narrative provided by each character. I found myself eager for each person's voice.


By the end I was so eager to see what becomes of these friends that I raced through the last pages. Drawn together by love, God, and healing, this is a tale of five people who begin a race for a renewing of mind and spirit; and come out with so much more.

This review will be live at the link provided on January 26, 2020. Thank you for the opportunity!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book, The Fifth Avenue Story Society, by Rachel Hauck. All opinions expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved this book, what an interesting plot and the characters were all so layered and loveable. 5 people all receive an invitation to meet for the Fifth Avenue Story Society at the Winthrop Library and none know who sent the invitations. Gilda the librarian seems to know more than she lets on and also feels a bit like Jiminy Cricket, helping some of the members to do the right thing at times during the story. The society decides to keep meeting weekly and use each other as a version of therapy and help each other with their respective projects or needs. Jett and Lexa’s relationship was so real with all of its difficulties and successes, I really was rooting for them! Chuck and Coral individually were such captivating characters and their budding romance was so sweet too. I really loved how their differences complemented each other. And Ed, what a tortured but sweet soul. Finding out little bits at a time about his life was heart-breaking, but beautiful at the same time to see the change in him throughout.

Overall, 4.5 stars, I really enjoyed the book!

This is the first book written by Rachel Hauck I've read, and won't be the last! Fantastic author. Well written novel. The five characters in this novel, I loved each one.
I love stories centered around bookstores, books, libraries, etc. This one did not disappoint. I was very intrigued by this story in which five people receive an invitation to The Fifth Avenue Story Society, and don't know why or who sent it. It moves back and forth between each person and you get to know them. They come together each week and what happens in that room is magical! The librarian, Gilda is magical herself.
You won't be disappointed in getting this book.

Thank you to publisher and NetGalley for the eARC

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This story begins with a night in jail for Jett and Chuck followed by a special invitation to attend the 5th Ave Story Society on the following Monday night. Joining them are Jett’s ex-wife, Lexa as well as society girl Coral and senior citizen Ed. As the story unfolds each of these broken, hurting strangers reveal their sorrows to the others in the group and begin to heal. If you’ve read Hauck’s The Writing Desk, you’ll recognize Tenley, Birdie, and G.W. Roth when they appear in the story. (It’s not necessary to understand this book if you haven’t read The Writing Desk, though.) Because there are several key players in the story it seems to take a while for the reader to get to know them, but the story begins moving a bit more swiftly in the middle of the book. This story ends up being all about love, courage, and breaking the chains from the past that hold us down.

I really enjoyed this book. Rachel Hauck presented the reader with a handful of characters with deep issues to solve. I was impressed with the depth of these characters and their problems. Their problems felt real and I could relate to their emotions as well (particularly Jett).

If someone asked me the theme of this book, I'd say it is "accepting the truth". Hard but necessary!

Rachel Hauck has written another unforgettable novel that is very different from other recent books, yet fits in with them in the ways that count – characters the reader comes to love, a page-turning plot that kept me reading way too late into the night, suspense in waiting for secrets to slowly come out as the characters learn to be honest with themselves and each other, plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat, heart-swooning romance, and the mystical touch of God’s hand at work in the lives of broken people.

If you haven’t yet read The Writing Desk, try to do so before reading this book. Fifth Avenue is not a split time story, but it is a sequel to The Writing Desk in interesting ways.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#TheFifthAvenueStorySociety #NetGalley

What a good book
Well developed characters and story. Really enjoyed this book and the way the stories evolve.
I received an advanced copy and this is my own opinion.

I always enjoy stories that are somewhat centered around books, bookstores, libraries, etc. This one starts out with an intriguing invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society given to five people who don’t know each other or why they were chosen.

Because there are five main characters and the story moves back and forth between them, it seems a little slow starting as you don’t really know enough about them to care about them. As the story goes on, it becomes harder to put down.

The characters are all very different from each other and have their own unique trials. As the five members get to know each other better, they benefit from each other’s wisdom and support. It’s beautiful to see their friendship growing. It’s a good read.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

#TheFifthAvenueStorySociety #Netgalley

I was intrigued by the idea of five strangers coming together each week because of a mysterious invitation they'd each received. The setting was perfect, a room filled with books, comfy chairs and a cozy fireplace. A little slice of heaven here on earth if you ask me.

What happened in that room each week was magical.

The story society members are on a journey to learn about themselves as well as about each other. The truth will set them free.

Though I like all of the books written by Rachel Hauck, I think this is the best one yet. The characters were damaged and broken and I really wanted to see what she had in store for each of them.

I liked how she wove in a little of the story from a previous book, The Writing Desk. Made me feel like I was in on a secret.

If you enjoy a good clean romance with a little Devine intervention, this book will be to your liking.

* I received a complimentary, digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am under no obligation to write a favorable review only to give my honest opinion of the book.

I have enjoyed each of Rachel Hauck’s books that I have read, and this one was definitely no exception! In The Fifth Avenue Story Society, five strangers get a mysterious invite the society. Nobody knows where the invitation came from, why they were invited, or what they’d re supposed to do while there. As you meet the characters in this book, you’ll learn about their struggles and hardships in life. The strangers quickly become friends as they meet and do life together. The story had a slower start, but that was while all the characters were being introduce, so that was necessary. I loved this book and I would highly recommend it!

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Although The Fifth Avenue Story Society touches on some difficult topics, it is a light read. This book is perfect if you are looking for a sweet story of five people brought together who are seeking redemption for different reasons. You’ll have to suspend belief for most of it, as everything falls into place perfectly for each of them, but sometimes I’m just in the mood for an uplifting story like this one. It was just what I needed to read at this time,

The Fifth Avenue Story Society is the third book that I have read by Rachel Hauck, and I must say that I find myself becoming more of a fan with each book I've read. As she did with her Wedding Dress series, Rachel has once again created this beautiful story that takes us beyond reality...weaving a bit of magic- or rather divine intervention- into our every day realities...and I absolutely loved it.

I will admit it was a bit of a slow start to begin with though. There are a lot of key players in this story and so it took some time to get everyone straight. Even aside from that, I didn't find it to be a super fast paced story. Typically, that is what I crave in a good book, but for this one that slower pace just worked. We learn more about the truths of these five very different individuals slowly as the book goes on, giving us just enough to keep us wanting more. That gave it a bit of a mysterious feel to it... who sent the invitations? why these five? what secrets were they holding back? As their stories came out, I loved this reminder of how our past and the secrets we hide can weigh us down.

The characters are truly what made and drove this book. They all have issues they are working through and it is through this society and their unusual friendship that they were able to do so. I have always believed that God has a way of putting just the right people in our lives at just the right time, and this is quite the beautiful illustration of just that sentiment.

Though you certainly get the idea of a higher power at work right from the very start, it wasn't until the end that more of those Christian themes started really coming out. Those looking for more in your face Christian fiction might not appreciate that, but I enjoyed it myself. I feel like it was one that could be enjoyed by a wide variety of audiences, perhaps even those who don't typically read the genre.

Overall, this was a really beautiful read and one I would certainly recommend.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.

I am a huge fan of Rachel Hauck's, and I have read almost every book she has written. I loved the character development in this story and found the premise of the novel to be very intriguing. Unfortunately, the storyline moved a little slow for me, and I had trouble getting into the story. This was not my favorite of hers, but I will still look forward to reading more books of hers in the future. Fans of Rachel Hauck's will probably enjoy this book, especially if you enjoy character-focused storylines.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson and was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

A well written book. Well crafted plot and characters. Ms. Hauck has delivered another entertaining book. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

3.5 stars for this latest from Rachel Hauck. This was an interesting tale of seemingly random people selected/invited to a "story society" and no one knows why. This book is about their stories, their secrets and their healing. It's a book about the power of friendship as well. Though this is Christian fiction, I was at 65% before any subtle hinting at Christianity was mentioned and 80% before it became fully part of the story. Once it came in, the story had a very strong faith thread, but it took a bit to get there. Because of the nature of the story, this was a very character-driven book. As a plot-driven story lover, this made this book a bit more tedious for me, but the writing style still drew me in and the characters were ones I wanted to know better and learn their secrets. Once they got to the healing part in the latter part of the book, I couldn't get enough. Though the ending was completely predictable, it still brought tears to my eyes. While this was definitely not my favorite of this author's, it won't keep me from continuing to read her books and fans of character-driven books will really enjoy this one.

Special thanks to NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to write a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society is an example of how books with a strong first chapter have the ability to reel you in, hook, line, and sinker. I was immediately interested/intrigued by the main character, Jett, and his experience, but as the story developed into that of five different characters, I was completely invested.

Everything was written in third person so there wasn't a bunch of head-hopping, but I still got the flavor of each one's personality and their individual story/backstory as their threads wove together to the story's end. As is expected with inspirational fiction, there is a religious/Christian spin toward the end that is more blatant than my personal preference, but it wasn't overly preachy, which I appreciate.

Overall, I thought the premise of the book unique and the themes were both personal and relevant. Coupled with solid writing, these elements made TFASS a solid win in my book.

Rachel Hauck writes great dual time novels which I have loved, but The Fifth Avenue Story Society has become my favorite book she has authored. It tells the story of five New Yorkers receiving messages from an unknown source to meet at an old library. They meet and continue to weekly and start to become friends. The reader learns of each member’s life and are taken into tales of forgiveness, love and hope. This is Rachel Hauck’s best work to date. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society
Rachel Hauck has hit it out of the park with this tale of five very different characters who come together under mysterious means to form the Fifth Avenue Story Society. In it, everybody has a story but the question is, how do they relate?
This book is complex, fascinating and unpredictable. I loved getting to know each character and trying to guess the reason they would have been invited to join the society. Overarching the story was the supernatural element of the hand of God arranging their lives or ‘kismet’ as one the characters believed. It is a mystery but also a story about love and courage and finding them both. And the fact that it involved a library, books and an author made it even more compelling.
As I was reading I kept hearing myself say ‘I love this story, ‘I love this story’. I already know this will be one of my favorite reads of the year.
I received a complimentary copy from the NetGalley but the opinions and review are entirely my own.

Wonderful book. The characters came to life. I would recommend this author . Thank you for providing an ARC.

Five people, with only tenuous connections at most, receive mysterious invitations to a Story Society meeting in a special room at the Fifth Avenue Library. As they struggle to find out what or who could have brought them together, they begin to form relationships and find themselves looking forward to and depending on this strange group more and more. Could they have been brought together to simply share their stories, or will they find a bigger purpose within the sharing?

This was my favorite Rachel Hauck book in awhile; I'm almost glad I didn't realize it was connected to The Writing Desk, because I didn't love that one. However, this one was filled with such an amazing cast of characters, all of whom had compelling stories to tell, that I had a hard time letting go of them with the last page. I found myself equally drawn into almost all of their points of view, and I was eager to see their secrets revealed and their wounds from their pasts healed.

I give this book 4.5 stars; I still don't love the Gordon Phipps Roth storyline that carried over from The Writing Desk, but it was important to Jett's storyline. Otherwise, I loved the interplay between the characters, and the tough choices they had to make with revealing the truths in their lives.

I received a digital copy of this book, via NetGalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.