I wanted to love this book but it was very slow for me. I liked the Sweet family, the characters, and the setting but it was so hard to keep reading. I thought something would happen to pick up the story but it did not.

I love this book so much! It gave me all the feels. It covers so many emotions and themes. Grief, family love, race, mental illness, loss, and starting over are all dealt with through out, but it never feels heavy handed or overly sad. The tone of this book is sweet and light although the subject matter is fairly heavy. I loved the characters. They are so well written and engaging. I highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy meaty stories with unforgettable characters.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley for the purpose of review.

fell in love with Finkbeiner’s writing last year after reading All Manner of Things. This book proved I loved her even more.
This is the story of a woman who loses her husband all too soon. It also weaves together mental illness, family, hope and a simpler time in America. I love the strong faith and hope throughout this book.
I laughed and cried the entire time but this authors writing is just beautiful even when writing about pain.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy, this one comes out in June put it on your TBR!

Stories That Bind Us is a heartwarming historical novel that takes place in the early 60s. The story touches on mental illness, grief, prejudice, faith and the powerful bonds of family love.

Betty is a young widow still grieving the loss of her husband when her long lost sister, Clara shows up at her door with Hugo her mixed race son. Struggling with mental illness Clara must depend on Betty for the stability her son needs. Through their trials, each sister must come to terms with her own issues, and find her way to wholeness.

The lives of Betty, Clara, and Hugo are intricately twined with the lives of their family. Each secondary character has a specific part to play in the healing process, and are well written with their own distinct personality and purpose.

If you’re tired of fluff, and want a book of substance, this book is for you. One of the best I’ve read this year.

I was given a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group by Interviews and Reviews through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion of the book.