Karen Kingsbury latest novel, The Baxters, is a prequel to all the other Baxter books. You can read it on its own as a first book or read Redemption to get to know the family. I have been a fan of the Baxter family since
the beginning of the saga. Kingsburg makes you part of the family and you get to know each character throughout the series. This novel focuses on Ashley and Kari's wedding. Will Kari marry Tim or return to Ryan, her first love. Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read The ...more

It was great to have a blast from the past with this author. I read the baxters a lot growing up and seeing where they are now is great.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC. The book was written as a prequel to the Baxter family with snippets of their lives. However I have read so many Baxter family books, I feel like I already know them intimately. I will keep reading them as long as Kingsbury keeps writing them! #TheBaxters #KarenKingsbury #Apr2022

I did t realize what a huge series this book is attached to. The Baxters are a close family and today is Kari’s wedding. Except she can’t quit thinking about Ryan, her first love. Sister Ashley has a lot of turmoil as well. And the weather is acting up.
I liked the Midwestern setting. I didn’t like the way the book turned out. I wanted certain things to happen, which didn’t.

I love the Baxter family!! I can't wait for the next installment to come out. This story although the newest book is actually the beginning of the Baxters. This book is the prequel to the Redemption book or the start of the R series and most refer to it. This story starts with Kari's wedding day. There is much discussion on whether Kari is marrying the right man. Is Tim Jacobs the man for her or is she making a big mistake. The stormy morning and threat of more storms at wedding time has put everyone on edge. We also see Ashley and little Cole after Ashley's return from Paris. Ashley isn't herself and half the family is very angry with her for the decisions she has made. And then there's Landon. He has loved Ashley since they were kids. She will hardly speak to him these days. Should he just forget about her and move on or try to win her back.
The newest story about the Baxters did not disappoint and I will be waiting for the next story.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
This prequel gives us a glance into the lives of the Baxter family before the series started. The theme is always centered around their Faith and how the parents truly dealt with the events that happened in their children’s lives and their own.
Very touching story lines and I guarantee when you read the prequel, you will want to read what comes next. Made me laugh at times and cry at times as it delves into some sensitive life issues.
Great life application reading!

I received an ARC of The Baxters by Karen Kingsbury. This is another nice read by Karen Kingsbury. Their is a wedding in the Baxter family, but their is also a storm brewing. Can the Baxter family survive the storm?

Another heartwarming Karen Kingsbury read, this book provided insight on some of the original characters in the series.

The story revolves primarily around the wedding of Kari Baxter and her fiancee Tim. What should be the happiest moment in the Baxter's lives proves to be a time full of trepidation as the fate of the wedding and the weather is ominous.

Unsure of what her daughter should do, Elizabeth Baxter turns to her faith to get through this tumultuous time. Is Kari making the right choice? As she internally wrestles with this dilemma, Elizabeth draws on the background stories of the other siblings to help calm her fears and draws strength from her faith.

Through the story, you are given privy to the other Baxter's lives, and you see the family continue to strengthen as they bond together.

Karen Kingsbury wrote the quintessential parenting book with The Baxters. Elizabeth and John Baxter worry, pray, support and most of all, love their children through all of their ups and down. Sometimes they meddle a little. Sometimes they cry. When their children lose their way, that is when they, as parents pray harder and hold on to their faith in God. I loved the strength of the Baxter family. Even in the midst of chaos, there was still love and faith. Karen brings this out so wonderfully. The story is written so well that you feel immersed in it and not just an outsider looking in. Sometimes you want to shake the characters and tell them to open their eyes to what is in front of them, but then you wonder could that have been you at some point. This is definitely a book you want to recommend to your family and friends. I can't wait for the television series.

I received an advanced reader copy but the opinions expressed were solely my own.

I usually love Karen Kingsbury’s books but The Baxters a Prequel was just okay to me. The main reason to read this would be to get some backstory and see the events that occur the day of Kari Baxter’s wedding so I can see that it would be enjoyable for someone who just loves all the Baxter family stories. Looking at the book on its own, I found the two main characters (Kari and Ashley) frustrating as they both push away the two men who truly love them (and spend most of the book doing this). There isn’t a sense of resolution for either woman’s story as this is essentially book 0 in a series so the ending was not satisfying. Quite a bit of the storyline from her book Forgiving Paris is repeated in this one as remembrance passages which felt a bit old to me (who has read that one) or would be a bit of a spoiler for someone who has not. Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for an early copy to read and review; this book comes out April 26, 2022.

The Baxters is a prequel to Karen Kingsbury's Baxter Family series... a series that has been around for many, many years. The Baxter family members have also made appearances in several of her other books. I have read a few of the books featuring these characters, and while the details are a bit fuzzy, I did find myself thinking that parts of this story seemed vaguely familiar to me. For me, this definitely served as a great reminder of who this family is and offered a bit of recap of some things... especially reading before the upcoming TV series, which I am quite excited to check out. While this is a prequel though, I'm not sure if I would personally recommend reading before the rest of the series. There were a few moments that I felt like might have been a bit of spoilers that were revealed in the other books--- which is great when you're reading after the fact, but I like those little surprises in the originals myself. Still, I absolutely adored this one. It was a quick pace with lots of family drama and a beautiful reminder of this imperfect family and their faith in God. It certainly had me wanting to go back and read even more about this family!

Overall, I found this to be a great read and one that will have us celebrating the love of the Baxter Family, whether it be for the first time or the most recent.

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

I have always loved Karen Kingsbury's books, but this is my first book in the Baxter series, and I can't wait to read the rest of them! This book is a prequel to the rest of the series. I loved getting to know each of the grown Baxter children on a personal level and see how their stories all began. I read it in one sitting! If you've never read any of Karen Kingsbury's books, you will not be disappointed! This is a must read!!

Reading The Baxters: A Prequel was a blast from the past and made me remember what a wonderful storyteller that Karen Kingsbury is as she immerses us in the Baxter family. It has been so long since I read this whole series that I don't remember details but an overall feeling about this faith filled family. If you have not read the series, I would recommend reading this one first. We get a glimpse into the family members and what is going on as the series starts. They are Christian but not perfect yet come together to support each other in love and faith. That doesn't mean it is without normal emotions of anger, disappointment, and sadness. Their stories will bring on those emotions in the reader as well, even some frustration with the characters. I enjoyed this series thoroughly and it would be fun to read it again. I highly recommend this book and the series for those who enjoy stories of family relationships and romance.
I received a complimentary ARC from Atria Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

This book is true to the style of Karen Kingsbury. It does lay the groundwork for many of the situations you learn about in future books. At one point when she talked about the Baxters' "first born", I thought she went too far. That little tidbit should have remained buried. I remember reading about it for the first time in a later book in the series. I thought it was the perfect place to reveal it. Also, in this book, many of the characters "remembered and pondered" their past. In a couple of places, Karen repeats herself word for word when someone else is remembering an event. I thought I had read it and had just forgotten what I had read. I also felt the approaching tornado could have played a bigger role. But that's my opinion, since I'm from Indiana and have lived that fear. I look forward to the TV series because I can't remember all the details of what is to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

As an avid lover of Karen Kingsbury books, this one missed the mark. The plot lacked development and missed key information. The relationship between Kari and Tim seems too formal like she doesn't really love him. It also doesn't work with Ryan as a lost love since it feels like Kari and Ryan have a real connection. There were grammar issues and repeated paragraphs. Kingsbury does have her usual style with reminders of the characters talking to God and relying on him, which is important. The book is somewhat sweet but feels like it was just another book to make money.

Karen Kingsbury writes about real life. The good, the bad, and the ugly. Reading about the struggles that the Baxter family faces is a good reminder that Christians aren’t perfect, and that life isn’t all sunshine and roses just because you’re a Christian. I enjoyed reading this prequel, and now I’m thinking that I may need to re-read the whole series!

This prequel takes place over one day. A day that gives Baxter Family fans answers to questions they’ve had during the entire series. We see a few hardened hearts in this story and one is still hardened at the end, Kari’s. Kari’s story is a poignant reminder of why we should always share what we have against someone. (especially if they ask!) Her refusal to do so sets her on a road of unimaginable heartache in Redemption.

The Baxters is a fast-paced novel that will keep your interest to the end!

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

I have read the Baxter series and always enjoyed it. But I really loved this book. It was fun to be back in Bloomington with the family. I enjoyed the interaction between the family, even when some of it was a little tense. Reading this prequel has made me want to reread the series.
Thank you Karen Kingsbury for another great book!

I love the Baxter family books! The Baxter's is a prequel to Redemption the first of The Baxter books. This book tells the story of how the Baxters came to be a broken family that God heals through the rest of the books. Soon to be a television series, I love all of the characters. The Baxter house sounds like a wonderful place to raise a family. The only thing I did not care for was the amount of introspection/ remembering each character did and that was the only reason I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5.

So grab a pitcher of tea, and some yummy snacks and settle in for a wonderful read!

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

This book will release on April 26, 2022.

I absolutely love reading Karen Kingsbury's books about the Baxter family. I was so excited to put up this new story. The Baxters, which is written to be the new prequel to the series, is where she is recommending new readers to the Baxter family begin reading. And I have some thoughts on this. I really enjoyed visiting with the Baxters again, even if it is a look into the past. And I'm so happy to have read this and found it a really good look at their stories before the books began. However. That being said, I'm not sure I would recommend someone read this as a prequel. I found that some of the things that happen in the series that I found to be surprises were mentioned in this new book. That spoils the 'shock factor' of these events. Personally, it's a great book. But I'd wait to pick this one up after you've read the series.