I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest and original review.

I will read it again one day but reading novels are often my escape from reality and escaping into novels that are a deep dive into the effects of Trumpism; with heavy emphasis on far-right conspiracy theories and rampant racism, are hardly a comforting escape since they are still current events.

A slow, quiet novel about a small town in Ohio and the relationships and race relations in the town. For readers who enjoy character/place based novels.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Melville Publishing House for gifting me a digital ARC of this beautiful novel by Christian Kiefer - 5 stars!

Set in failing small town in central Ohio, this quiet novel focuses on three families: the Bailey's, a white family who have deep roots in the community and are undergoing a very personal tragedy; the Marwats, an immigrant family that owns the town's largest employer, and whose parents have just moved in with them from Pakistan; and the Shaws, a Black family consisting of Anthony and his aunt.

This book is a definite must read - putting aside national politics and unrest, this is how a community should work. It's how people step up for each other, putting aside their differences. I related to so much in this book, besides the fact that I'm from Ohio and recognize this world. I empathized with Mary Lou and the Marwat's, expanding their family to include their elders, no matter the personal consequence, and all the feelings that brings up, both good and bad. Each sentence in this book seemed to invoke such beautiful feeling. In the end, everyone has a story and remembering that would go a long way to making our towns and our country better.

Having grown up in North Central Ohio, I was drawn to this book and could relate to the characters and circumstances. Although specific in its setting, all readers can connect with the shared human condition and complicated relationships that are universal. I appreciated the quietness of the plot, which allowed the characters to shine.

The Heart of It All is a quiet, beautifully written novel, one that gave me all the feels and which highlights a simple yet powerful, always important theme.

It is set in a small Ohio town whose economic fortunes are waning and focuses on the intertwined lives of several families. The Baileys are white, long term residents of the town, and have just buried their baby son. The Marwats are originally from Pakistan and own a factory which is the town’s largest employer. Among those who work there are Tom Bailey, Mary Lou Miller who also cares for her aging mother, and newcomer Anthony Shaw whose aunt Paula, the only Black woman in town, has taken him in so he can escape the street violence in Cleveland which recently claimed the life of his best friend. Through the eyes of a large cast of characters we see a whole range of problems - grief, bullying, racism, drugs, domestic abuse, dementia, financial insecurity, difficulty accessing health care, disordered eating, issues connected to caring for aging parents, child abuse and more. It may be a lot but it never feels overwhelming or overdone.

Kiefer writes his characters with such compassion, empathy and tenderness. Even those who are less likeable are always understandable, never demonised. While the characters deal with very different issues one thing they all have in common is loneliness, the belief that they are alone with their problems. What Kiefer excels at is showing the importance of human connection, of sometimes small acts of kindness which make a real difference to another character’s life.

I had never heard of Christian Kiefer before. On the strength of this genuinely heartwarming book - an enthusiastic ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me - I’m eager to dig into his back list.

“And there they were, these two, clinging together as we all do in times of terror and heartbreak and sadness. And in love. The unbearable days cresting on into others until we know that they were not so unbearable after all for here we stand, still and ever, you and I, our hearts beating in our chests and our lives wild in the face of it.”

So well written so involving.A small town a small community the people who live there The author writes so well brings us into their world their lives Looking forward to more by the author.#netgalley #melvillebooks

The first thing that captured my attention about this book was the beautiful prose. It is rich in description and with beautiful details about the surroundings of the characters. The reader can really put themselves in the middle of the story if they close their eyes. I found the characters to be multi dimensional and well developed, with charming qualities about each of them. The storyline is beautifully put together. Well done, indeed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this Advanced Readers Copy of The Heart of It All by Christian Kiefer!

The Heart of it All is set in a small community in North Central Ohio, where one factory is the only real job source in town. It is a place of stark, winter beauty and frigid cold. People travel to Cleveland or Columbus for doctors and items not found in the local Kroger.

The novel begins with a funeral and casseroles, a mother beaten down by her loss, her body aching with debilitating pain, the husband adrift and uncertain, their teenage daughter feeling a seismic shift that alienates her from her former life, the son’s best friend living in a home with abuse and drugs.

The father, Tom, works as foreman at the factory. He is a good man, a good worker, a good friend. His buddy Sam is always good for a laugh, but is liable to toss out offensive and racist remarks. He sneers at the overweight office manager, Mary Lou, and uses racist slurs towards the Pakistani factory owner, Khalid. His son is bullying Tom’s son.

Tom’s daughter finds herself intrigued by a newcomer in town, a young man from Cleveland come to live with his aunt who is the only African American in town. This outsider seems to be the only person she can relate to now, but he realizes he needs to warn her off even as he feels drawn to her.

Mary Lou has brought her aging mother into her home. Her mother has never shown her love and acceptance, leaving Mary Lou crippled by guilt and shame, alienated and alone.

Khalid’s parents have come to live with him. He saw his father as a successful businessman, and measured himself against his achievement. He is confused by the man who steps off the plane, who seems nothing like the father he knew. Khalid loves this country and the clean white snow, and is proud of what he has built. But in a MAGA world, simmering racism will soon impact his life.

This community, rife with heartache and pain, struggles to hold on–economically, emotionally, and socially. But small acts of kindness allow them to hold on, bear up, and even grow into better people with fuller lives.

The windows were increasingly fogged by the condensation of their mingling breath, so that the occasional vehicles and pedestrians that passed through their view seemed visitors from some other world, perhaps a better one than this, a world filled with grace, a world fille with mercy.
from The Heart of it All by Christian Kiefer

The long, gorgeous sentences illuminate the place and the emotional lives of the characters. My heart was warmed by scenes of friendship and acceptance, love in the midst of threat, people doing the right thing.

Set in rural Mid-America, heart of Trump country, with characters struggling to stay afloat, the story demonstrates a way to connect with people different from us. It is the kind of novel that envisions this messy world as place where individuals can make a difference, make it a better place. A novel with a positive moral force. I loved these flawed people and my heart ached with their pain and their hope.

I previous read and enjoyed Kiefer’s novel Phantoms.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book.

Nicely done. This is well written and makes some points about our local worlds. I hope this author writes more in the future.

I really appreciate the free copy for review!!

This was a really good read that did remind me of Kent Haruf. It's all about families and how they are different, how they are the same. Heartbreaking at times. Well put together plot. Great characters. Look forward to hearing more from this author.