Perhaps I'm just not the right audience for this book, but I didn't really care for it at all. I didn't relate to any of the characters and can't say that I even liked any of them. Some of the situations seemed totally unrealistic (from prison to millionaire? how?) The writing seemed a bit clunky to me but maybe that's because I was just frustrated by the whole book.

Anyway - no book is for everyone.

The book was a deeply moving portrayal of female friendship. The story follows the lives of two best friends - Lisa and Dana; who were entirely different from each other. When Lisa enjoyed a sheltered childhood; Dana was neglected by her junkie mother. When problems arises between them, they will have to forgive and forget to move on.

Audiobook was my preferred format for reading this book and I loved it. The story spanned decades and it was interesting to note the changes in the characters. As the story follows them from teenage years to adulthood; the differences in their thoughts and actions were all noticeable.

This was definitely a great book with an emotional ending!

I absolutely loved the Christian component of this story. It was well written and showed the truth of how God helps us grow and change. I also enjoyed seeing how both main characters had issues that they needed to deal with and how even broken people can heal together. There were a few times when I got irritated with one of the main characters attitude and the self pity she liked to dwell in. However, it truly is how some people are. This was the first book by this author and I will now be seeking out more. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to enjoy this story of friendship - brokenness and the healing of forgiveness. Opinions are solely my own.

This has been an interesting but difficult reading experience for me.

The story was well told, the characters had depth ans I enjoyed quite some bits of it.

An then came the overwhelming Christian agenda of "if you believe strong enough, you will be saved - no matter what", which is something I can accept and respect but not believe into. This - to be honest- quite ruined the book for me. Instead of personal growth it was Christianity that saved them? Felt like an easy way out for me.

Definitely only a recommendation for Christian readers!

Thank you to NetGalley for the early release copy of The Light on Halsey Street by Vanessa Miller.
Following the story of friends who had different cultures and upbringings. The book kept my attention and I listened in one day. The reader did a great job and I enjoyed the performance of the book.
I look forward to exploring other books by this author.

The premise of The Light on Halsey Street, as informed by Vanessa Miller, is a story about “struggle and what we do in the midst of it” (Miller, 2023, Author’s Note). The struggle is certainly real in this coming-of-age tale about two friends whose lives become linked by choices made in their adolescence and young adulthood.

Dana Jones and Lisa Whitaker have been friends since elementary school. Albeit being on very different trajectories in life. While Lisa is busy getting ready for college and planning her life and career, Dana is dealing with trouble at home and letting herself be led down a destructive path by teenage puppy love.

The novel, split into three sections, spans three different parts of the girls’ lives. Starting with how things were as adolescents fresh out of high school, moving through their young adulthood starting careers and families and finally sharing their perspectives as older adults. The Light on Halsey Street shows the lives of people going through the trials and tribulations of growing up. From trying to figure out what do to and where they fit in, to finding ways to go on when life feels difficult to manage.

The subject matter in The Light on Halsey Street is very relatable and identifiable, which made it very enjoyable to listen to. The narrative flowed well and spaced out between heavier and lighter moments in Lisa and Dana’s lives. It was also very interesting to hear the parallels in each of the girls’ lives. Each chapter would take it in turns to relate parts of the story from each girl’s point of view. This helps to understand and show how the decisions being made by one were simultaneously impacting the other and how it made each of them feel throughout the novel.

At times it did however feel like the narrative was pushing religion a little bit too hard. While religion clearly plays a big role in this story, considering Lisa grows up attending church with her parents and meets her role model there, it sometimes feels somewhat direct or almost aggressive. For example, when the teenage Lisa is talking about handing out flyers and trying to recruit more members to their church community. Religion should be a personal choice, not a hard sell or about the number of leaflets you manage to give out.

All in all, the plot is captivating and manages to pique the listener or reader’s interest and hold it throughout the narrative. From the first moment to the very last, the story flows and keeps you engaged and wanting to learn more and find out if or how each friend will come to terms with their lives and choices in the end. It’s an emotional piece of writing with very raw and real feelings that draws you in with each chapter.

This is a story of friendship, started in childhood and finished in adulthood. The in-between is a rocky road of betrayal and bitterness. It is also a story of redemption and forgiveness. Read to experience the journey both characters took to find their way.

I DNF'd this book. I found the writing just a bit too cheesy for me, and felt it had too much extraneous detail that pulled me out of the story too often. Overall not a bad story, but it wasn't holding my attention, and I moved on to other things.

I was attracted by the beautiful cover of The Light on Halsey Street.

I really enjoyed Halsey Street. Sometimes you have just the right book at the right time; my last book had a tremendous amount of swearing . This book was perfect for me to relax and get recentered in my reading again.

In The Light on Halsey Street we "grow up" with Lisa, with her so many opportunities, and Dana, who made some seriously bad choices in her life and her drug addicted mother.

Personally, its been a while since I've read a book that was classified as "Christian" and I found this one very refreshing.

I had the opportunity to listen to the advance copy of the audio book. I thought Je Nie Fleming did a very good job with narration; so many different voices.

One of the best things about NetGalley is that it introduces me to authors that I've overlooked. Vanessa Miller has written 5 DOZEN (or more!) books and The Light on Halsey Street is my first. Thank you for the opportunity to review the advance listen of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for approving my NetGalley request.

Thank you Netgalley for this audio book! I had just got a copy of the book from my library but I really wanted to get the audio book version and I am so glad I did. This was a great story. I really loved all the references to the 80s and 90s and as a woman who grew up in that same neighborhood, I could feel the energy and I knew friendships like Dana and Lisa. I was really upset that Dana did what she did to Lisa, like really? I think this is a great story about forgiveness, perseverance, and friendship. I love that the author was inspired by her husband and his childhood.

DNF @12%

I didn't like the writing. It felt like it was a poorly written like a middlegrade novel and it was supposed to be an adult novel.

The light on Halsey Street by Vanessa Miller was one of the most provocative stories about love, redemption, forgiveness, family, trauma, and friendship.

This book is the story about two best friends who chose different paths. Lisa was raised in a two parent Christian home, was groomed and prepared for a fantastic future, while Dana's entire life was ladened with disappointments, struggle, and adversity. Dana lived a life filled with many consistent but unpredictable changes, that stemmed from the decisions made by her mother. At the age of 18, fresh out of high school Dana fell for the wrong guy, while trying to navigating through one pending eviction after the next. Dana's Mom could not seem to stay clean from her drug use. Dana always felt empty, but was thankful for her friendship with Lisa. Dana's

Lisa and her parents were active in church, she could always be found serving God, and doing her best to help others. She prayed for her friend Dana, asking that God would put a good man in her life considering Derrick, the criminal, was no good. Dana was searching for love and everything she never had growing up. Lisa had an almost perfect life, a good husband, good job, and a daughter. She served in the community, prayed for people and hoped her friend would eventually turn her life around.

This story is a good book with an overarching theme of redemption and love. When adversities, bad decisions, addictions, poverty, and crime separate a friendship is it possible that two friends can regain, rebuild their friendhship after so much has been taken, lost, and interrupted.

**My breathing stopped when I reached the end...I was not ready**

This is one of my favorite Vanessa Miller's novels. The author does such a great job developing characters. With each emotion displayed by Dana and Lisa the reader connects with the characters at every junction of their individual and collective journeys. This is a must read!!! Thank you Netgalley Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio, and Vanessa Miller for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Light on Halsey Street is reminiscent of books written by authors such Gloria Naylor and screenwriters like Spike Lee. The book sets the stage in Brooklyn NYC with two teenage girls Lisa and Dana. Their friendship is unlikely but works. Lisa comes from a strong Christian family. Her parents are stable role models, and she strives to make them proud. Getting into college is one of the ways she accomplishes this. Meanwhile, Dana’s family life is the polar opposite. Her mother has a substance abuse problems, which leads to the family receiving an eviction no. Lisa has memories of her mother before the addiction took hold. A time where she felt safe. Now she no longer feels secure and finds herself in a vulnerable situation. She doesn’t work, is not college bound and has been forced to grow up quickly. When her boyfriend offers her the opportunity to make some quick money as a “ look out” she agrees with reservation.. The heist goes wrong leaving her boyfriend died and her serving four years in prison.

The novel chronicles how these two unlikely friends navigate life, family and later their relationship with God. The author allows us glimpses into issues surrounding poverty, self esteem and self worth, identity, purpose and strength. We witness the full life cycle of a friendship. There’s a refreshing look at Christian values and its influence on love, forgiveness and faith.

This is an amazing read that avid readers will not soon forget. You will walk away changed for the better.

#TheLightonHalseyStreet #NetGalley

I loved this book! A story of the redemption of two friends Dana and Lisa. Wow i really appreciated the history of how she wrote about BedStuy Brooklyn and the all of the culture that came with it. This book was written so well and really captured the essence of friendship. I also love how God was the cornerstone of this book! 5 out 5! A must read! #thelightonhalseystreet #netgalley

I really wanted to love this, but I’m afraid I didn’t. It promised a hopeful story of poor black girls rising past their circumstances (yes!) and found family, but… not like this.

Let’s start with the positives, so I don’t feel like Anton Ego.

Some of the dialogue is just lovely - it feels so real. It was alive and authentic. It made me fall for the characters.

There was also an absolutely lovely description of death towards the end. I’m a lapsed Catholic, but that description was so comforting I could understand the appeal of religion.

Okay, onto the cons.

In an attempt to include the full scope of a life, the story jumps right past really big, interesting moments.

For example, [ Dana goes to jail for four years and yet by 33 she’s a self made multimillionaire several times over, with a perfect husband and a child… [ um whaaat? This is not at all realistic and *if* the author makes it work (awesome! [ Unfair imprisonment wastes lives [ ) then we need to see HOW. This is glossed over with minimal detail, she just [ plops a savior of a man into Dana’s life who gets her a 2 million dollar loan for her business, no problem. [

That brings me to another thing - um whaaaaaat is Jeff’s character? [ He comes along looking like a Derrick 2.0, sleazy as can be (in a pinstripe suit, like a pimp!) offering her quick riches, just like Derrick. We’re convinced that Dana is making a bad decision believing promises that sound too good to be true. Only this time it is true? [ I don’t understand what the message her is, and it all just felt really unrealistic and first draft-y.

There’s more deus ex machina around [ Dana’s recovery. She falls so low into alcoholism that her kids are scared of her and her unrealistically perfect husband separates from her… but then the narrative just skips ahead X years to her sobriety. NO! We need to earn that redemption. We need to see her have the come to Jesus moment in a serious way, not just gloss over it with a little chat with her sister in law and then, ta-da!, her life is perfect again.[

Speaking of, I don’t buy Dana’s redemption. [ Lisa is maligned for all the bad things she allegedly did with credit, but when it turns out it was Dana they only ever address her taking Lisa’s identity. Tess identity theft is terrible - but we can forgive her for that given the terrible situation she was in. But not only did she steal Lisa’s identity, she then defaulted on multiple leases and ran up huge amounts of debt, knowing that Lisa would be the one who would be punished for her untrustworthiness. That was never addressed![

Which brings me to the next major con - I’ve already discussed the improbability of Jeff, but Lisa also acts in service of the plot/theme in ways that make absolutely no sense for her 1-D martyr character.

[ I didn’t love Lisa as a character because she’s a 1-D angel, but I could have accepted that since this is a religious book - maybe she isn’t meant to be a person, but an angel sent by God. Okay, fine. But then her reaction post-judgment makes no sense! She flipped from literally saying ‘I forgive her, I’ll accept anything’ to ‘throw her in jail, I’m vengeful and want to see her pay!’ in literal seconds. [ We’ve never seen anything near this side of her, her flip isn’t properly justified, and it’s just one completely out of character behavior for an otherwise consistently perfect, empathetic character. Gah.

The magic system was inconsistent, too. [ Towards the end Lisa reflects that everything works out because God cares for his children, even when there are bumps along the way, but why was that true for them and not Dana’s mother? Dana’s mother was described as a lovely woman and lovely mother before a bad boyfriend introduced her to crack (echoes of Derrick…). In that case, why didn’t she count as one of God’s children? [ It felt like a weak attempt to justify all the deus ex machina plot resolutions in the novel.

Give me great Christian fiction, I’m open minded. But make it stand up to the same standards as secular fiction must.

Thanks, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson, for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Book Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ ½
Narration Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️


Following childhood friends living in two seperate worlds growing up in Brooklyn in the late 80s. Lisa grows up in a stable Christ centered home while Dana is faced with the struggles of an single and drug addicted mother. Years later one has been living the life she dreamed while the other is a product of her youth and environment until an act from years gone by has caught up with them both.

It was touching to see the acts of forgiveness throughout the story. I enjoyed the elements of faith, prayer, salvation, forgiveness, and redemption. I also appreciated the lesson of what holding on to past hurts can do to us not only spiritually but also physically. My heart went out to Dana as she went through so much heartache, I connected with her in so many ways.

I was surprised at who stole Lisa's identity as the culprit was not whom I thought had done the act. There were places in the story that I found unnecessary and dragging but overall I did enjoy this read.

I did enjoy the narrator and thought she did a good job. Characters were easy to distinguish and with different accents and inflections the narrator brought life to each character. I would listen to other books read by this narrator.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.