By: Suzanne Redfearn
Narrators: Kate Rudd, Vivienne Leheny. Jordan Cobb, Michael Crouch, Jess Nahikian,
Joe Knezevich
Brilliance Audio
ISBN: 9781662514593
Publisher: Lake Union
Publication Date: 02/06/2024
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 5 Stars (ARC)
From the bestselling author of In an Instant comes the moving story of a family grappling with grief and a woman with the power to help them through it―or stand in their way.
After a tragic accident claims the life of one of her children, Marie Egide is desperate to carve out a fresh start for her family. With her husband and their three surviving children, Marie travels to New Hampshire, where she plans to sell a family estate and then, just maybe, they’ll be able to heal from their grief.
Marie’s plans are thwarted when she realizes a war veteran known by locals as “the river witch” is living in a cabin on the property, which she claims was a gift from Marie’s grandfather. If Davina refuses to move on, Marie won’t be able to either.
The two women clash, and battle lines are drawn within Marie’s family and the town as each side fights for what they believe is right, the tension rising until it reaches its breaking point. And the choice is no longer theirs when a force bigger than them all―fate―takes control.
My Review
Master storyteller Suzanne Redfearn (favorite Author) returns following Hadley & Grace and In an Instant with another emotional, compelling, and gripping tale, WHERE BUTTERFLIES WANDER —featuring a family reeling from grief and a woman haunted by war— while they all are searching for home.
It is a heart-wrenching story about a grieving family and the different ways people cope with grief.
"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."—Jackie Robinson
After a tragic accident, Marie Egide is desperate to start over with her family. With her husband, Leo, and their three surviving children (daughters Hannah and Penelope), son, Brendon, and dog Bajo, they set out for Marie's grandfather's house she has inherited in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The plans are to spend the summer at the house, prepare it for sale, and move to Farmington.
She had forgotten how peaceful and beautiful this place was. However, much to her surprise, a war veteran, Devina, known by the locals as "the river witch," lives in a cabin on the property and says it was a gift from Marie's grandfather. She refuses to leave.
The two women start a battle with lines drawn. Both believe in their rights, and tensions run high. There is no legal paperwork to back up her claims.
Temper, anger, and a hostile environment. The town’s residents become involved, and the situation escalates.
The river witch also has some folk remedies, great herbal ideas handed down generations which proved to cure things such as migraine headaches and more. She is deeply scarred.
However, a tragedy occurs which changes everything. Fate takes control, and there is no choice in who wins. A fire ignites in the timberland and causes a train of events. Both women must come face to face with their past to move forward. The two have more in common than they know.
EVERY ENDING IS A NEW BEGINNING.
A captivating, gripping, and emotional tale told from the POVs of Marie, Leo, Penelope, Hannah, Brendon, and Davina.
With many beautiful metaphors, symbolisms, and lyrical prose, the butterfly effect can often impact lives, as the Author references.
The butterfly effect is that something small can have a much larger impact, altering your life. It's the notion that the world is profoundly interconnected and that a small occurrence can influence a much larger complex system.
As always, the author writes about thought-provoking topics of grief, loss, tragedy, love, joy, family, hope, healing, forgiveness, life's challenges, and relationships for an uplifting tale and life lesson.
WHERE BUTTERFLIED WANDER is character-driven, with many different personalities and how they view life. You will enjoy some characters more than others.
What makes for true happiness and contentment? What makes for a good person? Can you redeem yourself by doing good?
I loved Pen's belief that her sister Bee's spirit manifests itself in butterflies and birds and is still with them, reminiscent of Sarah Addison Allen's books (another favorite).
Having read all the Author's books, I am a big fan —I enjoyed the inspiration behind the book and the Author's notes. WHERE BUTTERFLIES WANDER is ideal for book clubs and discussions. Discussion questions included.
The powerful, moving family saga is for Redfearn fans and those of authors Catherine Ryan Hyde, Sarah Addison Allen, and Elizabeth Berg. For readers who enjoy books about small rural towns, magical realism, family, friendship, and literary fiction with a strong takeaway message.
I look forward to listening to the audiobook narrated by a full cast of favorites: Kate Rudd, Vivienne Leheny, Jordan Cobb, Michael Crouch, Jess Nahikian, and Joe Knezevich.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating; 5 Stars
Pub Date: Feb 6, 2024
Praise
“A poignant tale of blame, forgiveness, and the slender threads that weave into the tapestry of life. Redfearn takes her readers from heartbreak to hope, all the way making us see our ties to what’s been lost, and that even the most unlikely people can set us free.”
—Gian Sardar, author of When the World Goes Quiet
“A captivating and thoughtful novel about resilience and grace in the face of tragedy. Nestled among memorable characters who will stay with you long after the last page, Suzanne Redfearn explores the lengths we will go to and the secrets we will keep to protect those we love.”
—Mansi Shah, author of The Direction of the Wind
“Where Butterflies Wander is a heart-wrenching story about a grieving family and the different ways people cope with grief. Suzanne Redfearn is a master at placing her characters in challenging circumstances where they are forced to make impossible decisions. I stayed up much too late furiously turning pages to find out what would happen. I was so invested in all the characters that I didn’t know whom to root for, wanting everyone to get what they wanted. Davina and the Egide family will stay with me for a long time to come.”
—Diane Barnes, author of All We Could Still Have and More Than
About the Author
Suzanne Redfearn is the #1 Amazon bestselling author of five novels: In An Instant, Hadley & Grace, Moment In Time, Hush Little Baby, and No Ordinary Life. Her books have been translated into twenty-four languages. Suzanne’s books have been recognized by RT Reviews, Target Recommends, Goodreads, Publisher’s Marketplace, and Kirkus Reviews. Her books have been awarded Best New Fiction from Best Book Awards and Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist.
Born and raised on the east coast, Suzanne moved to California when she was fifteen, and she currently lives in Laguna Beach with her husband where they own two restaurants: Lumberyard and Slice Pizza & Beer. In addition to being an author, Suzanne is an architect specializing in residential and commercial design. When not writing, Suzanne enjoys doing anything and everything with her family—skiing, golf, tennis, pickleball, hiking, board games, and watching reality TV. She is an avid baseball fan. Her team is the Angels.
