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A review by inspiretruth
The Memory House by Rachel Hauck
4.0
For the month of May, my book club chose to read The Memory House by Rachel Hauck. A New York Times bestseller and widely known for her wedding-themed novels, I’d only read one of Rachel’s books before beginning The Memory House. Starting this book late, and without reading the synopsis, I had no idea if I’d finish the book before the end of the month or what to expect. However, The Memory House surprised me, and within a couple of days, the last words of the audiobook were spoken, and I was left wanting more!
Centering on the lives of four individuals, The Memory House takes us on a journey through time. Everleigh Applegate and Don Callahan are navigating life in the 1950s where women are expected to marry and have children, and the men are supposed to follow in their father’s footsteps; meanwhile, Beck Holiday and Bruno Endicott are in our time battling trials of their own.
Married with a baby on the way, Everleigh Applegate couldn’t be happier. She is married to the man of her dreams and about to start building their dream house, but when a twister tears through the town of Waco, Texas, one spring day, all of Everleigh’s hopes and dreams are swept away with it.
Widowed and childless, Everleigh mourns the death of her husband and moves in with her mother, who is also a widow. Succumbing to her new life, with no bright future seemingly in reach, Everleigh believes she is content; but that all changes when she runs into her old high school friend, Don Callahan. Before long, Everleigh begins to question her choices. Lighting a spark inside of her, Everleigh soon finds the doors she’d trapped herself behind coming unlocked; but will the shame of loving someone else stop Everleigh from finding happiness again?
Back in our time, Beck Holiday is an NYPD cop and has a growing secret that is becoming harder to hide by the day. Overwhelmed with emotions and recently suspended, receiving the letter from a lawyer in Florida couldn’t have come at a better time. Stunned to learn that she had inherited a house, Beck’s cop instincts immediately kick in, and questions rattle her brain as to why this has happened to her. Unable to ignore the letter or help her curiosity, Beck travels down to the orange state to investigate.
Having lost her memories after her dad’s death during 9/11, Beck’s time in Florida comes with its own complications. With no idea why the recently deceased lady of the house has gifted it to Beck, she does everything she can to remember her childhood. Soon after her arrival, however, she meets Bruno Endicott, a boy she grew up with though she has no recollection of it. Will Beck’s time in Florida help her remember the memories that have been buried; and what about Bruno, will their budding friendship only complicate her current situation more?
The Memory House was a compelling read. You would think that four points of views would be confusing, but the story was written so naturally that each viewpoint brought the story together in a magical way. Emotions flew off the pages, and the characters felt so real that I wondered if I was reading nonfiction rather than fiction. Rachel Hauck captures her audience with her words, always keeping Jesus at the center, and tackled controversial topics in a sensitive yet inspiring way. Showing us that life is messy and not squeaky clean, The Memory House proved that even though we all sin, forgiveness, and redemption are always available to us.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book; my only wish is that it was longer! If you’re a long time fan of Rachel Hauck, you’re going to go crazy over this novel; or, if you’re a newcomer, buckle up because once you’ve read this book, you’re going to want to read the rest of her published works, I know I do!
Centering on the lives of four individuals, The Memory House takes us on a journey through time. Everleigh Applegate and Don Callahan are navigating life in the 1950s where women are expected to marry and have children, and the men are supposed to follow in their father’s footsteps; meanwhile, Beck Holiday and Bruno Endicott are in our time battling trials of their own.
Married with a baby on the way, Everleigh Applegate couldn’t be happier. She is married to the man of her dreams and about to start building their dream house, but when a twister tears through the town of Waco, Texas, one spring day, all of Everleigh’s hopes and dreams are swept away with it.
Widowed and childless, Everleigh mourns the death of her husband and moves in with her mother, who is also a widow. Succumbing to her new life, with no bright future seemingly in reach, Everleigh believes she is content; but that all changes when she runs into her old high school friend, Don Callahan. Before long, Everleigh begins to question her choices. Lighting a spark inside of her, Everleigh soon finds the doors she’d trapped herself behind coming unlocked; but will the shame of loving someone else stop Everleigh from finding happiness again?
Back in our time, Beck Holiday is an NYPD cop and has a growing secret that is becoming harder to hide by the day. Overwhelmed with emotions and recently suspended, receiving the letter from a lawyer in Florida couldn’t have come at a better time. Stunned to learn that she had inherited a house, Beck’s cop instincts immediately kick in, and questions rattle her brain as to why this has happened to her. Unable to ignore the letter or help her curiosity, Beck travels down to the orange state to investigate.
Having lost her memories after her dad’s death during 9/11, Beck’s time in Florida comes with its own complications. With no idea why the recently deceased lady of the house has gifted it to Beck, she does everything she can to remember her childhood. Soon after her arrival, however, she meets Bruno Endicott, a boy she grew up with though she has no recollection of it. Will Beck’s time in Florida help her remember the memories that have been buried; and what about Bruno, will their budding friendship only complicate her current situation more?
The Memory House was a compelling read. You would think that four points of views would be confusing, but the story was written so naturally that each viewpoint brought the story together in a magical way. Emotions flew off the pages, and the characters felt so real that I wondered if I was reading nonfiction rather than fiction. Rachel Hauck captures her audience with her words, always keeping Jesus at the center, and tackled controversial topics in a sensitive yet inspiring way. Showing us that life is messy and not squeaky clean, The Memory House proved that even though we all sin, forgiveness, and redemption are always available to us.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book; my only wish is that it was longer! If you’re a long time fan of Rachel Hauck, you’re going to go crazy over this novel; or, if you’re a newcomer, buckle up because once you’ve read this book, you’re going to want to read the rest of her published works, I know I do!