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And Then I Found You
Kate Vaughan is no stranger to tough choices.
She's made them before. Now it's time to do it again.
Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she's getting on with her life. Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the perfect on paper relationship; she wants a real and imperfect love. That's why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan's drawer, she panics.
It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she's filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?
When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it's time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won't fully love until she confronts those from her past. It's time to act.
Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?
And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase "inspired by a true story." By travelling back to a painful time in her own family's history, author Patti Callahan Henry explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.
She's made them before. Now it's time to do it again.
Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she's getting on with her life. Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the perfect on paper relationship; she wants a real and imperfect love. That's why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan's drawer, she panics.
It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she's filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?
When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it's time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won't fully love until she confronts those from her past. It's time to act.
Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?
And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase "inspired by a true story." By travelling back to a painful time in her own family's history, author Patti Callahan Henry explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.
261 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2004
69 people are currently reading
7066 people want to read
About the author
Patti Callahan Henry
38 books6,609 followersPatti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels, including her newest, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. She’s also a podcast host of original content for her novels, Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry.
She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews
November 11, 2016
“What will fill the place where you were?”
For a book to be great, in my eyes, it has to touch me on an emotional level. I want to feel everything the characters are going through - right along with them. That's exactly what I got with this one. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I was a total mess reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I was extremely frustrated, but most of all, I adored this story.
For Katie, the first day of spring became a day of firsts. It’s the day she experienced her first kiss, the day she vowed to love Jack forever and the day she went through with the hardest decision of her life. It changed everything.
The story alternated between past and present and it wasn’t until the secret was disclosed that everything sort of came together. I couldn’t and wouldn’t be understanding about the choices Katie and Jack made. I wanted them to forget it all and just find a way, any way, to make things work. Things in life don't always work out the way we expect though and it was a hard lesson to swallow for both Katie and I. Just when I had given up all hope, I got my happy ending. It was so worth the bumpy ride.
This was an incredible story that was only made more so by the author's letter at the end. This book is based on her own family’s experience and it made the story and the emotions I felt that much more real. If her other books are anything like this one, I can't wait to read them.
For a book to be great, in my eyes, it has to touch me on an emotional level. I want to feel everything the characters are going through - right along with them. That's exactly what I got with this one. It’s a little embarrassing to admit, but I was a total mess reading this book. I laughed, I cried, I was extremely frustrated, but most of all, I adored this story.
For Katie, the first day of spring became a day of firsts. It’s the day she experienced her first kiss, the day she vowed to love Jack forever and the day she went through with the hardest decision of her life. It changed everything.
The story alternated between past and present and it wasn’t until the secret was disclosed that everything sort of came together. I couldn’t and wouldn’t be understanding about the choices Katie and Jack made. I wanted them to forget it all and just find a way, any way, to make things work. Things in life don't always work out the way we expect though and it was a hard lesson to swallow for both Katie and I. Just when I had given up all hope, I got my happy ending. It was so worth the bumpy ride.
This was an incredible story that was only made more so by the author's letter at the end. This book is based on her own family’s experience and it made the story and the emotions I felt that much more real. If her other books are anything like this one, I can't wait to read them.
February 28, 2013
I didn't start out enjoying this book. In the beginning,especially during the first chapter, I had a hard time paying attention to what was happening in the story. Soon after, during the second chapter, I felt the story took off and there was no looking back.
By the end of this book I was thrilled with it and couldn't wait to tell others about it. This book is one that I think I will remember for a long time. The characters are so well fleshed out and developed that over the course of reading this book I really felt like they had become friends of mine.
The story seems simple at first, but the more you read, the more apparent it becomes that everything is not what it first appears at the surface of the book. There is loss, love, devotion and determination in this story that compelled me to keep reading.
It isn't often that I can't decide which character I want to root for because there are just too many to love, but that was the case with this novel. After getting a feel for each character, you will find it hard to pick a favorite.
I liked that this book spanned many years rather than being just about what happened in the present. The way the author managed to tie together the back story and the current happenings of her characters came across as flawless. I was very impressed by how seamless this book felt for me as the reader.
Another thing that I particularly enjoyed about this book is that you aren't really sure where the characters will end up when it is over. I had hopes for what I would like to see happen, and was pleased with the way the author chose to end her story.
What I found in this book, was a touching and unforgettable story that makes you believe in the power of resilience, eternal love and forgiveness. What makes this book more important than others, in my opinion, is that the inspiration for this story came from experience in the author's own family. You can tell while reading this that she put her heart and soul into the crafting of this novel.
If you are a fan of love stories that have a timeless feel and well written novels that make you stop and think about life and our connections to one another, this book will be just what you have been searching for.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.
By the end of this book I was thrilled with it and couldn't wait to tell others about it. This book is one that I think I will remember for a long time. The characters are so well fleshed out and developed that over the course of reading this book I really felt like they had become friends of mine.
The story seems simple at first, but the more you read, the more apparent it becomes that everything is not what it first appears at the surface of the book. There is loss, love, devotion and determination in this story that compelled me to keep reading.
It isn't often that I can't decide which character I want to root for because there are just too many to love, but that was the case with this novel. After getting a feel for each character, you will find it hard to pick a favorite.
I liked that this book spanned many years rather than being just about what happened in the present. The way the author managed to tie together the back story and the current happenings of her characters came across as flawless. I was very impressed by how seamless this book felt for me as the reader.
Another thing that I particularly enjoyed about this book is that you aren't really sure where the characters will end up when it is over. I had hopes for what I would like to see happen, and was pleased with the way the author chose to end her story.
What I found in this book, was a touching and unforgettable story that makes you believe in the power of resilience, eternal love and forgiveness. What makes this book more important than others, in my opinion, is that the inspiration for this story came from experience in the author's own family. You can tell while reading this that she put her heart and soul into the crafting of this novel.
If you are a fan of love stories that have a timeless feel and well written novels that make you stop and think about life and our connections to one another, this book will be just what you have been searching for.
This review is based on a digital ARC from the publisher.
June 4, 2013
So, twenty-something Katie has found the Love of Her Life AND a job she really enjoys. The job is hundreds of miles away from Love of Her Life, but that's okay because he is busy in law school. Unfortunately, Love of Her Life doesn't see it that way and wants her to be closer. Henry writes: "She tried to explain that if she didn't do this one thing she would never again do what she wanted, that if she could let someone-even Jack- talk her out of doing this, that she would never again follow through on anything important in her life. Never." Never? Really? Maybe Love of Her Life isn't the right guy for her, but going or not going to Arizona for a summer job was really THAT life-or-death and would determine the rest of her life? The story continues, of course, but I had a hard time getting into figuring out what Katie's deep, dark secret was and waiting for Henry to clue us readers in to why she was unable to love the great guy she was with years after the Jack stuff. Come on, Katie, you're 35. Grow up already. Not my kind of book at all.
June 25, 2013
Great book but many lazy editing errors. Times when Rowan was called Jack, Birmingham was in South Carolina instead of Alabama and little things like Kate following them to a pizza place in her car only to be dropped off later at the baseball field where she left her car. Things like that take away from a story for me (big pet peeve. Otherwise loved the idea of the story and loved the fact that it was personal and happened to her sister.
Favorite quote..."That's what love does sometines-talks you out of your dreams."
Favorite quote..."That's what love does sometines-talks you out of your dreams."
May 12, 2013
I loved this e-book! Patti Callahan is one of my favorite authors and never disappoints. This was an incredible love story, written and inspired from the author’s own family. A poignant story of love withstanding the tests of time. Being from the southeast, always love the southern states, as they are so familiar and puts you realistically in the setting. You will fall in love with the characters of this close knit family, the boutique, art studio, their homes (all so charming). This would also be an inspiring book for a mother who is torn with decisions of adoption.
I loved the wilderness part (says a lot about Katie/Kate, taking on struggles of younger teenage girls, making a lasting impression), Jack and Katie’s love story, forgiveness, and of course the heart felt reunion with their daughter Emily Luna. Patti did a superior job integrating the characters, times, and places to portray an unforgettable well written touching love story. I would love see a sequel possibly with Emily Luna, Lida, Jack and Kate. (In addition, be sure and read the e-book “Friend Request” as great introduction to this incredible story)!
I loved the wilderness part (says a lot about Katie/Kate, taking on struggles of younger teenage girls, making a lasting impression), Jack and Katie’s love story, forgiveness, and of course the heart felt reunion with their daughter Emily Luna. Patti did a superior job integrating the characters, times, and places to portray an unforgettable well written touching love story. I would love see a sequel possibly with Emily Luna, Lida, Jack and Kate. (In addition, be sure and read the e-book “Friend Request” as great introduction to this incredible story)!
March 31, 2013
I was a little apprehensive about reading this novel at first, since I'm a mother and under no circumstances could I even imagine having to give up my child. However, I am glad I did read this, because it was a beautiful story even though things weren't perfect.
Firstly, and I say this as a woman who was 23 years old and married when I had my first child, I thought Kate's reasons for giving up Luna were not good enough. I know, this sounds very very judgmental of me. But I simply felt that there was no reason she couldn't have given her daughter a good life. This is a fictional character, but there are plenty of girls younger than twenty and in worse situations that give birth to their kids and raise them nicely. I myself was born when my mother was only 16. Again, fiction and not real life, but this bothered me.
After I moved past that, I found myself truly enjoying the story. Kate is stuck in a relationship in which she is not truly fulfilled, because she never stopped loving Jack even though they've been apart for 13 years. Kate's family has, for the most part, moved on from the fact that the gave up her daughter, but every now and then her parents throw up little barbs that still hurt.
The book is written from the third person point of view, and alternates between several characters, and different time periods. I liked that I had to watch the story of the past unfold slowly, rather than having it all told in one fell swoop.
Kate and Jack are good together, but man is this story full of some dysfunctional relationships. You can't help but feel for the significant others they've each had, who have wasted years of their lives loving a person who didn't fully love them back. Even when Kate and Jack reunite to talk about their daughter after so many years, they can't get things right. I was never really sure if this book would have a happy ending.
I felt this was a nice read, and it did bring me to tears a few times. I may not have been able to personally relate to Kate's decisions, but I connected with her as a woman and a mother. And I think other mothers will like this novel as well.
Firstly, and I say this as a woman who was 23 years old and married when I had my first child, I thought Kate's reasons for giving up Luna were not good enough. I know, this sounds very very judgmental of me. But I simply felt that there was no reason she couldn't have given her daughter a good life. This is a fictional character, but there are plenty of girls younger than twenty and in worse situations that give birth to their kids and raise them nicely. I myself was born when my mother was only 16. Again, fiction and not real life, but this bothered me.
After I moved past that, I found myself truly enjoying the story. Kate is stuck in a relationship in which she is not truly fulfilled, because she never stopped loving Jack even though they've been apart for 13 years. Kate's family has, for the most part, moved on from the fact that the gave up her daughter, but every now and then her parents throw up little barbs that still hurt.
The book is written from the third person point of view, and alternates between several characters, and different time periods. I liked that I had to watch the story of the past unfold slowly, rather than having it all told in one fell swoop.
Kate and Jack are good together, but man is this story full of some dysfunctional relationships. You can't help but feel for the significant others they've each had, who have wasted years of their lives loving a person who didn't fully love them back. Even when Kate and Jack reunite to talk about their daughter after so many years, they can't get things right. I was never really sure if this book would have a happy ending.
I felt this was a nice read, and it did bring me to tears a few times. I may not have been able to personally relate to Kate's decisions, but I connected with her as a woman and a mother. And I think other mothers will like this novel as well.
January 31, 2016
I really enjoy Patti Callahan Henry but I didn't enjoy her novel And Then I Found You as much as her other novels I have read. For a synopsis, read Goodreads.
And Then I Found You is a story of lost loves: her boyfriend(s), a family, and for herself. However, I just didn't care much for the main character Kate Vaughan. She is an extremely ambitious woman with a successful career and as a young woman, knew what she wanted in life although is shut out the most important person in her life. I also didn't like the way she treated Rowan, and I felt Jack was a cold person for 95% of the story.
The story overall was ok. It's based on a true family event and being the mother of two adopted children, I can relate to many of the emotions that Henry tells about. It doesn't have a fairy tale ending and for that, I appreciate the story. Will my attitude with this book keep me from reading another Henry novel? Of course not, I enjoy her books.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
And Then I Found You is a story of lost loves: her boyfriend(s), a family, and for herself. However, I just didn't care much for the main character Kate Vaughan. She is an extremely ambitious woman with a successful career and as a young woman, knew what she wanted in life although is shut out the most important person in her life. I also didn't like the way she treated Rowan, and I felt Jack was a cold person for 95% of the story.
The story overall was ok. It's based on a true family event and being the mother of two adopted children, I can relate to many of the emotions that Henry tells about. It doesn't have a fairy tale ending and for that, I appreciate the story. Will my attitude with this book keep me from reading another Henry novel? Of course not, I enjoy her books.
Go Cards! L1C4!!
June 24, 2013
And Then I Found You
by
Patti Callahan Henry
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Young love...lost love...found love...on many levels.
My thoughts after reading this book...
This was a lovely book. It was a great story with just the right amount of angst. It was the story of Kate/Katie and Jack. They knew each other for most of their lives. They assumed they would always be together and then something happens...in this case Katie just wants to stop waiting for Jack and wants to do something of her own. And...when she does...Jack stops waiting for her. But then there is this life altering event that happened 13 years ago on the last night they were together...that will keep them connected forever.
Just as the name Luna will keep them connected...forever...at least once a year...anyway.
What I loved about this book...
This book was just enjoyable lovely and romantic. I loved the Alabama/South Carolina/ New York settings. I loved the characters...especially Kate and Emily. I loved the anguished tortured secrets being kept. It was all just kind of yummy. Nothing earth shattering going on really...nothing but family and friends and soul searching and lost love and discovery. And a clothing shop I really wish was real...darn it!
What I didn't love...
Honestly...nothing...it might have been slightly predictable but I still loved the book!
Final thoughts...
This is my first experience with this author and it was simply enjoyable...I settled on my deck with a tall glass of iced tea and my book and just read...it was lovely. I am happy calling this a perfect summer book.
by
Patti Callahan Henry
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Young love...lost love...found love...on many levels.
My thoughts after reading this book...
This was a lovely book. It was a great story with just the right amount of angst. It was the story of Kate/Katie and Jack. They knew each other for most of their lives. They assumed they would always be together and then something happens...in this case Katie just wants to stop waiting for Jack and wants to do something of her own. And...when she does...Jack stops waiting for her. But then there is this life altering event that happened 13 years ago on the last night they were together...that will keep them connected forever.
Just as the name Luna will keep them connected...forever...at least once a year...anyway.
What I loved about this book...
This book was just enjoyable lovely and romantic. I loved the Alabama/South Carolina/ New York settings. I loved the characters...especially Kate and Emily. I loved the anguished tortured secrets being kept. It was all just kind of yummy. Nothing earth shattering going on really...nothing but family and friends and soul searching and lost love and discovery. And a clothing shop I really wish was real...darn it!
What I didn't love...
Honestly...nothing...it might have been slightly predictable but I still loved the book!
Final thoughts...
This is my first experience with this author and it was simply enjoyable...I settled on my deck with a tall glass of iced tea and my book and just read...it was lovely. I am happy calling this a perfect summer book.
March 16, 2013
I won this book on a First Reads Giveaway. The forward from the author grabbed my attention when I discovered this was to be a story of adoption. As a mother, I can't imagine the love & hard choices women make to give their babies the best possible life, even when it means their own hearts must break. This was a good book, it moved a little slow until the middle, then it got good. I was happy with the ending, & I would read from this author again! Thank you for the book!
September 22, 2020
I had a really hard time liking the MC. There were so many 5 star reads, that I feel that you should judge for yourself. I sometimes read these type of books to clear my mind of all the psycho, killer , police procedure , books that I really like. So it may be a bit unfair to put 2 stars on this type of book. Like I said- judge for yourself - xx
July 1, 2021
New author for me… love story vs ‘romance novel’. Looking forward to reading more. Prob closer to a 3.5-4 star
April 2, 2013
For Katie Vaughn, the first day of spring was always a day of firsts: the day she experienced her first kiss, the day she fell in love, the day she ran a marathon, the day she opened her boutique, and the day she vowed to love Jack Adams forever. It was also the day she gave up her newborn for adoption in Patti Callahan Henry’s tender, sincere, and deeply poignant novel And Then I Found You, the April Book Club Selection for She Reads.
The plot of And Then I Found You is as swiftly-paced as the current of Katie’s beloved South Carolina River. Katie is successful and in a loving relationship with her boyfriend, Rowan. When she accidentally stumbles upon an engagement ring he bought for her, Katie comes to a crossroads of sorts. She thought she loved Rowan, but now she finds herself unsure. The problem is Jack, her first love and the father of Luna, the baby she gave away all those years ago.
To go on with her life, Katie feels like she has to see Jack and talk to him. Maybe then she can have the closure she needs. But once Katie travels to Birmingham, Jack’s home, old feelings resurface for them both.
Henry tells the story from the very different perspectives of 35-year-old Katie and 13-year-old Emily Jackson, Katie’s biological daughter. I truly admired how Henry managed to realistically capture both points of view. In And Then I Found You, Henry also takes us back and forth through time to provide windows into Katie’s past, crucial moments we must know to better understand her and the narrative.
And Then I Found You is told with such honesty and heart because, for Henry, it is very personal. Life often imitates art, but sometimes art can imitate life.
In the story, Katie has two younger sisters. One, Tara, is a writer. When Emily begins an online search for her biological mother, links to Tara come up over and over. Emily contacts Tara through Facebook; this social media connection leads to a reunion.
As Henry explains in her letter to readers at the front of her novel, And Then I Found You is loosely based on a true story. Henry’s sister placed her baby up for adoption over 21 years ago. “It was the most heartrending, courageous and difficult decision she had ever made, and we all wept with her when she handed her baby girl to an anonymous, yet hand-chosen family,” Henry writes. Then, one day, two years ago, Henry received “a Facebook friend request from a young girl with the same birthday as my adopted niece. It was too much to hope for, almost too miraculous to believe. But it was true: My sister’s daughter, my niece, found us on Facebook.” Henry emphasizes the awesome power of social media in her story, and simultaneously inspires and moves us, yes, to tears.
Henry drew me in from the very first page, and I read this novel in one sitting, as I could not tear myself away; I had to find out what would happen. I was surprised to enjoy this novel as much as I did. Initially, I worried it would be too sappy and too romantic for my tastes, but my concerns were for naught.
Passionate, stirring, and full of sentiment, this is a story about first love, family, mistakes, forgiveness, and second chances. I predict readers will fall in love with And Then I Found You, a perfect read for book clubs because it’s so easy to like Henry’s characters. And Then I Found You is destined to become one of the summer’s hottest beach reads. Throw this title in your beach bag but don’t forget the sunscreen and sunglasses!
The plot of And Then I Found You is as swiftly-paced as the current of Katie’s beloved South Carolina River. Katie is successful and in a loving relationship with her boyfriend, Rowan. When she accidentally stumbles upon an engagement ring he bought for her, Katie comes to a crossroads of sorts. She thought she loved Rowan, but now she finds herself unsure. The problem is Jack, her first love and the father of Luna, the baby she gave away all those years ago.
To go on with her life, Katie feels like she has to see Jack and talk to him. Maybe then she can have the closure she needs. But once Katie travels to Birmingham, Jack’s home, old feelings resurface for them both.
Henry tells the story from the very different perspectives of 35-year-old Katie and 13-year-old Emily Jackson, Katie’s biological daughter. I truly admired how Henry managed to realistically capture both points of view. In And Then I Found You, Henry also takes us back and forth through time to provide windows into Katie’s past, crucial moments we must know to better understand her and the narrative.
And Then I Found You is told with such honesty and heart because, for Henry, it is very personal. Life often imitates art, but sometimes art can imitate life.
In the story, Katie has two younger sisters. One, Tara, is a writer. When Emily begins an online search for her biological mother, links to Tara come up over and over. Emily contacts Tara through Facebook; this social media connection leads to a reunion.
As Henry explains in her letter to readers at the front of her novel, And Then I Found You is loosely based on a true story. Henry’s sister placed her baby up for adoption over 21 years ago. “It was the most heartrending, courageous and difficult decision she had ever made, and we all wept with her when she handed her baby girl to an anonymous, yet hand-chosen family,” Henry writes. Then, one day, two years ago, Henry received “a Facebook friend request from a young girl with the same birthday as my adopted niece. It was too much to hope for, almost too miraculous to believe. But it was true: My sister’s daughter, my niece, found us on Facebook.” Henry emphasizes the awesome power of social media in her story, and simultaneously inspires and moves us, yes, to tears.
Henry drew me in from the very first page, and I read this novel in one sitting, as I could not tear myself away; I had to find out what would happen. I was surprised to enjoy this novel as much as I did. Initially, I worried it would be too sappy and too romantic for my tastes, but my concerns were for naught.
Passionate, stirring, and full of sentiment, this is a story about first love, family, mistakes, forgiveness, and second chances. I predict readers will fall in love with And Then I Found You, a perfect read for book clubs because it’s so easy to like Henry’s characters. And Then I Found You is destined to become one of the summer’s hottest beach reads. Throw this title in your beach bag but don’t forget the sunscreen and sunglasses!
February 25, 2013
I won this book through the good reads first reads program!
This book grabbed me from page one! A story about young love facing obstacles, separation and a life changing situation creates a well paced, beautifully written story that kept me glued to this book. I loved that the story flashed back and forth between past and present. It gave such depth and dimension to the characters; to their struggles, their points of view, their history. I literally devoured this book. It was an emotional ride with some amazing characters. I will miss them and wish them luck! 5 stars!
This book grabbed me from page one! A story about young love facing obstacles, separation and a life changing situation creates a well paced, beautifully written story that kept me glued to this book. I loved that the story flashed back and forth between past and present. It gave such depth and dimension to the characters; to their struggles, their points of view, their history. I literally devoured this book. It was an emotional ride with some amazing characters. I will miss them and wish them luck! 5 stars!
March 31, 2016
This is a very light read, with a fairly predictable plot, but enjoyable nonetheless. Pretty much what I was in the mood for, so it did not disappoint. It manages to pull on the heart strings without being too sappy. Sometimes eating the circus peanuts of literature can be enjoyable too, in small doses.
March 28, 2013
Another great read from Patti-Callahan Henry. This time the story is taken from a page in her life. It's hard to tell you more without a big spoiler. Love the characters and the voice of this author.
July 17, 2020
For me it was just okay. Katie was not a character that I was able to relate to, and my heart broke for other characters so much more than her. This story needed Jack to be more developed, for us to have some understanding into why he wasn't willing to wait for Katie. It just didn't quite add up for me.
Easy reading, enjoyable at times and completely predictable, but nothing I'll ever reread.
Easy reading, enjoyable at times and completely predictable, but nothing I'll ever reread.
July 20, 2018
Beautiful writing and thoughts for a situation that's all too common. The only thing that prevented me from giving it another 1/2 star is that I thought that Kate was unrealistic and a bit selfish in her relationship with Jack. She kept doing whatever she wanted expecting him to understand but at the end of the story, when he tried to do the same, she cut him right off...was glad for the happy ending though.
June 5, 2022
i loved this book and the ending! once it picked up in chapter 3 i absolutely couldn’t put it down. it’s a very heartwarming and easy reading book about love. read it!!
November 8, 2023
A beautiful story of love, loss and adoption. As an adopted child myself, I developed a special connection to this book as I turned the pages. As a child I could relate to the curiosity, the inquisitiveness. And now as a mother I can relate to it on a much deeper level. ❤️
January 10, 2024
I have read this book four times and I can honestly say it is by far my most favourite book ever.
March 29, 2021
Loved this book, light easy to read, the love captivated me.
April 14, 2013
Story Description:
St. Martin’s Press|April 9, 2013|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-312-61076-0
Kate Vaughn is no stranger to tough choices. She’s made them before. Now it’s time to do it again. Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she’s getting on with her life. Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the “perfect on paper” relationship she wants a real and imperfect love. That’s why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan’s drawer, she panics.
It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she’s filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?
When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it’s time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won’t fully love until she confronts those from her past. It’s time to act.
Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?
And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase “inspired by a true story.” By travelling back to a painful time in her own family’s history, the author explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.
My Review:
Kate Vaughn owned a successful boutique in Bluffton, South Carolina. She has strong ties with her family and is in love with her boyfriend, Rowan but not as in love with him as she wants to be. When Kate discovers a ring box in Rowan’s bedside table she panics and realizes then that she has to face the truth.
In order to move forward, Kate must deal with her past. Her past haunts her every day of her life as she remembers the child she gave up for adoption when she was a teenager. She understands that she cannot fully love Rowan or even herself until she lets go of the past but that is easier said than done.
Way back in her childhood, March 20th was full of first things for, Kate and it was the day that started all the other days in her life, the beginning of everything that might come after. She liked to show off for Jack Adams. That day she’d gotten into trouble at school and was sent home. Later in the day, Jack showed up at her house throwing stones at her bedroom window. When he learned that Kate hadn’t been grounded by her parents for the trouble at school he asked her to come outside. Together they walked hand-in-hand to the May River, Kate’s favourite, where they sat on a log and Jack kissed her not once, but twice. Kate kissed Jack back for a third kiss. Jack then declared that Katie was now his girlfriend which Katie quickly agreed too.
Katie decided this was to be known as her day of “firsts” – her first kiss; first day of Spring; and her first promise which was to never have anyone but Jonathan Gray Adams – “my Jack”. Absolutely nothing felt more important than this vow made on the first day of spring – one that couldn’t and wouldn’t be broken.
Now at age thirty-five, Kate still holds the first day of spring as important to her and ensures she does something special on that day. It was a definite ritual for her and Kate made sure she did something new, something she’d never done before. Six years ago she opened her boutique; the year before she ran a marathon with her sister; and there was also a trip to California with her best friend, Norah; then a midnight swim in the darkest water with Rowan the first time he visited her in South Carolina.
Kate must now reconcile her past and time is of the essence now that she has seen the ring box Rowan has for her. She knows and feels that she can’t fully let go and love Rowan like he deserves to be loved because she is holding something back. Kate has had a deep, passionate, sincere love for Jack from the time they were children and she knows it’s time to head to Birmingham, Alabama to see Jack. What Kate doesn’t realize is that this will begin a chain reaction of events that will change her life in unexpected ways.
And Then I Found You is a profoundly startling story that kept me glued to the edge of my seat. Ms. Henry’s writing will tug at your heartstrings and stir emotions you didn’t know you still had. Keep the box of Kleenex close by while reading. I will most definitely be recommending this novel to family and friends.
St. Martin’s Press|April 9, 2013|Hardcover|ISBN: 978-0-312-61076-0
Kate Vaughn is no stranger to tough choices. She’s made them before. Now it’s time to do it again. Kate has a secret, something tucked away in her past. And she’s getting on with her life. Her business is thriving. She has a strong relationship with her family, and a devoted boyfriend whom she wants to love with all her heart. If Kate had ever made a list, Rowan would fill the imagined boxes of a perfect mate. But she wants more than the “perfect on paper” relationship she wants a real and imperfect love. That’s why, when Kate discovers the small velvet box hidden in Rowan’s drawer, she panics.
It always happens this way. Just when Kate thinks she can love, just when she believes she can conquer the fear, she’s filled with dread. And she wants more than anything to make this feeling go away. But how?
When the mistakes have been made and the running is over, it’s time to face the truth. Kate knows this. She understands that a woman can never undo what can never be undone. Yet, for the first time in her life she also knows that she won’t fully love until she confronts those from her past. It’s time to act.
Can she do it? Can she travel to the place where it all began, to the one who shares her secret? Can the lost ever become found?
And Then I Found You gives new life to the phrase “inspired by a true story.” By travelling back to a painful time in her own family’s history, the author explores the limits of courage, and the price of a selfless act.
My Review:
Kate Vaughn owned a successful boutique in Bluffton, South Carolina. She has strong ties with her family and is in love with her boyfriend, Rowan but not as in love with him as she wants to be. When Kate discovers a ring box in Rowan’s bedside table she panics and realizes then that she has to face the truth.
In order to move forward, Kate must deal with her past. Her past haunts her every day of her life as she remembers the child she gave up for adoption when she was a teenager. She understands that she cannot fully love Rowan or even herself until she lets go of the past but that is easier said than done.
Way back in her childhood, March 20th was full of first things for, Kate and it was the day that started all the other days in her life, the beginning of everything that might come after. She liked to show off for Jack Adams. That day she’d gotten into trouble at school and was sent home. Later in the day, Jack showed up at her house throwing stones at her bedroom window. When he learned that Kate hadn’t been grounded by her parents for the trouble at school he asked her to come outside. Together they walked hand-in-hand to the May River, Kate’s favourite, where they sat on a log and Jack kissed her not once, but twice. Kate kissed Jack back for a third kiss. Jack then declared that Katie was now his girlfriend which Katie quickly agreed too.
Katie decided this was to be known as her day of “firsts” – her first kiss; first day of Spring; and her first promise which was to never have anyone but Jonathan Gray Adams – “my Jack”. Absolutely nothing felt more important than this vow made on the first day of spring – one that couldn’t and wouldn’t be broken.
Now at age thirty-five, Kate still holds the first day of spring as important to her and ensures she does something special on that day. It was a definite ritual for her and Kate made sure she did something new, something she’d never done before. Six years ago she opened her boutique; the year before she ran a marathon with her sister; and there was also a trip to California with her best friend, Norah; then a midnight swim in the darkest water with Rowan the first time he visited her in South Carolina.
Kate must now reconcile her past and time is of the essence now that she has seen the ring box Rowan has for her. She knows and feels that she can’t fully let go and love Rowan like he deserves to be loved because she is holding something back. Kate has had a deep, passionate, sincere love for Jack from the time they were children and she knows it’s time to head to Birmingham, Alabama to see Jack. What Kate doesn’t realize is that this will begin a chain reaction of events that will change her life in unexpected ways.
And Then I Found You is a profoundly startling story that kept me glued to the edge of my seat. Ms. Henry’s writing will tug at your heartstrings and stir emotions you didn’t know you still had. Keep the box of Kleenex close by while reading. I will most definitely be recommending this novel to family and friends.
August 20, 2013
The author’s introduction tells us that this novel is based on the true story of her sister, who gave away a child for adoption at birth. Once grown, the adopted child used Facebook to find her birth family. Turning this into fiction made for a very interesting take on how easy it is to find almost anyone through social networks in the 21st century. Just ten years ago, locating anyone from a name could be very time-consuming and involve checking court records, city directories, and a plethora of other sources. Now, just the name and an idea of location can take anyone much farther.
Henry tells the story in an unhurried manner but never so slowly as to be plodding. We first meet character Kate Vaughn as a 13 year old going on her first date with Jack. Jumping to the present, the adult Kate is happy running a clothing shop but can’t stop thinking about the baby she gave up for adoption over a decade before.
Over several chapters, background is provided of how and why Kate felt she could not keep her child, as well as what happened between her and Jack.This is revealed simultaneously with Emily, the child in question, finding the clues that lead her to Kate. Emily loves her adoptive family but can’t help but be curious about who gave her up and why. Her adoptive mother, Mrs. Jackson, is a wonderful portrait of a loving mother torn that her daughter may be disappointed in what she finds on her search and the worse possibility that Emily might like her birth mother.
This is only half the story—the half I really liked.The other half I liked quite a bit less, and I very much hope this comprises the fictional elements of the story. It chiefly led up to the rekindling of romance between Kate and Jack. I’m not against romance on principal, but I’m not a fan of a character as intelligent and loaded with potential as Kate spending years pining for someone like Jack. What’s wrong with Jack? Read on…
Kate seems to have had her life in suspended animation since breaking up with Jack. Jack married, had a child, divorced, runs his own business, and is seen as a “catch” around town. Kate studied social work and loved it but has not used her degree since graduating. She now owns a clothing boutique and is dating Rowan, who’d like to propose. This makes Kate very anxious, and my impression is that she’s worried she’ll no longer be available for Jack, who still sends her schmaltzy letters every year on their daughter’s birthday.
I don’t want to give away too much of the big reveal of why Kate could not keep her baby, but let’s just say that Jack has a habit of sleeping with old girlfriends (for instance, Kate) while dating someone else. That Kate is willing to keep seeing him, despite knowing that he’s dating another woman, just seems very odd to me.
Thirteen years later, Kate manages to visit the now conveniently divorced Jack. It was very obvious to me that the meat of this story would be Jack and Kate getting back together. Jack is also happy to see her, at least when it seems sex is in the offing. Once Emily has made contact with both, if Kate phones Jack regarding her, he has a tendency to suddenly turn “cold.” I wonder why? Oh, yes, no nookie.
On her initial visit to Jack, Kate is introduced to a woman, “Mimi,” who Jack is “sort of” seeing. Is this sounding familiar? Mimi never appears again, and her role in Jack’s life is never clarified. Kate never even mentions Mimi after initially asking Jack if they’re a couple. The answer is yes, so I would have thought before jumping into bed with Jack again, she’d at least ask about Mimi. Given their history, I would definitely have expected a mention of birth control. There is none. I was honestly wondering if Kate would find herself pregnant again, only to find that Jack is committed to Mimi!
This part of the novel came across as a poorly thought-out romance novel/soap opera. Jack is the studly hero who can’t help banging every woman on the planet. Kate is the patient woman who waits for him and loves him regardless. Oh, yes, and they have a child together who has found them and has a lot of questions. Jack is clearly less enthused by this than Kate. In a contrived subplot, whenever there is a significant moment, a bird’s feather floats down to the affected person.
If you’re wondering where Rowan, Kate’s fiance, is, he’s likely hanging out with Mimi in unresolved character land. Why not? We know he’s going to be dumped for Jack before the end.
Henry tells the story in an unhurried manner but never so slowly as to be plodding. We first meet character Kate Vaughn as a 13 year old going on her first date with Jack. Jumping to the present, the adult Kate is happy running a clothing shop but can’t stop thinking about the baby she gave up for adoption over a decade before.
Over several chapters, background is provided of how and why Kate felt she could not keep her child, as well as what happened between her and Jack.This is revealed simultaneously with Emily, the child in question, finding the clues that lead her to Kate. Emily loves her adoptive family but can’t help but be curious about who gave her up and why. Her adoptive mother, Mrs. Jackson, is a wonderful portrait of a loving mother torn that her daughter may be disappointed in what she finds on her search and the worse possibility that Emily might like her birth mother.
This is only half the story—the half I really liked.The other half I liked quite a bit less, and I very much hope this comprises the fictional elements of the story. It chiefly led up to the rekindling of romance between Kate and Jack. I’m not against romance on principal, but I’m not a fan of a character as intelligent and loaded with potential as Kate spending years pining for someone like Jack. What’s wrong with Jack? Read on…
Kate seems to have had her life in suspended animation since breaking up with Jack. Jack married, had a child, divorced, runs his own business, and is seen as a “catch” around town. Kate studied social work and loved it but has not used her degree since graduating. She now owns a clothing boutique and is dating Rowan, who’d like to propose. This makes Kate very anxious, and my impression is that she’s worried she’ll no longer be available for Jack, who still sends her schmaltzy letters every year on their daughter’s birthday.
I don’t want to give away too much of the big reveal of why Kate could not keep her baby, but let’s just say that Jack has a habit of sleeping with old girlfriends (for instance, Kate) while dating someone else. That Kate is willing to keep seeing him, despite knowing that he’s dating another woman, just seems very odd to me.
Thirteen years later, Kate manages to visit the now conveniently divorced Jack. It was very obvious to me that the meat of this story would be Jack and Kate getting back together. Jack is also happy to see her, at least when it seems sex is in the offing. Once Emily has made contact with both, if Kate phones Jack regarding her, he has a tendency to suddenly turn “cold.” I wonder why? Oh, yes, no nookie.
On her initial visit to Jack, Kate is introduced to a woman, “Mimi,” who Jack is “sort of” seeing. Is this sounding familiar? Mimi never appears again, and her role in Jack’s life is never clarified. Kate never even mentions Mimi after initially asking Jack if they’re a couple. The answer is yes, so I would have thought before jumping into bed with Jack again, she’d at least ask about Mimi. Given their history, I would definitely have expected a mention of birth control. There is none. I was honestly wondering if Kate would find herself pregnant again, only to find that Jack is committed to Mimi!
This part of the novel came across as a poorly thought-out romance novel/soap opera. Jack is the studly hero who can’t help banging every woman on the planet. Kate is the patient woman who waits for him and loves him regardless. Oh, yes, and they have a child together who has found them and has a lot of questions. Jack is clearly less enthused by this than Kate. In a contrived subplot, whenever there is a significant moment, a bird’s feather floats down to the affected person.
If you’re wondering where Rowan, Kate’s fiance, is, he’s likely hanging out with Mimi in unresolved character land. Why not? We know he’s going to be dumped for Jack before the end.
April 24, 2013
"It didn’t make any sense, but she was beyond sense now. Life, she believed from living in the wilderness, was tied together by hints, whispers, and unseen fabric-makers. She imagined someone far more knowing than she, sewing together a fragile web that she wouldn’t see until time was done. She could ignore the whispers and threads, everyone could, and she often did, but this time she wouldn’t."
And Then I Found You, by Patti Callahan Henry is not a mystery. It’s about the oldest story in the world: boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, stuff happens and they break up. Then they get back together again and everybody is happy. No mystery maybe, but, it’s still a yummy, somehow comforting, read. And hey, it had me teary eyed by page 77, and again before the book was done. (I’m not going to go into that aspect of the novel, because it’s already been written about a lot, and it’s also kind of a spoiler.)
Reading this novel is like watching one of the better movies on Lifetime or the Hallmark channel at the end of a long day, where you just want somebody to tell you a sad story with a happy ending, that doesn’t require too much from your over-taxed brain. But by that I don’t mean to trivialize, because story telling like that takes quiet skill; language that isn’t challenging, yet doesn’t bore, and pacing, which is outstanding in this novel. I can honestly say I was not bored for even one page, though I expected I might be because of some of the tropes used, one example of which is the protagonist runs a trendy clothing boutique.
When I received this book, the novel of the month for Shereads, I thought I wouldn’t like it. I imagined it would be too sappy for my tastes. But Henry won me over with her writing, which after all, is the only difference between one book and another, when you get right down to it. She has a wonderful ear for dialogue and a gift for economically creating believable secondary characters, and she successfully writes about topics that could easily become overly sentimental.
From the beginning of the book it’s obvious how the reader wants it all to turn out—and not a surprise when it does. And yet . . . it’s all satisfying; a feeling of rightness falling into place like the tumblers of a lock: click, click, click.
"The extraordinary happens in the exact middle of ordinary, she thought clearly and permanently. No trumpet blast to announce the moment, no parting of clouds or Hallelujah chorus. Just the simple miracle (as if any miracle is simple) between an in-breath and an out-breath, the wide-open space where the unknown was known, the lost found, and the unseen seen."
A superb example of its genre.
This writer’s strengths: Henry knows just how much tension to apply and doesn’t go over the top into melodrama. She’s got a steady hand at the wheel and it very soon becomes obvious how she could be a NY Times bestseller. The writing is economical and doesn’t wear the reader out. Subtle humor; the ass-stealing incident is a good example that had me chuckling—if you want to know more, you’ll just have to read the book.
Who will enjoy this book: Women, mainly; it’s a rare guy who’d read this novel. This one’s for the girls.
I can’t comment on the editing since the copy I read is an arc, provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via Shereads.
And Then I Found You, by Patti Callahan Henry is not a mystery. It’s about the oldest story in the world: boy meets girl, boy and girl fall in love, stuff happens and they break up. Then they get back together again and everybody is happy. No mystery maybe, but, it’s still a yummy, somehow comforting, read. And hey, it had me teary eyed by page 77, and again before the book was done. (I’m not going to go into that aspect of the novel, because it’s already been written about a lot, and it’s also kind of a spoiler.)
Reading this novel is like watching one of the better movies on Lifetime or the Hallmark channel at the end of a long day, where you just want somebody to tell you a sad story with a happy ending, that doesn’t require too much from your over-taxed brain. But by that I don’t mean to trivialize, because story telling like that takes quiet skill; language that isn’t challenging, yet doesn’t bore, and pacing, which is outstanding in this novel. I can honestly say I was not bored for even one page, though I expected I might be because of some of the tropes used, one example of which is the protagonist runs a trendy clothing boutique.
When I received this book, the novel of the month for Shereads, I thought I wouldn’t like it. I imagined it would be too sappy for my tastes. But Henry won me over with her writing, which after all, is the only difference between one book and another, when you get right down to it. She has a wonderful ear for dialogue and a gift for economically creating believable secondary characters, and she successfully writes about topics that could easily become overly sentimental.
From the beginning of the book it’s obvious how the reader wants it all to turn out—and not a surprise when it does. And yet . . . it’s all satisfying; a feeling of rightness falling into place like the tumblers of a lock: click, click, click.
"The extraordinary happens in the exact middle of ordinary, she thought clearly and permanently. No trumpet blast to announce the moment, no parting of clouds or Hallelujah chorus. Just the simple miracle (as if any miracle is simple) between an in-breath and an out-breath, the wide-open space where the unknown was known, the lost found, and the unseen seen."
A superb example of its genre.
This writer’s strengths: Henry knows just how much tension to apply and doesn’t go over the top into melodrama. She’s got a steady hand at the wheel and it very soon becomes obvious how she could be a NY Times bestseller. The writing is economical and doesn’t wear the reader out. Subtle humor; the ass-stealing incident is a good example that had me chuckling—if you want to know more, you’ll just have to read the book.
Who will enjoy this book: Women, mainly; it’s a rare guy who’d read this novel. This one’s for the girls.
I can’t comment on the editing since the copy I read is an arc, provided to me by the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, via Shereads.
February 22, 2013
To thirteen year old, Katie Vaughn, March 20th was not only the first day of spring, it was the start of what would become many firsts in her life. Walking in the moonlight with Jack Adams was something that Katie had always dreamt of. Now it was becoming her reality. They walked hand in hand down a stone path that led to the May River. While talking about the occurrences of the day, Jack did the one thing that Katie had always wanted him to do. He kissed her under the moonlight and that was the start of their relationship. Jack told Katie something his mother had always said … a promise made on the first day of spring was a promise that you could never break. Later that evening, Katie realized that today had been the day of a lot of first for her. Firsts that she did not realize would effect the rest of her life.
Katie and Jack continued dating, but things hit a rough patch when Katie took a job in Arizona after she graduated from college. Jack didn’t approve of this job and didn’t understand why she had to take a job so far away. She knew she had to do this for her though. Jack was always asking her to come home, but Katie’s response was always the same… just a few more months. One day, when Katie was visiting Jack, he told her that he was dating someone else. All it took was one kiss for their emotions to take over and their bodies to react. Little did they know that this one act, something that they had shared many times in the past, would be the thing that would bind their lives forever.
It was March 20, 1997, the first day of spring. Katie just gave birth to hers and Jack’s daughter, Luna. What would normally be a joyous day was filled with sadness. Jack was married and Katie couldn’t bear the thought of raising their daughter alone. Holding Luna in her arms, Katie gave her daughter one last kiss and handed her over to the social worker. She was now someone else’s child.
And Then I Found You is a very powerful and moving book. It touches on the very delicate subject of adoption and the emotions both birth and adoptive families face during the process. The author did a great job showcasing the struggles both families endure when giving up and adopting a child. The book was very well written and the story was told to perfection. I really enjoyed each of the characters and their own unique ways that they handled this difficult situation. As a mother of an adopted daughter, this book really hit home. I could relate to the concerns and emotions that the adopted family felt. I, too, wonder what kind of questions my daughter will ask? What kinds of emotions will she go through? Will she feel like she wasn’t wanted? Will she know how much we wanted and love her? The author did a fantastic job addressing all of these questions and more. I absolutely loved reading this book and didn’t want it to end. I give this book a five out of five star rating. If it were possible to give it a higher rating, I would. I can honestly say that this is the best book I’ve ever read! I would absolutely recommend it to others.
Katie and Jack continued dating, but things hit a rough patch when Katie took a job in Arizona after she graduated from college. Jack didn’t approve of this job and didn’t understand why she had to take a job so far away. She knew she had to do this for her though. Jack was always asking her to come home, but Katie’s response was always the same… just a few more months. One day, when Katie was visiting Jack, he told her that he was dating someone else. All it took was one kiss for their emotions to take over and their bodies to react. Little did they know that this one act, something that they had shared many times in the past, would be the thing that would bind their lives forever.
It was March 20, 1997, the first day of spring. Katie just gave birth to hers and Jack’s daughter, Luna. What would normally be a joyous day was filled with sadness. Jack was married and Katie couldn’t bear the thought of raising their daughter alone. Holding Luna in her arms, Katie gave her daughter one last kiss and handed her over to the social worker. She was now someone else’s child.
And Then I Found You is a very powerful and moving book. It touches on the very delicate subject of adoption and the emotions both birth and adoptive families face during the process. The author did a great job showcasing the struggles both families endure when giving up and adopting a child. The book was very well written and the story was told to perfection. I really enjoyed each of the characters and their own unique ways that they handled this difficult situation. As a mother of an adopted daughter, this book really hit home. I could relate to the concerns and emotions that the adopted family felt. I, too, wonder what kind of questions my daughter will ask? What kinds of emotions will she go through? Will she feel like she wasn’t wanted? Will she know how much we wanted and love her? The author did a fantastic job addressing all of these questions and more. I absolutely loved reading this book and didn’t want it to end. I give this book a five out of five star rating. If it were possible to give it a higher rating, I would. I can honestly say that this is the best book I’ve ever read! I would absolutely recommend it to others.
October 11, 2023
This was an audio book and I loved every single word! A feel good story perfect for a rainy weekend!
April 2, 2013
Contains spoilers
The year is 1988, the first day of Spring, and 13-year-old Katie Vaughn finds herself walking in the moonlight with Jack Adams in Bluffton South Carolina, the guy she has a major crush on, and the night Katie gets her first kiss. Jack says, “So, you’re my girlfriend now, right?” Katie’s reply was, “Of course.” Jack then proceeds to tell Katie about how his mother believes that anything you promise on the first day of spring is a promise you can never break.” After Jack leaves and before goes home, Katie also speaks these words, “Today I said my first curse word. Today was my first kiss. Today is the first day of spring, and now my first promise: I vow to never ever love anyone but Jonathan Gray Adams – My Jack.”
The year is now 2010 and little did Katie, who now goes by Kate, know the effect those works she spoke so many year ago would have on her life, and the journey she would go through between then and now. She is 35 years old now and is living in South Carolina again. She has opened her own boutique and is dating Rowan, a great guy she has been with now for four years, yet the thing that excites her the most is the letter she receives once a year on the first day of spring. This yearly letter is from Jack Adams, the man that whether she wants to admit it or not, she still loves…the man no one else ever lives up to……the man she made that promise to so many years ago. Kate and Rowan are meeting Rowan’s parents, and Kate accidentally finds a diamond ring in his Rowan’s night stand. She kind of freaks out, and ultimately realizes that she must talk to Jack and find closure before she can move on. She hasn't seen Jack for 13 years, and it was 13 years ago on that first day of spring that Katie’s life changed forever.
And Then I Found You is Katie and Jack’s story. It is one of first love and kisses, promises of forever, loss, heartache, and finding love again. The story is fictional but based on true-life events that occurred in the author’s little sister’s life, and I would definitely suggest visiting Patti Callahan Henry’s website and reading about the story behind the story. I loved the characters, and the story itself is heartwarming and heart wrenching, and is wonderfully and beautifully written. The romance is great, and this book is one you won’t want to miss, especially if you are a contemporary romance fan. And Then I Found You is something that will touch your heart in a unique way and I definitely recommend it.
The year is 1988, the first day of Spring, and 13-year-old Katie Vaughn finds herself walking in the moonlight with Jack Adams in Bluffton South Carolina, the guy she has a major crush on, and the night Katie gets her first kiss. Jack says, “So, you’re my girlfriend now, right?” Katie’s reply was, “Of course.” Jack then proceeds to tell Katie about how his mother believes that anything you promise on the first day of spring is a promise you can never break.” After Jack leaves and before goes home, Katie also speaks these words, “Today I said my first curse word. Today was my first kiss. Today is the first day of spring, and now my first promise: I vow to never ever love anyone but Jonathan Gray Adams – My Jack.”
The year is now 2010 and little did Katie, who now goes by Kate, know the effect those works she spoke so many year ago would have on her life, and the journey she would go through between then and now. She is 35 years old now and is living in South Carolina again. She has opened her own boutique and is dating Rowan, a great guy she has been with now for four years, yet the thing that excites her the most is the letter she receives once a year on the first day of spring. This yearly letter is from Jack Adams, the man that whether she wants to admit it or not, she still loves…the man no one else ever lives up to……the man she made that promise to so many years ago. Kate and Rowan are meeting Rowan’s parents, and Kate accidentally finds a diamond ring in his Rowan’s night stand. She kind of freaks out, and ultimately realizes that she must talk to Jack and find closure before she can move on. She hasn't seen Jack for 13 years, and it was 13 years ago on that first day of spring that Katie’s life changed forever.
And Then I Found You is Katie and Jack’s story. It is one of first love and kisses, promises of forever, loss, heartache, and finding love again. The story is fictional but based on true-life events that occurred in the author’s little sister’s life, and I would definitely suggest visiting Patti Callahan Henry’s website and reading about the story behind the story. I loved the characters, and the story itself is heartwarming and heart wrenching, and is wonderfully and beautifully written. The romance is great, and this book is one you won’t want to miss, especially if you are a contemporary romance fan. And Then I Found You is something that will touch your heart in a unique way and I definitely recommend it.
April 8, 2013
If you know me, I rarely go out of the Young Adult genre. I've read some hard core science fiction, a few epic/high fantasies, and some literary works for school, and some philosophy books like Foucault's Discipline and Punish (which is TOTALLY good, by the way). You may be muttering, "That's actually a lot..." and you're right, it is a fair number, but if I can avoid it, I will. But I make exemptions. Especially when I can totally feel in my gut that the novel in question will blow me away.
And Then I Found You by Patti Callahan Henry did. And I loved every minute of it.
You can say this is my first non-young adult contemporary chick lit, and I am thankful that my first experience was an overall amazing one. This book is full of themes that I love reading about: friendship, love, family, heartache, and finding oneself. It didn't just immerse me in the main character's journey of calming the demons and conflicts within, it also made me learn from them, too - life lessons that will surely help me as I trudge on with life. Unfortunately, not all books are like this, as a lot of them serve as mere mindless entertainment and nothing else, so I am sincerely thankful that there are gems like this one with the capability to impart helpful values to me. It is both a beautiful and heart-breaking story, but the ending is full of hope and love.
The voice, narration, and the overall prose was elegant, powerful, and personal. It's the kind that will immediately suck you in and won't let you go. The plot is equally compelling and intense, sending you towards a tornado of emotions, making you want to continue on reading. In order to give us a clearer view of the events that transpired in the past, we are given flashbacks and several backstories. I'm not really fond of this style, but the author was able to make it work, and even made me look forward to each and every one of them, be it past or present. It never felt cluttered, or forced, or rushed. It's a smooth ride all the way from beginning to end.
Overall, there is really not much to say, except that this book is a gem. If you want to read something out of the young adult genre, but still full of values and lessons and emotions, then give this book a chance. It is a powerful, resilient, well-written novel that will make you smile, laugh, and feel happy and warm inside. Don't miss out!
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April 6, 2013Kate Vaughan has loved and lost and will probably be the first to tell you that it isn't better to have loved and lost than never at all. Losing those she's loved has been hard and that pain and loss have been with her every day for the past thirteen years. She's tried to move on with her life and has a successful boutique and is in loving relationship, but she craves what she has lost. In an effort to say goodbye to her past, she makes a trip to Alabama to visit her ex. Jack has moved on with his life and although he's glad to see her he doesn't want to revisit the past. Just when it seems like things couldn't get any worse, her current boyfriend shows up in Alabama . . . at Jack's house. Kate is forced to reveal the secrets of her past and only hopes that Rowan can understand and that they can move forward. Easier said than done because the daughter she gave up for adoption has tracked her down. Kate now has her two lost loves back in her life but isn't quite sure what to do with them.
Ms. Henry has provided a story that deals with love, loss and the consequences of our choices. Kate has to deal with the constant reminder from her parents of their lost first grandchild. She deals with the anguish of giving up her daughter for adoption each year on her birthday. Kate wants to build a future with Rowan but is that even possible when she can't let go of the past? Now that she has contact with her biological daughter what does that mean for her and her family, not to mention her daughter's adoptive family? The choices that Kate and others make have unforeseen consequences, some good, some bad and some downright heartbreaking. There aren't any bad guys in this story as everyone is simply trying to do what is best for their families as well as themselves. And Then I Found You is an excellent reminder that we can't live in the past and sometimes the only way to keep something in our lives is to let go . . . trite but fundamentally true. And Then I Found You isn't a happy ever after story but it is a hopeful ever after, as the reader is left with the hope that everything will work out after all.
Ms. Henry has provided a story that deals with love, loss and the consequences of our choices. Kate has to deal with the constant reminder from her parents of their lost first grandchild. She deals with the anguish of giving up her daughter for adoption each year on her birthday. Kate wants to build a future with Rowan but is that even possible when she can't let go of the past? Now that she has contact with her biological daughter what does that mean for her and her family, not to mention her daughter's adoptive family? The choices that Kate and others make have unforeseen consequences, some good, some bad and some downright heartbreaking. There aren't any bad guys in this story as everyone is simply trying to do what is best for their families as well as themselves. And Then I Found You is an excellent reminder that we can't live in the past and sometimes the only way to keep something in our lives is to let go . . . trite but fundamentally true. And Then I Found You isn't a happy ever after story but it is a hopeful ever after, as the reader is left with the hope that everything will work out after all.
February 20, 2013
I received a copy of this ARC through the Goodreads First Reads program. And Then I Found You deals with lost love and the fact that our past is never really in the past. Kate, at the age of 35, still wonders about the daughter she gave up for adoption thirteen years ago and Jack (the father), and her lost love. The story is heartbreaking at times but is a beautiful story of never ending love - love for a child and love for a significant other.
I had a hard time putting the book down, as I HAD to know what was going to happen - would Kate and Jack get together? Would they find Luna? How would their relationship with Luna work? I was very intrigued with the way I was also extremely satisfied with the ending of the novel!
There were quite a bit of typos and continuity errors in the ARC I received (a character named Colleen seemed to become Anne, then Barb; Molly states she has a cousin out there somewhere instead of a niece; the order of Emily's little brothers seems to change) - I hope that those are corrected in the publication version, as they were a bit distracting from the overall story.
Overall, I was very touched by this novel and the fact that something similar occurred in Henry's family. I would be interested in picking up something else written by her!
I had a hard time putting the book down, as I HAD to know what was going to happen - would Kate and Jack get together? Would they find Luna? How would their relationship with Luna work? I was very intrigued with the way I was also extremely satisfied with the ending of the novel!
There were quite a bit of typos and continuity errors in the ARC I received (a character named Colleen seemed to become Anne, then Barb; Molly states she has a cousin out there somewhere instead of a niece; the order of Emily's little brothers seems to change) - I hope that those are corrected in the publication version, as they were a bit distracting from the overall story.
Overall, I was very touched by this novel and the fact that something similar occurred in Henry's family. I would be interested in picking up something else written by her!
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