During the autumn of 1986, two brothers struggle to get by. One is searching for his family, and the other for freedom – but both end up finding much more than they bargained for.
When Tim Ryder made a promise to his younger brother in 1983, he couldn’t predict the obstacles he would face that would prevent him from keeping that promise. Now, at seventeen, all Tim wants is to be reunited with his brother, compelling him to travel through the state of North Carolina to find him.
Over the past three years, Mark Ryder has become a very different person from the ten-year-old kid his brother used to know. Angry at the world after the sudden death of his parents, Mark runs away from the foster home where he lives, desperate for freedom and convinced that his brother is never coming back for him.
The two drastically different brothers set off to find what they are looking for and discover that life has other plans. When Tim meets the charming Kate Woodland and Mark crosses paths with seven-year-old Josh O’Brien, a little boy in need of a friend, both learn how to take life as it comes… and find something they didn’t know they were looking for.
Daisy Henkle writes stories that shine light in a dark world. Having fallen in love with reading as a young girl, she now enjoys stories set in another time–often with a sprinkle of magic in them. When she's not writing, Daisy might be found listening to her favorite oldies, performing onstage, or spending time with family and friends.
Daisy is the author of Therefore I Have Hope, a YA coming-of-age novel set in the 1980s. She is passionate about spreading the love of Jesus through her writing. You can visit Daisy online on her website, Instagram, Facebook, or by subscribing to her newsletter.
I think teens should read this book! Of course, I enjoyed it as an adult, too. I loved the forgiveness and restoration. When a parent (or parents in this case) dies, it forces kids to grow up early. The journey these characters went on made me ache for them, but it was also heartwarming as they met the exact people they needed to meet to help them grow and found faith in God again. I loved all the characters! There were wholesome yet had tough battles. There is wisdom in this book’s pages.
I can definitely tell how the author has grown as a writer from this novel to the next (I read Everywhere I’ve Never Been first), which is a good thing! She truly has a gift, and I will gladly read every book she writes.
This is a debut novel you don't want to miss! Daisy did an excellent job with this story! I didn't get to read this back to back. I got pulled away for extended periods of time, so I won't have as many thoughts as I usually have.
I loved the found family aspect. She wrote it so well, and it was so heartfelt. The retro vibes were the bomb, and it was on target. It definitely did give vibes of The Outsiders!
The story structure was very well put together. Sometimes alternate POVs are difficult to do, especially with a debut author, but the alternating POVs were done so well. The redemption thread was one of my favorites.
And y'all, THE PLOT TWIST! I was absolutely SHOOK! I literally freaked out. And the epilogue, oh my word it was so sweet! If I had to sum up the entire book in one word, it would be heartfelt. I wish I had more thoughts to share, but go pick this story up!
Content:
Language: 1 use of "to h*ll with it"
Romance: some kissing
Violence: mentions of drunk driving and a father being a drunk.
Such a heartwarming story!! Ugh, I remember the earlier drafts of these sweetheart characters. Lemme just say I did NOT see that plot twist coming 🤯 Such a sweet read, I absolutely adore Kate. And the title reveal? You know, where we find out why it's called 'Therefore I Have Hope'? Perfection. Love it ❤️🩹
With relatable characters, sweet moments, and a heart-wrenching plot - Therefore I Have Hope has it all! While reading this story, I was truly transported to 1980s North Carolina. The story is both nostalgic and modern, as the struggles of the two main characters (Tim and Mark) are relatable and can apply to teens today. This story, despite being one full of difficult topics, truly reflects its title, and is a beautiful story of hope!
The premise of this book sounded intriguing, and it didn’t disappoint! Honestly, I found the first 2/3 of the book interesting, keeping my interest, but by the time I started the last third of the book, I had become emotionally invested and really started to worry about how the plot could eventually be wrapped up! I won’t share any spoilers, but I will share that there are a couple pretty decent plot twists, and more than one scene where you will feel your heart ache. Anything that could be perceived as too simplistic or elementary in this novel aren’t flaws but rather the sign of a nascent author. I’m excited to read more from Daisy as she grows as a writer because I think she has a real knack for being able to create some pretty heartrending moments in her writings, and that just means that each subsequent book is going to get better!
A promising start to her career. I liked the family themes and lighthearted tone the author used as she dealt with heavier topics. It was refreshing. <3
This was a really sweet book! The 1980’s setting was so fun, I haven’t read many, if any set in this time. I loved the strong family themes and the end with the adoption…that was a great way to end the book!
I liked the characters, I would have loved to see Kate’s perspective. She was fun, but she was more of a side character, so I don’t feel like I felt much of what she was feeling. The boys and their struggles were written well. I liked both stories, and I think it was neat that the epilogue was from Mark’s perspective. He seemed to have the most character growth.
I would have loved to see more faith content, especially from Kate. But, the scene where Tim goes into the church…and the tie to the book title, that was cool! :)
Some of the writing felt a little choppy (I don’t know if that’s the right word) at times, but overall, just a really cute, heartwarming story. Daisy did a great job on her debut novel, I’m excited to see what she writes next!