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The Broken Branch
Jess Callahan is not ok.
Two months ago, Jess got a phone call that changed her life forever. Her dad had been in a car accident and her mom was now alone, trying to manage the goat farm Jess grew up on by herself. Going back to New Mexico was never a part of Jess' plan, but here she is - stuck in New Mexico and stuck in her faith.
Where was God when the accident happened? If He's truly all powerful and truly loves them, why did God allow her dad to die? How can a loving God be so cruel?
Wrestling both with her thoughts and the goats, Jess is faced with a Will the accident wreck her faith as well? And when her childhood friend shows up, will she set aside her stubbornness and accept the help?
Jess' story of loss is a delicate weaving of grief, redemption and hope.
Two months ago, Jess got a phone call that changed her life forever. Her dad had been in a car accident and her mom was now alone, trying to manage the goat farm Jess grew up on by herself. Going back to New Mexico was never a part of Jess' plan, but here she is - stuck in New Mexico and stuck in her faith.
Where was God when the accident happened? If He's truly all powerful and truly loves them, why did God allow her dad to die? How can a loving God be so cruel?
Wrestling both with her thoughts and the goats, Jess is faced with a Will the accident wreck her faith as well? And when her childhood friend shows up, will she set aside her stubbornness and accept the help?
Jess' story of loss is a delicate weaving of grief, redemption and hope.
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 15, 2024
13 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
About the author
Erynn Mangum
34 books666 followersI love to read, love to write and am very blessed to be a wife and mama of two precious boys and a beautiful little girl. My latest books are The Broken Branch and Mind the Gap! Look for the Lauren Holbrook series (Miss Match, ReMatch, Match Point, Match Made and Bake Me A Match), the Maya Davis series (Cool Beans, Latte Daze and Double Shot) Sketchy Behavior, and the Paige Alder series (Paige Torn, Paige Rewritten and Paige Turned) and the Carrington Springs series (Katie in Waiting, Once Upon Eliza and Happily Ever Ashten) in paperback and ebook format, along with lots of ebook novellas. :) To learn more, visit me on Instagram @ErynnMangum.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 17, 2024
About this book:
“Jess Callahan is not ok.
Two months ago, Jess got a phone call that changed her life forever. Her dad had been in a car accident and her mom was now alone, trying to manage the goat farm Jess grew up on by herself. Going back to New Mexico was never a part of Jess' plan, but here she is - stuck in New Mexico and stuck in her faith.
Where was God when the accident happened? If He's truly all powerful and truly loves them, why did God allow her dad to die? How can a loving God be so cruel?
Wrestling both with her thoughts and the goats, Jess is faced with a Will the accident wreck her faith as well? And when her childhood friend shows up, will she set aside her stubbornness and accept the help?
Jess' story of loss is a delicate weaving of grief, redemption and hope.”
Series: A stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 46:10 at the ending; Many Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, thought over, & discussed in a sermon; Prayers, Praising God, & Blessings over food; Church going, worship, & a sermon; Many talks about God, why bad things happen, Heaven, grief, & having Hope; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Jess isn’t on great terms with God after the death of her father & doesn’t believe God care about how hard it is on her family or that God made a huge mistake, later adding that if feels as if God is against her; Jess recalls prior to the accident when she would read her Bible and everything was amicable with her and God & wonders how much of it was her just following the rules and doing what she knew she was supposed to do; *Spoiler* ; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Many mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, services, hymns/songs, youth group; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & Scriptures; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of Christian radio stations; A mention of a miracle.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a ‘gosh’, a ‘holy cow’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘for Pete’s sake’, a ‘ticked’, a ‘sheesh’, a ‘stupid’, two forms of ‘dumb’, & three ‘dang it’s; When Trey comments on “what they say about assuming”, Jess baits him to see if he’ll say the word in front of her and her mother, but he deflects with the mention of a teacher they both had that would throw out the “occasional curse word”; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Grief & some guilt/what-ifs (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of Jess and her family’s grief, the sudden death of her father, & lightly the details of how it happened (car accident, up to semi-detailed on everything else); Mentions of other deaths (from cancer & a brain tumor); Mentions of divorces & a father leaving his family; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of predators attacking and killing goats and chickens (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of child abusers; A mention of murderers; A mention of a hostile government attacking another one; A mention of a bombing; A mention of puke; A mention of a rabid raccoon killing a rabbit;
*Note: Mentions of goats going through labor with some blood/details & having constipation (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of TV shows, movies, & fictional characters (Seinfeld, American Idol, Phineas and Ferb, Gilmore Girls, Day After Tomorrow, The Princess Bride, & Miracle on 34th Street); Mentions of Starbucks; Mentions of brand names (Pepsi, Coke, Carhartt, Band-Aid, LL Bean, & Motrin); Mentions of car brands; Mentions of social media platforms; A few mentions of anxiety (including Jess panicking that her mom could be killed or paralyzed); A few mentions of restaurants & places (Sonic, Cracker Barrel, Ace Hardware); A few mentions of Hallmark movies; A couple mentions of sleeping pills given to help with anxiety; A mention of a Disney movie; A mention of a zombie apocalypse.
Sexual Content- A head kiss, a cheek kiss, four not-detailed kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Nearness, (borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of girlfriends/boyfriends, dating, & dates; Mentions of crushes & broken hearts; Mentions of girls fawning over Trey when they were growing up; Mentions of prom; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A couple mentions of flirting; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Jessica “Jess” Callahan, age 27
1st person P.O.V. of Jess
220 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{Add up to a full star for those who have recently lost loved ones.}
I knew this book would make me cry.
It did. Many times in fact, eight times to be exact. Plus another seven times of the words going blurry on my screen. (Honestly, I was already tearing up at the end of the first chapter.)
I hate to say that this book was relatable because that feels weird to say about a book with such a focus on grief. Maybe a better way to say it would be that I felt seen. My grief of losing a sibling is obviously much different than Jess’ or the author’s grief of losing a parent, but I felt so many of the same emotions she felt and questions that she had. Saying that grief is hard is an understatement, but this book handled it so well with discussing the Hope we have to have while we grieve, to focus on Jesus during those times. I truly wish I had this book a year ago, but it was still a balm to my healing heart, as cheesy as that might sound.
On another note: I love how male leads in Erynn Mangum’s books encourage the main girl in her faith. I’ve easily read 2000+ Christian Fiction books over the years and rarely do I ever see a male lead do this like I see in a book by this author. This is part of the inspiring faith content I sign up for when I read an Erynn Mangum book. I love it. Add in that Trey in this story is Jess’ brother’s best friend and I was tickled pink at the sweet romance. It wasn’t the main focus of the book as that’s definitely more about Jess’ grief and what’s next for her, but it was there and weaved through the book in such a natural way.
This book may have made me cry, but it was also so healing to my scarred heart. An excellent book to say the least.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“Jess Callahan is not ok.
Two months ago, Jess got a phone call that changed her life forever. Her dad had been in a car accident and her mom was now alone, trying to manage the goat farm Jess grew up on by herself. Going back to New Mexico was never a part of Jess' plan, but here she is - stuck in New Mexico and stuck in her faith.
Where was God when the accident happened? If He's truly all powerful and truly loves them, why did God allow her dad to die? How can a loving God be so cruel?
Wrestling both with her thoughts and the goats, Jess is faced with a Will the accident wreck her faith as well? And when her childhood friend shows up, will she set aside her stubbornness and accept the help?
Jess' story of loss is a delicate weaving of grief, redemption and hope.”
Series: A stand-alone novel.
Spiritual Content- Psalm 46:10 at the ending; Many Scriptures are read, quoted, mentioned, thought over, & discussed in a sermon; Prayers, Praising God, & Blessings over food; Church going, worship, & a sermon; Many talks about God, why bad things happen, Heaven, grief, & having Hope; 'H's are capital when referring to God; Jess isn’t on great terms with God after the death of her father & doesn’t believe God care about how hard it is on her family or that God made a huge mistake, later adding that if feels as if God is against her; Jess recalls prior to the accident when she would read her Bible and everything was amicable with her and God & wonders how much of it was her just following the rules and doing what she knew she was supposed to do; *Spoiler* ; Many mentions of God & Jesus; Many mentions of churches, church going, pastors, sermons, services, hymns/songs, youth group; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & Scriptures; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of Christian radio stations; A mention of a miracle.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a ‘gosh’, a ‘holy cow’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘for Pete’s sake’, a ‘ticked’, a ‘sheesh’, a ‘stupid’, two forms of ‘dumb’, & three ‘dang it’s; When Trey comments on “what they say about assuming”, Jess baits him to see if he’ll say the word in front of her and her mother, but he deflects with the mention of a teacher they both had that would throw out the “occasional curse word”; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Pain, Injuries, & Blood/Bleeding (barely-above-not-detailed); Grief & some guilt/what-ifs (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of Jess and her family’s grief, the sudden death of her father, & lightly the details of how it happened (car accident, up to semi-detailed on everything else); Mentions of other deaths (from cancer & a brain tumor); Mentions of divorces & a father leaving his family; Mentions of lies, lying, & liars; Mentions of predators attacking and killing goats and chickens (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of child abusers; A mention of murderers; A mention of a hostile government attacking another one; A mention of a bombing; A mention of puke; A mention of a rabid raccoon killing a rabbit;
*Note: Mentions of goats going through labor with some blood/details & having constipation (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of TV shows, movies, & fictional characters (Seinfeld, American Idol, Phineas and Ferb, Gilmore Girls, Day After Tomorrow, The Princess Bride, & Miracle on 34th Street); Mentions of Starbucks; Mentions of brand names (Pepsi, Coke, Carhartt, Band-Aid, LL Bean, & Motrin); Mentions of car brands; Mentions of social media platforms; A few mentions of anxiety (including Jess panicking that her mom could be killed or paralyzed); A few mentions of restaurants & places (Sonic, Cracker Barrel, Ace Hardware); A few mentions of Hallmark movies; A couple mentions of sleeping pills given to help with anxiety; A mention of a Disney movie; A mention of a zombie apocalypse.
Sexual Content- A head kiss, a cheek kiss, four not-detailed kisses, two barely-above-not-detailed kisses, and a semi-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Hand holding, Warmth, Nearness, (borderline barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Blushes & Winks; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of girlfriends/boyfriends, dating, & dates; Mentions of crushes & broken hearts; Mentions of girls fawning over Trey when they were growing up; Mentions of prom; A few mentions of kisses & kissing; A couple mentions of flirting; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions.
-Jessica “Jess” Callahan, age 27
1st person P.O.V. of Jess
220 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Five Stars
{Add up to a full star for those who have recently lost loved ones.}
I knew this book would make me cry.
It did. Many times in fact, eight times to be exact. Plus another seven times of the words going blurry on my screen. (Honestly, I was already tearing up at the end of the first chapter.)
I hate to say that this book was relatable because that feels weird to say about a book with such a focus on grief. Maybe a better way to say it would be that I felt seen. My grief of losing a sibling is obviously much different than Jess’ or the author’s grief of losing a parent, but I felt so many of the same emotions she felt and questions that she had. Saying that grief is hard is an understatement, but this book handled it so well with discussing the Hope we have to have while we grieve, to focus on Jesus during those times. I truly wish I had this book a year ago, but it was still a balm to my healing heart, as cheesy as that might sound.
On another note: I love how male leads in Erynn Mangum’s books encourage the main girl in her faith. I’ve easily read 2000+ Christian Fiction books over the years and rarely do I ever see a male lead do this like I see in a book by this author. This is part of the inspiring faith content I sign up for when I read an Erynn Mangum book. I love it. Add in that Trey in this story is Jess’ brother’s best friend and I was tickled pink at the sweet romance. It wasn’t the main focus of the book as that’s definitely more about Jess’ grief and what’s next for her, but it was there and weaved through the book in such a natural way.
This book may have made me cry, but it was also so healing to my scarred heart. An excellent book to say the least.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
October 4, 2024
The Broken Branch is another good book by Erynn Mangum. This book is a bit different than most of her other books because it deals a lot with grief. The main girl, Jess, lost her dad two months ago in a car accident and it follows her as she is back in her childhood home helping her mom run the farm and trying to deal with the loss of her dad. This book still has the amazing aspects that other Erynn Mangum books have like great faith content, a sweet romance, and still some of that humor that she is great at writing! So while I enjoyed the book it definitely had a heavy feel to it since it did deal with grief.
August 25, 2024
I would call this a must-read for anyone dealing with grief or anyone who is grappling with their faith as a result of loss.
I have read almost everything by this author (still have one novella left!), and this one felt the most personal. It was a haunting story that, while short, most definitely packs a punch.
The author’s grief is very much entangled with the main character Jess’s. It was very real and raw. Jess’s thoughts and feelings were definitely realistic for someone dealing with grief. This is probably the best read for someone who has just recently lost a loved one, but grief is definitely a process and some days are harder than others, even for those whose grief isn’t as fresh.
Jess was a very sympathetic character and I wanted to give her a hug at points! The author captured the isolating feeling that grief gives you as well. To that end, I really liked Trey. He was always there for Jess and her mother and I was glad that he didn’t give them a chance to say no, knowing that Jess wanted to be independent. I also liked that he helped her find her faith again without being too pushy about it, knowing that each person’s relationship with God is deeply personal and needs to be cultivated on their own. He guided her; he didn’t dictate to her.
This was a deeply moving and emotional story. I also loved the author’s note at the end. I really commend her for sharing her own story of grief so openly.
I have read almost everything by this author (still have one novella left!), and this one felt the most personal. It was a haunting story that, while short, most definitely packs a punch.
The author’s grief is very much entangled with the main character Jess’s. It was very real and raw. Jess’s thoughts and feelings were definitely realistic for someone dealing with grief. This is probably the best read for someone who has just recently lost a loved one, but grief is definitely a process and some days are harder than others, even for those whose grief isn’t as fresh.
Jess was a very sympathetic character and I wanted to give her a hug at points! The author captured the isolating feeling that grief gives you as well. To that end, I really liked Trey. He was always there for Jess and her mother and I was glad that he didn’t give them a chance to say no, knowing that Jess wanted to be independent. I also liked that he helped her find her faith again without being too pushy about it, knowing that each person’s relationship with God is deeply personal and needs to be cultivated on their own. He guided her; he didn’t dictate to her.
This was a deeply moving and emotional story. I also loved the author’s note at the end. I really commend her for sharing her own story of grief so openly.
December 26, 2024
Wow. My heart goes out to this author.
I teared up much while reading this books, but the author’s note connected to the book made me cry. This story is weaved from grief with threads of hope, joy, and love. Erynn Mangum always writes excellent faith content, no matter the topic of her books. This one was so much more special.
The applications of verses combined with the lessons taught made my heart ache in such a peaceful way. Grief is so difficult, no matter who you lose. Seeing the raw thoughts of Jess is provoking. It made me think. Her emotions seem so real and relatable, but then Trey and her mom step in. Trey especially. Though flawed himself, he challenged Jess. He pushed her past her rut. He loved her and stayed with her.
Considering it’s an Erynn Mangum, the romance was obviously adorable and so refreshing. It is most definitely NOT the main point, but the way Mangum writes any relationship is so thought provoking.
I can see this book being a healing balm to so many people. I can see myself returning to this book when I will struggle with grief again.
There’s still so much to say, but this book is fresh on my mind. I may or may not update again.
Content: romance (hugs, hand holding, kisses (lightly detailed)), grief (semi-detailed to detailed)
I teared up much while reading this books, but the author’s note connected to the book made me cry. This story is weaved from grief with threads of hope, joy, and love. Erynn Mangum always writes excellent faith content, no matter the topic of her books. This one was so much more special.
The applications of verses combined with the lessons taught made my heart ache in such a peaceful way. Grief is so difficult, no matter who you lose. Seeing the raw thoughts of Jess is provoking. It made me think. Her emotions seem so real and relatable, but then Trey and her mom step in. Trey especially. Though flawed himself, he challenged Jess. He pushed her past her rut. He loved her and stayed with her.
Considering it’s an Erynn Mangum, the romance was obviously adorable and so refreshing. It is most definitely NOT the main point, but the way Mangum writes any relationship is so thought provoking.
I can see this book being a healing balm to so many people. I can see myself returning to this book when I will struggle with grief again.
There’s still so much to say, but this book is fresh on my mind. I may or may not update again.
Content: romance (hugs, hand holding, kisses (lightly detailed)), grief (semi-detailed to detailed)
January 2, 2025
I've followed Erynn online for years and knew of her Mom's cancer returning and being called home to heaven. I was excited for a new book but once I saw the theme was centered around grief I just knew it would be authentic and heartfelt. It was just that. With a few funny moments mixed in, this book is a grief journey that reflects so much truth and questioning we find ourselves doing as Christians when we lose loved ones. Well done, Erynn.
August 21, 2024
I am a huge fan of Erynn Mangum (I have read everything she’s ever written - most of them more than once) and I can honestly say this is my favorite to date. The depth of character of Jess, the tough faith questions it tackles and the relatability of the non-linear process of grief make this story a real treasure trove and a very worthwhile read. Though it holds a lot of sorrow, it's laced with hope and truth. And it still manages to showcase all of the wit and humor and quotable moments we have come to love in an Erynn Mangum book. if you want to both laugh and cry - this is your next read!
September 5, 2024
Nice to have this author back writing!
August 24, 2024
Real,emotional, tender
When Jess’s dad was killed suddenly in an accident, she left her home in Texas for her dad’s funeral and to help her mom with her parents’ goat farm in the mountains in New Mexico. Jess had grown up working with her family on the goat farm, but never without her dad. As memories of their past times together flooded her mind, she was angry, and questioned why God had allowed her dad to die. The farm needed so many repairs and required so much work in order for Jess to be able to return to her life in Texas. When friend Trey came alongside Jess and her mom to help with the list of chores, he also became the catalyst for Jess to face God with her grief, and to trust Him with her pain.
I have always loved Erynn’s books. Her characters are down-to-earth and real. The Broken Branch was particularly relatable .Having experienced the loss of several close family members in the past, I could relate to many of Jess’s feelings and questions as she worked through her grief. I could feel her pain.
When Jess’s dad was killed suddenly in an accident, she left her home in Texas for her dad’s funeral and to help her mom with her parents’ goat farm in the mountains in New Mexico. Jess had grown up working with her family on the goat farm, but never without her dad. As memories of their past times together flooded her mind, she was angry, and questioned why God had allowed her dad to die. The farm needed so many repairs and required so much work in order for Jess to be able to return to her life in Texas. When friend Trey came alongside Jess and her mom to help with the list of chores, he also became the catalyst for Jess to face God with her grief, and to trust Him with her pain.
I have always loved Erynn’s books. Her characters are down-to-earth and real. The Broken Branch was particularly relatable .Having experienced the loss of several close family members in the past, I could relate to many of Jess’s feelings and questions as she worked through her grief. I could feel her pain.
August 31, 2024
I was so excited to see that Erynn Mangum had published a new book after many years! I read most of her other books a decade or more ago and loved them. She was my favorite author during my teen years.
The Broken Branch is a sweet story of Jess, who’s navigating fresh grief after her father dies and she’s forced to take care of her mom and her family’s goat farm. I enjoyed this quick read —it’s the first Christian fiction book I’ve read in a long time because I’m so often disappointed by that genre (a story for another day!). While I won’t pretend that this is the best book I’ve ever read, it’s certainly enjoyable and heart wrenching. It felt different from what I remember from Eryn’s past books but the tone is meant to be different, and I think it’s fair to say that the author herself has changed a lot in the past decade, especially in the past two years since she lost her mom.
I hope this means Erynn Mangum will be writing and publishing more books in the future! I will read them all.
The Broken Branch is a sweet story of Jess, who’s navigating fresh grief after her father dies and she’s forced to take care of her mom and her family’s goat farm. I enjoyed this quick read —it’s the first Christian fiction book I’ve read in a long time because I’m so often disappointed by that genre (a story for another day!). While I won’t pretend that this is the best book I’ve ever read, it’s certainly enjoyable and heart wrenching. It felt different from what I remember from Eryn’s past books but the tone is meant to be different, and I think it’s fair to say that the author herself has changed a lot in the past decade, especially in the past two years since she lost her mom.
I hope this means Erynn Mangum will be writing and publishing more books in the future! I will read them all.
December 26, 2024
I read this entire book in one sitting, which isn't too unusual seeing as Erynn Mangum is one of my all time favorite Christian authors. I could tell this book was a really personal one and carried a lot of emotional weight, and even though I couldn't relate exactly to Jess and the situation she was in, a lot of themes hit really close to home and tackled questions that I've been asking God as my own dad struggles with sickness. I sometimes wish grief could be as streamlined as it is when expressed in a story, but I appreciate Jess asking the hard questions and being a realistic representation of how easy it is to loose hope sometimes. The perfectionist in me does want to note that there were a few spelling and grammar errors throughout lol, but the overall message was encouraging and it reminded me to "let go and let God," something that I often struggle with. I'll always recommend any Erynn Mangum book and I hope others will be inspired to read this one too ❤
May 3, 2025
When I tell you this book speaks to the heart and soul, I cried probably every time Jess did in the book. My face was puffy, red with tears, and my heart ached, but what a beautiful book. I cried the hardest while reading the note from the author. Don't read it before you have read the book, though. And if I am being honest, God has blessed me and everyone I knew closely who has died was a good Christian and it wasn't the crushing close family where it affected my day to day, but while reading this, my heart ached and burned for everyone who has ever had to go through grief. God touched me through this book. Thank you, Eryn Mangum, for sharing your heart.
Sidenote:
(To be fair, I am a little tender-hearted, I was not always, and one day I asked God to soften me, and now I cry for people I don't even know and some of whom don't really exist lol)
5/5 stars
Sidenote:
(To be fair, I am a little tender-hearted, I was not always, and one day I asked God to soften me, and now I cry for people I don't even know and some of whom don't really exist lol)
5/5 stars
August 20, 2024
The best one…yet
My favorite thing about Erynn Mangum’s writing is the character development. Specifically that the characters grow closer to Jesus. The romance and relationships and banter are also good but this is what sets her writing apart. Though my personal story is different I have had to learn some of the same things that her characters have learned. God is so good to us. He knows exactly what we need. The Bible says he is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18). This book was a blessing to me and I highly recommend it. I have prayed for Mrs. Mangum over the past few years because loss is so very hard. Her writing is a gift from God, I hope she will continue to use it.
My favorite thing about Erynn Mangum’s writing is the character development. Specifically that the characters grow closer to Jesus. The romance and relationships and banter are also good but this is what sets her writing apart. Though my personal story is different I have had to learn some of the same things that her characters have learned. God is so good to us. He knows exactly what we need. The Bible says he is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Ps 34:18). This book was a blessing to me and I highly recommend it. I have prayed for Mrs. Mangum over the past few years because loss is so very hard. Her writing is a gift from God, I hope she will continue to use it.
August 31, 2024
I wondered why so much time had passed since Erynn released her last book. I even visited her Amazon page frequently to look for something new. Now I know, and I cried, and all I can think to say is thank you.
I needed this book. It was like a hug for my heart and chocolate for my soul. I grieved, laughed, prayed, and found the courage to let some things go. Because it's time, and it's okay. God still makes broken things beautiful.
I'll be praying for your next book, Erynn. <3
I needed this book. It was like a hug for my heart and chocolate for my soul. I grieved, laughed, prayed, and found the courage to let some things go. Because it's time, and it's okay. God still makes broken things beautiful.
I'll be praying for your next book, Erynn. <3
February 18, 2025
Oh what a beautiful and powerful story❤️😭‼️ It just hit home in all the ways and focuses on God’s goodness in our lives. Losing people we love is never an easy journey to endure but the peace know that God is sovereign and in control just puts everything at ease and into perspective. This story was a great representation of grief and the journey is never known but with God, able to move through.
“Things will never be the same. But maybe, maybe it can still be ok.”
“Things will never be the same. But maybe, maybe it can still be ok.”
October 21, 2024
Possibly my favorite Erynn Mangum book and I’ve read them all! Loved this book so much I stayed up to read it in one night. Heart warming and a truly good story with great depth. Cried my way through it.
August 18, 2024
love this one by my fav author ever - such an honest raw telling of faith in the midst of heartache
September 15, 2024
Couldn’t put this book down! Beautiful in so many ways!
September 30, 2024
Erynn Mangum, thank you for existing.
October 9, 2024
book review
Loved this book!! Better grab some tissue while reading this book! I loved how this author brought out God’s love in this story of loss and love. Great quick read
Loved this book!! Better grab some tissue while reading this book! I loved how this author brought out God’s love in this story of loss and love. Great quick read
July 18, 2025
This is such a beautiful book. Wonderful characters and a heartfelt faith message. One of my favorite quotes, "We can ask the Lord for things and maybe He says no. But we have to remember, He's given us Jesus and Jesus is better."
February 27, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up.
This is usually an Auto buy author for me but I felt like I couldn't relate to the main character. I understand she was going through grief bur all the whining, complaining and misunderstandings she had left me struggling to get through this book. 3 stars for Trey and the baby 🐐 goats. I hope her next one is closer to Erynns romance writing style I have come to know and love.
This is usually an Auto buy author for me but I felt like I couldn't relate to the main character. I understand she was going through grief bur all the whining, complaining and misunderstandings she had left me struggling to get through this book. 3 stars for Trey and the baby 🐐 goats. I hope her next one is closer to Erynns romance writing style I have come to know and love.
January 4, 2025
About this book:
“Jess Callahan is not ok.
Two months ago, Jess got a phone call that changed her life forever. Her dad had been in a car accident and her mom was now alone, trying to manage the goat farm Jess grew up on by herself. Going back to New Mexico was never a part of Jess' plan, but here she is - stuck in New Mexico and stuck in her faith.
Where was God when the accident happened? If He's truly all powerful and truly loves them, why did God allow her dad to die? How can a loving God be so cruel?
Wrestling both with her thoughts and the goats, Jess is faced with a Will the accident wreck her faith as well? And when her childhood friend shows up, will she set aside her stubbornness and accept the help?
Jess' story of loss is a delicate weaving of grief, redemption and hope.”
I loved this book. I was so excited to see that Erynn Mangum had written a new book. I loved the sweetness of this book with Jess and Trey. How they handled grief in this book was so good and how all the characters dealt with it differently. The way that Trey is there for Jess while she is dealing with all her grief from losing her dad is so sweet he is there to help her deal with it while also understanding that she has to choose to move forward. The Broken Branch Ranch and the goat farm were a big part of this book. I loved the relationship between all the characters in the book, especially Jess and Trey. Trey being friends with Josh (Jess’s brother) in high school had a crush on Jess since they were kids to finally admit it now that they are working together to fix up the ranch. I genuinely loved this book and can’t wait to read more books by Erynn Mangum.
“Jess Callahan is not ok.
Two months ago, Jess got a phone call that changed her life forever. Her dad had been in a car accident and her mom was now alone, trying to manage the goat farm Jess grew up on by herself. Going back to New Mexico was never a part of Jess' plan, but here she is - stuck in New Mexico and stuck in her faith.
Where was God when the accident happened? If He's truly all powerful and truly loves them, why did God allow her dad to die? How can a loving God be so cruel?
Wrestling both with her thoughts and the goats, Jess is faced with a Will the accident wreck her faith as well? And when her childhood friend shows up, will she set aside her stubbornness and accept the help?
Jess' story of loss is a delicate weaving of grief, redemption and hope.”
I loved this book. I was so excited to see that Erynn Mangum had written a new book. I loved the sweetness of this book with Jess and Trey. How they handled grief in this book was so good and how all the characters dealt with it differently. The way that Trey is there for Jess while she is dealing with all her grief from losing her dad is so sweet he is there to help her deal with it while also understanding that she has to choose to move forward. The Broken Branch Ranch and the goat farm were a big part of this book. I loved the relationship between all the characters in the book, especially Jess and Trey. Trey being friends with Josh (Jess’s brother) in high school had a crush on Jess since they were kids to finally admit it now that they are working together to fix up the ranch. I genuinely loved this book and can’t wait to read more books by Erynn Mangum.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2025
This book was super amazing!! I really liked the characters, Trey, Jess, and her mom. I liked the setting and what the book is about was sad but I liked reading about it. The way Erynn Mangum was inspired to write this book was really cool also. I really liked Trey and her. I liked the setting and the stuff they do on the farm was entertaining to read about. I really liked it!!
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