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Ladder to Heaven
You don’t seem close to death. Why are you here?
A breeze brushed my skin, and I shivered. “It’s a long story.”
Story! Tell the story! The sea lions levered bulky bodies to front flippers and rocked from side to side.
In 2045 an earthquake ravages the Pacific Coast of North America and the world shifts. Suddenly people and animals can understand each other, while the chaos of climate change combines with the destruction of the earthquake in terrifying ways. Inland, where she should be safe, Del Samara finds her life spiralling out of control. Struggling with addiction and with her ranch in ashes around her, Del decides her family would be better off without her. Leaving her daughters behind, she retreats to her father’s fishing cabin with her dog, Manx. When she emerges three years later, she finds the world since the earthquake has become a very different place and she begins a dangerous journey to Vancouver Island to find her family and, perhaps, find peace.
A breeze brushed my skin, and I shivered. “It’s a long story.”
Story! Tell the story! The sea lions levered bulky bodies to front flippers and rocked from side to side.
In 2045 an earthquake ravages the Pacific Coast of North America and the world shifts. Suddenly people and animals can understand each other, while the chaos of climate change combines with the destruction of the earthquake in terrifying ways. Inland, where she should be safe, Del Samara finds her life spiralling out of control. Struggling with addiction and with her ranch in ashes around her, Del decides her family would be better off without her. Leaving her daughters behind, she retreats to her father’s fishing cabin with her dog, Manx. When she emerges three years later, she finds the world since the earthquake has become a very different place and she begins a dangerous journey to Vancouver Island to find her family and, perhaps, find peace.
304 pages, Paperback
Published October 14, 2025
2 people are currently reading
50 people want to read
About the author
Katie Welch
3 books53 followersKatie Welch is a Canadian author. Her latest novel, LADDER TO HEAVEN, will be published in 2025. Her debut MAD HONEY was nominated for the Ontario Library Association's Evergreen Award. A finalist for the 2023 CBC Short Story Prize and a two-time alumnus of the Banff Centre, her short stories have appeared in EVENT Magazine, Prairie Fire, The Antigonish Review, The Temz Review, The Quarantine Review, Split Lip Magazine and elsewhere.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 9, 2025
A beautiful and at times heartbreaking story of family, isolation, addiction, human connection, second chances and so much more. I was whisked away by the beautifully descriptive writing each time I picked up this book (and it was hard to put down). Not only is the backdrop and setting of this novel lovely (i may be biased LOL), but the characters are also touching and honest (the talking animals included).
This novel shifted things in me (much like the tectonic plates that are referred to) and my only critique is that I wish it was longer and we were given more time to spend fleshing out the intricacies, emotions and psyches of Delphine and her loved ones.
Thank you to Wolsak and Wynn for my review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
This novel shifted things in me (much like the tectonic plates that are referred to) and my only critique is that I wish it was longer and we were given more time to spend fleshing out the intricacies, emotions and psyches of Delphine and her loved ones.
Thank you to Wolsak and Wynn for my review copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
October 15, 2025
Dear Reader,
This book held my fascination. I live on the West Coast in Canada where much of the story is set and am also familiar with the various other locations. Katie Welch has done her research. This imaginative novel is populated with quirky, wounded and dysfunctional characters, who, following an epic earthquake, begin to communicate with horses, dogs, sea lions, etc. A compelling story of addiction, family, catastrophe and resilience, it does not conclude easily with redemption or recovery. It does however, portray the impacts of denial. Denial to address a climate in crisis, denial to recognize and advocate for those suffering with mental illness, denial and paralysis in communicating ones truths, wounds, hopes and fears. And too, it portrays the saving graces of unconditional love and how a stranger can be the one to bear witness to all that cannot be shared with family.
This novel is most certainly a present day adventure in the vast and rugged wilderness of western Canada, a desperate journey through isolation, guilt and lack of self worth, and an exploration into the fantastical.
This book held my fascination. I live on the West Coast in Canada where much of the story is set and am also familiar with the various other locations. Katie Welch has done her research. This imaginative novel is populated with quirky, wounded and dysfunctional characters, who, following an epic earthquake, begin to communicate with horses, dogs, sea lions, etc. A compelling story of addiction, family, catastrophe and resilience, it does not conclude easily with redemption or recovery. It does however, portray the impacts of denial. Denial to address a climate in crisis, denial to recognize and advocate for those suffering with mental illness, denial and paralysis in communicating ones truths, wounds, hopes and fears. And too, it portrays the saving graces of unconditional love and how a stranger can be the one to bear witness to all that cannot be shared with family.
This novel is most certainly a present day adventure in the vast and rugged wilderness of western Canada, a desperate journey through isolation, guilt and lack of self worth, and an exploration into the fantastical.
December 26, 2025
I was instantly drawn in by Katie Welch’s characters. I kept wanting to turn the page so I could learn more about Del and her family. I felt that I was right there with Del looking at the world she was seeing and experiencing. Katie Welch’s wonderfully descriptive writing sweeps you right up into the story she is telling.
October 23, 2025
In Katie Welch’s near-future novel Ladder to Heaven, Del must overcome addiction, self-doubt, and a massive earthquake to reunite with the family she left behind. Welch adds a wrinkle to this post-apocalyptic setting because plate tectonics has done more than relieve pressure. It has opened a doorway between languages. Humans can now communicate with animals. Coyotes are “annoyingly loquacious,” cougars are “pithy and inscrutable,” and moose speak in “furious flashes transmitted like viewfinder slides.” In fact, Del reveals large parts of her past to a duo of curious walruses.
Welch’s depiction of Del’s family dynamics is real and complex. She tries and fails to be a present mother to her three children as they enter their teen years and move away from her, but the only real constant in her life is her battle with addiction. “I had gone three days drug-free…. Next time I would go longer. I would start tomorrow. Or maybe on the weekend.” The realism is true for her descriptions as well. We are just as likely to get a gritty description of the spring thaw exposing “matted brown grass littered with coffee cups, foil wrappers, aluminum cans and dog crap” as we are to see the unvarnished beauty of nature: “Cloying mist cloaked the forest in the morning, like a blanket over a birdcage.”
Adding to the uniqueness and drama of story, the Juan de Fuca Plate periodically earns its own chapters. In particular, I liked the character Cheng, a stranger who sails into Del’s life with his own ghosts in tow. Katie Welch wrote him with subtlety and heart. And his presence helps reveal Del’s internal conflicts and, in some ways, brings out her true self from underneath her own personal rubble. When he gives her a bag of rice, she does not know how to respond: “It was an impossible gift. How could anyone be so generous in a broken, selfish world?”
Del is a great survivor, but more importantly, for us, she is a great storyteller. She shows us the lengths we go to in order to avoid responsibility and the lengths we go to make things right. Ladder to Heaven is a powerful, nuanced novel.
Welch’s depiction of Del’s family dynamics is real and complex. She tries and fails to be a present mother to her three children as they enter their teen years and move away from her, but the only real constant in her life is her battle with addiction. “I had gone three days drug-free…. Next time I would go longer. I would start tomorrow. Or maybe on the weekend.” The realism is true for her descriptions as well. We are just as likely to get a gritty description of the spring thaw exposing “matted brown grass littered with coffee cups, foil wrappers, aluminum cans and dog crap” as we are to see the unvarnished beauty of nature: “Cloying mist cloaked the forest in the morning, like a blanket over a birdcage.”
Adding to the uniqueness and drama of story, the Juan de Fuca Plate periodically earns its own chapters. In particular, I liked the character Cheng, a stranger who sails into Del’s life with his own ghosts in tow. Katie Welch wrote him with subtlety and heart. And his presence helps reveal Del’s internal conflicts and, in some ways, brings out her true self from underneath her own personal rubble. When he gives her a bag of rice, she does not know how to respond: “It was an impossible gift. How could anyone be so generous in a broken, selfish world?”
Del is a great survivor, but more importantly, for us, she is a great storyteller. She shows us the lengths we go to in order to avoid responsibility and the lengths we go to make things right. Ladder to Heaven is a powerful, nuanced novel.
October 1, 2025
Let me begin by sharing a few details about myself as they will, in my opinion, help inform my review. First, while I was an avid reader until my 50’s, the last twenty years saw my reading habits diminish dramatically, to the point that I was reading 4-5 books per year and took months to finish any book. Second, the author and I are friends and it is because of that connection that I ended up with her book in my hands. Third, my wife and I are working on finishing her newly built artist studio and every day since I started the book I have been engaged for hours on end preparing the walls and floors for their paint finish. Now on to the review.
Ladder to Heaven is a post-apocalyptic story set in modern time in Canada. And while I confess that her main character, Delphine, was not at all someone for whom I had any sympathy for, Welsh has cleverly woven a tapestry of characters, circumstances and events which not only kept me coming back at the end of each day, but found myself thinking about as I was sanding another patch of drywall mud. Her people are real and a bit gritty, blending flaws, foibles and fragility with honest strength and hope. Her story incorporates unexpected plot twists and in particular, a unique literary device (no details to avoid a spoiler) which permits the protagonist to tell her story without judgement.
You will note that I finished the book in four days which speaks for itself. Took me a few chapters to sink into the book but once hooked I was drawn in, in spite of my antipathy to Delphine.
My only criticism, and perhaps this is as much directed at myself as to the author, was that the novel had, on more than one occasion, me reaching for my dictionary to look up a word that I had never heard before. As such, the book not only kept my attention for four days but ended up expanding my vocabulary, and perhaps improving my Scrabble skills.
I look forward to Ms Welch’s next novel.
Ladder to Heaven is a post-apocalyptic story set in modern time in Canada. And while I confess that her main character, Delphine, was not at all someone for whom I had any sympathy for, Welsh has cleverly woven a tapestry of characters, circumstances and events which not only kept me coming back at the end of each day, but found myself thinking about as I was sanding another patch of drywall mud. Her people are real and a bit gritty, blending flaws, foibles and fragility with honest strength and hope. Her story incorporates unexpected plot twists and in particular, a unique literary device (no details to avoid a spoiler) which permits the protagonist to tell her story without judgement.
You will note that I finished the book in four days which speaks for itself. Took me a few chapters to sink into the book but once hooked I was drawn in, in spite of my antipathy to Delphine.
My only criticism, and perhaps this is as much directed at myself as to the author, was that the novel had, on more than one occasion, me reaching for my dictionary to look up a word that I had never heard before. As such, the book not only kept my attention for four days but ended up expanding my vocabulary, and perhaps improving my Scrabble skills.
I look forward to Ms Welch’s next novel.
November 3, 2025
Ladder to Heaven by Katie Welch is the story of the life of Del Samara and her family.
In the not too distant future, when a catastrophic earthquake occurs off the coast of British Columbia, the lives of Del and her family are irrevocably altered.
Told through stories shared by Del with those around her, both human and animal, the story revolves around Del’s complicated, and at times, heartbreaking life leading up to and in the aftermath of the earthquake.
I absolutely loved this book and found myself captivated by it, through to the very end. The characters were richly-written, flawed and believable, and the storyline was complex and multifaceted.
Although I had not read any of Welch’s other novels, if Ladder to Heaven is any indication of her incredible writing skill, I would highly recommend any book written by this author.
In the not too distant future, when a catastrophic earthquake occurs off the coast of British Columbia, the lives of Del and her family are irrevocably altered.
Told through stories shared by Del with those around her, both human and animal, the story revolves around Del’s complicated, and at times, heartbreaking life leading up to and in the aftermath of the earthquake.
I absolutely loved this book and found myself captivated by it, through to the very end. The characters were richly-written, flawed and believable, and the storyline was complex and multifaceted.
Although I had not read any of Welch’s other novels, if Ladder to Heaven is any indication of her incredible writing skill, I would highly recommend any book written by this author.
January 12, 2026
For me, the litmus test of a good novel is the longterm presence of the characters in my mind and heart. Ladder to Heaven takes the reader on a harrowing adventure in the Pacific Northwest. Welch's post-earthquake world is enough like our own to dismay but different enough to inspire wonder and even hope. The communication with animals is poignant and humorous. The protagonist, Del, inspires everything from empathy to frustration; she’s a character for our times, and an ideal guide into an unknown future. The trajectories of her children are believable and heart wrenching. And Cheng, dear Cheng, is unforgettable for his kindness and resilience. I will think of this story and these characters for a long time to come! I’d also love to experience this story as a Netflix series!
January 4, 2026
This book really stayed with me.
What grabbed me most was Del’s struggle with guilt and addiction, and how real it felt.
It doesn’t rush her healing or make it easy, which I appreciated.
The idea of humans suddenly understanding animals could’ve been gimmicky, but it wasn’t.
Instead, it made the loneliness and grief feel louder.
I loved how quiet moments were just as powerful as the dangerous ones.
It made me think a lot about forgiveness, especially forgiving yourself.
By the end, I wanted to reread it slower just to sit with it.
What grabbed me most was Del’s struggle with guilt and addiction, and how real it felt.
It doesn’t rush her healing or make it easy, which I appreciated.
The idea of humans suddenly understanding animals could’ve been gimmicky, but it wasn’t.
Instead, it made the loneliness and grief feel louder.
I loved how quiet moments were just as powerful as the dangerous ones.
It made me think a lot about forgiveness, especially forgiving yourself.
By the end, I wanted to reread it slower just to sit with it.
January 4, 2026
The world-building in this book is incredible.
After the earthquake, everything feels broken but strangely more connected.
The animals aren’t cute side characters—they have opinions, humor, and weight.
Some of my favorite scenes were just conversations that felt unexpected but meaningful.
It made me think differently about how humans treat the natural world.
Climate change isn’t preached, it’s lived through the characters.
I found myself imagining this future long after finishing the book.
If you like thoughtful sci-fi with heart, this is worth reading.
After the earthquake, everything feels broken but strangely more connected.
The animals aren’t cute side characters—they have opinions, humor, and weight.
Some of my favorite scenes were just conversations that felt unexpected but meaningful.
It made me think differently about how humans treat the natural world.
Climate change isn’t preached, it’s lived through the characters.
I found myself imagining this future long after finishing the book.
If you like thoughtful sci-fi with heart, this is worth reading.
January 4, 2026
This isn’t a fast, flashy book, and that’s why it works.
It’s about grief, regret, and the long road back to hope.
Del isn’t a perfect main character, which made her believable.
Her choices frustrated me at times, but that felt intentional.
The journey to Vancouver Island felt dangerous in quiet, realistic ways.
I liked that hope didn’t come all at once.
The book reminded me that survival isn’t the same as living.
It’s heavy, but it’s also deeply comforting.
It’s about grief, regret, and the long road back to hope.
Del isn’t a perfect main character, which made her believable.
Her choices frustrated me at times, but that felt intentional.
The journey to Vancouver Island felt dangerous in quiet, realistic ways.
I liked that hope didn’t come all at once.
The book reminded me that survival isn’t the same as living.
It’s heavy, but it’s also deeply comforting.
January 4, 2026
What I liked most is how honest this book is.
Addiction is shown without excuses but also without judgment.
Del’s isolation felt painful in a way that made sense.
The writing gives space to silence and reflection.
Some parts were slow, but they felt necessary, not boring.
The animal voices added warmth when things got dark.
This book doesn’t give easy answers, and I respected that.
It feels like a story that trusts the reader.
Addiction is shown without excuses but also without judgment.
Del’s isolation felt painful in a way that made sense.
The writing gives space to silence and reflection.
Some parts were slow, but they felt necessary, not boring.
The animal voices added warmth when things got dark.
This book doesn’t give easy answers, and I respected that.
It feels like a story that trusts the reader.
January 6, 2026
Wow, I got this book for Christmas for it's location and I found an author who could really weave a story. Engaging! I thought it would be a week+ long read and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the location of the story and we've booked a trip out to Sooke with the Book Club. The book was accepted for our club list this year. I hope she has more to come!! Definitely weaves a wonderful story.
February 3, 2026
I looked forward to getting back into this story everyday, and wanted to savour it as I realized I was nearing its end. Welch created a main character that conjured up a multitude of emotions within me while making me feel less alone in this confusing world. The descriptions of nature teleported me elsewhere, which is exactly what I crave when I read. Would recommend to a friend and will definitely reread!
December 16, 2025
So local I love it
January 4, 2026
Ladder to Heaven completely drew me in. Katie Welch crafts a story that’s equal parts emotional and hopeful, exploring love, loss, and the human heart’s resilience. The characters felt incredibly real... flawed, vulnerable, and utterly relatable, and I found myself rooting for them long after the last page.
I especially appreciated how the story balances heart-wrenching moments with gentle, uplifting hope. The narrative has a natural, flowing pace that made it hard to put the book down. There’s a quiet depth here that stays with you, prompting reflection on life, forgiveness, and what it truly means to move forward.
A beautifully written, heartfelt read that I won’t forget anytime soon.
Thanks to Katie Welch and River Street Writes for the opportunity to read and review.
I especially appreciated how the story balances heart-wrenching moments with gentle, uplifting hope. The narrative has a natural, flowing pace that made it hard to put the book down. There’s a quiet depth here that stays with you, prompting reflection on life, forgiveness, and what it truly means to move forward.
A beautifully written, heartfelt read that I won’t forget anytime soon.
Thanks to Katie Welch and River Street Writes for the opportunity to read and review.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews