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Going Home
For eighteen months, Elder John Miller has served faithfully as a missionary in the jungles of Peru. Everything seems to be clicking, including his easy camaraderie with his companion, Elder Kaai, and his girl waiting for him back home. But when Kaai passes away unexpectedly, John is overwhelmed with grief, and his faith is shaken to the core. Why did God let this happen? John returns home to heal from the devastating loss. Determined to leave the past behind him, he struggles to move forward with life—to pretend Peru never happened. But Peru did happen, and the memories continue to haunt him, not to mention the confusion he feels over his relationship with his girlfriend. It isn’t until an old friend reaches out to him that John finds the lifeline he needs. Now he must decide if he can put aside his fears and love more deeply than he’s ever loved before.
237 pages, Paperback
First published February 3, 2015
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102 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 27, 2015
Going Home took me by surprise. It grabbed me from page one and I couldn't put it down. It honestly was probably one of the best LDS Fiction books I've ever read. It was beautifully written and had a moving story with a wonderful message. Maybe it was just a "right time..right place" story for me...but I was really quite surprised it didn't have higher ratings. I honestly thoroughly enjoyed it. It is in no way just a light sweet lds romance...the main character goes through some very serious trials while serving an lds mission in Peru...and suffers from PTSD after because of it. I fell in love with the characters though and the story. The hero and heroine are completely loveable and it was one of those stories that I've had a hard time not continuing to think about long after the last page. I would definitely read from this author again!
Strong LDS Religious theme.
Beautiful message.
Squeaky clean sweet romance.
Would definitely recommend.
Strong LDS Religious theme.
Beautiful message.
Squeaky clean sweet romance.
Would definitely recommend.
January 24, 2016
3.5 This came to me categorized as an adult romance but honestly it feels more like a young adult coming of age story written from a young man's point of view. It is definitely for an LDS audience as the main character is a young man who returns home early from his mission.
I did enjoy this book. It was well written and a good fit for the intended audience which in my opinion is LDS young adults. I guess technically based on the character's ages this is new adult but so different than most of the sex filled new adult stories that are out there that I hesitate to slap that label on it.
Content: Clean
I did enjoy this book. It was well written and a good fit for the intended audience which in my opinion is LDS young adults. I guess technically based on the character's ages this is new adult but so different than most of the sex filled new adult stories that are out there that I hesitate to slap that label on it.
Content: Clean
May 25, 2018
I think this is a very timely book with so many missionaries in the field right now. Coming home from a mission (esp. in the way this missionary did) is bound to be difficult. I think many RMs (elders and sisters) will find this book relatable.
March 26, 2015
I loved this book! It was thoughtful, inspiring and had such a great message. I loved that the main character turmoil and his struggle to find peace and inner healing. The way he found his peace was so refreshing! It's ok to get help from more then just ourself, our church leaders, and prayer. We may need a professional to help and there is no shame in that! I loved the way it ended, perfect!
September 18, 2015
This was a nice, uplifting read. The story felt very real, like this was actually someone's real mission story. I really enjoyed reading about the mission and reminiscing about mine. I loved learning about his convert and the letter his convert sent him; brought me back to some wonderful memories of my own. John, or Elder Miller, was a great main character: fun and sarcastic, diligent and a good guy. His experience with death is so realistic and heartbreaking but is resolved in the sweetest way. I love the relationship between John and Eric, an Elder from his mission, because that type of comparison and jealousy is so real and happens to everyone. Maggie is the coolest girl. She's John's best friend from growing up who lives a few blocks away. She can keep up with his sarcasm and it's fun to read about their inside jokes that he loves to bring up from childhood. The spiritual discovery and enlightenment for John throughout the story is very applicable to anyone who has gone through something that they felt like God had abandoned them. It was refreshing to read that his answers came through words of the prophets, scripture verses that came up here and there and hymns. The story was just the right balance of spirituality and real life feelings. The end is pretty predictable from basically the beginning of the book, but it's what you want to have happen anyway and the way it gets to the end result is what is so great about the read. The only thing I didn't like was basically the last 2 pages and how it actually ended. I felt like the author was just done writing and abruptly ended the story with a few paragraphs instead of a few more pages. I guess it's a pet peeve of mine, but I really really like a good extended ending to every book I read. This ending made the story unrealistic and a little out of character too. All well. It didn't ruin the book for me or anything. I give this 3.8 stars because it's not the usual genre that I love, but it was a good read and I would recommend it.
March 26, 2018
OK. I absolutely loved this book! I cried multiple times while reading this. This author has such wonderful character development, you really feel like you're a part of story. I love that! I loved John and I felt so sad for him and what he was going through. To lose a missionary companion like that is so tragic. I just kept asking myself, "Why don't they get this poor guy some help? He obviously needs to talk about it." Not sure what took so long, but he finally did get help. Yay!
The friendship that developed between John and Eric was a much needed one for John. Things weren't really going well for John, and Eric gave him the push he needed on many levels. I think the Lords sends us people in our lives for very specific purposes. The Lord's hand was in the details of this friendship.
I really liked the friendship between John and Maggie too and felt the ending was a little rushed. I went on this journey with these characters and I wasn't quite ready to let go. I read between the lines, but wanted more.
The friendship that developed between John and Eric was a much needed one for John. Things weren't really going well for John, and Eric gave him the push he needed on many levels. I think the Lords sends us people in our lives for very specific purposes. The Lord's hand was in the details of this friendship.
I really liked the friendship between John and Maggie too and felt the ending was a little rushed. I went on this journey with these characters and I wasn't quite ready to let go. I read between the lines, but wanted more.
December 20, 2017
I would definitely recommend this one, especially to Returned Missionaries and those trying to understand PTSD. I had some unresolved worries about not doing, "enough," on my own mission and this helped bring closure with that. I loved the main characters, the pacing, and the way the plot connects with the readers. There were some moments were the dialogue felt a little off toward the beginning, but it was minimal and overall I really, really enjoyed this.
August 3, 2021
When a missionary loses his companion by death, he blames himself. He goes home early as he cant deal with the loss. Even after being home he struggles with a girl that was suppose to be waiting for him, and the continues dwelling on the past. Interesting to see how life goes on whether you keep up with it or not. It was a struggle for him but with help he finally comes around.
February 19, 2015
I loved this book! I loved that it hooked me right away and kept me hooked until the end. I think the only problem would be was that I wanted more! I was sad when it ended!
March 19, 2015
This book touched my heart from the very beginning. John and Kaai pulled me in, and I found myself rooting for John throughout.
March 19, 2015
Great plot idea in contrast to the regular adjustments of "coming home" from a church mission. Characters are very realistic and well developed. Loved the therapist and her explanation that not all people that go to the therapist are "crazy," they just need someone to listen to them with out judging them.
Spoiler:
Elder John Miller was serving a mission in Peru. The mission experience was a life changing experience and where he knew he was supposed to be. Then it all changed when Elder Kaii raced up the hill on his bike in response to John's teasing. He made it to the top, collapsed, and started throwing up blood. John gives Kaii a blessing in which he feels strongly that he will live.
On the deserted road in the middle of no where, Miguel's truck pulls up and delivers these desperate missionaries to the hospital. The result wasn't what John had planned. Kaai dies of a bleeding ulcer. John is devastated, blaming himself for Kaai's death. He ends up getting sent home at 18month with an honorable release because he isn't functioning. PTSD can happen to people that have not been in the war situation, but rather any tramatic experience that they can't get past. John tries to make it through nightmares, physical sickness, and insomnia while trying to adjust to the decisions of being home.(i.e. school, career choices, marriage, basketball.) He is failing miserably. His traveling missionary companion comes to stay with his family and gets the ball rolling for his therapy. Erik also gets John thinking about relationships, but not with Nicolie, his girlfriend, but Maggie, his longtime best friend. The plot thickens nicely from there.
Spoiler:
Elder John Miller was serving a mission in Peru. The mission experience was a life changing experience and where he knew he was supposed to be. Then it all changed when Elder Kaii raced up the hill on his bike in response to John's teasing. He made it to the top, collapsed, and started throwing up blood. John gives Kaii a blessing in which he feels strongly that he will live.
On the deserted road in the middle of no where, Miguel's truck pulls up and delivers these desperate missionaries to the hospital. The result wasn't what John had planned. Kaai dies of a bleeding ulcer. John is devastated, blaming himself for Kaai's death. He ends up getting sent home at 18month with an honorable release because he isn't functioning. PTSD can happen to people that have not been in the war situation, but rather any tramatic experience that they can't get past. John tries to make it through nightmares, physical sickness, and insomnia while trying to adjust to the decisions of being home.(i.e. school, career choices, marriage, basketball.) He is failing miserably. His traveling missionary companion comes to stay with his family and gets the ball rolling for his therapy. Erik also gets John thinking about relationships, but not with Nicolie, his girlfriend, but Maggie, his longtime best friend. The plot thickens nicely from there.
April 30, 2015
I loved the cover of this book, and I knew with it being an LDS author, that it would be a clean read. This book was marked as a Romance, and it held a tiny, tiny, tiny bit of romance. It was more about the main character, and he came home early from his LDS mission, and his coping with it. Not that great of a book if you are looking for a romance.
July 12, 2022
Very touching LDS story about a missionary who returns home early after experiencing the traumatic death of his companion. It's mostly about his journey of recovery and the people that help him along the way.
December 29, 2015
Loved this LDS fiction so much. While there were romantic relationships, I appreciated the inspired message throughout the book even more than the romance. I recommend it, and look forward to reading it again when it's not 3:30am because I had to stay up to finish it.
February 26, 2015
Refreshing and inspiring. Great characters and a happy ending. A good read!
March 2, 2015
Very LDS message in the book. Good, but a lot of angst that the main character goes through. A good read, but not the easy romance read I was expecting.
May 6, 2015
I enjoyed this quite a bit. It wasn't a page turner, but it focused on a unique situation of a missionary having to come home early.
December 15, 2015
Different in a good way
August 16, 2017
2nd ward book group. Good ckean read.
February 11, 2019
Loved it!
May 13, 2017
loved it!
January 14, 2019
There's potential but the writing needs work.
2 Stars.
2 Stars.
April 17, 2024
Heart warming
This book is a great example of how Faith and trials go hand in hand. When our trials are hardest it seems our Faith is week, but not necessarily so....
This book is a great example of how Faith and trials go hand in hand. When our trials are hardest it seems our Faith is week, but not necessarily so....
April 10, 2015
I don't read a lot of YA books and had a difficult time getting into this one. I wasn't having a good day so the problem may have been me. The main character seemed whiny for someone his age. That said, the second half of the book and the final chapters are well written and held my attention.
April 26, 2016
this is a great story and the characters were so real that it was like the memory of the events in the book were memories shared by a friend
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews