What do you think?
Rate this book
Mother of the Year
Lindy Thomas has built her life on holding everything her family, her faith, and her role as a devoted mother. But when her husband dies unexpectedly, the life she carefully managed begins to unravel.
Determined to show up for her son, Lindy sets out alone on a cross-country road trip from Michigan to Seattle. What begins as a journey of love quickly becomes something far more complicated. A mysterious note left behind by her husband raises questions she’s afraid to ask. Her daughter is facing a private grief of her own. And somewhere between the endless highways and quiet hotel rooms, Lindy comes face to face with the limits of her control. Haunted by the past and desperate to hold her family together, Lindy is forced to confront what she’s spent a lifetime she was never meant to carry it all.
In a story marked by loss and moments of unexpected beauty, Mother of the Year explores what happens when control slips away and how God, in his grace, meets us there.
160 pages, Paperback
Published July 10, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
July 14, 2026
This story was one I didn’t know I needed. So many parts of Lindy’s story resonated with my heart and drew me in both closer and deeper. Cheryl’s thoughtful and grace-filled words took me from an observer to a passenger, a fellow hurting soul in pursuit of comfort, healing, and direction. Cheryl has captured the essence of life in a broken world and what the journey towards hope and healing looks like. On one road trip, Lindy is met with twists and turns, questions, and hard realities to face, just as we are in this race of life. We are all running and all carrying different loads as we do. Cheryl has captured this reality in a refreshingly authentic way. She tenderly pulls the reader in closer until each chapter becomes less like reading a fictional tale and more like a friend taking your hand and leading you to the throne of grace, a safe space, the place of refuge we all long to find.
July 20, 2026
As someone who had the privilege of beta reading *Mother of the Year*, I found myself drawn into Lindy's story from the very first chapter. Cheryl Esper Balcom has written a tender, authentic novel about love, devastating loss, family, and the long and difficult path God uses to bring healing.
When Lindy's husband dies unexpectedly, the future she had carefully planned disappears overnight. As she learns to navigate grief, strained relationships, unanswered questions, and unexpected discoveries, she slowly realizes that healing rarely comes in a straight line. However, God guides her through the fiery flames, flower fields, and hospital corridors until she finds Him waiting for her.
One of Cheryl's greatest strengths is creating characters who feel like people you already know. Lindy's humor, fears, questions, and unwavering love for her family make her both relatable and unforgettable. I especially appreciated the way faith is woven naturally throughout the story. Rather than offering easy answers, the novel reminds readers that God remains faithful even when we can't see what He is doing.
The themes of motherhood, marriage, grief, forgiveness, and new beginnings are handled with compassion and authenticity. I laughed. I cried. I learned. I felt like I had been on the journey with Lindy and came out a better woman.
If you have had doubts about who you are as an empty nester or your role in the next phase of life, this story will resonate with you.
When Lindy's husband dies unexpectedly, the future she had carefully planned disappears overnight. As she learns to navigate grief, strained relationships, unanswered questions, and unexpected discoveries, she slowly realizes that healing rarely comes in a straight line. However, God guides her through the fiery flames, flower fields, and hospital corridors until she finds Him waiting for her.
One of Cheryl's greatest strengths is creating characters who feel like people you already know. Lindy's humor, fears, questions, and unwavering love for her family make her both relatable and unforgettable. I especially appreciated the way faith is woven naturally throughout the story. Rather than offering easy answers, the novel reminds readers that God remains faithful even when we can't see what He is doing.
The themes of motherhood, marriage, grief, forgiveness, and new beginnings are handled with compassion and authenticity. I laughed. I cried. I learned. I felt like I had been on the journey with Lindy and came out a better woman.
If you have had doubts about who you are as an empty nester or your role in the next phase of life, this story will resonate with you.
August 15, 2026
This was a great casual read. Light and yet serious. Relatable. Filled with pictures of God’s love and kindness. It made me think, and also encouraged me. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 22, 2026
Cheryl Balcom (author of Winds of Grace) has gifted us with her first novel—the poignant story of Lindy, a grieving woman in midlife struggling with her identity as a recent widow and mother of two adult children who no longer depend on her. Balcom chronicles Lindy’s cross-country road trip from Michigan to Seattle, bringing an element of adventure and surprise as the reader rides along. The perils and predicaments Lindy faces on her journey force her to confront her greatest fears and longings. Add to that the mysterious letter her late husband left behind, which has her questioning all that she thought was true, and we have a real page-turner.
What mother doesn’t at some point grieve her children’s independence as they slowly pull away? And oh, how a mother’s heart breaks when her child is heartbroken! Although I’m not a widow, I could relate to so many aspects of this story from the mother’s point of view. Lindy, like myself, wants to control her life and that of her children, all the while resisting the comfort and peace she can find only in her heavenly Father's arms of love. I enjoyed traveling along with Lindy on her journey to wholeness and healing, and I think you will too!
What mother doesn’t at some point grieve her children’s independence as they slowly pull away? And oh, how a mother’s heart breaks when her child is heartbroken! Although I’m not a widow, I could relate to so many aspects of this story from the mother’s point of view. Lindy, like myself, wants to control her life and that of her children, all the while resisting the comfort and peace she can find only in her heavenly Father's arms of love. I enjoyed traveling along with Lindy on her journey to wholeness and healing, and I think you will too!
July 15, 2026
I received an advanced copy of Cheryl Esper Balcom's debut novel, Mother of the Year, and it is a delightful read! It follows Lindy Thomas, a woman who has built her entire life around holding everything together, until her husband dies unexpectedly, forcing her to question and come face-to-face with all her control issues. Her cross-country road trip is part self-discovery and part grace-journey. Balcom's character development is great, and I found myself laughing and crying for Lindy and her journey. This is a Christian book, but not overtly so, or in a preachy way. I appreciated how Balcom allows both her characters and readers to grow throughout this story in a true show-not-tell way. I heartily recommend it!
July 18, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. The author has a gift for weaving faith into the story in a way that feels completely natural instead of preachy. The characters felt like real people, and I especially loved the character development of Lindy's young adult kids. It added so much warmth and made everything feel believable. The message of God's redemption is woven throughout the story without ever feeling forced. The focus on God's creation also made the book perfect for summertime reading when most of us are enjoying the great outdoors. Mother of the Year was an encouraging, heartfelt read, and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
July 31, 2026
I just finished reading my copy !
Lindy, the relatable main character in this engaging novel, feels Iike a best friend or sister. She wrestles with grief, widowhood, past wounds, and fear of the future while still holding fast to her faith in God. I was cheering Lindy on as she embarks on a solo journey across several states to visit her son and see him play in an orchestra. She is surprised by joy and held with grace as she travels down new roads -alone but never truly alone. I highly recommend this book as your next summer read.
Lindy, the relatable main character in this engaging novel, feels Iike a best friend or sister. She wrestles with grief, widowhood, past wounds, and fear of the future while still holding fast to her faith in God. I was cheering Lindy on as she embarks on a solo journey across several states to visit her son and see him play in an orchestra. She is surprised by joy and held with grace as she travels down new roads -alone but never truly alone. I highly recommend this book as your next summer read.
July 19, 2026
Mystery, beautiful scenery, and relatable, likable characters—what more does a novel need? From the first chapter, I was hooked. It felt like I was on the road trip with Lindy, easily envisioning the sights she encountered along the way. The element of mystery was compelling without being overdone. As a mom of adult children, I related to Lindy’s journey, and her story of grief and healing touched tender places in my heart. I highly recommend this easy-to-read, yet captivating novel!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews