Where Yesterday Lives

by Karen Kingsbury

At thirty-one, Ellen Barrett has already won a Pulitzer prize. Sadly, though, her skill as a journalist far surpasses her ability to sort out her troubled past. When she returns to picturesque Petoskey, Michigan, for her beloved father’s funeral, it’s a traumatic emotional and spiritual journey for Ellen—a rediscovery of what is truly important and eternal.

Will facing her past tear Ellen apart—or teach her what is truly important in her life?

Ellen Barrett, thirty-one, is a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist with an uncertain marriage, a forgotten faith, and haunting memories of her picturesque hometown and the love she left behind. The eldest of five siblings, Ellen longs for the time, long ago, when they were happy—when they were a family.

Then tragedy strikes. Now Ellen’s beloved father is dead, and she must leave Miami and return to her childhood home on the shores of Little Traverse Bay in Petoskey, Michigan.

As she returns to a world that was, an avalanche of memories is unleashed. And so Ellen’s quest begins—a quest to make peace with the people who still live there, with the losses and changes that time has wrought, and with the future God has set before her.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Adult Fiction, Christian Romance, Adult, Romance

416 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1998

About the author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Karen Kingsbury's writing, story, and characterization were all fabulous, as usual.

[Chantel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted (and tried) liking this book, but it just wasn't for me. Although there were some parts that I did enjoy in this book. I just thought the book dragged in a lot of areas and I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Even though this wasn't my favorite I would like to try another book from this author.

[Stefanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't appreciate the thinly veiled Catholicism bashing, and didn't appreciate the author's viewpoint coming through her characters that Catholics don't believe in the Bible, but the general story was good.

[Jennifer Lombardi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book and I will tell you why. The very FIRST page is captivating. You immediately want to know who this guy is and what is going on. That continues ALL the way through. I was absorbed in the characters. I wanted to know WHY they were the way they were. I wanted to know if they would be able to work it out or not. Not once did I get bored or want to put it down!

The way the author wrote this story was amazing to me. Just as I was getting to know a character and really want to know the details, the author switched it and put you in a different character's head. I found this to be both intriguing and frustrating (in a good way). I wanted to find out what the rest of the story was with the character so the author FULLY had my attention and I did NOT want to put this book down!

Let this be a warning to you all, you WILL cry when you read this. The last few chapters had me crying so hard I could hardly see the book. The emotions were radiating off the pages and I felt like I was there in real life watching all of this unfold. That just amazes me that a book could be so well written like that! Props to you Karen Kingbury! This is one of the best books I have ever read and I am proud to add it to my personal library!!!

[Della Tingle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a huge Karen Kingsbury fan, truly, but this book was very difficult to get through. I did NOT like the characters! Oh, the self-absorption, the pettiness, even the self-destructive behaviors...it was just all too much! The characters, as a whole, were unlikable and unrelatable. Even though this was not an enjoyable read, I still have some quotes to share.

“How can God bless our marriage when we’ve all but forgotten about him?”

“...there are a lot of things in life that can come between you and your faith.”

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

“I don’t care how far from God you are today,...God hasn’t moved.”

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past” (Isaiah 43:18).

“Certainly there can be no growth for today and tomorrow by remaining where yesterday lives.”

[Michelle P · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm not sure if this was written by a ghost writer or really by Kingsbury, but I hated this book. I usually really like her books but this one is tough to read because the family story is so unplausible and people's reactions to events are anything but normal.

[Michelle Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wish I had not made such a harsh statement about Jane in my updates. She was horrible. I know she had reasons but the hate and bitterness she had were over the top. She and Aaron both seemed to be stuck in very adolescent stages of development. I understand why but it was still hard to listen to after a while.



I thought the ending was a little too pat for such a miserable dysfunctional group and it did not feel realistic.
THe mother was a paragon, there is no way I could have been as patient as she if my children behaved this horribly so soon after I lost my husband.

I had to go to the library and get this as a book because the play away stopped working halfway through, it was easier to read than to listen to. It felt like a constant barrage of negativity while I was reading.

[Mary Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book ZERO stars, I would. This book put me off Karen Kingsbury forever. I know she’s some kind of evangelical Christian, but the way she portrays Catholicism in this book is not only mistaken, it’s just plain wrong! It’s almost as if she has some type of implicit and unrecognized bias against Catholics that finally firmly made its way to the surface and bubbled over in the pages of this book. I’m done with her and won’t read another novel by her again. I won’t watch anything on the Hallmark channel by her, and I won’t recommend any of her other books on here. Looking back, they all had subtle hints of pro-Evangelicalism (to the detriment of all other sects of Christianity).

[Erin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Anyone who thinks Karen Kingsbury only writes about perfect families should check out this book. Then again, if they read this one they might not read any of her others. The inter-family fighting is so strong in this book that I actually had to put it down and step away from it for several days. There are so many similarities between this book and the Baxter family - except that Baxters don't hate each other. I would suggest you skip this title and move straight to "Redemption".

[Valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Out of all the Karen Kingsbury books I've read this is one of my least favorites. The story line dragged.

[LadyCalico · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was so bad that it makes me ill that I wasted good money on it. The story just doesn't ring true, and the phoniness of the characters with their unrealistic responses really grated on my nerve. So Ellen's supposed to be responsible for her idiot sister's rape (exactly how makes no sense at all) so everybody still hates her many years later, and all the other gutless morons let the idiot sister run roughshod over them no matter how idiotically bad the idiot behaves. The idiot sister, although supposedly totally damaged, still somehow manages to be a great wife and mother, even though her husband is a castrated wonder who doesn't seem to care that his wife wastes so much of her life making a total idiot of herself with embarrassing hysterics and pure meanness. The boorish and boring behavior is taking place at a funeral no less. Kingsbury must have been in a contest with someone to see who could create the biggest pile of soap opera histrionics, and apparently won. On the plus side I did like the brother Aaron because he was smart enough to run away from this ridiculous story as fast as possible and as often as possible--the only one in this story with a human brain. For soap opera fanatics only. I have since read other Kingsbury books that were much better, and some that were really bad--but none as bad as this.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read and loved almost every book Karen Kingsbury has written, except this one. The book went on for far too long. The family drama was rehashed over and over and the characters were not likable in the least. This one was just not for me. But I will still continue to be a huge fan.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy, enjoyable read, just your typical book from Karen Kingsbury.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

JULY 2025 - This book had way too much angst for me. Jane’s anger was so unrealistic to me and just made no sense. People made very bad decisions. It was very, very annoying. I couldn’t wait to finish it.

[Kari Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Where Yesterday Lives
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Date Finished: July 18, 2008
Pages: 416

If you have never read a book by Karen Kingsbury before, I strongly suggest you pick one up. I was introduced to her books a couple years ago and every time I read one, the same thing happens... I cannot put it down. I started this book Friday evening and was so involved in the world of the Barrett family, that I did not want to leave, so I continued to read page after page until I finally finished somewhere around 2 a.m.

Before I go into all the reasons why this book touched me so, I would like to tell you a little about the author. Karen Kingsbury is a Christian writer and puts not only her love for the Lord in every book, but really tries to connect with readers on a personal level. This particular book was her first novel, and with it being so, happened to be somewhat autobiographical. For those of you who are hesitant to read any book that is labeled "Christian" for whatever reason, I would ask you to give this author a chance. Not once have I felt like her books were preaching at me, or trying to make me believe a certain religion is better than another. They are just stories that make you remember that God is good, and he does good things in our lives, and no matter how far we've wondered, or how big our problem may seem to us, they are never too big for Him in all his mighty power.

This story begins with John Barrett the father of Ellen, Jane, Megan, Amy and Aaron collapsing from a heart attack in the hallway. His last minutes are spent looking up at the pictures of his children hanging on the wall. As the family comes together to mourn the loss of their father, they are struggling to make it through one week together as all their past demons resurface. Throughout this one week, temptation, old sibling rivalries, and hidden secrets are keeping these five children and their mother from offering each other the kind of comfort and emotional support they are all looking for.

Ellen, the oldest daughter, is struggling to find the outlet to grieve that she desperately needs, only to be brushed off by her husband because he is busy with work and does not like funerals. As the week begins and she is constantly being snubbed and criticized by her next sister, Jane, she find herself turning to her first true love, whom she never really stopped loving. Having him drop everything to be by her side almost proves too much for Ellen to bear as she watches her family fall apart around her.

Jane, being the only sibling to have children of her own, is struggling with an emotionally scarring secret that she has never before shared with anyone. Right before she leaves to join her family for the funeral preparations, she finally tells her husband why it is that she does not feel anything about the death of her father. My heart breaks for Jane as she is constantly attacking Ellen, much to the other's dismay for what seems to be for no particular reason.

Megan, still living in the same town as her parents offers to let Ellen, Jane and her children stay with her. Trying to be the referee and keep the girls from each other's throats proves to be an emotionally draining task for Megan. She is just trying to abide by their mothers wishes that for one week, they act like a family who cares about each other.

Amy, the youngest girl, has always felt like she is being ignored and cutoff by the others, and does not go anywhere without her husband. As the story progresses, you see a transformation in Amy, as she starts to stand up for herself and show the others that she is an adult just like they are.

Aaron, being the only boy in the family has a rough time showing his emotions. Whenever he is confronted, Aaron become violent and then abruptly will disappear in his car.

As the funeral approached, their mother asks each of them to write a few words about their father for them to read at the ceremony. Ellen, being a writer has no problem with this, and takes the time to help some of the others who are struggling with what to say. The purpose is to share with everyone what their father meant to them, and their family. The ending to this book proved to be very emotional for me on several levels. As each of the children approach the podium to share their stories it becomes clear that each child saw their father in a different light. For each of them, he was the man they needed him to be. Whether that be a cheerleader, an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, or just a friend, John Barrett was that for each of his children, loving all of them equally in the way that was most important and meaningful for them.

Anyone who has ever lost a family member, or had a fight with a sibling will find someone in this book that they can relate to. It shows how wonderful the power of family can really be, and that in the end, you can always turn to your family for support, no matter how far away you've drifted over the years. There is something very special about the bonds of a family intertwined with the power of prayer.

[Linda Branton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bought this book at a booksale table.
Used to love Karen Kingsbury - still mildly readable.
Maybe too much attention to the mundane, and tidy ending because prayer.
So, I'll keep reading some of this kind of stuff over leftover porkchops and rice on my lunch break, but you don't have to.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read to the end, but it was hard for two reasons. First of all some of the characters who were of adult age were just so immature. I suppose that this does reflect actual people though. It is probably mostly a lack of communication and little patience to hear someone out. It was just very irritating.

Secondly I grew up in Northern Michigan and I thought authors put more research into their writing. There were so many geographical errors, such as saying that Mackinac Island is in Lake Michigan. It is in Lake Huron.

Also saying that the Catholic Church isn’t a Bible based Church is so wrong. Every mass has readings from from the gospels. The weekday masses also have either from the Old Testament or the other books of the new. Sunday masses usually have Old, New and Gospel.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this quickly because I wanted to get to something I liked. I read this to lead a discussion at a retirement complex. I’m not sure how I can nicely lead a discussion on a book I thought was so poorly written. The plot was predictable and none of the characters were well developed. A good editor would have thrown this in the trash, or at least chopped the length in half. There was so much tiresome repetition.

I am a practicing Christian and the way the author brought her faith into the plot was extremely heavy handed. I found out this was the author’s first book and it certainly shows.

[Ellen Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read this on recommendation from a good friend, who counts Kingsbury as one of her very favorite authors, and was sorely disappointed.... If one more person cried, I thought I would strangle them through the pages! Yes, a father's funeral is very sad, and old family hurts seem to inflame emotions during stressful times, but the week with the Barretts gave me a headache... I don't feel sorry for people who are hurt and want their friends/family to read their minds as to the reasons... talk, people! It's called communication! Sorry, I won't waste my time on another Kingsbury novel....

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story gave me so many emotions. All the books by Karen Kingsbury have so far. There was laughter, crying, anger, and so much more. This story was so heartfelt.
Ellen Barrett overcame so many things in this story. It reminded me a little of a Nicholas Sparks book I read. Which this one came out first but I read his first. But they ended completely different. I think everyone should read Karen Kingsbury books. They are just THAT good.
Inspirational, heartfelt, heartwarming, sincere, breathtaking, so many words describe this one story. I cant come up with them all.

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great drama from Kingsbury. This book did not disappoint. It was nice to see some family dynamics that felt entirely raw and real throughout the book. That being said, redemption is never far behind! Ellen’s letter to Jake made for a beautiful ending and I like how it is acknowledged he would always be a part of her past that meant something. The title of the book could not be more perfect for this story.

[Diane Shearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I just spent the morning wiping tears from my face as I cried through this entire book. The lesson, kids, is plan your own damn funeral! I don’t care how old you or young you are, write out a plan, put it in your Bible or with your insurance policy, and give a copy to your pastor. Honestly, that was so painful to read. This is a beautiful story about faith and forgiveness vs. selfishness, bitterness, and blame. I saw myself in it and changes will be made.

[Julie Maioriello Horner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our "yesterdays" are always there, buried. When they resurface, questions become too involved. Too many thoughts and how to sort them out?

Ellen's dad passes away suddenly. She has to go home to Michigan to plan the wake and funeral with her mom and other siblings. The siblings don't get along. Each has their own version of why.

[Alexis · Rating 1 out of 5]

The entire book is basically 5 adults acting like toddlers while their mother struggles through her husband's death alone. The ending was abrupt and, honestly, unrealistic; the characters finally communicated what had been bothering them for 10+ years and everything was good.
Also, I thought the offended Catholics in the comments were hilarious.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished it but really was just ok for me. Lots of Catholic bashing which I didn’t appreciate. Just not necessary. And Ms. Kingsbury definitely has a problem with overweight individuals. Wow!! A little “heavy handed”, huh Karen?? Not everyone can be perfect like you. Too much.

[Sara Rains · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read several books by Karen Kinsbury. This one wasn’t my favorite. It felt like it dragged at some points and it all came to a head in the last few pages of the book. The last few pages were good but the build up was slow.

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much self involvement.

[Brittany Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

Every character was so miserable and so unlikeable it honestly made the book hard to read. I love KK but this one was badddddd

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is the story of a family coming together to celebrate the life of their father. The family has 5 kids (4 boys and 1 girl) and a now widowed mom. The dad was the life of the party. He had heart issues, smoked, etc. so his death, while sudden, was not really unexpected. However the grief is overwhelming as for some of the family members, he was the glue. We follow the different roles the kids played in the family growing up and the dynamics that have formed because of it. We mainly follow Ellen and Jane. Ellen is a journalist who was very close to her dad. She's struggling with infertility and a drifting marriage and when her husband says he wont' go back with her, the temptation to stray is high. Her first love is in her home town and she's craving comfort, so she spends time with him but the Holy Spirits voice is strong in letting her know what a dangerous thing she's toying with. Her sister, Jane, has always been very resentful of Ellen. She wasn't as close with her dad and is very stoic about it all now, but the hatred for Ellen's seemingly easy life is intense. Jane has a history of abuse by a man and while she never shared it with anyone but her husband, she's mad that they don't know. Jane was a hard character to root for. The son of the family, the youngest, was also awful. Amy, one of the other sisters, is so soft spoken and very underdeveloped as a character. Same with Megan, the final sister. Anyway, this book really just explores family dynamics and what it means to be vulnerable with those we love. I thought the faith elements were on point at some times and cheesy as all get out at other times. I thought the character arc of Jane was nothing short of a miracle, and while Kingsbury loves to put God ordained miracles in her books, this just felt inauthentic. I honestly teared up at the funeral though. Each kid wrote a eulogy for their dad and it got me thinking about my own dad and our relationship and that was heavy. Otherwise, this book felt like teenage drama among 30 year olds and it was a little eye rolly.

[Karen Montgomery · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not going to lie that this fifth book that I have read of Karen Kingsbury was as interesting because it wasn’t since it took awhile to get into the writing style, which was like a memoir or even diary entry about the Barrett family with one of the key characters being Ellen Barrett! I started to give up on it until I finally got the idea of the writing style by looking at the back of the book! Of course, I still just read it like I was reading a journal of the events relating to the rediscovery of her life after the death of her father and planning his funeral with her family in her hometown that she hadn’t seen in several years! I think the best way to put it was the verse from Isaiah 43:18 “Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43‬:‭18‬ ‭KJV‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/1/isa.43.18.KJV Also, in her rediscovery of her faith and making mends with her family and old friends another scripture that rings true is: “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (‭‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬‬:‭13‬ ‭KJV‬‬)”
I love how her writing always revolves around scripture and true love that God wants for you to have! I think I read somewhere that the writing style is different because it was one of her first stories so, If you like this style of descriptive journal or memoir writing then it might be more interesting! However,as already mentioned the story is woven together at the ending, with everyone’s perspective in the their healing and beginning of the grief process; it just takes awhile to realize this part of the story! So, tread with caution when reading it and don’t give up on it unless it isn’t your style!