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Come Back: A Novel
What if you fled from your small town home at 17? Would you want to go back? Vi Masters would rather eat nails. But what if your aunt begs you to perform at her 60th birthday bash? She cared for you like neither of your parents ever did. And something about her voice on the phone seems off? Vi can't say no. How bad can three days be? She can keep her secrets hidden that long. Can't she? What if you know tongues are wagging all over town like they did when your daughter ran away - when family troubles should be private? Now she's back, Ben Johansen worries the girl will shame him again in the eyes of the Iowa town he reveres.What if you've schemed and plotted to get the perfect life? But your stepdaughter could ruin it all? Would you be scared? Tammy Johansen is. Down to her bones. What if Ben finds out Tammy has always known why Vi ran? Tammy's built her life around loving Ben. What if he won't forgive her? What then? What if the girl you worked so hard to get over waltzes into the diner where you're having breakfast? What if you know you should hate her for the suspicion her disappearance rained down on you? But you can't? What if you know neither of you is the same person you were? Would you still want her? Nate Barlow does. Against his better judgment. What if you and Nate pinky-swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth? Would you keep your oath and risk her last drop of hope? Amid worries over her aunt's dementia, and facing down her prickly father, Vi's sure Nate won't give her a second chance. Not when he learns what she's done. Three days? It's no ride on a pink duck.
426 pages, Paperback
Published September 19, 2017
376 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Sally Crosiar
7 books39 followersSally Crosiar (rhymes with ‘closure’) likes to read and write novels that delve into the messy, hopeful mix of inevitable conflicts that happen in every human relationship. People - what will they do?
Her latest novel, LOOK UP! departs from Sally's rural roots as Lee Hoffman seeks a fresh start away from Freedom, Iowa where she grew up. Ruby Abrams (friend and former co-worker of Vi from COME BACK) invites Lee to live with her family - husband, six-year-old twins, Rufus the dog, and a new baby on the way.
Healing is a major theme of all Sally's stories and in LOOK UP, Lee and her co-protagonist Matt see their own paths out of trauma while they also learn about race which neither has thought much about before. They haven't had to. Lee's small town and Matt's Northwest DC area gave them little previous exposure to people of color.
'I briefly lived in DC,' says Sally, 'So, it was fun sending Lee and Matt to places I knew.'
Her novel HOME PLACE, is set in the very house where Sally spent her first fourteen years and that she still calls her Home Place after decades away.
'My great-grands built the house in the mid-1800s so I grew up surrounded by our family's history. I remember touches of elegance and grace reflecting social aspirations of the time - and icy drafts of winter!' says Sally. In the story, Kat Patterson tries to save her ancestral home from her brother's greed. "I wanted to see if Kat could stop her home from becoming a golf course as my family could not." Will she manage it? Sally's not telling.
A sense of place matters in Sally's stories.
'I set COME BACK in a town I grew up near in Illinois - but moved it one state west to protect the innocent," says Sally. 'I needed to see my characters on Main Street, at the Community Center, and the old Flat Iron building where I had my very first dentist appointment.'
Strong character development is another feature of Sally's stories. 'I like reading books where I can crawl inside characters' heads. First-person from multiple points of view are my favorites, so that's how I write too. Wallowing around in their often messy emotions, helps me exercise my empathy muscles!'
In addition to fiction, Sally published FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE to share how she and her late husband Dave found each other. 'We’d both been hurt and were nearly ready to give up on love. But we each gave it one more shot. Lucky, lucky us!' That last shot at love involved a strategy Sally had never tried before. 'I stopped looking for the perfect guy – and instead focused on what I wanted in a relationship. Three weeks after I set a goal for that amazing relationship, I met Dave. He came with lots of complications, including being blind. But in my goal, I never said my partner had to be able to see! My goal kept me honest and gave me the guts to give loving Dave a try. Thank all the stars I did!'
Writing about Dave and the love story he and Sally created helped her heal after his death. 'Writing helped keep Dave with me – and eventually helped me see that I’d learned too much about loving from him not to use what I learned. So, after doing the hard work of healing, I tweaked my goal to ask for a healthy partner.' The goal worked again!
'My next love and I have been together over twenty years, and though we're both different people than we were in our previous relationships - or when we met - the essential components – what I need – are still there.' Sally adds, 'Like any relationship, ours takes work. And play! Having fun together - that's an essential component for both of us!'
In between times, Sally wrote another book that honors Dave. “I think of MY UNCLE DAVE as a children’s book with an adult message,” says Sally. “It’s an almost true story about when Dave, the blind guy falls into the swimming pool and taught us both an important life lesson."
She has also co-authored LOVE BUILDERS: TOOLS TO BUILD ANY RELATIONSHIP with her friend and mentor Dr. Sidney Simon
Her latest novel, LOOK UP! departs from Sally's rural roots as Lee Hoffman seeks a fresh start away from Freedom, Iowa where she grew up. Ruby Abrams (friend and former co-worker of Vi from COME BACK) invites Lee to live with her family - husband, six-year-old twins, Rufus the dog, and a new baby on the way.
Healing is a major theme of all Sally's stories and in LOOK UP, Lee and her co-protagonist Matt see their own paths out of trauma while they also learn about race which neither has thought much about before. They haven't had to. Lee's small town and Matt's Northwest DC area gave them little previous exposure to people of color.
'I briefly lived in DC,' says Sally, 'So, it was fun sending Lee and Matt to places I knew.'
Her novel HOME PLACE, is set in the very house where Sally spent her first fourteen years and that she still calls her Home Place after decades away.
'My great-grands built the house in the mid-1800s so I grew up surrounded by our family's history. I remember touches of elegance and grace reflecting social aspirations of the time - and icy drafts of winter!' says Sally. In the story, Kat Patterson tries to save her ancestral home from her brother's greed. "I wanted to see if Kat could stop her home from becoming a golf course as my family could not." Will she manage it? Sally's not telling.
A sense of place matters in Sally's stories.
'I set COME BACK in a town I grew up near in Illinois - but moved it one state west to protect the innocent," says Sally. 'I needed to see my characters on Main Street, at the Community Center, and the old Flat Iron building where I had my very first dentist appointment.'
Strong character development is another feature of Sally's stories. 'I like reading books where I can crawl inside characters' heads. First-person from multiple points of view are my favorites, so that's how I write too. Wallowing around in their often messy emotions, helps me exercise my empathy muscles!'
In addition to fiction, Sally published FIND THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE to share how she and her late husband Dave found each other. 'We’d both been hurt and were nearly ready to give up on love. But we each gave it one more shot. Lucky, lucky us!' That last shot at love involved a strategy Sally had never tried before. 'I stopped looking for the perfect guy – and instead focused on what I wanted in a relationship. Three weeks after I set a goal for that amazing relationship, I met Dave. He came with lots of complications, including being blind. But in my goal, I never said my partner had to be able to see! My goal kept me honest and gave me the guts to give loving Dave a try. Thank all the stars I did!'
Writing about Dave and the love story he and Sally created helped her heal after his death. 'Writing helped keep Dave with me – and eventually helped me see that I’d learned too much about loving from him not to use what I learned. So, after doing the hard work of healing, I tweaked my goal to ask for a healthy partner.' The goal worked again!
'My next love and I have been together over twenty years, and though we're both different people than we were in our previous relationships - or when we met - the essential components – what I need – are still there.' Sally adds, 'Like any relationship, ours takes work. And play! Having fun together - that's an essential component for both of us!'
In between times, Sally wrote another book that honors Dave. “I think of MY UNCLE DAVE as a children’s book with an adult message,” says Sally. “It’s an almost true story about when Dave, the blind guy falls into the swimming pool and taught us both an important life lesson."
She has also co-authored LOVE BUILDERS: TOOLS TO BUILD ANY RELATIONSHIP with her friend and mentor Dr. Sidney Simon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
November 21, 2019
New author on her first novel
Forgive me for gushing but this is an amazing work by an author of whom I had never heard.
Perhaps my perspective is skewed by so many false starts and weak stories but this one deserves a six star rating purely on character. These are your neighbors, your family, and your friends. These are your first love and your worst heartbreak, and they inhabit a small town that anyone could find on their mental map.
This is not light reading. Heavy themes and dark experiences populate these pages and I should offer the trigger warning that sexual violence is an issue.
The worst things I can say are that the novel in LONG but worth it, and that it takes a little adaptation to appreciate the non-linear narrative style.
Read this book.
Forgive me for gushing but this is an amazing work by an author of whom I had never heard.
Perhaps my perspective is skewed by so many false starts and weak stories but this one deserves a six star rating purely on character. These are your neighbors, your family, and your friends. These are your first love and your worst heartbreak, and they inhabit a small town that anyone could find on their mental map.
This is not light reading. Heavy themes and dark experiences populate these pages and I should offer the trigger warning that sexual violence is an issue.
The worst things I can say are that the novel in LONG but worth it, and that it takes a little adaptation to appreciate the non-linear narrative style.
Read this book.
June 25, 2018
Loved this book. Straight forward effortless story telling with a myriad of wonderful characters; some quirky, some loveable, some horrible, but all believable! I was hooked from the get go and really want to know what happens next! Sequel please?!
October 15, 2021
So this book really made me mad. It was really good up until like the last 20 ish chapters.
Then it all just went real fast and sloppy choppy, and leaves you wondering about certain people.
I really disappointed in this one. Boo.
Then it all just went real fast and sloppy choppy, and leaves you wondering about certain people.
I really disappointed in this one. Boo.
August 22, 2018
This is a wonderful story of redemption and resolution. I enjoyed so many of the characters each carefully developed and woven into the drawing out of a long ago misdeed. The story builds to a dramatic conclusion and despite tackling tricky subjects along the way, the book is a pleasure to read and has some humour and lighter moments that make it a good book to read all the way through if possible.
October 10, 2018
Come Back
Very entertaining storyline about small town life and the secrets uncovered when a local girl who made it big returns. How many lives will not changed when the secrets are uncovered ??
Very entertaining storyline about small town life and the secrets uncovered when a local girl who made it big returns. How many lives will not changed when the secrets are uncovered ??
April 13, 2019
Come Back has just enough suspense to keep the pages turning. There were some really likable characters and others that were an acquired taste and still others that you loathe. This is not an author that needs to rely on steamy sex scenes to write a romantic suspense novel. It was very well done, a nice diversion from real life.
September 23, 2018
Light and Fun, Sally Crosair's novel, Come Back, will have readers captivated by her characters.
The characters are real and very well developed, they make it easy for you as the reader to be drawn into.
This novel was very easy to follow. There was something wonderful about how simple it was. I didn't have to overthink things. There was plenty of comic relief in it to lighten any of the deeper moments.
I never felt confused and that is a great testament when you are introducing readers to new characters and issues.
The characters are real and very well developed, they make it easy for you as the reader to be drawn into.
This novel was very easy to follow. There was something wonderful about how simple it was. I didn't have to overthink things. There was plenty of comic relief in it to lighten any of the deeper moments.
I never felt confused and that is a great testament when you are introducing readers to new characters and issues.
September 7, 2020
Good beach read
I need a way to rate books based on the type of book they are. This is not the a Great American novel but it’s a really good quick beach read. Good characters. Interesting story. Twists and turns and a satisfying ending.
I need a way to rate books based on the type of book they are. This is not the a Great American novel but it’s a really good quick beach read. Good characters. Interesting story. Twists and turns and a satisfying ending.
August 26, 2020
Wow! This was such a deep story. Family dynamics (I positively hate Vi’s dad, Ben! When he had a chance to redeem himself, he didn’t take it). Rape, teenage prostitution, Alzheimer’s, this book really made me sad, angry, and laugh, too. Quite a debut novel!
March 14, 2018
Sally Crosiar's book Come Back was a fun, quick read that I enjoyed immensely and I do have to say I was intrigued after reading the blurb before I even started reading the book.
When I began the book, it took me a few pages to get into the country swang of the characters. But within minutes I was easily able to detect the accent in the writing.
The story takes place in the small town of Freedom, Iowa, where everyone seems to know everyone's business. Living in a small town myself, the way Crosiar described the town and the way she portrayed it to the reader was spot on.
One aspect of books that I tend to like; are short chapters. I soon lose interest with stories that have long drawn out chapters. If I have to count the pages to the next chapter, the story is losing me. I was pleased to see Come Back had short chapters, keeping me engaged. I liked how each chapter was written in the 1st person by each character. Going in depth about their thoughts, why they did what they did and their reasoning. Each chapter clearly showed the voice and personality of the character. As the reader, this method worked. I felt like these people were my neighbors. I got to know them really well.
I don't want to give any spoilers in my review, but I do want to mention that one of the characters - Sadie hit close to home. What she's going through, I'm experiencing with my mother and it's tough. Her character gave me an essence of sadness and how Crosiar portrays her illness couldn't be any more perfect.
The book is a page-turner with many surprises that kept me wanting to know more. I was, however, able to predict the ending, but that's okay. Crosiar answered many questions with detailed answers and covered a lot of history about the characters before getting to that point.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, I was sorry to see it end. I wanted to know what was going to happen over the next three days. This is a book that won't disappoint you. I highly recommend it. Thank you, Sally, for the awesome read.
When I began the book, it took me a few pages to get into the country swang of the characters. But within minutes I was easily able to detect the accent in the writing.
The story takes place in the small town of Freedom, Iowa, where everyone seems to know everyone's business. Living in a small town myself, the way Crosiar described the town and the way she portrayed it to the reader was spot on.
One aspect of books that I tend to like; are short chapters. I soon lose interest with stories that have long drawn out chapters. If I have to count the pages to the next chapter, the story is losing me. I was pleased to see Come Back had short chapters, keeping me engaged. I liked how each chapter was written in the 1st person by each character. Going in depth about their thoughts, why they did what they did and their reasoning. Each chapter clearly showed the voice and personality of the character. As the reader, this method worked. I felt like these people were my neighbors. I got to know them really well.
I don't want to give any spoilers in my review, but I do want to mention that one of the characters - Sadie hit close to home. What she's going through, I'm experiencing with my mother and it's tough. Her character gave me an essence of sadness and how Crosiar portrays her illness couldn't be any more perfect.
The book is a page-turner with many surprises that kept me wanting to know more. I was, however, able to predict the ending, but that's okay. Crosiar answered many questions with detailed answers and covered a lot of history about the characters before getting to that point.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, I was sorry to see it end. I wanted to know what was going to happen over the next three days. This is a book that won't disappoint you. I highly recommend it. Thank you, Sally, for the awesome read.
August 8, 2018
In the quiet little town of Freedom, Iowa lives the story of multiple families that are always in one another's business. We start the setting with Ben and Jane Johansen who are married with two children: Sonny and Vicky. Jane succumbs to depression and dies younger than expected from health complications and Ben remarries Tammy, who comes from her own dark past. As the kids age and tensions bloom between Vicky and Tammy's son JT, things turn from bad to worse quickly. One quiet night, Vicky dissapears into the night with no explanation as to why she's left or where she's gone. Leaving her senior prom date and love of her life wondering what happened.
Ten years later and little Vicky, now Vi Masters - an starlet in Hollywood, is returning home to celebrate her maternal Aunt's sixtieth birthday. But as she returns to town, so do terrible memories of why she left in the first place as well as new torments as her Aunt suffers from Alzheimer's .
Crosiar builds an astounding cast of characters that are abound with their own unique traits and backgrounds, lending happiness, sorrow and straight out of goofy times into the story mix. Those around Vi (Vicky) that care about her, help to ease her back into a comfortable visit for the weekend as she faces some of her past demons. She reignites with her former flame who is now a promising and well-to-do artist and also faces down her overbearing father that just can't think of anything but himself.
The trial and tribulations that the reader suffers through alongside Vi, reminds us that not everything is pretty in life and sometimes difficult decisions have to be made to survive to the next day. But staying confident and true to ourselves is just as important as standing up for yourself no matter what you decide to do.
A wonderful read that reminds me of female self-confidence and overcoming life's challenges that are thrown our way constantly.
Ten years later and little Vicky, now Vi Masters - an starlet in Hollywood, is returning home to celebrate her maternal Aunt's sixtieth birthday. But as she returns to town, so do terrible memories of why she left in the first place as well as new torments as her Aunt suffers from Alzheimer's .
Crosiar builds an astounding cast of characters that are abound with their own unique traits and backgrounds, lending happiness, sorrow and straight out of goofy times into the story mix. Those around Vi (Vicky) that care about her, help to ease her back into a comfortable visit for the weekend as she faces some of her past demons. She reignites with her former flame who is now a promising and well-to-do artist and also faces down her overbearing father that just can't think of anything but himself.
The trial and tribulations that the reader suffers through alongside Vi, reminds us that not everything is pretty in life and sometimes difficult decisions have to be made to survive to the next day. But staying confident and true to ourselves is just as important as standing up for yourself no matter what you decide to do.
A wonderful read that reminds me of female self-confidence and overcoming life's challenges that are thrown our way constantly.
January 10, 2020
An intriguing, honest story.
This story, told in turns by the characters centers around Vi’s return to her home town after an absence of ten years. As we hear from her father, stepmother and friend about her abrupt departure, we also had learn about her family and the small town where she spent her childhood years. We gain insight into her history and childhood experiences just as she gains insight about the people and the place that shaped her childhood. When we learn her reason for leaving, it is not a great surprise. But as we see how each person reacts to her revelation, we get an honest portrayal of each persons’ true character and understand that the fragile existence they had created with their secrets and denials had come close to destroying the lives of many people.
This story, told in turns by the characters centers around Vi’s return to her home town after an absence of ten years. As we hear from her father, stepmother and friend about her abrupt departure, we also had learn about her family and the small town where she spent her childhood years. We gain insight into her history and childhood experiences just as she gains insight about the people and the place that shaped her childhood. When we learn her reason for leaving, it is not a great surprise. But as we see how each person reacts to her revelation, we get an honest portrayal of each persons’ true character and understand that the fragile existence they had created with their secrets and denials had come close to destroying the lives of many people.
September 24, 2020
Come Back
This story has so much going on. She left home two months before she would have graduated from high school. She didn't tell anyone where she went or what happened to her. Now she is back and the scandal of the past comes off. Lies and deception are given light. In the end there will only be winners and losers. But who will win and who is left in the dirt is this story. Who will be the Phoenix and shine in the end? And will that person be alone or will they have their hearts happy ending? This story has triggers for those who have suffered from rape. But I was so invested in the story that it was almost impossible to hurt.
This story has so much going on. She left home two months before she would have graduated from high school. She didn't tell anyone where she went or what happened to her. Now she is back and the scandal of the past comes off. Lies and deception are given light. In the end there will only be winners and losers. But who will win and who is left in the dirt is this story. Who will be the Phoenix and shine in the end? And will that person be alone or will they have their hearts happy ending? This story has triggers for those who have suffered from rape. But I was so invested in the story that it was almost impossible to hurt.
January 29, 2019
This novel could have been so much better! The story is good; a big time singer returns to her small Iowa hometown for the birthday party for the woman who raised her. There are secrets, family issues, a renewing relationship. But so many things are wrong with the execution. The hints drag on and on. So many Italics detract from the flow. And a grammar misuse (“he should of known,” “they could of been more caring”) that I know was meant to portray some characters, but was just too annoying. In sum, the problems overwhelm the storyline.
March 6, 2018
Families......good,evil and secrets they hold
Come Back tells the story o
Come back is a good read that tells the story of a young girl as she returns home after running away as a teen. The characters are interesting and well developed as they carry the reader to an emotional compelling end.
Come Back tells the story o
Come back is a good read that tells the story of a young girl as she returns home after running away as a teen. The characters are interesting and well developed as they carry the reader to an emotional compelling end.
April 8, 2018
I thought this was really well written. It should have felt bitty, since there were four main characters and the POV changed with each chapter, but the author managed it really well. The characters were individual and each had their own distinctive voice.
There is some swearing, including the F word, and there is a dark theme lying beneath, but I found the story compelling.
There is some swearing, including the F word, and there is a dark theme lying beneath, but I found the story compelling.
June 16, 2018
Rotating Narrative
Fairly decent plot, but I am not a fan of this kind of narrative. Too many details get retold from different voices, that don't need to be retold. It got very boring reading the same scenes retold over and over. There is a lot of unnecessary hatefulness in this book from unnecessary characters.
Fairly decent plot, but I am not a fan of this kind of narrative. Too many details get retold from different voices, that don't need to be retold. It got very boring reading the same scenes retold over and over. There is a lot of unnecessary hatefulness in this book from unnecessary characters.
February 24, 2019
Great book that kept you guessing to the last page. A real page turner.
March 17, 2019
Great read
An amazing story. Told from so many vantage points with just as many life lessons. a must read for everyone
An amazing story. Told from so many vantage points with just as many life lessons. a must read for everyone
April 16, 2020
What a great story. The characters were great and a lot of sensitive topics handled in what I thought was a very careful way.
October 7, 2022
Interesting read. Story told through the very different voices of 4 people. Written the way they would speak. I found this very off putting initially and almost gave up. Helpful to read different characters opinion of same events through lens of their own experience and prejudice.
Story focussed on short time frame in key location with multiple characters. Good character descriptions.
I am not sure I would read another by this author but enjoyed this. The tension builds up until a fast paced finale.
Essentially it is about relationships. In a small community, in families, with friends.
Looking after others even at personal cost. Being kind and patient.
Story focussed on short time frame in key location with multiple characters. Good character descriptions.
I am not sure I would read another by this author but enjoyed this. The tension builds up until a fast paced finale.
Essentially it is about relationships. In a small community, in families, with friends.
Looking after others even at personal cost. Being kind and patient.
September 16, 2025
Had To Force Myself To Finish
There are many things I did not like about this book, especially about having to force myself to finish reading it. I tried to get over the use of “should of” and “would of” throughout the book. But even if I could make myself get used to that, there were so many other things that really bothered me. The characters were all stereotypes and the story was a bit trite. I figured out the plot twist way early on. Probably not going to read anything from this author again.
There are many things I did not like about this book, especially about having to force myself to finish reading it. I tried to get over the use of “should of” and “would of” throughout the book. But even if I could make myself get used to that, there were so many other things that really bothered me. The characters were all stereotypes and the story was a bit trite. I figured out the plot twist way early on. Probably not going to read anything from this author again.
August 5, 2020
Whatever flaws or attributes this book has, the prostitution of Vi at the age of 17 overwhelms them all. I worry some impressionable teenager is going to read this and believe she will find a kind and maternal pimp who will only give her gentle and nice clients, AND help her get established in a career. Not going to happen. Human trafficking is a real problem, even here in the U.S. https://www.dhs.gov/blue-campaign
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2024
This is one of very books I've ever stopped reading. The plot advanced frustratingly little in the first 32 chapters. Give credit to the author for writing each chapter from a different character's point of view. It felt like I could experience and embrace their thoughts and emotions. Unfortunately, that couldn't overcome my increasing disinterest and boredom.
February 24, 2021
This book was a southern “made for tv” style story. We have the stereotypical warm-hearted southern couple, the feisty niece, the handsome artist who has been carrying a torch for her for years, the evil bad man who caused problems back in the day, and the happy ending....ugh! I think I’ve been generous with two stars, and would not recommend it to my friends.
January 4, 2024
Holly Molly
This is one heck of a read. This is a story of love, rape, truth, family, infidelity and all the above,
Victoria, Nate and the town of Freedom has never seen Hollywood in all its glory as it will see soon.
This is one heck of a read. This is a story of love, rape, truth, family, infidelity and all the above,
Victoria, Nate and the town of Freedom has never seen Hollywood in all its glory as it will see soon.
November 27, 2018
Decent
This book was a decent read, if only to find out what Tammy would do in the end. Otherwise, it was predictable and there were a lot of grammatical and punctuation errors.
This book was a decent read, if only to find out what Tammy would do in the end. Otherwise, it was predictable and there were a lot of grammatical and punctuation errors.
November 17, 2020
This book is a great beach read to me. It dealt with difficult subject matter, and dealt with them well. This novel is a very quick read and one that I didn’t want to put down.
November 26, 2022
This was a fun little read, but also touched on some harsh topics at the same time. Dementia and rape being the biggest ones, but how love can come through in the end.
June 17, 2023
Such a fun, enjoyable read. Likeable, relatable small-town characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews