Dear Yesterday

by Lindsey Ray Redd

A story about second chances, forgiveness, and finding home in unexpected places.

Seven. That’s how old Luella McCrae was when her mother abandoned her, leaving her in the driveway of her grandparents’ foster home. There, she grew up among the other fosters, resenting every day that her mother never came back for her. She left the farm the day she turned eighteen—her sights set on a life in the city. Eleven years later, she’s still struggling to make a name for herself as a writer in Atlanta. After losing her job and getting kicked out of her apartment, she receives a phone call from her grandma’s lawyer with an offer that’s hard to refuse. Her grandma is sick, in need of a caregiver and help around the farm. Luella swore she’d never go back to Chipley Creek. But with no job, and no place to live, it seems like the only option she has. If she accepts, it means returning to the home she said she never would, the grandma she resents, and the love she left behind.

Genres: Fiction

312 pages, Paperback

Published April 24, 2022

About the author

Lindsey Ray Redd is a sentimentalist at heart and author of emotional drama with romantic subplots. She is a graduate of The University of West Georgia, where she studied Film & Media and minored in creative writing. She lives in Georgia with her husband, daughter, and Labrador Retriever. Dear Yesterday is her debut novel. You can find her on Instagram or at lindseyrayredd.com.

Reviews

[Erin Branscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that will make you cry and put you back together in the best way possible. ❤️

[Macy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to read this book early, and it’s a stunner. Written with so much authenticity and heart, it feels like talking to a friend. Lindsey hits the nail on the head with respect to the Southern voice, and I am so excited to get this book in the hands of as many folks as I can!

[Allyson K · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5)
Wow. This book was an emotional ride! The story is beautifully told and touches on topics that I really haven't read much about, which made this such a breath of fresh air. It is challenging, heartbreaking, heartwarming, and raw. One of those books that makes you reflect and ponder. The growth of our main character was incredible and done in a fairly short time frame in terms of pages, but it did not feel rushed at all. Oof, this made me miss my grandma so so much and made me think back to my childhood and all the memories I have. A really wonderful story of family with a bit of romance in there as well.

Luella walked away from her childhood hometown and never looked back. Now, she isn't quite living the dream but she is making it work. When a phone call comes out of the blue dragger her back home, she is forced to face not only the memories the town brings back but also the relationships she walked away from all those years ago. Nothing about being back is going to be easy, but Luella will begin to find beauty in the memories she has and may even come to understand her life up to this point. Going back home may be just what she needed to feel whole again.


I am so grateful to Lindsey for sending me a copy, I truly loved this and cannot wait to see what she writes next!

[Paige Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this read! It is such a feel good southern charm. Being from the same area, I loved the references to local spots. The imagery was beautiful. There was plenty of emotion put into this book cause I laughed and cried throughout the entirety. Way to go on your debut novel, can’t wait for what this author puts out next 💗

[Megan Simari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Lindsey Ray Redd for an early copy of this book! This book gave me very The People We Keep vibes. I was on a roller coaster of emotions and I loved every second of it! I loved Luella’s journey to find herself by returning home and reconnecting with the grandmother she never understood. I also love how it highlights how little time we have with the people around us, and to never take any of it for granted. Meggie and Luella = BFF’s and I very much enjoyed this dynamic duo. Overall, if you love sweet southern vibes, an emotional love story, and family drama, this is definitely one you’ll want to pick up! I cannot wait to see what Lindsey has in store next!

[Esther | esthersreadingnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow my heart was not prepared for this book. 😭😭

First and foremost, huge thanks to Lindsey for sending me an ARC and letting me read her book before it is published. Congrats on her debut novel! Can not wait to see whatever you write in the future! ♥️♥️




I knew going into it that it was about Luella’s estranged relationship with her grandmother, Helen, but I was not expecting the story as it unfolded. I was prepared to feel this deeply as I had a very close relationship with my own grandmother, who I lost a few years ago. When it comes to stories of grandmas it always hits where it hurts the most.

Although i don’t believe the romance was the main point of this story, Luella and Paul were still perfect. I loved how kind he was and how understanding he was despite how hurt he was.

Watching Luella go through her journey of healing and finding herself was my favorite part of this story.

♥️♥️♥️

[Mae Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED Dear Yesterday. Typically a slow reader, I read this in nearly one sitting.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC and was also thrilled to purchase the book in support of the author!

Not only a sweet romance, this book navigates childhood trauma, our perception of circumstances, personal growth, faith, grief, and many relatably honest and difficult topics.

Heartwarming—I strongly recommend Dear Yesterday.

[Danielle Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Time is a thief, and you don’t that you’ve been robbed until it’s too late.” - Lindsey Ray Redd

This book is the first book in SO long to make me feel my feelings this deeply. I knew that this book was going to hit me in some massive feels, but let me tell you, I did not expect it get me this deep.
I finished this book and closed it and just BAWLED my eyes out. Even trying to type this review, I’m over here getting so emotional.

I went into this book with the understanding that this story is about a woman, Luella, who goes back home to take care of her estranged grandmother who is ill. What I did not expect was that I didn’t instantly love Luella’s character. Most stories the “heroine” is this “she can do no wrong” type person, and Luella is literally the opposite of that. Luella is not an instant favorite, she makes some huge questionable choices literally just pages into the book, But she’s fun, she’s quirky, she’s quick to anger, but most of all she OWNS her choices. She knows that she’s not perfect and she knows that she’s made some mistakes, she doesn’t make excuses for them. I LOVED that about her right off the bat. She is REAL. She is FLAWED. She is HUMAN.

Going back home to take care of her grandmother isn’t an automatic happy ending. Her and Helen both have hurt each other in the past, they’ve both made mistakes when it comes to talking to each other, but the journey of them making up for all that lost time and learning who each other really are as women, it was healing. Not only for Luella and Helen, its healing for the reader too. This is a journey about what it means to grow as a person, To make mistakes. To be hurt and hurt someone, and tho forgive and be forgiven. It’s about family, love, loss, grief, hurt, ALL of it.
Anyone who has lost someone they care about, this book (at least to me), brought that loss up, front and center and makes you really just think and remember what you’ve lost, but also what great times you had. It’s remembering the smell of your Nana’s garage, and the feel of the sand at the baby beach your Papa used to take you to when you were a kid. It’s like a giant hug from that person you miss so much it hurts. It’s raw and emotional, but so healing at the same time.

It’s like coming home after being away from your favorite people for far too long. I will forever be so thankful to Lindsey for sharing her story with us, this book helped me let go of a lot of bitter and resentful feelings I’ve harbored for far too long over my own losses. Grief hits you in so many ways, but this book just makes those hits feel less lonely. 🤍

[Courtney | Bookish Beach Babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read if you love:
- Second chances
- Friends to lovers
- Sentimental reads
- Forgiveness
- Small town southern settings
- Grandmother/granddaughter family dynamics


This was a debut? Are you kidding me?! Lindsey Ray Redd knocked it out of the park. This book is like a warm cozy blanket that you go back to time and time again. Seriously, I will read this book over and over again. It's one of those reads that you can count on to give you comfort and the feel of coming home. It's real and raw and full of truth while at the same time being heartwarming and swoony.

I was hooked within the first few chapters. Luella is a hilarious piece of work. At first, I was like -- how can I possibly root for this girl?! But she was so incredibly real, I couldn't help doing just that. Her relationship with Helen was tumultuous at best and it was truly the highlight of this debut novel. There was so much hurt and anger between these two characters. Reading about them reconciling their past with their present was beautiful. The character growth of both Luella and Helen was so powerful and really teaches you to never take any day for granted with your loved ones.

Then there was Luella's rollercoaster relationship with Paul. I loved the flashbacks between these two. Seeing how they grew up together and fell in love. I could truly feel Paul's pain through Luella's eyes. He was such a sweet hero, but I appreciated his backbone. You could tell he was weak for Luella, but at the same time he didn't let her walk all over him. Their love was truly earned and even though it was a wild ride -- I truly didn't think they'd make it at times -- it was natural and believable with the way it played out.

This is a story full of depth and emotion and has so many special moments sprinkled throughout it. I finished this book a week ago and I'm still thinking about it. I can't believe that this is Lindsey's debut novel and I am just so so excited for what her future holds as an author.

[Kelly Buddenhagen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes you read a debut novel and it’s captivating. Sometimes it’s so fast-paced that putting it down feels not only painful but potentially earth-shattering. Sometimes it’s beautiful and eloquent and raw. Sometimes its characters become sentries in the margins of your life (and their quotes the stuff of stickers on your laptop), and sometimes such a book is not only fascinating — but rare.

Sometimes it’s every single one. 🖤

I had the privilege + delight to read an advanced copy of Lindsey Ray Redd’s debut novel, Dear Yesterday, and it is both relatable + rare, humorous + heart-stretching, un-put-down-able + wholly unforgettable.

A few things to note about Dear Yesterday:

Sweet Home Alabama vibes
Houseplant vengeance
Scandalanta (please gimme this vanity plate)
Book swapping Anne with an E
Percy stan
Intense desire to campaign for a sequel 🎉

To call Dear Yesterday women’s fiction is both accurate and an underestimation of the effect that Lindsey Ray Redd’s storytelling has on her readers. Fans of soulful, sentimental, clever stories will find exactly what they’re looking for — and more! — as will those of us searching for stories that mirror our own struggles to build connection, bridge past and present, and reconcile who we are with circumstances beyond our control.

I was blown away by Dear Yesterday and cannot give it enough stars and applause and kudos. Absolutely my favorite read of 2022 so far!

[Caitlin Moss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely debut from Lindsay Ray Redd.

Dear Yesterday was a gentle read that reminds readers that sometimes running away from a life you hate, only leaves gaping wounds for years to come. And sometimes returning to that same life is the only way to gain perspective and move forward.

Luella hasn't been home in years. Though she wouldn't really consider it home. Her mom dropped her off at her grandparent's house when she was seven and she's felt abandoned and lost since, which lead her to live a life of poor choices. When she gets word that her grandmother is sick, she decides to go back to close that chapter of her life. Instead, she realizes just how many wounds never quite healed to begin with.

Let me just say...Helen has my heart! My goodness. I adored her. Luella has some harsh qualities but I just was rooting for her throughout. The love story woven throughout is complicated and the decisions Luella has to make based off her own mistakes are not easy. But there is redemption in the end, so there were tears from me.

Congrats, Lindsey!

[Julie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This truly is a beautiful story. Luella’s journey discovering herself and having a second chance at love. I got a lot of “Hope Floats” vibes while reading.
Being from around the area where to author lives, I noticed a lot of gems sprinkled throughout.

[Kerry Chaput · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a story of returning to your small town roots, and this had me hooked until the last page. I rooted for Luella to find her footing and heal her past wounds. Very enjoyable read!

[Lindsey Cord · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful story. I found Luella very relatable and loved to see her internal transformation throughout the story. Great writing, easy to read, wonderful descriptions!

[Katie Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear Yesterday by Lindsay Ray Redd
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🧼
Luella hates everything about her life right now. She has hit rock bottom. While licking her wounds, she gets an unexpected call that changes her life forever. She heads back to her hometown to care for her estranged grandmother. She finds herself learning more and more about her grandmother. With each secret revealed, Lindsey realizes that not everything she thought about her grandmother was true. This book is full of second chances and really challenges you to think back on your life. Forgiveness is a gift and love is a treasure. This book made me so emotional in the best way! You do not want to miss this book!
**I received this book as an ARC.**

[Cortny Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Determining a rating had me all over the place. 3 stars feels too low, and 4 stars feels a little high. Though I wrinkled my nose at a lot of the details and more technical writing stuff, Dear Yesterday left me feeling so warm and full…the mark of a story enjoyed. It’s a very light, delicate book, even if some plot elements are heavy. Relatable in a big-picture way, it was relaxing to read. If you know or follow Redd on social media, I think you’ll find the story very authentic to her character and personality. After following her for years, I got almost exactly the story I expected. (Great job marketing this baby, Lindsey!)

🙌🏻Things I liked:
* Quaint, small-town setting. The farm and porch and kitchen felt cozy to read. I adored the “home” of this story.
* “Never too late” trope. Nostalgia. Revisiting your roots.
* Grandmother/Granddaughter redemption. Once Helen and Luella FINALLY started talking in the last chunk of the book, it felt more rich.
* Paul. Gus. Percy. Grandpa Fred. This story is heavy on plot and light on character depth, but I loved the male characters.
* Overall feel-good vibes. There’s a wholesomeness that left me feeling like I had my face raised toward the afternoon sun.

👎🏻Things I didn’t enjoy:
* Characters rarely saying what they want to say. It felt awkward and unrealistic and tiresome. There was so much left unsaid. Do people really bite their tongue that much?
* Timeline errors. This book measures time in a very specific manner (you’ll see), but gets it so wrong, which seemed to serve the plot unfolding instead of reality.
* Luella.
* Narration. It’s third person (which is my preference!), but almost exclusively from Luella’s POV, though inconsistent with how much insight into other characters is revealed. Reads like first person with Luella as narrator. I think this is partly why the depth felt missing.
* Verb tense and pronouns were sometimes confusing.
* Unrealistic details that made me scratch my head.

💜Read if you like:
* Hallmark movies. The fulfilling and annoying aspects are almost all represented.
* Plot-driven stories.
* Subtle, non-steamy romances. There’s chemistry! Just nothing spelled out, if you’re wondering about steam level.
* Stories about foster care and found family.
* Cozy settings.
* Second chances.
* Lightness. There’s almost nothing "dark" about this book, making it an appropriate read for almost any age.

Overall, this was a solid debut. I’m excited to read more of Redd’s books in the future.

[Christine Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5, this book was part of my traveling bookclub and my friends told me it was more “hallmarky” and light hearted and I think because I knew that going in, I appreciated this book a lot more. It definitely was more like a hallmark movie and very sweet, a quick read, and frequent reminders to live in the present.

[Alexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m going to start at the end. Redd finds her voice about 2/3 of the way through the novel and the plot suddenly takes off. I find myself investing in characters I previously didn’t care about, I get rich descriptions of scenes that make me feel like I’m there. My heart breaks for Luella as the people in her life she cares most about, that she just got back, leave her. If you want a story of reconciliation with a sweet and gentle romance (not a subplot, it’s a huge chunk of it), this story hits all those bars.

Now, why isn’t it 4 or 5 stars? The beginning and middle of the book is bland. I get told everything, it lacks descriptions. I got bored reading and found my mind wandering to the household chores I could have been doing instead. It’s cleanly written, good grammar, it’s just not well written. It was ROUGH. I gave up reading it twice before dragging myself back to continue. The plot is extremely cliche and matched several dozen lifetime/hallmark movies. But if you can ride out the rough you get rewarded with a beautiful story about hometown roots, chosen family, and second chances, with a few unexpected plot twists thrown in. This is not a book I would reread, but the ending is a deliverance that Redd’s next book will be so much better.

The short of it: I’m a sap for romance and family drama, and this was too formulaic and dry even for me. The climax and ending was miles better. Maybe you will like it better than I did, but if not just skip until the scene in the attic and the rest of the book is way better.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The house was quieter. It felt deflated—like all the fun had been sucked out with a vacuum, and all that remained was a flattened, weakened version of what it was before. That was what grief did.”

“She just needed time to find God again. Grandpa Fred always used to say that God would find you where you were. You didn’t have to go to church to be with him. He was in everything. The trees. The rays of the sun. The wind.”

𝙳𝚎𝚊𝚛 𝚈𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚍𝚊𝚢 𝚋𝚢 𝙻𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜𝚎𝚢 𝚁𝚊𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚍𝚍❤️🥺🥺
I’m posting this on a Tuesday because things of significance happens on Tuesdays. This debut book is one of the BEST stories, human interaction, and generational journey I’ve read. Luella has a difficult relationship with her maternal grandmother that she is forced to confront on a trip home. My own relationship with my grandmother is so sacred that this connection pricked my heart!!!

Loss, grief, and unexpected circumstances chances the heart. Luella’s circumstance finds her facing issues swept under the rug before. How do we deal with facing truths ? Fight or Flight? Compassion or hardened hearts? I sobbed reading this, so many emotions and thoughts came from Luella’s journey. I saw much of myself in her and Helen. Brilliant debut!! Heartfelt, pure, beautiful.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟+

[Simarbir Kaur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece!!! It's a work of art. It is like a warm, comforting, super soft , fuzzy blanket wrapped around your heart. One of the stories that give you a long lasting hangover.

As readers, we love to find an escape in the books, but what happens when we find our story somewhere in the book. We get involved deeply with the characters, but what happens when we find a little bit of ourselves in these characters. I will tell you what happens. Pure emotional , electrifying magic, rekindling your spirits. "Dear Yesterday" does that for me and for sure will do the same for many more readers like me. I could find so many relatable moments that took me back to small memories of mine, which made me love this book more than I had expected.

Beautiful Quotes
"You can't go back and change yesterday, but you can learn from it."

"Chin Up!"

You will find many such amazing quotes in this book like these, where the author has purely created magic simply woven into words. This is a heart warming story that is an ensemble of moments that make you cry, and yet there are also moments where you can't hold your smile back. Breathtaking moments that melt your heart, make you pause, look around you and wonder, how beautiful are these words that speak directly to your heart.

Luella who was abandoned by her mom at the age of seven, was raised in her grandmother's (Helen's) foster home. With a feeling of abandonment and hatred always clouding her emotions, her days are filled with resentment and constantly waiting for her mother to come back. With the dream of finding herself in the city she leaves her grandmother's farm when she turns eighteen. After a span of eleven years, when she is still struggling to set her feet in the city , she is faced with a choice that brings her back to that place of her past where she thought she will never go back to. That place is filled with sour memories and she will have to also face the love that she left behind.

The character development of Luella and Helen (her grandmother), is so beautiful. They are so dynamically different yet there is an undeniable charm in their encounters when they meet again after Luella comes back to the farm. There are other charming cameos who provide a beautiful support and are witness to their story , playing a small yet valuable part in shaping their relationship. Not to mention, the love interest of Luella, Paul, who you can't help but fall in love with. You keep rooting for their love, throughout the journey. All these characters, Helen, Luella, Grandpa Fred, Meggie, Cheryl, Taylor, and even Claire. I loved them all. Helen and Luella will stay with me for a long time though :)

Talking of the other elements of this book, the author has shown us the beautiful backdrop of country side and farm life, and also shown glimpses of foster life that you don't get to read in other books or see in movies.

This book is about shaping your future by learning from your past, its about strength(Chin Ups!!), resilience, forgiveness, love, and its about finding kindness and a family outside where you were born into.

Overall, I loved the sentimental quotient of this book. This book, every now and then is filled with sparks that fire up the emotions inside you and make you feel alive with those beautiful human connections. Definitely recommend this book if you love emotional rollercoasters. Make sure that your box of tissues are by your side.

It's an absolute delight for anyone who wants to feel alive again. I feel blessed as a reader to have come across such a gem. Thanks Lindsay Ray Redd for writing such a beautiful, heartwarming book which I could relate so much with and definitely many other readers will.

Lindsey Ray Redd

[MacKenzie Vozza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I once again really wanted to like this book as it's written by an indie author and I was pointed to it by a few of my bookstagram friends who I frequently rely on for good recommendations. It just wasn't the story I thought it would be.

I don't feel that the GoodReads average rating actually reflects the quality of the book. The writing was mediocre and I would have been fine to put down the book half way through and not find out what happens. Because what I thought was going to happen is exactly what happens. I didn't feel compelled to keep picking up the book to read on - I just didn't care. The story deals with really heavy topics/content so I felt that there was a LOT of opportunity for the author to connect with readers. This did not happen for me.

The book is written in the third person and it made me realize how much I love first person double POVs. The main character was 29, but the book read like a young adult book. Before the author mentioned the age of the MC, I literally thought she was 18 (??). It goes without saying that the MC was very immature and acted that way throughout.

**SPOILER**

This is something that really bothered me. The MC finds out she's pregnant and she consistently talks about how the only options are to have the baby or put it up for adoption.. absolutely NO mention of abortion? I know this is a very touchy subject and I got the vibe that the author does not believe in abortion considering she did not even acknowledge it's existence, but it made the story feel so superficial. Even if you don't believe in something, you can mention the existence of it and explain it away by saying it wasn't an option for the MC. What you cannot do is absolutely ignore it's existence and not address it at all - because it leaves the reader wondering. It was really weird because in the case of this story specifically, abortion probably would've been the best option for the MC considering the father of the baby was her roommate's boyfriend....... This whole situation turned me off of this story. And after noticing this aspect, the whole story felt fabricated.

I clearly am in the minority with this one, so read it yourself and let me know what you think!

READ IF YOU LOVE:
- small town romance
- accidental pregnancy trope
- family dynamics
- Reminders of Him - Colleen Hoover
- Swear on this Life - Renee Carlino

3/5

[Christina Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Life is a complicated, beautiful mess.”

I have been cheering @lindseyrayredd on from the sidelines for the last few months and feel like I just witnessed her score the game winning goal with this incredible book.

I’ve gotten to hear about Luella, but to experience her on the pages of Dear Yesterday, is another thing entirely. We meet her when she is a mess. Everything compounds together to create this explosion of chaos that she is trying to crawl her way out of. When she moves back home, albeit for different motivations than repairing broken bridges, she is met with every mistake and every hurt that goes along with it.

I didn’t expect to get a front row seat into the world of foster care and adoption, but this is what I saw. Maybe because we adopted and my eyes can’t help but pick up those thoughts, stories, and struggles, but also because Lindsey brings us into this world. I was so thrilled to see this aspect carried on throughout the book and I want to celebrate another fiction story that peels the curtain back for us to see and feel this world of adoption in an intimate way. It’s so beautifully done.

Luella’s journey of forgiveness with her grandmother was touching and so significant in many ways. I loved seeing Luella navigate this with her first love, Paul, as well. Their story was woven throughout the book and I really enjoyed the romance Lindsey gave us here.

It was such a rich experience for me. I was turning pages quickly and felt like I was drawn into the story so deeply, that every scene felt important in some way. The layers had layers and this is definitely a book to reread to discover the new ones. Very well done Lindsey! You can find me on the sidelines cheering you on for many books to come! 👏👏👏

[Becca Baisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading an early copy of Dear Yesterday. The premise immediately hooked me. Sweet Southern vibe, family drama, and romance.

Lindsey’s writing is smooth and effortless, which makes it easy and addicting to turn the pages.

The story centers around Luella, a sassy reporter stuck writing gossip columns, still trying to make it years after running away from the small town, Chipley Creek, that broke her heart.

When she loses her job and her housing all in one day, she’s ironically presented with an offer from her estranged grandmother, Helen, to return to Chipley Creek to help her through an illness in exchange for housing and payment.

There’s a catch though. Two big ones in fact:
1. Luella isn’t exactly sure why Helen is asking her—especially because Luella is bitter at Helen for several reasons (that I won’t spoil)
2. Luella has some unfinished business with her old flame, Paul, who may or may not still be living there (spoiler: he is ;))

She takes the job, determined to complete her duties and maybe uncover some truths she believes would justify her anger before she hightails it back to Atlanta.

But she may find the truth makes it impossible to do so. ❤️

It’s a story about second chances in more ways than one.

•A second chance for Luella and her complicated grandmother to make amends
•A second chance for true love
•A second chance for a mother/daughter

Except none of these second chances will end up the way you imagine and Luella may end up with her heart broken all over again….

Warning: Read with a box of Kleenex nearby.

Definitely a five star tear jerker and a beautiful debut.

[Tori Ahlquist · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little longer to read this book. It was slow for me in the beginning and didn't pick up until I was 60% through. I'm proud of myself for continuing because it was a very beautiful story.

Luella was only seven when her mother abandoned her at her grandmother's foster home. She grew up with foster kids coming in and out of the house, resenting her mother for leaving her there and her grandmother for not loving her well enough. When she turned 18, she left thinking there was a better life for her in a big city. 11 years later, she's at rock bottom. She's a struggling writer who just lost her job and got kicked out of her apartment. She has nowhere to go when she gets a phone call with an offer she can't refuse. Her grandmother is sick, and she needs someone to care for her. The last thing Luella wants to do is go back to the place that holds so much resentment, but also fond memories of the love she left behind. She swore she'd never return, but it's the only option she has left.

Like I said before, this book was slower for me in the beginning. I had found a few editing errors throughout the story, which always makes me shake my head. I had a hard time liking any of the characters until the very end. I was expecting more of a romance, but I didn't get that from this book. The story is much more beautiful, filled with forgiveness, acceptance, grief, and Luella really evolves throughout the story. It ends beautifully and really tugs at your heart strings. It somewhat reminded me of my own grandmother.

[k · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars.

This story made me feel so many things. Dear Yesterday is a heartfelt and emotional read. Everything felt so real and vivid. The authenticity of this story blew me away.

The characters are all very real in this story. When you are reading it's like you can picture your own friends and family. Everyone knows someone similar to these characters.
I absolutely loved Helen. She was great the entire book. She was spunky and sweet and just an overall hoot. I also really liked Luella and Cheryl. I wasn't a huge fan of Paul for some reason. I'm not sure why that was.

This story made me cry. I definitely pulled out the tissues. I lost my grandma just a few months ago so that pain is still very real.

I only have two complaints about this book. I wish there was more fun had in this book. It was all very sentimental and emotional. I just wish the characters had more funny banter and conversations. There wasn't too much of that.
The last thing is that I wish the romance played a slightly bigger role in the story. I found myself not caring too much about Luella and Paul's relationship because it was such a subplot. But at the same time it was there and I thought there should have been more.

I really only cared about the relationship between Luella and Helen.

Overall, it was a good story. It wasn't 100% for me, but it definitely can be for you! Give it a try for sure!

[Chelsea Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much @lindseyrayredd for sending me an ARC of this to read and review!!

Everyone, if you need a good cry, pick this book up!! I’ve come close to crying with other books this year, but this one made me full on sob! So do with that what you will 😂😜

In this, you follow Luella who goes back to her grandmother’s home in Chipley Creek after leaving 11 years prior due to a falling out with her grandmother. She gets a call one day from her grandmothers attorney that she needs help, and so being down on her luck, Luella decides to go back, and the story goes from there!

This, in my opinion, read better than a Nicholas Sparks book, and I could totally see this being a movie!! The romance subplot is perfect and the relationship between Luella and her grandmother Helen, is both heartwarming and heartbreaking 🥺❤️

This is @lindseyrayredd ‘s debut novel and I am blown away! She is for sure a new auto-buy author for me! You ma’am are so talented!

I highly recommend this read if you like women’s fiction, and a good emotional read ❤️

[Heidi Ramsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, we see Luella return to a past she'd rather forget, but she makes some discoveries that will forever change both her and her future.

This was a slow burner for me, which was fine because it gave me time to absorb the plot lines and connect them.

We saw past secrets revealed, as well as feelings of betrayal and deception, when confronted with past demons.

I enjoyed the "friends to lovers" trope as well as the classic rain scene found in all good romance novels; there's something about rain that elicits feelings and lust.

I couldn't help but notice how frequently the number 5 was mentioned throughout the book. I'm not sure if this was done on purpose, but I'm taking it as a sign of good things to come after reading this book, so kudos to the author.

This one hit home and reminded me of one of my favourite childhood books, "How I Live Now."

With themes of difficult relationships and unspoken hurt and guilt, this is one I'd recommend to fans of young adult and romance novels.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so excited to be a part of the ARC team for @lindseyrayredd and her new book Dear Yesterday! Pub date 4/26/22

This is a novel about finding yourself and coming home.  Luela is a writer who grew up as an orphan, when her young mother dropped her at her grandmother's foster home when she was 7.  Angry, bitter, and feeling unloved, she hopped a train to the nearest big city the moment she was 18, leaving her grandmother, home and boyfriend behind without looking back.  After losing her job and consoling herself with a one-night stand with her roommate's boyfriend, she finds herself newly homeless - until getting a phone call that her grandmother was in the hospital and needing help.  If she came, she would stand to inherit the house and 500k on the event of her grandmother's death.  With no place else to turn, she heads to the place she never expected to call home to find herself - and the family she had sworn off.

[Ayn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luella, a struggling writer in Atlanta, finds herself jobless and apartmentless, when she gets an invitation to return to her small hometown to take care of the ill grandmother she resents. Her return tears open up old wounds and complicates new ones as she wrestles with a shift in perspective that comes with age and time.

What I loved about this book: second chances, flawed characters with complex pasts, tender moments, and a slow burn.

Lindsey eloquently captured the experience when you’re believe an experience to be one way, only to find that truth challenged with age or an alternative perspective.

I typically don’t gravitate toward women’s fiction, but something about this book spoke to me early on, and it is a beautiful read. Luella’s growth and development over the course of the book is authentic and relatable.

10/10 recommend!
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I spent the entire second half of this book in absolute tears - and in the best way. Each character is so well done and truly like real people you feel like you already know!
You'll absolutely love Luella and all her flaws and mistakes - because she's like a real person. She screws up - bad - and while you shake your head, you still want her to succeed.
Helen is a powerhouse whom you start off thinking is cold and ruthless and end up wanting her to be your grandmother.
And Paul, well, he's as swoon-worthy as he could possibly be. Handsome, a born helper, and just the most heart-throb he can be.
The storyline is perfection and I LOVE the foster and adoptive aspects so much. As a foster-adoptive mom, I really loved that it normalizes those roles. Redd does an amazing job of weaving a little faith in the book without making it overbearing.

In truth - I think this is the best book of the year. I'll be recommending it to all my friends.