Morning in This Broken World

by Katrina Kittle

From the bestselling author of The Kindness of Strangers comes a poignant and life-affirming novel about our connections to the past, and the promise for the future during the least promising of times.

Grieving but feisty widow Vivian Laurent is at a late-in-life crossroads. The man she loved is gone. Their only daughter is estranged and missing. And the assisted-living facility where her husband died is going into quarantine. Living in lockdown with only heartache and memories is something Vivian can’t bear. Then comes a saving grace.

Luna, a compassionate nursing assistant and newly separated mother, is facing eviction. Vivian has a plan that could turn their lives around: return to her old home and invite Luna and her two children to move in with her. With the exuberant eleven-year-old Wren in her hot-pink motorized wheelchair and Wren’s troubled older brother, Cooper, the new housemates make for an unlikely pandemic pack, weathering the coming storm together.

Now it’s time to heal old wounds, make peace with the past, find hope and joy, and discover that the strongest bonds can get anyone through the worst of times.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Book Club, Audiobook, Family, Coming Of Age

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2023

About the author

Hello! Welcome to my GoodReads profile, fellow book lover. I've made it a New Year's resolution to keep better track of my reading this year. My profile makes it look like I never, ever read, which is sooooo far from the truth. I'm just terrible at tracking, but I resolve to be better! People have teased me that my reviews are all so high that I don't seem very critical (like a teacher who gives out all A's). Let me explain: First of all, life is too short to finish a book I don't love, and I'd never, ever review a book I hadn't finished. Secondly, I feel much more comfortable recommending works I admire than I do criticizing something I didn't. There. Just so ya know! :-)

I'm the author of five novels, four for adults and one for tweens. I hope you'll check them out. You can also follow me on Instagram or my Facebook author page.

Happy Reading!

Reviews

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a variant of Covid ever knocks our population on its ass again, I’m headed for Vivian’s home and garden. Nothing would be better than riding out another medical crisis with this cast of sweet and loving characters. I fell in love with these folks with all their messy humanness and genuine desire to survive and do better for themselves and each other.
Kittle has long been one of my favorite authors for her gift with characterization. This book is no different. The main protagonist, Vivian, is as iron tough as they get having survived the death of her husband to Alzheimer’s and her daughter’s issues. But it’s a toughness that is gentle and bending—that’s what made me love her so much. All these characters grow in so many ways, and the beauty of the book is the reminder of how little it takes to really change another person’s life for the better. I hope this won’t be the end of this pandemic pack—I’d love to see this novel turned into a film or a follow-up book!

[Eric Nehrlich · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up from Amazon's First Reads and literally read it in one evening. Well written and engaging story of a group of people coming together in Covid times to support each other. Nothing too surprising or insightful, but sometimes you just need comfort food that is satisfying, and this book provided that for me.

[Eileen stern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could have been written by Elizabeth Strout. Similar in some ways to Lucy By The Sea. Loved the story of getting through the pandemic in a living pod with family who aren’t really related. Friends can be family too. Loved each of the characters. Want a fast, heartwarming book? This is it!

[Jordan Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate not to finish books so I finished it but wow. I equally hated the COVID/quarantine/greater good nonsense in this book. I was not prepared for the underlying theme of this book to be the author's political stance on the plandemic. The characters were likable enough and the story was sweet, though not necessarily believable (to happen IRL). If I had seen reviews mentioning this, I would not have picked it as my Amazon First Reads book of the month.

[Shannon (The Book Club Mom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is bursting and breaking all at the same time. Words can’t even express how much I loved this book. No doubt about it, it will have a spot on my favorites of 2023. We all know that I’m (weirdly) drawn to novels that incorporate the Covid-19 pandemic, and Katrina Kittle absolutely nailed it with Morning in This Broken World. She captures a time that we’d all rather forget by adding a heartwarming spin to it, and bringing a group of people together during lockdown. Vivian, Luna, Wren, and Cooper are four characters that’ll I’ll never forget. These characters touched my heart and soul. Each and every single one of them! With each new chapter, the reader gets a new perspective. My adoration for all four characters spoke loud and clear because I never favored one particular perspective. They’re all are realistic, relatable, and lovable. I honestly hope to be just like Vivian as I grow old. That woman is a total gem. Sure this book will make you smile and laugh, but it will also make your heart hurt. Kittle also tackles some serious topics like: illness, disease, disability, addiction, homophobia, divorce, and poverty.

GREAT FOR FANS OF:

- Pandemic fiction
- Feel-good stories
- Found family
- Unlikely friendships
- Clare Pooley’s books
- Mike Gayle’s books
- Family drama
- Multiple perspectives

You all know my rule, right? If a book makes me cry, it automatically gets 5/5 stars. Yes, I cried, but even if I didn’t, this book would still get all the stars from me. I absolutely loved it.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was this a screenplay? I swear I saw the movie on the Hallmark channel.

[Joy D · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of a small group of people sheltering in place in an unnamed suburban location in the US during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vivian leaves the assisted living complex, where she previously lived with her husband, due to the new pandemic-related rules. She is grieving his recent death from Alzheimer’s and has seriously considered suicide. Her favorite nursing assistant, Luna, is experiencing marital and financial troubles. When Vivian finds out Luna and her two children, Cooper and Wren, are about to be evicted, she invites them to live with her. The storyline follows this group of characters as they provide emotional support for each other during the pandemic. There is a slim thread of mystery surrounding the presumed death of Vivian’s daughter due to drug addiction. It is told in rotating points of view chapters of the four primary characters.

It is a positive take on the recent pandemic that highlights the sense of community these people experience while still dealing with serious issues. However, it takes a “kitchen sink” approach, covering not only the COVID controversies, but also many other major problems, such as drug addiction, a cancer diagnosis, suicidal thoughts, homophobia, and ableism. There are just too many serious topics to tackle effectively. I liked parts of it, particularly the “found family” aspect, but other parts feel too predictable or emotionally manipulative. It is all neatly tied up at the end. It is probably one of my better Amazon First reads, but that is a low bar.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

The characters were interesting to a point but seriously every CNN stereotype or gaslighting about the pandemic was in this story 🤣🤣🤣 🙄

[Susan Jolly · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I started reading the book, I was excited that it was book written during the heighth of Covid that could be something future generations could read and get a glimpse of what a 'tribe' of people did to help each other through it. It was also cool that the characters were a diverse group of people, who's perspectives were shared in 1st person.

However, about two-thirds of the way through, I realized it was characterizing people who believed in God in only a negative light. I almost stopped reading the book, pausing for 3 weeks; however, I wanted to know the ending since the storyline was solid. There was a shift to the storyline of wondering what happened after death, including reference to heaven, but no mention of God, a higher power, or even the Providence that brought this group together to weather this "Broken World".

As a Christian, who cares about people, whatever their belief or situation, who has a spinal cord injury that requires I use a wheelchair and needs assistance to live, who struggles with my faith daily, and takes heart there is a God in control, who realizes we live in a truly broken world, whether there's an active strain of Covid or not, I wanted the author to care about people like me reading her book.

I was disappointed that the author (obviously a Progressive) discounted people like me and others who she feels were worthy of disdain, which ironically was the purpose of her book - to eliminate bias. Would have preferred she had offered more Grace and Hope for others not like her.

[Joy Rizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first pandemic read

I wasn't sure if I was ready for a pandemic story and in some ways I wasn't. I did enjoy this unique take on creating your own 'pandemic pod.'

In some ways this story felt predictable, but there really are some elements that make it different. Dealing with addiction and recovery, homophobia and religion, divorce and death, disability and disease, all against the background of the pandemic, poverty and pride. So many difficult subjects like alzheimers and essential workers who can't afford basics like rent and Healthcare. All of this wrapped up into a touching story of creating your own family from those you love but don't share blood with.

I recommend this story because it's well written, timely, and a well told story.

[Cynthia Kirchner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story, didn't want it to end. The little family that the characters developed was endearing and I missed them each time I had to put the book down, looking forward to when I could be with them again.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

All kinds of emotions in this novel, a page turner for me. Great characters too.

[Beth Deese · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet & Endearing

It’s odd reading a book set in the pandemic knowing it’s now history. It still feels like yesterday. But if was fun to hear the story told like a story when you lived through it.

I loved that in this book the pandemic gave Vivian, one of the main characters, an excuse to be more kind and do more good. Times of suffering can bring out the worst in folks but also the best! And it was refreshing to read a book about kindness and the love we all need to get by.

Vivian, in the throes of grief over her recently deceased husband, is on the verge of ending her own life. But when she accidentally discovers her favorite nursing assistant is in trouble and about to lose her home, she makes a spur of the moment decision to give her and her 2 children safe haven at her home, a decision that also helps her be able to move out of senior living and back to her own home.

This book reminds us that we all have something to give and where you may be lacking, someone else may have abundance. Together, we can fill in each other’s cracks! I enjoyed this book and it gave my heart a happy lift.

[Kittykorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book is so good, everyone needs to read this, such a beautiful story had me in tears

[Elly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah. I feel like this is one of those books that couldn’t figure out depth, and so just kept throwing more should-be-situations-with-depth plot lines onto the pile. The death and grief of losing a life partner, raising a disabled child, during covid, being evicted, reuniting with a child who has an addiction and has hurt you in the past, having to give up your job that supports your family because you have long covid and physically are unable to work, having a parent that is emotionally stunted, receiving a cancer diagnosis and learning its terminal…

If one or two of these had been explored with nuance, and the kind of insight/profundity any one of those singular points deserved, if we had been pulled in with being shown, not told… it might have been okay. Instead it just felt really blah. Beach read level, when instead those plot points deserved… more.

Anyway, I didn’t love it. I wanted more from it than it was able to give.

[Jen Brodehl · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars- This book was centered around Covid and the pandemic which I wasn’t totally ready to read about. But the characters were extremely real and lovable and I will think about them for a long time. I loved the focus on family and friendship.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read 2 books regarding the pandemic and each was very different.
I would five this one 4.5 stars. Very relatable for healthcare workers, parents and those struggling with loneliness.

I became attaches to the characters and loved Vivian.

Would actually rank 4.5 stars. Feel like it could have ended a little differently to be more relatable but loved it anyways.

[Jenny Greenhalgh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my usual style but adored it

I fell in love with this tale immediately. I wouldn't normally read this kind of novel, imagining it would be too twee or cosy for me, but something about the synopsis spoke to me and I'm so glad it did. Vivian, the foul mouthed matriarch, drew and Steven the gay neighbours. Cooper and his burgeoning queer heart, plucky Wren and relatable Luna. Even Callous Cal. Everyone will identify with and recognise someone in the cast of characters and you'll read this book in a flash and regret it wasn't several hundred pages longer. A delight.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars - I really liked it (<-- my thoughts immediately after finishing it)
2.5 stars - it was okay-ish (<-- my thoughts the next morning)

I blew through this book in under a day, so obviously I liked it, it was well written, for a shorter book it had really good character development. I thought it flowed well and touched on relevant social issues.

In hindsight though, I almost feel like it downplayed or made fun of the pandemic. Considering that the bulk of the story relies on the backdrop of Covid-19, it glossed over almost every instance of the pain and suffering and destitution of the first 18 months of the pandemic. There was one line that referred to "what if we hadn't been so lucky" but that was ultimately the only reference to Luna et al privilege to know and be connected to a loving, rich older woman.

I'm torn because it was obviously a nice fantasy to read and how lovely it would have been for all of us to ride out the pandemic in a mansion with grounds and unlimited resources and a supportive pod/community. I definitely enjoyed the read. But then also that was just not the lived experience for, I daresay, most of the world's citizens.

I would say, here in 2023, I did not feel any triggery, trauma responses to reading about a book set in the pandemic - and also it made the pandemic seem far less destructive, deadly and life ruining than it actually was.

[William Burch]

Excellent

A very human story about love and loss. Highly recommend it to all who search for meaning in their lives.

[Marjorie Murstein · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75. This story was just that…a lovely story.. lovely and riveting

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Katrina Kittle's "Morning in This Broken World," we're introduced to 74-year-old Vivian. A recent widow now living in a small retirement community apartment with only memories left of her husband, Vivian's despair is palpable as she looks around her life and doesn't like what she sees with a wayward daughter lost in the throes of addiction and the ever increasing likelihood that she will become even more isolated in her apartment due to the early days of a mysterious virus that is starting to shut the world around her down.

It is only a few moments later that we're introduced to Luna, a valued CNA at the facility where Vivian now lives alone and one of the few professionals she remembers as treating her husband as a human being long after dementia had claimed his cognitive abilities. When she accidentally discovers that Luna is on the verge of losing her own home for a myriad of reasons, Vivian impulsively concocts a plan to move back into the family home she'd planned to sell and to take Luna and her two children along with her.

And so we enter this engaging and emotionally honest world created by Kittle, a world that grapples with issues both big and small, intimate and universal.

An Amazon First Read during the month of August in 2023, "Morning in This Broken World" has crafted a tale here with complex characters living complex lives. There's no one here who is genuinely all good, though Kittle also humanizes those who could have easily been portrayed in a fiercely negative light. Indeed, this world is broken and in a broken world broken people need one another sometimes simply to survive.

I will confess that I could have done without the COVID-19 narrative arc, a perfectly reasonable narrative arc for bringing this village together yet one that occasionally feels awkwardly implemented and overly intentional. Similarly, as a wheelchair user myself I occasionally cringed at the dialogue around Luna's young daughter Wren, a wheelchair user with cerebral palsy who struggles the most it seems with the idea that her parents, now separated, likely won't be getting b back together. With Wren, my challenges were in mostly little doses - for example, there's a momentary section where Wren becomes upset and angrily leaves the room - Kittle uses the term "zooming" away, ableist language that left me appalled. There were other times when ableism creeped in, though the character herself is an absolute charmer and it's nice to see the disability representation.

Minor quibbles aside, "Morning in This Broken World" seems practically made for a television movie with its compelling characters, thought-provoking narrative arc, and abundance of conflict throughout. Wren's older brother Cooper, for example, is a clearly troubled young man living right on the edge partly because of growing up in poverty and partly growing up around toxic masculinity.

Yet, you can't help but like these characters.

Vivian is a feisty, impulsive woman who's clearly feeling alone now that her husband is gone and her daughter is nowhere to be found.

Luna's a vividly portrayed CNA trapped between a sense of duty and a resistance to what she perceives as charity.

The kids, of course, are really the emotional core of the entire book.

The ancillary characters draw us in, occasionally repulse us, and yet also always keep us coming back.

One could easily argue, I suppose, that there are elements of "Morning in This Broken World" that don't quite ring true. Yet, isn't that always true of life?

Easily one of the better novels I've read from the Amazon Prime First Reads program, "Morning in This Broken World" tells a heartfelt story that is poignant, life-affirming, and filled with the kind of hard-earned hope that makes you thankful to be alive even in life's most challenging times.

[Michele Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel surprised me a bit. I read this in late 2023, and I felt more affected by the recent pandemic than I expected when reading about it. In some ways, it feels like the pandemic never ended, while in others, it feels like it is merely a memory. I suppose the sentiments around Covid depend almost entirely on the perspective of the person you are asking - for my cousin's friend who lost both of her parents to Covid in the early months of the infection, this book might feel very different to read than to me. Yet, I still felt depressed reading about it, even though I didn't lose anyone close to me as a result of the virus.

What caused me to rate this novel 4 stars was the characters and the way they interacted with each other. Their dynamics - all coming from different circumstances with their own personal baggage, shifted the focus of the book from Covid-centric to human-centric, and I wanted to spend my time with them. These characters were authentic, imperfect, and unapologetically themselves. They did the best they could with what they had in each moment - and it all wove together to create this beautiful, flawed tapestry of humanity. THAT is what redeemed the book for me.

I loved Vivian from the moment she entered the story. Each detail of each character worked in an effortless way. She surprised me a few times with the plot - not in a predictable or boring way, but in a way that delighted my senses and intrigued me to read further. I really enjoyed all of the elements of this book and how Kittle seemingly effortlessly wove all of these different people together through the common strand of Vivian. I admire how powerful a presence her character is to this story and all of these people's lives. It's a gorgeous story and I recommend it.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This is a story about loss, forgiveness and new beginnings.
It all begins with the characters at a crossroads.
Vivian Laurent is trying to deal with the grief following the passing of her husband Jack.
Luna, one of Vivian's caretakers at Sycamore Place (an assisted living facility) has found out she is being evicted. This is in part to her ex-husband being a deadbeat Dad, and part due to the care of her daughter, who has cerebral palsy.
Then COVID hits.

Note: if you have experienced enough of the virus, this book isn't for you. COVID is a huge part of the storyline.

While we all know how awful the virus was (is), these characters come together at the worst of times and find some new sort of happiness as a unit (how and why they come together I won't share). But I loved how they leaned on one another at times - I think we can all relate to this vulnerability during the virus. And ultimately, they find pockets of happiness that carry them forward, like gardening and baking.

Although this book deals with some emotional subjects (suicide, drug use, long COVID, and cancer), I loved how these characters grew to better versions of themselves. Overall, an impactful story that I think will resonate with many readers.


For more reviews, visit

[Gaili Schoen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Remember this moment. Be aware of the good. Keep it for the dark days.”

After her husband dies at an assisted living facility, Vivian continues to live at the facility because going home to her large home and garden feels too lonely. But when the facility goes into quarantine at the beginning of the pandemic, Vivian can't bear the idea of living solitarily in her small room in lockdown. She comes up with an idea. She has found out surreptitiously that her favorite caregiver, Luna, has just been evicted. Luna has a wheelchair-bound daughter named Wren with Cerebral Palsy whom Vivian adores, an angry, troubled son Cooper, and is separated from their deadbeat dad. Vivian invites Luna and her children to come live with her in her house to quarantine together. Luna agrees hesitatingly, as she is loathe to be a charity case and a burden upon Vivian. Luna quickly packs up and leaves her apartment while Vivian hastily leaves the assisted living facility and they all, somewhat awkwardly at first, become housemates.

"She was out of options. And then came that text from Vivian. She'd slept fourteen hours....She'd just relinquished her children to Vivian's care and surrendered."
Morning in This Broken World reveals the many complications of life for an unschooled single mother, a smart, sensitive girl with CP, a boy whose shaming homophobic father makes his life hell, and a widow who grieves deeply at the loss of her deceased husband and her estranged daughter. Together with a couple of caring neighbors, this blended family learns how to build trust and support each other, forming a strong bond of love and understanding. Author Katrina Kittle does a great job of reminding us how harrowing the pandemic was at the outset, while showing the silver linings so many of us experienced along the way. Releasing September 1st at your local bookstore or on Amazon.

Paperback 283 pages, Audiobook 10 hrs 35 mins

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Morning In This Broken World was absolutely lovely. Filled with complex but likeable characters- and even some more unlikeable characters who received some growth and redemption in their arcs- I found myself flying through this story in one sitting, unable to tear myself away. I would have loved to ride out pandemic lockdown with them all- especially the powerhouse that is Vivian.

I had not previously been familiar with the author, Katrina Kittle, but given how well she captured the moment here and created such full and lifelike characters, I will definitely be reading more of her work. Can’t recommend this one enough.

Thank you Katrina Kittle, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Nicole Trick Steinbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this time, I offer you a gift. A solace.

A reminder that humans do magical, mundane things each day.

A confirmation that humans suck. We are awful. Selfish. Self-centered. We do so much harm.

A confirmation that humans are glorious. We are beautiful. Generous. Loving. Caring. Thoughtful. Hopeful.

We heal each other, in significant, unknown ways, with small and large choices.

Enjoy this book. Snuggle into it. Grief along within it.

Together, we are the morning of this broken world.


Original:
Please read this book, especially now. It is a gift to your own humanity, belief, compassion, and boundaries.

[Shilo Goodson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really well-written book. I feel like anyone who lived through the pandemic can relate. There were definitely moments when I could remember experiencing similar situations or where I know someone else who experienced a similar situation.

Masks in public. No visitors to nursing homes. Businesses shut down. Hospitals overloaded with COVID-19 patients. Essential workers being overworked. People dying from COVID and some people still denying the seriousness of it. Toilet paper shortage. Yep. This book has it all.

I will say that this book does have a political agenda. If you can't handle that, you won't want to read it. The author is clearly leaning toward the liberal side when it comes to COVID-19, gay rights, and several other issues. While this did not bother me, I can see it bothering some readers.

This book does have quite a bit of swearing. I could have done without that. There was enough that I nearly downgraded this to 4 stars, but ultimately, the story is so well-written and relatable. I hesitated when it came to which First Reads book to get this month and was actually trying to decide between two other books. I figured this one would be okay, but I was actually quite impressed. It was a lot better than I expected.

While this book does have a lot of swearing, it is clean when it comes to sexual content and violence. It was an enjoyable read, and I am glad I picked it as my First Reads book for the month.

[Carrie Kellenberger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and healing read. What do an old woman, a single mother struggling to make ends meet, an angry gay teen, and a young girl with cerebral palsy have im common?

"What if someone can't get tested?" she'd asked Vivian. "What if they can't get medical care, can't get a diagnosis, or they can't take paid time off work?"

... People's survival shouldn't depend on the off chance that they know someone. ~ Morning in This Broken World by Katrina Kittle

[Hally · Rating 5 out of 5]

The family you choose

A good read, I am glad I chose this from the monthly first reads selection. Reliving the pandemic through a work of fiction for the first time. How family is about not blood but those you choose. And how to trust again. Well done, I would read another by this author.