Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the ARC

When I first picked up this book, I was almost certain I wouldn’t like it. It’s not a book I would have chosen on my own to read. It is not a book full of action or suspense or really much plot at all. But I devoured this book in less than three days, staying up until well past midnight to finish it.

The Dearly Beloved follows two couples from their respective childhoods through adulthood and to the death of one of the men, Charles (This is stated outright in the first sentence, so it’s not a spoiler).

Faith, and the questioning of it, is the theme that runs through this novel, and what touches upon the lives of all four main characters in very different ways. As a person who has never wrestled with faith or even given it much thought, I immediately was drawn to Lily, who, despite her lack of faith in God, is drawn herself to a man studying to be a minister. But each of these characters has their own views on faith and God and how both affect their lives, which the author manages to weave together into a touching and heartfelt story.

I imagine that telling a story from four different perspectives is no easy feat, especially when the characters are as wildly different as James, Nan, Charles, and Lily. Each of them sees the world in a completely different way, and the author manages to give each of them a distinct voice and clear-cut way of viewing the world.

Together, these four brave the ups and downs of life, children, family, and faith, and Cara Wall brings that all together beautifully in her debut novel. This story is moving and emotional, and I was close to tears near the end. I definitely recommend it, and I can’t wait to read what Cara writes next!