This beautifully written novel is full of characters who will are so real that you feel like they are people you know in your everyday life. You'll laugh and cry with them and keep hoping for a happy life for them. The book is written so beautifully that it's difficult to believe that this is a debut novel for Megan Lucas. I am anxious to read her future books.

The year is 1982 and the location is Beaufort, NC. Jolene is a few years past high school. She has been raised by her spinster church going aunt since she was 5 and her addicted mother left her on her aunt's porch. She doesn't have any friends but she has a secret that is going to upend her life. When her aunt finds out that she's pregnant, she throws her out of the house without money and with no place to go. A dangerous journey takes her to the mountains of NC, where she finds people willing to help her. She meets Chuck who is trying to turn his life around and is struggling to raise his teenage nephew who was abandoned by his sister. Both Jolene and Chuck are lost souls at the edge of society who are trying to make better lives for themselves. Will these two lost people be able to help each other have a better life?

I got pulled into this book on the first page. Jolene was so needy that I just wanted to hug her and steer her away from her bad decisions. I felt a strong connection with her throughout the book and was rooting for her to find some happiness in her life. Chuck was trying so hard to be a good parent to his nephew and make their lives better but they were met with problems from every direction. This is a powerful novel about family - not family by blood but family with people who want to help you succeed and love you no matter what.

This is a powerful and well written novel with characters that I won't soon forget. It will definitely be in my top 10 book list for 2019.

Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own. ( )