By Neta Jackson
There are some books that pull you in slowly, while others grab hold of you from the very first page. This one landed somewhere in the middle for me. Honestly, at first, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to finish it. But by the end, I was incredibly glad that I did.
Rating
☕☕☕☕☕
First Impressions
I’m always searching for stories with strong female characters—women who feel real and relatable. So when this book popped up in my BookBub email as a freebie, I decided to take a chance on it.
After reading the synopsis, I felt sure I was going to love it before I even turned the first page. At the same time, I’m usually hesitant when it comes to book series. If I don’t connect with the first book, there’s still an entire unfinished story waiting in the remaining books, and that can feel overwhelming.
Still, something about this series made me immediately purchase the rest of the books before I had even finished the first one. Looking back now, I’m so glad I trusted that instinct.
What the Story Is About
(Spoiler Free)
Gabriela “Gabby” Fairfield has just moved to Chicago with her husband, who is determined to get his business off the ground. Living in a luxurious high-rise overlooking the city, Gabby’s life appears polished and comfortable from the outside.
But everything begins to shift after she encounters a homeless woman while walking along the lakeshore.
That single moment starts unraveling parts of Gabby’s life she can no longer ignore. As she begins hearing the call of God more clearly, she finds herself questioning everything—her marriage, her identity, her comfort, and the life she thought she wanted. The deeper she leans into that calling, the more she wonders what it may ultimately cost her.
What I Loved
This was not a cozy read for me. In many ways, it was the opposite.
Gabby’s relationship with her husband stirred up difficult memories from my own marriage. The emotional tension, the feeling of constantly trying to keep everything together while quietly falling apart inside—it all felt painfully familiar.
To me, that speaks to Neta Jackson’s gift as a writer. She captures the emotional exhaustion of a life slowly spinning out of control with honesty and depth. Gabby is a woman with so much to lose, and you can feel the crushing weight of trying to hold every piece of her world together.
What impacted me most, though, was the spiritual layer woven throughout the story. This book beautifully explores how God breaks down the walls we build around ourselves—the walls of comfort, control, and safety. Once He begins calling us into something deeper, those barriers start crumbling whether we’re ready or not.
At first, I worried the story would feel predictable. In some ways, it did follow familiar emotional beats. But emotionally, it surprised me more than once.
By the end of the book, I found myself crying not only for Gabby, but honestly, for myself too. It reminded me of seasons in my own life where God used painful circumstances to strip away my comfort and teach me to rely fully on Him.
The supporting characters also felt incredibly authentic. None of them came across as flat or overly polished. They were messy, emotional, sincere, and deeply human.
This is one of those stories that lingers long after you finish the final chapter.
The Cozy Vibes Check ☕📚
Read this one with a calming cup of chamomile tea. Trust me—you’re going to want both the warmth and the calm.
Keep a Bible nearby as well. Neta Jackson clearly knows Scripture deeply, and it naturally flows throughout the story without ever feeling forced.
This also feels like the kind of book that calls for:
- your favorite chair
- an emotional support blanket
- a box of tissues
- and a little quiet time afterward to process everything you just read
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy:
- clean Christian fiction
- emotionally layered stories
- strong character development
- faith-centered journeys
- stories about healing, identity, and spiritual growth
Content Notes
If you have experienced emotional or verbal abuse within a relationship, parts of this story may feel triggering. At the same time, I believe it is a deeply worthwhile read because of the hope, healing, and spiritual truth woven throughout the story.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this is the kind of book that stays with you.
Gabby became the kind of character I wanted to reach through the pages and sit beside. In many ways, I understood her heartbreak, confusion, and unraveling far more than I expected to.
This story handles pain, faith, and transformation with emotional honesty, and I’m genuinely looking forward to continuing the rest of the series.
Favorite Quote
“Come to me.” — God to Gabby
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