If I have learned one thing over the course of the last year or so, it’s that the old adage “Never judge a book by its cover” is completely and unerringly true, and it’s one I seem to keep on learning. This month, as the book I requested glided over the counter towards me, I inwardly sighed. I wasn’t particularly drawn to the cover image, or the title, but I had heard amazing things about the author so I maintained hope, and I was rewarded with what might possibly become my favorite book of the year.
The Way It Should Be by Christina Suzann Nelson is the story of six people, tied together as well as ripped apart by drug abuse and addiction. Eve and Zara Mahoney are twin sisters, but their lives couldn’t be more different. Zara is a college graduate, newly married, with a business to run. Eve is a destitute mother of two and a victim of domestic violence. Her children are removed when her boyfriend puts her in the hospital and they are placed in the care of their aunt, a woman whom the children have never met. Meanwhile, Tiff Bradley swoops in to try to save Eve from facing the same fate that Tiff’s daughter met on the streets. Together with her distant husband, she tries to support Eve on a path to sobriety and a second chance at parenthood. The story questions long-held ideas about foster care, reunification, drug abuse and the ties that bind families together.
What I Liked
This story is everything that I could hope for when it comes to describing the horrors of drug addiction while offering hope and strength in the face of such adversity. I especially appreciated the way the author grappled with the guilt felt by those who love someone who struggles with addiction. It’s not often something written about, and in this story those feelings take center stage in several different relationships.
I also enjoyed the way Nelson was able to explore the idea of reunification without the typical glow that is often portrayed. There is hope, certainly, that the children will be returned to their mother, but there is also fear and worry from their mother about her ability to continue to heal and prosper with the added burden of her children. These are very real concerns, and I was impressed with the author’s bravery to question reunification as a process in this way.
Finally, I couldn’t put this book down. The writing is well-done, captivating, and makes you want to finish the book in one sitting. The characters feel real, and I found myself cheering them on, or wanting to reach through the pages to comfort them in their hardships.
What Was Missing
While the text was well-written and definitely clean, there were a few moments when the dialogue specifically seemed forced or out of character. This is a small fault in a story so entirely well-done; however, it did cause me some pause as I read, so I felt it noteworthy to add.
Recommendation
I highly recommend this book to all lovers of fiction and literature. The story is timeless and truly seeks to understand the experiences and challenges of addiction, foster care, adoption and more. In a way, it is more than a novel, and rather a testament to the work done every day by people working to change lives, from foster parents and case workers, to those in recovery. There are some mature themes discussed in the book, and moments of violence, so 16+ would be advised.
About the Author
Christina Suzann Nelson is the author of five books, of which The Way It Should Be is the fourth. She lives in Oregon and fills her days writing and speaking about hope after dysfunction. When not writing or speaking, she works with the Every Child Initiative, and spends time with her dog, horse and family. You can learn more on her website.
The Way it Should Be was published by Bethany House Publishers and can be special ordered at Grass Roots Books.
By Kyra Young
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