Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh Review

 Hello Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I want to thank you all for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.

With summer temperatures still, unfortunately, in full swing around my area, I've found myself in the mood for reading lots of contemporary stories. Although this probably isn't a surprise because contemporaries remain one of my all time favorite genres, and as long as they're clean, I typically gobble them right up.

I've read a few of Courtney Walsh's books in the past, but I finally recently got around to reading a title of hers that I'd had sitting on my bookshelf for quite some time.

Did I love it? Did I hate it? Did it end up being one of the best books I read this year?

Keep reading below for my full review to find out.

Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh:

Source: Bought for Myself

Publisher: Waterfall Press

Publication Date: September 19th, 2017

Genre: Christian Fiction/Contemporary/Mystery

Synopsis:

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Courtney Walsh returns with a hopeful and emotional new book about seizing second chances, finding yourself, and forging your own path.

Beth Whitaker isn’t supposed to be a small-town girl. She’s always dreamed of leaving Willow Grove, Illinois, for the big city, but she feels trapped, struggling to make up for a mistake that’s haunted her for years. Just when Beth is finally ready to break free, her sister impulsively buys a beloved but run-down farm on the outskirts of town, and she begs Beth to help with the restoration. Reluctantly, Beth agrees to help—and puts her own dreams on hold once again.

Drew Barlow hasn’t been back to Fairwind Farm since he was a boy, and he’s spent all these years trying to outrun the pain of a past he thought he buried long ago. When he learns that the owner has passed away, his heart knows it’s finally time to do the right thing. Returning to Willow Grove, Drew revisits the old farm, where he attempts to piece together his memories and the puzzle of the crime he witnessed so long ago.

Both on a journey to find peace, Beth and Drew are surprised when they begin to experience a restoration of their own. But when long-buried secrets break through the soil and the truth unfurls, will it threaten their budding relationship—and the very future of the farm?

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

With how many contemporary novels I devour on a regular basis, I'm always impressed when one title manages to stand apart from all the rest. Hometown Girl by Courtney Walsh did just that, and this is definitely going to end up being one of my favorite reads of 2022.

I picked this one up intending to only read the first chapter before heading to bed, and instead I had to force myself to put it down after I'd finished a third of it in one sitting. I loved literally everything about this heartwarming story, and it just clarified for me what an amazing storyteller this author truly is.

Beth and Drew come together under unusual circumstances when Beth's younger sister Molly purchases a run down beloved farm that's in massive need of TLC. Beth is against the idea from the start, but hesitantly decides to give the project a chance, and Drew seems to be an answer to their prayers when he's willing to take on the job of helping the two sisters restore the farm to its former glory. However, the project is more than Beth or Molly ever could have imagined, and the farm is also overlayed with a tragedy that resulted in the disappearance of the previous owners' young daughter. Drew grew up going to Fairwind Farm, and hasn't reveal to either of the sisters that he's a missing piece to the puzzle of the Fairwind Farm mystery. As Beth and Drew start to grow closer, and learn to trust God with the hurt and grief from their pasts, they start moving steadily towards a place of healing and restoration, but will Drew's deception ruin what progress they've finally been able to make?

Hometown Girl is one of those rare stories that I can honestly say I loved every single thing about it. The characters, the setting, the mystery, the faith element, the first kiss (wowza!), the family relationships, the authenticity of the characters, and the flawless writing that had me hesitant to ever want to put it down. This story is both heartwarming and heart wrenching at the same time, and is a poignant reminder of how we all need Jesus, no matter who we are or what we've been through. 

Final Rating: 5/5.

I absolutely loved this one from start to finish, and I'm only sorry it took me this long to get to reading it.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)

This is not a sponsored post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. The photo does not belong to me, and all rights to the respective owners.