Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review. Opinions shared are mine.

I’m really bad about not figuring out that series books go together. Last summer I enjoyed Roots of Wood and Stone by Amanda Wen. When I read The Songs That Could Have Been, it took me a couple of chapters to realize that the characters seemed familiar.

While I recommend reading book 1 just so you have some background, it’s not entirely necessary to start there. You can still enjoy The Songs That Could Have Been. I love Amanda Wen’s writing style — it’s cute, funny, and relatable. You’ll find yourself smiling and maybe even crying along with the characters. You might even recognize yourself in one of them.

I really like how the story felt mature, despite having some youngish (to me) characters. The message focuses on growth, both spiritual and relationally. Wen is a master of the story-within-a-story, which doesn’t always work in novels but does here. There are some heavy topics and situations, but it’s all handled in a tasteful way. I wouldn’t say it’s ultra-conservative, in case that’s important to you as a reader, but it is definitely faith-driven.

About the book:

Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.

After a devastating tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, threatens to throw her well-balanced world out of control.

Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But his old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. Is he courageous enough to make a different choice this time around?

When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim–a name her family has never heard before—a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives—and Rosie’s—forever. Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the author:

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist. Her debut novel was a 2021 Christy Award First Novel finalist.
 
Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. She is the author of Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been.
 
In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.
 
To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).