When We Were Young
A Novel
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4.5 • 132 Ratings
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury, a beloved voice in Christian fiction, comes a moving story about second chance romance, family, and the cost of walking away—featuring the cherished Baxter Familyand a young father facing the heartbreak of divorce.
What if you could glimpse the future and understand what tomorrow might hold—if you really walk out that door today? Pay attention. Life is not a dress rehearsal.
Noah and Emily Carter seemed destined for forever. From their emotional first meeting to a picture-perfect proposal and lavish wedding, theirs was a love to be admired. Their carefully curated life has earned them over a million fans on Instagram, a social media fairytale built on filters and perfection. But behind the screen lies the truth: a marriage quietly unraveling, as Noah’s obsession with online fame strains their bond, challenging their faith and values—a raw portrait of fame in the modern world.
Emily, heartbroken, confides in her friend Kari Baxter Taylor, revealing that she and Noah have made a final decision. He’s leaving in the morning.
But the next day, Noah wakes to a world turned upside down. Emily has vanished, and his children are years older. In a night reminiscent of A Christmas Carol, strange, surreal events unfold that force him into a desperate spiritual journey—one that will test his character and desire for personal redemption.
Now, only a miracle can bring him back to yesterday.
When We Were Young is a touching inspirational romance set over the course of a single day. It’s a powerful meditation on love, regret, and the gift of choosing again—crafted by an author who crafts stories celebrated for her emotional impact and grace-filled narratives.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Kingsbury (Redemption) investigates the dangers of striving for an Instagram-perfect life in this enjoyable novel centered on newlyweds Noah and Emily Carter. At 18, Emily chooses to become the sole caregiver for her sister, Clara, who has cerebral palsy. Her high school boyfriend, Noah Carter, is left isolated when his family moves to England after he graduates from high school, leaving him to attend college on a football scholarship with just Emily as support. After two concussions leave Noah with serious health issues, Emily and Clara nurse him back to health. Emily and Noah's heavily documented relationship is seemingly perfect enough that it draws a large following on Instagram and substantial income from marketing deals. But the perfection crumbles when erratic Noah begins to believe their outward image is more important than reality. Kingsbury attempts to insert some suspense through a disconnected subplot involving recurring character Kari Baxter Taylor, but the side story will only interest those who have read previous books. This is a beat-the-odds story for fans of inspirational romance, written in Kingsbury's familiar style of incorporating mini-sermons and Bible verses, cameos by members of the Baxter Family, and real-world Christian cultural references. While part of the Baxter collection, this standalone will appeal to any readers looking for faith-filled stories concerned with the deleterious effects of social media.
Customer Reviews
Hard
This was the hardest books of Karen’s books that I have read! In this book you meet Noah and Emily, Emily’s sister Clara, who has cerebral palsy, and their 2 kids.
The reason this was so hard is because of the talk of divorce, and the effects it can have on little kids. It brought back memories for me, so it was hard to face the things I went through in my childhood.
The whole thing makes more sense as you read this, especially thru God’s working through you, and showing you what you need to figure out in your life to make better decisions.
Kari and her husband Ryan help married couples with marriages through Bible studies and prayer, Noah and Emily included. Through prayer everything can, and will change if you believe and want it to!
Recommend reading!