Well written Christian fiction but this one is HEAVY. prevalent themes of suicide.

I love Angela Hunt's writing, but this book was a bit too much for me. I feel it will be overwhelming for many people, to the point where they will miss the hopeful and helpful faith message. Because don't we all struggle with the concept of where God is when bad things happen? Don't we all want to know that there is hope, not just in heaven but here on earth too?

Maddie is seventeen when her father commits suicide. Her mother is a busy attorney and decides that it would be the best thing for Maddie to move in with Susan and Frank, Maddie's paternal grandparents. Maddie agrees to give it a try and the three of them struggle through their grief and other issues.

Basically, although this book ends on a bit of a positive note, I just felt weighed down throughout and the suicide theming was too heavy and raw. There are some readers who might appreciate this approach, but it just didn't work for me. By the third suicide I was just done, but I did finish the book because I wanted hope. I got a little but it was so dark leading up to it.

I will still read future books by this author because her books are superbly written.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. 31 s8 comments Kathy MarescaAuthor 1 book83 Read

Immediately after I had five people die in ten weeks, I read this book. As a counselor, I have helped people deal with their feelings surrounding loss. Loss is everywhere the reader turns in this book, and somehow it helped me stop feeling alone. Although I know I am not alone, I felt that way for weeks.

Angela Hunt does a great job at shedding light on the stages of grief and how beneficial counseling can be. The characters are brilliantly drawn, believable and dynamic. Even when they are stuck, they are experiencing change.

This novel has two points of view, a grandmother and a teen girl, which makes it highly relatable for all ages. It is quite easy to read. Those who are and those who are not coping with loss will gain a great bit from the beautiful novel.

clean-read10 s6 comments Erin Laramore704 66

Trigger warning: this book surrounds the topic of suicide. There are several suicides that happen in the book and one character's mental track regarding that decision is spelled out. For that reason, this book was heavy. Heavier than I typically . But Angela Hunt is an auto-read author for me, so I didn't even read the book description when I requested it. Because I do love Hunt's writing, I will state that this book was very well written. It was infused with hope in spite of the subject matter and it ended in a positive tone. The faith thread in this book was solid throughout and though I'm not sure if I agree with all of the theology in it (I don't "not agree", but I'm not sure such a firm stance should be taken on an issue that is not spelled out so firmly biblically), it was still spiritually sound. This book alternated between 2 first person perspectives - Maddie, a 17 year old whose father committed suicide and Susan, Maddie's grandmother (the mother of the man who committed suicide). The book starts in the days leading up to his death and their subsequent thoughts and reactions to it, as well as subsequent events in their lives and how those were colored by the difficult death of their loved one.

I did enjoy the character development in this one. I appreciated the different perspectives and how they coped with the massive loss. I appreciated the faith of Susan and her husband Frank and how that helped them even though they questioned it at times. The characters were very "human" in their responses and I appreciated the author not minimizing or over-dramatizing their loss. All in all, this was a well-written book that shines a glimmer of hope on a very difficult topic. It's one I recommend to those who enjoy reading the heavier books or those who want to better understand a person who has committed suicide (though I would not read while feelings are raw). This is not one I recommend to all readers as it is definitely a difficult read, but it covers an important topic and does it well. Special thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own. 6 s Terri GillespieAuthor 11 books179

Angela Hunt is a bold storyteller who is fluent in whatever genre works best for her subject matter. In WHAT A WAVE MUST BE, she chooses a contemporary setting of a family blown apart by tragedy—suicide.

Hunt’s bravery in tackling a topic uncomfortable for most is commendable. For those of us who have lost family to suicide, I can say her authenticity was both heartbreaking and insightful.

The story is from the point of view of Susan, the mother of the man who takes his own life, and Maddie, the man’s daughter.

The parents are strong believers, while Maddie was raised in the church but has no relationship with God. While both Susan and Maddie ask the same questions and are frustrated with no satisfying answers, Susan takes her pain to God and others who are processing their own grief. Maddie seeks her own methods of comfort that end up being painful and destructive.

Hunt’s book is difficult to read, but the journey is so powerful and inspirational it is worth overcoming that discomfort to finish this beautiful novel. I highly recommend.

Note: grief, self-harm, and suicide depicted.

An ARC was provided by the publisher for my honest review.

contemporary family-dynamics inspirational ...more6 s Lindsay Lemus321 21

3.5 stars rounded up
This one took me a long time to read. It's very heavy and I'm struggling with my thoughts. I'll review more in depth after I've had more time to digest.4 s Stephanie MathewsAuthor 2 books15

Heart wrenching novel! The content of this story was heavy, but it was done well.

Thanks to netgally and publishers for arc3 s Jeanie2,974 1 follower

I never saw a moor, I never saw the sea; Yet I know how the heather looks, and what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God, nor visited in heaven; Yet certain am I of the spot as if the chart was given.

Angela Hunt is a talented story teller in any genre. She is a Christian writer that mostly authors historical fiction. She does have such as this in current time regarding the culture and joy and pain of life. She writes with heart and the realities of the heart. What a wave must be is the waves of grief that we experience when we experience loss. This loss in the advent of a suicide for those left behind is difficult and painful.

The narration is done in 2 voices - the first is of Maddie a 17 year old that has a great relationship with her father. And the 2nd is Susan, Maddie's grandmother - her father's mother. Two relationships that tell a different side of suicide. A daughter's view that left many questions. Why did my dad want to leave. Didn't he love me enough? Why couldn't see his pain. A mother's view is just as powerful. As a parent, you still see your son the day he was born. What could you have done? Why didn't he let me share in his pain? Because Maddie's mother is dealing with pressures from work and is not in the right frame of mind, she asks her in laws to take Maddie for 6 months. Maddie moves to Florida and together they go thru the mine field of grief. In life, sometimes grief adds more grief and Maddie in particular deals with the powerful pull of suicide with her new friends and the loss of hope.

Their journey is a tool to minister to their readers of who God is and what He is not. In knowing God, we can know our weakness and put our hope in him. It also deals with the many variables of suicide. It is not judgmental but it is meant to give hope in a hopeless world. Life is precious and each of us has something to offer. Your family needs you and God loves you.

A special thank you to Tyndale Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

netgalley3 s2 comments Ann's Reading Corner140 14

Review ????
Trigger Warning:
This book deals with suicide and may not be for people who have struggled with, or have had someone in their life commit suicide.

This book is a very deep, serious and in a way, bone chilling book about a girl whose dad commited suicide. The ripple effects are massive. It was very realistically handled and didn't sugarcoat much. But it isn't graphic either. Definitely not a light hearted read. It is a deep hard read. I enjoyed it. This is my first by this author and as she handled such a sensitive topic well, I'm definitely going to read more of hers.
I received a copy of the book from the author, but was under no obligations to give it a review3 s Lori1,892 119

Oh my! This book was so very hard to read emotionally that I almost didn't finish it. It definitely made me cry in some spots. I just couldn't imagine going through something that with my son. I was in total shock.
Poor Maddy! My heart went out to her for sure and certain. I'm even still in shock and grieving for this family.
Just wow!
This is a book that will definitely keep you turning the pages! Hunt is a master storyteller and this book is definitely proof of it.
It will leave you wondering on how this will all work out.
Will the family fall apart or will they allow God to work.and heal them in their lives?
4 stars for the different writing style.
I say this because each character got their own chapter. It's something that I didn't care for because at first it was confusing and in my opinion it might be for other readers too.
Other than that I pretty much d the story. I must say, that it will make you stop and think about why that person dis such a thing. What could be so bad that this person could do that to themselves? It also makes you question things too just I mentioned.
It's a hard story to read but heartfelt too.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. 3 s Katie76 4

This book was heart breaking. (I don't normally add trigger warnings but this book is centered around suicide). The story was very well written, and handled the topic realistically. The ending isn't a full happily ever after, but does give glimmers of hope.
I read it in one day, but mainly because it was so hard I wanted to get through it.
Well written but hard to read book.3 s Leah255 32

If you reading Angela Hunt books you will enjoy this one. That's kind of hard to say enjoy about a book that is sad and this is a sad one. If books make you cry and you don't want to don't read this book. Of course it's going to be sad talking about suicide. It's a touchy subject but one that does need to be dealt with because it is something that touches lives.angela-hunt christian-fiction2 s Helen1,083

What a Wave Must Be, by Angela Hunt is such a powerful Christian contemporary fiction story. This is at times a hard story to read. It gives the point of view of the mother and daughter of a suicide victim. Maddie’s mother is working a time consuming case and feels she can not be there of Maddie. She has Maddie’s grandparents take her back to Florida with them. She does not move in with them, but rather lives in another structure on their property.

The author has done a fantastic job of writing such a touching story on such a tough topic. Even though it’s hard to read about suicide, the author blends in other aspects of normal life to make it an enjoyable story. I especially appreciate the story also points out that Jesus is always there. Life may not be easy and we may be alone, but Jesus is always there. This story is helpful as it points out the different stages of grief and the long road to healing that takes place. While this story is of a teen age girl, I really would not recommend it for that age group, unless a responsible adult reads it with them.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story, this is my honest review.2 s Meagan1,744 52

It's been a while since I read an Angela Hunt book, and I was excited to see this one pop up on NetGalley!

It's certainly heavy hitting, with several suicides throughout--something to be aware of when deciding to read it (or even what time of day to read). Scripture and theology are woven throughout (and I'd expect nothing less from a Hunt novel), which I appreciated--especially as, most any reader would, I imagined how I'd react in a similar circumstance.

Thankfully for me, the read was far enough removed from the few situations where people I knew (or knew of) committed suicide--only two that I can think of (thanks be to God).

The read was surprisingly quick; I completed it in ~two days, and expected it to take longer simply because it's an Angela Hunt book! But as stated, it's been a while, long enough to even predate my Goodreads account. I especially enjoyed the grandmother/granddaughter alternating POVs, and their relationship dynamics through tumultuous times. We don't see that represented often in fiction, and I felt Hunt did a really good job with both characters--and the supporting cast.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.christian-fiction netgalley1 Mara Kim10 8

Trigger warning: Suicide

This book digs deep into the topic of suicide. And how it affects the different generations.

When Maddie‘s father commits suicide, she’s left wondering why he left her. Everything seemed to be perfect in their lives. They had the perfect father/daughter relationship.

Maddie goes to live at her grandparents temporarily. She doesn’t have any problem in meeting new friends. But then things take a dark turn and there seems to be no way out.

I wasn’t sure how this was going to end, but I was happy that there was a resolution. Perfect title for the book too!

If I had to sum up this book in one word, it would be hope. There is always hope!1 Jan Gustafson146

Angela Hunt does a great job writing about the emotions, trauma, and repercussions of suicide. But most of all, the hope one can find to keep on living. Her characters are real, relatable, and honest as they deal with the suicides of a parent and friends. This is a great book to help one understand and cope with this issue. 1 Anna38

It was…ok. I’m not a huge fan of Christian fiction but thought this premise was interesting and won it in a give away. But man she was dark and heavy. I d the style of writing but wasn’t prepared for how tragic it was and I felt it never really resolved. The mom was infuriating and honestly I didn’t find her to be a believable character…because no one would be that way. All in all it just wasn’t my cup of tea1 April148 7

This book was very poignant and moving. I was hooked from the start, but I will be honest after Maddie, one of the main characters, discovered her dead father I was tempted to stop reading. After losing my own father a few years ago to a heart attack and discovering him, the feelings of loss and grief are still prevalent. I didn't know if I wanted to continue reading it, but I am so glad that I did. The book deals with suicide, depression, grief, loss and pain, but it also focuses on hope, community and love. The story is told from the perspective of both Maddie and her grandmother Susan who both are working through the loss of a father and a son. They each deal with their loss differently and have their faith tested throughout the book. I found myself mourning and grieving along with the characters in the book. It was a very powerful book that I am glad that I read. 1 Karen Hutchinson231 8

This book was not necessarily an easy read, but it was a very good one. I really enjoyed the author’s change of characters‘ perspectives throughout the story. Other reviewers didn’t it, but I thought it clarified whose thoughts we were reading.

The book deals with suicide, both in a family and a friend, and I thought it was very well dealt with from a Christian perspective. At the end of the book a pastor sums it up very well. Everyone should read this book.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review, five stars!1 Michelle Castaneda1,192 7

What a Wave Must Be by Angela Hunt is a novel about clinging to God and hoping in Him in the midst of agonizing tragedy. Trigger warning: this book deals explicitly with suicide and grief. It was really hard to read sometimes. Ms. Hunt has a talent for creating vivid characters brimming with emotion. In this case, the characters make the book heavy at times. The message of this book is clear, rooted in God and His nature. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.1 Dorothy932

wow nothing it

This was a super book yet in some ways depressing. The story is about a girl whose father committed suicide. Then goes to stay with her grandparents to adjust to life without him. While there some of her friends also commit suicide. How everyone deals with all this is what the story is about.1 Marnie612 10

Maddie, who has just lost her father to suicide, goes to live with her paternal grandparents in Florida. Her mother is consumed by her job and feels ill-equipped to stop work and concentrate on Maddie.
Although she s her new Florida high school, Maddie is challenged by the despair of her friend group. All of this compounds her recovery.
Susan and Frank are reeling from the loss of their only son. They also are unsure about how to guide Maddie through this tidal wave. Everyone is overwhelmed.
This is a powerful story which steps right into the grief process from the points of view of Maddie, Susan and Frank, to some degree.
I have to admit that the story challenged me with so much loss. Thanks to Focus on the Family for providing me an ARC in exchange for a review in my own words.1 Parkland Mom494 4

Stars: ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? (5/5 stars)
Read: January 2024
Format: Kindle eBook & an Everand audiobook borrow
Narrator: Jennifer Jill Arsya (new to me but good)
Challenge Prompt: CNL’s #28 of 50 - “with a teenager as a main character” (Maddie)

Book #6 of 2024: I have a few books by this author but it has been a long time since I read anything by her. I had this one pre-ordered for months. I knew it was going to be tough subject matter but I also knew that it would be worth it.

This story is told by both Maggie (17) and her grandmother, Susan. Maggie’s Dad/Susan’s son takes his own life and their stories begin just before and then continue after.

I started and finished this novel the same day. I had to take breaks but it’s masterfully done. Angela Hunt brings out the cold truths of suicide, and how it affects people afterward, far beyond what anyone realizes.

I don’t believe in shying away from hard topics because the more we know, the better. Escaping reality into a cocoon of bubble wrap helps no one. Yes, people need time and distance after a traumatic event. That is understandable and compassionate. Yet we still need to come alongside people and be there for them without cliché words. Reliance on God and His strength is so important. We need to TALK about this kind of thing, not whisper in the shadows and hope it just goes away.

I applaud the author for writing this novel and for the video I saw where she said it is for people who tried to end their life, those thinking about it, those who lost someone to suicide, and those who have experienced the aftermath of a loved one wanting to-or attempting to-end their life.

This wasn’t an easy read and I needed tissues a few times. I’ve lost a friend and I’ve been around it a few times. It changes you. It doesn’t leave you. God, in His grace, can carry you through. And that is how this novel ends-with hope.fantabulous-favourites fiction-christian kindle-single-books-owned ...more1 Beverly Zearley250 7

Another thought provoking novel by one of my favorites: Angela Hunt. I love the research that always goes into this author’s books. The topic of What a Wave Must Be is a hard one, but one that needs to be read about and talked about. Suicide has affected my family in the past and I would recommend this book to others who have dealt with loved ones taking their own lives. The very last sentence of the book in the “Author’s Note” section sums it all up.
Thank you Angela Hunt for this hard, yet beautiful read.
1 Anne Griffiths7

Ok - this was a tough read. For anyone who has been around people who are suicidal or felt the waves after someone has taken their own life - this is not an easy read. BUT it was so good. I'm working on training as a counsellor and I learn through story which is why I read this. I got so much more than I'd bargained for. Angela Hunt has covered so many reasons that people choose suicide and is respectful but honest about the impact and consequences of theses choices. This has made me think and it will certainly be one that I re-read if I'm dealing with a situation this in future. Francine Rivers wrote Atonement Child, Scarlet Thread, and Leota's Garden about abortion, divorce, and euthanasia. Those books are powerful and I've returned to them over and over. This one is one to hold along side as another book that is, in itself, teaching on suicide. 1 Temperance JohnsonAuthor 8 books19

Trigger warning….

I have read tough issues before and even wrote them, but never suicide. It was a rough read, but definitely worth it. The author did a great job at doing research about the topics. And to think it has gone up since Covid. So sad. We need to show hope to people struggling with it. The story showed the raw truth of it. But also hope while dealing with it.
I haven’t cried in a book in a long time, but this one did. So read with some hot cocoa and tissues.
I have read books by this author before and this is one of my favorites. I finished it in 3 days which for me is fast.

#ChristianFiction #sucideisnotsolution #SUCIDEAWARENESS2023 #faithoverfear #christian #teenagesucide #teenagerslife1 Leslie76 8

This book deals with the very heavy subject of suicide. It was a difficult book to get through but I'm so glad I stuck it out because the end was the best part. I needed a hopeful ending after a serious and sad book.20241 Amy ~ Insomniac Reader159

A solid 5-star book, but this one should come with a serious trigger warning. Suicide and death take center stage in this book. If you aren’t prepared for this heavy topic, the book could be a very difficult read. If you are prepared, you will ly still be brought to tears, but you will walk away from it profoundly moved.1 Savanna Kultgen32

What a great book that discusses suicide and grief in such a simplistic but powerful way.

Quote that will stick with me: " too many people, he underestimated the depth of genuine love."
This quote is sooo true for those who have not truly experienced the depth of genuine love God has for His children.

Highly recommend this book as it will have you crying multiple times, and your heart might just break for those who are broken/lost because they have yet to experience the hope of Jesus Christ.christianity1 Jeanette Durkin1,059 23

Five stars for a couple of reasons! Angela Hunt is a superb writer! This book addresses a topic that is sensitive yet imperative to talk about. This book offers hope to those struggling with grief.

Yes, this can be a difficult book to read, but suicide happens every day, and so many people are affected by it. I d that Angela had her characters questioning God and their faith. This is reality. Tough times come to all, and hopefully, a person's faith can see them through that tough time.

Each of the characters touched my heart. Susan, Frank, Rachel, and Maddie each grieve in their own ways. Maddie is the most affected by the horrible circumstances.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who's been affected by suicide. It really makes you think about life and how fragile it really is.1 Kellie Stocker140

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