The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese Book Review
Do you like stories that break your heart and put it back together again? The Words We Lost by Nicole Deese is exactly that type of book. With characters dealing with grief and regret, there is love and hope to be found throughout this story. It’s a story of redemption and not giving up on the people you love.
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The Words We Lost
Author: Nicole Deese
Publishing Date: April 11, 2023
Series: Fog Harbor book 1
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Pages: 384
Rating: 4.5 stars
Content Warnings: grief, death, alcoholism, drugs, & harassment
Synopsis:
As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony–two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cece Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she’s also desperate to find the closure she is convinced will come with Cece’s missing final manuscript.
After an editorial meeting jeopardizes Ingrid’s career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But when Joel Campbell–who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters–offers her a sealed envelope from Cece, his late cousin, asking them to put their differences aside and retrieve a package in their coastal Washington hometown, Ingrid must confront a past riddled with secrets before she can discover the true healing she’s been searching for.
Spoiler-Free Book Review
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This was my first time reading a book by Nicole Deese, but it definitely won’t be my last! I loved this book and the depth of this story.
The Words We Lost reminded me a little bit of Love and Other Words by Christina Lauren except that this story dealt even more with grief and had the added bonus of Christian faith elements. It’s been a while since I’ve found so many memorable quotes within a book, but the writing of this story was just so beautiful.
What I Liked
This book broke my heart in all the best ways. The grief that both Ingrid and Joel had to deal with was sometimes hard to read about. They both had gone through so much, but I’m glad that their difficult circumstances are what brought them back together.
One of my favorite quotes from this book was Joel talking to Ingrid saying, “I can’t erase the darkness for you, but I can be the one to hold the light when you’re ready to come home.” This is a great example of what Joel and Ingrid’s relationship was like. I loved how much Joel cared for Ingrid even when she tried to push him away.
I would definitely recommend this book, especially if you like second chance romances and stories that deal with hard topics.
What I Didn’t Like
The only reason that I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because the beginning was a little slow for me. After I got into the story a bit more though, I loved every bit of it.
Where to Purchase
You can purchase a copy of this book at the following retailers:
Bookshop.org (supports independent book stores) [affiliate link]
Books a Million (BAM) [affiliate link]
Bethany House Publishers (if you want to purchase directly from the publisher)
Have you read The Words We Lost or any other books by Nicole Deese?
I would love to hear your thoughts! Comment down below.