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Saying goodbye to someone we love is never easy. Even years later, we sometimes think about what might have been. In author Kristin Harmel’s The Life Intended, one woman gets to experience a life untouched by tragedy. And it gives her a whole new perspective on the life she’s been living.
The story takes place twelve years after Kate Waithman’s husband, Patrick, was killed in an accident—not long after they were married. Since then, Kate has struggled to let go of the past and move on with her life, but she’s finally finding happiness again with someone else. When her boyfriend proposes, though, she realizes that she’s not as happy as she should be. Something’s holding her back. And when she starts having shockingly realistic dreams about how her life with Patrick could have been—complete with a daughter named Hannah—she finds herself stuck between what could be and what might have been, wondering if she’s making the right decisions.
The Life Intended takes readers on an emotional and often gut-wrenching journey as this young widow strives to live the life that she’s meant to have—not just the one that’s good enough.
The tone may be melancholy—filled with stories of loss, illness, and broken homes—but The Life Intended is actually a hopeful and even inspiring novel. Though Kate struggles to understand the meaning of her dreams—and she often wishes that she could stay inside them—she soon realizes that they’re meant to teach her something. These dreams show her what happiness can feel like—and, over time, they inspire her to seek out that same feeling in her real life, even if it means making some major changes.
Admittedly, the story is quite predictable, telegraphing the twists well in advance. But while that may take away some of the element of surprise, it won’t take away from your enjoyment of the journey—because you’ll fall in love with the main character.
Kate is a sweet and selfless character whose grief has led her to reach out and help others. But while she may be strong when it comes to others—standing up for those who feel weak—she’s incredibly fragile when it comes to her own feelings. She’s the kind of character that you can’t help but love—and you’ll want her to find strength and happiness in the end.
You don’t have to have lost someone you love to appreciate this emotional story of love, loss, and letting go. And as you join this lovable character on her journey, you may find yourself considering the life that you’re supposed to be living, too.
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