Grace Grows by Shelle Sumners

4.5 Star

Grace Barnum’s life is precariously balanced on sensible choices and uncomfortable compromise. She dutifully edits textbooks that, she fears, may be more harmful than helpful to kids. She is engaged to a patent attorney who is steady and reliable. She has a cautious relationship with her fascinating father, a renowned New York painter, and she prefers her mom slightly drunk.

 

Always a planner, Grace feels prepared for most eventualities. Until the responsibility-challenged Tyler Wilkie shows up. Fresh in town from the Poconos, Tyler has warm eyes, a country drawl, and a smile that makes Grace drop things. Worst of all, he writes devastating songs. About her. 

Tyler reaches something in Grace, something she needs, but can't admit to. Something she wants, but won't succumb to. Tyler Wilkie loves Grace Barnum and ruins everything.  And Grace grows.

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Lydia - 4.5 Star

The cover of Grace Grows makes it seem like a gentle, light book about love. And it is about love, but what it completely misses is capturing the depth and intensity found within the pages. Grace Grows left me breathless at times, completely captivated and amazed.

Anyone who has run from love, wanted to run from love, felt the intensity of love, or worried about love will be able to relate to this novel. Grace is scared. And she does everything in her power to run, push and shove Ty out of her life. Meanwhile, Ty is one of the most fabulous male characters I've come across recently. He’s kind, sensitive, and really laid back. And he loves Grace. Completely. You can’t help but love this about him and he is – for the most part – willing to put up with her push-pull antics. And yet he doesn’t come across as a pushover or sap. And maybe it’s his sexy singing or man-child like qualities that make him so fabulous, or probably just the combination of it all, but I really loved his character. Grace on the other hand is scattered, incredibly naïve (to the point where I kept questioning her age) and a bit reserved (read cold). But for some reason, when these two characters come together fireworks ensue. The intensity of their connection was completely captivating and I zoomed through the pages to see if they could make it work.

The writing style may have some shuddering as it was choppy with really short, incomplete sentences most of the time, but I think this heightened the intensity of the novel, Grace’s confusion and hyperawareness, and their love. And once you get used to it, it completely fades into the background as the angst of the characters shines through.

This novel continuously surprised me. I was never sure which direction it would take and I LOVED that. The family growth explored in this novel was wonderfully captured and Grace really does grow!

I’m looking forward to more from Shelle Sumners!

Thank you to Macmillan for our review copy. All opinions are our own.

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