God’s done it again, and this time through a beautiful novel, the first in a trilogy. I read Until Lily at the perfect time. Lately, I’ve been reminded of how vulnerable it makes us to love others deeply, to let them into our hearts and know we’ll never be the same. We might resist letting others get too close at first, thinking of the times in the past when our trust has been betrayed and/or our love rejected. Letting others into our lives and into our hearts can be frightening at times and challenging when we are still mourning a previous loss. Journalist turned author Sherry Boas has crafted a moving story with lovable characters. She dives right into some of the major life decisions, struggles, and challenges we face in relationships, especially with family members, taking care of children and the elderly and opening our hearts to those whom God places in our lives.
I love the authenticity with which the narrator Bev shares her story. She is brutally honest about her thoughts, feelings, fears, troubles, and pain, past and present. Many will be able to easily identify with her frustrations, reluctance, transformation, doubts, frailness, courage, and goodness.
Boas paints a clear picture of the metamorphosis that takes place when we truly love someone and allow them to love us in return. The growing pains are real, but so is the joy of being loved, and feeling such profound love for another person that you can’t imagine your life without that person in it.
I’m really looking forward to reading the next two books in the Lily Trilogy: Wherever Lily Goes and Life Entwined with Lily’s.
This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find information on baptism gifts or first communion gifts.
