The Songs That Could Have Been is the second book in Amanda Wen‘s outstanding Sedgwick County Chronicles series. This Wichita, Kansas set novel explores important themes including identity/worth and interracial relationships with its dual timeline plots set in the 1950s and the present day. Lauren has battled body dysphoria and bulimia, but has come out on the other side, until a meeting with a long ago summer love upends her structured world. Lauren’s grandmother, Rosie, is quickly losing herself to Alzheimer’s, but a secret romance from the past begins to merge with her present. Each story is well-crafted, but as a whole they make this novel sing. The book is mostly told in the third person, but Rosie’s first person recollections add a depth and poignancy to the narrative. There is also a naturally developed faith message that God is enough that runs throughout the pages.
While you can certainly read The Songs That Could Have Been as a standalone novel, I would not recommend that. Characters from the first book in the series, Roots of Wood and Stone, play a part in the second book. Besides, this series is too good to miss out on anything! Book three, The Rhythm of Fractured Grace, releases in February.
Highly Recommended.
Audience: Adults.
(I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.
After a tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Her battle with bulimia is under control, her career is taking off, and she’s surrounded by a loving family. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, leads to old feelings returning with new strength. And suddenly her well-balanced world is thrown off kilter.
Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But the reasons they broke up aren’t lost–and those old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. He isn’t sure he’s courageous enough to make a different choice this time around.
When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim–a name her family has never heard before–a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives–and Rosie’s–forever. Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.
Amanda Wen’s novels have released to both reader and critical acclaim, including a 2023 Selah Award for The Songs That Could Have Been and a Foreword Indies Gold Award and a Christy Award nomination for Roots of Wood and Stone. In addition to her writing, Amanda is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team, as well as serving as a choral accompanist. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Amanda currently lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.
I enjoyed this one as well. I knew her next book releases this year, I just hadn’t realized it was February!!