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Between You and Me
Caught between two worlds, Caleb Stoltz is bound by a deathbed promise to raise his orphaned niece and nephew in Middle Grove, where life revolves around family, farm, faith—and long-held suspicions about outsiders. When disaster strikes, Caleb is thrust into an urban environment of high-tech medicine and the relentless rush of modern life.
Dr. Reese Powell is poised to join the medical dynasty of her wealthy, successful parents. Bold, assertive, and quick-thinking, she lives for the addictive rush of saving lives. When a shocking accident brings Caleb Stoltz into her life, Reese is forced to deal with a situation that challenges everything she thinks she knows—and ultimately emboldens her to question her most powerful beliefs.
Then one impulsive act brings about a clash of cultures in a tug-of-war that plays out in a courtroom, challenging the very nature of justice and reverberating through generations, straining the fragile threads of faith and family.
Dr. Reese Powell is poised to join the medical dynasty of her wealthy, successful parents. Bold, assertive, and quick-thinking, she lives for the addictive rush of saving lives. When a shocking accident brings Caleb Stoltz into her life, Reese is forced to deal with a situation that challenges everything she thinks she knows—and ultimately emboldens her to question her most powerful beliefs.
Then one impulsive act brings about a clash of cultures in a tug-of-war that plays out in a courtroom, challenging the very nature of justice and reverberating through generations, straining the fragile threads of faith and family.
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First published June 26, 2018
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About the author
Susan Wiggs
197 books7,296 followersSusan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She serves as author liaison for Field's End, a literary community on Bainbridge Island, Washington, bringing inspiration and instruction from the world's top authors to her seaside community. (See www.fieldsend.org) She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. The Winter Lodge and Passing Through Paradise have appeared on PW’s annual "Best Of" lists. Several of her books have been listed as top Booksense picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.
The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book. Readers can learn more on the web at www.susanwiggs.com and on her lively blog at www.susanwiggs.wordpress.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 876 reviews
May 6, 2018
Susan Wiggs writes about family, community, love, and tackles real life issues in the process.
Caleb Stoltz vowed to take care of his dying brother's two children. This meant he had to return to his Amish roots and raise them within the Amish community in Middle Grove, Pennsylvania. Years earlier, Caleb had left the Amish way of life to attend community college and chase his dreams. He works hard on his farm and enjoys life with his niece and nephew and seldom thinks about his life outside of the Amish community. When tragedy strikes, and he makes the decision to have his nephew airlifted to a hospital for medical care, he is thrust back into urban life. At the same time, he faces disapproval from his father, Asa, for placing the injured boy on a helicopter.
Dr. Reese Powell is working at the hospital when Caleb's nephew Jonah is brought in. Her parents are successful doctors and hope that one day she will join their medical dynasty. She is intrigued to see someone from the Amish community in the hospital. She answers his questions tries her best to make him comfortable.
When the danger appears to be over for his nephew, Caleb finds that he is also intrigued by Reese and enjoys answering her many questions. Coming from two different backgrounds, they form a friendship. Reese does not know much about the Amish way of life and as Caleb educates her, the reader is educated as well. Reese also gets to meet Caleb's niece, Hannah, who is hiding a secret.
Two different worlds collide in this book and I enjoyed reading about the Amish community. This book dealt with issues such as abuse, shunning, physical rehabilitation, acceptance, following your dreams and your heart. Her characters are faced with cultural/religious issues such as respecting someone's wishes against receiving medical treatment when it goes against his/her beliefs. The reader also witnesses what can occur when someone does something that goes against their community's rules. As in her other books, Wiggs stresses the importance of family and friendship. She also addresses what it means to have a duty to your community, keeping your word, and observing traditions.
I enjoy Susan Wiggs books. Her characters feel as if they are real life people and are faced with real situations. Her books are well written and prove to be fast reads for me. I enjoy books that not only entertain me but educated me. This book did both.
Wiggs books are also light on the romance. There are no graphic sex scenes or language. You know if her characters have sex, but she doesn't go into much detail. I know some enjoy her lighter touch to romance.
Overall, an enjoyable read!
I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Caleb Stoltz vowed to take care of his dying brother's two children. This meant he had to return to his Amish roots and raise them within the Amish community in Middle Grove, Pennsylvania. Years earlier, Caleb had left the Amish way of life to attend community college and chase his dreams. He works hard on his farm and enjoys life with his niece and nephew and seldom thinks about his life outside of the Amish community. When tragedy strikes, and he makes the decision to have his nephew airlifted to a hospital for medical care, he is thrust back into urban life. At the same time, he faces disapproval from his father, Asa, for placing the injured boy on a helicopter.
Dr. Reese Powell is working at the hospital when Caleb's nephew Jonah is brought in. Her parents are successful doctors and hope that one day she will join their medical dynasty. She is intrigued to see someone from the Amish community in the hospital. She answers his questions tries her best to make him comfortable.
When the danger appears to be over for his nephew, Caleb finds that he is also intrigued by Reese and enjoys answering her many questions. Coming from two different backgrounds, they form a friendship. Reese does not know much about the Amish way of life and as Caleb educates her, the reader is educated as well. Reese also gets to meet Caleb's niece, Hannah, who is hiding a secret.
Two different worlds collide in this book and I enjoyed reading about the Amish community. This book dealt with issues such as abuse, shunning, physical rehabilitation, acceptance, following your dreams and your heart. Her characters are faced with cultural/religious issues such as respecting someone's wishes against receiving medical treatment when it goes against his/her beliefs. The reader also witnesses what can occur when someone does something that goes against their community's rules. As in her other books, Wiggs stresses the importance of family and friendship. She also addresses what it means to have a duty to your community, keeping your word, and observing traditions.
I enjoy Susan Wiggs books. Her characters feel as if they are real life people and are faced with real situations. Her books are well written and prove to be fast reads for me. I enjoy books that not only entertain me but educated me. This book did both.
Wiggs books are also light on the romance. There are no graphic sex scenes or language. You know if her characters have sex, but she doesn't go into much detail. I know some enjoy her lighter touch to romance.
Overall, an enjoyable read!
I received a copy of this book from Edelweiss and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
February 23, 2022
This was a sweet romance about an Amish man whose nephew is injured in a terrible accident and needs extensive medical treatment, and the doctor he meets at the hospital. Caleb and Reese were great characters, both people who’d never quite fit in with their communities. I really enjoyed the development of the relationships with the side characters as well. It was a well-fleshed out world.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
Please excuse typos/name misspellings. Entered on screen reader.
July 13, 2018
4.5/5
Is anyone else fascinated by the Amish faith and their culture in general? There’s something about their simplistic way of life and strong ties to family and their community that never fails to capture my attention. Naturally, I loved the premise for this, an Amish is family forced to enter the English world when tragedy strikes and their encounter with a young doctor has the power to change all of them forever, doesn’t that sound great?! Spoiler alert, it was amazing!
Wiggs has that uncanny ability to create characters that are so deeply developed that by the end of the book you’re heartbroken to say goodbye to them. Both Reese and Caleb were highly complex and interesting, I was so invested in both of them and curious about how their relationship would evolve and grow. She’s also an incredibly skilled writer, I got some serious Jodi Picoult vibes here, it had that same emotional intensity and caused me to question my own beliefs and values alongside the characters.
This book dealt with some heavy issues and Wiggs explores some hot button topics with a sensitivity and grace that’s admirable. There were also some shocking twists along the way and some light romance, nothing too in your face though, more sweet and subtle than anything else. Fans of Wiggs will devour this and for readers looking for a new author to discover I can highly recommended this book!
Between You and Me in three words: Thought-provoking, Skilled and Deep.
Is anyone else fascinated by the Amish faith and their culture in general? There’s something about their simplistic way of life and strong ties to family and their community that never fails to capture my attention. Naturally, I loved the premise for this, an Amish is family forced to enter the English world when tragedy strikes and their encounter with a young doctor has the power to change all of them forever, doesn’t that sound great?! Spoiler alert, it was amazing!
Wiggs has that uncanny ability to create characters that are so deeply developed that by the end of the book you’re heartbroken to say goodbye to them. Both Reese and Caleb were highly complex and interesting, I was so invested in both of them and curious about how their relationship would evolve and grow. She’s also an incredibly skilled writer, I got some serious Jodi Picoult vibes here, it had that same emotional intensity and caused me to question my own beliefs and values alongside the characters.
This book dealt with some heavy issues and Wiggs explores some hot button topics with a sensitivity and grace that’s admirable. There were also some shocking twists along the way and some light romance, nothing too in your face though, more sweet and subtle than anything else. Fans of Wiggs will devour this and for readers looking for a new author to discover I can highly recommended this book!
Between You and Me in three words: Thought-provoking, Skilled and Deep.
January 19, 2019
1. The premise of this book was good, however, it was poorly written.
2. The narrator Tanya Eby did an excellent job.
3. The book cover asks, “How far would you go to keep a secret”? What secret is the author talking about?
4. The language was gratuitous. I find an author’s writing ability lacking when offensive language is constantly used.
5. There were several unfinished storylines. What happened to Caleb’s relationship with his mother after his visit to Florida. When Caleb left the city Leroy was never mentioned again. What happened with Reese and her parents at the end?
6. I find it frustrating that the woman always has to compromise her desires and goals in the end to make a relationship work. Why couldn’t Reese go to California and still figure out a way to make the relationship work with Caleb? I also had a problem with Reese’s proposal to Caleb.
7. Caleb proposed marriage to a woman on her deathbed, which was witnessed by Reese and it was never discussed.
8. Hannah birthing a baby in the house without Caleb’s knowledge was unrealistic. How could she give birth and Caleb not hear the baby cry?
9. The purpose of the Safe Haven law allows a mother to safely give up her child without prosecution. The author violated the spirit of the law when Reese forced Hannah to reveal her identity as the mother without fully understanding the ramifications she would face within the Amish community. This portion of the book was a cataclysmic failure.
10. The book went downhill when Caleb returned home after Jonah’s accident.
11. The end of the book was rushed and disjointed. The book ended with Caleb and Reese and nonsensically transitioned to a confusing epilogue. I dont understand why the epilogue POV switched to Jonah.
2. The narrator Tanya Eby did an excellent job.
3. The book cover asks, “How far would you go to keep a secret”? What secret is the author talking about?
4. The language was gratuitous. I find an author’s writing ability lacking when offensive language is constantly used.
5. There were several unfinished storylines. What happened to Caleb’s relationship with his mother after his visit to Florida. When Caleb left the city Leroy was never mentioned again. What happened with Reese and her parents at the end?
6. I find it frustrating that the woman always has to compromise her desires and goals in the end to make a relationship work. Why couldn’t Reese go to California and still figure out a way to make the relationship work with Caleb? I also had a problem with Reese’s proposal to Caleb.
7. Caleb proposed marriage to a woman on her deathbed, which was witnessed by Reese and it was never discussed.
8. Hannah birthing a baby in the house without Caleb’s knowledge was unrealistic. How could she give birth and Caleb not hear the baby cry?
9. The purpose of the Safe Haven law allows a mother to safely give up her child without prosecution. The author violated the spirit of the law when Reese forced Hannah to reveal her identity as the mother without fully understanding the ramifications she would face within the Amish community. This portion of the book was a cataclysmic failure.
10. The book went downhill when Caleb returned home after Jonah’s accident.
11. The end of the book was rushed and disjointed. The book ended with Caleb and Reese and nonsensically transitioned to a confusing epilogue. I dont understand why the epilogue POV switched to Jonah.
January 24, 2019
Three and a half stars.
As his brother is dying, Caleb Stoltz makes a promise to take his niece Hannah and nephew Jonah back to Middle Grove and raise them as Amish. For Caleb this means putting aside his dreams and returning to the life he had escaped from. It means facing issues from the past with his abusive father Asa and adapting to the strict teachings of the Amish. When disaster strikes, Caleb comes into conflict with his father and some of the elders in the Amish faith. While he acknowledges there are lots of good qualities in the Amish life, Caleb can also see its limitations and areas where he believes the teaching is wrong. The disaster also brings Caleb into contact with Reese Powell who is close to qualifying as a doctor following in the path of her wealthy and successful medical professional parents. Her parents, who have given her everything money can buy, are pushy and controlling. Reese has too often let them plan her life, rather than choosing to do what she wants. Her meeting with Caleb, Jonah and Hannah makes Reese question her easy compliance to the plans her parents have made for her life.
This was an interesting and enjoyable read, if a little predictable at times. Characters are well drawn and my emotions were engaged. I did get tired of hearing what a hunk Caleb was though. It didn’t need to be restated so many times. I liked the clash of lifestyles and upbringing between Reese and her background, with the Amish life and teachings. Caleb’s outlook is caught somewhere between the two. Both Reese and Caleb are complex characters and Jonah is a delight. Although this is a light easy read, it does bring up the problem of abuse and the way people can at times twist religious teaching to justify their cruelty.
An engaging read that is not afraid to tackle some interesting issues and I enjoyed learning more about the Amish way of life. My biggest issue with this paperback version is the typeset, which is small and very faint. I needed to be in really good light to read comfortably. Either a darker type or bigger print would have helped considerably.
As his brother is dying, Caleb Stoltz makes a promise to take his niece Hannah and nephew Jonah back to Middle Grove and raise them as Amish. For Caleb this means putting aside his dreams and returning to the life he had escaped from. It means facing issues from the past with his abusive father Asa and adapting to the strict teachings of the Amish. When disaster strikes, Caleb comes into conflict with his father and some of the elders in the Amish faith. While he acknowledges there are lots of good qualities in the Amish life, Caleb can also see its limitations and areas where he believes the teaching is wrong. The disaster also brings Caleb into contact with Reese Powell who is close to qualifying as a doctor following in the path of her wealthy and successful medical professional parents. Her parents, who have given her everything money can buy, are pushy and controlling. Reese has too often let them plan her life, rather than choosing to do what she wants. Her meeting with Caleb, Jonah and Hannah makes Reese question her easy compliance to the plans her parents have made for her life.
This was an interesting and enjoyable read, if a little predictable at times. Characters are well drawn and my emotions were engaged. I did get tired of hearing what a hunk Caleb was though. It didn’t need to be restated so many times. I liked the clash of lifestyles and upbringing between Reese and her background, with the Amish life and teachings. Caleb’s outlook is caught somewhere between the two. Both Reese and Caleb are complex characters and Jonah is a delight. Although this is a light easy read, it does bring up the problem of abuse and the way people can at times twist religious teaching to justify their cruelty.
An engaging read that is not afraid to tackle some interesting issues and I enjoyed learning more about the Amish way of life. My biggest issue with this paperback version is the typeset, which is small and very faint. I needed to be in really good light to read comfortably. Either a darker type or bigger print would have helped considerably.
February 14, 2025
To start with I am not sure I am the intended audience for this book. Sweet Amish romances aren’t really my go to thing. I like this author so I picked this up, but it wasn’t what I was expecting. I’m confused by the quote on the front about how far you’d go to keep a secret, it didn’t fit with the story at all. The writing was ok, but I didn’t love how disjointed large parts felt (especially after Caleb and Jonah went home). I wanted to like this one more than I did like it. Reese is finishing her doctorate program and working on matching for her residency. Caleb lives in the Amish community he was raised in even if he isn’t baptized and he is staying because he is raising his niece and nephew. They meet after a horrible accident brings them together and sparks fly (metamorphicly, this was a very slow burn). I really hated everything in the end, especially Reese’s reactions to Hannah as they violated so much for me. I also hated that Reese gave up her opportunities to make it work, love to me should be about getting both parties everything. But overall it was a decent book and an interesting read.
July 7, 2018
I liked the first half of the book better than the second half. I really wasn't a fan of .
All the characters were fully fleshed out and real, I just didn't like the plot lines at the end.
All the characters were fully fleshed out and real, I just didn't like the plot lines at the end.
July 1, 2018
Whoever wrote the book blurb should be fired, because the plot summary is very misleading. This is a solid contemporary romance between a Big City doctor-in-training and a Small Town not-quite-fully-Amish hunk who meet when the hunk's nephew is badly injured. Despite the impossibility of the relationship, they fall in love, dealing with strong cultural and family expectations on both sides. I had a hard time believing that a fourth year medical student could have so much free time to spend going on dates, but this is a romance after all.
There's a very late (the last 50 pages) plot twist that brings things to a head but seems awkwardly shoehorned in. And it's nothing like the blurb that promises a "clash of cultures in a tug-of-war that plays out in a tension-filled courtroom, challenging the very nature of justice and reverberating through generations, straining the fragile threads of faith and family." Whew! Melodramatic much?
If you are looking for a well-written love story, especially if you are an Amish romance fan, you will enjoy Between You And Me. If you are looking for the next Jodi Picoult novel, you've come to the wrong place.
There's a very late (the last 50 pages) plot twist that brings things to a head but seems awkwardly shoehorned in. And it's nothing like the blurb that promises a "clash of cultures in a tug-of-war that plays out in a tension-filled courtroom, challenging the very nature of justice and reverberating through generations, straining the fragile threads of faith and family." Whew! Melodramatic much?
If you are looking for a well-written love story, especially if you are an Amish romance fan, you will enjoy Between You And Me. If you are looking for the next Jodi Picoult novel, you've come to the wrong place.
August 26, 2018
Caleb Stoltz had a taste of the"English" world, but was drawn back to the Amish community he was raised in when he made a death bed commitment to his brother after his brother and his wife where brutally murdered. He agreed to raise his neice, Hannah, and nephew, Jonah, in the Amish ways and has kept his promise faithfully. But when a tragic accident occurs and Jonah must be care flighted to a trauma hospital in Philadelphia, he is thrust into a modern world outside of the culture he is accustomed to. It is in this world he meets Dr. Resse Powell, who was on the trauma team that first cared for Jonah. Caleb remains with Jonah through his long recovery and soon develops a friendship with Reese, which blossoms into romance.
Dr. Reese Powell comes from a family with high expectations, pushing her to follow in their footsteps. Both accomplished doctors in their field, the goal is for Reese to join their practice following residency. Yet as both Caleb and Reese question the expectations others have for their futures, desiring to make their own life choices, they continue to find themselves drawn to each other.
The story has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet quality to it, but this time with a happy ending.
A wonderful story of family, loyalty, romance and finding one's purpose in life.
Dr. Reese Powell comes from a family with high expectations, pushing her to follow in their footsteps. Both accomplished doctors in their field, the goal is for Reese to join their practice following residency. Yet as both Caleb and Reese question the expectations others have for their futures, desiring to make their own life choices, they continue to find themselves drawn to each other.
The story has a bit of a Romeo and Juliet quality to it, but this time with a happy ending.
A wonderful story of family, loyalty, romance and finding one's purpose in life.
November 23, 2018
I have long loved Wiggs' powerful family dramas and her latest is especially powerful. A life or death emergency brings powerful physician Reese Powell into the life of Caleb Stoltz, who is raising his niece and nephew in a traditional Amish community. A medical controversy tests faith, family and all that Reese and Caleb hold dear i a thought provoking and moving read.
August 7, 2018
This is the first book that I have read by Susan Wiggs. She wrote an entertaining story with romance, a bit of suspense, and secrets. It was predictable, but a fun, quick read. An enjoyable read for vacations and beaches. 3.5★s!
August 14, 2018
Fascinating story about the Amish community and the impact of interacting with outside society. Audio version was well done.
August 3, 2018
This is my 3rd book by Susan Wiggs and I’ve loved her other 2 books as well. It’s a really nice story, getting me away from the psychological thrillers I’ve been drawn to lately. When reading this book, I kept thinking of all of the Amish books written by Linda Castillo. I do love her too! This a great feel good book by Susan Wiggs.
April 17, 2018
This is a GoodReads giveaway win.
This book is just beautiful and inspirational and sad. Caleb lives in a small, strict Amish community in Middle Grove. He lives with his father, Hannah, his niece and Jonah, his nephew. The author often has Caleb tell about some great tragedy in the first several chapters and that keep me reading. Asa, Caleb's father was abusive. Caleb's mom left when him and his brother, John where very young. His brother and sister-in-law died, which is why Hannah and Jonah live with him and what brought him back to the Amish. Caleb left the Amish and never intended to return. That is this basics, but so much more unravels as you read this story.
The author weaves a story of an abuse father using his devote faith to cover his actions. Somehow that terrible man ended up with someone like Caleb who seems to give up everything he's ever wanted to make sure his brother's dying wish is fulfilled. Then bring in a young girl who feels guilt and shame over something that could and has happened to many. A refusal to ride a helicopter even to save a young boy's life because it goes against the religion. A doctor who just steps in whenever need. This book is a wonderful story and is beautifully written. It tells some of the clashes between Amish and English societies. It has a good plotline a great ending.
This book is just beautiful and inspirational and sad. Caleb lives in a small, strict Amish community in Middle Grove. He lives with his father, Hannah, his niece and Jonah, his nephew. The author often has Caleb tell about some great tragedy in the first several chapters and that keep me reading. Asa, Caleb's father was abusive. Caleb's mom left when him and his brother, John where very young. His brother and sister-in-law died, which is why Hannah and Jonah live with him and what brought him back to the Amish. Caleb left the Amish and never intended to return. That is this basics, but so much more unravels as you read this story.
The author weaves a story of an abuse father using his devote faith to cover his actions. Somehow that terrible man ended up with someone like Caleb who seems to give up everything he's ever wanted to make sure his brother's dying wish is fulfilled. Then bring in a young girl who feels guilt and shame over something that could and has happened to many. A refusal to ride a helicopter even to save a young boy's life because it goes against the religion. A doctor who just steps in whenever need. This book is a wonderful story and is beautifully written. It tells some of the clashes between Amish and English societies. It has a good plotline a great ending.
October 13, 2018
I usually really enjoy her books, but this one angered me. The whole situation toward the end of the book with Hannah was terrible. Reese should have never done that to the girl.
October 19, 2019
4.5/5
Between You and Me by Susan Wiggs has been my most anticipated book release for this summer season. I just couldn’t wait for it because I love Susan Wiggs’ books so completely and I also tend to really love stories about the Amish community and interesting Amish characters. I feel like the collective Amish community is sort of its own character here, and completely fascinating, but this story really features Caleb and Reese, the unlikely intersection of their very different lives, and how it changes them both in the process.
Caleb Stoltz is raising Jonah and Hannah, his nephew and niece, after their parents were murdered. He promised his brother that he would raise the children Amish even though that meant giving up on his plans for his own life. When 11-year-old Jonah has a horrific farm accident requiring surgical intervention at a large trauma center far from home, what Jonah thinks is best for the boy is in direct opposition to the more traditional ways of the Amish community.
Reese Powell meets Jonah when he arrives at the hospital for emergency treatment, which is also how she comes to know Caleb. Reese is finishing out her final year of medical school and making plans for where she will begin her residency and start her career. For her entire life, Reese’s parents have mapped her future for her, and her future is very bright. But Reese does not love the plan her parents made. As she spends more time with Jonah and Caleb, she realizes that she can have both a slower-paced, more meaningful life like she desires while also having a wonderful career in the medical field. However, if she changes the plan that is already in progress, it will go against everything that her parents want for her.
By this time, I feel like I trust Susan Wiggs completely. I trust her to give me a fully developed group of characters that I have deep feelings for, one way or another, and I trust her to walk me through some pretty major parts of their lives as if I’m right there with them. I loved that I was able to look at this particular Amish community through Caleb’s eyes in particular, as he has his own thoughts and feelings about living there. Trust me when I say that just because he is a part of the community doesn’t mean that he is all in it, heart and soul. He has baggage there plus he is under a lot of pressure with his farm, taking care of the two kids, and raising them Amish while also not stifling who they are as individuals. I’ve read stories with Amish characters that carry baggage but also fully embrace their traditions, but Caleb takes a different approach. I loved this.
I also love the way Caleb and Reese both struggle with outside forces trying to exert control over their lives. In this way, the two are able to understand one another even though their backgrounds are so completely different. Ms. Wiggs does a great job of showing that people from all types of communities and backgrounds can experience similar feelings sometimes, and we can certainly empathize with and feel for one another, learning about our differences as we go.
Watching Caleb, Jonah, and Hannah learn about the neat things in the modern “English” world was really fun for me. Hannah (Jonah’s sister) was mesmerized by the ease of taking a simple shower and Jonah lost himself in books that were never available to him previously, like Harry Potter and To Kill A Mockingbird. I loved these little details.
I had mixed emotions when I got to the end of the book. I loved the time I spent with the characters, but I was sad when there was no more story. I’m not one to wish that every book could be made into a series, but if Ms. Wiggs decides to continue with this story in any way, I would be first in line for the next installment.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
Between You and Me by Susan Wiggs has been my most anticipated book release for this summer season. I just couldn’t wait for it because I love Susan Wiggs’ books so completely and I also tend to really love stories about the Amish community and interesting Amish characters. I feel like the collective Amish community is sort of its own character here, and completely fascinating, but this story really features Caleb and Reese, the unlikely intersection of their very different lives, and how it changes them both in the process.
Caleb Stoltz is raising Jonah and Hannah, his nephew and niece, after their parents were murdered. He promised his brother that he would raise the children Amish even though that meant giving up on his plans for his own life. When 11-year-old Jonah has a horrific farm accident requiring surgical intervention at a large trauma center far from home, what Jonah thinks is best for the boy is in direct opposition to the more traditional ways of the Amish community.
Reese Powell meets Jonah when he arrives at the hospital for emergency treatment, which is also how she comes to know Caleb. Reese is finishing out her final year of medical school and making plans for where she will begin her residency and start her career. For her entire life, Reese’s parents have mapped her future for her, and her future is very bright. But Reese does not love the plan her parents made. As she spends more time with Jonah and Caleb, she realizes that she can have both a slower-paced, more meaningful life like she desires while also having a wonderful career in the medical field. However, if she changes the plan that is already in progress, it will go against everything that her parents want for her.
By this time, I feel like I trust Susan Wiggs completely. I trust her to give me a fully developed group of characters that I have deep feelings for, one way or another, and I trust her to walk me through some pretty major parts of their lives as if I’m right there with them. I loved that I was able to look at this particular Amish community through Caleb’s eyes in particular, as he has his own thoughts and feelings about living there. Trust me when I say that just because he is a part of the community doesn’t mean that he is all in it, heart and soul. He has baggage there plus he is under a lot of pressure with his farm, taking care of the two kids, and raising them Amish while also not stifling who they are as individuals. I’ve read stories with Amish characters that carry baggage but also fully embrace their traditions, but Caleb takes a different approach. I loved this.
I also love the way Caleb and Reese both struggle with outside forces trying to exert control over their lives. In this way, the two are able to understand one another even though their backgrounds are so completely different. Ms. Wiggs does a great job of showing that people from all types of communities and backgrounds can experience similar feelings sometimes, and we can certainly empathize with and feel for one another, learning about our differences as we go.
Watching Caleb, Jonah, and Hannah learn about the neat things in the modern “English” world was really fun for me. Hannah (Jonah’s sister) was mesmerized by the ease of taking a simple shower and Jonah lost himself in books that were never available to him previously, like Harry Potter and To Kill A Mockingbird. I loved these little details.
I had mixed emotions when I got to the end of the book. I loved the time I spent with the characters, but I was sad when there was no more story. I’m not one to wish that every book could be made into a series, but if Ms. Wiggs decides to continue with this story in any way, I would be first in line for the next installment.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you so much, William Morrow Books!
Find this review and more like it on my blog, Into the Hall of Books!
August 31, 2018
A charming story that speaks of love, loss, hope, and the family.
Grade: B+
Susan Wiggs celebrates the love, loss, hope, and family in her newest release of a man and women who meet under terrible circumstances and through that forge a bond that strengthens while eventually forcing them apart. Emotionally honest and poignant with a delightful thread of humor running through it, Between you and Me introduces us to Caleb Stolz and Dr. Reese Strauss. Told in alternating POVs, Wiggs builds a sweet and witty romance around a experience with them the ups and downs of falling in love as religion, lifestyles, and family try to pull them apart.
Caleb turned his back on his Amish upbringing until his brother’s death brought him home to raise his niece and nephew. The victim of an abusive home and still keeping one foot in the English world, when Caleb’s nephew is hurt badly in a farming accident, Caleb has no qualms with taking him to the hospital for care. Reese is a resident whose uber famous parents have all but decided her career path though lately, she has been wishing for something more. Meeting Caleb opens her eyes to a whole new world and she fully embraces the opportunity to learn more about the Amish and him. The closer Reese and Caleb grow, the harder it is to keep their boundaries in place. And when one of them goes too far, the price for redemption may be to much to pay.
Grade: B+
Susan Wiggs celebrates the love, loss, hope, and family in her newest release of a man and women who meet under terrible circumstances and through that forge a bond that strengthens while eventually forcing them apart. Emotionally honest and poignant with a delightful thread of humor running through it, Between you and Me introduces us to Caleb Stolz and Dr. Reese Strauss. Told in alternating POVs, Wiggs builds a sweet and witty romance around a experience with them the ups and downs of falling in love as religion, lifestyles, and family try to pull them apart.
Caleb turned his back on his Amish upbringing until his brother’s death brought him home to raise his niece and nephew. The victim of an abusive home and still keeping one foot in the English world, when Caleb’s nephew is hurt badly in a farming accident, Caleb has no qualms with taking him to the hospital for care. Reese is a resident whose uber famous parents have all but decided her career path though lately, she has been wishing for something more. Meeting Caleb opens her eyes to a whole new world and she fully embraces the opportunity to learn more about the Amish and him. The closer Reese and Caleb grow, the harder it is to keep their boundaries in place. And when one of them goes too far, the price for redemption may be to much to pay.
July 16, 2018
This book is brimming with emotions...love, faith, dreams, disappointments, hope. From the very first page of the prologue I was enraptured by this story. Reece and Caleb are two people whose paths were never likely to cross, until a tragic accident brings Caleb from his Amish community to Reece’s modern, fast-paced world. I loved watching their relationship develop, first as friends, and then slowly into something deeper and wonderful....but how do they overcome their differences and the intrusions of living life and remaining true to themselves? Their journey was a story of discovery, their feelings deep and often conflicted, as they test whether their differences are too much to overcome. What struck me the most was how, despite their outward and obvious differences, they were both struggling with the expectations of others, wanting to do their best not only for themselves, but also for each other and for their families. This book is a wonderfully warm-hearted and tender book.
July 1, 2018
Absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. All the feels and the characters are amazing. I did not want this one to end and tears of joy at the ending. Many 5 stars for it.
March 13, 2019
It was hard to read this book and not be judgemental.
It’s a love story revolving around Rees, an aspiring doctor with high expectations from her successful parents, and Caleb, an Amish farmer who once wanted to leave the Plain life behind but went back to take care of his brother’s children after his brother died in an accident. The two met when Jonah, the older child Caleb is taking care of, had an accident on the farm and had his arm ripped off. They were taken to the hospital where Rees was working.
The first disappointment of the story is that it turned out to be a uninteresting romance instead of the mystery thriller the cover promised. I know, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right? But I can’t be the only one who’s been misled. The bottom of the book reads “How far would you go to keep a secret?” What was the big secret? There are a few “secrets” that came into light throughout the story, but they are more like background stories of the characters.
So, there you go. The story can be summed up in three big not-so-exciting-events and an annoying protagonist. I don’t know who’s more disappointed, Rees’ parents, who gave her so much support and attention and then discovered that she runs off with an Amish farmer and goes into rural medicine, or me, after finishing this book.
It’s a love story revolving around Rees, an aspiring doctor with high expectations from her successful parents, and Caleb, an Amish farmer who once wanted to leave the Plain life behind but went back to take care of his brother’s children after his brother died in an accident. The two met when Jonah, the older child Caleb is taking care of, had an accident on the farm and had his arm ripped off. They were taken to the hospital where Rees was working.
The first disappointment of the story is that it turned out to be a uninteresting romance instead of the mystery thriller the cover promised. I know, don’t judge a book by it’s cover, right? But I can’t be the only one who’s been misled. The bottom of the book reads “How far would you go to keep a secret?” What was the big secret? There are a few “secrets” that came into light throughout the story, but they are more like background stories of the characters.
So, there you go. The story can be summed up in three big not-so-exciting-events and an annoying protagonist. I don’t know who’s more disappointed, Rees’ parents, who gave her so much support and attention and then discovered that she runs off with an Amish farmer and goes into rural medicine, or me, after finishing this book.
April 18, 2021
3,5 stars
October 26, 2018
This is my first book by this author. It's not a typical romance. I would call it more of a chick lit, almost a Jodi Picoult type book.
I liked this book, but not as much as I thought I would. (Sometimes these angsty books just don't do it for me.) Caleb is sorta Amish, Reese is an overworked, hard-driven medical resident whose parents run her life.
The story is good and I was very interested in what happened with Caleb's nephew and niece and whether or not he'd hit his dad.
I'm a Christian, but Christianity seriously has a lot to answer for. We really need to destroy the patriarchy for its way of making our young me think they're entitled to certain things. Ugh.
I liked this book, but not as much as I thought I would. (Sometimes these angsty books just don't do it for me.) Caleb is sorta Amish, Reese is an overworked, hard-driven medical resident whose parents run her life.
The story is good and I was very interested in what happened with Caleb's nephew and niece and whether or not he'd hit his dad.
I'm a Christian, but Christianity seriously has a lot to answer for. We really need to destroy the patriarchy for its way of making our young me think they're entitled to certain things. Ugh.
July 30, 2019
Uma vez mais a Susan Wiggs presenteia-nos com uma história maravilhosa, centrando-se na família, nos seus laços, relacionamentos e expectativas.
Neste livro temos a oportunidade de conhecer a comunidade amish, uma comunidade com uma forma de pensar diferente daquela a que estamos habituados e com regras bastante restritas para quem aí está inserido.
Uma narrativa envolvente e que gostei muito de ir acompanhando.
Neste livro temos a oportunidade de conhecer a comunidade amish, uma comunidade com uma forma de pensar diferente daquela a que estamos habituados e com regras bastante restritas para quem aí está inserido.
Uma narrativa envolvente e que gostei muito de ir acompanhando.
February 7, 2021
ספר שכיף לקרוא.
ריס מתמחה ברפואה בבי"ח. קיילב הוא חבר בכת ההאמיש שמגדל את הילדים של אחיו. בעקבות תאונה שקורית לג'ונה, בן אחיו של קיילב, הם נפגשים בבי"ח ומיד מתפתח ביניהם קשר וגם משיכה. לכאורה היה אמור להיות כאן קונפליקט ענק בין החיים המודרנים של ריס לבין החיים הסגורים של קיילב בהאמיש. אבל קיילב הוא לא באמת בן האמיש טיפוסי. הוא עמד לעזוב את הכת לפני שאחיו נרצח, ונאלץ לחזור אליה כדי לגדל את הילדים של אחיו. העובדה הזאת גורמת לקונפליקט בין החיים של ריס לחיים של קיילב לא לא להתממש. בפועל כמעט לא מרגישים בהבדלים ביניהם. בעיני זה הפספוס הגדול של הספר, ולכן הוא קיבל רק 4 נקודות ולא 5.
אם מתעלמים מהאכזבה הקלה הזאת, ומתייחסים לספר הזה כאל ספר טיסה קליל ללא משמעויות עמוקות, נשארים עם ספר שמאוד כיף לקרוא ושעושה נעימי בבטן כשמסיימים אותו.
ריס מתמחה ברפואה בבי"ח. קיילב הוא חבר בכת ההאמיש שמגדל את הילדים של אחיו. בעקבות תאונה שקורית לג'ונה, בן אחיו של קיילב, הם נפגשים בבי"ח ומיד מתפתח ביניהם קשר וגם משיכה. לכאורה היה אמור להיות כאן קונפליקט ענק בין החיים המודרנים של ריס לבין החיים הסגורים של קיילב בהאמיש. אבל קיילב הוא לא באמת בן האמיש טיפוסי. הוא עמד לעזוב את הכת לפני שאחיו נרצח, ונאלץ לחזור אליה כדי לגדל את הילדים של אחיו. העובדה הזאת גורמת לקונפליקט בין החיים של ריס לחיים של קיילב לא לא להתממש. בפועל כמעט לא מרגישים בהבדלים ביניהם. בעיני זה הפספוס הגדול של הספר, ולכן הוא קיבל רק 4 נקודות ולא 5.
אם מתעלמים מהאכזבה הקלה הזאת, ומתייחסים לספר הזה כאל ספר טיסה קליל ללא משמעויות עמוקות, נשארים עם ספר שמאוד כיף לקרוא ושעושה נעימי בבטן כשמסיימים אותו.
October 25, 2020
A thoroughly engrossing story that entwines an Amish man and a prospective physician. Their worlds become entangled when an accident on an Amish farm requires a youth being air lifted to a trauma center in the Pocono mountains.
January 20, 2023
Currently reading, p144.
Setting: Rural PA and Philadelphia
What a great book ! It sucked me in and I loved (most) of the story.
The Amish plain culture and the English are very well presented here.
Caleb and Reese .. they had so many challenges to cope with .. as did 11 year old Jonah and his teenage sister Hannah.
The Clydesdale horses part was very interesting for me too.
It lost one star in my review for Reese’s taking God’s name in vain and mutual choice of fornication.
Setting: Rural PA and Philadelphia
What a great book ! It sucked me in and I loved (most) of the story.
The Amish plain culture and the English are very well presented here.
Caleb and Reese .. they had so many challenges to cope with .. as did 11 year old Jonah and his teenage sister Hannah.
The Clydesdale horses part was very interesting for me too.
It lost one star in my review for Reese’s taking God’s name in vain and mutual choice of fornication.
March 31, 2019
Normally I don't read romance type books. But my sister read this and said for me to give it a try. I was looking for something a tad bit different and just wasn't up to clearing my mind with a cozy -So 4 stars for this book.
August 16, 2019
This author has a flair for writing that draws you into the world of the characters. I was blown away with the simple yet painstakingly crafted story. I've read this author's work before and she's very talented with keeping the interest of the reader.
This book delved into our perceptions of people, religion, love, the medical community, & barriers that causes us to misconstrue facts, fiction, & beliefs. As you're reading, you want to push the story along. Some of the characters you may wish them out of the book and others, you may want more information.
This book delved into our perceptions of people, religion, love, the medical community, & barriers that causes us to misconstrue facts, fiction, & beliefs. As you're reading, you want to push the story along. Some of the characters you may wish them out of the book and others, you may want more information.
July 5, 2018
Ten year old Jonah Stoltz may have started to dream of the life he would want, but a tragic accident has cut short the chance for those dreams. Reese Powell has buried any dreams she may have had. Caleb Stoltz had dreams that in a split second came to an end. Yet in a moment of shock and tragedy these three people may have a chance to find new dreams, dreams filled with a joy they could never have seen until they are brought together.
Reese Powell has been on a straight and steady trajectory toward not only a speciality in paediatric surgery, but to become a part of her very successful parents’ medical practice. Every step of her life has been toward the best schools, the highest grades, the right people and the most favourable position. At no point did her parents ask what she wanted and at no time did she feel she could tell them what they wanted for her was not what she wanted for herself.
Following the death of his brother and sister-in-law, Caleb Stoltz took on the care of their two young children, Hannah and Jonah. Before his brother, John, died, he asked Caleb to raise Hannah and Jonah as Plain—as part of the Amish community they came from. Caleb agreed, but at the cost of giving up his own dreams. He has tried to live in the Amish way, despite how he disagrees with some of the ways, he has done his best, especially in how he has raised John’s children.
Susan Wiggs’ latest book, BETWEEN YOU & ME is nothing short of amazing. It is, perhaps, her best story yet. Told with compassion and understanding she takes her readers into not one complex world, but several. There are layers to the story and she carefully and engagingly, builds on each layer. As you meet each character you want to know more about them, you want to be a part of their lives and to travel their paths with them.
Reese Powell has been on a straight and steady trajectory toward not only a speciality in paediatric surgery, but to become a part of her very successful parents’ medical practice. Every step of her life has been toward the best schools, the highest grades, the right people and the most favourable position. At no point did her parents ask what she wanted and at no time did she feel she could tell them what they wanted for her was not what she wanted for herself.
Following the death of his brother and sister-in-law, Caleb Stoltz took on the care of their two young children, Hannah and Jonah. Before his brother, John, died, he asked Caleb to raise Hannah and Jonah as Plain—as part of the Amish community they came from. Caleb agreed, but at the cost of giving up his own dreams. He has tried to live in the Amish way, despite how he disagrees with some of the ways, he has done his best, especially in how he has raised John’s children.
Susan Wiggs’ latest book, BETWEEN YOU & ME is nothing short of amazing. It is, perhaps, her best story yet. Told with compassion and understanding she takes her readers into not one complex world, but several. There are layers to the story and she carefully and engagingly, builds on each layer. As you meet each character you want to know more about them, you want to be a part of their lives and to travel their paths with them.
June 25, 2018
See the full review at HarlequinJunkie.com
You can always count on Susan Wiggs to spin an incredibly emotional tale with strong themes and realistic predicaments. Between You and Me was a wonderfully written story of complicated family matters, unexpected love, and the consequences of one’s actions.
Susan Wiggs truly does have this incredible ability to wrap me up in her storytelling. Her characters are so flawed and genuine that I can’t help but empathize with them and (for most of them) hope for the best possible outcome. This book was told from a few POVs, but mainly from Reese and Caleb’s. And although I did love them both–they were such caring individuals with good, good hearts–it was brave youngster Jonah that stole my attention over the course of the story and ultimately my heart as well. Read More
You can always count on Susan Wiggs to spin an incredibly emotional tale with strong themes and realistic predicaments. Between You and Me was a wonderfully written story of complicated family matters, unexpected love, and the consequences of one’s actions.
Susan Wiggs truly does have this incredible ability to wrap me up in her storytelling. Her characters are so flawed and genuine that I can’t help but empathize with them and (for most of them) hope for the best possible outcome. This book was told from a few POVs, but mainly from Reese and Caleb’s. And although I did love them both–they were such caring individuals with good, good hearts–it was brave youngster Jonah that stole my attention over the course of the story and ultimately my heart as well. Read More
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