We All Will Be Received

by Leslie Vryenhoek

**CANADA BOOK AWARD WINNER** **NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS WINNER, SUSPENSE** **NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR BOOK AWARDS FICTION LONGLIST** ***2020 RELIT LONG SHORTLIST***
In 1977, a young woman swipes a duffel bag of drug money and flees her bad-news boyfriend, hitching a ride with a long-haul trucker who points out satellites and enthuses about the future of space cargo. Building a life disconnected from her past, she assumes a new identity as Dawn Taylor, but thirty years later, running a roadside motel on a remote highway, Dawn will host a group of disparate individuals—all desperate to rewrite their own stories.

Brody seeks escape from those intent on repeating the narrative of his childhood trauma. Cheryl, whose career as a filmmaker is being dismantled on social media, rushes to rescue her daughter from a vicious cycle. And Spencer, an ex-con with easy access to his criminal past, chases an elusive redemption after seeing a picture of Dawn on a tourism website.

In We All Will Be Received , Leslie Vryenhoek offers a range of unforgettable characters—all hoping to reconstruct a truth that’s been shattered by perspective—and asks whether anyone can find peace or atonement in a contemporary world where technology makes the past ever present.

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2019

About the author

Leslie Vryenhoek is a writer whose fiction, poetry and memoir explore the landscape of intimate relationships, what it means to belong, and the how the uneven hand of fortune plays out across lives. Her writing has been published across Canada and around the world, and has garnered critical acclaim and awards.

Leslie also works as an editor and a communications professional, including for WIEGO, a global organization that works to secure livelihoods for poor women workers.

She lives in St. John's, Canada.

Reviews

[Paul Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel of ‘disparate lives colliding’ spans a continent, more than three decades and a series of dislocated people – a escapee from a desperate crime, a former child abductee, a documentary film-maker struggling to mother a teenage girl, and a former convict now involved in rehabilitation. It’s not immediately clear how all these lives were connected in the past or how they lives will intersect again, but each individual story line is so compelling, so insightful about the burdens people carry, the reader will have no trouble trusting this author. The finale, when it comes, set in a snow-bound rural hotel proves the whole is even greater than the sum of its impressive parts. This is a very accomplished novel about our era, and how the information age hovers over people’s lives like a secular equivalent of the Last Judgement. An absolute must read.
See full article/review: https://paulbutlernovelist.wordpress....

[Jim Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A finely tuned story, or stories, I should say, with a climactic ending in a small snowbound hotel in Newfoundland.

[Susie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth, beauty, and honesty. Everything you want in a novel about being human and being flawed. One of those books I wanted to keep going.

[Janet Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a time when we seem to be bombarded with fake news, Vryenhoek reminds us that none of us are exempt from being perceived in ways that are not necessarily the truth. Even as Dawn Taylor builds a new life for herself in a remote area of the country, there are still those who know the truth. Thirty years later as her past catches up to her, the question remains....which part of her life is really the truth? This story kept me hooked right up to the surprising end! Vryenhoek has woven an intriguing story with characters who are easy to connect with. More than that, she has caused us to think about the reality of perceptions in our own lives and how often we are received differently than what we intend. An excellent read and one that will keep you thinking about even after you turn the final page.

[Blair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the most complicated relationships we will ever have our the ones we have with ourselves. This beautifully written novel has a host of complex characters whose relationships and life stories are rich and intriguing. All of them sit in that grey space of being neither good or bad and it makes all of them relatable and interesting. The story left me wanting more of them; not that I felt that the story lacked anything, but because they were fascinating people.

Most of the story is set in Western Newfoundland. I've been there only once but Vryenhoek's description of the land and the people who live in it, brought me right back. The only thing missing was actually being able to hear those Newfoundlander accents.

[Alisong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a page turner. Vryenhoek weaves a compelling story that explores connectedness and isolation, the vboundaries where one person’s story begins and another’s ends. The characters are well crafted and believable. Enjoyed the twists and turns and unexpected points of connection. Truly a good read.

[Sarah Butland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect but, as cliche as it was, was hooked immediately.

The characters were real, the setting of Newfoundland was brought to life and the story, while hopefully extreme in some cases, was overall very sweet, comforting and hopeful.

A story that started in the past and left it there while it jumped to the future, We Will All Be Received hit all the emotions in me as it took me through a tale of a woman escaping a horrible situation and running for her life.

Learning to trust after a hard past is a challenge for anyone, and learning to love is a whole other level of complications and how one person muddles through it all can help many.

Difficult situations written to make it easy to read and finish quickly!

I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worked with Leslie in Winnipeg at a relief agency during the early 90s. Really enjoy her writing style and have read her books of poetry and her other novel. Loved this book. Something for everyone. It's a drama, novel, thriller, mystery and a love story. Really enjoy her writing style.

[Harold Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

See my complete column at the following link:

https://www.thetelegram.com/opinion/l...

[Rudy R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read with a premise similar to Gillian Flynn‘s Gone Girl. Story unfolds in western and northern Newfoundland.

[Krista (Mrs K Book Reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well written book and I enjoyed the character’s immensely.

[Sara Hawkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jumpin's this book dragged and dragged and dragged. So long and convoluted and then it resolved in 5 pages. Like even the author was tired of it.

I dont recommend

[Lana Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read. Gets you interested right from the beginning and you want wait to see where it’s going. Well worth a look.

[Jenn O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book from beginning to end.