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The Fifth Avenue Story Society
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An invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.
Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.
Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be ...more
Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.
Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be ...more
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Paperback, 400 pages
Published
February 4th 2020
by Thomas Nelson
(first published February 2020)
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My new favorite Rachel Hauck book! Loved a magical library where healing and friendships happen. Loved being a fly on the wall for the journeys of these 5 characters. I think my favorite was Ed & his testimony of sacrificial love in the face of many hardships. This story made for a really enjoyable Audible listen. And it was fun for me (as an English teacher) that the head of the New York College English Department was named Renee ;)

When five strangers, Jett, Lexa, Coral, Chuck and Ed, out of the blue get invited to the Fifth Avenue Literary Society Library, they don’t understand what’s going on. Gradually they get past their insecurities and start sharing some of the stories of their lives. These strangers with no previous connection come to trust each other, pour their hearts out and wrestle with each other’s stories to get to the truths.
This story starts with background stories of each of the invited. Each has past issue ...more
This story starts with background stories of each of the invited. Each has past issue ...more

When it is snowy and cold outside (and my car is buried under 2ft of ❄️ ), superspeed readers like me can read 150 - 200+ pages/hour, so yes, I have read the book … and many more today. LOL
I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.
From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.
An invitation to join ...more
I requested and received a temporary digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley, the publisher and the author in exchange for an honest review.
From the publisher, as I do not repeat the contents or story of books in reviews, I let them do it as they do it better than I do 😸.
An invitation to join ...more

Jett, Lexa, Chuck, Coral, and Ed receive a mysterious invitation to Fifth Avenue Story Society. None of them know the reason why they got an invitation and almost all of them are reluctant to continue attending the meetings. However, they return every Monday night out of curiosity and they start developing a friendship. Each of them has a story and painful pasts. By then end of the book, they become a freer version of their former selves and find love, forgiveness and most of all friendship.
I lo ...more
I lo ...more

Three and a half stars.
Five New York strangers receive an unexpected invitation to The Fifth Avenue Story Society. Each of them has no idea where the invitation came from or who sent it. But they each decide to go and check it out.
Jett is a literature professor who is procrastinating about submitting his dissertation on Gordon Phipps Roth for publication. Doubts have been raised in the past over the validity of Roth’s work. But Roth has always been a hero to Jett. Jett is also dealing with a bro ...more
Five New York strangers receive an unexpected invitation to The Fifth Avenue Story Society. Each of them has no idea where the invitation came from or who sent it. But they each decide to go and check it out.
Jett is a literature professor who is procrastinating about submitting his dissertation on Gordon Phipps Roth for publication. Doubts have been raised in the past over the validity of Roth’s work. But Roth has always been a hero to Jett. Jett is also dealing with a bro ...more

Rachel Hauck is well-known to her fans as an author of books with compelling characters, heaven invading earth, and a romance that will win your heart. With The Fifth Avenue Story Society, Hauck delves into the space of our greatest wounds and how confronting them brings freedom, healing, and hope. She accomplishes that with a story told from five characters’ perspectives, each one rich with the possibility of more constrained by the chains of the past. The characters’ search for freedom points
...more

Rachel Hauck was on my to-read list for a while now, but this was my first read by her and know I understand why she is a favourite among my book-reading friends.
This story about 5 strangers receiving a strange invitation to a story society was intriguing and the author executed it well by the way she introduced the characters, hinting at their stories but slowly revealing more as the story develops. The story jumped between the characters, but it was never confusing and the flowed well between ...more
This story about 5 strangers receiving a strange invitation to a story society was intriguing and the author executed it well by the way she introduced the characters, hinting at their stories but slowly revealing more as the story develops. The story jumped between the characters, but it was never confusing and the flowed well between ...more

3.5 stars, rounded up
I love Rachel Hauck's writing style, she draws me into the story and I am captivated until the end. This offering is intriguing, but there are a couple of things that didn't work that well for me in this novel.
One, you really need to have read The Writing Desk fairly recently (or remember it well) to get the full impact Jett's storyline. His research into one of the main characters of that book are a major plot point, and I can see how one would be bored during those parts ...more
I love Rachel Hauck's writing style, she draws me into the story and I am captivated until the end. This offering is intriguing, but there are a couple of things that didn't work that well for me in this novel.
One, you really need to have read The Writing Desk fairly recently (or remember it well) to get the full impact Jett's storyline. His research into one of the main characters of that book are a major plot point, and I can see how one would be bored during those parts ...more

Moving beyond the stunning cover, this book delivers a story that'll enchant every book lover's heart. A special invitation has been delivered to five unsuspecting individuals for purposes unknown until they each begin to share their story.
I really enjoyed each character and the way their lives intersected with one another. Well-developed and memorable, each storyline was unique and carried a theme specific to the character and the emotional/professional/physical challenges they faced. There's ...more
I really enjoyed each character and the way their lives intersected with one another. Well-developed and memorable, each storyline was unique and carried a theme specific to the character and the emotional/professional/physical challenges they faced. There's ...more

This is a lesson for me to check out an unknown to me author before committing to reading their book. It sneaked up on me, too - about 80% in the notions of "born again" and "Lord Jesus my savior" popped up out of the absolute blue, and once they were mentioned, it seemed as if they were referred to every other paragraph. I'm spiritual, not religious. After another 4% of the audiobook, I couldn't go on any more. It took me out of the story, which was heading to a very predictable ending anyway.
...more

Unique contemporary fiction novel about five individuals that are mysteriously drawn together for a secret society. Watching them positively impact each other's lives was rewarding. Loved the unexpected story twists.
...more

Five people, Ed, Lexa, Jett, Coral, and Chuck, all receive a strange invitation to take part in the Fifth Avenue Story Society located in an historic, New York home private library on Monday nights. This mixed collection of people include a widower, a wealthy socialite who owns her own business, a divorced limo/uber driver, and a divorced husband and wife. There seems to be no connection, but each of them is somewhat of a loner and has a dark secret that keeps them from moving forward in life. W
...more

Feb 11, 2020
Caitlyn Santi
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2020-nanoremo
An absolutely lovely novel!
It has been quite a while since I've read a book by this author but something about the description of this one intrigued me! At first I wasn't sure about the alternating POV from five different characters, but I'm happy to say that it totally worked for this story! I was enthralled with all of the characters' individual stories, though I think I found myself most closely connecting with Coral's story. These are definitely characters that I will be thinking about for ...more
It has been quite a while since I've read a book by this author but something about the description of this one intrigued me! At first I wasn't sure about the alternating POV from five different characters, but I'm happy to say that it totally worked for this story! I was enthralled with all of the characters' individual stories, though I think I found myself most closely connecting with Coral's story. These are definitely characters that I will be thinking about for ...more

I came across "The Fifth Avenue Story Society" by Rachel Hauck at my local library. The cover drew my eye. Exquisite. The synopsis -- a mysterious invitation delivered to five people asking them to join a literary society in an old library -- had me hooked. Fascinating. I figured it'd be the next book I'd be obsessing about and recommending to anyone and everyone I came in contact with. I was wrong. Unfortunately, by the halfway point, I had become thoroughly annoyed with the characters. By the
...more

Finally! My first book read by Rachel Hauck. I have been wanting to read her stories for years but never seemed to have the time to get to them. Well, that all changes today! I will make the time to get to her backlist! That is how much I loved THE FIFTH AVENUE STORY SOCIETY!
Five strangers receive an invitation to join THE FIFTH AVENUE STORY SOCIETY. Jett, Coral , Lexa, Ed, and Chuck have no idea why they were chosen. The very different characters drawn together are all troubled, as we learn wh ...more
Five strangers receive an invitation to join THE FIFTH AVENUE STORY SOCIETY. Jett, Coral , Lexa, Ed, and Chuck have no idea why they were chosen. The very different characters drawn together are all troubled, as we learn wh ...more

Reviewed at The Power of Words: https://bit.ly/39hQLmG
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck is a moving story that goes on my “best of the best” list. The bookstore setting is atmospheric and charming, the characters rich and endearing, and every word of the prose is to be treasured. It’s a story of friendship, renewal and second chances, with a few heartwarming moments that moved me to tears.
The anonymous story society invitation goes out to five characters from various backgrounds an ...more
The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck is a moving story that goes on my “best of the best” list. The bookstore setting is atmospheric and charming, the characters rich and endearing, and every word of the prose is to be treasured. It’s a story of friendship, renewal and second chances, with a few heartwarming moments that moved me to tears.
The anonymous story society invitation goes out to five characters from various backgrounds an ...more

While I thoroughly loved Ms. Hauck's Royal Wedding Series, I have yet to find another book or series of hers that I enjoy. Suffice to say that includes this one.
Mine is not a popular opinion but that it's mine is enough.
For starters, this was more of a clean novel than a Christian read. Yes, there were religious overtones sprinkled with a heavy hand near the end but the rest of the book didn't reverberate the faith.
What caught me the most was how I didn't care to know about the lives of the cha ...more
Mine is not a popular opinion but that it's mine is enough.
For starters, this was more of a clean novel than a Christian read. Yes, there were religious overtones sprinkled with a heavy hand near the end but the rest of the book didn't reverberate the faith.
What caught me the most was how I didn't care to know about the lives of the cha ...more

This book has sent me into a swoony dither of bibliophile delight! I wasn't sure quite what to expect when I started reading but Hauck delivered so much more than I anticipated. Absolutely love the whole idea of the mysterious Fifth Avenue Story Society. Loved the gentle hints that led to some startling conclusions about it's origin and function. :-) And the way the story is built up around the lives of these five strangers brought together for some unknown reason -- well, it all totally captiva
...more

I was captivated by this story from the first paragraph, and my heart soon became invested in the lives of the various members of the Fifth Avenue Story Society. It’s magical. My favorite Rachel Hauck novel to date!

"Every day we tell, listen to, live and breathe stories."
Set in New York City, this interesting mix of characters from different walks of life are brought together by a mysterious invitation to a "Story Society". Their stories unfold and the group quickly forms friendships, helping each other in ways they would have never imagined. There is a connection to the story from The Writing Desk, but the book is a stand alone.
"We want to be seen, heard, and loved."
This author definitely knows people-- ...more
Set in New York City, this interesting mix of characters from different walks of life are brought together by a mysterious invitation to a "Story Society". Their stories unfold and the group quickly forms friendships, helping each other in ways they would have never imagined. There is a connection to the story from The Writing Desk, but the book is a stand alone.
"We want to be seen, heard, and loved."
This author definitely knows people-- ...more

This is a story with an unusual situation that hooked me from the beginning. Five different people receive an embossed formal invitation to attend a story society meeting at a Fifth Avenue literary society. There is not a postmark...they just appeared to each person. They are all strangers but for two people...Jett Wilder, an associate professor of literature at New York College and his ex-wife, Lexa Wilder, an executive assistant of an up and coming gourmet hamburger restaurant. The rest of the
...more

I loved this book. It’s my favourite contemporary novel that I’ve read so far this year.
The Fifth Avenue Story Society follows five different main characters who each receive an anonymous invitation to a story society meeting at an old library on Fifth Avenue, New York.
Each one of them has a different story to tell, if only they could find a way to tell it. In the past they’ve all made bad or difficult decisions. As the story unfolds we get to see who they are and what has led them to this place ...more
The Fifth Avenue Story Society follows five different main characters who each receive an anonymous invitation to a story society meeting at an old library on Fifth Avenue, New York.
Each one of them has a different story to tell, if only they could find a way to tell it. In the past they’ve all made bad or difficult decisions. As the story unfolds we get to see who they are and what has led them to this place ...more

A little bit of romance, a little bit of lost love, a little bit of ambition and culture and the ties that bind humanity, The Fifth Avenue Story Society is surprisingly prescient given world events that are forcing us to find numerous creative ways to engage: with art, with literature, with each other.
I sensed Hauck's' passion not only for the city of New York but also for books and bookish spaces. For readers of Katherine Reay and Karen Hawkins, this is the perfect cozy read with a cup of tea a ...more
I sensed Hauck's' passion not only for the city of New York but also for books and bookish spaces. For readers of Katherine Reay and Karen Hawkins, this is the perfect cozy read with a cup of tea a ...more

I sometimes don't get sucked into books with multiple stories going on, but this book was different.
This book had 5 pov's, yes 5. However that intimidated me at first but I was drawn into the stories of people who felt real and each had something that they needed to learn and grow from.
I enjoyed the dialogue, the drama, and the message of hope that came out of this story. ...more
This book had 5 pov's, yes 5. However that intimidated me at first but I was drawn into the stories of people who felt real and each had something that they needed to learn and grow from.
I enjoyed the dialogue, the drama, and the message of hope that came out of this story. ...more

This creative tale of friendship, community, and second chances follows five New Yorkers as they meet under mysterious circumstances and form a sort of club together.
I enjoyed following the characters as they each attempted to navigate uncertainty in their lives and decide on the next steps they should take.
There was the stirring and hope of romance for these characters as the novel progressed. Letting go of lies, hidden truths, and guilt was an important step for each of the characters, as well ...more
I enjoyed following the characters as they each attempted to navigate uncertainty in their lives and decide on the next steps they should take.
There was the stirring and hope of romance for these characters as the novel progressed. Letting go of lies, hidden truths, and guilt was an important step for each of the characters, as well ...more

4.5
Five strangers receive a mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society. As they meet (and then, week after week, continue to meet) to discover the purpose behind the invitation, they soon discover that their time together is exactly what they never knew they needed.
I love a story that brings people together for reasons they do not know. The Fifth Avenue Story Society reminded me of And Then There Were None in that way—but obviously without all the murder. Instead, it offers much mor ...more
Five strangers receive a mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society. As they meet (and then, week after week, continue to meet) to discover the purpose behind the invitation, they soon discover that their time together is exactly what they never knew they needed.
I love a story that brings people together for reasons they do not know. The Fifth Avenue Story Society reminded me of And Then There Were None in that way—but obviously without all the murder. Instead, it offers much mor ...more

I never know what to expect when I pick up a Rachel Hauck book. Every single one is totally different and unexpected. I do love this cover! This story has A LOT of characters but surprisingly it is fairly easy to keep up with them all. I really enjoyed the story society aspect and how it pulled all of the characters and pieces of the book together. Coral and Jett are my favorites simply because of their personalities and perspectives. While I was expecting a little stronger faith aspect some det
...more

A sweet, endearing srory about 5 strangers brought together by an invitation received out of the blue for reasons unknown, to the Fifth Avenue Story Society. This turns out to be a place where strangers become friends and I loved getting to know them all. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this delightful book.
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New York Times, USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Rachel Hauck writes from sunny central Florida.
A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.
The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by B ...more
A RITA finalist and winner of Romantic Times Inspirational Novel of the Year, and Career Achievement Award, she writes vivid characters dealing with real life issues.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, was made into an original Hallmark movie.
The Wedding Dress has been optioned for film by B ...more
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“She didn’t resist the rush of tears. If there was no sadness about leaving New York, then her time here would’ve meant nothing.”
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“Humility is a magnet for His affection.”
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