Book Review (and a Giveaway!): A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander

A MILLION LITTLE CHOICES by Tamera Alexander
GENRE: Women’s/Southern Fiction (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Focus on the Family
RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2023
PAGES: 394

Sometimes secrets just won’t stay hidden . . .
Now from USA Today bestselling author and Christy Award Hall of Fame inductee Tamera Alexander comes the story of two women from different centuries living in the same house who share strikingly similar journeys.

Claire Powell’s life is turned upside down when her beloved husband admits to a “near affair.” But when Stephen accepts a partnership with an Atlanta law firm without consulting her and buys a historic Southern home sight-unseen—it pushes their already-fractured marriage to the breaking point. Claire’s world spirals, and she soon finds herself in a marriage she no longer wants, in a house she never asked for.

In 1863, Charlotte Thursmann, pregnant and trapped in a marriage to an abusive husband, struggles to protect her unborn child and the enslaved members of her household. Desperate, she’s determined to right the evils her husband and others like him commit. But how can one woman put an end to such injustice? Especially if her husband makes good on his threat to kill her?

Both Claire and Charlotte discover truths about themselves they never realized, along with secrets long hidden that hold the power to bring God’s restoration—if only they choose to let it.

“Live like you’re looking back from the threshold of eternity.”

I have long been a fan of Tamera Alexander’s historical romances, so I was eager to read A Million Little Choices because, while there is an important historical thread, this novel is mostly contemporary. Oh man, y’all. Tamera Alexander rocks a contemporary writing voice! I mean, I knew it would be a fabulous novel because I don’t think she could write a bad one lol, but I do admit to being a little nervous because it was women’s fiction and that typically isn’t my preferred genre. (I need my KissingBooks lol) But, given how many phenomenal women’s (or general) fiction novels I’ve read lately – this one included! – I think these writers are going to make me a fan of the genre yet. This is truly a book that captured me, heart and soul.

There are so many wonderful elements to A Million Little Choices that I’m not sure what to start gushing over first. At the same time, I want you to discover each of them for yourself so I’m going to try and not delve into too many specifics but still hopefully convince you that you NEED this book in your life, post haste. For starters, I loved how the contemporary and historical timelines are intrinsically linked in ways that go deeper than we first realize. Claire and Charlotte are separated by over 150 years and their situations are very different, but their most painful layers collectively have a lot to teach us about ourselves and how we respond when life doesn’t turn out the way we wanted. I also appreciated that the author used a shattering scenario (literally and metaphorically) to introduce the historical story that would ultimately help mend what is broken. That really touched me as a reader who’s in awe of an author’s talent & the power of great storytelling but also as a believer who has seen God work that way in my own life too.

And the characters. Oh goodness, they undid me. This whole story undid me. The redemption undid me. Claire is my age, and she and Stephen have been married just a year less than my husband and I have, so it was easy for me to put myself in her shoes and empathize with her situation. Charlotte’s strength and courage impacted me as much as it did Claire, and her perspective on living from the threshold of eternity is one I’ll be pondering for a while. Without Stephen and Nettie, though, Claire and Charlotte’s stories wouldn’t be nearly as redemptive, and while I wanted to purse whomp Stephen on more than one occasion I was also deeply touched by his transformation. And then there’s Bernice who is hands-down my favorite character – oh, how i adored her! What a picture of grace she is!

Bottom Line: A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander takes readers on an emotional journey of spiritual restoration that runs parallel to the physical restoration taking place at Claire & Stephen’s historic Atlanta home. The author’s warm writing voice draws readers in, and the multilayered characters quickly become friends. At one point in the story, Claire’s best friend tells her, “Please don’t discount God’s ability to redeem this whole mess in ways you might not think possible,” and this proves true in both the contemporary & historical timelines in beautifully poetic ways. A must-read for fans of book club fiction and stories wrapped in grace!

Reviewer’s Note: Readers of this blog may want to be aware that there are some themes in the novel that could be triggering to some readers – marital infidelity, death of a child, domestic abuse, and slavery. While handled with lots of grace and discretion, please be aware of your own personal boundaries if needed ♥

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 5 stars / fantastic!

affiliate links used

Tamera Alexander is the Christy Award–winning bestselling author of numerous books,
including Colors of Truth, With This Pledge, A Lasting Impression, A Note Yet Unsung, To
Whisper Her Name, and more. Her richly drawn characters and thought-provoking plots
have earned her devoted readers worldwide. Tamera and her husband make their home in
Nashville, where they enjoy life with their adult children and precious grandchild, who live
nearby. Add two rambunctious but lovable Australian Terriers to the mix, and life is pretty full
and rich! Connect with Tamera at her website.

Other Previously-Featured Books by Tamera Alexander

Tyndale House is offering a print copy of A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read A Million Little Choices by Tamera Alexander?