I love the lessons in this book.

Iris has lived a truly sheltered life. She never has ridden in a car, had running water, been around people other than her family, kills what she eats, and is very much alone. Suzanne finds her sick on the side of a road and instantly I could feel both their lives change. Iris has to adjust to other people, a hospital, and a society where things move fast, people are everywhere, and technology is the norm. Suzanne finds that she wants more from her life and Iris is just the way to help her accomplish it, although that is now what the thought was from her first meeting of Iris.

Suzanne has lived a privileged life, from her parents raising her without her needing for any material things to her husband who worships and loves her completely. When Iris comes in she realizes that she has just been a caregiver for her unappreciative kids and her selfish husband. She needs more to life and her eyes are opened to what is important. It is a struggle to change your ways without losing those you care about and Suzanne has to figure out how to be strong and stand up for herself.

I was intrigued by Iris. There was a big need to know more about her. How can she have no family? How can she possibly have been so far off the grid? Can she learn how to live in today's world? The relationship between Suzanne and Iris was just the start of what she was going to have to adjust to after being forced to come literally out of the woods into the real world. Maybe she accepts things told to her too easily, especially when Brynn was involved, but I felt that Sonja Yoerg did an amazing job taking it slow and easy with Iris, letting her way turn into a way to still be.

I walked away from this book looking at my life. Seeing how some of the busy work I do isn’t necessary, that letting my family take some responsibility for themselves isn’t a bad thing, and that if I don’t take time for myself it would be easy to lose who I want to be.

Stirring, emotional and fabulous. This will be a favorite read for 2019 and for years to come. Sonja Yoerg is a fantastic storyteller and she brings a unique and beautiful story that I will share with all my book loving friends. My highest recommendation and an easy 5 stars. ☆☆☆☆☆ This is a book I will read again!

#TruePlaces #NetGalley

When life carries Suzanne along the "proper" path that is right for everyone else but becomes complicated, demanding and out of control, she decides to get away from the pressures and takes a drive along the parkway. Who she encounters, when she stops to consider where her life is going, is a young, confused and sick girl named Iris. Suzanne has no idea how this will change her life and the life of Iris but she can't just turn her back on her. She is compelled to nurture and care for Iris in the complicated and disfunction of her own family's life. A life that's spiraling out of control by social demands, family demands, keeping up "appearances" and her own children who are rebelling in different ways...not becoming the young adults they were "supposed" to be.
This story was about finding the true place in life where each character belongs. It's the struggle along the way and the realization that what makes others happy isn't really what makes Suzanne happy or fulfilling the place in her heart and being who she feels she should be. It's about two people from different places in society that come together by destiny to help find their niche and live the life that makes a difference.
Sonya Yoerg wrote a wonderful story with great descriptions of the settings. I felt a part of the landscapes and wilderness. I love the way she wrote about the different varieties of plants and foliage into the book and their benefits.
I also liked the characters and the way she developed them. I found myself really liking some and then there were a couple that I wanted to speak my mind to. That's a well written story for me when I want to interact with the characters.
This passage has been included in other reviews but it really is so powerful and true: "Iris knew being strong wasn't enough, because life could weigh more than you ever imagined. You had to bend, like a branch laden with snow, arching toward the earth."
I want to thank Lake Union, Netgalley, and Sonya Yoerg for the opportunity to read this wonderful book. The journey in finding True Places is one we all contemplate and hope we live. It's a five star read for me.

Sonja Yoerg has become one of my favorite authors and her latest book, TRUE PLACES, is her best yet. All of the characters are so well written, especially Suzanne who I feel will resonate with many women who read this book. She certainly did with me, a mom who, at one point, tries to be perfect, volunteering for many school events, and just does for others without taking much time for herself. I applauded her for taking Iris into her home until other family could be found. It made me think about what I’d do in such a situation.

The writing here is just outstanding. I found myself rereading and highlighting many passages. This book about family struggles, love, forgiveness and understanding left me in awe. TRUE PLACES has truly found a place in my Favorite Books list. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advance copy.

I enjoyed True Places. The imagery is so vivid that I could picture everything clearly in my mind as I was reading the story. The characters are all well written, and all of the characters develop throughout the story. Finding and helping Iris helps the family just as much as they help her adjust to society.

True Places was an insightful novel full of emotions. I enjoyed the way that the characters’ lives and emotions were portrayed. Suzanne is married and has two teenagers. Their family is well off and they seem to live an easy life because of this. They have everything they could need as far as material items and they are all privileged in this lifestyle. But they all struggle with their lives and their relationships with each other and over time it has gotten worse. One day while Suzanne is out driving around she finds a young girl near the woods. The girl is sick and weak. Suzanne takes her to the hospital and finds out that the girl’s name is Iris and she has been living in the woods alone for a long time. Suzanne and this girl form a bond, and Suzanne and her husband take her in as foster parents. Suzanne wants to help Iris, but at the same time, she is at a loss with her own family. Somehow, although they have lived completely opposite lives, Suzanne and Iris help each other as they heal from their pasts.

I was originally planning on reading this on a trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway, but unfortunately that trip never panned out. True Places would have been the perfect book to bring along on my travels. Set in the mountains and rolling hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we find a devoted mother at her wits end, and a young girl found on the edges of the wild. Incredibly malnourished, sick, and frail for her 16 years, Iris is found by Suzanne, a mom who presumably has everything, but is lacking something.

Their stories collide, bringing the solitude of one and an extreme loneliness of the other together. Two similar, but incredibly different feelings, you start to wonder who is helping the other more.

The setting descriptions and character development of True Places were exceptionally well written. So well in fact, I wanted to take Suzanne’s teenage daughter and give her a firm talking to, a grounding, and a removal of phone privileges. I may have also wanted to smack some sense and backbone into Suzanne, but her story unfolds as it should. She needed to discover everything on her own, without my help, throughout this novel.

Yoerg writes a family that is true. A family that is real. Life and marriage and kids aren’t always perfect, and sometimes- you just need to take a drive. Who knows what you might discover when you hit the road.

I was provided an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Look for my Q&A Elevator Ride with Author, Sonja Yoerg coming Jan 1, 2019. An exclusive “behind the scenes” look behind TRUE PLACES and some fun facts about the author and her latest book. Plus learn what is coming next!

Sonja Yoerg returns following All The Best People (2017) with her best yet! TRUE PLACES is moving and beautifully written story with lyrical prose and tons of heart and soul—discovering our true place in life.

For every woman who feels overwhelmed, unappreciated, and has lost a little of herself along the way from marriage, family, motherhood, to her career. A road to self-discovery. Readers you will adore the unexpected relationship between Suzanne and Iris!

Often it takes a stranger to put us back on the correct path and find our true place.

Set in the Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains (your stress level drops just looking at the stunning cover). If you have ever been to the Virginia Mountains, it is just as breathtaking.

Readers are introduced to Suzanne and Whit Blackmore, parents of two teens, Brynn and Reid. We also meet Suzanne’s mother Tinsley (self-absorbed and needy). On the outside this looks like a happy family; however, there is much lacking.

Suzanne is a very busy mother and has no time to barely breathe. (we all have been there). She is overwhelmed and needs an escape. One afternoon she takes the Blue Ridge Parkway. She will drive. Clear her head. Escape. She thinks of all the deadlines and things she must do; however, for a moment this will be hers. No cell service, no texts, and no little bar. (Seems like heaven, right)?

Soon she spots a young girl all alone along one of the overlooks, near the wooden railroad tracks, running parallel to the road. The girl looks alone and terrified. All she can say is, “mama.” She only has a backpack with some essential items to survive outdoors. Where is her family?

The young girl looks sick and since Suzanne has no cell phone service, she decides to take the girl to the nearest hospital. The girl goes in and out of consciousness. Suzanne is drawn to this young girl. She makes a life-changing decision.

Of course, no one in her family can understand why she becomes involved with this homeless girl. Everyone is questioning her in her own family. A woman already extended. However, this young girl named Iris may just be what Suzanne need to find her true self and at the same time a guardian angel for her.

Suzanne takes her into their home when she leaves the hospital. However, how will this family (one that is so different) be able to handle a young girl who lived in the woods, without all the social interaction? A simple life and one not filled with materialistic things. The dad and the teen daughter are especially materialist. They will have more problems versus Suzanne and Reid, which are more down to earth.

We also flash back to 1995 when Suzanne and Whit met and her own childhood. How do the choices she made years ago get her to the place she is now? She put her own life on hold to care for her husband’s career and her own family.

The conundrum.

“Giving too little, giving too much. Subtracting from here, adding there. Caring for your marriage, your children, your parents, your reputation, your future, and if you could manage it, your younger, more idealistic self. This complex calculus was based on theories of love and motherhood, and equations of duty and self-worth. . . She wanted a balanced life but had only guesses, wishes, and fears when what she needed was answers.”

There is a mystery surrounding Iris. What happened to her family? Her dad (disappearance), mother (recently deceased), and little brother Ash (appears to be a mystery). A police investigation. A social worker. Suzanne begins to do more digging on her own.

In the meantime, there is a war going on in their household with the tension of Iris joining their household. Iris and Suzanne seem to have developed a strong bond. Suzanne is drawn to her and her simple way of life. However, people do not want you to lead a simple life. They think this way is strange. Iris is drawn back to woods.

Suzanne must continue to defend herself and Iris. Can Iris survive in this new environment? Can Suzanne continue to survive, living as she has been or is there something new on the horizon which will change all their lives? Being true to one’s self.

I loved TRUE PLACES! Yoerg is in her element from the setting (her own backyard) to the complex family dynamics. Thought-provoking, filled with lush scenery, beautiful botanical imagery, themes, strong metaphors, life lessons, and many takeaways. The relation between nature, animals, and humans. Each can be beautiful and dangerous at the same time.

Character-driven, the author does an outstanding job with the teen language and each character’s distinct voice. Many readers will relate and adore the ending. I enjoyed the relationship with plants, healing, and modern medicine. I survive on an organic plant-based diet and use herbal teas and plants for healing, taking no prescription drugs.

On a side note: There is a project in NC, I consulted with several years ago which strongly reminds me of this story. It offers the setting of a simple life. The property managers told me of the history of the project which is fascinating. Located in the mountains of NC (Flat Rock) —with a combination of vacation rentals, condos, old mill, B&B, and small village little town; old farmhouses, tree swings, porches, lake, mill surrounded by farm animals, and organic gardens, with fresh eggs delivered to your door. It allows your children or grandchildren to get the feel of farm simple living. I was there one week and it snowed. It was like a Hallmark movie scene!

TRUE PLACES is a mix of Delia Owens Where the Crawdads Sing, Kristin Hannah The Great Alone, works of Jodi Picoult, and Rochelle B. Weinstein’s Somebody’s Daughter with Sonja Yoerg’ s own winning signature style of tackling complex family dynamics.

With the author’s own background to draw from plus her love of nature and gardening, her passion is reflected throughout each page. You will find yourself bookmarking many pages and beautiful phrases.

This reminds me of when I was visiting in NC, dealing with my elderly parents, I took off one afternoon and drove to Virginia and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Even though I did not meet a young lady, it clears your mind and fills you with peace, and a renewed spirit. I also have fond memories as a child and roadside picnics along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Highly Recommend!
Top Books of 2019 List
Jan 2019 Must-Read Books
Read My Reviews (each has been 5 Stars).

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

TRUE PLACES (2019)
ALL THE BEST PEOPLE (2017)
THE MIDDLE OF SOMEWHERE (9/2015)
HOUSE BROKEN (1/2015)

I have been a huge fan of Sonja's stories from her very first one. I've come to expect a beautiful, touching story that will put her memorable characters through some tough times—times that will lead to soul searching and growth.

True Places was all this, and so much more. When Suzanne finds a young girl along the roadside, the compassion she feels for her starts a wave of change in her life, and the lives of her family. The life that Suzanne thought she was perfectly content with is maybe not the life she really wants or needs. Will taking Iris into their family mend it or totally break it apart?

Sonja creates such strong, independent characters that you can't help but love. Suzanne is brave and caring and someone we could all emulate. It's not easy taking in a girl like Iris. And then there's Iris. She has been through so much in her short life, but she is such an amazing person. We can all learn so much from her and what she has been through.

I loved True Places. It is a story that made me stop and think about where my 'true place' is and questioning if I am there yet. I also love that Sonja's stories take me on adventures that I personally am not brave enough to try. I can't recommend this story enough! You will not be disappointed.

It took me forever to read this book, due to personal reasons. In fact, it’s the only book I’ve read in print all fall, though I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks. Typically, I devour a book within a day, but I experienced a health hiccup this fall that made reading a physical book a more challenging activity than usual, for various reasons. That meant I frequently took breaks while reading this, sometimes for weeks at a time, depending on my current state of health.

Under the circumstances, I crept my way through this story, which actually worked out great, because it’s so distinct. Yoerg does such a great job of creating a strong sense of place and memorable characters that it stuck with me, no matter how many days I took off between reading sessions. I was always able to pick it back up and jump right into the story, which would not have been the case with many other novels.

My current plan is to buy the audible book on release day, so I can go back and listen to this story straight through, since that’s one of my favorite ways to consume stories.

Now, enough about me, let’s talk about how much I love this story. It’s like when it comes to words, Yoerg can do no wrong. She creates complex relationships that are difficult and evolve, and because they are never simple or easy, they feel real in ways that some stories can’t deliver. They are never stereotypical or idealized. She has a real grasp for what makes people tick, and it’s so gorgeous to watch these characters evolve.

The concept is captivating: girl stumbles out of the woods, starving and ill, and has no understanding of the modern American suburban lifestyles.

This story unfolds around a recurring theme of botany, so all fellow science and plant nerds, as well as those with brown thumbs who wish they were plant nerds, and even those who aren’t sure they like plants at all but can keep an open mind, will likely find that fascinating.

This story is the intermingling of two different types of existence: materialism versus idealism, suburbanites versus survivalists, wealth versus poverty, appearances versus realities, and even confidence versus comfort zones. As these collide, the characters are left to either adjust and seek balance, or to learn to accept their different extremes, which makes for an interesting read.

At the heart of this story is a reminder that what we want may not always be what we really need, and something even more important to consider is that we can't expect to get what we need from others, if we don't bother to ask or fight for what we need for ourselves.

This was another gem, and as far as I'm concerned, Yoerg is one of those authors who consistently produces excellent work, regardless of topic.

Author, Sonja Yoerg, has such a way with words that the reader falls in love with her characters and settings. This book touched my heart, with its intense family drama, and the story of a lost little girl who knows nothing about the world, having lived off the grid, in the woods, all of her life. I could feel her turmoil and sadness, and the angst of the woman who finds her and is determined to hold onto her. I loved this book!

A woman, mother and wife has almost hit her breaking point so she decides to give up the commitments and drive away from all the things she has to do while on her drive she comes across what seems like a homeless girl and rescues her and takes her to a hospital, this girl changes the trajectory of her life and her family's lives. Will they in turn change her life for the better?

I loved this story. I love how in a moment of sheer frustration this woman makes a decision and it will completely alter her life. Suzanne had what seemed like the perfect life and as things are piling up she comes across Iris. She decides to take Iris to the hospital and not just drop her but help Iris beyond the immediate medical needs that she had. I loved Suzanne, I loved Iris and I loved Suzanne's family and parents. Even though I am not a parent, there were so many moments where I could relate to Suzanne and her need to to do it all even above taking care of herself. I love how Iris' outlook on life and what is important makes her question everything she has signed herself up for.
a
This book was perfect to read during this time of year when the new year is making me question what priorities from 2018 I will continue in 2019 and what I may need to leave behind. I love when a book is first a good story but second makes me think and sit down and reflect on my own life. The story is simple and sweet, but if you really sit with it, it can make you check on yourself and make sure you are where you are supposed to be and heading where you want to go.

Sonja Yoerg is a new writer for me and I was captivated by the beautiful prose that she incorporates into her writing. The descriptions of the landscape, the flowers and the personality of the woods and the creatures that live there.
Her characters are interesting, differing in their personalities and beliefs. The
simplicity of Iris and her family to the complicated relationships of Suzanne and her’s.
A story of different lives intersecting and disrupting everyone and everything, until complications are sorted out and everyone finds their “True Places”.
I received this ARC from the author and her publisher, for my honest review.
I really loved this book and will read more by this author.

Driving along a parkway in Virginia, Suzanne Blakemore notices something on the side of the road. As she moves closer, she realizes that it is a young girl who is malnourished and in need of medical care. After admitting her at a nearby hospital, she finds out Iris is an orphan who has been struggling to survive in the woods.

Suzanne is informed that Iris will be placed in foster care if no relative can be located. Without consulting her family, she decides to bring Iris into her household. This has lasting ramifications since nobody else is happy with this decision. Tension starts to build with her husband and two teenage children where the environment had already been spiraling downward. Her husband has a successful career but seems more concerned with work than home. At the same time, her children are growing up and pushing for independence. The arrival of Iris seems like a good catalyst to improve some nagging mistakes from her past.

Sonja Yoerg’s novel provides insight into a woman trying to find her true place in the world. People change over time and it takes courage to start on a new path. True Places was an engaging view of complex family issues.

True Places is a beautifully written story of a Iris, who has lived her entire life in the woods, away from civilization and Suzanne, the woman who finds her. Suzanne suffers from terrible anxiety and dealing with her two teen children and husband have taken a toll on her. While on a drive to clear her mind, she finds a starving, sick girl at the edge of the woods. Suzanne brings Iris home with her and they both start on a journey of self discovery. Sonja Yoerg's writing deeply resonated with me!

“Sometimes it takes a stranger to show you what should be obvious, how far you’ve drifted from who you want to be, from what’s right for you, your true place.” Suzanne is living a life filled with the busyness of being a mom, a wife, a volunteer....all the things that keep her scrambling to keep up with everything that seems vital to her family...but there are cracks everywhere, and Suzanne doesn’t recognize herself in the person she’s become. When she finds a young girl on the side of the road, a girl who is sick and alone, a girl who has lived in the woods, Suzanne feels as if she’s found a purpose...but will helping Iris shatter the family she is desperately trying to hold together? The relationships in this book are fraught with conflict and this book is a gripping peek into the challenges, expectations and disappointments. As a reader, I felt like a voyeur, peeking into this honest, many times uncomfortable, portrayal of a family. There is such incredibly beautiful language in each sentence, a delight to read and often a wonder. Woven within the story of this modern family are the most beautiful images of nature and the sights and sounds of the woods, the animals, and especially the plants and flowers. Just as I felt placed in the center of the house, I was equally present in the wilderness. I felt every emotion, every angrily spoken word, every gesture of love and kindness, every feeling of desperation and conflict and hope. Gripping, thought-provoking, and powerful, this book asks as many questions as it answers.

Meet Suzanne - Mother, Wife, Booster Club, etc. Trying to stay a float with outside responsibilities and raise teenagers. She has put her life on the back burner so to speak. Whit her husband is focused only on getting a head and making lots of money. The family is pretty dysfunctional. On a day when Suzanne just has to get away from it all she drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway and spots a child on the side of the road and takes her to the hospital. Iris is very sick and has been living alone in the woods for over a year before she leaves her cabin to find help. This unassuming child takes Suzanne and her family on a ride to find what really is important and helps Suzanne regain her purpose in life.

What a beautifully written story! I loved how the two main characters in the story, Suzanne and Iris, could not have been more different. Suzanne is a very busy, affluent mom who organizes everything in her family's lives. They depend on her to the point where she has no time for herself, causing to lose her own identity. During a very atypical break in her routine, Suzanne decides to put aside her "duties" to "just drive." It's on this drive that she finds Iris - a very sick, very alone sixteen year old girl.. As the story progresses, Iris tries to understand the world that she's found herself thrust into. Up until Suzanne found her, she's had only the bare necessities (and sometimes she has even lacked those). She wonders why we need so many choices in a grocery store and why people would leave a perfectly good house just to move into a bigger house. This gives Suzanne a new perspective on what is important in life and she re-evaluates her own situation. Sonja Yoerg did an amazing job with the dichotomy between the lives and backgrounds of Suzanne and Iris. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

5 Lovely, Lyrical and Marvelous Stars!

There are times when there are no words. When you are writing a review and you know that you just can’t do an author’s novel justice. This is one of those times.

I was lucky enough to be offered an advanced copy of “True Places” from the author, Sonja Yoerg and of course, I jumped at the chance after having read her prior novel “All the Best People” last year as that book and those characters have stayed with me. The same can be said for “True Places.” There is a beauty in Sonja Yoerg’s words that transcends all else.

In “True Places” a young girl named Iris is found on the outskirts of the forest, alone, emaciated and deathly ill. She is brought to a nearby hospital by Suzanne, a pillar of the community. Suzanne is a wife and mother - her husband Whit, and her two children, Reid and Brynn couldn’t function without her. Suzanne is scared for the girl and immediately takes Iris under her wing and together they become a foster family. Iris, having lived on her own in the woods for so many years, does not fit in, not at Suzanne’s, not anywhere but the woods where she came from. When Suzanne took Iris in, she imagined that it would be her helping Iris, little does she realize, it’s Iris who helps her.

Who's to say what defines a person? Where you belong and what is right for you? In “True Places,” Sonja Yoerg expresses the ways in which people can be completely different from each other - yet still belong and have a place in this world. The place in which they feel the most comfortable: their “True Place.” Sometimes it’s obvious and sometimes it takes a bit of work to find.

What stood out for me after having now read two of Ms. Yoerg’s novels (besides the fact that I need every book she has ever written!) is the fact that she skillfully delves into to the heart of family dynamics, emotions and people in a way that a lot of authors simply cannot. Her words are beautiful, poetic and soulful.

In my opinion, this is a character driven novel, each character fulfilling a different role - everyone just as important as the other. This novel and these characters, especially Suzanne and Iris, are ones to cherish. If you have not read a novel by Ms. Yoerg, I can’t recommend her novels strongly enough.

A huge thank you to Sonja Yoerg, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Published on Goodreads, NetGalley, Twitter and Instagram.
*Will be published on Amazon on release date.

True Places is such an exquisite, emotional, and beautiful story.

Sonja Yoerg has an impeccable talent of pouring her beautiful words across the pages with such elegance, love, and inspiration. I fell in love with Sonja's writing in All The Best People last year and her new novel is nothing short of amazing.

This novel spoke to me in so many different ways. Yoerg truly shines with her descriptions of the natural world. I was mesmerized with the beautiful words that truly come to light in this novel. Haven't we all felt at one point or another that we haven't found our "true place" in the world?

Ironically, I never found my place in the world until I stepped foot in the world of social work. This story brings to light the complexities and struggles of a family dealing with this thing called life. It's about all of the family members losing themselves and somehow finding what makes them happy.

The power of emotion that pours off these pages will truly touch your soul and your heart.


"Iris knew that being strong wasn't enough, because life could weigh more then you ever imagined. You had to bend , like a branch laden with snow, arcing toward the earth."


Highly highly recommend!

4.5 raw and emotional stars.

Huge thank you to Sonja Yoerg, Netgalley, and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Publication date: 1/1/19
Published to GR: 11/10/18