I started and finished this book during COVID-19 and it was the book that finally got me back in my reading groove. I absolutely loved everything about this story! Honestly, everything about this book was beautiful. The characters were so well developed and even though the story unfolds from five perspectives, I enjoyed every single one. I've read several books by Rachel Hauck, but this was above and beyond the best one! And I have to say, that this isn't just a "cute" book. It has real life problems and situations that weren't neat and tidy, but handled in a easy to digest way. I highly recommend this book, it hits many themes that are relevant to so many.

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

First off, can we talk about how GORGEOUS this cover is! I would have read the book for that reason alone, but the story intrigued me as well. This was such a heartwarming and endearing story of five people mysteriously brought together. I love how each of their stories were unique, yet as their friendships blossomed and they helped each other, they were able to find peace with the trials in their lives. I'm sitting trying to think if one of their stories touched me more, but honestly they all had their share of heartache and growth and by the time this book was over, I felt like each of them were my friends too. This is only my second Rachel Hauck novel, but I honestly can't wait to read more.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the eARC!

Best-selling author Rachel Hauck pens a contemporary novel where five people are invited to a mysterious meeting and their lives are changed.

In The Fifth Avenue Story Society, five individuals from different backgrounds receive a mysterious invitation to a meeting of the Fifth Avenue Story Society. Two of them were once married to one another but are now divorced, while the others have no known connection with one another. Despite this, Jett, Coral, Chuck, Ed, and Lexa decide to continue meeting each week.

Over the weeks, it becomes clear that each one has a story to share. As they begin to share their stories from their hearts, friendships build. But there is more to their story than meets the eye. After all, what does a Uber driver, an underemployed executive, a cosmetic company heiress, a building superintendent, and a college professor have in common?

Hauck creates believe-able characters with flaws and struggles. The storyline traces their relationship with one another as their stories are shared. The faith element is present, especially in Coral’s story, but the others are not Christians. Each longs to be accepted by others. Each is facing a crisis of some kind. As their story unfolds and secrets are revealed, they learn to be vulnerable with one another and build trust in one another.

Hauck fans will recognize a nod to her earlier book, The Writing Desk, in one of her character’s back story. The novel is flavored with love – a estranged father’s love for his children, divorced partners who might be reconciling, someone mourning for his lost love, and a heiress with a broken engagement – as well as two mysteries to solve.

Rachel Hauck has done it again; I love her stories! She’s taken a unique group of characters mysteriously brought together by an invitation to join the 5th Street Literary Society and woven a delightful, heartwarming, and at times, heart-wrenching tale. All tackling personal struggles, they learn the value of opening up and sharing their most imperfect stories every Monday night in the gorgeous Bower Library. The character development slowly progresses throughout the book so I felt like I knew each character intimately, and found myself rooting for all of them. I happily recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I rarely bestow books with a 5 star rating, but The Fifth Avenue Story Society is a book that checked all my boxes.

Loved everything about this book. The character development was great. Jett, Lexa, Coral, Chuck and Ed had stories to share and I wanted to hear them. The pacing was on point. The secondary characters Mabel, the awful Zane and the Library lady added much to the storyline. I highly recommend and am now a Hauck fan. Rachel has been on my radar for years. So many readers love her works. Now, I too, understand her magic of story telling. I am eager to read her backlist and anything she writes in the future.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, Netgalley and Hoopla for the opportunity to read this book.

Lisa Larsen narrator

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

This was the first book I had read by Rachel Hauck, and if this book is indicative of her other works, it won’t be my last. Listening to this during Covid-19 kept me engaged and thinking about something besides the craziness of the world. But even in ordinary times, this book would have fascinated me.

I loved the way the book included 5 very diverse characters: a professor, a CEO wannabe, an heiress, an uber driver and a widower. The mystery is why they were all invited to participate in the Story Society. The book answers that question, but in a pace that keeps readers wanting more.

I thought the author did a magnificent job teasing out the elements of each of their stories. I kept listening to find out their secrets. And some of them were very unexpected!

A few characters from her book, The Writing Desk, even made cameo appearances. I found myself hoping to meet some of the characters from this book again in a future book of hers.

The author kept the story clean and also included a powerful but not preachy message of redemption, along with illustrating the underlying principle that truth sets people free.

Readers who enjoy contemporary fiction will find much to enjoy in this book. I received a free copy from the publisher and these are my own opinions.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck is splendid! Really, what other description is there for a book that brings people together in a gilded room in an old library? I adored the story and the characters. I found myself rooting for them and crying with them and laughing out loud at them. Lexa, who just wanted her boss to realize her potential and give her the promotion to CEO, a job she was already doing. Jett, her ex-husband, who was expected to make big money for his college through his dissertation about a famous author, but confused because the truth is hard to bear. Chuck, who just wants to see his kids, but one angry night makes that impossible. Ed, the man who has mourned the relationship with his dead wife for over forty years. And Coral, an heiress who is trying to run her great grandmother's cosmetics business after fleeing her wedding to a prince. The group seems to be the most unlikely pairing of friends, but friends they do indeed become. As they share their heartaches and their lives and their joys, they become so much more than that too! You should go get this book and read it! You will be smiling as you do!
I received a free copy of this story from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Five people each at a crossroads in their lives, receive an invitation to come to a meeting at The Fifth Avenue Story Society.

I thought this story was fun and engaging. I loved how the author gave each person their own backstory unrelated to all the others. There was some predictable moments in this book, but I felt they added to the story. Each person is faced with decisions in the past that bring them to this point and is why they received the invitation to the story society. I came to live each of the characters and their stories, and as with any good book their was redemption in the end.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5- Wow I stayed up waaay too late reading this. The story made my heart ache and I couldn’t put it down. It’s a story of reconciliation and coming to terms with the past. At first I wasn’t sure about the characters, but once their stories got going I really connected with them. As in other books by this author, there’s a hint of realistic magic, but it doesn’t come out until the end.

Note- This one was a little more racy/risqué than her other books. Nothing explicit, but sex between couples is talked about more than once (some of the couples involved were married at the time and some weren’t)

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 and social status, all anchored to something in their pasts that kept them from moving on and living life to the fullest. The story is like a piece of fabric, with threads of each character’s past, present and future woven together and interconnected.

As with any good book, it’s easy to care about the characters. This story, however, took me to a new level of caring. Hauck not only knows people, but she is able to project their innermost hearts and desires through her characters, desires that are common to all of us. I came to know Lexa, Jett, Chuck, Coral and Ed well through their raw honesty and humanness – their fears, insecurities, needs, and hopes. There’s a little mystery and supernatural element, but the real story is in what happens through these Monday night meetings. The librarian, Gilda, is an interesting character and I’d love to see what’s on the other side of her door that’s marked “private.”

The spiritual thread is gentle and subtle, culminating in a beautiful way toward the end. The image of Christ knocking at the door instantly came to mind and these closing words speak to all … “The invitation is always waiting. All you have to do is say yes.”

Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book through Prism Book Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rachel Hauck is one of my favorite writers. She writes well-written stories. Books like this one, The Fifth Avenue Story Society, was done perfectly. I liked the fact that her characters were not perfect beings. Their troubles unite them as they were invited by an unknown to meet at an unknown place to them. Yet they kept on returning to meet there, at the library. It was intriguing on how each of these five protagonists were invited and how their journeys would end. Heartfelt, mysterious, and luring-this novel had my full attention. A contemporary tale of New Yorkers healing and moving forward in their lives. They also made new friends and fell in love.

Being an avid reader I am drawn to books about libraries or bookshops. The Fifth Avenue Story Society was kinda that, but kinda not. It had more to do with the stories of the characters themselves than with books they were reading. Five random people receive anonymous invitations to attend a meeting of "The Fifth Avenue Story Society". They are each reluctant but for various reasons decide to show up anyway. The plot involves how they discover why they are meeting. The characters were likable and belivable. It was an enjoyable read with an element of faith.

This is a Christina book. I liked it but you should know that before going in. Marriage and society and love and passion and cute.

What an absolutely delightful book! What happens when a divorced couple, an Uber driver, an almost princess, and a retired widower all receive secret invitations to the same club? Unlikely friendships develop, that's what happens! The Fifth Avenue Story Society unites five unique individuals as they try to discover who invited them to the society and what the purpose of the society is supposed to be. As they seek answers, they slowly begin sharing truths about themselves and begin healing in ways none of them even realized they needed to heal. This story kept me guessing until the very end, even with a couple of situations that seemed as if you could guess the ending at the beginning of the story. Instead, twists and turns, secrets confessed, mysteries revealed....and most of all, unlikely friendships develop throughout this book. Once again, Rachel Hauck has written an unforgettable, hard to put down book that will keep you delighted until the last word on the last page of the book.

Five people, five lives that are about to cross in unexpected and surprising ways; this makes up the main thread of the story. Lexa, Jett, Ed, Coral, and Chuck receive invitations to meet for a "story society." As they get to know each other, enjoying conversation and food each week, the society becomes more important for each of them. Untold secrets and underlying truths are revealed in the weekly meetings, leading up to the final crashing conclusion. This story has enough twists and turns for any reader, maintaining interest until the final page is reached. The epilogue wraps it all up in a happy ending, but not until the characters experience a roller-coaster ride of experiences and emotions.

This was a book that I could not put down and kept me reading into the night time hours. The Christian message is overt and churchy, but not preachy or judgmental. Each reader is left to find the underlying message in the story along with the characters. Highly recommended and clean read.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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 and a corner to yourself.


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Rachel Hauck has done it again! This is a story about 5 strangers (2all being invited to a story society at an vintage library. Each of them dealing with their own doubts. I’ve really enjoyed this story. I love how real the characters were and what they were dealing with. The spiritual aspect was beautifully woven. There was also of course romance. There was 2 of the members that are actually ex-spouses and this chance society brings those old feelings back again. 2 other members developed a new love of their failed past romances. And the oldest member discovers to let go and live.. this was such a sweet story. I recommend this!

If ever you receive “a thick, cream-coloured card”, an invitation to a mysterious “Fifth Avenue Story Society”......., don’t hesitate - go!! You may be bewildered, then intrigued, followed by a lot of hard work, but – the results will be so worth it! Your life could be changed – for the better! - it will be your choice. This book had an unexpected opening, perhaps signalling it was not going to be a run-of-the-mill, written-to-formula tome. Five disparate ‘lead’ characters , each with their own storylines to follow – it was good to find unpredictable journeys with surprises along the way. Everybody has a story – it just may not be what you think it will be. (‘Never judge a book by its cover’ goes for people, too...)

I had so much fun reading this story! The characters are unique, the mystery is intriguing and the story is about books... what could be better than that? But not just books, the stories of the lives of the people who write the books and how these people impact one another through telling their stories. I love the whole concept of the book and would love to be a part of the society!

There were a LOT of perspectives in this book. To the point where sometimes it was hard to keep them straight. I found myself losing interest at times because it would hop between the perspectives and maybe I didn't love certain characters as much as other ones. I kind of wished it had been broken up into two books so we could have focused more fully on each couple. But it was still a good read!