A mysterious invitation, five quirky characters, brought together for a reason none of them can fathom except a need that each of them harbors for something more in their lives than what they have at present. There is a lot of wonderfulness, including a bounty of romance in this new novel by Rachel Hauck. But one of the best things is when the gospel shows up in the storyline. It comes as a surprise, and it's had a transformational effect on the character for whom salvation has come. It then has a ripple effect on the other members of the story society! I heartily recommend this novel to all who enjoy good inspirational fiction. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC, for this, my honest review.

I was excited by the premise of this book - something different for Christian fiction! It was fun getting to know all the characters, and I was impressed with the depth of their development. I enjoyed the redemption elements and the little twists throughout. However, a few things fell flat for me. Namely . . .(view spoiler)

I had heard before I read the book that there is a loose tie-in to Hauck's The Writing Desk which I read years ago. I forgot about that as I read Fifth Avenue, though, and throughout the whole story I kept thinking the Gordon Phipps Roth storyline was so familiar. It wasn't until the end that I remembered the tie-in! But it wasn't a big deal. You don't have to read The Writing Desk before Fifth Avenue.

I received a complimentary version of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I must admit.. literally every time i finish a book by this author mostly becuase this is christian romance and it is 100% not a book I would pick up in a million years but this book was filled with SOOOO much suspense and intrigued.

Yes there was a message about god and faith and the journey to a higher power but it wasnt all consuming and if you are religious you will really enjoy that message and if you are not religious you can still enjoy this book and get how people can have a message and move passed that. Religion is not being forced down your throat by this author but it is presented in a way that if you would like the message it will be given.

anyway back to the book.
this book is about the mysterious story society which is made up of 5 strangers whose lives dont seem to match one another and along their journy of monday night meetings they form a true friendship, they overcome their fears, tell their truths, cry, laugh and grow in a way they couldnt without the support of eachother.. one of them has the support of god but they all learn to lean on friendships and in the last 5% i would say religion comes into play and I think it is really well done. I was quite impressed.

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 a fraud.
Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.
Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.
Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.
When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to reveal their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.
Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

I had some trouble getting into this book. There are a lot of characters and their story had to be set up. Once I got into the book it was really good. It was interesting how all their stories seemed to inter twine with each other. There was only one character that was Christian in the book. By the end of the book she had the others interested in learning about God.

I recommend this book to everyone. Just don't give up on the beginning. It is a very good book.

I received this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I really enjoyed the book until 3/4 of the way through when I realized it was inspirational or Christian fiction. The characters were assembled by invitation to a story society in a private library. Jett, Alexa, Coral, Chuck and Ed all had stories to tell, if they could open up and be honest. Their relationships deepen. As I said, I did not realize the genre, which ties up things in a fairly simplistic way, but thought the story itself was decent.

What a lovely cover! A reader’s delight—shelves of books in a cozy room. An unexpected element? This novel is not a time-slip novel like Rachel's other recent books.

I like the premise of mysterious invitations to join a story society. At first, I thought it’d be a book club, but the objective is deeper than that. Picturing the setting of an old library made me want to grab a hot beverage, a throw, and curl up with this book.

Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses in this ensemble cast. I liked the multiple-POV approach. Rachel is always clear about whose POV we’re in, and her characters had distinct voices.

Though this wasn’t a time-slip novel, which I'd expected (I don't read back covers before reading books—too many spoilers), I was interested and invested. The only downside was that we never go too deeply into any one character’s history. Because we’re spread over several, there isn’t page space.

Rachel kept me hooked through withholding information. There are plenty of secrets to learn about each person, and we unravel those as we read. She gave us enough info to both care about the characters and root for them.

As is her trademark, we have a supernatural element in the book. This novel would work well as a crossover as the God-element is subtle for three-quarters of the story. Her prose is often so insightful, I have to highlight it.

I loved watching the characters have victory. Through sharing their real struggles with each other, they find healing and their burdens lift. These varied folks find friendship. I enjoyed that theme. They also find courage to do what they need to do for those victories.

Recommended.

Captivating, charming, and I loved the five main characters brought together by an anonymous invitation. As they continue to meet, they begin to share their stories and confront their wounds. A beautiful story of love, friendship, and healing. What an enjoyable read! I highly recommend The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck.

This is another fascinating story by Rachel Hauck. The book starts out with two of the main characters, Jett and Chuck, finding themselves spending a night in jail after a fist fight at a wedding neither one of them wanted to attend. After being released they both find an invitation to The Fifth Avenue Story Society. Lexa, Coral and Ed also receive invitations. Each character’s growth can be followed by narration in their own words throughout the book. They all decide to attend the meeting, not knowing what it is about. The five strangers with no previous connections become confidants and help each other grapple with fear and grief that has blocked each of them from moving forward with their lives. I definitely recommend reading this book. I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 stars. Loved this! I have read some of the author's other books which split the story between an historical one and a contemporary one. I enjoyed reading one of hers that is entirely contemporary (there is a tie in to The Writing Desk which is one of her split-time novels, which was excellent). I liked the characters in this - the women's stories were my favorites of the 5, but I enjoyed the writing threads that wove through the men's stories. Don't miss this one!

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Unfortunately I was not able to finish because the title of the book was written so much into the actual reading of the book that it just drove me crazy.

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 a fraud.



Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.



Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.



Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.



When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bear their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.



Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.



My Thoughts: This is a charming story of five individuals who are brought together by a mysterious invitation. This beautifully written story brings together the lives of five people, who are able to form the bonds of friendship and learn to lean on each other to unburden themselves from problems in their lives. This is a terrific read, the reader is invited into the lives of five different people and sees how friendship and trust can help in our lives. I truly enjoyed this book, it keeps the reader interested and engaged in the story-line until the very end. There are some twists and turns in the plot, that will keep the reader wondering what will happen next. The characters in the novel learn that the truth really will set you free. I highly recommend this book by Rachel Hauck; it's a book that is hard to put down.

I loved the variety of characters in this book and how they formed a friendship. Once again, Rachel Hauck has enamored me with her story and writing style. It is so good to escape into one of her books and this one did not disappoint.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Fifth Avenue Story Society! Even though I predicted the ending pretty early on, I had fun following the characters on their journeys. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn't reading the book, which is always a good sign that the author has hooked me and made me feel invested in the outcome of the story. The characters were flawed but likable. Rachel Hauck always does a great job of peppering in the message of God's love without being preachy or cliche. I encourage you to grab this title, settle in with a good cup of coffee, and enjoy!

I always know when I read a novel by Rachel Hauck, that it will entertain, have a profound message, and touch my heart in a way that I can't stop thinking about it after I turn the last page. This book was even better than I could have imagined.

Five characters all drawn to a library by an anonymous invitation. The story is about learning to trust the ability to be honest with yourself and others, accept forgiveness, and release the chains that bind you to the past.

The storyline is unique and the character's strengths and weaknesses made them come alive as I followed their journey. They found that truth brings a freedom they never imagined giving them newfound hope for the future.

I feel this is one of Rachel's best so far and I highly recommend that you don't miss the opportunity to be thrilled by her magical story. I couldn't put it down.

FIVE INVITATIONS TO FIVE PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE ABOUT TO CHANGE.

I closed the book with a contented smile, knowing that everyone would be okay. That God would work everything out for them, and then I blinked back to reality because it was just a book. It wasn’t just any book though. This unassuming story took me on a journey of five lives riddled in heartbreak and secrets. Secrets that defined the people that huddled in a little room of a mansion turned library on Fifth Avenue.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society is a touching, and sometimes heartbreaking, tale of how people handle the curve balls life throws at them. When they discover that these pivotal moments in their lives is choking the life out of each one of them, they find that only one thing can break them free form the bondage. Companionship is the only thing that will make coughing up their secrets tolerable. But a few are hard to face the truths behind the curtains of their stories.

I am a big fan of Rachel Hauck’s, there is nothing the woman can write that I won’t read, BUT I must confess that this one has received the “Favorite” label. There was no confusion in whose POV I was reading as she marked it clearly what person you were reading about in that moment. I also loved the realness of the characters. I know that many readers of CF (Christian Fiction) do not like to read about things that do not fit into the idyllic soft mold of traditional CF, but I love the gritty truth of the world we live in and how we can still find God in the center of it all. This story is raw and unashamed of the thoughts and habits of human nature, thus leaving me clapping for joy on the inside.

If you can’t tell, I think this story is amazing and should be read by every one who enjoys CF romance, mystery, and women’s fiction. It will be worth the time.

***I received a copy of this story from the publisher through CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck is a captivating story of five broken individuals who are brought together by an invitation from an unknown sender. I was quickly caught up in each of their lives. The author did a great job portraying the emotions and reactions of the diverse characters. Characters who ranged from Uber driver to the wealthy owner of a cosmetic company, from a divorcee to a widower, and a writer, each with a past that was affecting their present. Would this weekly meeting bring them to friendship and a level of trust that would bring healing and resolution to their wounds? I like how the author connected their lives and made what seemed impossible, plausible. And in the end, there was hope and second chances--the opportunity to start over and put the past behind.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

One of our favorites authors, Rachel Hauck, has delivered a home run in her newest book! Not only does the charming cover make you want to get cozy with this read right away, but the very first page draws in its readers from the first line.
Five seemingly random people in New York City - Jett, Lexa, Chuck, Coral and Ed - are sent mysterious invitations to join the Fifth Avenue Story Society at a little known, out of the way library. Each of them are skeptical, but due to their own personal reasons decide to join: Jett, a professor who may have stumbled on evidence that his literary idol was a fraud; Lexa, an overworked executive assistant who is continually overlooked; Chuck, an Uber driver, desperate to see his kids again; Coral, president of a cosmetics company who recently left her famous groom at the altar; and Ed, a widower trying to write the story of his loving marriage.

Each person shows up to the society meeting with broken hearts, broken lives and a desperate need for peace. Each continually comes back to the weekly society meeting for reasons even they cannot understand; except that an invisible force continues to draw them into relationship, community and healing with one another. Who sent these invitations, and why? What is the higher power at work here, and how will each character find answers to their questions and desires?

Reminiscent of movies that follow multiple, seemingly disconnected storylines which all eventually come together, Rachel absolutely blew us away with her expert weaving of these storylines! The entire book was easy to get swept away in and the pace at which she revealed stories kept us eager for more. There were even a couple of twists at the end we did not see coming that helped us finish this ride with a bang!

The characters in this book were just the right mixture of real, flawed and lovable. Their realistic traits kept us as readers believing we could also be sitting in that library; really flawed, yet worthy of friendship and love, and most importantly, never too far gone for God's gentle grace. His loving kindness pursues all of us, often in quiet ways, meeting us exactly where we are, and inspiring others to see what it's all about. We recommend this book to anyone looking for an enticing read and maybe some inspiration and heart to go with it!.

Anonymous invitations to a literary society are sent to five people -- each in need of friendship and who have something from their past that they are unable to share and have not been able to process completely themselves. The setting of the library is appealing especially given the cozy bookish cover image. I enjoyed that the story is told from alternating points of view of these five people and was interested in each of their story lines and wanted to keep reading to see how each would be resolved. The resolution for each person is satisfying though there are some elements that feel far-fetched and just wouldn’t ever play out that way. What I liked best is that the book isn’t overly preachy but has a character who has a personal relationship with Jesus that she eventually shares with the group in what felt like a very authentic way. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

Sometimes when you finish a book, you can’t help but close it with a smile of pure satisfaction. The Fifth Avenue Story Society is definitely in that category. Five misfits with no apparent connection receive mysterious invitations to join a Story Society—except they’re the only members. They meet every Monday to eat & talk—Jett, a lit professor finishing his dissertation, Ed, an old romantic, Coral, the heiress to a failing cosmetics company, Chuck, an Uber driver estranged from his kids, and Lexa, an overworked and unappreciated executive assistant who happens to be Jett’s ex-wife—and somehow they become friends. What’s more, they challenge each other to be better people, and let the truth of their own stories set them free. I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley and the publisher Thomas Nelson, and was under no obligation to write a review.

The Fifth Avenue Story Society is a moving tribute to the love of story. Hauck has composed a lovable ensemble of characters, each with secrets, pain, and regrets. Each with a story to tell., some with a story to write. Their tales unfold slowly, not uncommon for ensemble works, but once those balls get rolling they really roll quickly. Put it this way—it took me a few sittings to really make decent headway, but at about the halfway mark, I devoured the rest in one sitting in a misguided late-night over-caffeinated stupor until 3am.

I loved the tie-in with The Writing Desk, one of my favorite Hauck books to date. I loved the woven tapestry that the five characters’ stories became, and how when one thread was pulled, others’ lives unraveled. But in the unraveling, there was also a new work being done. Something painful, significant, and in need of healing for each one.

I’d have to agree with other reviews that this is likely Hauck’s best work to date. It’s poignant, but happy. Cathartic, hopeful, complex, and rich. I loved it And I’d happily sacrifice another nights’ sleep to experience it again.