Where Are You Now? by Jenny Hale is another lovely holiday read that landed just in time. Every year I look forward to her summer stories, and she didn’t disappoint.
The book starts with a powerful shift. Ava, the main character, is right on the edge of a big promotion at her marketing firm. She’s smart, driven, and about to become a partner. But then she gets into a car accident, and everything comes to a stop. That near-death moment forces her to pause and rethink the path she’s on.
To recover, Ava returns to her childhood roots, and that’s where her mum and the lake comes in. The lake becomes this peaceful, grounding place, . It’s where she begins to reflect, heal, and reconnect, not just with her past, but also with herself. The calm of the water, the slower pace, and the feeling of home give her space to breathe and start asking the big questions about what she really wants in life.
While she’s there, she reconnects with Lucas, her childhood friend. Seeing him again brings a mix of emotions, comfort, curiosity, and something more that’s quietly been waiting beneath the surface. Their bond slowly unfolds as Ava lets herself open up to the idea that maybe love is still possible.
Jenny Hale tells this story with warmth and tenderness. It’s not just about slowing down. It’s about listening to your own heart. The book gently reminds us that success isn’t just about titles or career goals. Sometimes the deepest satisfaction comes from following dreams you’ve buried or forgotten. It’s about making space for love, connection, and the kind of peace that stays with you.

This story truly impressed me. It feels reflective and calm, perfect for the holiday season. With its emotional depth and peaceful lake setting, it invites you to step away from the noise and think about what really matters. A heartfelt reminder to live a life that feels true to you. Highly recommended.

Ok, my girl Jenny Hale has done it again! Bringing us another heartwarming contemporary romance story about second chances, family bonds, and the magic around us.

Where Are You Now by Jenny Hale is a warm, heartfelt read that will leave you smiling—and maybe even a little misty-eyed.

Sooo heartwarming and endearing.
Jenny writes a great contemporary romance. She knows how to build characters, create real relationships and a story that will leave an impression.
I really loved the charcters, the plot and the way the story developed!
Her character development in her books are rich. Her descriptive writing puts you right into the scenes with her characters.

Romance readers better be ready for this second chance, unputdownable small town romance story.

Thank You NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7795650796
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/where-are-you-now-jenny-hale/1147855348

As always, Hale's writing style is pleasant and easy to read. It's a feelgood chicklit with escapist scenes offering cozy vibes.
As for the content, the idea was interesting, but I wasn't convinced by the execution.
The female lead is hard to relate to. She embodies the "hustle culture". After a near-death experience, she worries about setting up a meeting to get her promotion (that's wild!). Combined with religious undertones, it makes for a book that will mostly appeal to a US audience. Besides, the resolution was far too quick and easy to be credible. A miss for me.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Ava is busy with her big city career but one moment and an accident changes her whole perspective on life. She’s told to find Lucas her best friend from High School. Many coincidences start happening and Lucas is back in her life but both Ava and Lucas are broken from their pasts.

Can Ava and Lucas find their bond again and live out their lives? Will their lives go in different directions again?

Many life lessons in this book and sometimes circumstances place you just where God needs you to be.

Where Are You Now by Jenny Hale. I love Jenny Hale's books. She knows exactly how to tell a story and this one weaves faith, hope and fate into a beautiful story.
The main character, Ava, is involved in a horrific car accident and ends up in the hospital. Ava hears a voice. The voice is giving her a choice to peacefully pass on or live.
This begins her journey.

An amazing story of family, faith, friendships and second chances.
I will definitely be recommending this book.

Thank you Netgalley, the Publisher and Jenny Hale for this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is a spiritual novel of a woman who has a near death experience and is sent on a journey to find a man from her past. Ava wakes up in the hospital after hearing a voice tell her to "go find Lucas". The book is full of second chances, faith, family and the chance to maybe become more than friends. It brings up the question of what comes after death and how the choices we make can affect the rest of our lives. Ms. Hale has done a wonderful job making the reader think and ponder, all the while giving a lovely romance.

The romance between Ava and Lucas was slow moving and deliberate and delightful. The bonding again between Ava and her mother was also very special. Ava was a busy business type who needed to learn to slow down and actually live. Her accident was the turning point for this and her mother was her biggest cheerleader.

A lovely book.

Thanks to Books Go Social and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts are my own.

Ava St John hardly has time for herself, since her job is all-consuming. When Ava ends up in the hospital from a near-death car accident, Ava hears a voice that tells her she has to find Lucas Phillips or pass peacefully. So Ava chooses to fina him. Will she be able to reconnect with Lucas? Ava is worried about her job. Can she recover and still make partner?
A story of family, friendships, love, and second beginnings! I loved the relatable characters and entertaining storyline. A heartfelt story that brings out all kinds of emotions, but in the end leaves you feeling satisfied and hopeful! Be sure to add this one to your TBR list! A great book for book clubs as well!!

This book brought back many memories for me of family involved in a tragic car accident and how we each dealt with the trauma. It was a huge reminder that God is in the little details and as always watching over us.

Where Are You Now? by Jenny Hale was such a touching and emotional read—I couldn’t put it down. I loved how Ava’s journey was filled with heart, second chances, and a hint of magical realism that made it feel extra special. The small-town setting and deep emotional connections between the characters made the story feel warm and real. It reminded me how love, hope, and faith can guide us even through life’s toughest moments.

I had never read this author before but I loved the cover and thought I'd try it. This was a thought provoking story, different than any I've read.

This is a story of second chances and searching for answers of why we do what we do.
Having a near death experience changes Ava's outlook on her life. She felt she was hearing from God and was given a second chance if only she'd do what he was asking.
For Lucas, Ava helps him see his bad experience from a different angle that changes his entire thought process. Thinking that all things happen for a reason helps him change his thinking.

As for the book as a whole I felt there were too many details. I didn't care for the author's writing style. The characters were always extra sweet to each other and there was too much talk about the father. I skimmed a lot and think this would make a great novella with a lot of editing.
But I did love the ending. And it gave me a lot to think about the afterlife and dying.
And it as the perfect title!
Thank you for Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Where Are You Now
By Jenny Hale

Ava St. John is faced with two options after an accident:

“Find Lucas Phillips and live out the rest of your life, or pass on peacefully"

The undertones of this book are much more religious than I first thought. I went in thinking it was a near death scenario, but it's woven into the story more than I anticipated. Honestly it kept taking me out of the story itself, maybe that's just me. I pushed on as I'm not a quitter, but the excess definitely brought my overall enjoyment down.

At the heart of the story is reevaluating life after a traumatic event. Finding solace in family and returning to simpler times. Reconnecting with those from your core childhood memories and determining what brings fulfillment to your life.

Where Are You Now By: Jenny Hale

An ARC Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A heartwarming, comforting, relatable Christian Contemporary Romance. This book is so beautifully written and truly incapsulates emotions that most people have felt with loss and what happens when we question what truly happens when we or our loved ones pass on. Whether it be sad emotions or happy, this novel checks all boxes.

When Ava St. John has a near death experience, she starts to question if a voice she heard was God or whether she simply experienced psychological trauma and her mind was just playing tricks on her. Deciding to listen to the voice, she is brought back from her big city life to her hometown in Tennessee and back to her mother. Ava and her mother share in a loss and this near-death experience brings them together after many years of grief and avoided feelings. Ava begins to remember more and more of her childhood as she spends time in her old hometown and starts to wonder what God really has planned for her and what she should do after this big life altering event while also doing what she believes God told her to do during her brief moment with death, which is to find her old childhood friend Lucas.

Where Are You Now is so beautifully written. Anyone can pick this book up. It is truly for any audience. I loved that this book made me realize the importance of slowing down in a fast paced world and cherishing every person that comes into your life whether it be for a brief moment or a lifetime. We often take advantage of our loved ones, friends, and acquaintances and do not take the time to thank God for the amazing people that he has placed in our paths and often for very good reasons. This book does a very good job of explaining what it’s like to feel that you are no longer connected to someone who has passed and that often they are right there with you. You just need to slow down, listen and truly open your eyes to what he has placed in front of you!

ONE MORE AMAZING THING IN THIS BOOK!!
At the end of this book, Jenny Hale adds the recipes that Ava's mom makes throughout the book. She also included a book club reading guide with questions that you can answer when finishing the book. This was such a cute addition and I have absolutely saved these recipes to make this upcoming fall!

To conclude my review, I highly suggest taking the time to read this beautifully written book. I was chosen to review this book as an ARC reader. I am so glad that I was chosen. I can truly say that this is by far one of my favorite ARC books that I have read and one of my top favorite books I have read this year.

Where Are You Now by Jenny Hale delves into one’s faith and also fate in this uplifting story about how life can change in an instant. Ava is involved in a horrific car accident and ends up in the hospital. Ava hears a voice giving her a choice to live or die. If she chooses to live she must find Lucas Phillips, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen since they were 15. Ava makes her choice though they are many unanswered questions and so begins her journey.

A story of second chances, faith, family and friendships. The author’s faith shines in this beautifully written story.

Thank you Netgalley, BooksGoSocial and Jenny Hale for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this very special ARC for my honest review. Jenny Hale once again you didn’t disappoint. I know when I read a book you’ve written, I will love the story. My favorite thing about this story is that God is the center of Everything. Ava is on her way to a meeting and hoping to be a partner soon when she is involved in a car accident that should have ended her life. But that didn’t happen as God wasn’t done with her story. In fact, while she was unconscious, she hears a voice telling her to find Lucas who was her best friend and he moved when she was 15. Her Mom rushes to her side to care for her. So while she is recovering, her Mom convinces her to come back home with her. Little did she know on this journey back that she would find Lucas and it would shape the rest of her life….for the better. You will love this heartwarming story which shows how second chances can happen if you lean on your Faith and allow God to guide you. I promise you will not be able to put this book down. It’s heartwarming, feel good, emotional, follow your heart, family kind of story.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I don’t want to read books or watch tv that takes The Lord’s name in vain or throws F-bombs in them! This book definitely reached my criteria for the entertainment I want in my life!

A beautifully written story full of faith, family, and love. Loved that the story dealt with some deep real life struggles and how relatable the characters were as they journeyed through their struggles. It is a reminder that circumstances happen in our lives for a reason and even when we don’t see it God’s plan and timing are perfect. Also that with God and other people around us we can find purpose and strength through the struggles. It is a very emotional and heartwarming story. Always love Jenny Hale’s books and this is definitely one of my favourites.

Jenny Hale has done it again with Where Are You Now—a heartwarming, faith-filled story that beautifully blends hope, destiny, and the quiet magic of finding love when you least expect it. This uplifting summer read captures the power of trusting in life’s timing and letting go enough to let fate step in. I love how Hale’s writing always leaves me with a full heart, and this one was no exception. It’s a quick read, but its message of love, faith, and second chances lingers long after the final page. Perfect for anyone looking for a feel-good escape with depth and warmth.

Thank you NetGalley for the preview.

While this was a good read, it did not qualify for me as a Christian fiction. My opinion and definition might be different from others, but just because they went to church didn't make it Christian for me. The beliefs of the characters were more about self reliance then trust in God. Their values and lifestyle didn't line up with biblical beliefs and the theology around heaven and the afterlife wasn't biblical, in my opinion. As such, I wouldn't recommend it to others but the author did a great job writing the story. I was invested in the characters and wanted to keep reading to find out how it ended. I loved the ending. It's something I would love to happen in my life - very realistic while also happily ever after. If it wasn't labeled as Christian fiction, I think I would give it a higher rating. The rating is more for the content not lining up with biblical beliefs than about the author's writing.

I was given a complimentary copy of this novel by netgalley. I was not required to write a review, but all opinions were mine.

Where Are You Now, by Jenny Hale is a contemporary Christian story. This well written story is very inspirational and references of spending time between life and death. Ava was seriously injured in a car accident, before regaining consciousness, she is suspended in time and must make a decision to stay or go back to her life. As she chooses to go back, she is told to find her childhood friend, Lucas.

This is such a good story. It grabbed my attention right away and held it to the very end. I appreciate the parts in the story of Ava, Lucas and Ava’s mother talking of their faith. I especially enjoyed the part of the story of how Ava’s mother has made a life for herself after the death of Ava’s father. Her truthfulness of her feelings of being alone is so pure. I like how she has found a way to turn her talent into a way to supplement her income. One of the things that stands out to me is how Ava helps Lucas see he a different side of the incident that changed his career. This story is so good, it covers many different tough subjects while showing there is a way to move forward from even the hardest situations. It is also a reminded that God’s timing is perfect.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this story; this is my honest review.

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I found the story uplifting. I needed a break from some of the darker romantic suspense that I usually read, and this definitely fit the bill. The two leads, who were best friends as teens but lost touch, are both struggling with life as adults for different reasons, and they find their way back to each other and give each other the support and strength they need to forge a new path according to God's plan. I didn't realize until the notes at the end of the book that several of this author's works have been made into movies. I can understand why; this one would make a great movie as well.