HANDLE WITH CARE by MARYBETH WHALEN is a brilliantly laid out and highly inspirational story about hope and hostages, marriage, family relationships and deeply hidden secrets. All the seven people involved in a very emotional situation taking place inside a post office in a normally quiet seaside town have something they are hiding. Each of the packets that the three ladies have come to post contain something that, once posted, could cause untold harm…….
We see what happens when seven strangers are bound together in a tense situation. These are very different people who would not normally have socialised, drawn together in a potentially explosive situation. We see how secrets are shared and emotions run high. Even Hope, the well-named negociator, has her secrets……
I love the subtle Christian message running through the story and cannot recommend this most enjoyable novel strongly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

This book was amazing the way the characters interacted and how to find strength at a dark time. I loved the buildup and overall the plot is fantastic. I was so swept away I couldn’t stop reading! Absolutely loved the takeaways from this book! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Review will be posted on Instagram and Amazon on pub day and links added to NetGalley.

Who would believe that so much could happen in one setting? And a post office at that? The author takes such beautiful and heart wrenching stories from each of the characters and weaves it together beautifully! Praise for this author and this book!

Lovely drama. Don't miss this book.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

This gripping and emotionally layered novel unfolds almost entirely within the confines of a small-town post office in Sunset Beach, North Carolina. Nadine, the newest postal clerk, finds herself alone at the counter while her two coworkers step out to grab lunch. A few customers trickle in, but one man is holding up the line—and he’s not just any customer.
Sylvie, whose husband is showing early signs of dementia, promises him a quick trip to the grocery store. But first, she stops at the post office to mail an oversized envelope—one she hasn’t told him about. She’s eager to get in and out, but the delay at the counter grows more tense by the minute. Three other women waiting in line are equally frustrated, each carrying an item that could change the course of their lives.
The man at the counter turns out to be Nadine’s estranged husband, from whom she’s filed for divorce. Drunk and desperate, he waves the divorce papers in her face, demanding she tear them up. Then, in a terrifying turn, he pulls out a gun and locks the doors—turning the post office into a hostage scene.
Enter Hope, a seasoned hostage negotiator who recently relocated to Sunset Beach from a big city. As she works to defuse the situation, she’s also grappling with personal demons of her own.
What makes this story truly compelling is how each hostage begins to open up, sharing the burdens they’ve been carrying and questioning whether they should go through with mailing the items they came in with. It’s a powerful exploration of vulnerability, choice, and the unexpected ways lives intersect.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

HANDLE WITH CARE is a remarkably crafted novel with many layers of character development and a super intriguing plot. I think it will appeal to a wide variety of readers. The action unfolds at a small southern post office. I'm in awe of how Whalen designed secrets for each of our 7 characters and also incorporated packages that may change the course of their lives. The atmosphere is tense as it turns into a hostage situation. When the hostage negotiator enters the scene, she is another character to get to know. If you are worried there are too many characters to keep track of, rest assured, you are in good hands. Each character is easy to tell apart. I loved seeing how people opened up and began to share about their burdens and secrets.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Bonding through crisis is the central theme for Marybeth Mayhew Whalen's book, Handle With Care, being published April 13, 2026 by Thomas Nelson (a trademark of Harper Collins Christian Publishing). Four women, caught in a hostage situation brought forth by a domestic matter find comfort and allegiance together as they work to be released. Each woman has a personal dilemma to work through, and through their interwoven experience they are able to support each other as well as find answers to their personal challenges.

There are many facets of Whalen's book that I enjoyed. The novel is set up as the parts of a friendly letter, as taught in school. In lieu of numbered parts to break the story into sections, the novel begins with the "heading", then progresses to the other parts of a letter (greeting, body, closing, and signature). Chapters are introduced , yet the major sections of the novel are separated the letter elements. Why the author chose this format is made clear in the middle of the story when one of the main characters, a past English teacher, explains how to write a friendly letter, which brings the whole concept together.,

The story was poignant, well written, and thought provoking. The characters came to life and were engaging. As the reader, I became involved in their circumstances, and was on edge to see how it was going to work out. Whalen's ability to transport a reader to her character's world creates an engaging escape. Look for Handle With Care next spring and enjoy.

I received a preview copy of Handle with Care from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When four women are thrust into a hostage situation, their own personal sorrows mingle with their terror. Hope, the hostage negotiator, is there to help, but she has problems of her own. Captivating story, with a good message.

Handle with Care is a beautifully emotional story that pulls you in with its gentle pacing and honest look at the complicated parts of life. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen writes in a way that feels very real—her characters are relatable, imperfect, and easy to connect with. You feel their worries, their hopes, and those quiet moments of self-reflection that make the story so meaningful.

What makes the book stand out is how naturally everything unfolds. The relationships—whether strained, healing, or somewhere in between—feel authentic, and the choices the characters face are the kind you can imagine happening in real life. It has the perfect mix of family drama, personal growth, and those small emotional details that stay with you.

If you enjoy heartfelt stories about overcoming challenges, understanding yourself, and rebuilding what matters, Handle with Care is a tender, thoughtful read that lingers after you’re done. It’s one of those books that feels both honest and comforting at the same time.

This was a fantastic book that I did not want to end. This story took characters that would not normally spend time together, but since they were being held hostage, created relationships between them that would bond them for life.

Three ladies who walk into a post office about to mail packages that will change each lady’s life, are unexpectedly held hostage as they are thrown in the middle of a domestic dispute. As they are forced into submission by the assailant, they create friendships and help one another decide whether to mail the packages that will change their lives.

This book was written like the parts of a letter and the author was incredibly creative in how the storylines and characters developed. It was a beautiful story of growth, aging and creating the life you want by making decisions that are sometimes difficult.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the advanced reader copy. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #HandleWithCare @ThomasNelson

Handle with Care is a well written novel. I enjoyed the plot and the interactions of the hostages. I definitely recommend this book. I was given the opportunity to read this book by the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

If I can say one thing about this book, it will be, read this book! What an interesting idea behind a book. What if 4 women were kind of accidentally taken hostage one day at the post office? What if 3 of them were there mailing something they really didn’t want to? The 4th one asks the question, is there anything fragile in your package and the answer is yes.

This was one of those books that even though it all takes place in one small little room, I had a hard time laying it down. I not only had to know what was going to happen, I had to know why each one was there. It made for a fascinating story.

If you have never read one of Mary Beth Mayhew Whalen’s books this is an excellent one to start with. If you have read others of hers, you will enjoy the Easter eggs she leaves throughout the book. Whalen pens stories that leave you kind of breathless even without the being any heart stopping action. She makes the read long to meet her characters and even visit the places she writes about.

I am already eagerly looking forward to Whalen’s next book. Yes, I know this one isn’t even out yet but trust me you are going to think the same thing.

I really loved this book. Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. The author really fleshed out the characters. Iy kept my interest and I definitely would recommend it.

"Handle with Care" is a novel by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen. I received a complimentary copy of this book, and the thoughts expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Sunset Beach is a quaint little town where not much tends to occur. However, on this particular day, Tommy received divorce papers at work, which sparked his deep-seated anger issues.

Martha, Stacey, and newcomer Nadine work at the post office, and during their lunch break, they left Nadine to manage things on her own when Tommy entered the post office to confront her about her behavior.

As Tommy stood at the counter, Sylvie, Blythe, and Morrow walked in with their packages to send. In an instant, the atmosphere shifted drastically when Tommy lost his temper, turning the post office into a hostage situation.

I found this novel to be well-crafted and thoroughly edited, resulting in an engaging read filled with strong emotions. I would give it a solid five stars. Nice work!

A highly original thriller. What happens when women go into a post office and suddenly find themselves held hostage? Fast paced and propulsive.