When They Came Home

by Terri Lewis

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Pub Date May 05 2026 | Archive Date Mar 06 2026

Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity for Miami University Press

Historical Fiction | Literary Fiction | Novellas & Short Stories

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Description

Winner of the 2025 Miami University Press Novella Prize

Selected by Amina Gautier

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Kansas, 1919

Although Edith longs to be a wife, her tiny town has few eligible men. But when soldiers returning from WWI come to work on her family’s farm, she meets Milton. They court, marry, and have two daughters, but slowly the horrors he endured while fighting begin to weigh on him. He falls into silence, develops a thousand-yard stare. In the decades that follow, challenged by precarious fortunes and facing down an indifferent government, Edith struggles to build a home for their daughters while fighting for Milton’s healing. When They Came Home is a haunting portrait of a marriage tested by war’s lingering effects and an example of how even the deepest traumas can be met by the patient powers of love.

Winner of the 2025 Miami University Press Novella Prize

Selected by Amina Gautier

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Kansas, 1919

Although Edith longs to be a wife, her tiny town has few eligible men. But when soldiers...

A Note From the Publisher

After a career as a ballet dancer, Terri Lewis focused on writing. She is the author of Behold the Bird in Flight: A Novel of an Abducted Queen, which was named one of the Washington Independent Review of Books' Favorite Books of 2025. Her third novel will be published in March of 2027. She lives in Denver with her husband and two entertaining dogs.

After a career as a ballet dancer, Terri Lewis focused on writing. She is the author of Behold the Bird in Flight: A Novel of an Abducted Queen, which was named one of the Washington Independent...

Advance Praise

"...moves with the swift voracity of a Jean Echenoz story, threshing the stories of its characters in the way life would have threshed so many in their generation (and so many in our own): through war and poverty, love and madness, devotion and reunion. This is a story of common disaster and uncommon heroism. Edith and Milton cleave to one another as the years collect into decades, as the breath of life distills to a box of artifacts. Terri Lewis puts the first half of the 20th century in your pocket. History, in her telling, grows alive and vibrant."––John Cotter, author of Under the Small Lights and Losing Music

"This novella’s strength is its subtlety, its expansiveness, and its rootedness in details that are concrete, particular, and significant. This is a beautiful story, a slow and deliberate take on the ways youth and innocence get warped and sacrificed to harsh reality—whether that be a gregarious young man whose effervescence is warped by warfare or a young woman whose craving for love shows her how much love she has to give."––Amina Gautier, author of The Best at You Can Do and Now We Will Be Happy, Final judge, 2025 Miami University Press Novella Prize

"...moves with the swift voracity of a Jean Echenoz story, threshing the stories of its characters in the way life would have threshed so many in their generation (and so many in our own): through...

Marketing Plan

To learn more about the author, and to see the family mementos which partially inspired the book, visit terrilewis1.com

Available Editions

EDITION	Paperback
ISBN	9781881163763
PRICE	$17.00 (USD)
PAGES	152

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Additional Information

Average rating from 3 members

Featured Reviews

reviewer 0, Media/Journalist

The shorter novella length works perfectly for this story, which moves at a nice pace and keeps the reader’s attention from page one. The setting (Kansas) and time period (1919) are expertly conveyed. The author has clearly done her research, but, thankfully, she never lets her research get in the way of the story. Rather, she uses just the right amount of detail to immerse the reader fully into each scene. Edith and Milton are multi-layered characters who won my heart. I enjoyed following along their harrowing journey. Edith, in particular, demonstrates incredible strength in situations which might have caused another person to give up.

This is an emotional portrait of war’s long shadow and the lengths to which we will go for those whom we love.

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

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Librarian 1775997

When They Came Home by Terri Lewis is a compelling and emotional story that explores the lasting impact of the past and the complicated process of healing. The author does a great job building a sense of tension and mystery early on, drawing you into the characters’ lives and the secrets they carry.

The strength of the book lies in its character development. The relationships feel authentic, with moments of vulnerability and resilience that make the story resonate. There’s a thoughtful exploration of themes like forgiveness, family bonds, and the weight of long-held truths.

A moving and absorbing novel for readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of mystery and emotional complexity.