Review: What The Heart Carries by Susan Appel

Synopsis:

Stephanie grew up cherished yet haunted by questions no one would answer. Carmine’s life, in contrast, was marked by tumult, loss, and an unrelenting search for belonging. They lived as strangers, unaware of each other’s existence-until fate, and a single phone call, brought the truth crashing in. Their discovery binds them together in an instant, altering everything. “What the Heart Carries” traces their breathtaking discovery and the devastating tragedy that followed.

At once a story of grief and redemption, this book asks: How do we begin to heal when everything we know is torn apart? Spanning from Brooklyn’s tight-knit neighborhoods to the sun-soaked streets of Florida, this is a powerful novel of family secrets, faith, and the unbreakable ties of blood. Inspired by true events, it is a story that will linger in your heart long after the final page.

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This book touched a deep part of my heart and it is going to stay there forever. I still have tears in my eyes even writing this review. I have experienced a loss in my own life that this story resonated with so deeply, and there were moments I genuinely could not keep reading because I was crying too hard.

If grief never fully let go, would you rather hold onto it tightly, or keep chasing the moments of light in between?

The Story

Stephanie grew up cherished yet haunted by questions no one would answer. Carmine’s life, in contrast, was marked by tumult, loss, and an unrelenting search for belonging. They lived as strangers, unaware of each other’s existence, until fate and a single phone call brought the truth crashing in. Their discovery binds them together in an instant, altering everything, and What the Heart Carries traces their breathtaking discovery and the devastating tragedy that followed. Spanning from Brooklyn’s tight knit neighborhoods to the sun soaked streets of Florida, this is a story of family secrets, faith, and the unbreakable ties of blood, inspired by true events.

Reading Experience

I was swept up in the story right from the start. The whirlwind that was their life kept me fully engrossed in every chapter. My whole heart opened up to these characters, and I felt every hope and every pain right alongside them.

Writing Style

This book does not shy away from how raw and messy real grief and real life can be. It lets its characters be flawed and human, and that honesty is exactly what makes it hit so hard.

Characters

These characters had such life breathing through them. They were so real and raw, with high highs and low lows and so many rollercoasters in between. I felt deeply for them and wanted so much for them. I do not know if I have ever held a fictional family more deeply in my heart than this one.

Heartbeat

At its core, this book is about loss and grief, and the way it sinks into you and holds on tight, sometimes never fully leaving. But it is also about finding ways to see the light again, finding the things that bring you joy and give you hope for better days ahead.

Final Thoughts

This one is for readers who love deeply human characters living through very rough lives and real losses. It is achingly real, and it will absolutely stay with you.

Paperback provided by the author. All thoughts are my own.

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Susan Appel is the author of What the Heart Carries: One Secret, Two Lives, a debut novel inspired by her own family’s story of loss, faith and restoration. She writes with honesty and heart, exploring themes of identity, grief, and the enduring bonds of family. Susan believes deeply in the power of words to heal, to connect, and to remind us that even in life’s darkest seasons, hope can be found. She cherishes quiet moments and laughter-filled days at the Jersey Shore with her husband and two children. Susan finds joy in simple traditions, lasting friendships, and the spiritual journey that continues to guide her steps.