The Fifth Avenue Story Society

by Rachel Hauck

Paperback, 2020

Status

Available

Call number

F HAU

Collection

Fiction

Call number

F HAU

Genres

Publication

Thomas Nelson (2020), 400 pages

Description

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.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member CoverLoverBookReview

What an intriguing book! The premise of five strangers coming together by an anonymous invitation was enough to hook me.

The Fifth avenue Story Society brings these five very unique people together. No one can figure out who sent the invitations, but they end up meeting week after week anyway.

Chuck, Ed, Jett, Coral, and Lexa are each dealing with traumas and I cared about them, their gatherings, and the way they dealt with their ordeals. I connected with each character and found their stories quite captivating.

As always, Rachel Hauck’s character development is spot on. She created a world filled with believable characters and a story with a beautiful, spiritual thread. Wonderful storytelling.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

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LibraryThing member Constant2m

Rachel Hauck never disappoints and her latest book, The Fifth Avenue Story Society, is no exception. I was excited to get an ARC copy of the book and was so intrigued by the story, that I stayed up half the night reading. Granted, I was a bit tired at work today, but it was so worth it!

The Fifth

Avenue Story Society was different than Hauck's other books. Instead of focusing on romance, this was a bit of a mystery (of course, there was romance too). Five individuals who have nothing in common receive private invitations to a meeting at a historic building. No one knows what the meeting is about, but they all show up, beginning a strange friendship among all of them. For each of the participants, this group was what they needed, but as their stories unfold over the course of the book, nothing is what it seems. Additionally, instead of placing faith in God front and center to the story, it snuck up on me in a way that seemed genuine and made me wonder why I had missed it from the start. There is also a theme of providence, or as Jett likes to say Kismet. I don't think anything in the story is actually coincidence however. God seems to be working behind the scenes, orchestrating all things according to his divine plan.

I received a free ARC copy of this book from NetGalley and reviewed it voluntarily.

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LibraryThing member Harley0326

The author has written a very emotional book that pulls the layers back from five characters. Each one has something that is holding them back from being content. I loved when they all got together in the group and wondered who brought them together and why. That is the beauty of this story where

each character gets a staring role to let readers look deep inside and feel their emptiness. From the depths of emotion the author gathers five people from different backgrounds and places them in a room where lives will be changed.
Each person in the story is mesmerizing and yet holds deep secrets. I couldn’t put the book down as I began to know each character. I was filled with hope as the story began to chip away from their heart that had been hurt. The author has written a story that I will not forget. These five people meet in a room and as they grow closer each week we get to experience loss, unspoken love, rejection, fear and most of all God’s love. I think my favorite character was Ed. His story was heartbreaking yet taught me about loving the unloved. He is a true example of loving someone unconditionally. As he begins to share his story, I could feel him being set free.
Throughout the story the author shows how hard it is for a person to ask for help. They each want to hold back and pretend everything is fine. Within that room, many tears are shed and healing begins. I think we could all use a group like the one in the story. Guilt consumes some of the characters and I really liked how the author reminds us that “the truth will set you free.” I won’t spoil the book because each character brings a story that could be our own story. It made me look at my life differently. All the lies that the enemy has whispered to me over the years that I was never wanted was a lie. I was always wanted by my Heavenly Father.
“Doesn’t make you less strong to need and accept help.”

I received an arc copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

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LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson

I thought The Fifth Avenue Story Society was an inspiring story. The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck has five people receiving invitations to join the Fifth Avenue Story Society on Monday at 9 p.m. at the Fifth Avenue Literary Society Library in the Bower Room. Lexa, Jett, Chuck, Coral

and Ed all show up and enjoy the cozy atmosphere of the Bower Room. It is like stepping back into the nineteenth century. No one knows why they received the invitations or who sent them. After the first meeting, they all agree to return the following week. Each week this diverse group of individuals meet and begin to share their lives. Each one of them has something in their past that continues to haunt them. To bare ones most innermost secrets takes time and trust. Each one of them has a story to tell. As they share their stories, it will heal their hearts and souls. The Fifth Avenue Story Society is a charming story. I enjoyed reading every word. I thought The Fifth Avenue Story Society was well-written with developed characters. Jett Wilder is an associate professor of English at New York College who has been working on his dissertation. Jett has not been the same since the death of his brother, Storm. Coral Winthrop owns CCW Cosmetics and is known as the runaway bride. She was to marry Prince Augustus of Lauchtenland, but she backed out on their wedding day. No one know why and everyone wants to know. She is also having trouble with her company. Chuck Mays is an Uber driver who is divorced and unable to see his twin children. He misses them terribly and is ashamed of the reason why he cannot visit them. Ed Marshall wants to write about the love of his life. He has trouble getting the story down on paper. Lexa Wilder is executive assistant to Zane Breas who owns ZB Enterprises. Lexa does the work of a CEO and wants the open position for herself. Lexa just needs to ask Zane. She is also the ex-wife of Jett whom she still loves. Five diverse people come together in the Bower Room each week. As they get to know each other, they look forward to the meetings where they share their lives and food. The story alternates POV between the five characters. The story flows beautifully from person to person as we get to know them and what they are hiding. We learn about their struggles, their hopes, aspirations and their secrets. I enjoyed the description of the Bower Room with all the wonderful books, the fireplace, and the beautiful furniture. I wanted to snuggle in one of the chairs with one of the books from the shelves. I like how everything the story came together for a special ending. My favorite line from the book is, “Every day we tell, listen to, live and breathe stories.” Rachel Hauck weaved a heartwarming and uplifting tale.

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LibraryThing member fcplcataloger

A college professor who suffers guilt about the death of his brother. The professor's ex-wife. A grieving widower longing for the perfect love story. An heiress in danger of losing her cosmetic company. A divorced father who yearns to be a part of his children's life. These five people are invited

to join a story society and their lives will never be the same because their hearts and souls are about to be stripped bare. As they continue to meet weekly, we learn their secrets, we see how they all have been in denial about their lives, and we witness the seeds of friendship being planted and nurtured.

Author Rachel Hauck has created some fascinating characters and as I read about their failures, their hurts, and their secret lives, I was reminded that pretending is a common trait. If we humans can't have perfection in reality, we may seek it in our fantasies. These five individuals who attended the first meeting of the Fifth Avenue Story Society in August had no way of knowing that by the next March they would have experienced 'Hope...second chances....living through the storms of life' and that faith, forgiveness, and redemption would be theirs to claim. Honesty would set them free because, as one character observed, "Funny thing about the truth; it opened as many doors as it closed."

This is an inspiring and heartwarming story and I found myself completely immersed in learning more about The Fifth Avenue Story Society.

I received a copy from the author and publisher but I wasn't required to write a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.

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LibraryThing member Virginia51

This was a book I did not want to put down. I loved the five people that get an invitation to join a story society. Each of these people have been living a lie and they need help to confess what is wrong. I love how they became friends even though they were all so different. There were a few twists

and turns as we learned each of the characters truths. I also loved the romance. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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LibraryThing member coastandanchor

Intrigue. Mystery. Perspective. Relationship. Each of these words is how I would describe The Fifth Avenue Story Society. It begins with an invitation being sent to five individuals who are as different as they can be. The invitation is to attend a Story Society which is as ambiguous as the

invitation itself. Who sent it? Why did they receive it? Is there a connection? Those are the questions that will be discovered throughout the pages of book.

It's not a fast paced mystery or suspense book, nor is it a riveting romance. I think I would describe it like a Sunday afternoon drive after church down the old country roads - like in the movies because who does this anymore. Or maybe like a long stroll down the beach where you let every sound, smell and touch sink into the depths of your soul. With the turn of every page you learn more about the characters pasts, current situations and hidden woes. Relationships between characters begin to develop as you see the layers of hurt, mistrust, anger and facades exposed. Perspectives shift with every passing week but the mystery is still looming - because what is a Story Society anyway. No spoilers here, so you will just have to read it for the answers to all of these questions.

The storyline is so deep and thought out, as well as being unique and powerful. It is definitely a book that I will go back and read again, because I know I will find more truths and wisdom the second time through. It's also a book that will make you think about the people you encounter in your every day path and maybe even give you a new lens to see them through. If you haven't already figured it out, I highly recommend reading The Fifth Avenue Story Society.

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LibraryThing member alekee

A book to get lost in, could be a Hallmark movie, and we are guessing right to the end.
Five people are each given invitations to a library at the Fifth Avenue Story Society, strangers, some are some were previously married, and two spent the night in jail together, but why are they here? Curiosity,

yes, and yet they keep coming.
There are a lot of deep seeded problems that the folks are holding, and will this new group of now friends be able to help one another? The secrets that fall, most I never saw coming, yes, there are big surprises here, and now I wonder if more invites to needy souls will be forthcoming?
I love books with epilogues, and this one sure didn’t disappoint!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson and CelebrateLit, and was not required to give a positive review.

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LibraryThing member hes7

Five strangers receive a mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society. As they meet (and then, week after week, continue to meet) to discover the purpose behind the invitation, they soon discover that their time together is exactly what they never knew they needed.

I love a story that

brings people together for reasons they do not know. The Fifth Avenue Story Society reminded me of And Then There Were None in that way—but obviously without all the murder. Instead, it offers much more hope as the characters share their lives, learn from one another, and find some much-needed second chances. Experiencing the society at their side made me so, so happy.

Definitely read The Fifth Avenue Story Society.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

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LibraryThing member Anne_Rightler

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.

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LibraryThing member arthistorychick

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck
Source: NetGalley and Thomas Nelson
Rating: 4½/5 stars

**MINI-REVIEW**

The Bottom Line: I generally like Rachel Hauck’s offerings, but I especially liked this book. In this instance, Hauck brought together, in a most mysterious way, five broken souls

looking for a way back to happiness. For Lexa and Jett, it’s a matter of both personal and professional issues, for Coral it is predominately professional, and for Ed and Chuck, it is most definitely personal. All five members of the previously unknown Fifth Avenue Story Society have no idea why they have been brought together or by whom, but they know they need one another. As the weeks go by, each member of the Society becomes a bit more comfortable with the others and more willing to open up and share their respective stories. Each meeting offers each member a bit more confidence and courage to go into their next week and continue to face the issues that are plaguing their lives and keeping them from true happiness. Outside of one thing – the true identity of Gilda – I enjoyed every aspect of this read. I am always going to be a sucker for broken souls coming together and overcoming their issues. Hauck really delivers with this book and of all the books of her’s I’ve read, this one stands as my absolute favorite and it’s going to a truly special book to knock this one from the top spot.

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LibraryThing member LadyoftheLodge

Five people, five lives that are about to cross in unexpected and surprising ways; this makes up the main thread of the story. Lexa, Jett, Ed, Coral, and Chuck receive invitations to meet for a "story society." As they get to know each other, enjoying conversation and food each week, the society

becomes more important for each of them. Untold secrets and underlying truths are revealed in the weekly meetings, leading up to the final crashing conclusion. This story has enough twists and turns for any reader, maintaining interest until the final page is reached. The epilogue wraps it all up in a happy ending, but not until the characters experience a roller-coaster ride of experiences and emotions.

This was a book that I could not put down and kept me reading into the night time hours. The Christian message is overt and churchy, but not preachy or judgmental. Each reader is left to find the underlying message in the story along with the characters. Highly recommended and clean read.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

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LibraryThing member medwards429

Thank you in advance to TNZ Fiction/Thomas Nelson and Prism Book Tours for providing a complimentary review. A positive review was not required. All words and thoughts are my own.

I didn’t know quite what to expect from this story. Was it a love story, coming of age, crisis of conscience, or

mid-life crisis?

I was interested in the idea of five complete strangers being invited to a “story society” in a posh library. Two of the five are exes which made this quite interesting from the beginning.

But, why them? What did they have in common? Why were they invited to this “society”? No one has heard of this society, let alone who sent the invites.

The five characters seem to be in some crisis in their lives. And, despite the initial rough meeting, they decide they should continue to show up even though they don’t know why they’re there or who invited them.

The story is told in third person with five (5) POVs – Alexa, Jett, Chuck, Ed, and Coral. And, each one of the characters are deeply, realistically flawed.

Alexa (Prescott-Wilder) thinks she is CEO material and trying hard to get the much-deserved promotion she wants at work. She also happens to be Jett’s ex-wife. She receives her invite while at work.

Jett Wilder – Alexa’s ex-husband, and literature professor. He is doing a dissertation on a childhood literary figure who he feels may be a fraud. Has an overnight stay in jail, meets Chuck there. Gets invite in his “stuff”.

Chuck Mays – A divorced Über driver who has a TRO against him that bars him from seeing his kids; losing custody battle. Met Jett overnight in jail. Invite on his car.

Ed Marshall – A 70 year old widower who is trying to write about his wife, the love of his life. The two were only married for less than 10 years before she died. Unknown how he got his invite.

Coral Winthrop – The figure of CCW Cosmetics which her grandmother started. Coral is also nicknamed “The Panicked Princess” for calling off her wedding at the last minute to a prince. Her company is seemingly “tanking” without a known reason. Unknown how she got her invite.

It starts off slow in the beginning and I struggled to get into it, but by chapter 21 – it starts picking up.

I found myself not being able to put it down. I was starting to get drawn in by not only the characters’ present, but their past. They also begin to find their own “life stories” within their unlikely friendship, and their situations. As I was reading, I was trying to navigate the plot of this – what exactly was this novel? Was it a second-chance romance? So, I was trying to read and figure it out. The cover reminds me of a cozy mystery or romance.

An accident sidelines Alexa who has to rely on her ex-husband for care. And, during this time they begin to get close to each other. I was cheering for their reconciliation.

That wasn’t the only romantic aspect either – one man was reconciling the loss of his marriage, one had run from a wedding, and one was still in mourning for his lost love. That was another thing about this novel – the different aspects and “places” of love.

Most of the novel plays out with alternating each person’s POV.

In addition, Hauck added two mystery elements – Coral’s company and whether or not Jett’s literary idol was a fraud. Though I was more interested in Coral’s “drama”.

I found Coral’s situation more interesting – her CFO (chief financial officer) and CEO (chief executive officer) are telling her the company is floundering, which on the surface it looks like it is – despite what Coral has heard. And, especially when Lexa brings something to light.

Lexa is also dealing with her boss “using her” and not recognizing what she brings to it.

This book was heart-breaking, frustrating, and touching to read. It even had a haunting sadness to it. Still, there were elements of hope and even some humor. One such quote in particular:

“I was hatched by under a magnolia tree and raised by squirrels in the park. My grandmother happened upon me one day and carried me up to my mother to raise as a pet” – Coral when being asked about her parents.

[That line appeared in the ARC – and I hope it made it to the finished version.]

I deeply enjoyed the music references: Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, and Gladys Knight to name a few. As I loved Fleetwood Mac’s music since I was a child, this was a treat to see the group mentioned. Even a TV show I liked as a teenager got a mention.

My heart nearly broke at one point when it looked like everything was falling apart. Yet, at the end, everything came together and in a beautiful way. I also enjoyed the subtle role that Gilda played in everything.

As far as who sent the invites … that’s a mystery for another day.

This is published by Thomas Nelson’s fiction line, and they are a Christian based publisher. There were very few Christian references until around chapter 30 when one of the characters shared about what role that Jesus played in their decision.

This is also a very clean read with symbols used in place of an actual curse/vulgar word.

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LibraryThing member KimPotter

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck is a stand-alone story. Five strangers receive an invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society. Each hurting in their own way, and each with the ability to help the others if they will all just trust each other. This book started out with so much

potential. It was a great story-line. The characters were so human and the interaction was believable. Then the author had to throw in things that could have been left out, love-making, innuendo, drinking, making it more of a secular read than a Christian. To tell you the truth I’d be embarrassed for my daughters to read this book.

I received this book Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.

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LibraryThing member Penny_L

I mistakenly got this book instead of The Lions of Fifth Ave. And what a pleasant mistake it was!
This novel has an interesting mix of characters brought together by a mysterious invitation to a historic library. As they meet once a week, their personal stories begin to unfold. Each story is told

separately and intersect only at the library. It's during these weekly meetings their friendships are formed and they try to solve the mystery of the invitations.
Wonderfully detailed, this light story has well developed characters with a minor christian theme (but it's not overbearing).
This book would be a good "beach read". It's undemanding with a clean storyline. Easy to pick up and just enjoy.

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