To Belong Together by Emily Conrad | Review

I just finished an early copy of Emily Conrad’s new novel To Belong Together (a Rhythms of Redemption Romance) and I think it’s my favorite of Emily’s books so far! It releases February 28th, 2022—Contemporary Christian Romance readers, add this one to your to-be-read-pile.

Back Cover

Fame and money have a way of complicating love.

Drummer John Kennedy can keep a beat, but he can’t hold a conversation, so he relies on actions to show he cares. Unfortunately, when he’s instantly intrigued by a spunky female mechanic, he can’t seem to convey the sincerity of his intentions. And the rejections don’t stop there. His own sister is pushing him away just when he could help her most.

Erin Hirsh’s life would be easier if God hadn’t given her a love for cars. Only her father understood her, and she’s losing him to dementia. Her brief romances have always backfired worse than a mistuned engine, and she refuses to give John the chance to wreck her heart. A rock star with a supermodel ex can’t possibly see anything in her.

At least that’s what she thinks until they find common ground in faith and their worsening family situations leave them each longing for a place to belong. Could God intend for this pair of opposites to belong together?

My Review

As with all the novels Emily Conrad writes (that I’ve read so far), she always tackles at least one hard moral issue. She does it so well. To avoid spoilers, I’ll have to keep you guessing on what that might be. I just love her faith threads, woven seamlessly and beautifully.

Conrad had so many layers piled into this story. For one, in To Belong Together, Erin Hirsh’s father has been diagnosed with dementia. I thought Emily Conrad painted this painful part of the story so well. My grandmother had dementia, so this is a very personal topic for me—and for so many of us.

Erin Hirsh and John Kennedy (yes, Kennedy 😉 ) were very well developed characters. Both on a journey back from hurts that life brought their way. These two are a good match and complimented each other so well. They are easy characters to cheer for, and that includes cheering for their love story. A beautiful one, at that.

From great comic relief, to heartfelt drama, to brokenness restored, Emily Conrad did a fabulous job with To Belong Together. This is a good time mention that if you liked the co-author series by Karen Kingsbury and Gary Smalley Baxter Family Drama – Redemption, you really need to read Emily Conrad’s series, Rhythms of Redemption. I think you’ll love it.

You can pre-order your copy of To Belong Together on amazon.ca and amazon.com. This delightfully written Christian contemporary romance releases February 28, 2022.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

About the Author

Emily Conrad writes contemporary Christian romance that explores life’s relevant questions. Though she likes to think some of her characters are pretty great, the ultimate hero of her stories (including the one she’s living) is Jesus. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and their energetic coonhound rescue. Learn more about her and her books at emilyconradauthor.com.