What do you think?
Rate this book
The Memories We Painted
Pennsylvania, 1936. Six-year-old Josie Carter never expects to wake up one morning in a hospital bed with a chronic health paralytic poliomyelitis. Being so young, Josie doesn’t understand what this means for her, but she soon discovers that she will spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair, battling for her health. While Josie reels from the bitter loss of her health, her mom helps her find something she can do despite what she now can’t. In the process, Josie discovers something she most likely wouldn’t have if not for her health diagnosis.
New York, 1951. Now a young adult, Josie sets out for a small town in New York to stay at her aunt and cousin’s unoccupied home for the summer. While there, Josie is offered two unexpected a job and a friendship with her neighbor’s son. But blessings and setbacks go hand in hand, and when life deals Josie a devastating blow, it brings her to another unexpected place in life—one that changes her forever.
New York, 1951. Now a young adult, Josie sets out for a small town in New York to stay at her aunt and cousin’s unoccupied home for the summer. While there, Josie is offered two unexpected a job and a friendship with her neighbor’s son. But blessings and setbacks go hand in hand, and when life deals Josie a devastating blow, it brings her to another unexpected place in life—one that changes her forever.
367 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 8, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
April 29, 2022
The Memories We Painted is evocative as much as it is moving. Miller writes with lyrical proficiency and depth, mixing grief and hope on its palette and painting something stunningly beautiful. With strong family ties and themes of stalwart friendship and unconditional love, this novel is breathless, inspiring, and timeless. I’m eager to read what Miller will write next!
THIS BOOK. I have no words except for that I LOVED it. From top to bottom. Caitlin Miller is an excellent storyteller with a profound depth and beauty breathed onto every page. I was touched and brought to near tears. This is an excellent debut novel, and I eagerly await anything else Miller dishes out next!
THIS BOOK. I have no words except for that I LOVED it. From top to bottom. Caitlin Miller is an excellent storyteller with a profound depth and beauty breathed onto every page. I was touched and brought to near tears. This is an excellent debut novel, and I eagerly await anything else Miller dishes out next!
June 25, 2022
I think some of my heart's over here. *sniffs* Y'all, this book made me FEEL things. It was beautiful, inspiring, heartwrenching...
*sniffs* I'll be okay.
*sobs into tissues when I think no one's looking*
Full review to come!
*sniffs* I'll be okay.
*sobs into tissues when I think no one's looking*
Full review to come!
March 9, 2022
What a debut! Like the gradual unveiling of a masterpiece, Miller paints a story rich in imagery and feeling that is equal parts hopeful and heart-wrenching, lighthearted and weighty, delightful and realistic.
Characters: Josie was such a gentle, beautiful soul. I loved being inside her head—her character voice was so soft and comforting. On every page, I felt like I was actually stepping into her shoes and experiencing the story alongside her. My heart broke for her intense pain and loss, and yet I deeply admired how she didn’t let her handicap stop her, but kept fighting for her dreams.
The only part that bothered me was how easily she accepted it. Yes, she struggled with the shock somewhat, but I would have liked to see her really wrestle with the bitterness and loss that comes along with such a life-changing handicap. While I admired her faith in God, most of us would likely experience more anger and bitterness than she did. In the end, I would have liked to see more nuance and complexity in her faith journey, to see her reach a point of wanting to give up, but choosing not to.
However, the rest of the story far made up for any lack in that area. Sophie was a dear—the best kind of friend to Josie. And Will . . . he and Josie were perfect for each other. I loved how he had a unique connection with her because of his own handicap, but that he could also be there to support and strengthen her in other ways—just like she did for him.
Plot: The slower pacing lent to a vintage feel to the book overall, but in no way did it ever feel boring or drawn out. I loved the strong family theme and the cozy, small-town vibe to it.
The flashbacks were well done and never detracted from the pace of the story, but added more and more depth as the story progressed. I did feel like some of the inner dialogue of six-year-old Josie seemed far more mature than what most six-year-olds would be able to put into words, befitting more an eleven or twelve-year-old. But I loved getting a glimpse into Josie’s past and my heart ached for everything she’d gone through.
I never saw the twists coming, especially the second one. And each time I thought things were getting better, Catie would shatter my heart into a million pieces again (I mean that in the best way possible, Catie! ;).
Prose: Catie has such a gift for words. Her way of stringing words and phrases and sentences together is just breathtaking. It was almost like reading poetry. There were so many quote-worthy paragraphs that it was hard to choose just a few to highlight, but here are some of my favorites:
“Too many moments slip by when waiting for the most beautiful kind of beauty before painting the simplest kind of beauty all around.”
“I wasn’t holding on to the bad memories, but I wasn’t letting go of them, either. Because letting go means forgetting—and I didn’t want to forget the things that had hurt me because they were the same ones that made me stronger. Braver. Instilled a stubbornness in me that kept me going, fighting, pushing through.”
“You don’t have to tell a person you love them every single day for them to know that you do. Love is fragile, but it doesn’t break that easily. And if it does, then it’s not love. She knew you loved her . . . she knew.”
The emotions of the characters came out so vividly and poignantly that I couldn’t help but feel like I was the one experiencing them. Especially towards the end, there was more than one time when I was blinking away tears of my own and smiling as Josie found hope even in the ashes of her pain.
Themes: Catie did a fantastic job developing the themes of family, trust, and purpose in a simple yet rich way. In many ways, this story held the simplicity of middle grade and yet also the profound depth of adult fiction. Catie doesn’t shy away from portraying all the ugliness and daily mundane of living with a handicap, and yet she presents an eternal, undying hope you don’t often find in “realistic” fiction.
If you’ve ever experienced loss or you’re walking alongside someone who is, this book is for you. Through Josie’s heartbreak and loss, you’ll learned how to trust God even through immense pain, to let go of your plans for God’s plans, to be brave and step out into the unknown, and most of all, to always hold onto hope because life is worth fighting for.
I promise you, this is a book that will stick with you long after you’ve put it down!
Characters: Josie was such a gentle, beautiful soul. I loved being inside her head—her character voice was so soft and comforting. On every page, I felt like I was actually stepping into her shoes and experiencing the story alongside her. My heart broke for her intense pain and loss, and yet I deeply admired how she didn’t let her handicap stop her, but kept fighting for her dreams.
The only part that bothered me was how easily she accepted it. Yes, she struggled with the shock somewhat, but I would have liked to see her really wrestle with the bitterness and loss that comes along with such a life-changing handicap. While I admired her faith in God, most of us would likely experience more anger and bitterness than she did. In the end, I would have liked to see more nuance and complexity in her faith journey, to see her reach a point of wanting to give up, but choosing not to.
However, the rest of the story far made up for any lack in that area. Sophie was a dear—the best kind of friend to Josie. And Will . . . he and Josie were perfect for each other. I loved how he had a unique connection with her because of his own handicap, but that he could also be there to support and strengthen her in other ways—just like she did for him.
Plot: The slower pacing lent to a vintage feel to the book overall, but in no way did it ever feel boring or drawn out. I loved the strong family theme and the cozy, small-town vibe to it.
The flashbacks were well done and never detracted from the pace of the story, but added more and more depth as the story progressed. I did feel like some of the inner dialogue of six-year-old Josie seemed far more mature than what most six-year-olds would be able to put into words, befitting more an eleven or twelve-year-old. But I loved getting a glimpse into Josie’s past and my heart ached for everything she’d gone through.
I never saw the twists coming, especially the second one. And each time I thought things were getting better, Catie would shatter my heart into a million pieces again (I mean that in the best way possible, Catie! ;).
Prose: Catie has such a gift for words. Her way of stringing words and phrases and sentences together is just breathtaking. It was almost like reading poetry. There were so many quote-worthy paragraphs that it was hard to choose just a few to highlight, but here are some of my favorites:
“Too many moments slip by when waiting for the most beautiful kind of beauty before painting the simplest kind of beauty all around.”
“I wasn’t holding on to the bad memories, but I wasn’t letting go of them, either. Because letting go means forgetting—and I didn’t want to forget the things that had hurt me because they were the same ones that made me stronger. Braver. Instilled a stubbornness in me that kept me going, fighting, pushing through.”
“You don’t have to tell a person you love them every single day for them to know that you do. Love is fragile, but it doesn’t break that easily. And if it does, then it’s not love. She knew you loved her . . . she knew.”
The emotions of the characters came out so vividly and poignantly that I couldn’t help but feel like I was the one experiencing them. Especially towards the end, there was more than one time when I was blinking away tears of my own and smiling as Josie found hope even in the ashes of her pain.
Themes: Catie did a fantastic job developing the themes of family, trust, and purpose in a simple yet rich way. In many ways, this story held the simplicity of middle grade and yet also the profound depth of adult fiction. Catie doesn’t shy away from portraying all the ugliness and daily mundane of living with a handicap, and yet she presents an eternal, undying hope you don’t often find in “realistic” fiction.
If you’ve ever experienced loss or you’re walking alongside someone who is, this book is for you. Through Josie’s heartbreak and loss, you’ll learned how to trust God even through immense pain, to let go of your plans for God’s plans, to be brave and step out into the unknown, and most of all, to always hold onto hope because life is worth fighting for.
I promise you, this is a book that will stick with you long after you’ve put it down!
November 15, 2022
Full review to come soon, after I’ve had some time to process my thoughts and write them down. But for now, just know it’s a very well-written, heartfelt book that will touch your soul and encourage your spirit!
The actual review (8 months later, but who’s counting 🙃):
If I could use just one word to describe this book, it would be “heartfelt”. Every single line of every single page was a testament to the care, thought, and heart that the author, Caitlin Miller, put into it. The story itself was so unique and needed, as disabled characters are painfully underrepresented in fiction in general. But, beyond that, every sentence was carefully crafted to tell a beautiful tale of how God redeems every single piece of our stories. He doesn’t always step in with the quick fix to our problems, but He gives us the strength to make it through them.
Josie was a character of profound depth. The novel often lets the reader into Josie’s mind so that we can see things from her perspective and read what she’s thinking. I loved this, as it really showed us the heart of the character and makes it nearly impossible not to love her sweet and generous soul. My one criticism on this is that, in the scenes that flashback to Josie’s childhood, the thoughts Josie thinks as a child do not feel appropriate to me. I’ve personally never met a child who thinks with such clarity, logic, compassion, and understanding as young Josie does in this book.
That being said, the prose in this book is extremely well done, almost to the point of being overwhelming in some places. Nearly every page had some quotable bit of wisdom or other. Seriously, this might be the most quotable/underlinable book I’ve ever read! If you’re looking for a book that will sweep you away with words and heal the deep places of your heart, this is the book for you! It’s overflowing with hope and beauty!
The actual review (8 months later, but who’s counting 🙃):
If I could use just one word to describe this book, it would be “heartfelt”. Every single line of every single page was a testament to the care, thought, and heart that the author, Caitlin Miller, put into it. The story itself was so unique and needed, as disabled characters are painfully underrepresented in fiction in general. But, beyond that, every sentence was carefully crafted to tell a beautiful tale of how God redeems every single piece of our stories. He doesn’t always step in with the quick fix to our problems, but He gives us the strength to make it through them.
Josie was a character of profound depth. The novel often lets the reader into Josie’s mind so that we can see things from her perspective and read what she’s thinking. I loved this, as it really showed us the heart of the character and makes it nearly impossible not to love her sweet and generous soul. My one criticism on this is that, in the scenes that flashback to Josie’s childhood, the thoughts Josie thinks as a child do not feel appropriate to me. I’ve personally never met a child who thinks with such clarity, logic, compassion, and understanding as young Josie does in this book.
That being said, the prose in this book is extremely well done, almost to the point of being overwhelming in some places. Nearly every page had some quotable bit of wisdom or other. Seriously, this might be the most quotable/underlinable book I’ve ever read! If you’re looking for a book that will sweep you away with words and heal the deep places of your heart, this is the book for you! It’s overflowing with hope and beauty!
May 12, 2022
How do I even begin to describe this beautiful book? It is truly a work of art from the heart.
The Memories We Painted is as encouraging as it is painful at times, digging into difficult themes of suffering and grief with Gospel-fueled comfort and highlighting the value and impact of friendship.
Caitlin Miller's writing is poetic and emotional, diving deep into Josie's point of view with down-to-earth authenticity and introspection. It is a cozy read that demands you take it slow, processing Josie's life with her-both the journey of her younger self and her present summer-offering a perspective of compassion and comfort in the midst of suffering. It is truly a character piece, exploring Josie's chronic illness and disability, pulling back the curtain to invite you into the everyday life of someone struggling to find hope in the midst of grieving the life they dreamed they’d have.
Josie, Sophie, and Will were all such inspiring characters, not because they always had the perfect answers or never hurt anyone, but because they were so relatable in their struggles, and showed how hope, forgiveness, and healing are possible, and why friendship is worth fighting for. Truly, I finished the book and almost started it over again back at the beginning just to experience their relationships all over again.
I also appreciated how Caitlin explored themes of the arts and decision making throughout the story in a more subtle way. Josie's own discovery of art, which grew into passion, then a calling which God used to encourage and inspire others, was a huge testimony to the power and importance of the arts. Josie was also faced several times throughout the story with big decisions, decisions where there was no right or wrong answer, there was simply a choice to be made. She set a great example for what it looks like to seek God's will and peace in times of decision making, and how God works through our choices when there is no “correct” answer.
On top of all of this, there were so many beautiful quotes in this book. Another reason I want to read it again: to write them all down and have them close at hand. This is truly a story of the heart that is sure to build compassion, provide comfort, and highlight hope, no matter who you are or what your situation is. Highly recommend for literally every single person alive.
The Memories We Painted is as encouraging as it is painful at times, digging into difficult themes of suffering and grief with Gospel-fueled comfort and highlighting the value and impact of friendship.
Caitlin Miller's writing is poetic and emotional, diving deep into Josie's point of view with down-to-earth authenticity and introspection. It is a cozy read that demands you take it slow, processing Josie's life with her-both the journey of her younger self and her present summer-offering a perspective of compassion and comfort in the midst of suffering. It is truly a character piece, exploring Josie's chronic illness and disability, pulling back the curtain to invite you into the everyday life of someone struggling to find hope in the midst of grieving the life they dreamed they’d have.
Josie, Sophie, and Will were all such inspiring characters, not because they always had the perfect answers or never hurt anyone, but because they were so relatable in their struggles, and showed how hope, forgiveness, and healing are possible, and why friendship is worth fighting for. Truly, I finished the book and almost started it over again back at the beginning just to experience their relationships all over again.
I also appreciated how Caitlin explored themes of the arts and decision making throughout the story in a more subtle way. Josie's own discovery of art, which grew into passion, then a calling which God used to encourage and inspire others, was a huge testimony to the power and importance of the arts. Josie was also faced several times throughout the story with big decisions, decisions where there was no right or wrong answer, there was simply a choice to be made. She set a great example for what it looks like to seek God's will and peace in times of decision making, and how God works through our choices when there is no “correct” answer.
On top of all of this, there were so many beautiful quotes in this book. Another reason I want to read it again: to write them all down and have them close at hand. This is truly a story of the heart that is sure to build compassion, provide comfort, and highlight hope, no matter who you are or what your situation is. Highly recommend for literally every single person alive.
August 21, 2022
I enjoyed this book and the ending was what tipped me from a 3.5 to a solid 4 star rating. But some disclaimers...I had about 4 or 5 ARCs that interrupted my read of this book (and became molding distracted once or twice with other books) so that is the reason it took me so long to finish, and I think the reason I felt the book dragged...so I'm not gonna say anything about that since that was probably my fault for reading other books before finishing this one. (Yes, I am a very scattered person).
So, for the review:
Characters:
I liked Josie and I liked Will...Alice was a dear! Overall, I enjoyed the characters...I think Will was my favorite, he just felt pretty real to me. But Alice was nice too...
I liked Josie and she was the MC but...I don't know...just didn't connect as well as I wanted which was probably just me.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
A very slow-burning friendship to romance, as in we don't really see the romance but more of the friendship that leads to it. If that makes sense?
Theme:
Living with a disability is not easy, but it should never hold you back from your dreams. Having a disability doesn't make you less of a person. (Theme sound sort of familiar? *glances at own book*) I really liked the message this book brought across, that ending was ripping my heart out. I mean, really ripped my heart and brought tears to my eyes. It was such a nice wrap-up to the whole book and really just beautiful how the author brought everything together.
Overall:
This was a really good book! The prose is beautiful! The author definitely has a gift for making us feel what the character is feeling, even though some of those scenes felt a little wordy...but not too bad.
The only things I wasn't a fan of were the way the phone calls were written...and, that's about it...yeah. I quite enjoyed this book!
So, for the review:
Characters:
I liked Josie and I liked Will...Alice was a dear! Overall, I enjoyed the characters...I think Will was my favorite, he just felt pretty real to me. But Alice was nice too...
I liked Josie and she was the MC but...I don't know...just didn't connect as well as I wanted which was probably just me.
Language:
N/A
Romance:
A very slow-burning friendship to romance, as in we don't really see the romance but more of the friendship that leads to it. If that makes sense?
Theme:
Living with a disability is not easy, but it should never hold you back from your dreams. Having a disability doesn't make you less of a person. (Theme sound sort of familiar? *glances at own book*) I really liked the message this book brought across, that ending was ripping my heart out. I mean, really ripped my heart and brought tears to my eyes. It was such a nice wrap-up to the whole book and really just beautiful how the author brought everything together.
Overall:
This was a really good book! The prose is beautiful! The author definitely has a gift for making us feel what the character is feeling, even though some of those scenes felt a little wordy...but not too bad.
The only things I wasn't a fan of were the way the phone calls were written...and, that's about it...yeah. I quite enjoyed this book!
March 12, 2022
3.75/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
The word that comes to my mind when I think of this book is ''inspiring''. This is a story of faith<3.
I love reading stories without reading the blurbs first. Yet, I remember many months ago that Caitlin told me a bit what her book was about and I was sooo excited!
The Memories We Painted is rich with little snippets of wisdom throughout the story. The MCs realtionship with her parents in this book is what I would describe as honoring, pure. lovely.
After reading so many books with bad roles models and poor family envirorments, this book was refreshing.
The plot got more and more interesting as the story progressed and I felt so nice while reading it <3. The characters were what sold me in the end. It made me so happy to see their growth and the courage it took to face their fears and strive to be better.
It is a slow story, I feel we might have had too many inner thoughts and descriptions, making it slower.
But besides that, I'm super impressed with Caitlins writing! It feels concise, well structured and has a nice flow to it :) Such a good debut novel and I'm looking forward to her future works!🥰
The word that comes to my mind when I think of this book is ''inspiring''. This is a story of faith<3.
I love reading stories without reading the blurbs first. Yet, I remember many months ago that Caitlin told me a bit what her book was about and I was sooo excited!
The Memories We Painted is rich with little snippets of wisdom throughout the story. The MCs realtionship with her parents in this book is what I would describe as honoring, pure. lovely.
After reading so many books with bad roles models and poor family envirorments, this book was refreshing.
The plot got more and more interesting as the story progressed and I felt so nice while reading it <3. The characters were what sold me in the end. It made me so happy to see their growth and the courage it took to face their fears and strive to be better.
It is a slow story, I feel we might have had too many inner thoughts and descriptions, making it slower.
But besides that, I'm super impressed with Caitlins writing! It feels concise, well structured and has a nice flow to it :) Such a good debut novel and I'm looking forward to her future works!🥰
July 27, 2022
The Memories We Painted is a beautiful, gentle, and emotional book that will warm your heart and inspire you to keep going during even the most difficult of times. The afterword at the end is what really did it for me. I love when there is a deep personal connection between the storyline and the story writer. This one will tug at your heart strings for sure!!
July 27, 2022
This was such a beautiful story of faith through trial and suffering and a great reminder of where God is in all of that. As someone who has spent her life struggling with the limitations my own mental health struggles can put on life it was comforting to read the words of someone who understands and makes you feel seen.
If you struggle with any sort of disability, whether physical or mental, or if someone in your life struggles and want to understand a little more, I highly encourage you to read this book!
If you struggle with any sort of disability, whether physical or mental, or if someone in your life struggles and want to understand a little more, I highly encourage you to read this book!
March 26, 2022
Oh, the beauty of words!!
Every single word in this book is just beautiful. I could tell the author thought about every word she wrote, and poured her precious heart onto the paper.
This story is so heartfelt, so raw, so relatable, so real. The struggles are real, the friendships are sweet, the lessons are incredible, and the entire storyline is absolutely captivating. I couldn't stop reading! The chapter are short and every one of them ends with a beautiful thought it just made me keep turning the pages. I read an average of 80-90 pages every night, and thought about it all during the day.
I especially love how this book has so many personal experiences and lessons from the author. I believe that is what makes it so beautiful, so precious. I keep used the word beautiful, I know...but it totally is. You just need to read it for yourself.
I especially enjoyed the writing style and it being in first person, as I feel like I really got to know the character's heart. Josie Carter is a character that I'll carry in my heart a long time, as well as her cousin Sophie, and the copper-haired boy, Will. I thought it was so sweet and brought a smile to my face every time the author used "the copper-haired boy" instead of using Will's name. It made him so endearing. And I loved the way the author ended the story. Oh, and Josie's courage, strength, bravery and selflessness was so inspiring and encouraging.
If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. I can say with complete appreciation, there is not a single thing in this book I could find issue with. It is 100% clean, and I would even pass it onto my younger sister without worrying a bit. Yet, it is so deep for any age to enjoy. And I encourage all to read it, truly! This is the kind of books we need to be filling our minds with. The Memories We Painted proves a book doesn't have to compromise values, use language, or be unclean to make a "write-home-worthy" deep novel.
I commend the author with a standing ovation, and I thank her for a gifted copy. All opinions are wholly my own, and I am thrilled to be able to share my thoughts with you, readers, and support an indie author.
Every single word in this book is just beautiful. I could tell the author thought about every word she wrote, and poured her precious heart onto the paper.
This story is so heartfelt, so raw, so relatable, so real. The struggles are real, the friendships are sweet, the lessons are incredible, and the entire storyline is absolutely captivating. I couldn't stop reading! The chapter are short and every one of them ends with a beautiful thought it just made me keep turning the pages. I read an average of 80-90 pages every night, and thought about it all during the day.
I especially love how this book has so many personal experiences and lessons from the author. I believe that is what makes it so beautiful, so precious. I keep used the word beautiful, I know...but it totally is. You just need to read it for yourself.
I especially enjoyed the writing style and it being in first person, as I feel like I really got to know the character's heart. Josie Carter is a character that I'll carry in my heart a long time, as well as her cousin Sophie, and the copper-haired boy, Will. I thought it was so sweet and brought a smile to my face every time the author used "the copper-haired boy" instead of using Will's name. It made him so endearing. And I loved the way the author ended the story. Oh, and Josie's courage, strength, bravery and selflessness was so inspiring and encouraging.
If I could give this book 100 stars, I would. I can say with complete appreciation, there is not a single thing in this book I could find issue with. It is 100% clean, and I would even pass it onto my younger sister without worrying a bit. Yet, it is so deep for any age to enjoy. And I encourage all to read it, truly! This is the kind of books we need to be filling our minds with. The Memories We Painted proves a book doesn't have to compromise values, use language, or be unclean to make a "write-home-worthy" deep novel.
I commend the author with a standing ovation, and I thank her for a gifted copy. All opinions are wholly my own, and I am thrilled to be able to share my thoughts with you, readers, and support an indie author.
February 16, 2023
4.5 stars, rounded up
I adored Our Yellow Tape Letters from Miller so I absolutely had to read her debut novel; I was not disappointed! Josie Carter's introduction details her struggles with acceptance of her polio diagnosis as a young girl. I was in tears from that very first chapter! At the age of 20, she is presented with an opportunity to house sit for her aunt and cousin Sophie, who is also her best friend. This undertaking moves her from PA to NY for the duration of the summer of 1951. Once there, she finds more than she could have ever expected and embarks on a journey of personal and professional growth through her artistic talents.
I adored watching Josie work through the various stages of acceptance of her polio diagnosis in flashbacks. As someone with chronic illness, I adored the vulnerability Miller was able to show in her characters, as there is also a character with rheumatoid arthritis. The faith element, while not as ubiquitous as in her second novel, was handled so very well in the lives of the characters. There were more opportunities for them to have spoken about or relied on God, but it still felt authentic. By the end of the book, I was an absolute puddle. I found myself sobbing at an unexpected sad situation, and then again at a much happier resolution that I had been waiting to see come to fruition.
I'd love to see a sequel following Josie, or a spin-off following side character Alice, who's growth was an absolute pleasure to read.
I have to take half a star off for some historical inaccuracies that pulled me out of the story a bit, most notably the overseas phone calls between Josie and Sophie; also those between Josie and her parents for that matter as calls from NY to PA would have been improbably due to the exorbitant expense.
I adored Our Yellow Tape Letters from Miller so I absolutely had to read her debut novel; I was not disappointed! Josie Carter's introduction details her struggles with acceptance of her polio diagnosis as a young girl. I was in tears from that very first chapter! At the age of 20, she is presented with an opportunity to house sit for her aunt and cousin Sophie, who is also her best friend. This undertaking moves her from PA to NY for the duration of the summer of 1951. Once there, she finds more than she could have ever expected and embarks on a journey of personal and professional growth through her artistic talents.
I adored watching Josie work through the various stages of acceptance of her polio diagnosis in flashbacks. As someone with chronic illness, I adored the vulnerability Miller was able to show in her characters, as there is also a character with rheumatoid arthritis. The faith element, while not as ubiquitous as in her second novel, was handled so very well in the lives of the characters. There were more opportunities for them to have spoken about or relied on God, but it still felt authentic. By the end of the book, I was an absolute puddle. I found myself sobbing at an unexpected sad situation, and then again at a much happier resolution that I had been waiting to see come to fruition.
I'd love to see a sequel following Josie, or a spin-off following side character Alice, who's growth was an absolute pleasure to read.
I have to take half a star off for some historical inaccuracies that pulled me out of the story a bit, most notably the overseas phone calls between Josie and Sophie; also those between Josie and her parents for that matter as calls from NY to PA would have been improbably due to the exorbitant expense.
February 25, 2024
Beautiful prose, so many encouraging quotes, amazing characters and heartfelt bonding moments and wonderful friendships and family relationships—ah this book is one of my favorites now. I’ll be thinking of this story often because it is one that’s touched my heart and my soul.
I’ve cried quite a few times while reading this story, got all teary eyed at others, but I’ve also grinned and laughed while reading. I even got angry at one point, at a certain character. 😑 I haven’t read a book this year that made me feel all the feels until I read The Memories We Painted!
Ms. Miller, I aspire to touch people with my words as you did so beautifully with TMWP! I will be eagerly waiting for whatever you write next.
If you like a deeply introspective MC, with flowery prose and a story full of nods towards the Bible and our Savior, and just all around a story that will make you feel all the feels but also be like super inspired to go chase after the dream God has called you to do, READ THIS BOOK.
I’ve cried quite a few times while reading this story, got all teary eyed at others, but I’ve also grinned and laughed while reading. I even got angry at one point, at a certain character. 😑 I haven’t read a book this year that made me feel all the feels until I read The Memories We Painted!
Ms. Miller, I aspire to touch people with my words as you did so beautifully with TMWP! I will be eagerly waiting for whatever you write next.
If you like a deeply introspective MC, with flowery prose and a story full of nods towards the Bible and our Savior, and just all around a story that will make you feel all the feels but also be like super inspired to go chase after the dream God has called you to do, READ THIS BOOK.
December 18, 2022
4.5☆
This was a really sweet debut.♡ A little slow moving plot-wise, but I enjoyed Josie's voice and looking at the world through her eyes. I really admired her perseverance amidst her struggles with polio growing up and not letting the hardships she faced turn her bitter. Her close relationships with her family and the friendships she made in NY were really sweet, and I love books that have strong, close-knit families. Though I wish there was a tad more romance between Jo and Will, I really enjoyed their relationship. This was going to be a solid 4 stars until the author made me cry; she gets a bonus point for that! I honestly can't believe I finished this in one day... I couldn't wait to see how it would end! I definitely look forward to reading more from Caitlin in the future.♡
This was a really sweet debut.♡ A little slow moving plot-wise, but I enjoyed Josie's voice and looking at the world through her eyes. I really admired her perseverance amidst her struggles with polio growing up and not letting the hardships she faced turn her bitter. Her close relationships with her family and the friendships she made in NY were really sweet, and I love books that have strong, close-knit families. Though I wish there was a tad more romance between Jo and Will, I really enjoyed their relationship. This was going to be a solid 4 stars until the author made me cry; she gets a bonus point for that! I honestly can't believe I finished this in one day... I couldn't wait to see how it would end! I definitely look forward to reading more from Caitlin in the future.♡
August 31, 2022
Beautiful debut, and lots of great quotes and lessons! I'll be looking for the next book by this author!
July 15, 2022
Oh my goodness, this book.
So normally when I sit down to write a review, I either just start writing or I'll jot down 3-4 bullet points with things I want to touch on. When I sat down to write this, though, there were nine points just featuring the things I loved.
Let's just start with the premise of the story. I loved that it takes place in the 1950s, since that often feels like the overlooked decade in historical fiction. The addition of polio was fascinating to me for two reasons: one, my grandmother had polio as a child, and even though her case was much more mild, I loved getting a glimpse into the impact that that disease had on families around this time. Second, I realized that physically disabled main characters are rare, and this struck me. My sister has a medical condition that makes walking a challenge, and she has to deal with many of the struggles that Josie does throughout this story. It was an amazing experience to be transported into this perspective, and I hope to see more stories like this both for my ability to empathize and for people with a disability to be able to relate to the characters they are reading about.
Going off of this, Caitlin did an incredible job writing about the challenges of life with a physical handicap. She showed readers these struggles in a way that wasn't whiny or complaining, but just real and honest. Josie is a very introspective character in general, and Caitlin's writing style describes all of this in a way that is relatable, poignant, and beautiful all at the same time.
Following this, the theology of the book was on point. It is a beautiful explanation of why a good God would allow bad things to happen and how we (as Christians) should handle grief, but it was all subtly woven throughout the story, never once becoming preachy. This is a perfect example of what I wish the Christian Fiction genre looked like.
Now that all of the heavy stuff is out of the way, here's all of the little things I loved.
- The characters. They were all so precious, and real, and darling.
- The friendship/romance. The friendships in this story are lovely, the romance is a slow burn in the most precious and innocent way, and I was here for all of it.
- I really appreciated that, since these chapters took place over Josie's life, her age was listed under the year that the chapter took place in. I am the worst at remembering dates while reading, and so I always have to flip back and forth to figure out how old people are.
I only have two teeny-tiny critiques. The first is that, because this story is so highly introspective, sometimes the plot lagged a bit. The second is that I wish that the plot twist at the end had had a bit of foreshadowing instead of being a complete surprise. It felt so abrupt, I definitely had to pause and process it for a minute, and I think that adding subtle hints to it throughout the story would have added to the plot overall.
Ok, this is the longest review I have written in a while, but suffice it to say that it is a terribly sad but absolutely beautiful book, and I would highly recommend it.
Content Warning: Other than some mild descriptions of disease and injuries, this book is absolutely clean.
So normally when I sit down to write a review, I either just start writing or I'll jot down 3-4 bullet points with things I want to touch on. When I sat down to write this, though, there were nine points just featuring the things I loved.
Let's just start with the premise of the story. I loved that it takes place in the 1950s, since that often feels like the overlooked decade in historical fiction. The addition of polio was fascinating to me for two reasons: one, my grandmother had polio as a child, and even though her case was much more mild, I loved getting a glimpse into the impact that that disease had on families around this time. Second, I realized that physically disabled main characters are rare, and this struck me. My sister has a medical condition that makes walking a challenge, and she has to deal with many of the struggles that Josie does throughout this story. It was an amazing experience to be transported into this perspective, and I hope to see more stories like this both for my ability to empathize and for people with a disability to be able to relate to the characters they are reading about.
Going off of this, Caitlin did an incredible job writing about the challenges of life with a physical handicap. She showed readers these struggles in a way that wasn't whiny or complaining, but just real and honest. Josie is a very introspective character in general, and Caitlin's writing style describes all of this in a way that is relatable, poignant, and beautiful all at the same time.
Following this, the theology of the book was on point. It is a beautiful explanation of why a good God would allow bad things to happen and how we (as Christians) should handle grief, but it was all subtly woven throughout the story, never once becoming preachy. This is a perfect example of what I wish the Christian Fiction genre looked like.
Now that all of the heavy stuff is out of the way, here's all of the little things I loved.
- The characters. They were all so precious, and real, and darling.
- The friendship/romance. The friendships in this story are lovely, the romance is a slow burn in the most precious and innocent way, and I was here for all of it.
- I really appreciated that, since these chapters took place over Josie's life, her age was listed under the year that the chapter took place in. I am the worst at remembering dates while reading, and so I always have to flip back and forth to figure out how old people are.
I only have two teeny-tiny critiques. The first is that, because this story is so highly introspective, sometimes the plot lagged a bit. The second is that I wish that the plot twist at the end had had a bit of foreshadowing instead of being a complete surprise. It felt so abrupt, I definitely had to pause and process it for a minute, and I think that adding subtle hints to it throughout the story would have added to the plot overall.
Ok, this is the longest review I have written in a while, but suffice it to say that it is a terribly sad but absolutely beautiful book, and I would highly recommend it.
Content Warning: Other than some mild descriptions of disease and injuries, this book is absolutely clean.
August 16, 2022
This is a hard review for me to write. It is so obvious that the author spilled so many of her own tears onto the page and put so much of her heart into this story that anything negative feels like I'm saying something negative about the author. That isn't true. Miller is a brave writer that put her heart on the page, nothing negative I have to say about the story is going to change her bravery, or how I admire her personally.
What I did like:
Miller has a great writing voice and a way with words. I would totally pick up another book by her, especially if it was contemporary.
I loved, loved, loved that Jo had such supportive, wonderful parents. It was so refreshing to have someone who struggled with many things but had a positive family life.
Miller did a great job of showing what chronic illness/disabilities can be like. Not in a depressing way, but in a realistic way that built up and brought hope. I wish there were more books that tackled it like this
The things that kept me from loving this book:
Faith element: The faith element it this story popped up randomly and then would disappear for pages and pages. God was mentioned. Struggling with faith was mentioned, but never really delved into at all. Honestly, you could have removed all of the references and would have pretty much the same story. There was more emphasis on following your dreams and pressing them than anything related to faith. There was more Disney-like wisdom than solid biblical answers.
Historical issues: Honestly, what kept me from losing myself in the story was the seemingly total lack of research for the story. There were so many details that were just so wrong that it kept pulling me out of the story. I actually stopped the story several times to look things up to make sure I remembered historical details were right. Things like many calls to a friend overseas in a time when that represents hundreds of dollars of expense. Mentioning the paint-splattered floor looked like graffiti? A few years ahead of that being a thing. Talking about pregnancy, even in general terms, with a single lady who isn't related? Probably wouldn't have happened. Electric dryers? Not a common household appliance until the mid-1950s. Steroids to treat arthritis? The first test was in 1949 so by 1951, that wasn't common enough that people would instantly know about that treatment. Jo wearing pants? Not likely at the social event she was at for a woman in 1951. Many medical details were honestly very ahead of the time.
Also, there as nothing in the story to really make me feel grounded in the time.
If this book were recast as contemporary fiction, it would have been so much more enjoyable.
Style choices:
Personally, I found the decision to have the phone conversations to be presented in a different style than the rest of the book to detract from the story. It was always so jarring to suddenly have it switch from Miller's beautiful pros to a text-message-like formant.
I hope this author keeps writing. She has so much talent, a beautiful heart, and a great perspective.
Just because this book wasn't for me, I can see many people enjoying many aspects of this book. Especially teens facing chronic illness and wanting some encouragement.
What I did like:
Miller has a great writing voice and a way with words. I would totally pick up another book by her, especially if it was contemporary.
I loved, loved, loved that Jo had such supportive, wonderful parents. It was so refreshing to have someone who struggled with many things but had a positive family life.
Miller did a great job of showing what chronic illness/disabilities can be like. Not in a depressing way, but in a realistic way that built up and brought hope. I wish there were more books that tackled it like this
The things that kept me from loving this book:
Faith element: The faith element it this story popped up randomly and then would disappear for pages and pages. God was mentioned. Struggling with faith was mentioned, but never really delved into at all. Honestly, you could have removed all of the references and would have pretty much the same story. There was more emphasis on following your dreams and pressing them than anything related to faith. There was more Disney-like wisdom than solid biblical answers.
Historical issues: Honestly, what kept me from losing myself in the story was the seemingly total lack of research for the story. There were so many details that were just so wrong that it kept pulling me out of the story. I actually stopped the story several times to look things up to make sure I remembered historical details were right. Things like many calls to a friend overseas in a time when that represents hundreds of dollars of expense. Mentioning the paint-splattered floor looked like graffiti? A few years ahead of that being a thing. Talking about pregnancy, even in general terms, with a single lady who isn't related? Probably wouldn't have happened. Electric dryers? Not a common household appliance until the mid-1950s. Steroids to treat arthritis? The first test was in 1949 so by 1951, that wasn't common enough that people would instantly know about that treatment. Jo wearing pants? Not likely at the social event she was at for a woman in 1951. Many medical details were honestly very ahead of the time.
Also, there as nothing in the story to really make me feel grounded in the time.
If this book were recast as contemporary fiction, it would have been so much more enjoyable.
Style choices:
Personally, I found the decision to have the phone conversations to be presented in a different style than the rest of the book to detract from the story. It was always so jarring to suddenly have it switch from Miller's beautiful pros to a text-message-like formant.
I hope this author keeps writing. She has so much talent, a beautiful heart, and a great perspective.
Just because this book wasn't for me, I can see many people enjoying many aspects of this book. Especially teens facing chronic illness and wanting some encouragement.
March 30, 2022
This book surprised me in the best of ways. I rarely tear up when reading, but the ending caught me off-guard (even though I saw most of the plot twists coming). There are a lot of good quotes in this book, and one on page 229 about God allowing heartbreak—definitely caught me in the feels. Also, another favorite part was the Ferris Wheel scene, so feelsy and sweet. This is a strong debut and I look forward to seeing more from this author!
I did give this book only 4 stars because I wished this book had gone through one or more rounds of editing prior to publication. I am all for introspective historical fiction books, my own debut is one, and I love reading them. However, this book had so many moments of this that felt redundant and slowed down the plot. One of the hardest parts when editing my book was being told how much I needed to cut and condense so readers wouldn't get bored. I get it, characters going through trauma of any type are going to ruminate A LOT on things, so it is accurate, but it was frustrating and slow to get through with all these asides with thoughts. It got better as the book went on, but I would recommend further trimming in future. Something my editor said which has really stuck with me is that the mark of a strong author is learning how to say as much as possible with as few words as possible.
Another thing was the lack of historical detail. There was some, but I wanted a lot more of life during the 40's and 50's, which wasn't really shown. Sometimes it was even downright inaccurate, such as the plastic water bottles at the fair. Those weren't really a thing until the late 1960's. And then, different phrases where it mentioned Josie going up to the painting display, etc., without mention of how she got there, which made me confused. I would have liked to see clearer mention of this.
I by no means want to discourage the author should she read this. Writing historical fiction is tough, especially when we have introspective voicing. That said, I did enjoy this story and will definitely reread in future. However, I do wish it had been edited more thoroughly and hence why I docked it one star. Nonetheless, that's my personal opinion and I'm a very picky reader. xD I did enjoy this book and look forward for more from this author!
I did give this book only 4 stars because I wished this book had gone through one or more rounds of editing prior to publication. I am all for introspective historical fiction books, my own debut is one, and I love reading them. However, this book had so many moments of this that felt redundant and slowed down the plot. One of the hardest parts when editing my book was being told how much I needed to cut and condense so readers wouldn't get bored. I get it, characters going through trauma of any type are going to ruminate A LOT on things, so it is accurate, but it was frustrating and slow to get through with all these asides with thoughts. It got better as the book went on, but I would recommend further trimming in future. Something my editor said which has really stuck with me is that the mark of a strong author is learning how to say as much as possible with as few words as possible.
Another thing was the lack of historical detail. There was some, but I wanted a lot more of life during the 40's and 50's, which wasn't really shown. Sometimes it was even downright inaccurate, such as the plastic water bottles at the fair. Those weren't really a thing until the late 1960's. And then, different phrases where it mentioned Josie going up to the painting display, etc., without mention of how she got there, which made me confused. I would have liked to see clearer mention of this.
I by no means want to discourage the author should she read this. Writing historical fiction is tough, especially when we have introspective voicing. That said, I did enjoy this story and will definitely reread in future. However, I do wish it had been edited more thoroughly and hence why I docked it one star. Nonetheless, that's my personal opinion and I'm a very picky reader. xD I did enjoy this book and look forward for more from this author!
April 22, 2022
"That's what I painted - stories that deserved a frame of their own on the mental wall of art in my memory."
What a lovely story! Josie's journey was one of inspiring faith despite mountainous tribulations, full of friendship and family love and beautiful, hard things. Speaking of family, I LOVED Josie's relationship with her parents! Good parent/child relationships are one of the fastest ways to get me to love a story, if I'm honest, and seeing the love and support from Josie's parents warmed my heart so much. The characters overall were easy to love, and not difficult to tell apart, which is always great. In my mind, the setting reminded me of a 1950s Stars Hollow, which I found delightful.
Now, if I'm being honest, this book was shaping up to be a 3 star read, maybe 3.5. The writing style wasn't always my favorite, and there were moments of what felt like modern slang that took me out of the story whenever I encountered them.
That said, though, I am for sure looking forward to reading more from Miller in the future! She got tears out of me at the end, which is what bumped the rating up to 4 stars. I really did care for these characters, and I will for sure be recommending this to people looking for a story that's full of faith content and made me feel all the things. Four stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
What a lovely story! Josie's journey was one of inspiring faith despite mountainous tribulations, full of friendship and family love and beautiful, hard things. Speaking of family, I LOVED Josie's relationship with her parents! Good parent/child relationships are one of the fastest ways to get me to love a story, if I'm honest, and seeing the love and support from Josie's parents warmed my heart so much. The characters overall were easy to love, and not difficult to tell apart, which is always great. In my mind, the setting reminded me of a 1950s Stars Hollow, which I found delightful.
Now, if I'm being honest, this book was shaping up to be a 3 star read, maybe 3.5. The writing style wasn't always my favorite, and there were moments of what felt like modern slang that took me out of the story whenever I encountered them.
That said, though, I am for sure looking forward to reading more from Miller in the future! She got tears out of me at the end, which is what bumped the rating up to 4 stars. I really did care for these characters, and I will for sure be recommending this to people looking for a story that's full of faith content and made me feel all the things. Four stars from me!
**I received a copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.**
April 27, 2022
Beautiful
This was a super emotional book with beautiful prose and an even more beautiful message. It is clear that a lot of thought, heart, and intentionality went into it.
I rarely cry when I read books, and I'll admit...this one had me going for about three straight chapters. Two words. Sophie's room. Not gonna say more because spoilers.
Things that didn't put me off the book but were areas of improvement: some of the prose was a little repetitive, the "six year old Sophie's" thoughts were a lot more developed than a six year old would typically have and threw me out of the story, and I would have liked to see a bit more historical context. There was just a little taste. Otherwise, it could almost have been a contemporary story.
This is a strong story with Christian elements woven throughout. It was squeaky clean with no language and only hints of romance.
Overall, I would recommend it to just about anybody, really. Teens through adults who love an emotional story with beautiful prose and strong elements of grief, personal growth, and friendship will enjoy this novel.
This was a super emotional book with beautiful prose and an even more beautiful message. It is clear that a lot of thought, heart, and intentionality went into it.
I rarely cry when I read books, and I'll admit...this one had me going for about three straight chapters. Two words. Sophie's room. Not gonna say more because spoilers.
Things that didn't put me off the book but were areas of improvement: some of the prose was a little repetitive, the "six year old Sophie's" thoughts were a lot more developed than a six year old would typically have and threw me out of the story, and I would have liked to see a bit more historical context. There was just a little taste. Otherwise, it could almost have been a contemporary story.
This is a strong story with Christian elements woven throughout. It was squeaky clean with no language and only hints of romance.
Overall, I would recommend it to just about anybody, really. Teens through adults who love an emotional story with beautiful prose and strong elements of grief, personal growth, and friendship will enjoy this novel.
February 26, 2022
The Memories We Painted is an unforgettable story of pain and healing. The main character's struggles are written in such a way that you can't help but feel like you are living life alongside her, and you hurt when she hurts and find solace as she does. Even though I'm not a fan of stories that deal with a lot of pain and suffering, Miller writes in such a way that made me so glad I read this book. I may have hurt at what all the main character had to endure, but it reflects life. People suffer, but people also heal and discover many unspeakable joys in life along the way. That being said, if you're looking for a book to read, choose this one. It will lift your spirits and encourage you to keep trying despite what life throws at you. I love Miller's prose and the way she sees life and portrays it through her characters. That's why I'm leaving a 5 star review.
May 21, 2022
It has been a while since I've read a historical fiction, and even longer since one of them stuck out as much as this one did. Caitlin Miller is a very talented writer. She crafts her sentences carefully, filling them with emotion and food for thought.
The story here is good. It flows well, moving at a nice pace, and fills these pages really nicely. I loved exploring the past and present of Jo's life. The memories were really nice. I liked the struggles, the open doors, and the building relationships.
Really, I have no complaints.
The ending was especially bittersweet. I love books that have a happily ever after that come with a cost. It leaves the book a little open and raw. This is definitely a book to add to your TBR.
The story here is good. It flows well, moving at a nice pace, and fills these pages really nicely. I loved exploring the past and present of Jo's life. The memories were really nice. I liked the struggles, the open doors, and the building relationships.
Really, I have no complaints.
The ending was especially bittersweet. I love books that have a happily ever after that come with a cost. It leaves the book a little open and raw. This is definitely a book to add to your TBR.
January 8, 2024
I LOVED this book. I loved everything about it. The characters, the plot, the lessons/themes. The characters were incredible. Josie’s strength throughout her life was… awesome. She kept fighting even through everything. It was nice being in her head. What I mean is… I read a lot of YA/Fantasy and all that, and she was a nice change. Not as much drama and adventure going on. It was a more realistic story and she was more relatable than other characters might be. Will was awesome. I enjoyed seeing him grow and the way he and Josie grew together. Their friendship was so sweet. And Alice was an awesome side character. :) The plot… Man the twists were… wow. THE ENDING. *sobs* I love how at times I wondered what was going to happen and how things were all going to work out. The ending was very enjoyable though. The whole story ended very nicely. The flashbacks were helpful in understanding Josie’s present and even her relationship with her cousin. Ok the lessons/themes were really encouraging. Love and family were big ones. And trust even. Opening yourself up to others not knowing what will happen. (Will and Josie) The book was full of heartbreak and struggles but also the reminder that God is with us and gives us people to walk alongside us in our struggles. All in all, I highly enjoyed this story and would recommend it to anyone. It also reminded me (again) that I need to read more historical fiction/realistic fiction/ etc. lol
August 5, 2022
This book... Oh, man, this book. It took me on a rollercoaster of emotions.
Let me start off by talking about Jo. She is such a beautiful main character. She's so strong despite everything she's been through. (Being diagnosed with polio from a young age.) So thoughtful. So caring. I just love her so much.
And Sophie! Sweet beautiful cousin Sophie. She is Josie's rock. Her best friend and companion.
The story starts when Josie's aunt (Sophie's mom) asks her to come and stay in New York for the summer while they (Sophie and her mom) go to Paris. This is a big step for Josie. She's never lived on her own.
But we follow her as she travels to New York and makes amazing new friends and has all these new experiences. Everything is going great. Nothing can get any better.
Until the end... Oh the end. It ripped my heart to shreds.
But the very end, the very end is the most beautiful thing.
I struggle with reviews because I never want to give too much away. But, please, if you want a beautiful story about finding one's self and doing what you're afraid to do, pick up this book.
The chapters are short so it makes it an easy read. And it's so quotable. It's such an amazing read.
Let me start off by talking about Jo. She is such a beautiful main character. She's so strong despite everything she's been through. (Being diagnosed with polio from a young age.) So thoughtful. So caring. I just love her so much.
And Sophie! Sweet beautiful cousin Sophie. She is Josie's rock. Her best friend and companion.
The story starts when Josie's aunt (Sophie's mom) asks her to come and stay in New York for the summer while they (Sophie and her mom) go to Paris. This is a big step for Josie. She's never lived on her own.
But we follow her as she travels to New York and makes amazing new friends and has all these new experiences. Everything is going great. Nothing can get any better.
Until the end... Oh the end. It ripped my heart to shreds.
But the very end, the very end is the most beautiful thing.
I struggle with reviews because I never want to give too much away. But, please, if you want a beautiful story about finding one's self and doing what you're afraid to do, pick up this book.
The chapters are short so it makes it an easy read. And it's so quotable. It's such an amazing read.
Shelved as 'tbr-1'
May 22, 2023Huge discount—$1.99 USD sale!
August 17, 2023
Though many see ink on paper, when I see this book I see a work of art. I see a book that made me forget I was reading. I see Josie and Will and Sophie. I see happiness, I see tears, and everything in between.
I don’t even know what parts to gush over first- the characters? The plot? The tears?
Josie will always hold a special place in my heart. Though I couldn’t relate to her on a super personal level, she was so strong, and possessed so many admirable qualities. And Will! Will was the definition of perfection, and Sophie-just the sweetest. And Mrs. Ridge? Alice? (I really liked the characters if you can’t tell.)
But more important than the characters, the character relationships were top tier. It isn’t often that you read a book and you get prime examples of healthy, strong, God-centered relationships. The relationship Josie had with her parents, specifically her mom, was easily the best parent/child relationship I have ever been able to read. (it wasn’t all sunshine & rainbows though, don’t worry.)
I cried a lot. For the last sixty pages or so, I didn’t stop crying. I couldn’t see clearly, I was crying so hard. The plot is balanced so well between smiling ear-to-ear moments and bawling my eyes out moments. (I mean two words: slow burn)
But perhaps my favorite theme of the book was the idea of imperfect Christians. And this is a theme that Caitlin also carried into her second book (Our Yellow Tape Letters.) Christians that believe whole-heartedly in the Christian faith, but still doubt, still worry, still anger. (Because newsflash- that’s normal. That’s real. That’s human.)
I could go on and on about this book, and Caitlin, and Our Yellow Tape Letters, and everything about them, but I shall spare you all from my humble jumble of thoughts 😂. But please please please please please do me and favor and at the very least go give Caitlin a follow. Her instagram posts are the best around and if she published them in a book I would be the first to order. (Same with her grocery lists…I would PROUDLY read those…)
I don’t even know what parts to gush over first- the characters? The plot? The tears?
Josie will always hold a special place in my heart. Though I couldn’t relate to her on a super personal level, she was so strong, and possessed so many admirable qualities. And Will! Will was the definition of perfection, and Sophie-just the sweetest. And Mrs. Ridge? Alice? (I really liked the characters if you can’t tell.)
But more important than the characters, the character relationships were top tier. It isn’t often that you read a book and you get prime examples of healthy, strong, God-centered relationships. The relationship Josie had with her parents, specifically her mom, was easily the best parent/child relationship I have ever been able to read. (it wasn’t all sunshine & rainbows though, don’t worry.)
I cried a lot. For the last sixty pages or so, I didn’t stop crying. I couldn’t see clearly, I was crying so hard. The plot is balanced so well between smiling ear-to-ear moments and bawling my eyes out moments. (I mean two words: slow burn)
But perhaps my favorite theme of the book was the idea of imperfect Christians. And this is a theme that Caitlin also carried into her second book (Our Yellow Tape Letters.) Christians that believe whole-heartedly in the Christian faith, but still doubt, still worry, still anger. (Because newsflash- that’s normal. That’s real. That’s human.)
I could go on and on about this book, and Caitlin, and Our Yellow Tape Letters, and everything about them, but I shall spare you all from my humble jumble of thoughts 😂. But please please please please please do me and favor and at the very least go give Caitlin a follow. Her instagram posts are the best around and if she published them in a book I would be the first to order. (Same with her grocery lists…I would PROUDLY read those…)
October 7, 2022
I've never read a book that walks the reader through grief, pain, and suffering like this book. Miller masterfully crafted a beautiful story that is steeped in biblical truth about suffering and pain.
Several people in my life deal with chronic pain and Miller chronicled my thoughts perfectly: 'Because when you love someone, and they're hurting from something, you hurt with them too. And you don't stop hurting with them until the pain is gone.'
Themes of love, forgiveness, and letting go of bitterness are swirled throughout the story and are so rich and deep. This is a book I will return to often and recommend to others working through grief and suffering.
Several people in my life deal with chronic pain and Miller chronicled my thoughts perfectly: 'Because when you love someone, and they're hurting from something, you hurt with them too. And you don't stop hurting with them until the pain is gone.'
Themes of love, forgiveness, and letting go of bitterness are swirled throughout the story and are so rich and deep. This is a book I will return to often and recommend to others working through grief and suffering.
December 5, 2022
If one word could describe the lovely book that is The Memories We Painted, that word would be "beautiful." Like her courageous protagonist Josie, Caitlin Miller paints a story--using lyrical writing and breathtaking truth splashed across the pages of this book.
At age 20, Josie has already undergone a lifetime's share of pain from the consequences of her disability. She's overcome every obstacle that's risen in her path, but she's also struggling to find the path for her future. Answering an invitation from her aunt, she journeys to a charming small town, where doorways open for her to pursue what matters most to her: painting. As Josie embarks on her remarkable summer full of both hope and heartbreak, she finds the healing she didn't know she needed...and faith that endures even in the midst of unexpected tragedy.
Caitlin's words are beautiful, finely crafted sentences and a thoughtful pace that allows time to savor the story. Her characters are expertly drawn as well--I loved the friendship between Josie and Sophie, and Will was larger than life. The relationship Josie had with her mom and dad as an only child reminded me so much of my own parents as well. But this story truly hits home for me because of the personal connection. My grandfather had childhood polio that left him a paraplegic, just like Josie. But unlike her, he allowed his disappointment to harden into a resentment and bitterness that left him an angry, unhappy man for the rest of his life. Reading about Josie's right response to suffering--and to the God Whose love still allows it--was so redemptive for me.
Caitlin, it's my honor to be one of your Instagram friends! Your book is beautiful!
At age 20, Josie has already undergone a lifetime's share of pain from the consequences of her disability. She's overcome every obstacle that's risen in her path, but she's also struggling to find the path for her future. Answering an invitation from her aunt, she journeys to a charming small town, where doorways open for her to pursue what matters most to her: painting. As Josie embarks on her remarkable summer full of both hope and heartbreak, she finds the healing she didn't know she needed...and faith that endures even in the midst of unexpected tragedy.
Caitlin's words are beautiful, finely crafted sentences and a thoughtful pace that allows time to savor the story. Her characters are expertly drawn as well--I loved the friendship between Josie and Sophie, and Will was larger than life. The relationship Josie had with her mom and dad as an only child reminded me so much of my own parents as well. But this story truly hits home for me because of the personal connection. My grandfather had childhood polio that left him a paraplegic, just like Josie. But unlike her, he allowed his disappointment to harden into a resentment and bitterness that left him an angry, unhappy man for the rest of his life. Reading about Josie's right response to suffering--and to the God Whose love still allows it--was so redemptive for me.
Caitlin, it's my honor to be one of your Instagram friends! Your book is beautiful!
July 27, 2022
The Memories We Painted is Caitlin Miller’s debut, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It is an introspective and sweet story, about friendship, living with pain and facing your fears.
My favourite character was the MC, Josie. Usually a side character is the one who steals the show for me, but not this time! Although I did love everyone else - Will, Sophie and Alice, Josie left such a strong impression that she is my favourite. The story really gets inside her head, being written in 1st person POV, and I loved being able to watch her grow in confidence and compassion too.
Will was my second favourite character - one of my favourite male side characters I’ve read in a while! He was so patient and thoughtful, and I loved his sense of humour. Of course, for a bit I was seriously mad at him, but in the end I forgave him.
I would seriously LOVE a sequel about Alice.
It did take me a few chapters to really get into the story, I thought there could have been a bit more description of settings/surroundings in the beginning so that I could fully immerse myself in the world. But as the book went on, we got more of that.
The plot twists in the second half of the book were all a surprise to me. I did not see them coming, and they tore my heart out - in a good way. The flashbacks were also well done, they were well marked, so as not to be confusing.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, I give it 4.5 stars but am rounding up. I look forward to reading what Caitlin writes in the future!
My favourite character was the MC, Josie. Usually a side character is the one who steals the show for me, but not this time! Although I did love everyone else - Will, Sophie and Alice, Josie left such a strong impression that she is my favourite. The story really gets inside her head, being written in 1st person POV, and I loved being able to watch her grow in confidence and compassion too.
Will was my second favourite character - one of my favourite male side characters I’ve read in a while! He was so patient and thoughtful, and I loved his sense of humour. Of course, for a bit I was seriously mad at him, but in the end I forgave him.
I would seriously LOVE a sequel about Alice.
It did take me a few chapters to really get into the story, I thought there could have been a bit more description of settings/surroundings in the beginning so that I could fully immerse myself in the world. But as the book went on, we got more of that.
The plot twists in the second half of the book were all a surprise to me. I did not see them coming, and they tore my heart out - in a good way. The flashbacks were also well done, they were well marked, so as not to be confusing.
Overall I really enjoyed this book, I give it 4.5 stars but am rounding up. I look forward to reading what Caitlin writes in the future!
February 25, 2022
A beautiful novel of dreams, love, and loss. The prose feels like a painting in motion! I absolutely loved some of the lines in this book and the insight into health issues that are little understood. Unique characters, an intriguing plot, and impossible dreams. A beautiful read that will touch the heart!
August 26, 2022
The Memories We Painted made me miss it when I pulled out the bookmark and set it back on the shelf. That's a good book.
It gets you invested, it lets you come to really know and love the characters, the plot is thoughtfully constructed, and the story touched my life personally. I am so, so glad I read this book.
The author does a masterful job of getting the reader to slow down and consider the slower-paced life which her main character leads. It leaves room for more reflection, attention to detail, and an appreciation for the simple things. It's such a peaceful read, but not boring. More lighthearted, but not shallow. If I had to describe it in one word, I might choose "therapeutic."
Partway through reading this book, I was diagnosed with lupus. I found so much comfort reading about characters who understand what it's like to fight in battles that never end. The author knows how to honestly but gracefully articulate the very raw emotions which accompany those ongoing battles. This is a must-read for anyone who faces chronic health issues, and I highly recommend it to all historical fiction lovers :)
It gets you invested, it lets you come to really know and love the characters, the plot is thoughtfully constructed, and the story touched my life personally. I am so, so glad I read this book.
The author does a masterful job of getting the reader to slow down and consider the slower-paced life which her main character leads. It leaves room for more reflection, attention to detail, and an appreciation for the simple things. It's such a peaceful read, but not boring. More lighthearted, but not shallow. If I had to describe it in one word, I might choose "therapeutic."
Partway through reading this book, I was diagnosed with lupus. I found so much comfort reading about characters who understand what it's like to fight in battles that never end. The author knows how to honestly but gracefully articulate the very raw emotions which accompany those ongoing battles. This is a must-read for anyone who faces chronic health issues, and I highly recommend it to all historical fiction lovers :)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews