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Handle with Care
Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
Publication Date: April 14th, 2026
Thomas Nelson Fiction | Thomas Nelson
288 Pages
Amazon | Goodreads | Bookshop.org
Genre: General Fiction | Literary Fiction | Women’s Fiction
Oh wow, this book! I really connected with this one. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen has a knack for making high-stakes drama feel incredibly personal. I will start off by saying it is a very character-driven story that is also super emotional. The suspense was heart-pounding because it dealt with a hostage situation. The hostages are all strangers in a post office where they are getting ready to mail a package that will change their lives and maybe reveal some secrets. The hostage-taker does so because of a domestic dispute. The wife of the gunman is also in the post office. These four women have to confront some personal issues during the standoff. One is trying to figure out her future, one is dealing with an empty nest, and the other is hiding a BIG secret. As time passes, they surprise themselves by connecting and opening up to each other. We also have the hostage negotiator who is trying to keep the gunman calm and save the lives of these women, at the same time, she is dealing with her own issues and her past.
I love the way Marybeth Mayhew Whalen writes. It’s so simple yet beautiful, and I don’t mean in a wordy, flowery way. It pulls you in, and even though this is a tense hostage situation, it really goes much deeper. We’re talking secrets, relationships, and the scary moments in our lives that could change everything. The characters have depth, are relatable, and feel like real people. They have faults, regrets, hopes and dreams. I didn’t just read about them; I felt for them.
I liked how the author balanced the tense situation with heartfelt issues. Of course, I loved the tension of the situation, but it was the personal moments and the connection of these complete strangers that impacted me most. The way they came together and found understanding and healing was very powerful and uplifting. I really liked the ending as well, as everything came together in a satisfying and meaningful way without being too predictable. Overall, this is a compelling, thought-provoking read that mixes drama and suspense perfectly.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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