The Solace of Water

A moving, standalone historical novel about forgiveness and unexpected friendship

By: Elizabeth Byler Younts

Narrated by: Nan Gurley

Award-winning author Elizabeth Byler Younts delivers a powerful novel of grief, friendship, and forgiveness filled with her signature lyricism and emotional depth.

"Younts's powerful novel reverberates with love that crosses religious and racial boundaries to find the humanity that connects us all. Highly recommended." --Library Journal starred review

In the turbulent 1950s, Delilah Evans leaves behind her son's grave in Alabama, hoping for a fresh start in her husband's Pennsylvania hometown. Instead, she finds herself drowning in sorrow and guilt--until an unlikely friendship blossoms with her reclusive Amish neighbor, Emma Mullet, who harbors secrets of her own. Meanwhile, Delilah's daughter, Sparrow, struggles under the weight of her mother's grief, finding solace in Emma's home even as she hides devastating secrets of her own.

With the white, Black, and Amish communities of Sinking Creek at their most divided, there seems to be little hope for reconciliation. But long-buried hurts have their way of surfacing, and Delilah and Emma find themselves facing their own self-deceptions. Together they must learn how to face the future through the healing power of forgiveness.

"Younts has set herself apart with this exquisite story of friendship and redemption . . . I'll be talking about this book for years to come." --Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress

Set against the racial, cultural, and religious divides of small-town Pennsylvania, The Solace of Water is a moving portrait of loss, reconciliation, and the fragile beauty of human connection. This standalone historical novel includes discussion questions, making it a meaningful choice for book clubs and a memorable gift for readers of literary, hope-filled fiction.

Critic reviews

'. . . a riveting and (sadly) relevant historical novel about racial tensions, religious divides, and an unlikely friendship forged in grief. . . Ultimately hopeful, this eloquent, painful story addresses the darkness we carry, the damage our sin causes to others, the freedom of forgiveness, and the ways grief can both blind us and bind us together.'

'The Solace of Water is a gripping coming-of-age historical fiction story that will stick with readers for some time after the final word is read. Hauntingly beautiful prose is bountiful in this tightly woven tale . . . The characters demonstrate the impact secrets, guilt and unforgiveness can have on a person in this emotive gem.'

'VERDICT Younts's powerful novel reverberates with love that crosses religious and racial boundaries to find the humanity that connects us all. Highly recommended.'

it pulled me in

I loved this story of racial differences, how people grieve and friendship. the performances were wonderful!!!

The Beauty of Friendship, Heartache and Healing

This is a beautiful story of lives intertwined, of
heartache that at times seems so unbearable, and how love, in the unlikely friendships helps to heal the wounds that only love can heal. This is a story that after you have finished, you will carry around these characters in your heart. Elizabeth Byler Younts is an incredible author. She is able to put the reader right there in the story where you feel you are a part of it. Nan Gurley is beyond amazing in her narrative of this story. I could listen to her all day!

wonderful story & performances

I really didn't have any expectations with this book. but wow. what a beautiful story about grief, race, friendship and forgiveness. faith too, but it wasn't overbearing in any sense. the last 2 hours of the book had me on edge and I couldn't stop listening. highly recommend this story.
there should be a trigger warning though for self harm! as someone who selfharmed in my teen years, it was a bit shocking and upsetting at first, but once I was able to prepare myself it wove very well into the story and characters.

Solace of Water - amazing!!!!

One of the best books I have ever read. All the characters seemed to come alive. The overall story was relevant even to today. It was crafted with love and went beyond race, religion, and other differences that do not define who we are as people. A must read!!!!

Profound

Oh my heavenly days. This book. If you can get the audio version, do it. If not, get it in any format you can. The writing itself deserves multiple awards, and I hope to be able to congratulate Younts on winning those at some point. The voices of each character, the setting, the subjects (hefty subject matter, people!)... all of these combine into an unforgettable story I will not forget. There were times when this book was so painful I had to take it in small doses or just drop everything to hurry through to the end. But it's worth it, and the ending does satisfy. This was my first time reading Elizabeth Byler Younts, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.