For a Lifetime by Gabrielle Meyer is SO good. I mean, so, so outstandingly good! This is the sort of book you hate to put down. It’s the sort of book you stop reading at varying intervals just so you can tell anyone around what it’s about and what you think might happen and why you’re sobbing like a crazy person. Yeah, this book is THAT good! There is so much to love about this story: the historical settings, the amazing cast of characters, and the resonating themes are all perfectly crafted and well thought out. Meyer is a master storyteller!

I love how Meyer is able to write time periods that come so alive — I truly felt transported back in time. The Salem Witch Trials of 1692 were a terrifying historical moment, but no more so than 2024 is today. 1692 is filled with exactly what our time period today is filled with — fallible people who hurt and love, who lie and steal, who help and support, who are selfish and selfless. I will admit, though, I thought I knew what the witch trials were all about, but I was mistaken. School did not adequately teach on this subject. I was taught that it was about superstitious people letting fear get the better of them. And it was, to a degree. But it was mostly mean girls wanting attention, mentally unstable people not getting the help they needed, and politically and financially-minded leaders attempting to capitalize on the chaos in order to gain more power and wealth…just like today! There truly is nothing new under the sun. The 1912 storyline was my favorite. I loved the attention to detail, not just in what was historically happening, but in dress, mannerisms, and technology. I kind of feel like it was similar to what I experienced growing up. I grew up in the 80s and early 90s. We played outside mostly, it was a treat to get to watch TV, and our phones were rotary and fixed to a wall. If we left the house, there was no easy way to get in touch with us until we got back home and could check our messages. Then, by the mid-late 90s, things changed big time. The internet came on the scene, people began to have personal computers in their homes, and the cell phone was the thing everyone had to have. In 1912, the horse was replaced by the automobile, the Titanic — the ship that couldn’t be sunk — sank, and men and women could fly in the sky in contraptions called aeroplanes. What a time to be alive for sure, and Meyer captures it perfectly.

Meyer’s characters are impeccable. Our main characters are Grace and Hope, twin time-crossers. I absolutely love Grace. She is her name personified. She is so selfless and thoughtful and observant and strong. Grace is a quiet force to be reckoned with, but she doesn’t really realize it at first. I enjoyed watching Grace grow in strength over the course of the story. Hope is a character I grew to love. She is quite selfish and self-focused for the first half of the story. I didn’t dislike her — in fact I grew to really love Hope — but I did want to sit her down and have a heart-to-heart a time or two. Hope is truly a force to be reckoned with. I love that as Grace discovers her inner strength and power over the course of the story, Hope discovers her inner selflessness and ability to sacrifice for the good of others. Both Grace and Hope are strong women I cheered for from page one to page done.

The themes in this story are multifaceted and timeless. My favorite discussion is the one on prayer. Hope struggles with God because it feels like He is ignoring her and her requests. Isaac, the hero in the 1692 timeline, wisely tells Hope that prayer isn’t about presenting God with a to-do list and then getting exactly what we ask for. Rather, prayer is about being in a relationship with God. It’s communicating with God about the things on our heart and then finding out what God wants. Prayer is ultimately sitting in peace with God and letting God be God. Such a beautiful perspective shift for Hope, and a wonderful reminder for us all today. Too many times we do go to God with a to-do list and then get mad at Him for not fulfilling our desires in that moment. Instead, prayer should be us sitting with our Heavenly Father being in the moment with Him, and asking Him what He wants of us in that moment.

Whew! Can you believe I’ve barely cracked the surface of For a Lifetime with this review?! The depth and heart of this story is HUGE, and one review would never be enough. Suffice to say, For a Lifetime is an amazing story. It is definitely going down as one of my top-3 books of 2024! For a Lifetime is a story that should not be missed. Purchase yourself a copy ASAP. You will not be disappointed you did!

I purchased a copy of this eBook edition from Amazon on May 6, 2024. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.