The Whole Way Home: A Novel

Country singer Joanne Lover is well on her way to stardom, and she’s worked carefully over the years to construct her image: sassy, smart, earthy, and not afraid to speak her mind. But when her independent label picks up JD Gunn and his band, Jo’s world gets a bit unsteady. Jo and JD have a past that goes back further than anyone can imagine, and an impromptu duet fans public interest in that past. It doesn’t take too long before an overly curious reporter uncovers one of Jo’s deepest secrets, and the ramifications will be huge.

Sarah Creech’s novel The Whole Way Home sounds at first like a fluffy, chick lit-type of story about a strong woman confronting her past. However, this story goes much deeper than that. Readers will learn about Jo’s past in bits and pieces, and each piece drives home just how complex of a character she is. Even her past relationship with JD is far from simple, and her small-town childhood hides some dark facets. At times, this is not an easy novel to read, but most readers will be satisfied with the decisions Jo makes in the end.