In Crosswind, Patricia Boomsma delivers a captivating narrative that follows two central characters: Amanda, a sensitive college freshman, and her mother, Susan, who finds it hard to deal with the emotional fallout of her daughter’s new life choices. Set against the backdrop of Indiana's college scene and the stark contrasts of Arizona's desert, the novel explores themes of identity, familial bonds, and the quest for belonging. When Amanda attends college in Indiana, she leaves her over-protective mother back in Phoenix. The plot unfolds as Amanda navigates her first year of college, facing the challenges of self-discovery and mental health issues. At the same time, Susan wrestles with her increasingly distant relationship with her daughter and her fiasco in marriage and dating. Her work as a lawyer doesn’t offer much relief. The tension escalates when Amanda joins a religious group that promises more than salvation; her mother is scared, thinking she is losing her to a cult. Can mother and daughter rekindle a strong relationship, or are they about to lose each other?

The setting plays a significant role in Crosswind; Amanda's charming yet claustrophobic dorm life juxtaposed with the expansive freedom of the California landscape reflects her inner turmoil. As she becomes enveloped in a new community, she struggles between her desire for independence and the emotional crutches of her past. The characters are richly developed, particularly Amanda, who blends vulnerability and grit. Her evolving friendships, notably with Philip—a charismatic figure from a seemingly benign religious group—show her search for connection in an unfamiliar environment. Meanwhile, Susan's perspective offers insight into the complex emotions of a mother watching her child navigate adulthood. Their tense interactions highlight the generational divide in understanding love and support. Patricia Boomsma’s ability to capture genuine emotions shines through this novel; the genuinely flawed characters, the crisp prose, and the beautiful dialogues are some of the elements that kept me turning the pages.

Crosswind by Patricia Boomsma will appeal to fans of drama, social issues, and literary fiction. Amanda Beane is happy to abandon her controlling mother, Susan, and start an adult life in Indiana. She meets the handsome Philip during a Messiah singalong. He introduces Amanda to a religious commune, Sower of the Word, near her college. Pastor Mark attracts this lonely, insecure young woman, strengthening her ties with the commune. In Arizona, Susan is dissatisfied with her life after her divorce. Disillusioned with online dating and on the verge of losing her job at a law firm, Susan worries about Amanda, who ignores her texts and calls. Learning that Amanda misses her classes and doesn't sleep in her dorm, Susan asks a local police officer for help. Amanda's friend, Felicia, tells Susan she saw Amanda leaving the campus with Philip. How far will Amanda go to find a true family?   

Patricia Boomsma narrates Crosswind from two viewpoints. The fast-paced narrative shows the depth of despair of the women who cannot understand and accept each other. The narrative is unsettling as the author skillfully describes the raw emotions of the two main characters. Patricia thoroughly explores the mother-daughter relationship, along with the themes of belonging, motherhood, and the role of faith in our lives. For Amanda, the growing-up process is painful yet inevitable. Amanda's remarkable life lessons shape her personality and propel the narrative. I was impressed that everything in the novel may not be as it seems. The author keeps us guessing until the end whether Sower of the Word is a simple community of people of faith or if it is a destructive cult. This fascinating novel is full of surprising twists and will profoundly affect the thoughtful reader.