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Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
In The Weight of Birds by Amanda Lewis, when Cecelia loses her husband Charlie to a brain aneurysm at just 25 years of age, her entire world falls apart. Her trust in God and goodness had disappeared and its place was grief and anger. Cecelia and Charlie's dream of an art gallery was gone and a fresh start away from all the painful memories seems the only solution. Cecelia moves to New York to open an art gallery, where she meets Peter, a charming and mysterious Swedish art curator. His ice-blue eyes and kindness immediately draw Cecelia toward him. As their relationship continues, Cecelia wonders if Peter will be the person that can heal her heart and soothe the painful memories of Charlie. But when they take a trip to his hometown of Gothenburg and she meets his bohemian artist brother Mattias, her whole life is turned upside down. Cecelia has a difficult choice to make which could lead her to lose them both. Is there such a thing as love at first sight where souls are connected? What if God is always around you? What if everything happens for a reason and you just need to open your eyes and notice the miracles as they appear?
The Weight of Birds by Amanda Lewis is wonderful and so heartwarming. I loved the message that even though you go through tragedy, there is the chance of future happiness; you just have to place your trust in God. The characters have been carefully thought out, their detailed personality traits brought them completely to life. Cecelia's superb morality and optimism, Peter's strength, and charisma, and Mattias's free spirit and kindness. I really enjoyed following Cecelia and Mattias's personal journey as they both tried to overcome their painful pasts and trust in human kindness once more. The spiritual message fitted perfectly into the plot and I loved the thought that God sits behind a huge desk covered in sticky notes. I also thought the vision of a seagull representing Charlie was a brilliant spiritual detail in the story. Mattias's baptism scene is both emotional and electric. The descriptive narrative was excellent, especially the beautiful landscapes of Gothenburg. There were many obstacles that kept the story moving forward and the ending was truly joyous. A warning before you read the epilogue; it will bring a tear to your eye.