The Life Intended by Kristin Harmel Review: A Beautiful Story of Love, Loss & Finding Your Way

The Life Intended is a moving story of love, grief and second chances, with magical realism that makes this emotional journey unforgettable.

Summary:

Kate Waithman has spent twelve years grieving the loss of her husband, Patrick, and is finally ready to move forward with her life and new love, Dan. But after their engagement, Kate begins having vivid dreams in which Patrick is still alive and they have a daughter together, leaving her questioning whether the dreams are more than just memories. As Kate searches for the meaning behind Patrick’s apparent message, her journey takes her into a sign language class and the New York City foster system, where she discovers unexpected connections, healing, and the enduring power of love.

My Thoughts:

Kristin Harmel, perhaps best known for her wonderful WWII historical fiction, takes a very different direction with The Life Intended, delivering a deeply moving story about love, grief, loss, and redefining your life after tragedy. I absolutely loved every moment of it.

Twelve years earlier, Kate Waithman was a newlywed, deeply in love with her husband, Patrick, when he was tragically killed in a car accident. Since then, Kate has worked hard to rebuild a life that brings her happiness. She has found purpose in her career as a music therapist and has fallen in love again with Dan, a kind man who she is thrilled to become engaged to. But just as Kate is ready to move forward, she begins having incredibly vivid dreams in which Patrick is still alive—and they have a daughter together. The dreams feel so real that Kate can’t help but wonder if Patrick is trying to send her a message.

As Kate tries to understand what the dreams mean and uncover Patrick’s message, she finds herself re-evaluating what truly matters to her and questioning whether there is another life she was meant to live. Her journey takes her in unexpected directions, including learning new skills and finding ways to enhance both her personal life and her career. I really enjoyed the magical realism woven throughout the story, and I thought it worked beautifully.

Kate’s journey is beautifully written, and she is such a well-developed character. I admired her strength and determination, particularly when the people around her questioned whether her dreams meant she wasn’t truly moving on with her life. There is so much heart in this story, and I loved its message about grief, love, and how sometimes the paths we take can lead us somewhere we never expected. The Life Intended is a book that will stay with me for quite some time.

The Narration:

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Madeleine Maby, and her performance was absolutely amazing. She completely becomes Kate, bringing so much emotion and depth to her storytelling. Her narration made an already beautiful story even more engaging, and I highly recommend experiencing this one in audiobook format.

I was also thrilled to hear in the author’s notes that The Life Intended is being adapted into a television series, with Kristin Harmel co-writing the screenplay. I will definitely be looking forward to seeing how this beautiful story makes its way to the screen!

Final Thoughts:

The Life Intended is a beautiful, emotional story about love, loss, and finding your way forward when life doesn’t turn out as planned. I loved Kate’s journey and the way Kristin Harmel blended heartfelt themes with a touch of magical realism. This is a story that made me think, made me feel, and ultimately reminded me that love can continue to guide us even after loss. It is one I won’t soon forget and one I highly recommend.