Historical Fiction

Becoming Mrs. Lewis

Author: Patti Callahan

Average Rating: 5/5

Trigger Warnings:

Most people are familiar with the names C.S. Lewis and Narnia.  But few would claim to know who Joy Davidman was, and yet she’s the woman C.S. Lewis called “my whole world.”  

Joy had no idea what was in store for her life when she penned her first letter to the famous author.  Stuck in a soul-crushing marriage, she was only looking for spiritual answers to shed light on the night she first encountered God.  What she found was so much more than she expected.  Barely hoping for a response from the great C.S. Lewis, Joy connected with the man behind the public figure. She and Jack – as he was known to his friends – connected emotionally and intellectually through their letters. When Joy finally sets out for England in hopes of recovering from chronic illness and fatigue, she winds up on a path that will change her life completely and forever. She’ll struggle through poverty, illness, and heartbreak, but discover that there is still friendship, faith and forgiveness to be found. And that, despite their differences – she’s a modern American woman while Jack is a reserved English professor at Oxford –  Joy and Jack’s love will develop from a firm foundation of friendship that will hold strong through its final challenge.

In her novel, Patti Callahan will craft a beautiful love story that doesn’t shy away from the complexities or uncertainties of love and faith.  Joy lived with tenacious passion, was a brilliant writer, an independent woman, and a fierce mother.  She changed the life of one of the most famous and respected authors in history, and pushed a lifetime’s worth of love into the time she had with him.  

Corinna : 5/5

I really enjoyed this book. The Chronicles of Narnia are some of my favorite childhood books, and I have been familiar with the name of C.S. Lewis for a long time. That being said, I honestly knew nothing of his wife, or the story of their friendship and eventual relationship. I found this book to be well-researched and excellently written. The flow of the storyline was fantastic, it really drew you in and made you want to keep reading! Callahan does an excellent job of researching the history and describing the virtues of Christianity without getting preachy, and makes you interested in how important faith and God is to both Jack and Joy. I was surprised at how non-typical Jack and Joy’s relationship was for so long and I appreciate that it discussed divorce in the context of Christianity, as it is so often ignored. The evolution of their relationship; how they fell in love with each other’s minds, hearts and souls; made me both laugh and cry. What a tragic ending to such an amazing relationship. Better to have loved for a short while than to have never loved at all. Even if Christianity isn’t  your thing, read this book, it is well worth your time!

Lydia : 5/5

While a story that centers/focuses on religion can be scary for some, Callahan’s writing was impeccable and depicted what it means to be a Christian perfectly. Fear not though, she definitely offers more than just a typical ‘Christian’ read. It was full of laughter, tears and rollercoasters of emotion. If you are afraid that this might be too religiously based, trust me when I say that it isn’t. While Callahan does touch on the Christianity, the overall read is about relationships and following your passion. I can’t say enough how much I loved this book. It was beautifully written (flowed well), had amazing characters and showed that Callahan cared a lot and researched well. Do yourself a favour and read this one, you won’t be disappointed.

Megan : 5/5

I grew up with The Chronicles of Narnia. I read the books as a child, watched the BBC movies on countless occasions and then enjoyed the Disney remakes. As I grew older, I got acquainted with C.S. Lewis’ other works and was very excited when I found out he was friends with J. R. R. Tolkien. All that to say, I had no idea that he had ever married.

While this is a historical fiction, I loved how real it was. Joy Davidman was not who I pictured as Jack’s eventual wife; her story is messy. I liked that Callahan didn’t shy away from Joy’s struggles. The whole book was delightful. I was engaged from the very beginning, curious as to how Joy and Jack’s relationship began and grew. The last few chapters were both wonderful and terrible. I can be an emotional reader, but typically that means I’m laughing out loud, not sobbing. It has been many years since a book has brought me to such tears, streaming down my cheeks and soaking the collar of my shirt. What I really appreciate about this book is that Callahan took great lengths to research Joy’s life and her relationship with Jack, including interviewing one of her sons. It’s a beautifully written, genuine love story that I would highly recommend to everyone.

Sharaya : 5/5

I loved this book.  I only had a vague notion of Joy’s existence, and beyond knowing Narnia inside and out, I didn’t know much of CS Lewis’ personal life other than his friendship with JRR Tolkien.  Considering who the main characters are, this may seem strange, but I wouldn’t classify this book as “Christian fiction”.  Rather it is a fictional romance – based on true events – and the characters just happen to be persons of faith. There’s no ulterior motive, and Joy is beautifully flawed. I think that Callahan did an amazing job of depicting real Christian life.  It can be messy and full of doubts, pain, love, and desires.  Sometimes all at once.  This is a truly beautiful, and genuine, love story.  And her descriptions of the moments where God reached out and connected with Joy brought me to tears as I pulled parallels from my life and experiences. With complex and relatable characters (some of which you’ll recognize), love and tragedy, this is definitely a book that’s worth trying, regardless of your personal beliefs.

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