The Patient One

Written by Shelley Shepard Gray

Narrated by Tavia Gilbert

Seven former best friends reunite and struggle to heal after the tragic death of one of their own in this evocative and heartrending novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Gift and Her Secret.

When word had gotten out that Andy Warner had committed suicide, everyone in Walnut Creek, Ohio, had been shocked. For seven men and women in their twenties, some Amish, some Mennonite, and some English, each of whom had once counted his or herself as one of Andy’s best friends, it had been extremely painful.

And, maybe, a source of guilt.

Years have passed since they’d all been together last. Some of them got into trouble. A couple got into arguments. Eventually they all drifted apart. But even though none of them really saw each other anymore, there was a steadfast certainty that they’d always have each other’s backs—even when no one else did. Their bond was that strong…until Andy did the unthinkable.

Now the seven remaining friends, still reeling from Andy’s death, have vowed to look after each other again. As far as they’re concerned, it doesn’t matter that they’re now in their twenties and have drifted far apart. They need to connect again…for Andy.

With her signature “taut writing” (RT Book Reviews), Shelley Shepard Gray delivers a lyrical and heartfelt tale of friendship and forgiveness.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781508282907

Shelley Shepard Gray

Shelley Shepard Gray is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

Reviews for The Patient One

[JoAnn Fredendall McGowan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a beautiful book. A story of grief, love , family and friendship! Truly an amazing book

[Claire · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

It seems as if it was Murray. Hard to understand. There were so many characters in the book and they kept switching. I enjoyed it when I could understand it.

[Sherry Davis · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I could not get into it. They kept switching characters and easily got lost. I love audible books. Unfortunately, I can’t finish this one.

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The first full-length installment in the Walnut Creek series, The Patient One by Shelley Shepard Gray is a heartwarming novel of love and friendship.

Opening with the funeral of their beloved friend Andy Warner, the remaining seven friends, Marie Harman, John Byler, Katie Steurny, Logan, Harley, Elizabeth Anne and Will Kurtz, struggle to understand why Andy committed suicide.  The childhood friends have grown apart since they entered their twenties but after Andy's death, they mutually decide to nurture their friendship. They also have a new understanding of how short life can be, so John decides it is time to do something about his longtime crush on Katie, who has recently moved back to Walnut Creek.  But will their very differences prove too insurmountable to overcome?

Although John is Amish, he works for an Englischer and he has yet to baptized in the faith. He comes from a large and loving family who, it turns out, know him a little better than he knows himself.  At first believing there is no reason why a romance between him and Katie will not work out, John is surprised when troubles arise between them.

While Katie has not Amish, she does have a strong faith. Her return to Walnut Creek is long overdue and she is happy to be close to her parents and friends. Surprised to discover that John returns her feelings, she also knows a future between them is not guaranteed.  Katie is delighted when John asks her out, but their different backgrounds, insecurities and lack of communication threaten to derail their fledging romance.

John's sixteen year sister Molly is also unexpectedly in the midst of a budding romance with Danny. Paralyzed after a riding accident, Molly appreciates her family's help but she is frustrated that they do not realize she is capable of taking care of herself.  Danny takes her disability in stride and Molly is matter of fact about what life in a wheelchair.  Their relationship is refreshingly honest and watching Molly become more self-assured is quite gratifying.

The Patient One is a compelling novel of healing that also features a gentle undercurrent of faith. The storyline is realistic and deals with suicide and the consequences of drunk driving. John and Katie are a wonderful couple but their inability to express their concerns and expectations causes misunderstandings between them. Molly and Danny's romance is incredibly sweet and free of unnecessary conflict. Shelley Shepard Gray brings the novel to a poignant yet uplifting conclusion. An enjoyable beginning to the Walnut Creek series that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the release of The Loyal One.

[maydacat_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In this first book of the series, readers are introduced to “The Eight,” eight friends of differing backgrounds who bonded in their early teenage years. Now grown, life has interrupted their close relationships, but the suicide of Andy, one of the group, has drawn them in again. As they deal with their feelings and cope with their loss, they vow to be there for each other, as they would have been for Andy, had they only realized his despair. John, who is Amish, also must reconcile his feelings for Marie, who is English, with his Amish roots, and decide which side of the fence he belongs on. Molly, John’s younger 16-year-old sister who is confined to a wheelchair, is also trying to find her way in a developing relationship. Author Shelly Shepard Gray explores all these situations and more in this well-written tale, illustrating what can happen when the Amish and English communities coexist together.

[kris_anderson-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Patient One is a touching story about friendship, love, patience, family, and faith. Will, Elizabeth Anne, Harley, Logan, Katie, Marie, John and Andy plus Andy’s little sister, Tricia have been friends since childhood. The fact that they were from different religions does not bother them (Old Order Amish, Mennonite, English and New Order Amish) or affect their friendship. The group is devastated when Andy kills himself. They do not understand why he did not talk to one of them. The group had drifted a little as they took on adult responsibilities and jobs, but they would drop everything for one of the group (as we saw in Friends to the End). Marie has moved back to Walnut Creek, and she wants to finally explore her feelings for John Byler. Their relationship will be complicated since John was raised Amish, but he has not been baptized. Molly Byler, John’s younger sister, became paralyzed after a buggy accident when she was nine. She is now sixteen and wants to be treated as any other girl her age. Molly is thrilled when Danny Eberly wishes to spend time with her. I like that the characters are from different backgrounds. As John and Marie explore their romantic relationship, their differing views come into play. It provides interest and depth to the book. Logan and Tricia (their story began in Friends to the End) are included peripherally in the story. There are updates on their progressing relationship. We get to see how this group of friends deal with the loss of a close friend. The friends must deal with grief, guilt, anger, and confusion. None of them understand why Andy did not confide to one of them. I hope we get answers about Andy in future books. The Patient One has Shelley Shepard Gray’s signature writing style which drew me in right away. The story is well-written with pacing that suits the book. The characters are complex along with their situations. I look forward to learning more about each character as the series progresses. Patience is a recurring theme in The Patient One. Patience with people, situations and life. All things happen in His timing, not ours. My favorite line in the book was “even in the darkness of times there was always a glimmer of light”. I recommend reading Friends to the End before embarking on The Patient One. The Patient One is an insightful and emotional story that will touch your heart.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author gives us a story none of us ever want to deal with, suicide, but this fellow was the glue that held an unlikely group of 8 childhood friends together.Now this group is unusual in that it includes Amish, Mennonite and English, just because of their beliefs they are usually very separate with their lives, undue influence.As they all get together to remember their dear friend, and what they, or could have done, if only, so much guilt and self-lack of forgiveness, and then the forgiveness rears its head again in another senseless act.I did enjoy the seeing of people as they are and not looking at a disability, and the surprise when one helps a customer at the library!This is a real look at the emotions most of us have, but we put names and faces on those involved, you really don’t want to miss this!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gallery Books, and was not required to give a positive review.