Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought, a BREW Book Excellence Award 2023 Christian category finalist, is an honest and intensely intimate examination of faith, treachery, and fortitude that follows a woman’s path from unspeakable suffering to comprehension and recovery.
Table of Contents
Review
“Sometimes, real life is stranger—and more devastating—than fiction.” That’s what I kept thinking as I turned the pages of this memoir and felt the weight of its emotional honesty. There’s an old saying: The deepest wounds are inflicted by those closest to us. Psychology backs this up—studies show that betrayal by a loved one activates the same pain centers in the brain as a physical injury. Yet, while physical wounds heal with time, emotional ones require something more: courage, faith, and the willingness to rebuild from nothing. This book is a testament to that kind of strength.
It starts with a revelation that upends the author’s entire worldview of her life and family. The narrative then progresses through waves of grief, incredulity, rage, and, finally, a quest for purpose. Since true healing takes time, the story does not jump to a conclusion. Readers are able to accompany the author as she struggles with the impossibility since it instead lingers in the silent moments of grief and introspection.
The emotional depth of this work is what sets it apart. Intimate writing makes it seem as though the author is whispering her story to the reader over a kitchen table. The unadulterated yet potent text allows the unfiltered feelings to do the talking. The style may seem raw to readers seeking flawless perfection, but that is exactly what makes it so captivating—it is authentic. The pacing reflects the reality of trauma, where days seem to go on forever before an epiphany abruptly alters everything.
This narrative will strike a deep chord with readers who are intrigued to survival stories. It presents an uncommon point of view—that of someone who was caught in the midst, having to make peace with betrayal and love, but neither victim nor culprit. The overtly religious overtones may be difficult for some readers to handle, especially if faith is not a compass in their own lives. Nonetheless, the book will be consoling and affirming to those who recognize the importance of spirituality in dealing with bereavement.
The most striking part of the book comes in a quiet passage—one where the author stands alone in a place that once felt safe, now forever altered. It is in that moment, stripped of certainty, that she realizes healing does not mean forgetting but rather learning to exist in the aftermath. That realization is something universally relatable.
This book is not for those seeking a lighthearted read or a neatly wrapped-up conclusion. It is for readers who appreciate the raw, unvarnished truth of what it means to survive the unthinkable. It belongs on the shelf beside memoirs like The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, though its heart is closer to faith-driven narratives like Forgiving What You Can’t Forget by Lysa TerKeurst.
At its core, Along Came Hell, or So I Thought is about what happens when the foundation of life crumbles beneath us. Some might say it’s about grief. Others might say it’s about faith. But at its heart, it is about the resilience of the human spirit—how even in the darkest of moments, a flicker of light remains.
About the Author
Lois Young, originally from Nevada, is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She has written stories and poems for family and friends, drawing on everyday experiences. In retirement, she began painting and enjoys watching nature, solving word puzzles, and spending time with her family, friends, and faith.
Book Details
- Title: Along Came Hell, or So I Thought
- Author: Lois Young
- Genre(s): Non-Fiction
- Sub-genre(s): Memoir, Christian, Trauma & Recovery
- Theme(s), 1 or 2-word items only: Betrayal, Faith, Healing, Resilience, Family Crisis
- Minimum Audience Age (per assessment, if not indicated in the book): 16+ (due to mature themes related to trauma and abuse)
- Main language used in the text: English
Book Themes
(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)
- Sexual Themes – 2 (Considerable)
- Religious Themes – 3 (Pronounced)
- Violence, Self-Harm, etc. – 2 (Considerable)
- Crude Language, Expletives, Swearing, etc. – 0 (None)
- Other Adult Themes – 3 (Pronounced)
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[…] Along Came Hell, or So I Thought by Lois YoungAn unflinching, sharply written memoir of abuse and resilience. Young’s voice is raw, bold, and ultimately life-affirming as she reclaims her story and her strength.🔗 Read the review […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]
[…] Lois Young’s Along Came Hell, or So I Thought was selected for the Trauma and Recovery category. As noted in the official review, “Young revisits a traumatic past with a raw and grounded approach” and “documents the process of facing personal history.” […]