Morning in This Broken World

A Novel

By: Katrina Kittle

Narrated by: Krystal Hammond

Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of The Kindness of Strangers comes a poignant and life-affirming novel about our connections to the past, and the promise for the future during the least promising of times.

Grieving but feisty widow Vivian Laurent is at a late-in-life crossroads. The man she loved is gone. Their only daughter is estranged and missing. And the assisted-living facility where her husband died is going into quarantine. Living in lockdown with only heartache and memories is something Vivian can’t bear. Then comes a saving grace.

Luna, a compassionate nursing assistant and newly separated mother, is facing eviction. Vivian has a plan that could turn their lives around: return to her old home and invite Luna and her two children to move in with her. With the exuberant eleven-year-old Wren in her hot-pink motorized wheelchair and Wren’s troubled older brother, Cooper, the new housemates make for an unlikely pandemic pack, weathering the coming storm together.

Now it’s time to heal old wounds, make peace with the past, find hope and joy, and discover that the strongest bonds can get anyone through the worst of times.

©2023 Katrina Kittle (P)2023 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Krystal Hammond's warm voice creates a familiar atmosphere and relatable characters for a story that takes place during the pandemic.… The story is an inspiring example of how letting go of the past and healing old wounds through friendship can help anyone get through the worst of times. Hammond's thoughtful narration, full of emotion, reminds listeners of the importance of human connection.”—AudioFile Magazine

“With compassion, candor, and humor, Katrina Kittle explores how a ragtag group of people on the verge can redefine what it means to be a family, in all its messy unpredictability. Told through multiple perspectives, this life-affirming, heartwarming novel captures the unlikely friendships and connections that can emerge out of perilous circumstances—and ultimately make life worth living.”—Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train and The Exiles

“Morning in This Broken World is a heartfelt take on the family we’re born with, the family we choose, and the messy, beautiful intersections between the two. Katrina Kittle gifts us with an unforgettable protagonist, an endearing supporting cast, and a moving story about what it really means to call a place ‘home.’ The world would be a better (and dare I say less broken) place if it were filled with more novels like this one.”—Jessica Strawser, author of A Million Reasons Why

Sweet Story with Likable Sensible Characters

This was a good, heartwarming story with great character development. The author was able to create a group of likeable characters with realistic flaws facing realistic life obstacles. What I appreciated most is the characters had loving hearts, even the most flawed of the bunch. I connected and felt the most for the teenaged son, Cooper. The mother, Luna, is raising two good hearted kids in this novel.

If you’re against sensible logical humans then you may agree with another review calling out unnecessary “political stereotypes,” but there’s nothing political or stereotypical about taking necessary steps to protect your loved ones and others during a pandemic.

I enjoyed this first novel/audiobook by Katrina Kittle and look forward to more from this author.

Pandemic not my favorite storyline

I almost stopped listening but I guess I got used to the swearing, not my cup of tea. Also, the author made any anti-vaxxers the villains. But the last couple of hours were uplifting.

I loved hearing this story

It was very well written. The story itself was touching regardless of how you feel about Covid. She showed the struggle of the time with Covid and in death itself. Very heart warming.

Inspiring and hopeful

I liked that this story brought unlikely people together as friends and even family. There is enough hardship and sadness in the world that sometimes it’s nice to remember that there are plenty of good people out there.

Story of resilience and kindness

This was a beautiful enduring story of friendships, coming of age, end of life realizations-loneliness, depression-death, addiction forgiveness and living a dream all intertwined. There's something each of these characters have that are relatable .

Character development was excellent.

Loved the narrator. Great listening voice. Story captivating. Beautiful and compelling descriptions of nature. Highly recommend.

Heartfelt and Heartwarming!

This book is a look at the human condition. Proving that what we all need is to be seen, heard, and loved. Be kind to one another and do good in the world!

Great!!

Loves this story. And the narrator was perfect. I feel like I’m leaving my friends behind now.

Wonderful story

I really enjoyed this book. The characters are perfect and the moral of the story is very touching. The narrator was fantastic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did

A History of Love & Care in Times of COVID

I found this book important for so many reasons but mostly for it's recorded history of the COVID pandemic. Though often predictable, it moved with hope and care for the varieties of problems in our human relationships. Maybe a little too sentimental for our present hardened society but full of the hopes and dreams we have for our often dispairing future.