By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
'Ilana's Wish' is an honest story about grief, faith and hope
Ilanas Wish
Ilana's Wish" by Annette Lyon is one of the Newport Ladies Book Club novel. - photo by Covenant Communications

"ILANA'S WISH: A Newport Ladies Book Club Novel," by Annette Lyon, Covenant Communications, $15.99, 207 pages (f)

Sometimes people find that their greatest hopes and dreams come crashing down around their feet.

In Ilana’s case, they come crashing down around her stylish boots.

On the outside, Ilana is a well-dressed woman with a great career and wonderful marriage to an ER surgeon. But on the inside, all she can feel is the empty space where she desperately wishes a baby were growing.

Within a matter of weeks, Ilana is faced with blow after blow of bad news in several different aspects of her life, and it seems she is drowning in a torrent of grief, loss, pain, failure, anger, disappointment — you name it. And Ilana wants to suffer her grief on her own; she's unwilling to share her true feelings with even her mother or husband.

Instead, Ilana turns to little, orange-brown, pill-filled prescription bottles for relief from her physical and emotional pain. But there never seems to be enough pills, and without even noticing, she is sliding down the slippery slope of addiction.

Although Ilana does a good job of keeping up her put-together façade, Tori and Shannon from the book club have figured out Ilana’s addiction, and in an act of tough but sincere love, they are about to present her with an ultimatum that she can’t ignore.
For readers of the Newport Ladies Book Club novels, “Ilana’s Wish” may be one of the most highly anticipated releases in the series. With a number of scenes and peeks into Ilana’s life through the eyes of the book club members, readers have already gathered that Ilana has deep struggles and pains, both physical and emotional. With the recent release of “Ilana’s Wish,” readers finally get to learn what is really going on — all the thoughts and reasons behind Ilana’s actions and comments.

Author Annette Lyon dives into the tender topic of infertility, and the emotions that come with it, and creates an honest story that is both relatable and revealing. Lyon creates an account that allows readers to feel the full weight of grief, addiction, devotion, friendship and faith — leaving readers hopeful in the face of dark realities. Perhaps one of the biggest lessons that comes from reading each of the Newport Ladies books is to never judge or make assumptions about someone else until you know their story.
The book has no foul language, sexual content or violence.

"Ilana's Wish" is part of the second set of books in the Newport Ladies Book Club parallel book series. Each book focuses on one member of the book club, shedding light into her personal life and challenges. Shared scenes allow readers to visit the same interactions and moments from different perspectives