If angels ran like customer service reps, this would be their training manual.
I gave Where Angels Go by Debbie Macomber 3 out of 5 stars because I followed my rating system like a responsible adult. I am not Christian, I don’t believe in angels, and I’m generally skeptical of any story that assumes divine intervention works like a very polite customer service department. So right out of the gate, this book and I were never going to be soulmates.
The story follows three Prayer Ambassadors who are assigned prayers to answer. Shirley handles Carter, whose Christmas wish is a dog (honestly, the most relatable prayer in the book). Mercy is assigned to Harry Alderwood, who is nearing the end of his life and praying that his wife of 65 years will be taken care of after he’s gone. Goodness focuses on Beth, who is afraid to love again after a truly disastrous first marriage, while her mother, Joyce, prays for Beth to find love again. Subtle, this book is not.
And of course, every prayer is answered, because this is a Debbie Macomber book and the angels do not miss deadlines. It’s sweet. It’s comforting. It’s very much a Hallmark movie in book form. For me, it also lived well beyond the realm of believability, but I can appreciate what it’s trying to do.
This is a warm, gentle, feel-good read that goes down fast and leaves no emotional bruising. It didn’t convert me, move me spiritually, or make me believe in angels, but it passed the time pleasantly enough. If you enjoy sentimental, faith-based stories with guaranteed happy outcomes, this one will probably be right up your alley.
