Five Oaks

A Novel

De: Julie Hensley

Narrado por: Courtney Patterson

In the Arkansas mountains, three generations of fiercely determined young women are poised for self-discovery in a decades-spanning novel about the bonds of family and secrets.

Spending summer away from home for the first time, fifteen-year-old Wren Pritchard and her younger sister, Sylvie, arrive at Five Oaks, their grandparents’ Arkansas lake house. As it was for their grandmother and mother before them, it’s a place for coming of age, first love, triumphs and failures, and keeping secrets.

This year, it’s Wren’s end-of-girlhood season. And Sylvie vows to keep all her secrets: Wren slipping away in the middle of the night, the boy on the dock, racing with him on the dark back roads, and slipping quietly into bed before dawn, carrying the scent of adventure. And still, as Wren’s behavior begins changing and the moonlit escapes become more daring, Sylvie holds her tongue. Even when it feels like Wren is speeding toward disaster. Then one night, Wren doesn’t come home.

The halcyon days in the Ouachita Mountains are not what they appear. When the truth comes to light—about mothers, daughters, and sisters—no one in the family will ever be the same.

©2025 by Julie Hensley. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“Five Oaks is a gorgeous novel. Hensley’s lush imagery reveals her prowess as a poet, while the characters pull you close to them and hold on long after you’ve read the final page. This compelling novel beautifully illustrates how life is a series of beginnings and endings, and there is always a next chapter in our stories.”—Bobi Conn, author of In the Shadow of the Valley and Someplace Like Home

“Without our knowledge, our ancestors’ stories take up residence inside us. Julie Hensley has written a multigenerational novel that reminds us of the secrets families often harbor and the consequences they produce. Part mystery and part family saga, Five Oaks is a gripping and beautiful book.”—Lee Martin, author of the Pulitzer Prize finalist The Bright Forever

Heartfelt story about life, family ties, and the quiet strength of ordinary people facing real-life challenges.

Listening to Five Oaks reminded me so much of the community my grandmother lived in. It was tight knit, full of quiet stories, and deeply human. The characters felt so real, like people I grew up around. Julie Hensley does a beautiful job capturing the way families and small towns shape us across generations.

The story unfolds gently, and everything about it feels authentic, from the setting to the dialogue to the shifting perspectives. Hensley does not shy away from the harder parts of life either. She writes about the challenges real people face with honesty and care, showing how pain, resilience, and connection often go hand in hand.

The narration is warm and steady, perfectly matching the tone of the book. If you appreciate reflective, character-driven stories that feel both intimate and meaningful, I highly recommend this one.

I just wish this was book one of a series!!