Haven Strong by Jessica Rakus | A Moving Story of Grief, Healing, and Strength
Spotlight
In this spotlight of Haven Strong by Jessica Rakus, we explore a deeply emotional story of loss, resilience, and the difficult path toward rebuilding a life after tragedy. Set in a close-knit community, this women's fiction novel examines how grief doesn't just affect one person-it ripples outward, changing everything.
If you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories like this, you might also like Home Is Where Our Story Begins, another thoughtful read centered on relationships and personal growth.
About Haven Strong by Jessica Rakus
Haven Strong By Jessica Rakus
Published by Longest Night Press on December 1, 2025
Genres: Women's Fiction
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 299
Josephine Grant lives a charmed life - a husband, three perfect children, strong bonds with family and friends in the small town where she's lived her entire life. She's the helper, the hostess, the one who always shows up. The person who can do it all.
Then the bus carrying her son's basketball team crashes, and Jo's husband and son are among the lives lost. Now she has a new identity. Widow. Single mother. Woman who lost everything. Grief begins to tear apart the place that's always been her home. Infighting among friends. Gossip and rumors. Wounds that may never heal and bonds that just might.
Now Jo has to rebuild her life, but as the person who thinks of herself as the helper, asking others to help hold her together is impossible. Jo must learn to lean on others as she learns to stand on her own.
In a single moment, Josephine loses everything-and must learn how to live again.
Reader Resources
Curious to learn more or see what other readers think? Explore below:
View Haven Strong on Goodreads
View Haven Strong on StoryGraph
Reader Snapshot
Genre: Women's Fiction
Tone: Emotional, reflective, character-driven
Setting: Small town community
Themes: Grief, loss, resilience, rebuilding, relationships
Perfect For: Readers who enjoy emotional journeys, strong character arcs, and stories about healing after loss
Content Considerations
This story centers on profound grief following the sudden loss of a spouse and child in a tragic accident. It also touches on emotional trauma, community tension, and the challenges of rebuilding life after loss. Readers sensitive to themes of death, bereavement, and intense emotional hardship may want to approach with care.
Why This Book Stands Out
Haven Strong leans into the emotional realities of grief while also exploring how communities respond under pressure. It's not just about personal loss-it's about what happens when the foundation of a shared life begins to crack.
The story focuses on identity, connection, and the quiet, often uncomfortable process of learning to rely on others when you've always been the one holding everything together.
Excerpt
This excerpt captures the moment everything changes.
"Josephine Grant?"
The grocery bag in my hands threatened to fall. He was here for me.
I'd known it since I first saw him, and praying I was wrong had done nothing.
I swallowed hard before turning. "Yes?"
He didn't speak again until he'd navigated the driveway and stood in front of me. I set down the bag of groceries; my shaking hands and knees had rendered holding things impossible.
"Could we step inside for a moment to speak?" he asked.
I glanced toward the door. "My daughters are inside."
He nodded, seeming to understand my concern. Whatever he had to say, he didn't want them to overhear any more than I did.
"Mrs. Grant, I'm so sorry. There was an accident earlier today involving a bus. Two of the people on the bus were identified as Stephen and Matthew Grant."
No. No no no.
"We're still trying to figure out exactly what happened, but emergency personnel at the scene did everything they could for everyone. I'm sorry to tell you they passed away at the scene."
My legs gave out and I collapsed to the ground. Cold seeped through the knees of my jeans, but I didn't care. My head dropped, my forehead settling into the gray slush that lined the driveway.
The officer crouched beside me as a sob burst from my throat.
"Is there someone who can come stay with you?"
Crumbled on the ground, I struggled to extract my cell phone from my back pocket, but I lacked the strength to pull myself up. Finally I got it. Through the blur of tears, I fumbled to find the button to make a phone call. Instead I landed on random apps, frustration adding to the crush in my chest.
The officer took my phone gently from my hand. "What name?"
"Esther Franklin," I replied. "My mother."
He stepped away, and without someone standing over me, I could no longer stop the tears. I sobbed into the cold gray concrete, praying my daughters wouldn't come looking for me.
From the Author
Did you have a minor character who insisted on playing a larger role in the story? Or how do you get the characters in your head to behave?
Over the years, I've found that I don't tell my characters what to do. I can try to influence them and give them what they need to end up where I think the story is going, and they will simply ignore me. They love to leave me scrambling to "fix" what they mess up.
With this book, when I was first sketching out the details about the characters to myself, Jo's husband Steve wasn't supposed to be on the bus. He was supposed to survive the entire story and be grieving the loss of their son along with Jo. As I started writing, it became clear to me that he needed to die. Things he was doing and things Jo was doing as I wrote made it impossible to keep him around (sorry, Steve).
I think the story is stronger with his death, but sometimes I think about that book I originally set out to write and wonder how it would have ended up if the characters had listened to me.
Meet the Author
About Jessica Rakus
Jessica Rakus is a debut novelist who has spent many years honing her craft.
She currently lives in Louisiana, after having lived briefly in seven other states.
Explore more from the author:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads
Perfect for readers who enjoy emotional women's fiction, small-town dynamics, and stories of resilience and personal growth.
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Where to Buy
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Tour dates: April 27 - May 8, 2026. To see the full schedule of stops, visit the
Goddess Fish Promotions - Haven Strong Tour Page.
Giveaway
Jessica Rakus will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.
If the giveaway widget does not load, you can enter here.
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