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Beyond the Point
Three women are brought together in an enthralling story of friendship, heartbreak, and resilience. Set at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, this is an amazing debut novel.
Duty. Honor. Country. That’s West Point’s motto, and every cadet who passes through its stone gates vows to live it. But on the eve of 9/11, as Dani, Hannah and Avery face four grueling years ahead, they realize they’ll only survive if they do it together.
Everyone knows Dani is going places. With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, she navigates West Point’s predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking stereotypes and embracing new friends.
Hannah’s grandfather, a legendary Army general, offers a stark warning about the dangers that lie ahead, but she moves forward anyway, letting faith guide her path. When she meets her soul mate at West Point, the future looks perfect, just as planned.
Wild child Avery moves fast and doesn’t mind breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can’t outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path.
The world—of business, of love, and of war—awaits Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. These three women know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But soon, that adage no longer rings true—for their future, or their friendship. As they’re pulled in different directions, will their hard-forged bond prevail or shatter?
Beyond the Point is a heartfelt look at how our closest friends can become our fiercest battle buddies. After all, the greatest battles we fight rarely require a uniform.
Duty. Honor. Country. That’s West Point’s motto, and every cadet who passes through its stone gates vows to live it. But on the eve of 9/11, as Dani, Hannah and Avery face four grueling years ahead, they realize they’ll only survive if they do it together.
Everyone knows Dani is going places. With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, she navigates West Point’s predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking stereotypes and embracing new friends.
Hannah’s grandfather, a legendary Army general, offers a stark warning about the dangers that lie ahead, but she moves forward anyway, letting faith guide her path. When she meets her soul mate at West Point, the future looks perfect, just as planned.
Wild child Avery moves fast and doesn’t mind breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can’t outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path.
The world—of business, of love, and of war—awaits Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. These three women know that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. But soon, that adage no longer rings true—for their future, or their friendship. As they’re pulled in different directions, will their hard-forged bond prevail or shatter?
Beyond the Point is a heartfelt look at how our closest friends can become our fiercest battle buddies. After all, the greatest battles we fight rarely require a uniform.
528 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,334 reviews
April 14, 2020
In Beyond the Point three young women meet at West Point, where they will attend college and play basketball. Hannah, Dani, and Avery are from different backgrounds: one a religious rule follower with family ties to West Point, another a stellar athlete, and the third, a party girl constantly running as an escape.
The trio forms a strong bond over the course of their college years, though their future plans change, as life often does. They are in school during 9/11, which alters the course of their military careers, in addition to dealing with other challenges like heartbreak, injuries, and loss.
Beyond the Point is a story about the strength of women and the power of female friendship. The book is a bit on the lengthier side but never felt too long — I enjoyed following their journey.
The trio forms a strong bond over the course of their college years, though their future plans change, as life often does. They are in school during 9/11, which alters the course of their military careers, in addition to dealing with other challenges like heartbreak, injuries, and loss.
Beyond the Point is a story about the strength of women and the power of female friendship. The book is a bit on the lengthier side but never felt too long — I enjoyed following their journey.
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April 1, 2019Why I love it
by Etaf Rum
When you run a bookstagram account, you read so many books. Sometimes I lose count of how many I’m reading at once. Sometimes I focus on a single book and don’t come up for air until I am done. That’s what happened with Beyond the Point. When I started reading it, I had no idea just how much it would pull at my heartstrings.
Gibson tells the story of three women—Dani, Hannah, and Avery—over the span of seven years, from the sunset of their high school years to the dawn of a new, shared era at West Point Military Academy, in the wake of the devastating 9/11 attacks. We follow their intertwining stories as they form long-lasting friendships, striving to be the best they can be for their families, country, and faith. Through these women, we are reminded of the strength it takes to summon the courage to face challenges in both war and peace.
As a new author, reading other debuts has taken on a new significance. Still, I was surprised to find out that this was Gibson’s first novel—the writing is polished and seamless! If you love women’s fiction, historical fiction, or well-written stories about friendship, this is a book for you.
Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/beyond-the...
by Etaf Rum
When you run a bookstagram account, you read so many books. Sometimes I lose count of how many I’m reading at once. Sometimes I focus on a single book and don’t come up for air until I am done. That’s what happened with Beyond the Point. When I started reading it, I had no idea just how much it would pull at my heartstrings.
Gibson tells the story of three women—Dani, Hannah, and Avery—over the span of seven years, from the sunset of their high school years to the dawn of a new, shared era at West Point Military Academy, in the wake of the devastating 9/11 attacks. We follow their intertwining stories as they form long-lasting friendships, striving to be the best they can be for their families, country, and faith. Through these women, we are reminded of the strength it takes to summon the courage to face challenges in both war and peace.
As a new author, reading other debuts has taken on a new significance. Still, I was surprised to find out that this was Gibson’s first novel—the writing is polished and seamless! If you love women’s fiction, historical fiction, or well-written stories about friendship, this is a book for you.
Read more at: https://bookofthemonth.com/beyond-the...
April 8, 2019
West Point is very special to me- I fell in love with and married a cadet. We sleep with a green girl on our bed, I've been to the Firstie Club and 100th night and I've eaten meals in the mess hall. I could picture every single page of this book. I've also been to military funerals, watched as flags were folded, and gripped friend's hands as they walked through the unimaginable. I know the fear and the longing and the separation.
This book captured it all perfectly. I have even more respect for the women of USMA than I did before. As my tears fell on the last pages of this book, all I could think is that I'm so damn lucky to be married to my own hero. The men and women of USMA are the best, brightest, and bravest and my life is so much richer because of them. Well done, Claire.
This book captured it all perfectly. I have even more respect for the women of USMA than I did before. As my tears fell on the last pages of this book, all I could think is that I'm so damn lucky to be married to my own hero. The men and women of USMA are the best, brightest, and bravest and my life is so much richer because of them. Well done, Claire.
August 9, 2018
Read for a cover quote, and will definitely be giving one!
Updated with my quote:
In BEYOND THE POINT, Claire Gibson writes a stellar trio of heroines--women I want to hug, women I want to befriend, women I want to be. Hannah, Avery, and Dani enter the male-dominated world of West Point as very different personalities, but they all prove tough as their Army boots as their friendship weathers the tests of school and life, faith and loss, love and war. An inspiring tribute to female friendship and female courage.
Updated with my quote:
In BEYOND THE POINT, Claire Gibson writes a stellar trio of heroines--women I want to hug, women I want to befriend, women I want to be. Hannah, Avery, and Dani enter the male-dominated world of West Point as very different personalities, but they all prove tough as their Army boots as their friendship weathers the tests of school and life, faith and loss, love and war. An inspiring tribute to female friendship and female courage.
September 27, 2020
[2.6] Gibson writes about West Point with authority -and the parts set there are the strongest. Unfortunately, the novel is structured so that the story of each of 3 female classmates is told for a chapter or two, then stops at a "cliffhanger" and lurches to the next person. I found this irritating and manipulative. By the time the author circled back to the character's pivotal moment, I had usually lost interest. Plus, too many Christian platitudes for me. Still, I did learn about life at West Point from a female perspective.
April 12, 2019
This really moved along zippily for the first 3/4. Although the writing isn't cliche-free, the details were interesting and I was wrapped up in the 3 main characters' stories, kind of Rona Jaffe-style. (I'm sure there's a modern equivalent but Rona came to mind!) I was upset though by what felt like the author slut-shaming one of those characters, over and over. And there was a bit too much religion for me. There were some progressive and feminist values mixed in there, too, but I felt some judginess as well. The ending got quite slow and I was ready to say goodbye when I was done.
But overall this book is really more complicated than I thought it would be!
But overall this book is really more complicated than I thought it would be!
April 14, 2020
This is one of those books where I feel genuinely bad that I can't give it a higher rating. There's nothing wrong with this novel; it just wasn't written for me, and that's fine.
I imagine that people who have a military background, or come from a military family, will connect with this story in ways that I just wasn't able to appreciate. Claire Gibson has a personal connection to the West Point setting, having grown up on the base, and has clearly done her research when it comes to portraying the experience of women in the US military. West Point, and the experience of going to school there, is detailed and real, and gives a really interesting glimpse into a very insular world (granted, most of the time my reaction to the West Point stuff was, this school sounds so fucking weird and I don't know why anyone thinks going there is a good idea, but like I said - this book was not written for me).
The novel starts in 2000, when three girls - Hannah, Avery, and Dani - are deciding where they'll go to college. The three of them, through a variety of circumstances, all end up accepted at West Point, the prestigious military college. The book follows their lives as they become friends, and their lives are uprooted by two major tragedies - first, the attacks on September 11th, which radically redefines their experience at the military college and their later careers in the armed forces; and then two years after graduation, when the death of a loved one sends shockwaves across all three women's lives.
The friend who gave me this book as a gift said that, for her, the main selling point was the way Gibson portrays the core friendship between the three women, and how they remain connected despite the very different paths their lives all take. And I get that! I agree that the portrayal of the bond between Hannah, Avery, and Dani was the strongest part of the book, even though the snarky part of my brain wants to dismiss it as Sisterhood of the Traveling Combat Boots.
This novel is also very purposefully non-political, and I can't decide if Claire Gibson should be applauded for that or not. On the one hand, this book is very clearly concerned with portraying the experience of the armed forces as human beings, rather than attempting to wade into the absolute fucking quagmire that is the Middle East conflict. But on the other hand...that quagmire is your entire setting. The closest Gibson gets to taking a political stance is when a character mentions in her narration that George W. Bush "hadn't earned her vote" and then when the "War on Terror" propaganda starts up in the wake of 9/11, and a character wonders how the hell they're supposed to win a war against a concept. Besides that, Claire Gibson has shrunk the entire Middle East conflict down to just the personal experiences of her three protagonists, without asking them to ever really consider the broader scope of what they're doing. Also, the US military's policy of not allowing women to serve in combat situations means that active duty for our protagonists means they do things like supervise construction crews and work in field hospitals, and are never put in a position where they're forced to take a life.
My only real criticism of this book is that the "present day" sections, when the girls are forced by tragedy to reunite, could have benefited from aging the characters up by a decade. The personal struggles they're dealing with, like Avery's inability to find a decent man and Dani's conflicted feelings about being successful at a job she's not passionate about (and also not being able to find a decent man, because this book is also uhhhhhhh...very Christian) kind of falls flat, because these women are twenty-four years old. It was hard to take their "oh god, I'm going to be alone and miserable forever unlike my friend Hannah who did the right thing by getting married at twenty-two" mindset seriously when they weren't even old enough to rent a car.
Claire Gibson also touches, very briefly and with feather-light pressure, on the prevalence of sexual harassment in the military - but again, she shrinks a huge issue down to a single conflict between four people, and , rather than examine the incident as merely a consequence of a much, much larger problem.
And it is not Claire Gibson's job to tackle these Big Ideas, I know! This book does not owe me anything deeper than a nice story about the changing friendship between three women and how tragedy can make those bonds stronger. If that's all you want from this story, you will walk away satisfied.
I imagine that people who have a military background, or come from a military family, will connect with this story in ways that I just wasn't able to appreciate. Claire Gibson has a personal connection to the West Point setting, having grown up on the base, and has clearly done her research when it comes to portraying the experience of women in the US military. West Point, and the experience of going to school there, is detailed and real, and gives a really interesting glimpse into a very insular world (granted, most of the time my reaction to the West Point stuff was, this school sounds so fucking weird and I don't know why anyone thinks going there is a good idea, but like I said - this book was not written for me).
The novel starts in 2000, when three girls - Hannah, Avery, and Dani - are deciding where they'll go to college. The three of them, through a variety of circumstances, all end up accepted at West Point, the prestigious military college. The book follows their lives as they become friends, and their lives are uprooted by two major tragedies - first, the attacks on September 11th, which radically redefines their experience at the military college and their later careers in the armed forces; and then two years after graduation, when the death of a loved one sends shockwaves across all three women's lives.
The friend who gave me this book as a gift said that, for her, the main selling point was the way Gibson portrays the core friendship between the three women, and how they remain connected despite the very different paths their lives all take. And I get that! I agree that the portrayal of the bond between Hannah, Avery, and Dani was the strongest part of the book, even though the snarky part of my brain wants to dismiss it as Sisterhood of the Traveling Combat Boots.
This novel is also very purposefully non-political, and I can't decide if Claire Gibson should be applauded for that or not. On the one hand, this book is very clearly concerned with portraying the experience of the armed forces as human beings, rather than attempting to wade into the absolute fucking quagmire that is the Middle East conflict. But on the other hand...that quagmire is your entire setting. The closest Gibson gets to taking a political stance is when a character mentions in her narration that George W. Bush "hadn't earned her vote" and then when the "War on Terror" propaganda starts up in the wake of 9/11, and a character wonders how the hell they're supposed to win a war against a concept. Besides that, Claire Gibson has shrunk the entire Middle East conflict down to just the personal experiences of her three protagonists, without asking them to ever really consider the broader scope of what they're doing. Also, the US military's policy of not allowing women to serve in combat situations means that active duty for our protagonists means they do things like supervise construction crews and work in field hospitals, and are never put in a position where they're forced to take a life.
My only real criticism of this book is that the "present day" sections, when the girls are forced by tragedy to reunite, could have benefited from aging the characters up by a decade. The personal struggles they're dealing with, like Avery's inability to find a decent man and Dani's conflicted feelings about being successful at a job she's not passionate about (and also not being able to find a decent man, because this book is also uhhhhhhh...very Christian) kind of falls flat, because these women are twenty-four years old. It was hard to take their "oh god, I'm going to be alone and miserable forever unlike my friend Hannah who did the right thing by getting married at twenty-two" mindset seriously when they weren't even old enough to rent a car.
Claire Gibson also touches, very briefly and with feather-light pressure, on the prevalence of sexual harassment in the military - but again, she shrinks a huge issue down to a single conflict between four people, and , rather than examine the incident as merely a consequence of a much, much larger problem.
And it is not Claire Gibson's job to tackle these Big Ideas, I know! This book does not owe me anything deeper than a nice story about the changing friendship between three women and how tragedy can make those bonds stronger. If that's all you want from this story, you will walk away satisfied.
October 29, 2021
I loved this story! It's been a while since I've read a book that really taps into my emotions. I related to all three of the characters in a profound way. My favorite BOTM so far!
April 14, 2019
Someone needs a little *less* Jesus. This book should have been marketed as Christian fiction, there's that much. (And if it had - it would probably get less crappy reviews, because there's no indication *anywhere* about this. If there had been, it would have probably hit its target market instead of falling on the masses. This parachute never came close to its landing zone). Everything feels forced, from the religious plugs everywhere to the so called relationships between the girls. Really, really not worth the hype. Thank goodness so few people have read it so far, I'll be able to trade it for something that's at least half decent.
March 18, 2019
Beyond the Point
A poignant and enthralling story of the friendship of three West Point female graduates.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
At the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, three women bond on a basketball court in a story of friendship, heartbreak, and resilience.
Dani McNalley is going places. With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, she navigates West Point’s predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking stereotypes and embracing new friends. Hannah Speer’s grandfather, a legendary Army general, offers a warning about the dangers that lie ahead, but she moves forward anyway, letting faith guide her path. When she meets her soul mate at West Point, the future looks perfect. Meanwhile, wild-child Avery Adams moves fast and doesn’t mind breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can’t outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path.
The world awaits Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. As they go off in different directions, will their hard-forged bond last the test of war, marriage and life after college?
REVIEW
BEYOND THE POINT is a moving story of female friendships at West Point. It is a delightful debut novel. The book magnificently captures women exhibiting strength, faith, forgiveness and perseverance, while encountering discrimination, pain and loss. The story is carefully plotted and moves through time at a nice clip. Dani, Hannah and Avery’s characters are each uniquely realistic and they are the strength of the story. The West Point setting adds tremendous value to the story.
Author Claire Gibson’s writing is stellar. She was an Army brat who moved every few years, but grew up at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where her father was a professor. She attended Furman University in South Carolina. and studied in Asia as a young adult. Now she lives in Nashville. She writes about anything that strikes her as interesting, and she has written about the military, travel, faith, food and education.
Thanks to LibraryThing for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Harper Collins/William Morrow
Published April 2, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
A poignant and enthralling story of the friendship of three West Point female graduates.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SUMMARY
At the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, three women bond on a basketball court in a story of friendship, heartbreak, and resilience.
Dani McNalley is going places. With athletic talent and a brilliant mind, she navigates West Point’s predominantly male environment with wit and confidence, breaking stereotypes and embracing new friends. Hannah Speer’s grandfather, a legendary Army general, offers a warning about the dangers that lie ahead, but she moves forward anyway, letting faith guide her path. When she meets her soul mate at West Point, the future looks perfect. Meanwhile, wild-child Avery Adams moves fast and doesn’t mind breaking a few rules (and hearts) along the way. But she can’t outpace her self-doubt, and the harder she tries, the further it leads her down a treacherous path.
The world awaits Dani, Hannah, and Avery beyond the gates of West Point. As they go off in different directions, will their hard-forged bond last the test of war, marriage and life after college?
REVIEW
BEYOND THE POINT is a moving story of female friendships at West Point. It is a delightful debut novel. The book magnificently captures women exhibiting strength, faith, forgiveness and perseverance, while encountering discrimination, pain and loss. The story is carefully plotted and moves through time at a nice clip. Dani, Hannah and Avery’s characters are each uniquely realistic and they are the strength of the story. The West Point setting adds tremendous value to the story.
Author Claire Gibson’s writing is stellar. She was an Army brat who moved every few years, but grew up at the United States Military Academy at West Point, where her father was a professor. She attended Furman University in South Carolina. and studied in Asia as a young adult. Now she lives in Nashville. She writes about anything that strikes her as interesting, and she has written about the military, travel, faith, food and education.
Thanks to LibraryThing for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Publisher Harper Collins/William Morrow
Published April 2, 2019
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com
April 23, 2019
5 ☆ WOW was I SURPRISED!! Beyond The Point was not what I was expecting at all. Inside it’s pages Claire Gibson created a captivating spell of awe and respect for our female soldiers that kept me reading well into the night. YAY!! for that as it’s one heck of a debut! I loved following alongside bff’s Dani, Hannah and Avery’s tight knit friendship, different personalities, good/bad choices; during their tumultuous HS senior and U.S. West Point years (where Hannah meets her soul mate), 911 and throughout the globe in London, Afghanistan, and Hawaii. Don’t let it’s size full you. It’s short chapters made it a fast mover while it tore at my emotions along the way. What a ride! Loved this and am excited to see what she releases next. 👏🏻♥️
June 14, 2021
I received copy of this book for free from the publisher as part of an Instagram book tour I did to promote the book.
Omg what a beautiful book! It definitely lives up to all the hype.
The story was mesmerizing. I became so invested in the lives of the three women. I felt like I personally knew them and that I was right there with them through their ups and downs. All three of them felt so realistic.
The author’s writing style is phenomenal. There’s something utterly captivating about it.
Some people mention that this book should be classified as Christian fiction because of the talk of God and religion. I have read my fair share of Christian fiction and I don’t think this book quite fits that. There are mentions of God, but that’s mainly due to one character being religious. Just because the Christian religion is discussed in a book does not mean it is Christian fiction. There is so much more to this book than that (friendship, love, grief, etc.).
My edition had a little bonus section at the end with filled background behind the novel, including interviews with real life West Point women. I enjoyed hearing their experiences.
Lastly, I wanted to share a quote from the book about love that really struck me. The author writes, “Love starts in the body. It starts with the tingling of toes and the rushing of blood and the lightness in the head. It feels a lot like pain…There are convulsions, nausea, heartburn, and breathlessness. There is a physical ache you feel when falling in love. It’s your heart making room for someone else, like a gardener is there, digging out a hole for a new plant. There is pain, and there is fear. The fear that the hole might stay forever” (pg. 151-152)
Overall, I LOVED this book and consider it a new favorite of mine. If you’ve been putting off reading this book like I did (it had been sitting on my shelf since 2019), just pick it up already and read it!
Omg what a beautiful book! It definitely lives up to all the hype.
The story was mesmerizing. I became so invested in the lives of the three women. I felt like I personally knew them and that I was right there with them through their ups and downs. All three of them felt so realistic.
The author’s writing style is phenomenal. There’s something utterly captivating about it.
Some people mention that this book should be classified as Christian fiction because of the talk of God and religion. I have read my fair share of Christian fiction and I don’t think this book quite fits that. There are mentions of God, but that’s mainly due to one character being religious. Just because the Christian religion is discussed in a book does not mean it is Christian fiction. There is so much more to this book than that (friendship, love, grief, etc.).
My edition had a little bonus section at the end with filled background behind the novel, including interviews with real life West Point women. I enjoyed hearing their experiences.
Lastly, I wanted to share a quote from the book about love that really struck me. The author writes, “Love starts in the body. It starts with the tingling of toes and the rushing of blood and the lightness in the head. It feels a lot like pain…There are convulsions, nausea, heartburn, and breathlessness. There is a physical ache you feel when falling in love. It’s your heart making room for someone else, like a gardener is there, digging out a hole for a new plant. There is pain, and there is fear. The fear that the hole might stay forever” (pg. 151-152)
Overall, I LOVED this book and consider it a new favorite of mine. If you’ve been putting off reading this book like I did (it had been sitting on my shelf since 2019), just pick it up already and read it!
April 15, 2019
I knew I would love this book within the first 50 pages. Told from three women who come to attend West Point to play basketball. How that decision is made. They all play for an obtuse, prejudice, a-hole coach. We see how their lives play out after West Point and after unimaginable heart break. Heart break that bonds friends like no other. And when friends can love through that, something magical happens.
I highly recommend this book!
I highly recommend this book!
June 8, 2019
Good characters, well-written and not cliched.
It would make for a good book club discussion, particularly for women in their early- to mid-twenties as there's much to discuss (women in the military, #metoo, marriage, faith, friendship, etc.). It would be great to read with a book flight of Tribe by Sebastian Junger.
A note on this being "Christian" fiction. I've seen several reviews mention it as such. A few of the characters shared a common faith, but I wouldn't consider this Christian fiction any more than I would consider this sports writing. Some of the characters were Christians. Some of the characters were basketball players. Most of the characters were in the military. You likely wouldn't find this on the shelves at Lifeway, and none of the characters had a born again moment, though a few of them did wrestle with their faith to varying degrees "on screen." If you don't want to read about characters who are Christians to any degree, skip it, but it was no more a part of their lives than sport or military or geography or any other facet of their personality.
For similar themes, read Gold by Chris Cleave.
It would make for a good book club discussion, particularly for women in their early- to mid-twenties as there's much to discuss (women in the military, #metoo, marriage, faith, friendship, etc.). It would be great to read with a book flight of Tribe by Sebastian Junger.
A note on this being "Christian" fiction. I've seen several reviews mention it as such. A few of the characters shared a common faith, but I wouldn't consider this Christian fiction any more than I would consider this sports writing. Some of the characters were Christians. Some of the characters were basketball players. Most of the characters were in the military. You likely wouldn't find this on the shelves at Lifeway, and none of the characters had a born again moment, though a few of them did wrestle with their faith to varying degrees "on screen." If you don't want to read about characters who are Christians to any degree, skip it, but it was no more a part of their lives than sport or military or geography or any other facet of their personality.
For similar themes, read Gold by Chris Cleave.
Shelved as 'dnf'
March 1, 2021DNF @30%
2019; William Morrow Paperbacks/HarperCollins Canada
I was excited to read this one after reading the positive reviews. However, after listening for awhile I had to stop reading as I was not invested in the story at all. There was a lot packed into this novel, but was not paced well. The characters were a bit frazzled and too much alike. Also, as a side note this novel should probably be classified as Christian fiction. Not warning readers on this may turn some readers off as it does have lots of Jesus and God.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
2019; William Morrow Paperbacks/HarperCollins Canada
I was excited to read this one after reading the positive reviews. However, after listening for awhile I had to stop reading as I was not invested in the story at all. There was a lot packed into this novel, but was not paced well. The characters were a bit frazzled and too much alike. Also, as a side note this novel should probably be classified as Christian fiction. Not warning readers on this may turn some readers off as it does have lots of Jesus and God.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
August 6, 2019
Oh man...this one struck a chord. Being a part of the military for my entire life, this brought up so many feelings. These women are incredible and the traditions were so accurate. It sparked the fears that military spouse shave being married to soldiers. Loved this so incredibly much!
November 17, 2020
Actual rating: 6 stars
I’m not sure I can even express how wildly Beyond the Point surpassed my expectations, but I’m sure going to try. I’ve always had a lot of respect for our military, and for the people who sacrifice their time, dreams, bodies, and lives in its service. I also have a lot of empathy for the family of those who serve, as I can’t even begin to imagine how terrifying it must be to watch someone you love with your entire being fly into a war zone, and how insanely stressful it must be to wait and hope for their return. But this book has increased all of those feelings for me. Witnessing military life from the inside, from the perspectives of three girls as they graduate high school, attend West Point, and embark on their careers thereafter, made for a moving and eye-opening experience.
The trio of protagonists are all three very different girls with very different motivations: Dani is hyper-competitive, Avery desperately wants to prove her worth, and Hannah has this deep desire to serve. The three girls share two things: a love of basketball and an insane drive to be the very best they can be, whatever their motivations may be. I shouldn’t have favorites, but it was impossible for me not to fall in love with Hannah. Avery had my sympathy, and Dani was engaging, but Hannah is one of the purest, sweetest souls I’ve ever come across. The fact that she chose the Army as her way to serve somehow only reinforced that purity. She was in no way naive or weak, but her strength was laced with this intentional innocence that I adored. Hannah’s faith reminded me so much of high school Celeste. It’s fierce and wholesome and something I wish I could recapture. I think this is why I love Hannah so much: she helps me recapture that fresh faith while I’m with her. Also, her love story was incredibly joyful and so sweet to experience alongside her.
Speaking of faith, that was probably my favorite element of the novel. This is not Christian fiction, but it spoke more honestly of the faith I hold and had more spiritual resonance than almost anything I’ve read in that genre. The way Christianity is presented in the lives of those who adhere to it in the novel is raw and honest and real in a way I’ve seldom seen in fiction. Or even nonfiction, actually. The questions of the nonbelievers were never belittled or shrugged off. The faith of the believers in this book feels sincere and like an integral part of their characters. In the face of the grief that comes in the back third of the novel (which you know is coming from the first chapter), this faith could have seemed trite or brittle. But it never did. You can still believe in God with your whole heart while feeling betrayed by Him, and that angry faith felt incredibly valid in light of what they were going through.
And then there’s Wendy.
I want to be her when I go up. She was the surrogate mom for the girl’s basketball team while our three protagonists were at West Point, and she’s one of the most loving, welcoming, dependable women I’ve ever read. And her faith is insanely strong. She shares this faith constantly without ever once preaching at others. Sometimes the ways she shares this faith is with a Bible on her lap, and sometimes it’s serving meals without expecting a word of thanks, or letting someone cry on her shoulder without offering the empty platitudes that most of us can’t keep from falling off our tongues in such situations. Her faith and the way it oozes from her is something I desperately want. And her willingness to admit that she doesn’t have the answers is so respectable. Upon finishing the novel, I discovered that the author had based this character after her mother, who had served in a similar capacity when the author’s father was stationed at and teaching classes for West Point, which made the characters and setting even more poignant.
About that setting. The first chunk of this novel is technically a campus story. I’ve never read a campus novel quite like this one. West Point is fascinating. It’s so far removed from other universities. The lack of frats and parties and pajama-clad upperclassmen, mixed with the academic and physical rigor expected from every single student, was such a departure from every other college campus I’ve encountered in real life or literature. I loved getting to learn more about it and follow Dani, Avery, and Hannah around through their time there, but I freely admit that I would have never been able to hack it.
Besides the characters, the faith element, and the setting, the other main building block of this novel was grief, and how you deal with it. I’ve read some fantastic books that deal with grief in ways that felt honest and insightful, but this one tops all of those. Gibson presents grief in such a raw, brutally honest way, and her representation of how her characters dealt with that grief, and how that varied among them, was masterful. I also really appreciated that the reader knows from the first 5 pages of the book that something terrible has happened. This made the grief, when it finally came, feel less like something inserted from shock value and sensationalism. This writing decision gave the intense sadness more honesty and resonance.
I also have to talk about the writing itself. I find it almost impossible to believe that this is a debut novel. The prose is fantastic, and the Gibson managed to perfectly balance lovely writing, intensely deep character development, engaging plot, and thoughtful contemplations on philosophy and faith. Not only was I never once bored, I highlighted probably a quarter of the text. I annotated so much, in fact, that digging through and narrowing down the quotes I wanted to include was crazy difficult. I’m blown away by how polished and powerful and purposeful Gibson was able to make every single chapter of this novel.
I would have never guessed that a novel about West Point and military life would end up as one of my favorite novels of the year. It’s the 130th book I’ve read in 2020 and, as of this moment, it’s second only to Ghosts of Harvard. And it’s a pretty close second. It made me think and feel deeply after months of being emotionally and intellectually numbed by real life events. I also finished reading this on Veteran’s Day, which made both the day and the book stand out more in my mind. Beyond the Point is a gorgeous novel that I can’t wait to share with my family.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
I’m not sure I can even express how wildly Beyond the Point surpassed my expectations, but I’m sure going to try. I’ve always had a lot of respect for our military, and for the people who sacrifice their time, dreams, bodies, and lives in its service. I also have a lot of empathy for the family of those who serve, as I can’t even begin to imagine how terrifying it must be to watch someone you love with your entire being fly into a war zone, and how insanely stressful it must be to wait and hope for their return. But this book has increased all of those feelings for me. Witnessing military life from the inside, from the perspectives of three girls as they graduate high school, attend West Point, and embark on their careers thereafter, made for a moving and eye-opening experience.
“Some wounds are invisible. It doesn't mean they're not real.”
The trio of protagonists are all three very different girls with very different motivations: Dani is hyper-competitive, Avery desperately wants to prove her worth, and Hannah has this deep desire to serve. The three girls share two things: a love of basketball and an insane drive to be the very best they can be, whatever their motivations may be. I shouldn’t have favorites, but it was impossible for me not to fall in love with Hannah. Avery had my sympathy, and Dani was engaging, but Hannah is one of the purest, sweetest souls I’ve ever come across. The fact that she chose the Army as her way to serve somehow only reinforced that purity. She was in no way naive or weak, but her strength was laced with this intentional innocence that I adored. Hannah’s faith reminded me so much of high school Celeste. It’s fierce and wholesome and something I wish I could recapture. I think this is why I love Hannah so much: she helps me recapture that fresh faith while I’m with her. Also, her love story was incredibly joyful and so sweet to experience alongside her.
“If you think you're important, if you feel that your life matters, all you need to do is spend some time in nature, Hannah thought. Stand before an ocean. Climb a mountain. Stare out over a canyon. Creation--wild and untamed--reminded her of her size in this universe. But feeling small did not send her into despair. She was like a child, trusting her Father when He said the storm would pass.”
Speaking of faith, that was probably my favorite element of the novel. This is not Christian fiction, but it spoke more honestly of the faith I hold and had more spiritual resonance than almost anything I’ve read in that genre. The way Christianity is presented in the lives of those who adhere to it in the novel is raw and honest and real in a way I’ve seldom seen in fiction. Or even nonfiction, actually. The questions of the nonbelievers were never belittled or shrugged off. The faith of the believers in this book feels sincere and like an integral part of their characters. In the face of the grief that comes in the back third of the novel (which you know is coming from the first chapter), this faith could have seemed trite or brittle. But it never did. You can still believe in God with your whole heart while feeling betrayed by Him, and that angry faith felt incredibly valid in light of what they were going through.
And then there’s Wendy.
I want to be her when I go up. She was the surrogate mom for the girl’s basketball team while our three protagonists were at West Point, and she’s one of the most loving, welcoming, dependable women I’ve ever read. And her faith is insanely strong. She shares this faith constantly without ever once preaching at others. Sometimes the ways she shares this faith is with a Bible on her lap, and sometimes it’s serving meals without expecting a word of thanks, or letting someone cry on her shoulder without offering the empty platitudes that most of us can’t keep from falling off our tongues in such situations. Her faith and the way it oozes from her is something I desperately want. And her willingness to admit that she doesn’t have the answers is so respectable. Upon finishing the novel, I discovered that the author had based this character after her mother, who had served in a similar capacity when the author’s father was stationed at and teaching classes for West Point, which made the characters and setting even more poignant.
“Maybe faith was having the humility to scream at God and the audacity to get up off the floor.”
About that setting. The first chunk of this novel is technically a campus story. I’ve never read a campus novel quite like this one. West Point is fascinating. It’s so far removed from other universities. The lack of frats and parties and pajama-clad upperclassmen, mixed with the academic and physical rigor expected from every single student, was such a departure from every other college campus I’ve encountered in real life or literature. I loved getting to learn more about it and follow Dani, Avery, and Hannah around through their time there, but I freely admit that I would have never been able to hack it.
“I wanted perfection. But it turns out, here on earth, we don't get perfection; we get people.”
Besides the characters, the faith element, and the setting, the other main building block of this novel was grief, and how you deal with it. I’ve read some fantastic books that deal with grief in ways that felt honest and insightful, but this one tops all of those. Gibson presents grief in such a raw, brutally honest way, and her representation of how her characters dealt with that grief, and how that varied among them, was masterful. I also really appreciated that the reader knows from the first 5 pages of the book that something terrible has happened. This made the grief, when it finally came, feel less like something inserted from shock value and sensationalism. This writing decision gave the intense sadness more honesty and resonance.
“She felt like a part of her body had been ripped off. The fact that everyone didn't stare seemed absolutely impossible. How could a loss that big be that invisible?”
I also have to talk about the writing itself. I find it almost impossible to believe that this is a debut novel. The prose is fantastic, and the Gibson managed to perfectly balance lovely writing, intensely deep character development, engaging plot, and thoughtful contemplations on philosophy and faith. Not only was I never once bored, I highlighted probably a quarter of the text. I annotated so much, in fact, that digging through and narrowing down the quotes I wanted to include was crazy difficult. I’m blown away by how polished and powerful and purposeful Gibson was able to make every single chapter of this novel.
“Love starts in the body. It starts with the tingling of toes and the rushing of blood and the lightness in the head. It feels a lot like pain… There are convulsions, nausea, heartburn, and breathlessness. There is a physical ache you feel when you're falling in love. It's your heart making room for someone else, like a gardener is there, digging out a hole for a new plant. There is pain, and there is fear. The fear that the hole might stay forever.”
I would have never guessed that a novel about West Point and military life would end up as one of my favorite novels of the year. It’s the 130th book I’ve read in 2020 and, as of this moment, it’s second only to Ghosts of Harvard. And it’s a pretty close second. It made me think and feel deeply after months of being emotionally and intellectually numbed by real life events. I also finished reading this on Veteran’s Day, which made both the day and the book stand out more in my mind. Beyond the Point is a gorgeous novel that I can’t wait to share with my family.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
March 13, 2019
Though, admittedly, I may not have picked up this book on my own had I not befriended the author last year, I would have been a fool to pass up reading this gorgeous novel! Claire Gibson wrote with an understanding of loss and friendship that surpasses many of her contemporaries. In 500 pages, she wove a tale covering 7 years from the end of high school through and beyond the Point, as 3 young women, despite the odds, aspire to play basketball for West Point and in so doing, establish a lasting bond made up of their faith, their dedication to their sport, their frustration with and ultimate respect for the Army, and the determination to be the best they can be for their families and country.
Dani, Avery, and Hannah each act as pillars to the story as the chapters alternate between the 3 and their struggles with the demands of the school, their insecurities, and their uncertainties for the future all pile on as the tensions swell with each passing year. The events of 9/11 fell with such forceful impact when I realized the inevitable end: that they would all be deployed for active duty meant that it was all too likely that someone was going to die. Through tears I was able to keep reading, waiting, as the girls were barely sophomores and still had 2 years of hard work to endure before their impending departures to Afghanistan or Iraq.
Claire deserves praise not just because she so deftly pulled at my heart strings, but because she really crafted a book that while lengthy, passes quickly because it is so so readable. I couldn't stop myself from inhaling 50, 80, 100 pages at a time, not ever ready to part with the trio even for a few hours. The writing dives deep into the psyches, personalities, and histories of each young woman, such that it truly felt like I knew them. Hannah is perhaps the most clearheaded in her dedication to her faith, trusting in God and keeping her eyes firmly on the future, though she is still human and insecure when for years she is not pursued by a single boy- until Tim. Dani is a star on the basketball court and wields her strength and leadership with her team and her company in training and beyond; she proves to be the glue that holds her friends and their "cult" together in and out of school. Avery is the "dark" one, always involved with a different guy, she tends to get herself heartbroken and at school she picks one vindictive man in particular, and she becomes mired in the legal action she pursues against him. The secondary characters are also well-formed and purposefully placed throughout to even further round out the book.
If you have any interest in historical fiction, friendship, the Army, or well-written stories: then you must read this.
Dani, Avery, and Hannah each act as pillars to the story as the chapters alternate between the 3 and their struggles with the demands of the school, their insecurities, and their uncertainties for the future all pile on as the tensions swell with each passing year. The events of 9/11 fell with such forceful impact when I realized the inevitable end: that they would all be deployed for active duty meant that it was all too likely that someone was going to die. Through tears I was able to keep reading, waiting, as the girls were barely sophomores and still had 2 years of hard work to endure before their impending departures to Afghanistan or Iraq.
Claire deserves praise not just because she so deftly pulled at my heart strings, but because she really crafted a book that while lengthy, passes quickly because it is so so readable. I couldn't stop myself from inhaling 50, 80, 100 pages at a time, not ever ready to part with the trio even for a few hours. The writing dives deep into the psyches, personalities, and histories of each young woman, such that it truly felt like I knew them. Hannah is perhaps the most clearheaded in her dedication to her faith, trusting in God and keeping her eyes firmly on the future, though she is still human and insecure when for years she is not pursued by a single boy- until Tim. Dani is a star on the basketball court and wields her strength and leadership with her team and her company in training and beyond; she proves to be the glue that holds her friends and their "cult" together in and out of school. Avery is the "dark" one, always involved with a different guy, she tends to get herself heartbroken and at school she picks one vindictive man in particular, and she becomes mired in the legal action she pursues against him. The secondary characters are also well-formed and purposefully placed throughout to even further round out the book.
If you have any interest in historical fiction, friendship, the Army, or well-written stories: then you must read this.
March 1, 2023
4.5
I was completely enthralled with this story of female friendship at West Point and beyond. I loved getting the behind the scenes peek at life at WP and loved that it was through the eyes of three very different, flawed, and authentic women. After these three graduate, they move into the next phase of their lives—one in business, one in war, and one in various romantic relationships. I just loved this story.
Also, it’s hard to believe this was the author’s debut. Her writing is flawless and so assured. Within the first couple of pages, I knew I was in the hands of someone who’d be giving me a great story told very well.
I was completely enthralled with this story of female friendship at West Point and beyond. I loved getting the behind the scenes peek at life at WP and loved that it was through the eyes of three very different, flawed, and authentic women. After these three graduate, they move into the next phase of their lives—one in business, one in war, and one in various romantic relationships. I just loved this story.
Also, it’s hard to believe this was the author’s debut. Her writing is flawless and so assured. Within the first couple of pages, I knew I was in the hands of someone who’d be giving me a great story told very well.
February 21, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book has been sitting on my shelf for way too long. I’m super excited to chat about this with @dearmrheminway and friends at the end of the month. This story surpassed all my expectations and felt like a quick read even at 500 pages. Highly recommend for fans that love strong female characters and friendships that span decades.
January 30, 2019
There was a LOT of God in this book. Way too much for me. That said, I was expecting something different and that affected my feelings about the book. I would consider this a new adult book, and as such, it was pretty good! Just not what I was looking for.
August 25, 2019
The Bitter Southerner’s 2019 reading list description caught my attention with “Beyond the Point might be the beachiest beach read on our list. Don’t forget to pack it.” I enjoy a smart beach read and the story of three women who forged a friendship at West Point sounded like a winner.
After two months I finally got a copy. The waitlist at the Nashville Public Library for local author Claire Gibson’s book was long.
Claire grew up at West Point where her father served on the faculty. Her insight into the lives of the cadets and her respect of the institution and rituals is reflected in care she took to create this story. The time she spent with former female cadets gives the work depth and plausibility.
August in Nashville is hot, humid and miserable. I read this one in the pool. I cleared my calendar so I could come home from work and read. It was a wonderful week. The pool is not required for maximum enjoyment.
The characters are smart and are fully developed. They have flaws, fears, pain and triumphs. They have a bond forged by showing up for each other when life is hard.
After two months I finally got a copy. The waitlist at the Nashville Public Library for local author Claire Gibson’s book was long.
Claire grew up at West Point where her father served on the faculty. Her insight into the lives of the cadets and her respect of the institution and rituals is reflected in care she took to create this story. The time she spent with former female cadets gives the work depth and plausibility.
August in Nashville is hot, humid and miserable. I read this one in the pool. I cleared my calendar so I could come home from work and read. It was a wonderful week. The pool is not required for maximum enjoyment.
The characters are smart and are fully developed. They have flaws, fears, pain and triumphs. They have a bond forged by showing up for each other when life is hard.
April 29, 2019
This book drove me crazy and not in a good way. It felt like the author tried to cram way too much into one book. I found myself halfway through it and wondering what the point of it all was. The chapters all have a strict linear timeline, with seasons, months, days, and/or years listed, and yet it starts with a cryptic "prologue" set near the 2/3 mark of the book. Every chapter has several flashbacks as the characters "remember" something that happened before, almost always during a time you've already theoretically had a chapter on but that chapter didn't disclose the whole story. There were multiple (many) time jumps and often JUST when the story actually started to have some meat! Like I'd literally think "oh this is actually interesting, wouldn't it be great to have that storyline fully fleshed out!" And then it'd be like "anyways three months later" and maybe 50+ pages later it might give you one or two scenes of detail on that interesting plot point, which by then, I often didn't care about bc the narrative had already moved forward?? Idk it just felt so all over the place. I legit almost gave up on the book at the halfway point...
What I did like: it felt like an honest depiction of life at West Pointe (this coming from a very civie civillian). I thought the author handled her one Black character pretty well, but i'll read some reviews to see if a POC disagrees with that perspective (trust them 100% more than this white girl). Also as a Christian, it was nice to see characters be Christian and struggle with their faith and NOT try to convert their atheist friend. However, the atheist friend was easily the worst person in the story, so I'm not loving the poor morality atheist character trope.
What I did like: it felt like an honest depiction of life at West Pointe (this coming from a very civie civillian). I thought the author handled her one Black character pretty well, but i'll read some reviews to see if a POC disagrees with that perspective (trust them 100% more than this white girl). Also as a Christian, it was nice to see characters be Christian and struggle with their faith and NOT try to convert their atheist friend. However, the atheist friend was easily the worst person in the story, so I'm not loving the poor morality atheist character trope.
June 2, 2019
DNF: The book jacket description of this book was so misleading. I was expecting a poignant story about women challenging themselves in a male dominated field at the tipping point of an important cultural shift in America. I hope to read about the strength of female friendships and womanhood in the face of immense physical and mental challenges, but unfortunately this book does not deliver. The characters are superficial and cliche. We learn mostly about the three main women’s relationship with men rather than the growing friendships between them or their shifting mental states as they navigate West Point during the 9/11- era America. I was disappointed with the reliance on cliche crutches and the emphasis on the Christian faith as I felt that it played a role in the story overall rather than just adding a facet to one of the character’s identity. Should probably be labeled as Christian fiction as others have suggested. Overall disappointed. Only made it half way through and had no desire to finish the last 250 pages...
October 29, 2018
want to know more!!! What happened next?.....Claire Gibson gave me an authentic look at life for women at the Military Academy. These three student athletes allowed a deep friendship bond to grow between them; and the lives they lived after graduation have many lessons/applications for everyone. This story has challenged me to work harder at holding on to friendships rather than letting them simply drift away. The time, love, and commitment that we invest in each other is NEVER wasted-even if our perspectives differ greatly. Commitment to friendship is like a rock thrown in a still pond. The concentric circles produced by the rock are similar to the blessings we can give and receive- over a lifetime-especially from friendships forged out of adversity. THIS BOOK!!!! I'm so inspired.
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April 26, 2019
Three stars — this was an okay read. I was kind of let down when it became apparent that the focus of the story was different that what it seems on the book jacket. I thought it was going to be about three young women in the military dealing with the aftermath of September 11th, but the topic of 9/11 really only lasted a few pages. The story was more about the interpersonal relationships between the girls and the various men in their lives.
May 24, 2019
“Faith isn’t really faith until it’s beat up and put through a fire. When you’re crushed, you feel like you’re dying. But you’re actually coming to life. When you’re broken, that’s when the best of you comes out.”
April 16, 2019
Excellent book!! Loved the story,history of West Point and all the characters. Heart breaking and inspiring book! Brought me out of a reading slump!
September 19, 2019
Beyond The Point was a really enjoyable read about three women who forge a strong friendship at West Point Military Academy. I would say about 30%-ish actually takes place at West Point, while the rest of the story takes place after graduation. There’s also a lot of religious undertones, which didn’t bother me personally, as faith is an important aspect in many of the characters lives, but not all. There’s a bit of a plot twist, which I appreciated and wasn’t expecting. This was a buddy read pick for September, and I’m so glad to have read it this month. There’s lots to discuss with this story and I’ll put up a discussion post on my Instagram on last day of the month for those of you who would like to join in!
I’ve also met the author, and she’s a delight!
If you enjoy stories about complex and strong women characters, faith, friendship, grief, and perseverance, then this is the book for you.
I’ve also met the author, and she’s a delight!
If you enjoy stories about complex and strong women characters, faith, friendship, grief, and perseverance, then this is the book for you.
June 13, 2019
Let me say that I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book. However, I was instantly drawn into the lives of these three different women. I found something relatable in each of them as they were flawed, strong and empowered in their own ways. The writing is beautiful and makes you just want to keep reading. The book is almost 500 pages but it goes so fast and it never felt too long. I am someone who always comments about editing for basically anything over 350 pages but this wasn’t the case at all. I wanted more and I didn’t want my time with these characters to end.
Told in varying points of view in a somewhat non-linear timeline, this book kept me engaged from the beginning. The prologue is wonderfully done; you are hooked and filled with emotion from the very beginning. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy back in January and it didn’t have the Author’s Note. After participating in the #womenbeyondthepoint chat with lots of lovely ladies and @clairegibson, I snagged this as my June @bookofthemonth because I wanted to read the author’s note and have a final copy.
This was easily one of my favorite reads of May and think it deserves WAY more hype. So if you were like me and it’s been sitting on your unread shelf, dust it off and start reading it now. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Told in varying points of view in a somewhat non-linear timeline, this book kept me engaged from the beginning. The prologue is wonderfully done; you are hooked and filled with emotion from the very beginning. I was lucky enough to receive an early copy back in January and it didn’t have the Author’s Note. After participating in the #womenbeyondthepoint chat with lots of lovely ladies and @clairegibson, I snagged this as my June @bookofthemonth because I wanted to read the author’s note and have a final copy.
This was easily one of my favorite reads of May and think it deserves WAY more hype. So if you were like me and it’s been sitting on your unread shelf, dust it off and start reading it now. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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