You Belong With Me by Tari Faris
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Tari Faris has been writing fiction for over twelve years, but You Belong With Me, from Revell, marks her publishing debut. And I have to say, all in all, it's a pretty solid debut!

You Belong With Me is book one in the Restoring Heritage series, and is a contemporary romance set in the small fictional town of Heritage, Michigan. Honestly, as a native Michigander, that is the main reason I chose to read this book. A small town on the shores of Lake Michigan? I'm in! From the details Faris uses to describe the town and area, you can tell the author has spent a fair amount of time in the Great Lakes state, and I loved the authentic portrayal of my home state.

Amidst the small-town backdrop, Faris writes relatable characters who are far from perfect. I loved the small-town vibes the whole book portrayed with its relatively large cast of characters. Hannah and Luke were well-rounded main characters, and I greatly enjoyed the inclusion of a secondary couple, Janie and Thomas's story, although that makes this book a bit different than your standard romance.

Speaking of romance, that's where this book loses a star for me. The physical attraction and love triangles between the characters got to be a bit much for my tastes, and I found myself rolling my eyes and skimming in some areas.

Tari Faris Photo Credit: Tari Faris

However, one thing I really love about Faris's writing is that she always includes strong Christian themes in her stories. Often, that subject gets lost in the romance of most books in this genre, even though they may be touted as Christian romance. But in Faris's stories, no matter what the struggles are, the characters always point each other back to God in the end.

All in all, Faris's incredibly relatable and readable writing style was very enjoyable and I loved delving deep into these characters' stories. It is clear this author has spent years honing her craft before jumping into the publishing world, for which I give her kudos. This book is well-rounded and polished to a shine! If you love a sweet contemporary romance with strong themes, definitely check this one out!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.