Handle with Care - by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen (Paperback)

About the Book

Three women walk into a post office. This is no joke--it's the spark that ignites a life-altering hostage crisis.

Book Synopsis

"This beautiful novel gives readers what we most need these days--a deep breath of humanity and hope." --Gin Phillips, author of Fierce Kingdom and Ruby Falls

"Rich with complex characters, a tightly woven plot and natural suspense that will keep readers hooked until the very last page." --Belle Burden, author of Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage

"With each twist and turn, Whalen reveals that life is fragile, love is fierce, and we are far more alike than we imagine." --Elizabeth Bass Parman, author of Bees in June and The Empress of Cooke County

Three women walk into a post office. This is no joke--it's the spark that ignites a life-altering hostage crisis.

On a quiet spring afternoon, an ordinary small-town post office becomes ground zero for a domestic dispute. A husband draws a weapon and seals the doors, holding four hostages captive: his terrified wife, a young woman searching for meaning amid uncertainty, a mother on the brink of letting go as her only daughter graduates, and an elderly woman concealing a secret that could shatter everything she knows.

Outside, the negotiator works to keep a fragile peace, forced to confront her own baggage as every word becomes a lifeline.

Each of the three women who walked into the post office is carrying something that, if mailed, would profoundly change her life. As minutes become hours in this daylong siege, these strangers forge lasting bonds.

Handle with Care shines a light on hope found even in the darkest moments, and illuminates how even strangers, thrown together by chance and hardship, have the power to change each other's lives.

A perfect book club read that includes discussion questions.

Review Quotes

'HANDLE WITH CARE is an edge-of-your-seat thrill ride in the most everyday of settings--a local post office, a place where humanity intersects, where we usually keep our heads down, unaware of each other's private pain. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen crafts a gripping story around this idea, rich with complex characters, a tightly woven plot and natural suspense that will keep readers hooked until the very last page.'--Belle Burden, author of STRANGERS: A MEMOIR OF MARRIAGE

'On an ordinary afternoon in a small Southern town, four women's lives collide at the worst possible time. In HANDLE WITH CARE, Whalen delivers an emotionally charged hostage drama where no one's walking out the same. Cleverly written and unexpectedly tender, this one's unforgettable in all the right ways.'--Kimberly Belle, internationally bestselling author of THE EXPAT AFFAIR

'This beautiful novel gives readers what we most need these days--a deep breath of humanity and hope. It's a story taught with suspense and uncertainty, but it's also filled with bursts of joy, kindness, and connection. You will love these women. You are these women.'--Gin Phillips, author of FIERCE KINGDOM and RUBY FALLS

'Marybeth Mayhew Whalen has crafted a gripping novel telling the transformative power to be found in recognizing the humanity of each and every person.'--Katie Young, book influencer @katiereads.sc

'What a precious little gem of a novel. In these heavy times this lovely book is exactly what my heart needed. HANDLE WITH CARE is a love letter to connection, forgiveness, honesty, friendship, grace, and above all hope. And everyone could use some hope in their heart!'--Stephanie Howell, book influencer @stephaniehowell

'I am a huge fan of Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and will read everything she writes! HANDLE WITH CARE manages to be a pulse pumping thriller but also a women supporting women heartwarming tale. I can't wait to sell this gem at Fabled.'--Elizabeth Barnhill, adult book buyer at Fabled Bookshop and Cafe

'In HANDLE WITH CARE, Whalen delivers a heart-thumping story with her signature warmth and insight. This moving novel reminds us that every life is a balance of hope and heartbreak, resilience, and regret. With each twist and turn, Whalen reveals that life is fragile, love is fierce, and we are far more alike than we imagine.'--Elizabeth Bass Parman, author of BEES IN JUNE and THE EMPRESS OF COOKE COUNTY