OUT OF ESAU

A nuanced portrait of faith and its loss, and a sweeping story of redemption. The novel was comped to ASK AGAIN, YES by Mary Beth Keane and is thematically and stylistically similar to the writings of Marilynne Robinson and Elizabeth Strout.

When Susan meets the kind and steadfast Pastor Robert, she begins to question the sacrifices she's made to keep her marriage together—while an unexpected visitor forces Robert to reconsider his past, confront the shaky foundations of his faith, and begin to hope for his future

Robert Glory has never quite felt as though he fit in the small town of Esau, Michigan, but he finds solace in his role as the pastor of Esau Baptist and in his spare, orderly routine. When Susan Shearer arrives at his church seeking the strength to stay true to her increasingly volatile husband, neither expect that their immediate connection will upend both of their lives. As their relationship deepens and Susan's life at home becomes more unstable, both Robert and Susan are forced to confront the wounds that have shaped them and discover if they still have the power to change.

Told from five different perspectives—including Susan's husband Randy, her brilliant but high-strung young daughter Willa, and Robert's long estranged mother Leotie—Out of Esau is a visceral look at the dynamics of an abusive marriage, a nuanced portrait of faith and its loss, and a sweeping story of redemption.

Michelle Webster Hein and her family work a small homestead in the southern Michigan countryside where she was born and raised. Out of Esau is her first novel. Find out more at michellewebsterhein.com.