Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson – Blog Tour and Book Review

In my neverending quest to expand my reading I accepted Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson from TLC Book Tours. It’s a tale of three women who went to West Point but developed a life long friendship. I was sent a free copy at no charge for my honest review.

About Beyond the Point:

Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow (April 2, 2019)

“An inspiring tribute to female friendship and female courage!”–Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Alice Network and The Huntress.

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.

You can purchase Beyond the Point at Harper Collins

About the Author:

Claire Gibson is a writer and journalist based in Nashville, Tennessee. Born and raised at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, she grew up captivated by cadets and always dreamed of writing a story that honored her childhood home and the women that inspired her there. Her stories have been featured in The Washington Post, The Christian Science Monitor, The Tennessean and Entrepreneur Magazine, among many other publications.

Find out more about Claire at her website, and connect with her Twitter and Instagram.

My Opinion:

Beyond the Point is a book about friendship and relationships. I will admit that I found the synopsis interesting because of the concept of women at West Point. I thoroughly enjoy a tale about strong women whether they are tackling a traditionally male bastion like the military college of West Point or the story of a Queen like Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Three women come to West Point for different reasons. Dani, Avery and Hannah all play basketball and are recruited to the team but their reasons for wanting to be at this particular school are as varied as the backgrounds of the three girls.  While they come to the school as strangers they will form a bond that will last through love, loss, war, injury and death.

So much in this book was alien to me; I know very little about basketball and I really know nothing going into a military college. I always love a book that gives me insights into areas that were previously unknown to me. But at it’s heart this is a book about the bonds women form that last throughout their lives.

Beyond the Point follows the three women as they leave high school, enter West Point and then go on to their careers. Their relationships are not always harmonious but when they need each other they are there for each other. I found myself quite drawn into the stories of  all three and truth be told I was up reading until 3 in the morning. I didn’t quite finish but quickly did so the next morning. Or was that the same morning? It was a very compelling book with memorable characters.

Rating:    

4

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