God Spare the Girls

DEBUT McKinney’s debut novel explores sisterhood, faith, family, and the role of women in an evangelical community. Two sisters, Abigail and Caroline, are both preparing to leave their family of origin located in Hope, TX—Caroline to attend university and Abigail to marry. Their family is at the center of this community because their father Luke has become a much-revered preacher whose charisma has grown his church’s reputation, visibility, and bottom line. When news of their father’s indiscretions is disclosed, the sisters escape public scrutiny by seeking sanctuary on their maternal grandmother’s ranch. Their time there speaks realistically to the sometimes-precarious nature of familial relations, especially regarding questions of loyalty, faith, and honesty, both to oneself and to others. It also shows how the power of such connections can propel individuals through loss and lies.