"Ruchti (Miles from Where We Started) delivers an insightful portrait of a wounded psychologist trying to make amends for the mother with hoarding disorder that she couldn’t save. . . . This sensitive portrayal of mental illness and its generational impact is Ruchti’s best work yet."
—Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Relevant and provocative. We can each learn something about ourselves through the characters in Afraid of the Light.”
“I could hardly wait to open the pages of Afraid of the Light. And I wasn’t disappointed. Cynthia Ruchti captivated me from the first lines and pulled me deep into the characters—each one filled with quirks and relatable conflicts. Ruchti never disappoints.”
“In her signature lyrical style, Cynthia Ruchti introduces us to multifaceted characters whose stories are refreshingly unique—yet could be our own. Afraid of the Light is more than a delightful read. It is a journey from fear to faith, from regret to release. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself stepping into the light right along with Camille.”
"Filled with heartfelt moments and dynamic characters."
“Another winner by Ruchti. She never disappoints her readers.”
“Award-winning author Cynthia Ruchti’s storytelling captured my heart from the first pages of Afraid of the Light. A gifted wordsmith, she’s crafted yet another story that keeps readers turning pages as they fall in love with her true-to-life characters. Exploring complicated relationships with realism and sensitivity is what Ruchti does best.”
“Captivating. Intriguing. Significant. In this page-turner, Cynthia Ruchti once again pulls her readers into a novel that is engaging and entertaining but also filled with personal application for all who engage in this fascinating narrative. You won’t be able to put this book down.”
“Afraid of the Light holds surprising moments of laughter brilliantly timed to enhance rather than interfere with the moving, weighty themes of this unforgettable story. Cynthia Ruchti delivers it all in this masterful, compassionate tale of redemption. Keeping this one on my read-it-again-and-again shelf for sure.”
“Ruchti’s book shines a light on the realities of hoarding and its impact on those around the hoarder. As protagonist Camille Brooks deals with her own hoard, I was often prompted to look around (both physically and emotionally) to see what I was stashing and where I needed to sort and toss.”
“Who knew that a novel about hoarding could hold both quirky romance and redemptive healing in equal measure? Hoarding is a deeply painful and multifaceted disorder, yet favorite author Cynthia Ruchti brings great compassion and finesse to the issue in Afraid of the Light. I entered a whole new world as I eagerly devoured the story of Camille and Eli reaching out in different ways (and for different reasons) to those trapped in the prison of their own accumulations. Ruchti’s extensive research gave me greater insight and empathy, and the love story is clever and utterly endearing. Ruchti is such a grand storyteller, reminding us all that there truly can be complete (albeit slow) transformation through the healing power of Jesus—the only source of Light.”
“I anxiously await every one of Cynthia Ruchti’s hemmed-in-hope novels. With wit, winsomeness, and wisdom she stitches together characters who could live in my real-world circles—folks with longings that resonate with my own heart.”
“She’s done it again! Cynthia Ruchti is a captivating wordsmith with a talent for telling poignant stories that wrap around your heart, mind, and life in a way that makes you a better person for picking up her books.”
