Home Song

By: LaVyrle Spencer

Narrated by: Emily Sutton-Smith

LaVyrle Spencer explores the true meaning of unconditional love in this powerful New York Times best seller.

High school principal Tom Gardner feels a sense of shock when he sees Kent Arens, a new transfer student. With one glance, Tom can see that this teenager is the son he never knew he had - the result of a one-night stand on the eve of his wedding years before, now grown into an intelligent, athletic, and polite young man. But the boy's presence has a devastating effect on Tom's family.

As the Gardners careen toward disaster, they test the foundation of trust and respect that their family was built on - and learn that love leaves no choice but forgiveness.

©1994 LaVyrle Spencer (P)2022 Tantor

Love Lavyrle Spencer - hated the wife

Another great morally gray character study of real people and real emotions. The narrator is one of my favorite. I absolutely loved Tom and Kent the most. But Claire - the hatred I had for her the entire book. I allow for a lot of emotions, but she was terrible to children. I can’t with her. Otherwise, another solid LS novel.

What a good story

This was one of the best books I have heard in a long time. The whole story was refreshingly unique..dealt with such acceptance in the form of a father and a son lost to each other and then found. In the end it was the 3 kids who get kudos for understanding what was important.

A beautiful, relatable story… beautifully performed. Such a fan of Lavyrle Spencer’s work!

I couldn’t stop listening to how it would all work out… Everything in the story found me reluctant to end for the day

The family that stayed together

I loved this book. I brought years to my eyes in the middle and end. I was shocked in the beginning. This Author didn't disappoint!

Perhaps my favorite from this author!!

What an emotional and full of angst novel. This book touched on the subject of infidelity and the consequences that lie ahead from such an act. Compared to the other novels I have read from her, this book is more current, the setting is probably more of the late 1990's, no cell phones were around yet. The narrator did an amazing job in personifying all of the characters, and brought this book to life. It certainly is one of my top 3 books from this author for sure. The only criticism I've had with her books, is how much I would love for an epilogue to her books. I feel this book certainly deserved one. Although the main topic was resolved, there are other parts of the book that could have been told about in further detail.

Enjoyed the narrator

I liked the story but won’t give 5 stars because I hate the wife’s response to the situation.

Very Good

The character development was very good, showing how it's very easy to build things up to a destructive level in our minds when we are distressed, and how important it is to listen.

How a family comes together a bad crossword and comes out the other side, stronger and better for knowing

I like the idea that it’s beginning of the book you don’t know the end. It’s not that it keeps guessing, but it’s basically how the human emotions are sometimes getting in your way without even knowing the problem or truth.You can’t help but compare how you would handle those things.

Emotional, heartbreaking and tender

Tom Gardner has the perfect life. He is the principal of the local High School, his wife Claire of eighteen years is a teacher there, and both of their teenage children are students there. Chelsea is a cheerleader and Robby the star quarter back. They are a devoted family and a pillar of the community. In September right before the school year is to begin, a woman and her son enter his office to discuss transferring from Texas. When Tom looks at Kent Arens, its like seeing himself 18 years of age. And when he learns the mother is Monica, the one-night-stand the night ,of his bachelor party, Tom's perfect world will now crumble apart and never be the same. This book is a very emotional, heart-wrenching story. I got so emotionally involved in the story and characters. I had a very hard time putting it down and many times I found tears in my eyes. The characters were so real to me, I could feel their pain, anger, sorrow and anguish. This is such a well written story of family, betrayal, acceptance and forgiveness.This story will stay with me for a long, long time. I would give it more stars if I could.

Emily Sutton-Smith was outstanding with the delivery of the story

Great Story

Great story about love and family. It’s about forgiveness after finding out someone you love cheated. About children learning that their parents are not perfect and excepting their half siblings. Without the children’s help the wife could’ve destroyed her marriage and family. Yes, she should be upset and disappointed, but she mistreated the Kent. The only thing I like about the wife is she didn’t try to poison the children, and make them hate the outside child. The children’s dislike was from fear of friends finding out. He should have been honest with her when he found out about his son. Monica should have told him about Kent when he was born,but I understand her view. I like the ending and the way his father and brother treated Kent.