The Shack had such an impact on me when I read it almost 20 years ago, that I was pleased to be invited to review Wm Paul Young’s follow up novel ‘Return to the Shack’. The author admits himself that he never thought he would write a sequel to his bestselling debut novel. Then an unexpected friendship with a prisoner on death row led to the inspiration for a storyline. One that would bring Mack’s painful story to an even deeper place of resolution. Young began to write it, slowly and thoughtfully, and finally it was finished.
A disappointment?
I began reading the book with some trepidation. Would Return to the Shack be a disappointment? The Shack had opened my eyes and my heart to the power of fiction to convey deep and life changing truths. It had made me positively consider my perception of God, His feelings towards me, and His closeness during suffering. It became part of my own spiritual healing journey, a real gift from God.
In time, it also helped to encourage me to write fiction myself; stories inspired by the things that God had taught and revealed to me.
From the first chapter of Return to the Shack I was hooked. And not just by the believable and engaging storyline, or the intimately drawn (familiar) characters, but also by the sense that God wanted to reveal more of His heart through its pages. There is wisdom to ponder, truths to engage with, along with challenges to our understanding.
An invitation
The book confronts some big issues: grief and loss, unforgiveness, abuse, mental illness, relationship strains, and even the ethics of the death penalty. All these are handled with honesty, care and compassion. We walk the journey with Mack, his family and friends, as we did before. We get to see into their own hearts and recognise the same fears, hurts and prejudices we might find in our own. It is a thought provoking read!
It is the moments where Mack steps out of the ordinary and into the presence of the One who loves him that are most beautifully done. The overriding impact of this book for me was that yet again the author is inviting us to see God as the Father who wants intimacy with us. To see Jesus as our friend, who loves us intensely, who speaks and longs to be heard, and who is committed to healing our brokenness. He is close, by His Spirit, and always accessible – if not always in the ‘magical’ ways we might want to encounter Him.
Controversial?
The Shack, when it came out, created some controversy. Many struggled with the descriptions of the manifestations of God, and with the theology of the author. Return to the Shack is no different and will not be to everyone’s taste.
Here I have to be honest. Wm Paul Young admits to a theology of the afterlife that is not in line with what I, and many others, believe is what Scripture teaches. It was disappointing to me that he chose to include references to this theology within the pages of this book. One chapter in particular – or even just a part of that chapter – I felt was unnecessary to the story, or the overall message of the book. As someone who is sure of my beliefs I could read it with discernment and take any questions it raised back to scripture. My fear is that for some, this teaching, although shrouded in an imaginary tale, could cause potential harm to their understanding of the work of the Cross, the need for salvation in this life, and the reality of the final judgement.
Positives outweigh the negatives
Would I still recommend it? Yes, absolutely, but with that caveat. It is such a beautifully written work of fiction, and contained much that blessed and encouraged me. If you can read it as fiction, understanding that it is fuelled by the author’s ideas and imagination, and with discernment over some of what is written, then I believe you will be blessed by the many other life changing truths and words of wisdom the book contains. And by a very satisfactory and moving resolution to Mackenzie’s story.
Return to the Shack was published by Hodder Faith on 8th October 2026.
Hardback pp304, ISBN 978-1399824323 RRP £18.49 – £22.99
I received an ARC of the book and this is my honest review.
Joy Margetts is a published author and blogger. Her heart is to share God’s heart for the broken; His love that pursues us, truth that frees us and hope that heals us. Her novels are set in medieval Wales against the backdrop of Cistercian abbey life, and tell stories of faith, hope and God’s redemptive power. She has also published two devotionals based on the person and work of Jesus.
More information on Joy, and her books can be found here
Such a good, honest and thoughtful review – thanks Joy!
And I tend to agree – I found it powerfully moving and encountered God speaking to me through certain chapters. But at least one other chapter jarred with what I believe the Bible teaches, so I feel I have to be careful about who I recommend it to, as well. x
Thank you for commenting! Yes, it is really a mixed blessing of a book!