Meet Me at the Crossroads by Megan Giddings
One of a kind.
Every reader needs a unique novel full of faith, love and forgiveness, and woven together with sci-fi elements. Megan Giddings has achieved a one-of-a-kind, adventurous yet thought-provoking and immersive experience in Meet Me at the Crossroads.
The story follows inseparable twin sisters Ayanna and Olivia, who are forced to live with separate parents and raised in very different ways. Their separate upbringings forces the twins to challenge each other when it comes to their morals, values and religious beliefs whenever they are granted time to spend with one another.
Ayanna chose to live with her father and was raised as a follower of Pathsong, a religious group that emerged from the sudden appearance of seven mysterious doors that act as portals to other worlds. Meanwhile, Olivia is raised by her Catholic mother and has a strong curiosity about the doors.
When Ayanna is ready to commit to her Pathsong Journey, Olivia takes it upon herself to join Ayanna through the mysterious door — but one of the twins does not return home as expected.
A Sci-Fi, Paranormal Coming-of-Age
What I thought would be a sci-fi heavy read soon evolved into more of a coming of age story as the remaining twin navigates her first year of college without her best friend. We follow her journey of self-discovery, healing and forgiveness as she tries to find a new semblance of normal.
Abandoned by her parents, she is obligated to create her own family with those who cross paths with her: spirits stuck in the afterlife who are drawn in by her newfound gift of empathy.
Reading this novel was a unique journey for me, as I normally do not read works of science fiction. I was drawn to this by the cover, and the synopsis was intriguing enough for me to give it a try. What I found was a carefully crafted, slower-paced novel with the emotional impact to really feel what the main character feels while navigating this new, difficult world.
I found the concept of the mysterious doors captivating, and the paranormal activity woven throughout the remaining twin’s college life fascinated me as she tried to portray herself as a normal student. Moments of uncertainty in the story eventually come together in the end, rewarding the reader with the forgiveness and healing our main character has been seeking all along.
Impactful Novel with Heavy Topics
Something I really enjoyed about this emotional rollercoaster was the found family aspect. From the trauma that comes with losing the family that birthed you, to finally finding a family that loves and accepts you authentically.
There are mentions of drug use and partying, but nothing to steer one away from the book. It is a necessary mention in the novel, as self-discovery often has many bumpy roads and moments.
There is mention of suicide ideation, grief, losing family members, death, living life with unhealed trauma, and drug abuse. What I enjoyed most is Giddings’ ability to deliver such an impactful novel on such heavy topics, but not allow it to weigh on your heart or mind.
A One-of-a-Kind, Immersive Read
I would recommend Meet Me at the Crossroads to anyone looking to see a different perspective on the existence of spirits, as well as anyone who loves a good story about friends with common interests and struggles coming together to form a family.
Giddings has an expansive catalogue worth reviewing if you’re looking to enjoy more of those unique spins on traditional genres. The creativity in this novel is apparent and one of a kind. Readers will surely enjoy an immersive read with this one, and, finding they can’t put it down, devour it over a short period of time — maybe kick open the windows and enjoy the rainy weather.
Megan Giddings is an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Her novel, Lakewood, was one of New York magazine’s 10 best books of 2020, one of NPR’s best books of 2020, a Michigan Notable book for 2021, a nominee for two NAACP Image Awards, and a finalist for a 2020 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in The Ray Bradbury Prize for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Speculative Fiction category. Her second novel, The Women Could Fly,was named one of the Washington Post’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy novels of 2022, one of Vulture’s Best Fantasy books of 2022, and was a New York Times Editors’ Choice. Her work has received support from the Barbara Deming Foundation and Hedgebrook. She lives in Minneapolis.
Publish Date: 6/3/2025
Genre: Fiction
Author: Megan Giddings
Page Count: 320 pages
Publisher: Amistad
ISBN: 9780063337978