A Deeper Well by Jill Eileen Smith: Book Review

 **ARC received via Netgalley for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

Her broken heart thirsts for acceptance and love that seem out of reach--until an encounter at the well reveals what her soul truly longs for.

In ancient Israel, soon after Nessa is of marriageable age, her father gives her to a wealthy widowed friend, capitalizing on her beauty to bring in the highest bride-price he can find. Nessa is devastated, as she had begged to marry Lavi, who returned her love and saw more in her than her appearance. Nessa's betrothal leads to Lavi's departure, compounding her grief, and she can never forget her forbidden first love.

Nessa tries to accept her fate, but after only a year of marriage, tragedy hits her new family. She is sent back to her father, who quickly finds a young man who wants to marry the most beautiful woman in Sychar. Misfortune follows Nessa as she is passed from one marriage to the next--until she meets an unusual Jewish rabbi at the town's well one afternoon, and her life is forever changed.

Jill Eileen Smith weaves a historically and biblically rich narrative of the New Testament story of the woman at the well. Bringing a fresh perspective of faith and redemption, this biblical-era fiction is perfect for fans of Mesu Andrews, Tessa Afshar, and The Chosen.

The Author

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of many biblical novels, including her first series, The Wives of King David. Her newest book, A Deeper Well: The Story of the Woman at the Well, will be released in February 2026. After twenty years of closed doors, she has since published twenty-five fiction and nonfiction books. She loves Jesus and His Word and all things related to learning more about the women God has immortalized in Scripture. Jill has been married to the love of her life for forty-eight years and counting and lives in a quiet neighborhood in southeast Michigan. Learn more about Jill at JillEileenSmith.com.

Book Review

Honestly, Biblical fiction is not a genre that I generally gravitate towards. I've read a handful and while they weren't bad, they just didn't tend to capture my attention. Still, from the moment that I read the blurb for this one, I found myself intrigued, so I decided to give this one a shot... and I'm so glad that I did. This book takes the Biblical story of the woman at the well that so many of us know and love and gives us a glimpse of what her life MAY have been like prior to meeting Jesus. While this is a fictionalized version of a woman whose full story we truly do not know, I was really impressed with how well researched this story clearly was. It really offered a unique perspective as to what life would have been like for unmarried women at that time in history. That said, if you don't like things like The Chosen, where creative liberties are taken to fill in the blanks... well, this one might not be your cup of tea either. Personally though, I loved it. Truly, this is one of the best Biblical fiction books that I have read! Definitely a must read for fans of Biblical fiction! 


You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/3XPjdId