Return to the Shack by Wm.Paul Young

Return to the Shack by Wm. Paul Young
Series: Sequel to The Shack (though not listed as a series on Amazon)
Publisher: Apiary
Publication Date: October 6, 2026

Review by Mae Clair

It’s been almost twenty years since Wm. Paul Young released his novel, The Shack. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, it was originally self-published in 2007 and intended as a Christmas gift from the author to his six children. The novel went on to become a multi-million bestseller and was adapted to film. A truly beloved story, fans have long hoped for a sequel. Finally, that wish is granted with Return to the Shack. This is not a story you can appreciate without reading the first book, which is why I’ve linked it above.

It’s now been ten years since Mackenzie Allen Phillips (“Mack”) and his wife Nan lost their youngest daughter to a serial killer. The story opens on what would have been Missy’s sixteenth birthday. Even though Mack forgave Missy’s killer—in principle—at the end of The Shack, forgiving someone face-to-face is a lot harder, as he’s soon to discover.

“J”—the man who abducted and murdered Missy—wants Mack to visit him on death row. He wants to talk to Mack in person, and he’s offered a deal that makes it almost impossible for Mack to refuse.

What follows is a tale that plumbs the depths of grief and despair yet is never to the point of wanting to escape the chapters. Rather, the emotion of the characters, their struggles with God, misconceptions, and even connections to one another kept me glued to the pages. I couldn’t flip them fast enough, caught up in the story. Not only in the conversations between Mack and J—which span a period of three days—but in Mack’s encounter with three other death row inmates (Note: be sure to read the Author’s Afterword to truly appreciate those encounters).

If you’ve read The Shack, you’re already familiar with portrayals of Papa God, Jesus, and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit). Jesus is the most central this time though his portrayal (as before) may take getting used to for some readers.

In this snippet, Jesus is speaking:

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“Emotions are wondrous, aren’t they Mackenzie? They help us respond to situations, communicate, build relationships, and lots more, but they sometimes don’t tell you the truth. Often, they reinforce what you believe or assume, whether true or false. You perceive isolation, whether true or not, and feel loneliness. You assume you deserve or are entitled to something, and when you don’t get it, you feel angry, offended, and even bitter.”

And, later in the book…

Instantly Mack heard something coming from his inner world, something that he could have never thought of himself. “Son, don’t be afraid. I am a redeeming genius, and I can take any mess you bring to my table and make a meal out of it… a meal of bread and wine.”

Return to the Shack, by Wm. Paul Young

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Return to the Shack  is an immersive tale highlighting a beautiful and profound truth—no one is beyond God’s forgiveness.

Young has produced a strong sequel—in many ways as thought provoking, heart wrenching, and hope inspiring as the original, but when you create something beautiful and unique, it’s hard to top. It’s like seeing the original Star Wars or Jurassic Park for the first time. No matter how good the sequels, they can’t wholly capture the magic of your first encounter. That magic happens because nothing like it existed before.

I shouldn’t penalize Young for that, but as much as I enjoyed Return to the Shack, there were parts I felt went slightly off the rails. Maybe I was looking for Mack to spend more time with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu. Maybe some of the theology didn’t quite resonate with the impact of The Shack. I can’t put my finger on the subtle bits that fell through the cracks for me, but I did knock off a fish, perhaps because the bar was set so high with the original.

I earnestly recommend this novel, but I do recommend reading The Shack first. The sequel is compelling. The original is in a league of its own.

I give Return to the Shack four faith-filled fish.

I bought the Kindle version of Return to the Shack.