“Alphonse was not a light, sweet read. It was a book with character depth, difficult situations, and beautiful prose. It took a little bit for me to get into the story, but once I was immersed in Alphonse's small town and the plot began to unravel, it made for a wonderful, emotional book. I especially loved the postwar setting and Alphonse's commitment to protecting the Sadler family.”
— Holly's Little Book Reviews

“This book sticks with you long after the last page. The perseverance and determination demonstrated by the Sadler family, along with Alphonse, was inspiring.”
— Tales from a Bookworm

“What an emotional powerhouse. This one was a heavy, but completely satisfying read. If this debut is any indication, I cannot wait for Carl Sever’s next book!”
— Jen (Thismomreads), Goodreads

“Such a beautiful cast of characters who teach us about friendship, living, and surviving in a world that is not always perfect. I loved this book.”
— Amy, Goodreads

“A wonderful novel, Carl Sever takes you with him to this small town, you become a part of this small family, and experience (again, for some of us) the late 1950's in smallville. This is a first novel for Carl Sever. I hope there will be many more.”
— Bonnye Reed, Goodreads

“This is a book that will stay with you after the last page...You feel for the characters, you feel their pain. If you want a book that will have you emotionally vested, this is the book that will do so.”
— vnuez-msluv2read, Amazon

“This is a sad and memorable book. [...] I did like the small town setting and [...] I really liked Alphonse as a character and his protectiveness of the Sadler’s family. As I have already mentioned, this book does deal with very heavy themes that may be a trigger for some readers so it may not be for everyone. However, if you like historical fiction then you may want to check out Alphonse by Carl Sever.”
— A Haven for Book Lovers