She Makes It Look Easy: Whalen

I have been reading some Christian fiction lately and I have to say, I am pleasantly surprised. For some reason, I worried that Christian fiction would be poorly written. I’m ashamed to say that; it sounds terrible, doesn’t it? At the very least, I assumed it would be about people with whom I (a 37 year-old lawyer who likes Tory Burch shoes and Miu Miu bags) had very little (besides being Christian) in common. I was wrong on both counts. Not only can Christian fiction be very well written, it can also resonate with people in a wide variety of circumstances.

The first book to open my eyes was She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen. It’s about a young mother, Ariel, who juggles caring for her children, growing her photography business, making friends, and settling in to a new house and neighborhood. At first, she thinks her new neighbor, Justine, is perfect. Her daughters are neatly dressed, she makes delicious muffins, and her house is neat and organized. She’s even a leader in the church. As the story continues, we discover that Justine is not perfect after all. In the process, Ariel discovers new truths about her marriage, parenting, Christian faith, and friendships.

The main character, Ariel, is realistic and likeable. It’s easy to relate to her and you want to know what will happen to her next. The story is entertaining and nicely paced. This book is like chick lit – but better because it actually makes you think. Whalen demonstrates how Christian faith does (or does not) influence our decisions. She does this in subtle ways; there’s nothing preachy about it.

In short, I was pleasantly surprised, and I’m happy to have come across this book.

I’ve recently posted on Goodreads short reviews of The Luxe series (books 1 and 2), Reckless, The House on First Street, Growing Grateful Kids, Slim to None, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, The Go-To Girl, and The Power of a Whisper. Do you want to be Goodreads friends? I’m the Heather Adams in Raleigh.