Wednesday, June 22, 2011

She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

She Makes It Look Easy: A NovelimageShe Makes It Look Easy: A Novel by Marybeth Whalen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW:

This is a fascinating storyline that gives you one story from multiple angles. It took me a moment to get used to the story going back and forth between the perspectives of the two main characters, but after the first few chapters I really enjoyed it. This back-and-forth format brought to life the depth of each character in a way that was so easy to relate to and I found myself sympathizing with various emotions from each person. She Makes It Look Easy expertly uncovers and opens for all to see that someone's life as we see it may not be at all what it appears to be.

While I really enjoyed the way this book approached an all too common occurrence in our world today, I also walked away feeling quite unsettled. Such a raw and close up look at the slow fade to adultery was border-line scary. I do believe that there can be a healthy fear that leads to better self - and in this case marital - examination, but I am just not sure that this book is the proper tool use. The lack of hope through the daily impact of the gospel made me set the book down feeling like I had been standing just a little too close to a fire and was now left with singed hair. There were multiple lessons to be learned from this book but they were not drawn out to the depth that not only should have been done, but needed to be done, nor were they attached to the hope we have in Christ.

Marybeth is an excellent writer, but I highly recommend discernment in making the choice to read this book.

BOOK OVERVIEW:

Ariel Baxter has just moved into the neighborhood of her dreams. The chaos of domestic life and the loneliness of motherhood, however, moved with her. Then she meets her neighbor, Justine Miller. Justine ushers Ariel into a world of clutter-free houses, fresh-baked bread, homemade crafts, neighborhood playdates, and organization techniques designed to make marriage better and parenting manageable.

Soon Ariel realizes there is hope for peace, friendship, and clean kitchen counters. But when rumors start to circulate about Justine’s real home life, Ariel must choose whether to believe the best about the friend she admires or consider the possibility that "perfection" isn’t always what it seems to be.

A novel for every woman who has looked at another woman’s life and said, "I want what she has," She Makes It Look Easy reminds us of the danger of pedestals and the beauty of authentic friendship.


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This review copy was provided courtesy of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance but the opinion expressed was strictly my own.

2 comments:

  1. It's funny; I just read a post by the author about her reaction to the mixed reviews this book has received. You can see it here: http://www.shereads.org/2011/06/a-writers-thoughts-on-mixed-reviews/

    I haven't read the book, nor had I even heard of it before running across that post, but after reading both the author's take and your review I'd be curious about your response to her post.

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  2. I totally agree with you and you can read my review here http://frommipov.blogspot.com/2011/06/she-makes-it-look-easy-reviewed.html
    I was very disappointed in this book.
    Blessings!
    Andi

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