Printed: by Crystal Paine on November 6, 2023  |  This publish could comprise affiliate hyperlinks. Learn my disclosure coverage right here.

In 2023, I set a aim to complete one guide per week. I’m aiming to take heed to half-hour of an audiobook per day (whereas cooking, cleansing, and/or driving) and learn 10 minutes of a guide. By doing this, I hope to pretty simply have the ability to end one guide per week.

You may observe alongside on GoodReads to see what I’m studying, what books I end, and the star score I give every of them.

Listed here are the three books I completed lately:

Salt to the Sea

I completely liked this guide. It was well-written, tremendous partaking, and I realized rather a lot about an occasion in historical past (that occurred throughout WWII) that I’d by no means even heard of earlier than. I additionally liked that it was the identical story written from a number of views… which made it actually fascinating.

It’s a tragic story, however the writer dealt with it in a approach that it could be applicable even for youthful readers. Our teenagers learn it with me over the summer time and all of us actually loved it.

One factor I’ll say is that because it’s informed from a number of views, it might take a bit to get your bearings on who’s who and what’s what… however preserve studying for the primary 30-40 pages and also you’ll in all probability then not wish to cease studying

Additionally, because of loving it a lot, I went on and listened to all three of the writer’s different YA books!

Verdict: 5 stars

Don’t Maintain Again

Should you don’t like getting your toes stepped on, don’t learn this guide. As a result of irrespective of the place you stand politically, there’s a good probability this guide goes to convict you — and presumably make you’re feeling actually unsettled. However finally, I hope it challenges you to look to Jesus and for us to cease trying to a person or a political determine or a political occasion to “save us” or to vary our world.

I additionally liked the emphasis on loving others and reaching out to those that could consider very in another way than us. And the decision to unite round God and His Phrase as a substitute of secondary beliefs and convictions.

This guide has gotten a number of pushback and critique (a minimum of based mostly upon the variety of messages I received whereas I discussed studying this guide on Instagram) and I discovered that each single factor folks informed me why they wouldn’t learn the guide missed what the guide was about. So I’ll simply say when you’ve heard issues and haven’t learn it, learn it first earlier than leaping to conclusions about it aligning with a sure political occasion.

Verdict: 4 stars

Okay, so I struggled to determine easy methods to evaluate this guide. On the one hand, I assumed it had a number of actually worthwhile ideas on easy methods to spot a dysfunctional friendship and the significance of discovering our price and worth in Jesus as a substitute of looking for that in a relationship. You probably have struggled in friendships and relationships up to now, particularly in the case of drama or misunderstandings and damage in relationships, I feel this guide has a number of perception into the place a few of that may very well be stemming from.

However, I felt prefer it left me wanting… as in, sure, you shared heaps and many smart perspective on what unhealthy friendships seem like and easy methods to keep away from and acknowledge that, however I didn’t really feel empowered with concepts of virtually what it seems to be wish to pursue wholesome, life-giving buddies. It virtually made me really feel hesitant to pursue relationships lest I’ve incorrect or unhealthy motives.

Additionally, it made it appear to be wholesome relationships will contain a number of confrontation and arduous conversations and calling out sin. Personally, I feel this guide might make folks really feel like they have to be confronting their buddies rather a lot as a substitute of loving and displaying up and believing the most effective after which (very sometimes) needing to have a tough dialog. I’m all about pointing our buddies to Jesus and inspiring them to pursue holiness, however I feel we have to be cautious that we don’t really feel prefer it’s our job to be their Holy Spirit.

I’d advocate studying this guide at the side of Discover Your Individuals for some stability of total — particularly in case you are wanting to construct wholesome, life-giving, deep relationships.

Verdict: 3 stars