Review–She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen

She Makes It Look Easy
by Marybeth Whalen
David C Cook Publisher
309 pages

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  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 play dates, 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.

 
If you would like to read an excerpt of She Makes It Look Easy, go HERE.

 

MY REVIEW:  One of the words that can cause a person more discontent than any other is “comparison.”  Especially in women we see this so often as we compare children’s behavior, organization skills, exercise routines – even Bible study habits.  But this book points out that “the grass is NOT always greener on the other side of the fence” and that “what you see isn’t always what it appears.”

 

When Ariel moves into a  new neighborhood she is flattered and thrilled when the her neighbor, the woman who is so together, befriends her.  Justine invites Ariel to her church to listen to a talk she’s giving on organization skills and Ariel thinks she is on the right path for what her family needs.

 

She soon suspects that “all that glitters is not gold” in the life of Justine and the story goes on from there.

 

This is easily one of my favorite books of the year as Mary Beth Whalen’s writing style is superb.  I found myself doing the typical reader “just one more chapter” each time I was reading.

 

This book does a great job of showing women’s friendships, even the side that isn’t so desirable, and how easily we allow ourselves to be led.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Marybeth Whalen is the wife of Curt and mom of six children. The family lives outside Charlotte, NC. Marybeth is a member of the Proverbs 31 Ministries writing team and a regular contributor to their daily devotions. Her first novel,The Mailbox was released in June 2010. Her next novel, She Makes It Look Easy, will be released in June 2011. Additionally, she serves as director of She Reads, Proverbs 31 Ministries' fiction division.

 

 

* My thanks to CFBA for furnishing this book in exchange for my honest review.