Book Review: Forever Friday

Today I'm excited to be reviewing my first book for Waterbrook-Multnomah Publishers and the "Blogging for Books" program! When I went to pick my first book from this publisher I was a bit out to sea with the wide selection that I had to choose from- but then one caught my eye...

The plot of "Forever Friday" (by Timothy Lewis) is a simple one. Through this book we see the gradual unfolding of one couple's love story. Beginning in the 30's and spanning the decades, Gabe and Huck Alexander's love
story is one that begins with an instant spark and burns steadily throughout their 60 year marriage. As the years and decades pass Gabe's theory on "The Long Division" that separates couples and destroys marriages is fought off one week, and one love note poem postcard at a time.
This secret core of their love story is just what the crushed divorcee Adam Colby is looking for to unravel the failures of his own marriage and so after uncovering the postcard albums in an estate sale he is organizing he sets out to track down the closest person the Alexander's had to family and get his questions answered. Little does he expect the path his questions take him down!

I really enjoyed "Forever Friday", this book works on many different levels and hits just the right notes as the plot and characters are developed. I was impressed with the authors originality and ability to avoid recycling clichéd plot devices!  Much of the story focuses on the Alexander's side of the narration while occasionally dipping back to the present to Adam's side where a new round of questions set up a new slate of answers. This spiral storytelling style is appropriate to the tale being told and handled well. The switches back and forth are never jarring or out of place but feel very natural and I enjoyed traveling between the two and uncovering all that Adam discovered. I really love the cover design on the book, its soft sea tones and vintage feel capture the book well. As a reader I also appreciated the quality paper that the book is printed on. It's not a cheap paperback stock but something with better weight and feel and, in my opinion, that always makes for a better reading experience.

I did have one nitpick about something that happens in the book. Over the last number of years I have noticed that authors from Christian publishing houses are feeling freer to include intense scenes of violence in their work. It is a trend that I find disturbing as I don't feel it is integral to any ('inspirational') plot to have it included. Now I'm not talking having an objection to a good fistfight but rather an objection to several books that I have read where a rape or attempted rape takes place. That unfortunately happens in this book as well. While the attempt that takes place is not long and not described graphically it still rubs me the wrong way and I wish it wasn't included. Additionally, for being a 'inspirational' novel I found it surprising that the casual drinking of alcohol was included, as well as what I felt was a bit of a negative attitude towards having children (although this is explained within the story line).

Having said all that, I would recommend this book. It was a pleasure to read and of such good quality that I expect to see if snatched up by Hallmark for one of their trademark movies as this novel reads exactly in the same style as the best of their productions!

Rating: 4 (I took off half a star for my nitpick.)

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review and opinion of the product.