She Makes it Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen
Paperback, 384 Pages
Review Copy
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.
Review
I think we’ve all met that perfect woman....
You know the one who bakes, has a sparkling clean home, resembles Mother Teresa in deeds, has cookie cutter children and has a killer body to go with it??? Well, that's exactly who Justine is in She Makes it Look Easy, from the head of the neighborhood association to the head of the women's group at church, Justine builds a facade of perfect around her. With a devoted husband, beautiful little girls and organizational skills that would put Martha Stewart to shame, this woman has a life most would kill for. Of course this life of Justine's that many women pine over, is full of disease and major foundation cracks, ones that cant be seen from the outside. That's why when Ariel moves in next door and sees Justine as the mom who has it all together, she starts comparing herself, her kids and her marriage to that of her new neighbors. However, even with her insecurities, Ariel is thrilled to be Justine's new friend and will work her butt off to prove it.
At first the friendship is fun, Justine teaches Ariel how to bake bread from scratch, work in a daily run and get the low down on all the juicy gossip around the neighborhood. Ariel cant believe Justine would pick her, how could a perfect, beautiful woman pick a scatter brained, mother of three hyper boys who's husband is always gone? No matter, Ariel is happy and cant wait to be more like Justine. Underneath the bubble of the women's plastic friendship though, is trouble. Ariel cannot see the real picture behind Justine's life and has no clue that she is being used for a bigger agenda. Lies eventually do come out, even in the most planned situations and after Ariel discovers just whats going on and what Justine's friendship means, she will discover things about herself and her own life that she never knew. Amazing growth and maturity come with a hard life lesson and both women will be changed forever from it.
I think what I liked most about this book, besides the writing itself, was Marybeth’s “honest” look into adultery. Its not like people wake up and say “hey Im going to destroy my family today” no its something usually that builds, emotions become tangled up and one thing leads to another. Justine had major issues in her marriage before she contemplated an affair, she was in-love with another man even before she married her husband, she was unhappy, lonely and depressed and she never dealt with those issues.
I think we’ve all met that perfect woman....
You know the one who bakes, has a sparkling clean home, resembles Mother Teresa in deeds, has cookie cutter children and has a killer body to go with it??? Well, that's exactly who Justine is in She Makes it Look Easy, from the head of the neighborhood association to the head of the women's group at church, Justine builds a facade of perfect around her. With a devoted husband, beautiful little girls and organizational skills that would put Martha Stewart to shame, this woman has a life most would kill for. Of course this life of Justine's that many women pine over, is full of disease and major foundation cracks, ones that cant be seen from the outside. That's why when Ariel moves in next door and sees Justine as the mom who has it all together, she starts comparing herself, her kids and her marriage to that of her new neighbors. However, even with her insecurities, Ariel is thrilled to be Justine's new friend and will work her butt off to prove it.
At first the friendship is fun, Justine teaches Ariel how to bake bread from scratch, work in a daily run and get the low down on all the juicy gossip around the neighborhood. Ariel cant believe Justine would pick her, how could a perfect, beautiful woman pick a scatter brained, mother of three hyper boys who's husband is always gone? No matter, Ariel is happy and cant wait to be more like Justine. Underneath the bubble of the women's plastic friendship though, is trouble. Ariel cannot see the real picture behind Justine's life and has no clue that she is being used for a bigger agenda. Lies eventually do come out, even in the most planned situations and after Ariel discovers just whats going on and what Justine's friendship means, she will discover things about herself and her own life that she never knew. Amazing growth and maturity come with a hard life lesson and both women will be changed forever from it.
I think what I liked most about this book, besides the writing itself, was Marybeth’s “honest” look into adultery. Its not like people wake up and say “hey Im going to destroy my family today” no its something usually that builds, emotions become tangled up and one thing leads to another. Justine had major issues in her marriage before she contemplated an affair, she was in-love with another man even before she married her husband, she was unhappy, lonely and depressed and she never dealt with those issues.
I find it amazing that so many people want to pretend this isn’t happening, in our homes and in the church. My husband and I recently left a church (for personal reasons as well) due to a pastors infidelity with his secretary…its happening and it happens to Christians everyday, because hey here’s a newsflash--- Christians aren’t perfect--- we are not robots programmed to make the right decisions everyday. Do you know how many men and women are addicted to porn, or how many couples actually go through this situation...yet the church doesn't want to talk about it? And if we do talk about it, people get all riled up!Justine’s character didn’t get the easy way out, nor was she made out to be the prodigal character, because she made a choice and I understand completely what the author was trying to show in her circumstance. Ive seen men (who I know) walk away from their wife and children to marry a 20 something. Ive seen couples in my church divorce because they found their soul mates and tell people God told them to do it...whatever people God does not tell anyone to marry soul mates when your already married!
I found this book engaging, thought provoking and brave enough to show us the reality of people whom we think have it all together but are in the deepest pit of despair, needing help. Sometimes the grass really isn’t greener on the other side.
I found this book engaging, thought provoking and brave enough to show us the reality of people whom we think have it all together but are in the deepest pit of despair, needing help. Sometimes the grass really isn’t greener on the other side.
Rating
She Makes it Look Easy is recommended to adult readers and contains: Martial issues- including divorce, infidelity and finances. Drinking, gossip, faith aspects, mild sexuality (nothing graphic) and single parenting.
4/5- Inspy-Contemporary
Thanks to the CFBA & David C. Cook for review Copy
Photo Source
Update 7/15/11
**Wow- this review won the blog tour award for June 2011. I was very shocked to see my blog on the Online Magazine. I'm so grateful to the CFBA and the community of Christian bloggers highlighting the many talented CF authors and publishers in the competitive market of book publishing.Update 7/15/11
Sorry if this is too personal of a question to ask, T, and you don't have to answer, but if there is understanding in the fact that Christians aren't perfect and make mistakes, why did you leave that church? Would you have continued going there if the pastor's indiscretion had not been discovered? Is he still not a Christian who made a wrong decision? I'm just curious is all.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very thought provoking book. And I really enjoyed your review.
I really want to read this book after reading your review. I think that adultery is the biggest reason people are divorcing. I told my husband before you step outside the box leave! If you no longer have feelings for this life go because cheating will get you no where.
ReplyDeleteMissie- it’s a great question. We actually tried to stay after the whole event, but it destroyed the church, so many people were angry and half of the people were wanting him to stay and half wanted him to leave. Obviously he stepped down but the damage was already done. I actually stuck up for his wife and not him. I had mistakenly made a comment about how he needed a shovel slammed against his head, of course I have a huge mouth that gets me in trouble and that one got me in TONS!!! Elders were called, my husband was called, it wasn’t pretty. I think people were more angry with me for what I said, then what actually happened. I lost all respect for him after that and the way he handled the aftermath, while I hope he turns his life around I wouldn’t want to sit under him as my spiritual leader. I think we would have stayed had it not spilt the church so badly but it was more personal the reasons we left and yes I believe he's still a Christian- just a very messed up one.....
ReplyDeleteI think it was very admirable of you to speak up for what you felt was wrong. Truly.
ReplyDeleteThank you for explaining. I very much appreciate it, and I'm sure the wronged wife did to.
I'm also a book reviewer and have a blog, so I decided to follow yours. My new releases comes out in a few days. Blessings, B. J.
ReplyDeleteHi, I would like to invite you to join my blog at www.karla-hanns-karla.blogspot.com. I also review books. My blog is known as quiet quilter.
ReplyDeleteThis is very interesting, You're a very skilled blogger. I've joined
ReplyDeleteyour feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent
post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!
Take a look at my webpage ; www.wiki.res-ingold.de
Hi! I could have sworn I've been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it's new to
ReplyDeleteme. Anyhow, I'm definitely delighted I found it and I'll be bookmarking and checking back
often!
Check out my webpage :: seo companies
My spouse and I stumbled over here by a different page and thought I should check things out.
ReplyDeleteI like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page
again.
Here is my blog post :: Online Insurance Quotes