Becca by the Book

The protagonist in Laura Jensen Walker's latest release 'Becca by the Book' gives an entertaining, insightful look at the Christian church through the eyes of someone standing on the outside looking in. For Becca, a character unfamiliar with the lingo and culture, the church appears to be an enigma or worse - a closed society. However, there are characters who recognize that God is gently drawing Becca into relationship (more lingo!) and are positive and very down to earth. For those readers who are willing to set aside defensiveness and take an honest look at the issues raised in the story, it can be an eye-opening and thought-provoking read.

The things people do for a bet. "Becca by the Book" tells the story of one Becca Daniels, an indomitable free spirit who takes indomitable free spirit to the next level. Judged by her friends to be flaky and impossible to commit, she bets she can keep a relationship for three months with the next guy she meets. She soon eats her words as she's placed with her polar opposite, and embarks on a new sort of adventure with the reserved 'Ben', a church goer who favors tradition. "Becca by the Book" is a fun spin of romance many readers will relish.

Unlike other reviewers, I saw nothing disparaging about churches or Christianity in the latest novel by Walker. Though the eyes of Becca, we get an honest, insider's view of how easily mainstream Christianity is misunderstood. While Becca is often wickedly snarky in her observations, there is a gentle, woundedness about her that I found heartbreakingly poignant. This is not a book knocking Jesus. This is a book that shines a light on how sometimes our best efforts alienate those who most need God's love. I encourage anyone seeking to minister to those outside the mainstream church to read this book with an open mind. There is much to be learned from Becca's story. Thank you Laura Walker, for having the courage to tell it.

I've enjoyed Laura Jensen Walker's books, but I particularly loved this one. Several times I did the "laugh out loud" thing while reading it. Laura isn't afraid to show us Becca's perspective, which gets particularly interesting and funny when she, a non-churched girl, attends a church-sponsored women's function. Although I didn't grow up in church, I've been in it long enough to be entrenched by the language we use. This book helped me re-evaluate the church experience from the outside, to better understand how it might look to someone who is searching. I loved Becca's story arc, loved the getaway girls, and of course enjoyed the frequent literary allusions. Well written, smart, insightful and funny.

Becca by the Book is the third book in the Getaway Girls series, a series I have enjoyed tremendously. Becca is the only non-Christian in the group which makes for a fun and entertaining story. I have to admit though; I initially did not care too much for Becca. She seemed a bit to sarcastic and negative, but as I kept reading about her, I started to understand why she is that way and I really started to like her and appreciate her quirky sense of humor. It was really nice to see Chloe, Paige and the other Getaway Girls in this book as well. As always, Laura Jensen Walker has written a very entertaining book with charming characters and realistic stories. Now, while Becca by the Book is a wonderful book, as are the other Getaway Girls books, it makes a very strong and important point. Becca may not be a Christian, but she has nothing against Jesus. She likes Jesus, but she is simply tired of the same old, same old from Christians. All of the old ways and sayings of Christianity have left her feeling disillusioned about Christians. That is certainly understandable. The bigger point this book is trying to make is that there is an entire generation of people who are not being reached by the "old ways". There are many people, not all young, who just don't want their grandparents' Christianity. Becca got a glimpse at the other side (the more accepting side) of Christianity and I think that is important for us all to not only see, but embrace that type of Christianity and drop the judgments and trite sayings and allow Jesus to really lead us the way He wants us. I think Laura Jensen Walker did a gutsy thing here and it may ruffle some feathers. I hope it does, it should. She gets it. This book never feels heavy, even though it makes this very important point. There is a lot of Becca's wonderful humor and honest observations that make this a wonderful read. I loved Becca's story and I grew to like her very much and I left the book rooting for her. This book goes above and beyond Christian Chick-lit and I highly recommend it.