Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman Review

 Happy Monday Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you chose to join me (Kirby) here on The Preppy Book Princess for another book review.

If I'm being honest, the past week was a little bit of a doozy around here! Work's been crazy, life's been crazier, and I'm so thankful that Jesus is always with me no matter the circumstances.

To get a bit of an escape from all the craziness, I've been enjoying ending my evenings with devotionals with my hubby, and curling up with some great Christian fiction titles.

I recently had the chance to read my first ever full length novel by one of the most prominent authors within the Amish fiction genre, and today I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.

Keep reading down below for today's full review.

Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Zondervan

Publication Date: April 1st, 2023

Genre: Christian Fiction/Amish Fiction

Series: The Amish Bookstore

Synopsis:

To become who they’re meant to be, Eden and Samuel must find the courage to defy expectations.

Sixteen-year-old Eden Hale doesn’t want to be defined by her current circumstances. With absent parents and a troubled past, Eden refuses to become what people expect. When she is sent to live with an Amish cousin she’s never met in Montgomery, Indiana, she welcomes the chance to become the person she wants to be without the burden of anyone’s judgment. Her hopes are confirmed when she meets Samuel, a young Amish man who seems to like her for who she really is.

Samuel Byler has grown up with strict Amish parents, and they aren’t happy that their only son is choosing to spend his free time with an outsider. As Eden and Samuel grow closer, disapproval swirls around the young couple. It isn’t long before Eden starts to doubt herself and wonders if she is doomed to repeat the mistakes of her own past, whether she wants to or not. Meanwhile, Samuel finds himself slipping further and further from his faith—to Eden’s dismay.

Both Eden’s and Samuel’s futures hang in the balance as they face decisions about who they are meant to be—both as individuals and together.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

As someone who has pretty much been a lifelong fan of Amish fiction, I honestly cannot believe that this was my first experience reading one of Beth Wiseman's wonderful full length novels. The only experience I'd had with her writing prior to this was reading some of the novella collections where she'd contributed a story. I was definitely in for a treat with this one, and I appreciated the fact that while this is the third title in her The Amish Bookstore series, it could be read as a stand alone without feeling like I was missing out on too much of the backstory.

Hopefully Ever After is a beautiful story that focuses around redemption, God's grace, and family and friendships. Readers are treated to the story of Eden, a young teenaged girl who has grown up in devastating circumstances. When a situation arises that causes her to be temporarily placed with an Amish relative, Eden feels she's finally found the solace and peace in God's presence that she's spent her whole life searching for. When a chance encounter leads her to meeting a young Amish teenager named Samuel, both feel an instant connection. While Eden is intrigued by everything she's come to see from the Amish culture, Samuel feels smothered by it. He isn't sure that this is where he sees himself wanting to be for the rest of his life, when the world seems to have so much more to offer. As the two begin a heartwarming friendship, it will call into question everything they've come to know and understand about their lives so far.

What follows is a breath takingly beautiful story about the challenges of growing up while trying to be true to God and His never changing presence in our lives. I think this is a story that will cause every single reader who picks it up to think good and hard about who they're living their lives for, and whether God is at the front and center like he always deserves to be. 

I adored this one from start to finish, and it's without a doubt one of the best books I've read this year so far. It's unlike anything else I've ever read within the genre, and I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in the series, and to discover many more of the books written by this author. I'm only sorry it took me this long to give one of her books a try, as I definitely feel I've discovered a new favorite.

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Zondervan for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Zondervan) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review. 

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)