Review: Avra's God by Ann Lee Miller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis from goodreads.com

In the tradition of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, four friends navigate college and the drama churned up by their Florida beach band to cement friendship and more.

Avra wants love, but drummer Cisco—self-medicating from his parents’ divorce with sex and intoxicants—is a poor choice. Cisco hungers for fresh-baked cookies and the scent of family he finds at Avra’s.

Kallie shares her classically trained singing voice only with lead vocalist Jesse and fights to keep her heart safe. Jesse feeds on fame and hides more than insecurity beneath his guitar.

The friends surf ego, betrayal, and ambition and head for wipe-out. But somehow, when they’re not looking, Avra’s God changes them all.

My Review

What a rollercoaster of emotion! Reading this "New Adult" book reminds me of one of those e-cards that I think is hilarious and oh-so-true:

The author skillfully portrayed all the drama, emotion, indecision, change, and maturing that happens during the college years. The characters are vibrant- I felt like I really got to know each of them- their strengths, hopes, vulnerabilities, and fears. The story is told from four perspectives- the two girls, and the two guys who break their hearts. I appreciated having the insights into what the guys were thinking, although that didn't prevent me from still having a hard time understanding the male psyche. (Maybe it's because I grew up with all sisters). I kept thinking, if they would only just sit down and talk about what they are really feeling! But that's not usually reality- and the conflicts these young adults struggled with and the way they handled them sure felt real. The spiritual journey and growth of each character also felt realistic- it was a progression towards connecting with God, learning how to be comforted and guided by him, seeking forgiveness and the grace to forgive.

The author Ann Lee Miller has three other books in her New Smyrna Beach series (the location of the Florida college community), and Kicking Eternity is currently free for download!

(a copy of the book was provided by the author for unbiased review)