Review: Even Still by Hannah Abbott

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

For Paige Kelly, life hasn’t exactly turned out the way she planned. At twenty-two she thought she would be graduating from college and starting a career. But the loss of her parents changed everything, and instead she spends her days working as a waitress and spends her nights, weekends, and everything in between taking care of her five younger siblings. Now her life is completely focused on her family, and despite the urging of those close to her, she doesn’t find time for a life of her own.

When Russell Pierce returns to his childhood hometown he is eager to focus on success in his new career. Meeting Paige wasn’t part of his plan either, but once he does he can’t stop thinking about her and how he wants to help her. But she can’t let go of her fears, and refuses to allow him to get close.

Will she ever be able to open up and consider a life with anyone? Is she ready to give life a second chance?

My Review

This is a sweet story of letting go and trusting that God has a plan for us, even though it will have difficult times or be so different than what we expected. Paige is running the home and taking care of her younger siblings like a single mother while putting her own education and life on hold. She's pretty much given up and focused 100% on work and home, when Russell comes into her life offering a promotion and friendship. I was impressed with how in tune with God Russell is and his sincere desire to follow the promptings he receives. Even though the process of breaking down Paige's walls is bumpy, he is faithful and shows Paige that she doesn't have to go through life alone. While I liked the story and had a pleasant feeling while I read it, there are so many details of the mundane and unnecessary that it bogged down the pace and I found myself skimming. I think without the excess, the meat of the story could be told in a novella.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)