I could be Joan: Stuck in the Middle

Stuck in the Middle (Sister to Sister #1) by Virginia Smith
ebook, 245 pages
Published February 2008 by Baker Publishing Group
ISBN13: 9781585585441
November 2011


I picked this book up shortly after I bought my Nook because it was a free ebook (it's still free at Amazon). You know that I often have a hard time with Christian romance novels. But I loved Stuck in the Middle. It wasn't so much a romance novel as it was more a story of self discovery. And, oh, how I could relate to Joan. 


Joan is 25, still lives at home (which happens to be her Grandmother's house), has an okay job, but just she's basically just going through the motions of life. In moves a hot doctor next door, he's single and the Grandma is all too happy to introduce Joan to the new neighbor. Ken and his sister who comes to visit aren't like the people Joan knows. While Joan is a regular church goer, her faith isn't evident in her life like it is in Ken's. While Joan wants Ken, she even more wants what Ken has - a relationship with the Savior.


At times funny, definitely relateable, and occasionally left me teary eyed. When Joan asks the missionary why God hasn't ever given her chocolate ice cream, a tear fell from my eye and also opened my eyes to things in my own life. A few short days later I was realized I'd been asking for the same thing.


I think what I liked best about Stuck in the Middle was that not everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Joan is making strides to really live life. And while Ken and Joan are dating there is no over the top I love yous or unrealistically fast relationship. I was really looking forward to the sequel, except that it seems to focus on Joan's older sister. While I'm sure there will be glimpses of Joan, I really want to see where her life goes from here.


If you are looking for a great chick-lit novel with a hope-filled message, that isn't over the top in romance, then I highly recommend Stuck in the Middle by Virginia Smith.