The Sisterhood of Unlikely Friends by Sara Brunsvold

Special thanks to Charity C Photography for the photos at Plenty Bookshop :)

 The Sisterhood of Unlikely Friends by Sara Brunsvold

4.5 Stars 

"Love, affection, and honor are what hold us together," Reva said. "And that not of ourselves, but of the One who designed us for community. When we chose Jesus, we chose his people too, every flawed, beat-up one of them."

"We also recognize that we sit at this table at different points in our Christian maturity," Reva said. "We remember that God is working in each of us in different ways at different times, as our faith is ready to receive it, and we are responsible for guarding each's other's well-being, even if that means we must drag a sister away from things that will harm her."

"Perhaps the most important thing we remember is that the way we one-another is meant to be a dazzling display of Christ's love to the world around us, especially to those whose lives rub against out own."

"I see a child shivering under storm clouds that she doesn't yet recognize contain blessing."

Wow. This is a heartfelt, emotional Christian women's fiction book exploring friendship, the importance of community and what it means to live faith out alongside others. Jess is a 42 year old woman who starts over in Kansas City with a new faith and a determination to make better choices. She befriends her teenage neighbor and starts attending a new church and finds herself surrounded by women who come from different backgrounds, each navigating their own struggles. 

I liked how this explored Christian friendship and the important of loving our neighbors, doing for others, bearing each other's burdens, encouraging one another in the Lord. Some quotes reminded me of the sisters in Christ I have where we have given those little gentle rebukes to encourage us, call us out when needed and share the truth when needed. That is a true friend, with open honest conversation.

Jess and Austie's friendship specifically focused on the balance of grace, compassion and the reality that you cannot make someone else's choices for them. It shows that loving someone through a difficult season isn’t always easy or straightforward.

One of the most meaningful parts of Jess’s story was watching her navigate her unexpected health diagnosis. She is so determined to keep everything together and be strong for the people around her, but her own struggles force her to face how difficult it can be to let others in. I appreciated how this storyline highlighted the vulnerability that comes with uncertainty and the reminder that we aren't meant to carry every burden alone. Loved the discussion Reva and Jess had in the end, so beautiful. 

We were never meant to walk our lives alone, community is so important. In today world with all the technological advancements, its so easy for us to back out of those in person meetings, myself included. This book reminded me to step out of those comfort zones. These women were in different walks of life, different seasons and ages. It emphasized the importance of building friendships outside your typical circle or age group. Their differences are part of what make their friendships meaningful. 

This was a good Christian friendship story that I think many would enjoy.

Thank you to the Revell and Sara for a gifted copy to read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Content: alcohol use mentioned, drug use and addiction, chronic illness/serious medical diagnosis, family conflict, grief - all handled with grace in Christian Fiction and faith 

Libro.fm Audiobook: https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9798898857592-the-sisterhood-of-unlikely-friends

If you want to support your local Indie bookstore, sign up for Libro.FM Audiobooks. I love them and my subscription supports my local indie store. https://libro.fm/referral?rf_code=lfm206402

Amazon: https://link.amazon/B0j0B5155
Baker: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780800746131_the-sisterhood-of-unlikely-friends
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.