Hey book lovers! One of my reading goals for this year was to read more Christian fiction and I’m so happy I got the chance to read this beautiful debut novel!
✔️ friends to lovers
✔️ healing journey
✔️ Christian fiction
✔️ found family
✔️second chance
✔️close proximity
How Can It Be? by Kelli Galyean
This book was absolutely heartwarming and wholesome. I loved every single bit of this! And this is a debut?! Unbelievable. I read it in just a couple of hours because I was so engrossed in the story and I just needed to know more about Mia and Ryan.
What is it about?
As a college student, Mia Browning shared a carefree weekend with drummer Ryan Blackstone. Soon after, Mia learned she was pregnant, a fact her politically-ambitious parents would not allow to stay true. A forced abortion left her broken and alone.
Ten years later, Mia has found healing and embraced a new life in Christ. Mia arrives at church one Sunday, to find that the new worship minister is none other than the blue-eyed drummer of her past.
Seeing Ryan again after all these years is complicated. Serving at the youth camp means they are often thrown together, creating an unexpected friendship. Growing closer seems inevitable, but will they both have the courage to let go of the past and move forward into something deeper?
For those days when life feels complicated, here is a book that invites readers to remember the truest thing about all of us: that we are loved by God and saved by His grace. (via Goodreads)
How can I even put Mia and Ryan’s relationship into words? Their healing process was a beautiful thing to read. I also loved how they got to know each other again and fell in love again. And their struggles and fears were so real. But I loved how both of them were brave enough to overcome them and how strongly they held to God’s hand. They let him be first, let him heal what needed to be healed, and let him work in their lives, their pasts, traumas, and relationship.
I felt so seen by the whole community of faith here. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book to which I related so much in that sense. The friendships here are everything a friendship should be, truly precious.
But most of all, this was such a beautiful reminder of God’s undying love, faithfulness, mercy, grace, power and just the beauty of his nature. Also, I loved that the main point here was healing after abortion. I think it’s not something that’s widely talked about in church even though it’s heavily important, especially, on how to open our hearts and having Jesus’ grace towards women who have gone through something like this.
If you’re a Christian, I highly recommend reading this book. As for me, I can’t wait to read more books by Kelli.
Thank you so much to the author Kelli Galyean for giving me an eARC for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
love, Lin xo
