Emily's Hope

I usually get lazy and don't review books that I get from the library, BookMooch or passed along by friends but this book was different so I felt the need to review it.

I started reading Emily's Hope thinking it was Catholic fiction for adults. I loved the story lines (from the back cover: the gripping story of one young woman's physical, emotional, spiritual journey from high school to adulthood. Interspersed throughout the story are flashbacks to Emily's great-grandmother's troubled life, with a climax culminating in the surprising revelation that Emily and her great-grandmother are connected more deeply than by ancestral ties alone.) but at times the Catholic teachings seemed forced into the context of the story. In addition, the writing style seemed amateurish; I can't really explain it but I think the book could be improved with a great editor. The book looks very professional - the cover design is is one that drew me in with the mix of modern day and the old ledger design.

All that said when I went to the author's website I realized this book was not intended to be fiction in the truest sense and definitely not for adults. This is what the site says: ""Emily's Hope" is a unique novel in which young people can learn about the Church's teachings on marriage and family within the context of the story. Its blend of candid storytelling and solid Church teaching makes it a perfect study tool in the Catholic high school or youth group setting.

So while I didn't love the writing style, I will be looking for Ellen Gable's second book as I would like to support Catholic authors.