Now and Not Yet: Making Sense of Single Life in the Twenty-First Century

by Jennifer A. Marshall

Nine out of ten young women say they’re hoping for marriage,
but three out of ten women are still single at thirty.

The difference between life here and life hoped for can be disillusioning–and cultural changes have made single life in the twenty-first century more confusing than ever. Now and Not Yet offers guidance for navigating this new territory with purpose and contentment. Combining profiles of individual women, observations on today’s culture, and spiritual insights, author Jennifer Marshall presents a unique perspective on the single woman’s journey.

Make sense of life in the gap between expectations and reality

Singleness may be an unexpected in-between, but it’s much more than a holding pattern. Now and Not Yet is about making the most of the time between now and the not yet for which so many women hope.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Christian Living

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 2007

Reviews

[LibraryLaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay...but I feel like I've heard/read it all before.

[Bekki Fahrer · Rating 3 out of 5]

not the best book I read on the subject, but not the worst. It offers more camaraderie than advice.

[Holly Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a helpful look at singleness in 21st century America. Jennifer Marshall examines the historical and cultural issues at play, shares anecdotes and interviews with a variety of Christian single women, and offers wise and Biblical perspective.

[Angeli · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reviewer's note : I haven't read a book in this genre (Christian Living) in a while so it's really hard to connect to this kind of literature AGAIN once you've open up yourself into reading other genres, that's a personal opinion, maybe that's just me struggling through life hahaha. Okay, let's go let's do this shit.

I know God has a purpose for everyone, I believe in God okay, so don't be bitchy about my review of this book. And swearing and loving God has no connection at all. He loves me just the same anyway. So don't go prodigal daughter shit on me on this. So on with the review:

The author's points were A-okay in the first few chapters. But the more she delve into the topic of "singleness" it felt more like torture on my part.

I honestly think, at the age of 21, it's okay to stay single for the rest of your life. To those who are in a relationship and deeply in love with their partners at the moment, it's good that you are in a relationship and that you are in love, that's perfectly okay but don't try to make others feel bad about their singleness just because you're in a relationship.

I believe being single is a choice and as a woman I have that choice: whether to be single for the rest of my life or not. I am kind of afraid for the future of this generation if they still don't grow out of the thinking that every woman should marry. I think that's not the case. Women have that choice if they want to marry and not because the Bible says they should marry whether they like it or not.

I salute every woman who is single by choice. And I also salute every woman who is married or in a relationship right now because you made a choice and you stood up for it.

But please, don't make it sound like a woman should end up with a partner in life. You don't dictate that. Society doesn't dictate what a woman should do with her life because she can decide on her own. I don't understand the point of limiting yourself if you have other options.

Don't judge a woman because she's been single for so long.
She chose to stay that way.

Society doesn't dictate, or even the Bible doesn't dictate women's life choices. They should not be bounded by what's written or limited to their choices because some scholars believed that this written Word is the ONLY choice of women.

Some women are actually single by choice and not because no one is courting them. And they're happy. It's okay to be desperate in having a partner in life BUT IT IS ALSO OKAY TO NOT BE desperate in having a partner in life or NOT WANTING TO HAVE A PARTNER IN LIFE AT ALL. :)

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an encouraging book for me. I chose to read it over the holiday season because that's one of the times I most feel lonely because I don't "have someone" - and Christmas and New Years become all about the relationships with significant others. It did help to read some of the thoughts from people the author spoke to or had contact with - including people my own age or older. Generally these types of books that I"ve read in the past focus on people in their mid 20's. This had a better age range.

[Michele Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes a look at singleness today for those in their twenties and thirties who never thought that they would be single at their age. This book is only targeted to single women who had never married not those who find themselves widowed or divorced at this age. The suggestions are good to be heeded by today's single woman since it is easy for us to either not go to church or hang out in the singles ministry which is very similar to the youth ministry.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first few chapters were good. Then the tone changed and I felt like I was reading a textbook. It's very scholarly writing with religious comments thrown in, but it's not like other books that are encouraging and uplifting. I also felt the ending could have been handled better, leaving a more positive/memorable feeling with the reader. Overall, not horrible, but not great either.

[Amanda]

So far this book is very good and helps you to be content in the single life :)

[Shiffra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the point she makes about not putting your singleness ahead of G-d. If we put all our focus on how we're not married, how can we ever be content in all circumstances?

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Modern and balanced. Not too deep. Practical, encouraging.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

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