Spinstered: Surviving Singleness After Forty by Sharyn M. Kopf

Spinstered #1

by Sharyn Kopf

Three friends. Three stories. Three women trying to figure out how they ended up over 40 and still single. Committed to her job and pushing fifty, Catie Delaney has almost given up on her dream of love and marriage. Maybe, she tells herself, she’d be happier just embracing her singleness. Maybe that's been God’s will all along.Catie's friends, Jolene and Uli, have their own struggles with men, careers, and family. Then into this mix of feminine angst walks Brian Kemper—the latest GWP (Guy With Potential) to join their church’s singles group. But just as something seems about to happen between him and Catie, her world falls apart.With their hearts on the line, these three friends search for hope ... and find it in unexpected places.

Paperback

First published August 27, 2014

Reviews

[JJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story very much, because the characters were very real and struggling with honest emotions.
I admit I was disappointed when Catie's hope that Brian was interested in her proved to be wrong. I disliked Brian because it seemed like he was enjoying Catie's interest in him, not being honest, and not discouraging her slight flirtation during the car ride in the mountains.
I would have liked a little more of a happy ending for Catie just because the romantic part of me feels like it was imbalanced with the three women- Jolene having the happiest ending, Uli a satisfying ending as well. her commitment-phobe boyfriend Cole finally shapes up and pops the question but Catie's story ended with her coming to terms with putting God's love first in her life, and accepting her singlehood.
No matter what, I liked this novel. I'm married but I can still relate to some of the heartwrenching things that Catie went through. She must realize that marriage is not the perfect utopia, it is hard work, and husbands can let you down and you can even feel lonely AND married at the same time.
It was a great book and so very different from most Christian women's fiction, where everything ends perfectly and neatly tied with a bow. This story does not, and that's a great thing where Jesus is concerned, because it shows that only HE can provide our happy endings.

[Sarah]

I wanted to love this book, really I did, but by the half-way point, I cared nothing about any of the characters, in fact, I was starting to dislike them. I decided this book was not for me. I found all three of the main women to be boy-crazy, sad, with faith that didn't seem to be impacting their lives except for the fact that they thought purity was important and they go to church. It seems to give them no hope, or comfort, and every time something doesn't go their way, they stop praying.

Content: This book is for girls, not guys. Some of the content would have been fine but piled on top of each other, it started to detract from the story. one of the women is having sex with her a guy often. She feels guilty and knows it is wrong. I felt the author handled it well. Sex is talked about, though not in graphic detail sometimes, it felt awkward and there for no real reason. Periods are mentioned a couple of times. One mention of a girl's skirts getting blown higher than is modest and a guy (good guy?) looking (ick). Girls talking/seeing each other underwear

[Jennifer McWilliams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best fiction book on singleness that gives true hope

I feel like this this book was made for me. It spoke so much to my life, the many years of trying to do everything right, the hoping, the praying, and at times the anger I would have that God didn’t care to answer my prayers. I also related to many of the characters, as different steps in my journey to find love. In the end, everything I was searching for was something I already had. Although I am in a happy loving relationship with a man now, I feel like some of my best days were when I had only the love of my savior Jesus Christ. He is enough.

[Christine Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon is an excellent writer and tackles an important issue in her debut novel (the first of a trilogy). The book follows three single women each struggling with their singleness and each believing different lies and trying to solve their situation.
A realistic book full of real emotion.

[Tess Fiore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever!!!

Wow, this woman was inside my head the entire time. I LOVE this book. She expressed EVERY thought, doubt, and anything else you can imagine that I have had from the past 10 years.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun story about three women that were not under 20. I really enjoyed it and am looking forward to reading the next books in the series.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written book that provides many insights into the minds of a group of single Christian women. It is a very charming book that I enjoyed reading a lot.

[Katie Andersen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am finding that I am reading more and more books that are written in the first person POV. I am not sure if I happen to be picking these, or if more are being written, but I am finding they are written so well! Spinstered tackled not only one person in first-person, but THREE characters! I was able to identify in different ways with every main character and that always makes more a more enjoyable read.

I would categorize Spinstered as more realistic and just plain more "real" than most Christian fiction. It doesn't sugar-coat or ignore issues and it isn't all wrapped-up with a bow at the end like most books. This is one reason why I love this book so much. As a single woman, it can get frustrating reading all stories that end happily-ever-after while real life isn't like that. At least mine isn't. I'm not complaining either! I have a good life, I just am single.

Spinstered made me giggle and laugh-out-loud many times throughout! I had so much fun with Catie, Uli and Jolene! It got more serious towards the end, but still had comical moments or thoughts that lightened the mood.

The Christian messages in this book are what makes it so great. It deals with women's emotions and insecurities with Biblical truths. I would say this book is geared to women, especially those who have ever or are dealing with "spinster" type emotions and struggles. It has a component of romance, but is not really a romance book.

The last book I read this compulsively was Dr. Mr. Knightley by Katherine Reay about a year ago and that made my "favorites of 2014" list, so Spinstered is looking good for a top spot in 2015.

I give Spinstered 5 out of 5 stars. It touched my heart and I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this, especially single women!

I received a digital form of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Fiction Aficionado · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly engaging read—and I say that not so much because I was expecting not to enjoy the book, as because I wondered how much I would identify with three women searching for hope (and maybe love) amidst their singleness. As it turned out, I was engaged from the first sentence. First person present tense narrative has never been my favourite, but these characters had such ‘real’ voices that I fell naturally into the story and, despite its sometimes melancholy and troubled characters, thoroughly enjoyed the read.

Catie, Jolene, and Uli share the narrative role fairly evenly throughout the novel (in alternating chapters) but in terms of character growth, Catie is the primary focus in this first novel in the Spinstered series. She’s not literature’s most upbeat character, but there was an honesty and vulnerability to her character that drew me in just the same. And although her situation was different to mine, her struggles were easy to relate to: Where do we look for hope when the rug gets pulled out from under us? Who do we look to for happiness, fulfilment, and a sense of worth?

Jolene’s and Uli’s struggles with singleness both look different to Catie’s, and there is much yet to come in their journeys, but I found that as each new chapter came and moved between the narrators, I was eager to pick up where they had last left off. Not only that, but the story maintained a sense of continuity even while it switched between the women's points-of-view.

While it is obvious that there is more to come in these women’s stories, I didn’t feel as though I had been left hanging at the end of the novel. This was a great read, and I look forward to continuing with these women in the rest of the series.

I received a copy of this novel from the author. This has not influenced the content of my review.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a frustrating book to read – not because it was badly written, but because I think the author has a firm grasp on the struggles of Christian singles and it’s a somewhat depressing state. Spinstered looks at the lives of three singles – Catie (46), Uli (39), and Jolene (I don’t remember her exact age, but she’s mid- to late-30s). Each woman has her own hang-ups as she struggles to justify her faith with her later-in-life singleness.

I struggled to read this book because it broke my heart to know that there are women (and probably men) out there who have the same misunderstanding of God, marriage, and what it means to be happy. I couldn’t put this book down, though, because their stories really grabbed my attention. As a fan of the HEA (happily-ever-after) I would have enjoyed a slightly different ending, but I was also able to rejoice with some of the characters as they finally heard from God. (I’m trying to be very careful about what I say so I don’t spoil the ending!)

Overall, I liked this book. Though it deals with romantic relationships, it’s really not a romance novel – it’s more of a mid-life coming-of-age story. If you’re looking for a Hallmark movie, this isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a more realistic look at the heart of a single Christian female, I would encourage you to pick this up.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Linda Rainey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spinstered the Novel by Sharyn Kopf is the story of three single women , past the age of forty.that depicts their struggles and their walk with the Lord.
It was a nice novel, sad at times, that shows us that we need to place God first in our lives.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed learning about these friends and their lives. I really enjoyed learning about Catie but wish things ended for her better. I'm glad she forgave at the end but the ending felt a bit abrupt to me.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Doherty Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read about so many of the issues Christian women face. Catie is my favorite character because she faces her grief with courage (and family!). I'm hoping for a sequel!