In My Own Way

by Kathy Buchanan

In My Own Way is the eighth book in a series that travels alongside four friends as they deal with teen life in Riverbend, Indiana. This novel inspires young women to deepen their relationships with God as they face real-life issues and solve their problems in God-honoring ways.

“There is a certain expectation for how characters look, don’t you agree? Why do casting directors start with headshots?”

Amelia Bryan has heard it before. Of course. Doesn’t the pretty girl always win?

But there may yet be some surprises in store for Amelia. The summer is behind her . . . just a bad dream she’s trying hard to forget. She has the kindness of her friends, the guidance of God. And then there is that sweet note from the nice boy she met at theater camp.

Chin up, Amelia. You can do this. Your way.

Today’s girls can relate to Amelia’s struggles with appearance and identity. Amelia frequently compares herself to others at school and in her community and feels like she doesn’t quite measure up to the perfect standard that is expected of her. The Riverbend Friends series addresses these topics from a healthy Christian perspective and helps parents have important conversations about tough topics with their teens.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Christian

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2024

Reviews

[Lucy Marijane · Rating 4 out of 5]

In My Own Way was a bit slow, but overall, it had a good message. I am glad that the secrets were not kept from the reader until the very end of the story.

Real, not perfect: 8.5/10
Searching for Normal: 7.5/10
The Me You See: 8.3/10
Chasing the Spotlight: 6/10
Life in the Middle: 8.5/10
Heart of Belonging: 6.5/10
Running on Empty: 9/10
In My Own Way: 7.5/10

The Riverbend Friends series has great messages for Christian teens. Some of the subjects mentioned are a bit touchier, but they are things that need to be talked about.

[Brandi Holloway · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received this ARC, I did not realize it was the eight book in a series. That being said, I took the time to read the first 7 before reading this one. What an amazing series!! I can not recommend this series enough. In My Own Way by Kathy Buchanan was a solid 5-star read for me.

Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jennie Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great series for teens! And this one, in my opinion, is one of the best. Amelia goes through a lot and learns a lot in this story, but she really shines through in the end. And her friends really help her out!
Definitely worth reading!!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance e-copy of this book! All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

[Kendi Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

In My Own Way was a good end to the Riverbend Friend series. The first book about Amelia (#4) was my least favorite book of the series because it dealt more with her interests than any actual social issues. That being said, this book was very good and it dealt with many challenging topics that the other book about Amelia failed to show. This book was a solid read and improved upon the first!