It Doesn't Have to be That Way

by Amy Jo Hawkins

It was a hot, Midwest summer evening in July 1987 when a random outing led them both to the exact same place at the exact same time. The attraction and connection seemed instant and overwhelming and before they knew it, this sixteen and seventeen year old would find themselves at a place where their lives would never be the same.

Amy Jo Hawkins shares the very real and very raw story of this young couple (Luke & Macy) who at young age, begin raising a family while desperately trying to find themselves along the way. Through marrying young, countless trials and ultimately divorce, Luke & Macy defy all odds and discover the true meaning of love & forgiveness.

With divorce as prevalent as it is today, it’s virtually incomprehensible to grasp this truly remarkable story of how It Doesn’t Have to be That Way.

288 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2014

About the author

Amy Jo is from a small town in the west suburbs of St. Louis, MO. She was raised in a modest home attending private school from kindergarten through high school. Life experiences and the people around her are a direct correlation to what shaped her as a woman and ultimately her life’s passion; thus her first book "It Doesn’t Have to be That Way" was born. She still lives in that same small town with her husband and their three adult children where she is also a full-time student working towards a degree to impact and mend couples, building stronger marriages and families alike.