The Chance

by Karen Kingsbury

Ellie and Nolan sat beneath an ancient oak tree where they wrote letters to each other. The plan was to return 11 years later and read them. But as that date arrives, much has changed. Ellie is a single mom trying to make ends meet. Sometimes she watches television to catch a glimpse of her old friend, Nolan, now an NBA star.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Romance, Christian Romance, Contemporary, Book Club

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 5, 2013

About the author

Karen Kingsbury, #1 New York Times bestselling novelist, is America’s favorite inspirational storyteller, with more than twenty-five million copies of her award-winning books in print. Her last dozen titles have topped bestseller lists and many of her novels are under development with Hallmark Films and as major motion pictures. Her Baxter Family books are being developed into a TV series slated for major network viewing sometime in the next year. Karen is also an adjunct professor of writing at Liberty University. In 2001 she and her husband, Don, adopted three boys from Haiti, doubling their family in a matter of months. Today the couple has joined the ranks of empty nesters, living in Tennessee near five of their adult children.

See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/K...

Reviews

[cocktailsatfive · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read just about every book by Karen Kingsbury with the exception of the Bailey Flanigan series and some of the Fame and Firstborn series (she wrote so much about the Baxter family that I had started to grow sick of them especially when she started throwing the whole Hollywood thing in).

Her earlier works, however, are some of the best Christian fiction I've ever read. In fact, Karen was the first Christian author I started reading. At the time, I was going through a rough patch and my mom gave me one of her books which really helped me through things and I've been hooked ever since. But that was back when her books really were "life changing fiction," as she calls them. Lately, her books aren't very life changing at all. They don't seem to move me the way they used to. Her earlier books were all about real people -- pilots, teachers, lawyers -- all going through real problems that I could identify with. But now her books are all about famous people -- actors, NBA players, NFL players, and singers. It makes me question what the author's angle is with all this celebrity obsession. I know she's had at least one book that was turned into a movie and it almost feels like maybe that's the angle -- wanting to get more of her books made into movies like a lot of other mainstream authors we've been seeing.

All I know, is that there is a definite difference between the quality books she used to write and the unrealistic syrupy plots she's writing now. Whereas once I used to be moved to tears by her writing, I now find myself skimming her over the top flowery prose. I also think perhaps even the plots might somehow be getting recycled because it seems like each storyline is achingly familiar -- boy meets girl, boy gets separated from girl, boy finally finds girl again and they live happily ever after. At least she's been changing up the Bible verses and using different Scriptures to help illustrate the different lessons a character is learning, which is great, but I just don't think it's enough anymore. This romanticized version of her writing is just getting too hard to stomach. Which is a shame because she really has so much talent and it just pains me to even write this.

In closing, while nowhere near the caliber of books she used to write, The Chance is still better than a lot of what she's published lately. I just wish she'd get back to her roots and leave all this false sweetness, tired plot formula, and celebrity stuff behind.

[Joanna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it difficult to believe a 26 year-old NBA player would still be carrying a torch for a girl he hadn't seen since both he and she were 15. Difficult to believe, also, was the story of the husband kicking his wife out of the house for coming home pregnant with another man's child, yet this husband never initiated the divorce process during those 11 long years. WTH? Surely, none of the above mentioned ridiculous plot points in this unbelievable book happen in real life, right? Right??? Gag me.

[Cheryl Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah, the second chance. Why is it that novels that stress that theme just seem to resonate for so many of us? Maybe it’s because we all know that we need them, right- a second chance, or in my case, third and fourth chances as well. You know what I mean- a second chance on a relationship that you thought was long over, or a chance to have a do-over on a job you messed up pretty well the first time. We are human, we are fallible and we all need a second chance. So if you take the concept of the second chance, throw in a large measure of forgiveness, grace and faith in God, you have the story line for The Chance - Karen Kingsbury’s latest offering from Howard Books.

As the novel opens we meet the 2 main characters Nolan Cook and Ellie Tucker living in Savannah, Georgia-. Two 15 year old best friends, on the verge of being something more, are torn apart by the broken relationship of Ellies’ parents Alan and Caroline. Because of this broken relationship, Alan takes Ellie away to San Diego to a new job and what he is hoping for is a new life away from his wife. That doesn’t go so well as when we try to run away, our troubles usually follow us. On the night before Ellie is whisked away from Nolan and her mother, Nolan and Ellie meet in the park, their usual place to go and talk and decide to write each other a letter telling each other how they really feel about one another and bury it in an old tackle box. The plan was to return in 11 years, dig up the box and read what the other person wrote. Neither one thought that they would be separated from each other for that time period. Even with Ellie’s move, they could write each other, call each other, etc. Unfortunately through some unforeseen circumstances, they were separated for that long, but still in the back of their minds was returning to that tree as promised all those years ago.

Their lives each took very different directions- Nolan’s in the world of professional basketball living out the dream he had had for himself for many, many years. And Ellie, her journey was the complete opposite- she didn’t reach the dreams that she had for herself, which included writing the perfect novel and being a part of Nolan’s life. His faith had grown, hers had shrunk. How could this work out?

This story, as most of Karen Kingsbury’s stories do, resonated with me. I love the second chance- the beauty from ashes story lines. They just always make me want to stand up and cheer. This one did as well. The heart string pull was pretty strong for me and I appreciated the journey this novel takes you on. When God is allowed in the middle of relationships, there is forgiveness, grace and restoration. And this is portrayed beautifully in several of the story lines. So if you feel like reading a novel that makes you stand up and cheer both at the basketball portions as well as the relationship journeys, I recommend you pick up Karen Kingsbury’s novel The Chance.

4 stars

I was provided a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Kami Reeve · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. I try to support and encourage writers who write clean, uplifting literature. But I really didn't like this one. The trite way she wrapped up all the family issues at the end just wasn't believable. I picked it up because I enjoyed reading The Bridge last December. Perhaps she'll do better next time.

[Lacey Yoder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!! Karen Kingsbury has a way of writing that just captivates me. I love the storyline and especially the characters in the book !!! 🥹
5 ⭐️ definitely recommend!!! This book was so good.😊♥️ All so just want to thank my dear friend Ashley for recommending this
Book to me!!!☺️

[Gina Diubaldo pesca · Rating 1 out of 5]

The "Christianity" in this book felt fake and forced. I didn't realize it was a Christian novel. I'm a Catholic and I try not to shove religion down anyone's throat. I will be sure to preview more carefully next time. This whole story felt untrue - much more so than bible parables...

[Donna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up at the library the other day. The jacket description sounded intriguing, so I thought I'd give it a try. I had never read Karen Kingsbury's work however, I recognized the name but didn't associate her with Christian literature. Christian literature is not a genre that I normally read, but if a book is well-written, I have no problem reading the genre. This book clearly demonstrates why I tend not to read Christian lit.

SPOILERS

There is no characterization for any of the characters. There was nothing to help me connect to any of the four main characters. The urge to shake or smack Ellie and Caroline was very intense. If this book had been set around the turn of the 19th/20th century where most women were truly dependent on men, I would have been able to understand the inability to stand up for, take care of, and require the approval of a man. But it wasn't. The book starts in 2002. These two females were just plain stupid. And I don't use this word lightly.

When her husband moved out of state with their daughter, Caroline didn't think (after at least 16 years of being a military spouse) to call Alan's supervisor, commanding officer, or the base legal office for assistance. How about going to a non-military legal assistance office in town? Or, drive to the base, go to his unit and talk to someone. Oddly enough, in general, the military is actually good about taking care of dependents. Oh, I forgot, because she is pregnant with another man's child, she can't possibly have any claim to her 15 year old daughter. Stupid.

I would have given Ellie a little more leeway because of her age however, her choices were just as idiotic. She doesn't know the cost of a stamp to send a letter? She can't get away from her father to call her mother at work from a pay phone. She lives on a huge military base in a big city. She is not with her father 24/7. He works all the time, which is what lead to this mess in the first place. How about e-mail? It is 2002, not 1902. Computers are available at libraries, the base rec center, school.

Once she graduated high school, why didn't she go to college? She didn't get pregnant while in high school. California has a great community college system. There are scholarships and financial assistance. Or a job. So many women are single mothers and manage school, job, and child. Oh, I forgot, Ellie has to have a man in her life or she can't function.

Nolan. If the investigator he hired told him that Ellie may have changed her name, yet same so-called investigator didn't bother to look in the public records for a name change, Nolan needed to get his money back.

Now, let's talk about blatant plot dissonance:

Ms. Kingsbury, obviously, has never been connected to the military in any way, shape or form. Military personnel cannot accept a permanent change of station (PCS) on a Friday night and leave on Sunday morning. CANNOT HAPPEN. They must have orders to PCS. These have to be cut by the personnel office. The personnel office, or any other non mission-essential office, is not open on the weekend. They open Monday at 0700 or 0730. Orders are not processed in a day, even in a rush situation, which this would not have been classified as since he was a drill instructor!

Then the military member must complete what is known as out-processing. That means taking multiple copies of their orders and a check list (which on a large base can be pages long) to innumerable base agencies upon which each agency must sign the checklist to affirm that the military member and dependents are free from any obligations to that agency. This would include the commissary, bx/px, library, MWR, etc. There are also specific miltary units that the member would have to clear as well. Then there is the base hospital or clinic. You have to take your paperwork there to have your, and your dependents, medical/dental records forwarded to the new duty station. Also, the member must go to TMO to arrange to have their household goods picked up and transported to the new duty station. Out processing is rarely accomplished in a day, particularly at a larger base. I could go on for pages about what it takes to make a military move, but I will stop here.

If Ms. Kingsbury had made a quick call to her nearest military base public relations office, explained she was writing a book and asked a couple of questions about PCSing, she would have had a very different book. One that actually made sense.

I am very confused about the affair between Caroline and Peyton. We are told that Caroline comes home late all the time. When the book begins, we are told it is the third time that week. Yet, later, we are told that they talked on the phone for two years before consummating the relationship. This is when she gets pregnant. Peyton then leaves Savannah to return home or go back on tour. So, the beginning of the book is a few weeks/months after the hotel incident? Then why is Caroline coming home late? Phone calls to the guy who dumped her as soon as she told him she was pregnant? Why was she calling from work? Alan stayed at the base M-F. Call from home, or have your own pay-as-you-go cell phone (they existed in 2002). So much of this "affair" contradicts itself or is inconsistent.

The other inconsistency that drove me nuts was: are Nolan and Ellie both 15 and starting their freshman year. On page 24, Alan states that Ellie attend Savannah High yet on page 53 Nolan asserts that he had been working on being a freshman on the varsity team since he was in the sixth grade. Is he is a 15 1/2 year old freshman? (we know his 16th birthday is later that school year) Most students are 14 and turn 15 at some point during their freshman year. Inconsistencies.

The entire story was implausible. The writing was puerile. The plot was predictable Much was repetitive. It needed a good editor as it was at least 100 pages too long. The characters needed fleshing out. Not one of the characters was believable. I ended up skimming the last 60 pages just to get finished.

If this is any indication of the other books Ms. Kingsbury has written, I fail to see how she has become as popular as she appears to be? Do those who rate and review her books actually read them? Or are they just like Caroline and Ellie?

[Karen J · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Karen Kingsbury you did it again…love this story and the characters!

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tender story of loss and love, of forgiveness and second chances, Karen Kingsbury has woven a moving tale in "The Chance ", one that brought tears to my eyes more than once. The characters are beautifully developed and their interwoven stories are soul-stirring, as they deal with heart-ache and shame and the messy reality of being human and making mistakes. But they also point towards the power of God to take what is broken and to breathe new life. While I enjoyed getting to know the main characters Ellie and Nolan, my favorite character was Ellie`s precious daughter Kinzie, a young girl who had an intuitive grasp on life, a belief that Jesus is good and his love is enough for us all. Like Karen`s other novels, I love how the characters hear God`s voice speaking clearly to them, such as prompting them to pray. It`s a beautiful portrayal of God`s loving heart and how he is still in the business of orchestrating the events around us. Probably more than any other book Karen has written, this novel portrays that truth that though the evil one sets out to destroy us and keep us mired in despair, God is bigger and stronger and loving, and shines light into the darkness. "The Chance" illustrates the tremendous power of forgiveness, not just for the one who needs forgiving, but for the one who was wronged. Ellie says it best when she teaches Kinzie that "As soon as you forgive, you're free!" There is power in those words, indeed. The ending is definitely inspiring, and though things may get wrapped up a bit too neatly for some readers, it's hard to argue with a happy ending!

Sure to appeal to her faithful fans as well as acquire a host of new ones, "The Chance" finds Karen Kingsbury still the master of "Life-Changing Fiction". I award this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.


Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Howard Books (Simon & Schuster Canada), for the purposes of this unbiased review

[A. R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow...I'm not sure where to begin. If you want to read a book about emotional self-flagellation - this is your book! It was page after page of "what an awful person am I" being sung by all but one of the main characters. I literally had to push myself through to the end. "The Chance" was hardly the uplifting read I expected from Christian Lit.

I think perhaps, Karen Kingsbury needs to take a break and revamp. The Bailey Flannigan series was the first indication...and this is it's follow up. I found none of the compelling characters in this book that I have found in her previous works. With the exception of Peyton Anders(who is more a passing thought, a vehicle to sensationalize the story) I found all the characters to be pretty one dimensional.

And as much as I love a good romance, I could never suspend my belief long enough to buy into Ellie and Nolan's attachment. Seriously? Two 15 year-olds who are separated for 11 years still moon and pine over each other? And when they come together again, they immediately fall right back into the dreams they had as 8th graders? (and a note for Kingsbury...most 8th graders are 13 turning 14...her characters should have already been in high school.)

I think perhaps I have purchased my last Kingsbury book. I am disappointed with the superficial treatment of flawed personalities. I am discouraged by her simplistic idea of repentance. And I am really tired of worn out phrases like, 'my happily-ever-after in Jesus' or 'they threw accusations at each other like so many bricks...or like so many bullets...or like so many (fill in the blank).

Next time I want a Christian Lit fix, I think I'll look up another Francine Rivers book.

[Lindsay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is where I wish I could give a 3.5 star rating. I enjoyed the book. To me, it read like a Hallmark Movie. In fairness, it has a similar tone and feel to her other books. That's not a bad thing! I really enjoy them. I love the message of Christianity that she portrays through her characters. I just can't rate it any higher because sometimes it comes together a little too nicely, and I don't always find that realistic.

[Donna Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Reminded me how faithful God truly is.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chance by Karen Kingsbury
Ellie Tucker learns that her father wants her mother to leave because she's pregnant with the other man's child. She leaves the house in search of her best friend, Nolan Cook who's playing ball at the high school.
Her father tried to stop her by telling her to go to her room and pray to God and that some things just weren't meant for a teen to hear-that she couldn't comprehend it all.. We also learn of the mother's side...
Love the idea of when they said goodbye to one another, their memories will remain, their one last chance...
After she moved she was not able to contact Nolan and they both prayed that it would all work out. He continued concentrating on his basketball games.
Nolan's dad convinced him that with faith you could do anything, even play in the NBA.
He tried many times to find her and had never gotten a letter or another phone call from her since she moved. After he signed with a college basketball team he spent money hiring a PI to find her, who also came up with nothing.
He started dating and he had faith he would find her again. They had that one last chance also if all else failed.
Her life did not go as planned but she made the most of it...
She still planned to be at the park in her old hometown on June 1 so she could dig up the memories they had each left...
She figured Nolan would be too busy to do that.
Love the reference to The Bridge Bookstore in Franklin-awesome book to read about that.
Caroline Tucker's story is also followed as others hope to follow what happened once she left her daughter Ellie and husband Allan to have Peyton Anders baby, by herself. As a country singer Peyton has to do some promo and give back and he selected to help a kids wish to go to a Hawks game, and he can make that happen. Caroline had also written to her daughter every week sending them to her ex mother in law. She never heard back from anybody and she prayed Ellie would get them.
Alan Tucker's story is also followed as he is the guard at a brig on the west coast. He thinks of his daughter also as she's not living there with him any longer and the roads she took...He also thinks he should've stuck with his wife and prayed more to God.
Many scriptures are quoted to help explain the story to the one asking for God's help.
Added bonus of an excerpt from 'Fifteen Minutes'
1451647034

[Lisa B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts:

......with God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26


This was a very nice read. Clean, uplifting and touching. A nice story about having faith and not giving up hope, even when things seem dark. A few thoughts came to mind when I read this. First, learn to live life in God’s time (meaning - be patient Lisa). Also, that having faith doesn’t mean bad things won’t happen. It means we should use our faith to get through the difficult times. This story shared a nice message about all of this.


Thank you very much to Howard Books and Netgalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an unbiased review.


Publish date: March 5, 2013.

[Isa_correia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Estive bastante indecisa sobre qual a pontuação a dar a este livro... só não tem 5 estrelas pois acho que a autora deu demasiada enface a Deus e á fé.Não fosse isso e teria 5 estrelas garantidamente, assim é um 4,5!

[Lyndsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a beautiful read! I LOVE karen kingsbury! This book was another beautiful & unique story! A reminder of a child faith, and how we all truly need to have faith like that!

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another blockbuster literary event from Karen Kingsbury! I always feel like making popcorn before settling into one of her books because it's like watching a movie rather than just reading. That might have something to do with the fact that I listened to the audio book read by January Lavoy. Honestly, that woman could read the phone book and I'd be riveted. She has an uncanny ability to create identifiable voices for each character with just a subtle shift of tone. It's truly amazing! And addictive. I binged listened to The Chance because the combination of Lavoy's dulcet tones and Kingsbury's stellar storytelling was irresistable.

This is classic Kingsbury. Told from multiple points of view, she depicts real life struggles with a twist of grace. Ellie and Nolan's love story is also a God love story. I am thrilled at the way this author celebrates faith in her novels. Lots of tears shed -- from heartache and from joy as the author deftly weaves diverse plot threads into an inspirational tale of love and loss and second chances.

[Lori Tremain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book by its name. Everyone deserves forgiveness and another chance. A husband who starts to control his family by yelling religious quotes but not in a spiritual way but a degrading one. Thee family splits when the wife strays from her torn marriage. There daughter, Ellie, seemed to be the one who is most affected. She is pulled out of school, condemned by her dad, preached at, shown no emotional love by her father, moved to San Diego, torn away from her mother and her best friend. Ellie and her best friend Nolan make a pact to meet again 11 years from their last day together. But God who works in mysterious ways brings many things together for those who believe and even in one's who stray but have loved ones pray got them. Open your heart to God so you can hear him.

[Kaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m buzzing after finishing this book. It’s all about Gods life changing grace and how He creates a way when there is no way! He changes hearts and lives and what a great story to show it. I thought it was slow at first but then I realized it’s been too long since I read a good fiction and it takes time to develop a connection to characters - I wouldn’t have DEVOURED the last chapters like I did to see how things turned out for my girl Ellie and her man Nolan and her parents Caroline & Alan had Karen not developed those characters in the beginning. So much grace and mercy in this story. I connected to all the characters on different levels. Can’t say enough good things!

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, I love this book!
It was so beautiful. So achingly beautiful. With Nolan, and Ellie, and Alan, and Caroline, and Kinzie, and everyone. They were all so beautiful, so perfectly broken and wonderful.
I loved it. The entire book. The sorrow, the joy. Oh, how my heart ached for the characters. I love feeling the stories when I read books and I definitely felt this one. I hope you enjoy my heart, Karen Kingsbury, because I have a feeling I won't be getting it back. You better believe I'm reading more of your books.

[Denia Books & Baubles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the story of this book. It was really beautiiful. please give it a try.

[Hannah Veenstra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I forgot how much I loved Karen Kingsbury 😭 sometimes I have trouble reading Christian based books like this because they just feel a little cheesy, but Kingsbury actually writes about things that can happen in everyday people’s lives and massive struggles that many people live through.

This book is no exception, by 20 pages in I could already tell I related to this book (sadly), but that made it all the better to read. And the fact that there are still love stories in it that aren’t surface level are amazing. Ellie coming back to her faith after so long was such a great reminder that it doesn’t matter where we are or what we’ve done, God always has a place for us and will always show Himself to us if we are receptive to hearing it.

10/10 recommend this book and now I’m ready to read more from her.

[Haley St John · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 round to 4 ⭐️

This was my first Christian fiction book I’ve ever read and it was so good! Honestly better than I was expecting. While the romance is a good part of the plot I would definitely classify this more closely as Christian Fiction. I really loved the entire book right up until the last 20/30 pages. I thought the end was super rushed and super super unrealistic. I think the emotional depth of all the hardships that happened should’ve been played out more in the ending and maybe been like 50 pages longer to get that content in there. It just felt very rushed. Overall though I would definitely recommend!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the faith aspect of the book a little cheesy and some parts of the storyline seemed improbable, but I still did not want to put it down! It had me in tears several times and any book that can bring out that kind of emotion in me is an automatic 5 stars for me!

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful in it's own way. Left me feeling very peaceful and will look for more from this author.

[Leonie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prachtig!

[Marisol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of Kingsbury’s novels that I read. I found it so inspirational. Nolan’s faith was so unwavering through everything, beyond inspiring. There’s a deep and important lesson in this novel about the importance of family, forgiveness, and prayer!

[Mandy Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story itself is decent in my opinion, but the main point of the books plot, literally what the book is about, doesn’t happen until the END of the book. And that was frustrating and made the book feel like it dragged on for me.

[Vicki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nolan, a basketball player, and Ellie, each 14, have been best friends for since grade school. Unfortunately her family is falling apart and in the blink of an eye, she and her Dad are moving to San Diego. They have a tree they go sit under to talk, so when Ellie tells him the news Nolan decides they need to write what they feel for each other, put it in a tackle box, and bury it beneath the tree. In 11 years, no matter where they are, they will meet under the tree to dig up the box and read what the other wrote. Nolan goes on to become a rich NBA player and has searched for Ellie for years to no avail. She, on the other hand, has made some mistakes and thinks Nolan would not like her for them.
I have to say, I have never read one of Karen Kingsbury's books before. I had a chance to review this for NetGalley and was quite excited to finally read one. Well this was obviously not the one I should have started with. I felt the plot was so unbelievable that it just fell flat with me. As someone else mentions, why does someone always have to be rich and famous? And being rich and famous, he is going to wait for who knows how long, 11 yrs?, to wait for Ellie? Had it been 4 yrs, whatever, I may have been more inclined to believe it but as it was it just did not work for me. With all the great reviews on other books am sure I will give her books a try again but I hope they all aren't as unbelievable as this plot was.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing Karen Kingsbury novel! Heartwrenching and yet heartwarming The Chance is a love story that lasts through the years as two teens are separated through a long distance move but whose love for each other doesn't end. On their last night together they write a letter telling each other how they feel. Unread they place the letters in a tin box and bury it underneath a tree at their favorite place in the park promising to meet in eleven years to open the box and read the letters.

Elle and Nolan's lives turn out very different yet they never stopped loving each other. Elle's father manages to keep all correspondence hidden and she believes her beloved Nolan has forgotten about her as well as the mother she loves and needs. Nolan goes on to fame and Elle is embarrassed by how her life has turned out. This is the story of how their love for each other doesn't change but circumstances do. Elle must overcome an abusive relationship, anger and bitterness.

A beautiful love story that shows how God works even when we don't think He is. Kingsbury has such an amazing talent! Loved loved loved this book!!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.