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Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance
She's a newlywed...twenty-four...and desperate to know why she's so unhappy.
Though a country-girl at heart, MaryJo wants to ditch her identity as a Mennonite in marrying Adam and living a life of adventure in Manhattan. But news from home kicks up memories she’d tried to forget. While she begins to question her choices, Adam lands a high-profile job, making a move seem impossible. MaryJo must make peace with her past and her current situation so that she can live the life of her dreams with Adam. But can she reconcile her craving for serenity in the City that Never Sleeps?
"Mennonite on the Edge treats readers to a love story set in two worlds: among the delis and blues bars of New York City, and amid the winding roads and idyllic cornfields of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The struggles and triumphs of MaryJo and Adam are sure to resonate with anyone who has ever tried to balance the claims of love and work, self and other – not to mention anyone who’s ever tasted a really great shoo-fly pie." -- Deborah Yaffe, author of Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom
From the publisher:
Mennonite on the Edge is an authentic portrayal by Mennonite-born author Cynthia Yoder. The novel explores themes of love and marriage, belonging and culture and will appeal to readers of contemporary fiction, chick lit, as well as Christian fiction. Book club questions are included. -- Ragged Sky Press, Princeton
Though a country-girl at heart, MaryJo wants to ditch her identity as a Mennonite in marrying Adam and living a life of adventure in Manhattan. But news from home kicks up memories she’d tried to forget. While she begins to question her choices, Adam lands a high-profile job, making a move seem impossible. MaryJo must make peace with her past and her current situation so that she can live the life of her dreams with Adam. But can she reconcile her craving for serenity in the City that Never Sleeps?
"Mennonite on the Edge treats readers to a love story set in two worlds: among the delis and blues bars of New York City, and amid the winding roads and idyllic cornfields of Pennsylvania Dutch country. The struggles and triumphs of MaryJo and Adam are sure to resonate with anyone who has ever tried to balance the claims of love and work, self and other – not to mention anyone who’s ever tasted a really great shoo-fly pie." -- Deborah Yaffe, author of Among the Janeites: A Journey Through the World of Jane Austen Fandom
From the publisher:
Mennonite on the Edge is an authentic portrayal by Mennonite-born author Cynthia Yoder. The novel explores themes of love and marriage, belonging and culture and will appeal to readers of contemporary fiction, chick lit, as well as Christian fiction. Book club questions are included. -- Ragged Sky Press, Princeton
234 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2015
15 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Cynthia Yoder
4 books189 followersI write (and read!) memoir, essay and some fiction. My first novel, Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance, was published in 2015. My first book, Crazy Quilt: Pieces of a Mennonite Life was one of the first Mennonite memoirs published (in 2003). My second book, Divine Purpose: Find the Passion Within, was inspired by years working as a life purpose coach. The book is a journaling book to help readers discover greater meaning and purpose in work and in life.
I live and work in New Jersey.
I live and work in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 23, 2016
MENNONITE ON THE EDGE by Cynthia Yoder is not your typical Amish story. Mary Jo is 24 years old, a newlywed and is miserable. She agrees to move to New York from her Pennsylvania Dutch roots with her husband Adam. She decides to leave her Mennonite faith and tries to figure out her life.
Mary Jo is struggling with her decisions and decides to leave Adam in New York while she goes back to Pennsylvania for a visit with her family and friends. While she loves Adam deeply she needs to find a way to balance her life and find a way to be happy once again. Her heartache is very believable while reading MENNONITE ON THE EDGE and I found myself holding my breath wondering what was going to happen to this couple.
I really enjoyed reading my first Cynthia Yoder novel. I can easily see her becoming one of my favorite Amish/Mennonite authors. Once I started reading, I was emotionally invested in Adam and Mary Jo's relationship and the troubles they were struggling to overcome. Leaving everything you have ever known for a completely different life can't be easy. I'm sure anyone would struggle with this no matter what their religion is and no matter how much faith they have in their lives. I can not wait to read more by Ms. Yoder.
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
August 31, 2021
Cynthia Yoder has written a terrific coming of age style story that spans a decade post-college and early marriage. MaryJo and Adam marry and move to New York. She ends up leaving the Mennonite church which causes a lot of anxiety in her life. Adam is more easygoing and things don't bother him the same way they bother MaryJo.
A very interesting story with an ending I never saw coming. While it was well written, this style of storytelling is not my cup of tea and so I struggled to stay with the book until the end. The ending made me glad I finished it, but it is not a story style I'd pick in the future. I think other readers will love this story.
A very interesting story with an ending I never saw coming. While it was well written, this style of storytelling is not my cup of tea and so I struggled to stay with the book until the end. The ending made me glad I finished it, but it is not a story style I'd pick in the future. I think other readers will love this story.
January 12, 2016
3.75 Stars
"Mennonite on the Edge" is an interesting book. The book is described by the publisher as a novel exploring "themes of love and marriage, belonging and culture." To me, however, the book reads more like a self-help book disguised as a novel.
Adam and MaryJo are a likable couple in their mid-20s. They are deeply in love, and readers will feel it. They have good friends and family. However, the events that cause MaryJo distress -- wanting to get back to the country, memories of an emotionally abusive boyfriend, her feelings about the Mennonite church and church teaching of the rapture, etc. -- come off as contrived as a way to create some tension between her and Adam. Their relationship is strong enough for those to be things they could have talked about easily between them, as they seem very comfortable sharing most things in their lives.
I would have liked to have given this book more than 3.75 stars. It is well-written and, when mentioned, captures the late '80s/early '90s period with descriptions of music and fashion trends of the period as well as the feel of living in New York.
Despite the average rating, I would love to read more novels by Cynthia Yoder to see how she develops as a novelist. She shows tremendous promise, and I applaud the author's effort in not trying to be a clone of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Marta Perry, Emma Miller or others who write Amish and/or Mennonite fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ragged Sky Press (through NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
"Mennonite on the Edge" is an interesting book. The book is described by the publisher as a novel exploring "themes of love and marriage, belonging and culture." To me, however, the book reads more like a self-help book disguised as a novel.
Adam and MaryJo are a likable couple in their mid-20s. They are deeply in love, and readers will feel it. They have good friends and family. However, the events that cause MaryJo distress -- wanting to get back to the country, memories of an emotionally abusive boyfriend, her feelings about the Mennonite church and church teaching of the rapture, etc. -- come off as contrived as a way to create some tension between her and Adam. Their relationship is strong enough for those to be things they could have talked about easily between them, as they seem very comfortable sharing most things in their lives.
I would have liked to have given this book more than 3.75 stars. It is well-written and, when mentioned, captures the late '80s/early '90s period with descriptions of music and fashion trends of the period as well as the feel of living in New York.
Despite the average rating, I would love to read more novels by Cynthia Yoder to see how she develops as a novelist. She shows tremendous promise, and I applaud the author's effort in not trying to be a clone of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Marta Perry, Emma Miller or others who write Amish and/or Mennonite fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Ragged Sky Press (through NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
April 19, 2016
Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is a very different novel than I typically read. It had a fantastic message and I found myself relating to many of the protagonists adventures and questions regarding life and how it "should" be lived versus how you want to live. Cynthia Yoder tells a marvelous tale of two young newlyweds and their journey to find themselves after leaving a life of religion and structure.
The process of finding who you are is a journey we all take and this novel does a fantastic job asking and answering the questions that usually arise during that journey. Our main protagonists are very relatable characters and we truly see them grow as the novel progresses. Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is the perfect novel for young adults who may be in the midst of their personal journey. I personally found myself highlighting several passages that I felt perfectly summarized my current situation and how I see my journey moving forward. As I stated, this novel is a far cry from my usual reading material, but it is one I am glad I decided to give a go. It is the perfect read for the summer due to the easy page turning story and fantastic message.
http://novelideareviews.blogspot.com/...
The process of finding who you are is a journey we all take and this novel does a fantastic job asking and answering the questions that usually arise during that journey. Our main protagonists are very relatable characters and we truly see them grow as the novel progresses. Mennonite on the Edge: An Unlikely Romance is the perfect novel for young adults who may be in the midst of their personal journey. I personally found myself highlighting several passages that I felt perfectly summarized my current situation and how I see my journey moving forward. As I stated, this novel is a far cry from my usual reading material, but it is one I am glad I decided to give a go. It is the perfect read for the summer due to the easy page turning story and fantastic message.
http://novelideareviews.blogspot.com/...
January 12, 2016
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Mennonite on the EdgeAn Unlikely Romanceby Cynthia Yoder
Ragged Sky Press
Christian, General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date Dec 10, 2015
I was given an arc copy of Mennonite on the Edge by the publisher and there partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
Mary Jo and Adam are in love but are c trying to make a long distant relationship work Mary Jo in Lancaster while Adam is at work in New York. Soon Adam proposes to Mary Jo and she wonders what life would be like for her a Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite. Mary Jo decides to withdraw her membership to the Mennonite Church.
Mary Jo spends her time writing, but she feels a great deal of stress in New York which leads to her drinking and a homesickness for Pennsylvania that eats at her very core.
Mary Jo eventually decides to head back to Lancaster for a visit leaving Adam in New York in Pennsylvania she visits family and continues to write her poetry.
Mennonite on the Edge is the story of a young Mennonite woman discovering her identity.
Four out of five Stars
Happy Reading
Mennonite on the EdgeAn Unlikely Romanceby Cynthia Yoder
Ragged Sky Press
Christian, General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date Dec 10, 2015
I was given an arc copy of Mennonite on the Edge by the publisher and there partnership with Netgalley in exchange for my honest review which is as follows:
Mary Jo and Adam are in love but are c trying to make a long distant relationship work Mary Jo in Lancaster while Adam is at work in New York. Soon Adam proposes to Mary Jo and she wonders what life would be like for her a Pennsylvania Dutch Mennonite. Mary Jo decides to withdraw her membership to the Mennonite Church.
Mary Jo spends her time writing, but she feels a great deal of stress in New York which leads to her drinking and a homesickness for Pennsylvania that eats at her very core.
Mary Jo eventually decides to head back to Lancaster for a visit leaving Adam in New York in Pennsylvania she visits family and continues to write her poetry.
Mennonite on the Edge is the story of a young Mennonite woman discovering her identity.
Four out of five Stars
Happy Reading
January 3, 2016
I was intrigued by this unique title when I purchased "Mennonite on the Edge". As I read the story I knew the author had picked the perfect title, one that described the struggles and heartache the heroine Mary Jo endured once she moved to New York City. Turning away from her Mennonite roots and learning to be a part of New York causes her to look deep inside herself. The subtitle also is very descriptive of this loving romance, which is so touchingly written by the author.
February 18, 2016
This is my second journey into the writing of Cynthia Yoder; "Crazy Quilt" being the first, and the stories she weaves have once again made me feel peaceful and warm. You do not need to be Mennonite to fall in love with either book.
My only complaint on this book would be, with all the talk of ice cream, not once did anyone eat coffee-flavored.
My only complaint on this book would be, with all the talk of ice cream, not once did anyone eat coffee-flavored.
April 21, 2016
Mennonite on the Edge is more than a romance. It does more than tell us about MaryJo's relationship with her husband and how they came to be, exclusively focusing on their ups and downs as a couple. It tells the story of a young woman that grew up in the country, in a community with which she couldn’t completely identify with.
The story leads us to New York, where the newlywed couple, MaryJo and Adam, set off to start their new lives, away from the country and away from their friends and families. This is where our heroine finds herself struggling with the everyday life as a New Yorker, something that, as you may guess, is very different than the day to day life in the country. I can see a country girl living in such a crowded, commercialized, over populated, always speeding city having some problems adapting. Add to the mix that this particular girl grew up in a Mennonite community (think Amish, but without the complete separation from modern society) and you’re bound to have a way harder time of it.
MaryJo came off as incredibly fragile at times, but she also wanted to fight said fragility and be her own person. She didn’t want to depend on her husband, something her religion always taught as completely natural and yet it made her feel lost in the world and in her own relationship with Adam. So she fought it without knowing how. Things from her past keep popping up and filling her head with depressing memories she was never able to let fully go. And so she lets us in on her constant inner battle against depression, against the memories and the heavy weight of bleakness that she sees as her future, always following her husband in the pursuit of his dreams while never quite achieving hers.
Through it all though, she has some constant rays of sunshine that drag her away from the negativity in her life. Her husband is a rock, constantly supporting her, always understanding and never resenting her need for space, for questioning certain decisions in her life as to whether she’s on the right path or not, or simply her need for more. More of MaryJo and a little less of Adam’s wife. I loved her entourage, her friends have their own battles and even so, they take the time to be there for her during her times of need, much as I assume she’d do for them. Her family is a pillar she can always count on, as was demonstrated during her journey home .
Needless to say the author did an amazing job at making you compelled by the story. You can read and read without getting tired, wanting to know if our MaryJo will pull through without damaging her relationship with the love of her life in the process.
It's a great read and I'll most definitely be looking forward to reading more books from this author.
The story leads us to New York, where the newlywed couple, MaryJo and Adam, set off to start their new lives, away from the country and away from their friends and families. This is where our heroine finds herself struggling with the everyday life as a New Yorker, something that, as you may guess, is very different than the day to day life in the country. I can see a country girl living in such a crowded, commercialized, over populated, always speeding city having some problems adapting. Add to the mix that this particular girl grew up in a Mennonite community (think Amish, but without the complete separation from modern society) and you’re bound to have a way harder time of it.
MaryJo came off as incredibly fragile at times, but she also wanted to fight said fragility and be her own person. She didn’t want to depend on her husband, something her religion always taught as completely natural and yet it made her feel lost in the world and in her own relationship with Adam. So she fought it without knowing how. Things from her past keep popping up and filling her head with depressing memories she was never able to let fully go. And so she lets us in on her constant inner battle against depression, against the memories and the heavy weight of bleakness that she sees as her future, always following her husband in the pursuit of his dreams while never quite achieving hers.
Through it all though, she has some constant rays of sunshine that drag her away from the negativity in her life. Her husband is a rock, constantly supporting her, always understanding and never resenting her need for space, for questioning certain decisions in her life as to whether she’s on the right path or not, or simply her need for more. More of MaryJo and a little less of Adam’s wife. I loved her entourage, her friends have their own battles and even so, they take the time to be there for her during her times of need, much as I assume she’d do for them. Her family is a pillar she can always count on, as was demonstrated during her journey home .
Needless to say the author did an amazing job at making you compelled by the story. You can read and read without getting tired, wanting to know if our MaryJo will pull through without damaging her relationship with the love of her life in the process.
It's a great read and I'll most definitely be looking forward to reading more books from this author.
January 18, 2016
This is not your average Amish/Mennonite fiction. In fact, MaryJo wants to leave behind her Mennonite roots and discover adventure. While she does discover quite a bit of adventure, she is not happy.
This book was well-written but it just did not completely capture my rapt attention. I felt that the past issues did not seem to be fully explained or dealt with by MaryJo. It did speak clearly to me though that the highly restricted environment of the Mennonite faith leaves many young people confused and desiring more from life. MaryJo tries desperately to love New York but she misses the tranquility of her home in Pennsylvania. This book did not fully address issues to my thinking and left me feeling confused and needing more detail in many places.
I rated this book 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book was well-written but it just did not completely capture my rapt attention. I felt that the past issues did not seem to be fully explained or dealt with by MaryJo. It did speak clearly to me though that the highly restricted environment of the Mennonite faith leaves many young people confused and desiring more from life. MaryJo tries desperately to love New York but she misses the tranquility of her home in Pennsylvania. This book did not fully address issues to my thinking and left me feeling confused and needing more detail in many places.
I rated this book 3 stars.
I received a copy of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
May 6, 2016
I read Mennonite on the Edge over the space of two months simply because I had a lot on my plate. This story revolves around MaryJo who is married to the love of her life and moves to New York, away from the Mennonite community she was born and raised in. In New York, she meets some interesting people who brighten her world and that of her husband. Before long she becomes uneasy and unhappy with New York. Questions arise in Mary Jo's mind. Is she happy? Is she supposed to be married to this man? Has she lost herself in this move to New York? Can she find herself?
Even though the story started slowly, I enjoyed reading it simply because it highlights the silent struggles women cope with, in order to stay married and appear happy.
A very good and relatable book. Also highly recommended.
Even though the story started slowly, I enjoyed reading it simply because it highlights the silent struggles women cope with, in order to stay married and appear happy.
A very good and relatable book. Also highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews