A Promise Is Forever

Christy Miller #12

by Robin Jones Gunn

Christy is going to Europe! It’s a three-week outreach trip with Doug, Katie, and Tracy. First stop is London for some sightseeing, and then on to a castle in the English countryside for group training. Christy is so excited to be headed for Belfast with her friends. Their roommate, Sierra Jensen, adds lots of energy to their late night conversations along with Katie. Why is it that Tracy seems to be avoiding the merriment? Or is it Christy that she's avoiding?

The tension grows and Christy must evaluate her closest relationships. In her heart she knows she's been untrue to herself and also to one of the greatest guys she's ever known. Difficult conversations follow and it seems everything has been made right.

That is, until all the plans go topsy-turvy at the last minute and Christy must face her fears. Will she be able to take on the challenge even when she can’t foresee the end result? If she can go the distance and trust God more than ever before, Christy will discover that a promise really can last forever.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Christian, Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Teen

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

ROBIN JONES GUNN has written more than 100 books with over 6.5 million copies sold worldwide. Her Father Christmas books have been made into three Hallmark Christmas movies. The timeless Christy Miller series now continues in Christy & Todd: The College Years, Married Years, Baby Years, and the Haven Maker series. Robin's novels and non-fiction works include Before Your Tween Daughter Becomes a Woman, Victim of Grace, Praying for Your Future Husband, and Before You Meet Your Future Husband co-authored with Tricia Goyer. Her books have received multiple awards and are a favorite with book clubs and study groups. Many of Robin's books are in eBook, audiobook, large print, and foreign editions. Robin does a weekly Podcast called "Women Worth Knowing" with Cheryl Brodersen. Robin and her husband have a grown son and daughter and live in California.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are questions at the end of the review that I need your help with, dear reader.

The grand finale of the Christy Miller series. It was not grand. o.O

It wasn't good, plot-wise. It's disjointed, there are just a bunch of little plots smashed together, and it focuses a lot on "Musical Boyfriends" and "girls who are friends get in a fight" drama. No me gusta.

Christy, her new boyfriend Doug, Katie, and Tracy are going on a mission trip to London. There's tons and tons of "Ooh, this is British" in the book. I just ignored it.

Then there's a lame plot of Katie and Tracy kind-of-fighting for no reason. Boring.

Then there's the fact that Christy's with Doug even though she still loves Todd, and Doug and Tracy are secretly in love with each other. What's that? A love octagon, or something?

At the end, Doug and Tracy are together, and Christy and Todd are together. Duh. We've known this would happen from the beginning.

HERE ARE THE BAD PARTS.
1.) Doug is the type of guy who can't tell his friends from his girlfriend. He's made a vow never to kiss until his wedding day, and he treats Christy exactly as he treats his friends. What makes him Boyfriend? Darned if I know. People in the book are always shocked they're a couple, because Christy is indistinguishable from his other friends. Also, I feel he talks down to Christy, the little woman that he has to guide and shape. It annoys Christy, and it annoys me.

2.) Apologizing. This book was full of people apologizing for no reason. Katie apologizes basically for existing. I like Katie and I'm sad that everyone makes her feel so ashamed just because she's a loud, enthusiastic person. THEN, Doug turns to Christy in church one day and says, "I haven't been honoring you properly." Christy's baffled, I'm baffled. I mean, the guy refuses to even kiss her (at least Todd kissed her). What could he possibly do to dishonor her? Later we find out he's been feeling love feelings for Tracy, but of course not acting on them in any way, not even talking about them. I feel like these people are creating problems for themselves because they need some excitement in their lives, or something.

3.) Doug says to Christy: ""When something is unattainable, sometimes that makes a guy want it so much that he thinks he can't rest until he conquers it." He's talking about HER. Oh, great. She's an object now? An 'it?' Something he wants to "conquer" but once he has "it" he realizes he doesn't want "it" and wants Tracy instead? What a bunch of crap.

4.) "Kneel," she suddenly said, turning toward Doug and startling him. "Kneel!"
He slowly obliged, giving her a confused look as he went down beside her on one knee. If this were ANY OTHER novel I would be excited about this sudden development. Christy has not only grown a spine, but she wants to take over earth and is ordering people to kneel before her? And they obey?!?!?! However, I know Christy too well by this point to think anything fun will happen. o.O Christy knights Doug as Sir Honesty and sends him off to find Tracy. I'M NOT JOKING SHE REALLY DOES.

5.) All this "men have to be the initiators, women have to be the responders" garbage. Do you know why Doug and Tracy broke up? Because she wrote him a poem. It's a sweet little poem, not weird or anything. But apparently it's TOO BOLD and TOO FORWARD to write your boyfriend (who refuses to even kiss you, by the way) a poem. What a slutty thing to do. That little hussy. Only evil, non-Christian girls would DARE right poetry to a man! *rolls eyes What the f*** is this s***? Do people actually, somewhere in the world, buy into this crap!?!? It boggles the mind. My mind is boggled. Of course, he breaks up with her right away, and sets his sights on Christy, the unattainable "thing" that he wants to "conquer." Blergh!

6.) Christy's dad saying to her: "Chirstina, I know you'll be wearing white on that day (your wedding day). I'll never be able to tell you how proud I am of you."
Do you know what I hear when he says that? "You are valuable because you are untouched. If you have sex or do sexual stuff with a boy, you are dirty, damaged, and not worth my love."
Way to go, Dad. Great message there.

QUESTIONS:
I need some help with these questions! If you know/have a theory about the answer, please chime in. NO KNOWLEDGE OF THE BOOK IS NECESSARY.

1.) Merja - Finnish girl's name. How do you pronounce this? A minor character in the book, it annoyed me that I didn't know how to say this in my head.

2.) Katie keeps saying over and over in these books: "God is weird, and we are tweaked." For the life of me I can't figure out if "tweaked" is a polite way to say screwed/f*cked or if she means that humans are bent in some way? But what would that have to do with God being weird? I'm just so confused. Has anyone heard this phrase before? Any idea of what she's trying to convey here? It's used repeatedly and never explained.

[Hannah Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay, yeah. easy 5 stars. everything about this book was so good!

[Natasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was really good to finally get my hands on the final book of the Christy Miller series! This one was really good- perhaps one of the best book of the series! Maybe it's because Christy is more mature, and because they're on a missions trip to Europe. ;) The end was wonderful as well! I need to get a hold of the College Years books now!

[jaymee ☁️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I CANT WITH THE ENDING!!!!! ITS SO GOOD!!! i love this book & these characters so so much!!!! AHHH🥰🥰🥳🥳

[Lillian B (Kaladin Stormblessed version)]

This book was sooo good!!!
And omgosh the ending was amazing 🥺
Frtc

[Megan Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was AMAZING!! I loved this book a lot. It really showes how God uses our circumstances for His plan. He works everything. In the case of Christy, He told her to wait in her relationship with Todd because He was maturing her. Wow! Best book on the series! This was a great way to end the series!

[Maggie Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

(2023, third reread) there is a reason I keep rereading the same 40ish books, the characters simply exist and I'm so thankful to call them friends, and have made so many deep friendships with other readers of this amazing author.

[Rollins Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE ENDING. THE ENDING. THE ENDING. 😭💛

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is suchhh a feel good book!! I love the story of Christys journey with God! It’s so inspirational and I look up to her as if she were a real person Robin Jones Gunn did such an amazing job with the whole christy Miller series and I can’t wait to read the college years and the married years as well!! Thank you Robin for giving me an inspiring story that helps me build my real life relationship with God!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of this book had me a little confused. There was a time jump from the last book and in it Christy and Doug started dating and are now going on a mission trip with Katie and Tracy.

Christy and her friends were all in the same team, along with a few new people. It was fun watching them get know one another and get ready for a week of missions. They learn they're going to Belfast. While preparing, Christy and Doug realize they aren't meant for each other and he ends up getting back together with Tracy. I don't think Doug did anything wrong, but it almost came across that way with how he spent his time before they ended things. I was happy that he and Christy are still friends and she's okay with him being with Tracy so soon.

The ending was perfect! Christy was asked at nearly the last minute to switch locations and go to Spain. She agrees and sets off on with a different team for part of it and then solo for the rest, in order to get to Spain and meet up with her new team. At the station in Spain the person meeting her is Todd - with flowers and her bracelet!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Promise is Forever was a fine conclusion to the series, but I'm SO glad there are more series with Christy and Todd because otherwise this ending left me wanting to know more.
In this story Doug and Christy are "dating" and I wasn't a fan of them together. In the end, they break up because Doug and Tracy are meant to get back together.
Christy ends up traveling alone to a different location and is surprised that Todd is there. They are now on their way to forever.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect way to end the series. I've read this countless times in the last 20+ years and still get happy chills at the end.

[Karina (Karina's Christian Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number of pages: 149

Genre: Contemporary YA

Series: Christy Miller #12 (They need to be read in order!) Overall series rating: 3.5/5 stars

Age recommendation: minimum 13, but I think 14/15+ is better.

Summary: Christy is so excited to be going on a mission trip with all her friends. Meeting new people and learning how to share the gospel is a lot of fun, but something is dampening the mood. Doug’s a nice guy, but was Christy really right to start dating him?

My thoughts: Christy uses guys to give her fulfilment. If she loses one guy, she instantly gravitates to the next one who will make her feel special, important, and loved. It’s like she’s replaced God with her boyfriend. (I think Todd tells her this too in one of the previous books). I like that in this book, Christy finally sees how she was putting Todd in the center of her heart and not Christ. It could probably have been expanded on more, but I liked the message/reminder that God should be most important.
I really like Sierra. She sounds like a really fun, nice person and it makes me want to read the Sierra Jensen series now too! I also love how Katie becomes more mature and normal (less boy crazy and as normal as someone like Katie can be). I like the club that Sierra and Katie start up for enjoying life while they’re single instead of bemoaning the fact that they don’t have boyfriends.
Why does Christy have to date Doug? It’s so obvious that they are not right for each other. Why can everyone see it but them? I mean Christy was hesitant to date him at first, but Katie convinced her to date him (I don’t like when she does this because it’s a terrible idea but she’s good for the rest of the book).
There’s way too much boy drama for me. I just can’t handle how boy crazy the characters are. I cannot relate to them at all (I haven’t found someone who will send me a coconut with a Bible verse on it yet). My dad’s advice: don’t date until you’re ready for marriage. It’s not fair to play with someone’s emotions when you know it’s not going to amount to anything for you.
The ending was really sweet and not really what I was expecting. I don’t really know what I was expecting, but the ending definitely caught me by surprise. I liked it though; it was very satisfying except that I really want to see Doug’s wedding now. And Christy’s.
Although I don’t think anything can top Island Dreamer, this was still a really good book.

My personal rating: 3.5/5 stars.

Link to blog: https://karinaschristianreads.wordpre...

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final installment of Christy's high school years finds Christy, Doug, Katie, and Tracy going to Europe on a mission trip. The group gets to do some sight-seeing beforehand but it doesn't take long for drama to unfold between Katie and Tracy. Christy and Doug, who are now boyfriend/girlfriend, have some sorting out to do on their own. During the mission trip Christy meets other students from various countries before having the chance to take an opportunity apart from her friends. Christy must learn how to decide what is best for her at the moment as well as for her future.

This book was a little more enjoyable because of the unique setting in England. There wasn't as much high school drama as the previous books had. Christy doesn't seem as wishy-washy as she did in the previous books, either. What I really liked in this book is that Christy finally realizes she doesn't need a boyfriend in her life to be happy or purposeful; it took her long enough to figure that out, if you ask me. Like I mentioned in a previous Christy Miller review, author Robin Jones Gunn has a way of making you want to read more about her characters, so I'm curious to see what Christy's college years are like next.

[Daliana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book, I am a huge fan of the relationship Christy and Todd have. I was very much surprised at the end. I love the author ( Robin Jones Gunn) I have read every single book of this series. This was the last book and it was a very good book. I wish the author had included more of Todd, I understand the surprise at the end, but I wish we saw more of him! I love how God is always in Christy’s life no matter what! I definitely recommend this book to anyone if you want a good teen christian novel!!

[Nikole (dreamingofreadingx) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I think when it comes to gut-level emotions, we tend to express them the most accurately and honestly when we're in junior high. As we get older, we only think we're sophisticated because we learn to play some complicated games.”

I enjoyed this book. Especially the ending! However, I hate the infliction about guys needing to be the initiator that keeps coming up. Like what? There’s a few other things that bugged me like that. But that was the main one. Katie is also really starting to get on my nerves. She’s kind of dumb and the “fight” with Tracey was really unnecessary.

[Camden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the story of Christy Miller growing up in both age and her faith with God so much! It was a roller coaster, but the ending was worth it.

SPOILER ALERT:

The only thing is that there is a time in the book when she gets sick. As someone with emetophpbia, it made me very anxious. I wasn’t expecting it, so even more so. I know it’s not the books fault at all, and I quickly got over it. Other than that, it is a wonderful book!

[Karina Barber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a few times in my teen years. As a teen, I admired Christy's bravery in traveling alone and facing insecurities that I related to. I never saw myself being able to cross cultures and do things outside of my comfort zone. Well, now that I have lived overseas with my husband and four children on the mission field, I find it a bit ironic that this was a favourite book of mine back then. Maybe this book was a subtle message that God used to plant a seed in my heart years ago.

[Larissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series has my literal heart. This is the first series that went on my bookshelf and will remain on my favorite shelf. I re-read it at least once a year and every time it's a page turner, hard to put down, type of book. It creates such mazing imagery that as I read I loose focus of words on a page, but the image in my mind. I LOVE this series and recommend this to teens, or even YA.

[Claire Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book She goes to Europe. When life takes a turn, will she ever stop thinking about Tood or will she get over him and move on with her life.... I LOVE THOSE SERIES AND NEVER WANTED TO STOP READING THEM!!!

[Hannah Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh! I'm all done with the series and can't wait to read more.
What I loved about this book in particular was how it talked about guarding your hearts and trusting God to lead you.
Seriously these are the most faith filled books I've read so far.

[Cadee · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Reading this series has been so fun and cool. I felt like I was traveling to different places, like London. I want to travel to them in real life after reading these books. I hope everyone reads the Christy Miller series." -Cadee, age 11

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ahh, the best of the series. I enjoyed the English setting, the friendships/relationships, and seeing how Christy grew out of her dependence on having a guy in place of depending on God. Also nice to meet Sierra, now on to her series!

[Olivia Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending to this book always gets me! Like what a God thing for her to travel all that way and not know that Todd would be the one welcoming her! He put the bracelet back on for forever like he promised!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. There were a couple of things I took issue with, but overall it was a good way to end this series. It was fun seeing the kids grow and mature. The ending was super sweet.

Looking forward to the next series.

[Gabby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is the best series for young teens!! I love it! This was at first not one of my favorites, but by the end it definitely is!

[vanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book!!! What a satisfying story throughout, and an ending that made me tear up. Onto the next one! :)

[Jess Ketchum · Rating 5 out of 5]

I dont how many times I've read this series, but it never gets hold and I always find something inspiring and obtainable.

[Gathoni Mwangi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Todd, you came back😭😭😭😭😭♥♥. All the feels. Todd is BAAAAACK!!!

[Chantal J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has been one of my favourite books since I was a teen myself and it will continue to be. The ending had me in tears!