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An Unexpected Role
After a humiliating event and overwhelming peer pressure, 16-year-old Josie flees her home to spend the summer with her Aunt on a South Carolina island. Her fresh start turns into the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms, and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. However, when tragedy strikes someone close to her, Josie realizes there are more important things than her reputation. As she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers who God wants her to be.
Gold Medal Moonbeam Children's Book Award
Gold Medal Moonbeam Children's Book Award
250 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2016
7 people are currently reading
610 people want to read
About the author
Leslea Wahl
25 books148 followersLeslea lives in beautiful Colorado with her husband and three children. Their own life of adventure includes traveling, skiing, and scuba diving. Leslea strives to write fiction that will inspire readers to use their own talents and gifts to glorify God.
The Perfect Blindside has received a 2016 First Place Catholic Press Association Book Award and a 2016 Illumination Book Awards silver medal.
An Unexpected Role has was awarded a 2017 Moonbeam Children's book Gold Medal.
The Perfect Blindside has received a 2016 First Place Catholic Press Association Book Award and a 2016 Illumination Book Awards silver medal.
An Unexpected Role has was awarded a 2017 Moonbeam Children's book Gold Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 16, 2020
I received this book for free from JustRead tours as part of their Blind Date with a Book tour.
I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.
This is a fun YA novel with a dash of faith, romance and mystery. It is also an incredibly quick and fast paced read. I just flew right through it.
As a young adult novel it works really well. At its core, it’s about a teenage girl discovering who she is. That part was really well done, especially her character development.
The mystery is pretty basic but still interesting. It’s not a very sophisticated mystery so if you’re looking for something more Nancy Drew-like, you probably won’t find it here. The mystery was a good supplement to the overarching plot.
This book is considered to be Christian fiction, but the religious aspect is fairly light. Religion gets talked about but it is not the biggest part of the book. There are some Bible verses and some praying.
I really liked the romance. I was very happy with who she ended up with (although it was very predictable) and thought their interactions were very cute.
Overall, I thought this was a solid young adult novel. I didn’t find it to be mind-blowing in any way but it was still an enjoyable read.
I give this book 3.5 stars which rounds up to 4.
This is a fun YA novel with a dash of faith, romance and mystery. It is also an incredibly quick and fast paced read. I just flew right through it.
As a young adult novel it works really well. At its core, it’s about a teenage girl discovering who she is. That part was really well done, especially her character development.
The mystery is pretty basic but still interesting. It’s not a very sophisticated mystery so if you’re looking for something more Nancy Drew-like, you probably won’t find it here. The mystery was a good supplement to the overarching plot.
This book is considered to be Christian fiction, but the religious aspect is fairly light. Religion gets talked about but it is not the biggest part of the book. There are some Bible verses and some praying.
I really liked the romance. I was very happy with who she ended up with (although it was very predictable) and thought their interactions were very cute.
Overall, I thought this was a solid young adult novel. I didn’t find it to be mind-blowing in any way but it was still an enjoyable read.
February 20, 2021
About this book:
“After a humiliating event and overwhelming peer pressure, 16-year-old Josie flees her home to spend the summer with her Aunt on a South Carolina island. Her fresh start turns into the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms, and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. However, when tragedy strikes someone close to her, Josie realizes there are more important things than her reputation. As she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers who God wants her to be.”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; Scriptures are read, mentioned, thought over, remembered & quoted; Going to Church for mass & a sermon; Going to a chapel; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Josie tried praying before, but when nothing happened to her that she wanted, she stopped (she does try sooner than half-way in this book to pray again); Mentions of God & faiths; Mentions of prayers & making bargains with God; Mentions of churches, mass & praising God; Mentions of a sermon, a priest & thanking God; Mentions of a youth group & leader; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of being blessed; A couple mentions of religious refugees; A mention of Hail Marys;
*Note: A mention of Medusa; A mention of bad karma.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a “you ass…tronomical jerk” is said, written as quoted; a ‘darn’, a ‘heck’, a ‘holy crud-muffin’, an ‘OMG’, two ‘dang’s, two ‘duh’s, two forms of ‘freakin’’, two ‘gosh’s, two ‘shoot’s, two ‘shut up’s, two forms of ‘suck’, three ‘oh my gosh’s, four forms of ‘screw up’, six ‘geez’s, six ‘idiot’s, nine ‘dumb’s, sixteen forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Josie can be rude and disrespectful to her mom (she think her mother ruined her life) and others; Pain & Passing out (up to semi-detailed); Lying & Lies; Many mentions of thieves, burglaries, robberies & a scam; Mentions of wars, the Army, hostages & gunfire; Mentions of an accident, injuries, & pain (semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnapping; Mentions of threats & hatred; Mentions of cruel teens, bullies, crude comments, gossip & rumors; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of wine & cocktails (martinis, daiquiri & virgin drinks (which Josie has the last one); Mentions of a bar; Mentions of high school parties; Mentions of a divorce; Mentions of a fire; Mentions of jellyfish stings; A few mentions of someone peeing on another for jellyfish stings; A few mentions of an attempted break-in; A couple mentions of con-men; A couple mentions of a wife/mother who left her husband and daughter; A couple mentions of poker; A couple mentions of tattoos; A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of puking; A mention of jail; A mention of roadkill; A mention of brownies laced with laxatives;
*Note: A couple mentions of feminists (they’re called dumb and the cause that chivalry is dead); Mentions of musicals & songs.
Sexual Content- two cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, two semi-detailed kisses, and a boarder-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Josie thinks she’s going to be kissed and when she isn’t, she’s disappointed; Josie gets tired of hand holding and pecks on the cheek, she wants a real kiss; Wondering about kisses and embraces & when to be kissed; Touches, Tingles & Dancing (semi-detailed); Noticing, Attraction & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; a ‘sexy’ and seven forms of ‘hot’; Many mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends, girlfriends, & breakups; Mentions of dating rules & chaperones; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of a kiss when the kissers’ braces get stuck together; Mentions of noticing; Mentions of dreamy, cute & good-looking guys; Mentions of romances & summer romances; Mentions of flirting, winks & blushes; Mentions of crushes & being interested in someone; Mentions of guys looking at Josie two ways (respectfully and then “I-can’t-get-this-girl-out-of-my-mind”); Mentions of weak knees from a guy’s smile & dimples; A few mentions of seeing others kiss; A few mentions of a girl throwing herself at a guy; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of hormones; A mention of tonsil hockey (kissing); A mention of a guy being checked out; A mention of whispered sweet nothings; A summer romance;
*Note: Josie (accidentally) hits a guy in the unmentionables, later hits another man there (self-protection) and mentions of Josie hitting his “family jewels”; A mention of a daughter from a set of parent’s “uber-cool loins”; A mention of a baseball hitting a guy in his groin; A mention of a guy swimming in just his boxers; A couple mentions of a guy’s cute butt; Mentions of how good guys look in their baseball pants; Mentions of (and noticing) shirtless guys & their abs (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a wardrobe malfunction that exposes someone’s backside; A mention of revealing wet t-shirts; A mention of a girl’s bra size; Mentions of a girl’s bikini top flying off while jumping off a diving board (while trying to impress a guy); Mentions of bikinis (and Josie wears bikinis); Mentions of a locker covered in tampons, a girl starting her period while wearing a white skirt up on stage, & that time of the month and sanitary products.
-Josie DelRio, age 16
1st person P.O.V. of Josie
250 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ to a full star for those who are in private/public school.}
Okay, this was fun and different from most Christian YA. It reminded me a bit of a Melody Carlson young adult book, but (dare I say) more entertaining and fast-paced. I think this novel reminded me of Melody Carlson's works because of all the mentions of public school cliques, problems and such. Like some Melody Carlson books, there were parts and comments I wasn't a fan of (which was the same story with this author's other YA book, “The Perfect Blindside”), but for those not exactly wanting a super-conservative-Christian read, might be interested in this one.
At first I was on the fence about Josie--she could came across as self-centered and over dramatic at times—but when she wasn't like that I was on her team. She grew in “An Unexpected Role” and it’s always nice to see character development. On the romance side of things, I, of course, liked Ryan. Ryan was great. :) Which bring me to my next point: baseball. Baseball! There was baseball in this book, y'all! Yes! Baseball is truly the only sport I can watch fully, so I really enjoyed those parts. The mystery was intriguing and I had an idea on who it was. I really like reading first person point of views, so that was definitely a positive to this book. All in all, I enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to learning about what will be the next YA book that Leslea Wahl writes.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
“After a humiliating event and overwhelming peer pressure, 16-year-old Josie flees her home to spend the summer with her Aunt on a South Carolina island. Her fresh start turns into the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms, and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. However, when tragedy strikes someone close to her, Josie realizes there are more important things than her reputation. As she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers who God wants her to be.”
Series: As of now, no.
Spiritual Content- Prayers & Thanking God; Scriptures are read, mentioned, thought over, remembered & quoted; Going to Church for mass & a sermon; Going to a chapel; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Josie tried praying before, but when nothing happened to her that she wanted, she stopped (she does try sooner than half-way in this book to pray again); Mentions of God & faiths; Mentions of prayers & making bargains with God; Mentions of churches, mass & praising God; Mentions of a sermon, a priest & thanking God; Mentions of a youth group & leader; A few mentions of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of being blessed; A couple mentions of religious refugees; A mention of Hail Marys;
*Note: A mention of Medusa; A mention of bad karma.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a “you ass…tronomical jerk” is said, written as quoted; a ‘darn’, a ‘heck’, a ‘holy crud-muffin’, an ‘OMG’, two ‘dang’s, two ‘duh’s, two forms of ‘freakin’’, two ‘gosh’s, two ‘shoot’s, two ‘shut up’s, two forms of ‘suck’, three ‘oh my gosh’s, four forms of ‘screw up’, six ‘geez’s, six ‘idiot’s, nine ‘dumb’s, sixteen forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Josie can be rude and disrespectful to her mom (she think her mother ruined her life) and others; Pain & Passing out (up to semi-detailed); Lying & Lies; Many mentions of thieves, burglaries, robberies & a scam; Mentions of wars, the Army, hostages & gunfire; Mentions of an accident, injuries, & pain (semi-detailed); Mentions of kidnapping; Mentions of threats & hatred; Mentions of cruel teens, bullies, crude comments, gossip & rumors; Mentions of blackmail; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of wine & cocktails (martinis, daiquiri & virgin drinks (which Josie has the last one); Mentions of a bar; Mentions of high school parties; Mentions of a divorce; Mentions of a fire; Mentions of jellyfish stings; A few mentions of someone peeing on another for jellyfish stings; A few mentions of an attempted break-in; A couple mentions of con-men; A couple mentions of a wife/mother who left her husband and daughter; A couple mentions of poker; A couple mentions of tattoos; A couple mentions of nightmares; A couple mentions of puking; A mention of jail; A mention of roadkill; A mention of brownies laced with laxatives;
*Note: A couple mentions of feminists (they’re called dumb and the cause that chivalry is dead); Mentions of musicals & songs.
Sexual Content- two cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, two semi-detailed kisses, and a boarder-line semi-detailed // detailed kiss; Remembering a kiss (up to semi-detailed); Josie thinks she’s going to be kissed and when she isn’t, she’s disappointed; Josie gets tired of hand holding and pecks on the cheek, she wants a real kiss; Wondering about kisses and embraces & when to be kissed; Touches, Tingles & Dancing (semi-detailed); Noticing, Attraction & Smelling (up to semi-detailed); Blushes; a ‘sexy’ and seven forms of ‘hot’; Many mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends, girlfriends, & breakups; Mentions of dating rules & chaperones; Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of a kiss when the kissers’ braces get stuck together; Mentions of noticing; Mentions of dreamy, cute & good-looking guys; Mentions of romances & summer romances; Mentions of flirting, winks & blushes; Mentions of crushes & being interested in someone; Mentions of guys looking at Josie two ways (respectfully and then “I-can’t-get-this-girl-out-of-my-mind”); Mentions of weak knees from a guy’s smile & dimples; A few mentions of seeing others kiss; A few mentions of a girl throwing herself at a guy; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of hormones; A mention of tonsil hockey (kissing); A mention of a guy being checked out; A mention of whispered sweet nothings; A summer romance;
*Note: Josie (accidentally) hits a guy in the unmentionables, later hits another man there (self-protection) and mentions of Josie hitting his “family jewels”; A mention of a daughter from a set of parent’s “uber-cool loins”; A mention of a baseball hitting a guy in his groin; A mention of a guy swimming in just his boxers; A couple mentions of a guy’s cute butt; Mentions of how good guys look in their baseball pants; Mentions of (and noticing) shirtless guys & their abs (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a wardrobe malfunction that exposes someone’s backside; A mention of revealing wet t-shirts; A mention of a girl’s bra size; Mentions of a girl’s bikini top flying off while jumping off a diving board (while trying to impress a guy); Mentions of bikinis (and Josie wears bikinis); Mentions of a locker covered in tampons, a girl starting her period while wearing a white skirt up on stage, & that time of the month and sanitary products.
-Josie DelRio, age 16
1st person P.O.V. of Josie
250 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star (and a half)
Early High School Teens- Two Stars (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
{Add ½ to a full star for those who are in private/public school.}
Okay, this was fun and different from most Christian YA. It reminded me a bit of a Melody Carlson young adult book, but (dare I say) more entertaining and fast-paced. I think this novel reminded me of Melody Carlson's works because of all the mentions of public school cliques, problems and such. Like some Melody Carlson books, there were parts and comments I wasn't a fan of (which was the same story with this author's other YA book, “The Perfect Blindside”), but for those not exactly wanting a super-conservative-Christian read, might be interested in this one.
At first I was on the fence about Josie--she could came across as self-centered and over dramatic at times—but when she wasn't like that I was on her team. She grew in “An Unexpected Role” and it’s always nice to see character development. On the romance side of things, I, of course, liked Ryan. Ryan was great. :) Which bring me to my next point: baseball. Baseball! There was baseball in this book, y'all! Yes! Baseball is truly the only sport I can watch fully, so I really enjoyed those parts. The mystery was intriguing and I had an idea on who it was. I really like reading first person point of views, so that was definitely a positive to this book. All in all, I enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to learning about what will be the next YA book that Leslea Wahl writes.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Author for this honest review.
May 9, 2017
I just finished reading AN UNEXPECTED ROLE by Leslea D. Wahl. I can’t believe I read it in one day, but it was that good from beginning to end. I mean, this book is absolutely hilarious! For me, as a writer, I love that the main character’s mom is a writer! And poor Josie decides her mom is ruining her life because everyone at school thinks the embarrassing stories in the book are about her. More than anything, Josie wants an escape. And she gets one which has the potential to be everything a girl could want.
As the fun plot moves forward a mystery begins to develop, then the tension really starts mounting. In addition to being fast-moving and at times hilarious, this novel has incredible descriptions. Since I read this as summer is dwindling down, I really appreciate the beautiful imagery, the beaches and ocean view. It lets me hold onto summer for a wee bit longer. But this story is also filled with life-lessons that are totally relevant to young adults--well, to me too. This book is a fun and rewarding read!
As the fun plot moves forward a mystery begins to develop, then the tension really starts mounting. In addition to being fast-moving and at times hilarious, this novel has incredible descriptions. Since I read this as summer is dwindling down, I really appreciate the beautiful imagery, the beaches and ocean view. It lets me hold onto summer for a wee bit longer. But this story is also filled with life-lessons that are totally relevant to young adults--well, to me too. This book is a fun and rewarding read!
March 3, 2020
I will start out with prefacing my review that I am not a fan of YA in general, and you add in teen romance and it's all over for me, lol. I think Wahl is a very talented writer and that readers of this genre would enjoy this book. As mentioned, I wasn't a huge fan of the teen romance aspect, and found myself annoyed with the characters choices in their relationships. But I appreciated how Wahl picked some very interesting themes to include in the story, refugees, veterans, etc. At times, I felt like certain messages Wahl was trying to portray came across as a little preachy, but I applaud her nonetheless for including those themes and messages.
Overall, I think the author has a solid story here. Don't let my review sway you from giving this book a try if you are a fan of YA mysteries and romance!
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
Overall, I think the author has a solid story here. Don't let my review sway you from giving this book a try if you are a fan of YA mysteries and romance!
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
October 12, 2016
I'm a big fan of Leslea's style of writing. She easily makes her teen characters likeable and relate-able.
What I really liked about this book in particular was Leslea’s ability to bring up topics like caring for immigrants and refugees, respect for veterans, and a teen’s struggle to find herself amidst the bullying climate of high school–all without coming across as preachy or didactic. She easily weaves these topics into a tale that teens can enjoy from Josie’s attempts to find romance to her efforts to discover what’s really going on in this small island beach town.
Told with humor and heart, An Unexpected Role is a tale for any teen who enjoys a book with a little romance, mystery, and adventure!
What I really liked about this book in particular was Leslea’s ability to bring up topics like caring for immigrants and refugees, respect for veterans, and a teen’s struggle to find herself amidst the bullying climate of high school–all without coming across as preachy or didactic. She easily weaves these topics into a tale that teens can enjoy from Josie’s attempts to find romance to her efforts to discover what’s really going on in this small island beach town.
Told with humor and heart, An Unexpected Role is a tale for any teen who enjoys a book with a little romance, mystery, and adventure!
July 29, 2025
Okay, that was FUN. It’s been way too long since I’ve read anything contemporary Christian YA, and Into the Spotlight was a perfect reminder of why I love it so much!
I’ll admit Josie was rather whiny for the first bit, and I was with her mom—it seemed like an awful lot of drama. But the faith messages, musical references, and mystery had me hooked. It’s a perfect summery, beachy read, and I was SO glad Josie worked things out with her mom.
Ryan and Niko were two night-and-day-different love interests, but they both had aspects that appealed to me. I’m please with how it turned out, though, and I hope to see Josie again in the next book, which features her best friend, Liz! Mr. Thompson was my absolute favorite, and Cyd cracked me up. There are so many great characters in this book!
The mystery elements were worked in so smoothly, although it took a long time for Josie to get any traction on finding the thief—it was definitely more of Ryan’s initiative. It was a light, cozy sort of mystery, I felt—no blood or anything—so I really enjoyed it.
I would like to note that there were a couple instances of “oh my gosh,” which I prefer to avoid, and at one point, she says, “you ass…tronomical jerk.” Besides that, no major content, aside from some jellyfish stings, references to bathing suit mishaps, and attacks to the groin.
The new cover and title are PERFECT for Wahl’s novel, and if you haven’t read it before, you definitely should. If you already own it… mayhaps you want this pretty new cover and spine on your shelf?
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I’ll admit Josie was rather whiny for the first bit, and I was with her mom—it seemed like an awful lot of drama. But the faith messages, musical references, and mystery had me hooked. It’s a perfect summery, beachy read, and I was SO glad Josie worked things out with her mom.
Ryan and Niko were two night-and-day-different love interests, but they both had aspects that appealed to me. I’m please with how it turned out, though, and I hope to see Josie again in the next book, which features her best friend, Liz! Mr. Thompson was my absolute favorite, and Cyd cracked me up. There are so many great characters in this book!
The mystery elements were worked in so smoothly, although it took a long time for Josie to get any traction on finding the thief—it was definitely more of Ryan’s initiative. It was a light, cozy sort of mystery, I felt—no blood or anything—so I really enjoyed it.
I would like to note that there were a couple instances of “oh my gosh,” which I prefer to avoid, and at one point, she says, “you ass…tronomical jerk.” Besides that, no major content, aside from some jellyfish stings, references to bathing suit mishaps, and attacks to the groin.
The new cover and title are PERFECT for Wahl’s novel, and if you haven’t read it before, you definitely should. If you already own it… mayhaps you want this pretty new cover and spine on your shelf?
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
August 4, 2025
This was a sweet, Catholic Christian young adult novel. Our MC is a 16 year old girl who has faced teasing over the young adult novels her mom writes. When she escapes to spend the summer with her aunt, mystery and romance find her. At first, I felt like things were a little extra juvenile and I was a bit frustrated with her preoccupation with calling guys “hot” and appreciating them without shirts, but as the story progressed, we gained more depth. Though there were some slower parts, it accelerated as the story went on. Lessons on preconceived notions, faith, stories from war and history, friendships, romance, mystery, and more filled these pages. It was a sweet read that would be great for teenagers to sink into and explore faith, a summer romance, family, and more. This is a just kisses romance, intimacy level 1 (with slight innuendo at the references of “hot guys” and considerations on their lack of shirts). Additional considerations: singular mentions of “darn” and “OMG.”
I received an ARC of this book via Just Read Tours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
I received an ARC of this book via Just Read Tours and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
March 16, 2019
4.5 stars. I really liked this book at lot, it was very enjoyable. Though I did like The Perfect Blindside a little better. My favorite characters were Mr. Thomas and Ryan, I loved Ryan. Also Cyd was so cute. Anyway, I think this is a great read for girls because it’s a reminder that we need to stay true to ourselves even when it’s hard as teenagers. Josie is such a fun character and she’s easy to relate to. I loved when Josie and Ryan were playing in the sprinklers after rollerblading.❤️ They are perfect together.
January 14, 2022
This book, set in the summer on a South Carolina coastal island, probably would be considered beach reading for teens, but it made the perfect deep-in-the-middle-of-winter reading for me. The story had me from the first sentence! Wahl does an amazing job of bringing theater geek Josie's and baseball phenomenon Ryan's story to life. There's adventure, mystery, a sweet summer romance and laugh-out-loud humor. I loved this book! YA writers are some of the most talented writers around. So, even if YA isn't your usual genre, I'd highly recommend reading this! Onto the next Wahl novel...
August 15, 2025
3.5 stars
Leslea Wahl's Into the Spotlight is a fun read for people still wanting to hang on to the last bits of summer while the school year begins.
Josie is a relatable protagonist who has to learn self confidence and to trust the Lord. I enjoyed watching her grow as a character and become a better person.
The MMC (sorry, no spoilers) was so sweet! I love how concerned he was for Josie and how he helped her progress throughout the story.
The mystery element of this book was quite interesting, and I enjoyed seeing how the characters worked together to find the culprit.
The biggest thing I didn't love about the story was that Josie seemed a bit too focused on appearances when talking about guys.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this sweet summery read!
Content: girl mentions guy being attractive shirtless several times, mention of hypothetical tongue kissing, use of word "geez" a few times throughout text
I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
Leslea Wahl's Into the Spotlight is a fun read for people still wanting to hang on to the last bits of summer while the school year begins.
Josie is a relatable protagonist who has to learn self confidence and to trust the Lord. I enjoyed watching her grow as a character and become a better person.
The MMC (sorry, no spoilers) was so sweet! I love how concerned he was for Josie and how he helped her progress throughout the story.
The mystery element of this book was quite interesting, and I enjoyed seeing how the characters worked together to find the culprit.
The biggest thing I didn't love about the story was that Josie seemed a bit too focused on appearances when talking about guys.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this sweet summery read!
Content: girl mentions guy being attractive shirtless several times, mention of hypothetical tongue kissing, use of word "geez" a few times throughout text
I received an advance copy of this book. My opinions are my own. A positive review was not required.
September 9, 2018
3 stars means I liked it, but I will not recommend it. I received a copy of this book from a giveaway hosted by the authoress. I was really looking forward to reading this because it’s a contemporary Catholic YA novel. The story line is exciting, full of fun, adventure, and romance. The characters are really well developed. They quickly become your friends. (Can I just say I love Mr. Thompson?!) The atmosphere and setting are beautiful. The authoress does a beautiful job of illustrating the scene in your imagination. There are very good lessons learned in this story. To look outside of yourself. To listen and help others. To have a two way conversation with God. I hope readers also learn not to get swept off your feet, lust instead of love, or act without thinking.
Also, I’m a huge musical theatre geek, so all the references were awesome!! 💕. I loved the authoress’ style overall. It flowed very well and kept me reading.
Sadly though, I was really disappointed by all of the worldly, immoral, and immodest content throughout the story. Lindsey’s review below does a great job of listing all the content. For a Catholic novel the Catholic faith wasn’t mentioned very much. I blushed at the mention of tampons and loosing a bikini top while swimming with a boy! What made these things horrific though is that Josie’s Catholic mother wrote about them in a novel for teens. I would have been just as furious as Josie was. The boyfriends and kissing in this book was WAY over the top, especially for a 16 year old. There was crude humor and light language sprinkled throughout the book.
In today’s dark world, we need good, strong Catholic role models. I didn’t find this in any of the characters which was disappointing. Josie’s actions or dress did not communicate a Catholic young woman to me, but just a girl trying to fit in to the world.
All in all I liked the characters, the aesthetics, the plot, and some of the valuable lessons learned by the characters, but I would not recommend this book because even a little bit of crude or inappropriate content can ruin the whole thing.
Also, I’m a huge musical theatre geek, so all the references were awesome!! 💕. I loved the authoress’ style overall. It flowed very well and kept me reading.
Sadly though, I was really disappointed by all of the worldly, immoral, and immodest content throughout the story. Lindsey’s review below does a great job of listing all the content. For a Catholic novel the Catholic faith wasn’t mentioned very much. I blushed at the mention of tampons and loosing a bikini top while swimming with a boy! What made these things horrific though is that Josie’s Catholic mother wrote about them in a novel for teens. I would have been just as furious as Josie was. The boyfriends and kissing in this book was WAY over the top, especially for a 16 year old. There was crude humor and light language sprinkled throughout the book.
In today’s dark world, we need good, strong Catholic role models. I didn’t find this in any of the characters which was disappointing. Josie’s actions or dress did not communicate a Catholic young woman to me, but just a girl trying to fit in to the world.
All in all I liked the characters, the aesthetics, the plot, and some of the valuable lessons learned by the characters, but I would not recommend this book because even a little bit of crude or inappropriate content can ruin the whole thing.
August 2, 2025
You know, I liked this story! I started it this morning and was instantly sucked in, curious to see where it would go. For me, the romance was sweet, the mystery was interesting, and the dash of suspense was an unexpected bonus.
Josie heads off to visit her aunt and escape her hometown after being teased at school. What she doesn’t expect is to get caught up in a mystery in her aunt’s town, start a summer romance with Niko, and even run into Ryan from school. Will Josie help solve the mystery? Is her romance with Niko everything it seems? And will Ryan ruin her vacation? Her summer ends up being anything but ordinary.
This is very much a YA book, with its focus on boys, kissing, and plenty of mentions of how hot they are. But there is also some personal growth in the main character that added depth to the story. I honestly really enjoyed this one. The situations the main character found herself in, as well as the romance, felt a little more mature than typical YA at times, and maybe that’s what kept me so engaged. But remembering her age would occasionally throw me off a bit. All that said, I’m definitely looking forward to reading more books by Leslie soon.
I gave this one 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I was way more invested than I expected to be, which is always a good thing.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
Josie heads off to visit her aunt and escape her hometown after being teased at school. What she doesn’t expect is to get caught up in a mystery in her aunt’s town, start a summer romance with Niko, and even run into Ryan from school. Will Josie help solve the mystery? Is her romance with Niko everything it seems? And will Ryan ruin her vacation? Her summer ends up being anything but ordinary.
This is very much a YA book, with its focus on boys, kissing, and plenty of mentions of how hot they are. But there is also some personal growth in the main character that added depth to the story. I honestly really enjoyed this one. The situations the main character found herself in, as well as the romance, felt a little more mature than typical YA at times, and maybe that’s what kept me so engaged. But remembering her age would occasionally throw me off a bit. All that said, I’m definitely looking forward to reading more books by Leslie soon.
I gave this one 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. I was way more invested than I expected to be, which is always a good thing.
I received a complimentary copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.
December 3, 2016
This was the second book by Leslea Wahl I have read in the last month. It was a nice surprising read. A little bit mystery, a little bit, romance, and a bit of coming of age. But all of that is written around a young woman who is away from her family and figuring out who she really is? Who she wants to be? And who has a growing faith. One of the key criteria I have when judging young adult books, or really any book for that matter is would I want to read it with my children when it is age and maturity appropriate? Can I recommend it to parents of tweens or the tweens I know? This book gets a resounding yes!
Leslea Wahl writes in a very easy and engaging style. Her books that I have read to date and specifically this book are what I would categorize as realistic fiction. Or books much like Madeleine L'Engle's Chronos books, the Austin Family Chronicles. There is nothing supernatural, extraordinary, about this book. It is very grounded. As I stated it is 'realistic fiction'. I read this book over a few days, there were a few twists in the mystery plot that I had completely guessed wrong. It is good when a mystery throws you a bit. The style of Wahl's written creates enjoyable characters and the protagonist is very relatable. It is also interesting reading a story where the main characters is a teen daughter of a writer, who often includes her mishaps in her books.
The big problem in our book is that Josie's mom has gone from writing middle-grade books to writing teen or young adult books. And after her first book in this style comes out Josie is relentlessly harassed by students from school. Yet this time there is nothing in the book that was actually taken from her life. It gets so bad that Joie flees home in Colorado to spend the summer with her Aunt, a painter in South Carolina. Living on an island, and spending days on the sand sounds like just what Jose needs. That is until her first night there and she runs into one of the jocks from back home, Ryan McNaulty. But with a rash of robberies on the island, Josie and Ryan team up to try and help the locals and solve the crimes. But the scuba instructor also has his eye on and plans for Josie for the summer.
This book deals with a number of issues both big and small. Learning to face being bullied, true friendship, standing up for what is right, respect for veterans. And also learning to apply your faith in day to day life. It was interesting watching Josie get post cards from her mother with bible verses written on them. To see her memorize them, and recall other verses in times of need. Her Catholic faith is growing throughout the novel. The book however is not preachy in any way the Christian message in the novel is subtle, no bible thumping.
This was a great fun read. And I really look forward to sharing it with my girls in a few years when they are a little bit older. An excellent read and I look forward to more book by Wahl in the future.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
Leslea Wahl writes in a very easy and engaging style. Her books that I have read to date and specifically this book are what I would categorize as realistic fiction. Or books much like Madeleine L'Engle's Chronos books, the Austin Family Chronicles. There is nothing supernatural, extraordinary, about this book. It is very grounded. As I stated it is 'realistic fiction'. I read this book over a few days, there were a few twists in the mystery plot that I had completely guessed wrong. It is good when a mystery throws you a bit. The style of Wahl's written creates enjoyable characters and the protagonist is very relatable. It is also interesting reading a story where the main characters is a teen daughter of a writer, who often includes her mishaps in her books.
The big problem in our book is that Josie's mom has gone from writing middle-grade books to writing teen or young adult books. And after her first book in this style comes out Josie is relentlessly harassed by students from school. Yet this time there is nothing in the book that was actually taken from her life. It gets so bad that Joie flees home in Colorado to spend the summer with her Aunt, a painter in South Carolina. Living on an island, and spending days on the sand sounds like just what Jose needs. That is until her first night there and she runs into one of the jocks from back home, Ryan McNaulty. But with a rash of robberies on the island, Josie and Ryan team up to try and help the locals and solve the crimes. But the scuba instructor also has his eye on and plans for Josie for the summer.
This book deals with a number of issues both big and small. Learning to face being bullied, true friendship, standing up for what is right, respect for veterans. And also learning to apply your faith in day to day life. It was interesting watching Josie get post cards from her mother with bible verses written on them. To see her memorize them, and recall other verses in times of need. Her Catholic faith is growing throughout the novel. The book however is not preachy in any way the Christian message in the novel is subtle, no bible thumping.
This was a great fun read. And I really look forward to sharing it with my girls in a few years when they are a little bit older. An excellent read and I look forward to more book by Wahl in the future.
Read the review on my blog Book Reviews and More.
(Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)
January 4, 2023
Into the Spotlight by Leslea Wahl is a young adult, contemporary novel. It follows a teenage girl, Josie, as she sets out on a summer of renewal and restoration. I am not a young adult, but I enjoyed this story and its spiritual lessons. The almost tropical location of South Carolina’s Coral Island is so beautiful, relaxing, and cozy–it’s like going on your own vacation! Keeping up with Josie was quite entertaining, from her random insertion of musical theater into all conversations to her quirky sense of humor and accident-prone life. I found her to be very relatable, and I think kids her age would feel the same. I felt like the spiritual lessons in this book were spot on with what teenagers are having to deal with today. They were blended into the story well, and Josie’s spiritual journey was one of gradual, realistic growth. There’s a little romance in this story but it’s all sweet with no steam. One of my favorite things about Into the Spotlight is that it teaches teenagers to look beyond themselves when dealing with their problems and to serve others despite their own hardships. This is such a great lesson even for adults, but to instill it in our younger generation is a fabulous thing.
Overall, I was thoroughly entertained by Josie and her summer of restoration/revival. I loved the action and mystery, the romance, and the personal growth of such a vibrant, young woman. I would definitely recommend this to young teenagers in my life.
I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Overall, I was thoroughly entertained by Josie and her summer of restoration/revival. I loved the action and mystery, the romance, and the personal growth of such a vibrant, young woman. I would definitely recommend this to young teenagers in my life.
I was given a copy of this book by the author with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.
October 25, 2022
Into the Spotlight, set in the summer on a South Carolina coastal island, probably would be considered beach reading for teens, but it made the perfect fall reading for me. The story had me from the first sentence! Wahl does an amazing job of bringing theater geek Josie's and baseball phenomenon Ryan's story to life. There's adventure, mystery, a sweet summer romance and laugh-out-loud humor. I loved this book! YA writers are some of the most talented writers around. So, even if YA isn't your usual genre, I'd highly recommend reading this!
August 15, 2025
Into the Spotlight is the third book I have read written by Leslea Wahl. This is a YA book, which is evident. Though it can be enjoyed by all ages, it is a YA mystery, and if that is your genre, it is the perfect book for you. I enjoy reading YA for a change of pace and finding my daughter some new books to read.
The character development was good. Josie, at the beginning, is disrespectful to her mom. Telling her she ruined her life. By the end of the book, Josie realizes that her mother’s books have actually helped other girls out, and she forgives her mom and mends their relationship. Throughout the book, Josie is trying to figure out who she is, which is a big part of being a teenager and young adult. Josie does a lot of maturing while away, both mentally and spiritually.
The setting and storyline were good. I loved the island setting. It was the perfect place for a summer read. The storyline was good. We have a lot of different things we interact with. There was helping immigrants and refugees, respect for elders, trying to solve the case of who was breaking in and stealing, baseball, crushes, and more.
The romance aspect is light and sweet, kisses-only. We do have a fake dating that comes to light, and Josie is hurt by it. Then Josie's heart opens up to Ryan. For a YA book, I was not a fan of the fake dating relationship, because that behavior would be devastating in real life, and I don’t want my preteens exposed to that right now. Having multiple crushes on boys at the same time is typical for YA as they are trying to figure out life.
Leslea Wahl did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. It was encouraging to see how the character's faith was being developed through the story. Though written from a catholic aspect, it can be enjoyed by all. There are mentions of Hail Marys.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
The character development was good. Josie, at the beginning, is disrespectful to her mom. Telling her she ruined her life. By the end of the book, Josie realizes that her mother’s books have actually helped other girls out, and she forgives her mom and mends their relationship. Throughout the book, Josie is trying to figure out who she is, which is a big part of being a teenager and young adult. Josie does a lot of maturing while away, both mentally and spiritually.
The setting and storyline were good. I loved the island setting. It was the perfect place for a summer read. The storyline was good. We have a lot of different things we interact with. There was helping immigrants and refugees, respect for elders, trying to solve the case of who was breaking in and stealing, baseball, crushes, and more.
The romance aspect is light and sweet, kisses-only. We do have a fake dating that comes to light, and Josie is hurt by it. Then Josie's heart opens up to Ryan. For a YA book, I was not a fan of the fake dating relationship, because that behavior would be devastating in real life, and I don’t want my preteens exposed to that right now. Having multiple crushes on boys at the same time is typical for YA as they are trying to figure out life.
Leslea Wahl did a great job of intertwining faith throughout the book. It was encouraging to see how the character's faith was being developed through the story. Though written from a catholic aspect, it can be enjoyed by all. There are mentions of Hail Marys.
*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
November 23, 2017
Great book for young adults, but I liked it too. It's about a 16 year old girl who is humiliated by the books her mother writes about her misadventures! She gets away for the summer and has her eyes opened to see life is not all about her!! Seeing other people's problems puts ours in a different perspective. She has adventure, mystery, romance and some narrow escapes. A few Bible verses thrown in for encouragement and musical theatre references for inspiration!! What a lovely book for teens. I'm so glad I won it in a giveaway from Goodreads.com!
February 27, 2020
At first Josie can't wait for the summer between her sophomore and Junior year. She has a lot she is looking forward to--until her classmates start making fun of her after her. Jose's mom has just published a book with about a teen girl who has some embarrassing moments--and they assume the book is about Josie so start teasing her about it and playing pranks. Then in An Unexpected Role by Leslea Wahl, Josie's summer takes a whole new turn when she decides to spend the summer with her Aunt in South Carolina. That is when the real adventure begins and Josie learns who she really is and what she is about.
An Unexpected Role is written for teenage readers--and specifically for Catholic youth. This book starts out with some moments for Josie that would be embarrassing for any teenage girl I think. I didn't like the book at the start because of that and Josie's family didn't seem to be really hearing how hard this was for her. At the same time, though, Josie wasn't talking much either. I think that might be true in many families regardless of the issues. Throughout the book, Wahl does seem to do a good job of portraying Josie's thoughts and feelings accurately. I like that there is a mystery in the book and I didn't guess the outcome either. I also really liked that Josie grew spiritually through various sources--going to mass, situations with those she encounters and through her mom's postcards. I also like that the characters in the book become friends even though they are various ages and it did seem natural within the story. Josie also was a good model for getting out of herself and volunteering and visiting with other age groups. I am not Catholic but I think the good points of An Unexpected Role would work well for any Christian young person to apply to their lives. The awkward family talks and miscommunication in Josie's family that I didn't like at the beginning of the book also seemed to get better as the book went on. I also thought that the book was a little slow in places but the last half of the book flew by pretty fast for me. Honestly, I think it would be better for a teenager girl than an adult--which is who the book is aimed at.
I received a copy of this book from the author as part of Just Read Tours Blind Date with a book. All opinions within this review are my own.
An Unexpected Role is written for teenage readers--and specifically for Catholic youth. This book starts out with some moments for Josie that would be embarrassing for any teenage girl I think. I didn't like the book at the start because of that and Josie's family didn't seem to be really hearing how hard this was for her. At the same time, though, Josie wasn't talking much either. I think that might be true in many families regardless of the issues. Throughout the book, Wahl does seem to do a good job of portraying Josie's thoughts and feelings accurately. I like that there is a mystery in the book and I didn't guess the outcome either. I also really liked that Josie grew spiritually through various sources--going to mass, situations with those she encounters and through her mom's postcards. I also like that the characters in the book become friends even though they are various ages and it did seem natural within the story. Josie also was a good model for getting out of herself and volunteering and visiting with other age groups. I am not Catholic but I think the good points of An Unexpected Role would work well for any Christian young person to apply to their lives. The awkward family talks and miscommunication in Josie's family that I didn't like at the beginning of the book also seemed to get better as the book went on. I also thought that the book was a little slow in places but the last half of the book flew by pretty fast for me. Honestly, I think it would be better for a teenager girl than an adult--which is who the book is aimed at.
I received a copy of this book from the author as part of Just Read Tours Blind Date with a book. All opinions within this review are my own.
January 18, 2024
I actually wish I could give this book more than 5 stars because OMG it was amazing.
I am Catholic and I loved how Wahl stuck a few Catholic references in there but it wasn't like BOOM IN YOUR FACE!
She wrote this really well and I love it so much!!
I am Catholic and I loved how Wahl stuck a few Catholic references in there but it wasn't like BOOM IN YOUR FACE!
She wrote this really well and I love it so much!!
February 28, 2020
Author Leslie Wahl seems to get it when it comes to teen drama. Josie thinks her “life is ruined” because the snobs at her school wrongfully believe that the main character in her mom’s latest book is modeled after her. Josie escapes to her aunt’s home. While there she learns more from the priest about how to become a friend of God. She also has an innocent summer romance with an immigrant working to help support his family. Through the text readers will learn more about third world countries and how hard some immigrants work to support families and how they can be exploited/blackmailed by those in authority over them. Josie also learns the hard lesson of not judging people by their social standing or even their abilities.
Wahl has crafted a well-written young adult novel with an intriguing plot which includes mystery and romance as well as cross-generational relationships. The characters are well-developed and each portrays a perspective unique to their background.
Area of Potential Concern There are several instances of adults drinking wine with meals. While this is not a problem for many, I come from a background of working with kids whose parents were alcoholics so I always want to mention when drinking is part of a book for teens.
If social drinking is not a problem for your audience, An Unexpected Role would be a great read for high schoolers.
Because the drinking is a very small part of the story (not really even a plot point) and I am currently working with a different audience, I would probably be able to add An Unexpected Role to my K-12 Christian school library with a note that it is for high school only.
I want to thank JustRead Publicity Tours for the complimentary copy I received for their Blind Date with a Book tour. This is my honest review.
Wahl has crafted a well-written young adult novel with an intriguing plot which includes mystery and romance as well as cross-generational relationships. The characters are well-developed and each portrays a perspective unique to their background.
Area of Potential Concern There are several instances of adults drinking wine with meals. While this is not a problem for many, I come from a background of working with kids whose parents were alcoholics so I always want to mention when drinking is part of a book for teens.
If social drinking is not a problem for your audience, An Unexpected Role would be a great read for high schoolers.
Because the drinking is a very small part of the story (not really even a plot point) and I am currently working with a different audience, I would probably be able to add An Unexpected Role to my K-12 Christian school library with a note that it is for high school only.
I want to thank JustRead Publicity Tours for the complimentary copy I received for their Blind Date with a Book tour. This is my honest review.
Read
September 6, 2025Into the Spotlight is a fun YA summer read, full of mystery and a bit of romance.
I feel for Josie. It sounds like being the child of a YA author could be as challenging as being a teacher’s kid or pastor’s kid in many ways. (I should know; I was a teacher’s kid!) Those teenage years can be rough as it is, but add in these other factors could tend to spell disaster!
I enjoyed seeing the growth and maturing of Josie throughout her summer on the island off the coast of South Carolina.
If you enjoy a Young Adult novel with mystery, coming-of-age sweet romance, and a dose of faith, I recommend Into the Spotlight for your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy. These opinions are my own.
I feel for Josie. It sounds like being the child of a YA author could be as challenging as being a teacher’s kid or pastor’s kid in many ways. (I should know; I was a teacher’s kid!) Those teenage years can be rough as it is, but add in these other factors could tend to spell disaster!
I enjoyed seeing the growth and maturing of Josie throughout her summer on the island off the coast of South Carolina.
If you enjoy a Young Adult novel with mystery, coming-of-age sweet romance, and a dose of faith, I recommend Into the Spotlight for your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy. These opinions are my own.
February 17, 2020
I received a copy of this novel from the author. All opinions are my own, any review is voluntary.
Josie's life is RUINED. Her mother, a well known local author takes inspiration from Josie's life experiences and its well known the main character of her popular series is based off of Josie. When the latest release has embarrassing moments Josie didn't experience her fellow high school classmates tease her relentlessly. Two years of trying to stay out of the spotlight down the drain and Josie can't handle all of the negative attention. Thankfully summer is starting and her aunt lives far enough away surely no one will recognize her.
Days on the beach include boy watching and getting rid of Josie's Minnesota pallor. Josie makes fast friends with the colorful locals and even tries her hand at sleuthing. There has been a lot of thefts and no one is safe. Timely scripture quoting postcards and advice from a war vet push Josie to challenge her relationship with God and rely on that relationship to become who she wants to be.
I enjoyed the dramatic angsty teen main character, the picturesque setting, and the town theft mystery.
Valentine's Day and celebrating 14 Days of Love with my kiddos MAY have influenced my rating a little. Seems like for the past year most romance has annoyed me but I loved the sweet summer romance developed in this story. Josie may not have liked the slow burn but I sure did.
There was a Catholic theme mentioned. Josie's mom sent corny postcards quoting scriptures and Josie went to church with her aunt. I've read Christian fiction that didn't really feel like God played a role it was just lightly mentioned. This is not that type of book. Josie's character development heavily relies on her increasing relationship with God. I loved how the author made the dialogue like how I hear my teenagers talk. This is a wonderful YA Christian fiction story.
Josie's life is RUINED. Her mother, a well known local author takes inspiration from Josie's life experiences and its well known the main character of her popular series is based off of Josie. When the latest release has embarrassing moments Josie didn't experience her fellow high school classmates tease her relentlessly. Two years of trying to stay out of the spotlight down the drain and Josie can't handle all of the negative attention. Thankfully summer is starting and her aunt lives far enough away surely no one will recognize her.
Days on the beach include boy watching and getting rid of Josie's Minnesota pallor. Josie makes fast friends with the colorful locals and even tries her hand at sleuthing. There has been a lot of thefts and no one is safe. Timely scripture quoting postcards and advice from a war vet push Josie to challenge her relationship with God and rely on that relationship to become who she wants to be.
I enjoyed the dramatic angsty teen main character, the picturesque setting, and the town theft mystery.
Valentine's Day and celebrating 14 Days of Love with my kiddos MAY have influenced my rating a little. Seems like for the past year most romance has annoyed me but I loved the sweet summer romance developed in this story. Josie may not have liked the slow burn but I sure did.
There was a Catholic theme mentioned. Josie's mom sent corny postcards quoting scriptures and Josie went to church with her aunt. I've read Christian fiction that didn't really feel like God played a role it was just lightly mentioned. This is not that type of book. Josie's character development heavily relies on her increasing relationship with God. I loved how the author made the dialogue like how I hear my teenagers talk. This is a wonderful YA Christian fiction story.
February 21, 2020
The premise sounded so thrilling and engaging and I couldn't wait to dig in. When you are a teenager everything seems like such a big deal and it is so hard to put things in perspective. I have two teens of my my own and I know that they are dealing with new issues every day. I am so thankful for this book that has some real life issues to address, yet mixes it up and adds a fun mystery to it. This book has just the right amount of excitement and thrills mixed with some more realistic troubles. I loved watching the main character Josie grow throughout this book, in her life and faith. It is hard to find good YA Christian fiction for myself and my kids so this was so refreshing.
I really loved the focus the book had about thinking of others' troubles to put your own in perspective. This is a lesson I am trying to relate to my own children so this was a real conversation starter. I loved the faith lessons that were sprinkled into the book without making it feel preachy or like a lecture. It was the perfect mix of faith, life, and fun. I highly recommend this book to anyone with teens, or for teens themselves. There is a little bit of something for everyone.
I received a free copy but was not required to leave a review.
I really loved the focus the book had about thinking of others' troubles to put your own in perspective. This is a lesson I am trying to relate to my own children so this was a real conversation starter. I loved the faith lessons that were sprinkled into the book without making it feel preachy or like a lecture. It was the perfect mix of faith, life, and fun. I highly recommend this book to anyone with teens, or for teens themselves. There is a little bit of something for everyone.
I received a free copy but was not required to leave a review.
July 28, 2025
After a humiliating incident and relentless bullying leave her feeling shattered, Josie seeks refuge by spending her summer on a picturesque South Carolina island with her Aunt. Her new beginning of friendship and fun takes an adventurous turn when thefts begin happening on the island, and she decides to solve the mystery herself.
This fun YA novel paints a vivid portrait of a teen girl's journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of staying true to herself amid the pressures of adolescence. The plot moves quickly, interweaving themes of faith, friendship, and a blossoming young romance.
Josie has remarkable character development throughout the story and I enjoyed watching her grow and learn that there are things more important than her reputation among her peers. I also enjoyed the story's message about the importance of compassion for refugees and immigrants.
Due to its candid exploration of high school issues, including mentions of bullying, parties, and rude remarks, I would recommend this book for older teens.
A heartfelt thank you to JustRead Tours for gifting me with a copy of this book to read and review!
This fun YA novel paints a vivid portrait of a teen girl's journey of self-discovery, navigating the complexities of staying true to herself amid the pressures of adolescence. The plot moves quickly, interweaving themes of faith, friendship, and a blossoming young romance.
Josie has remarkable character development throughout the story and I enjoyed watching her grow and learn that there are things more important than her reputation among her peers. I also enjoyed the story's message about the importance of compassion for refugees and immigrants.
Due to its candid exploration of high school issues, including mentions of bullying, parties, and rude remarks, I would recommend this book for older teens.
A heartfelt thank you to JustRead Tours for gifting me with a copy of this book to read and review!
February 26, 2020
Blind Date date tour book thanks to @justreadtours and the author Leslea Wahl.
A had to get through a couple of chapters before getting into this book. It wasn't what I expected. We get good character development. The setting is written beautifully and once i got into it the story flows well together.
A had to get through a couple of chapters before getting into this book. It wasn't what I expected. We get good character development. The setting is written beautifully and once i got into it the story flows well together.
February 20, 2020
One of the things I found most commendable about this book is how believable the characters were. Josie, the main character, is sixteen, and actually acts like a sixteen-year-old, which isn't always common in YA. Whether she was being over-dramatic, sulking, excited, embarrassed, or angry, all of it felt very true to the character and the age demographic. I found the story itself to be quick to draw me in and keep me in. For me, this was a quick read, as once I started, I wanted to know where the relationships were going to end up and what the conclusion of the mystery would be. Overall, I think this is a fun book for pretty much anyone, but definitely a great suspense story for teens.
A copy of this book was provided to me by JustRead Tours. My review is my own.
A copy of this book was provided to me by JustRead Tours. My review is my own.
July 15, 2025
This amazing young adult novel will surely bring you feelings of happiness and joy as you move through the story. This novel teaches an important message to have faith and learn to forgive even though sometimes it is not always easy. I for one enjoyed the story because the main character was able to grow and flourish through the course of the novel. In my opinion I think this should be a novel that is read in high school english classes as I think students could learn something.
We are introduced to Josie, a young teenager who after some bad choices decides to spend the summer with her aunt. From there she will have the adventure of a lifetime but also at the same time she will have the responsibility of having spiritual growth. By the end of the summer she will have grown into a person different from the one who originally arrived.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions are of my own.
We are introduced to Josie, a young teenager who after some bad choices decides to spend the summer with her aunt. From there she will have the adventure of a lifetime but also at the same time she will have the responsibility of having spiritual growth. By the end of the summer she will have grown into a person different from the one who originally arrived.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and all opinions are of my own.
August 6, 2020
Looking for a fun summer teen mystery...with themes of faith and coming-of-age?
The characters were dynamic, and as the MC (Josie) is confronted with situations--and people--out of her comfort zone, the lessons she learns about how to treat others (and how to find yourself) change her and her future. I liked that Josie's character had flaws and quirks--and that the author showed how those traits can be...inspiring!
The plot was interesting with a touch of mystery, and I liked that the author employed a little of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I also very much enjoyed the diversity and different struggles represented in this story (from forgotten Veterans to immigrants to bullies). Oh! Plus! The. Beach. And Josie's knowledge of old musicals was fun to read as well!
Things that weren't my favorite:
-Her mom's decision (that causes Josie's blow-up) was VERY inconsiderate and unkind. Although Josie does tend toward dramatic, her reaction was completely understandable.
-BOY. CRAZY. TEENS. This did fade a bit toward the end of the story, but Josie's outright obsession with cute/hot/gorgeous boys was a bit much to stomach.
-Josie's decision to solve the mystery and catch the bad guy was extremely...naive and unwise. Of course, everything turns out in the end, but in reality, such a decision is downright fool-hardy.
THREE STARS for a sweet, clean teen mystery.
Content Advisories: This book was overall very clean. There were a couple teen kisses and some robberies as well as an almost cuss-word.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the author for FREE, and a positive review was not required.
The characters were dynamic, and as the MC (Josie) is confronted with situations--and people--out of her comfort zone, the lessons she learns about how to treat others (and how to find yourself) change her and her future. I liked that Josie's character had flaws and quirks--and that the author showed how those traits can be...inspiring!
The plot was interesting with a touch of mystery, and I liked that the author employed a little of the enemies-to-lovers trope. I also very much enjoyed the diversity and different struggles represented in this story (from forgotten Veterans to immigrants to bullies). Oh! Plus! The. Beach. And Josie's knowledge of old musicals was fun to read as well!
Things that weren't my favorite:
-Her mom's decision (that causes Josie's blow-up) was VERY inconsiderate and unkind. Although Josie does tend toward dramatic, her reaction was completely understandable.
-BOY. CRAZY. TEENS. This did fade a bit toward the end of the story, but Josie's outright obsession with cute/hot/gorgeous boys was a bit much to stomach.
-Josie's decision to solve the mystery and catch the bad guy was extremely...naive and unwise. Of course, everything turns out in the end, but in reality, such a decision is downright fool-hardy.
THREE STARS for a sweet, clean teen mystery.
Content Advisories: This book was overall very clean. There were a couple teen kisses and some robberies as well as an almost cuss-word.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the author for FREE, and a positive review was not required.
January 3, 2023
I really enjoy Christian Romance books. I don't normally read Young Adult Romance books, but I really liked the synopsis of this book so I decided to read it. Into the Spotlight by Leslea Wahl is the most recent book that I have read and will be sharing with you.
Josie is a 16yr old who is trying to find her place in the world. She decides to spend the Summer with her Aunt in South Carolina after some struggles with her mother and schoolmates. She is enjoying her summer and she notices growth within her. She has new friendships, she connected with a cute guy and excitement all around town with a series of thefts. Josie really draws near to God when tragedy happens to someone close to her. Josie is intent on helping solve the mystery of the happenings around her. Will Josie be able to help solve the mystery she is now involved in? Will Josie be able to continue to grow when she returns home after the Summer?
I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I really enjoyed this book. I think this book really touches on many things that Young Adults go through in life these days. Josie knew when to step away and try to find herself, but she also found that she also needs to think about others around her. Ryan was a good relationship for her and he was a character. I really like how Josie shows much growth over the Summer away. Most of all I like how she started relying on her faith. The book is on of Mystery, Self Discovery, Romance, Forgiveness and FAITH! I highly recommend this book for Young Adults and anyone who enjoys Christian Romance. GREAT BOOK!
Josie is a 16yr old who is trying to find her place in the world. She decides to spend the Summer with her Aunt in South Carolina after some struggles with her mother and schoolmates. She is enjoying her summer and she notices growth within her. She has new friendships, she connected with a cute guy and excitement all around town with a series of thefts. Josie really draws near to God when tragedy happens to someone close to her. Josie is intent on helping solve the mystery of the happenings around her. Will Josie be able to help solve the mystery she is now involved in? Will Josie be able to continue to grow when she returns home after the Summer?
I was pleasantly surprised how quickly I really enjoyed this book. I think this book really touches on many things that Young Adults go through in life these days. Josie knew when to step away and try to find herself, but she also found that she also needs to think about others around her. Ryan was a good relationship for her and he was a character. I really like how Josie shows much growth over the Summer away. Most of all I like how she started relying on her faith. The book is on of Mystery, Self Discovery, Romance, Forgiveness and FAITH! I highly recommend this book for Young Adults and anyone who enjoys Christian Romance. GREAT BOOK!
January 27, 2017
Leslea Wahl has done it again! Another heart-pounding, can't-put-it-down teen suspense novel with humor galore and a delightful romantic twist. What more could you want?
While her first book, "The Perfect Blindside" (which, by the way, will blindside YOU when you realize you've stayed up all night reading it), was set in snowy Colorado, "An Unexpected Role" takes us to a picturesque sea town on an island in South Carolina. There 16-year-old Josie escapes for the summer, trying to get away from the cruel teasing of her classmates in Minnesota. But, to her absolute horror, one of the very classmates she is trying to avoid shows up on the same island for HIS summer vacation too! Bad luck, or what? While Josie ducks and dives in a desperate attempt to avoid the guy, she finds herself falling head over heels for an incredibly handsome refugee who works as a summer tourist guide. She instantly loses her heart.
But before long, much more than simply Josie's heart is at stake. Her very life may be in danger, as well as someone else's close to her. Local robberies plague the village, and when Josie decides to investigate, she naively steps straight into the path of danger.
I love the author's sense of humor. Every page drew at least one laugh, usually many more! And the way she gets into the head of a teenager is truly delightful. Both of her books are such fun reads with characters you will not soon forget. I really, really hope Wahl writes more books!
While her first book, "The Perfect Blindside" (which, by the way, will blindside YOU when you realize you've stayed up all night reading it), was set in snowy Colorado, "An Unexpected Role" takes us to a picturesque sea town on an island in South Carolina. There 16-year-old Josie escapes for the summer, trying to get away from the cruel teasing of her classmates in Minnesota. But, to her absolute horror, one of the very classmates she is trying to avoid shows up on the same island for HIS summer vacation too! Bad luck, or what? While Josie ducks and dives in a desperate attempt to avoid the guy, she finds herself falling head over heels for an incredibly handsome refugee who works as a summer tourist guide. She instantly loses her heart.
But before long, much more than simply Josie's heart is at stake. Her very life may be in danger, as well as someone else's close to her. Local robberies plague the village, and when Josie decides to investigate, she naively steps straight into the path of danger.
I love the author's sense of humor. Every page drew at least one laugh, usually many more! And the way she gets into the head of a teenager is truly delightful. Both of her books are such fun reads with characters you will not soon forget. I really, really hope Wahl writes more books!
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