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Amy Inspired
Amy Gallagher is an aspiring writer who, after countless rejections, has settled for a career as an English professor in small-town Ohio just to pay the bills. All her dreams suddenly start to unravel as rejections pile up--both from publishers and her boyfriend. But just as Amy fears her life is stuck in a holding pattern, she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli.
She struggles to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated. When secrets, tragedy, and poor decisions cause rifts in Amy's relationships, she must come to terms with who she's become, her unrealized aspirations for her life, and the state of her faith. Can she dare to hope that she will find love and fulfillment despite it all?
She struggles to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated. When secrets, tragedy, and poor decisions cause rifts in Amy's relationships, she must come to terms with who she's become, her unrealized aspirations for her life, and the state of her faith. Can she dare to hope that she will find love and fulfillment despite it all?
318 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
33 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Bethany Pierce
4 books21 followersBethany Pierce was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio to a Nazarene minister and an elementary school art teacher who encouraged the reading of books by storing the television on a microwave stand in the hall closet. In 2001 she enrolled in Miami University’s College of Art to study painting, staying a fifth year to complete a Master’s degree in creative writing.
Her artwork has been exhibited in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Austin. Publishers Weekly named her first book, Feeling for Bones, one of the top books of 2007.
Presently, Bethany lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she continues to write and paint as a member of the McGuffey Art Center.
Her artwork has been exhibited in Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Louisville, and Austin. Publishers Weekly named her first book, Feeling for Bones, one of the top books of 2007.
Presently, Bethany lives in Charlottesville, Virginia where she continues to write and paint as a member of the McGuffey Art Center.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
October 27, 2022
After seeing this book categorized "Christian fiction", I nearly dropped it like a hot potato. The last thing I wanted was another Christian romance on my hands.
Then I kept reading and the protagonist turned out to be a single, Christian, 29 year-old redhead with a graduate degree named Amy and I nearly dropped it again. Some things hit too close to home and I did not want to identify that closely with this character.
But thankfully I kept reading. The story makes it clear early on that it also does not want to be a stereotypical Christian romance. And Amy didn't turn out to have more than a superficial resemblance to me, as her lack of drive made me want to bang my head against a wall. So, we got along fine after that.
Sort of.
This is a hard book to rate because I think it did some things really well. It captures life in the Midwest (at least in 2010) quite beautifully. (Plastic yard flamingos wearing seasonal outfits, for goodness sake!) Some of the personalities (like the socially awkward undergrad) felt uncomfortably recognizable. And I also really appreciated how Amy's identity as a Christian felt realistic and cultural. This isn't a preachy book full of prayer-filled-making out or sudden miracles and change of heart à la an Alex Kendrick film. This is the tension of following the faith you've been raised in and wondering if it has any bearing on your daily life. Her faith doesn't consume the plot. She's also worried about friendships and grading and her family life. But it is there, a part of her life she grapples with in a way I found thought-provoking and even challenging.
Perhaps because I'm at a similar stage in life, I also just appreciated Amy's emotional struggle with family and adulthood. Her brother is getting married. Their sibling relationship doesn't fall apart so much as fade into the background. Her mother is getting invested in a career and life outside of her kids. Her grandmother tells Amy family secrets that she would rather not know. And suddenly, Amy starts to realize that her family needs her a lot less than she always thought she needed them.
There is Amy's relationship with her housemate. It was a great tension of minor jealousies and explosions and forgiveness and love. And if the story had ended more on that note...
Then there are the men in Amy's life. And that's where I felt let down by this story. On the one hand, this too was captured quite well. The awkwardness of walking the line when you've been raised in a religious, purity-focused environment (in Amy's case, "First Fundamentalist Church") and opening up to someone romantically should connect with many readers. Not knowing how to handle a crush, finding appropriate boundaries, handling male friendships...sometimes those things felt painfully familiar or reminded me of conversations with friends.
But the eventual love interest...I just didn't buy it. (Granted, I did ship her with someone else, which puts me at 3 books in a row now where I landed on the wrong guy. But that's probably besides the point)
This was a slow, character-driven, emotionally exhausting, often cathartic read for me but I felt like the final payout wasn't there to push this into a book I genuinely loved.
Then I kept reading and the protagonist turned out to be a single, Christian, 29 year-old redhead with a graduate degree named Amy and I nearly dropped it again. Some things hit too close to home and I did not want to identify that closely with this character.
But thankfully I kept reading. The story makes it clear early on that it also does not want to be a stereotypical Christian romance. And Amy didn't turn out to have more than a superficial resemblance to me, as her lack of drive made me want to bang my head against a wall. So, we got along fine after that.
Sort of.
This is a hard book to rate because I think it did some things really well. It captures life in the Midwest (at least in 2010) quite beautifully. (Plastic yard flamingos wearing seasonal outfits, for goodness sake!) Some of the personalities (like the socially awkward undergrad) felt uncomfortably recognizable. And I also really appreciated how Amy's identity as a Christian felt realistic and cultural. This isn't a preachy book full of prayer-filled-making out or sudden miracles and change of heart à la an Alex Kendrick film. This is the tension of following the faith you've been raised in and wondering if it has any bearing on your daily life. Her faith doesn't consume the plot. She's also worried about friendships and grading and her family life. But it is there, a part of her life she grapples with in a way I found thought-provoking and even challenging.
Perhaps because I'm at a similar stage in life, I also just appreciated Amy's emotional struggle with family and adulthood. Her brother is getting married. Their sibling relationship doesn't fall apart so much as fade into the background. Her mother is getting invested in a career and life outside of her kids. Her grandmother tells Amy family secrets that she would rather not know. And suddenly, Amy starts to realize that her family needs her a lot less than she always thought she needed them.
There is Amy's relationship with her housemate. It was a great tension of minor jealousies and explosions and forgiveness and love. And if the story had ended more on that note...
Then there are the men in Amy's life. And that's where I felt let down by this story. On the one hand, this too was captured quite well. The awkwardness of walking the line when you've been raised in a religious, purity-focused environment (in Amy's case, "First Fundamentalist Church") and opening up to someone romantically should connect with many readers. Not knowing how to handle a crush, finding appropriate boundaries, handling male friendships...sometimes those things felt painfully familiar or reminded me of conversations with friends.
But the eventual love interest...I just didn't buy it. (Granted, I did ship her with someone else, which puts me at 3 books in a row now where I landed on the wrong guy. But that's probably besides the point)
This was a slow, character-driven, emotionally exhausting, often cathartic read for me but I felt like the final payout wasn't there to push this into a book I genuinely loved.
November 26, 2017
This book took me forever to finish, which is not normal for me!
However, it wasn't very good.
Between crude moments, inappropriate behavior, and weird errors in my Kindle e-book version, this is not one I would recommend.
At least I got it for free.
However, it wasn't very good.
Between crude moments, inappropriate behavior, and weird errors in my Kindle e-book version, this is not one I would recommend.
At least I got it for free.
March 13, 2013
Amy Inspired is not your typical Christian fiction novel. So many of them slap you in the face with a sermon. This does not. I think that is what I really liked about the book. Amy, the main character is full of flaws. She proclaims she is a Christian, yet she makes the same realistic mistakes that many Christians make. That doesn’t make her less a Christian, just more realistic.
Amy is an aspiring writer. To live she accepts a teaching job at the university. Her writing passion shines as she teaches her students the finer points of writing. Unfortunately she is amassing a stack of rejection letters for her own writing. Feelings of happiness and jealousy rage as her friend and roommate Zoe gets an article published in a national magazine. Then Zoe lets a friend move in with them until he can find a job. Amy is attracted to Eli Moretti. He is everything that she has never wanted in a man. Eli is a tattooed, scruffy looking, an artist that lives life more freely than Amy has ever dared. It is exactly this type of man that helps put things in perspective for Amy. He causes her to question things.
There was so much I could identify to in this story. I like Amy make lists and have stacks of post it notes. My family teases me about my lists for my lists. I often feel I do a better job inspiring my students in their writing than I do in my own. I loved the way the author showed the human side of Amy. Things like jealousy, dealing with death, and family issues were handled in such a realistic way that anyone reading this could find something to relate to. This was the first book I had read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely recommend it to my friends both Christian and non-Christian.
Amy is an aspiring writer. To live she accepts a teaching job at the university. Her writing passion shines as she teaches her students the finer points of writing. Unfortunately she is amassing a stack of rejection letters for her own writing. Feelings of happiness and jealousy rage as her friend and roommate Zoe gets an article published in a national magazine. Then Zoe lets a friend move in with them until he can find a job. Amy is attracted to Eli Moretti. He is everything that she has never wanted in a man. Eli is a tattooed, scruffy looking, an artist that lives life more freely than Amy has ever dared. It is exactly this type of man that helps put things in perspective for Amy. He causes her to question things.
There was so much I could identify to in this story. I like Amy make lists and have stacks of post it notes. My family teases me about my lists for my lists. I often feel I do a better job inspiring my students in their writing than I do in my own. I loved the way the author showed the human side of Amy. Things like jealousy, dealing with death, and family issues were handled in such a realistic way that anyone reading this could find something to relate to. This was the first book I had read by this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will definitely recommend it to my friends both Christian and non-Christian.
November 14, 2010
My thoughts: I have mixed feelings about this one. I found myself skimming some pages just because I really didn't care about the characters, and this is one of those books where the characters, not the plot, were the real focus. Amy is now 30, she dreams of being a writer, but does little to achieve that gol but catalog rejection notices. She lives like a graduate student--sharing a small apartment,focusing her life on a college campus, and living on a small paycheck. She has friends who are as immature as she is. We learn about the sorrows in their present and past lives that make them who they are, but it seems to me (and in some ways I think it seemed to the characters) that there is a time when you decide to grow up, to focus on the life you have rather than pining for one that doesn't seem likely to happen. The ending is meant to be happy, yet I can't help but wonder if it will be happy down the road.
Amy Inspired is marketed as Christian fiction. Several of the Amazon reviews took issue with this. Amy attends church regularly, and even invites one of her students to come to church. We hear one of the pastor's sermons. Amy however, does not exude this saccharine-sweet love for and confidence in God that is often seen in Christian novels--and her spiritual life really doesn't seem to mature or change in the book. Amy was raised in the "First Fundamentalist Church",which didn't believe in drinking or dancing. Amy does both. Amy's parents are divorced, and Amy's mom is now dating a Catholic--though nothing is said about Catholicism, good, bad or otherwise. In one scene Amy recalls a date where she ended up in her date's apartment wearing nothing put her panties and bra,telling her date that she was a virgin. As someone who spent her dating days wanting to be good, but not a goody two-shoes, I could relate to that situation. Later in the book, her male roommate (with whom she had not been involved) crawls into her bed one night (with her consent), though no sex takes place. In short,while some complain the book isn't Christian enough, I think there is too much religion to market this as a mass-market book.
I'd like to thank the folks at Bethany House for providing a complimentary review copy. I was specifically told that negative reviews were acceptable.
Amy Inspired is marketed as Christian fiction. Several of the Amazon reviews took issue with this. Amy attends church regularly, and even invites one of her students to come to church. We hear one of the pastor's sermons. Amy however, does not exude this saccharine-sweet love for and confidence in God that is often seen in Christian novels--and her spiritual life really doesn't seem to mature or change in the book. Amy was raised in the "First Fundamentalist Church",which didn't believe in drinking or dancing. Amy does both. Amy's parents are divorced, and Amy's mom is now dating a Catholic--though nothing is said about Catholicism, good, bad or otherwise. In one scene Amy recalls a date where she ended up in her date's apartment wearing nothing put her panties and bra,telling her date that she was a virgin. As someone who spent her dating days wanting to be good, but not a goody two-shoes, I could relate to that situation. Later in the book, her male roommate (with whom she had not been involved) crawls into her bed one night (with her consent), though no sex takes place. In short,while some complain the book isn't Christian enough, I think there is too much religion to market this as a mass-market book.
I'd like to thank the folks at Bethany House for providing a complimentary review copy. I was specifically told that negative reviews were acceptable.
November 22, 2010
When I am deciding whether or not to read a book there is usually something about the book that I am drawn to that makes me interested enough to read on. Often it is where a book takes place, but other times it is something about the characters that I think I will relate to.
In the case of Amy Inspired, I was drawn to Amy’s love of words and to her uncertainty about what she wanted to do with her life. I know what it is like to struggle with that issue. Once I got into this book however, I found myself not really relating to Amy much at all. She and I are very different. Actually, I started to think she was a bit pretentious, but the more I got to know her, the less I felt that way. The character of Amy probably embodies the types of struggles young, single Christian women experience. Bethany brings these struggles into the story in an honest and edgy way. This could prove offensive to a more sensitive Christian audience, but I have a certain appreciation for authors who present reality in such a manner. Amy Inspired does not fit the usual Christian fiction formula. I like that formula, but I also like books that are different.
Bethany Pierce is a very good writer. This book was a surprisingly fast read despite the complex story and attention to detail. I really like that about this book because the author does include a lot of details, but I never felt like the story was weighed down by it all.
Overall, Amy Inspired is an interesting book and a different book. Again, some readers may find some of the material a bit questionable and this book is meant for mature readers. My feeling about the questionable material is that it is real and Amy is as flawed as the rest of us.
In the case of Amy Inspired, I was drawn to Amy’s love of words and to her uncertainty about what she wanted to do with her life. I know what it is like to struggle with that issue. Once I got into this book however, I found myself not really relating to Amy much at all. She and I are very different. Actually, I started to think she was a bit pretentious, but the more I got to know her, the less I felt that way. The character of Amy probably embodies the types of struggles young, single Christian women experience. Bethany brings these struggles into the story in an honest and edgy way. This could prove offensive to a more sensitive Christian audience, but I have a certain appreciation for authors who present reality in such a manner. Amy Inspired does not fit the usual Christian fiction formula. I like that formula, but I also like books that are different.
Bethany Pierce is a very good writer. This book was a surprisingly fast read despite the complex story and attention to detail. I really like that about this book because the author does include a lot of details, but I never felt like the story was weighed down by it all.
Overall, Amy Inspired is an interesting book and a different book. Again, some readers may find some of the material a bit questionable and this book is meant for mature readers. My feeling about the questionable material is that it is real and Amy is as flawed as the rest of us.
January 11, 2011
Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce is a quirky debut novel. Amy Gallagher has long desired to be a writer, but she has settled for teaching courses at a college and trying to write in her spare time. Her roommate Zoe has no trouble with writer's block, and Amy admires her faith in God and insistence in living life on her terms. When Zoe allows a friend, Eli a struggling artist, to move in to their apartment until he can find a job. Amy tries to fight her attraction to Eli because of his girlfriend, but also because he represents everything she hates in men: he's tattooed, scruffy, has long hair, and doesn't have a job. Meanwhile, her writing and her life have something in common: both are going nowhere. Pierce's writing is nearly impossible to define or describe. Amy's character is very real; she knows what she wants but has absolutely no idea how to get there, and she feels like something is missing from her life. Zoe is a crunchy Christian who eats vegan, recycles, and takes care of those around her, whether they want her help or not, but she's hiding the terrible pain and fear of losing her mother to breast cancer. The two best friends fight each other and God as they try to figure out what it really means to be a Christian. Pierce has done a remarkable job accurately rendering the state of Gen X Christians, but the book is hard to qualify as a romance, drama, or chick lit. It has aspects of each, but they are a bit muddled. The story is worth the read however to watch Amy travel from completely lost to Amy Inspired
Read
October 3, 2019Amy Gallagher is a frustrated writer who struggles with her inability to become published and with her inability to keep her private life tidy, for Amy is all about not having too many loose ends. Bethany Pierce provides a provocative coming of age novel with Amy Inspired. Even though Amy is about to turn thirty, and has a master’s degree, and a decent job as a college writing instructor, she is still trying to figure it out. She feels life, friends, and family are moving on without her. She struggles with her definition of being a Christian and what that involves when it comes to relationships. As Amy deals with her issues, demands, and concerns, the mysterious Eli comes into her life. How far can their friendship go, and should it go farther, begins to overtake Amy’s life, as she contemplates turning the big three-oh.
Of late, the past couple of years perhaps, Christian fiction has inched further and further into areas not previously explored. In Amy Inspired readers encounter a character who wrestles with her personal goals, ambitions, and relationships and how her beliefs fit into all of it. In short, Amy’s character reflects the real struggles most people deal with. Amy has her flaws and weaknesses, ranging from contemplating pre-martial sex to attending parties. She struggles with wanting much, but not taking the time to prayerfully listening for answers. Gallagher gives readers an insightful look at a character whose struggles imitate those found in real life.
Of late, the past couple of years perhaps, Christian fiction has inched further and further into areas not previously explored. In Amy Inspired readers encounter a character who wrestles with her personal goals, ambitions, and relationships and how her beliefs fit into all of it. In short, Amy’s character reflects the real struggles most people deal with. Amy has her flaws and weaknesses, ranging from contemplating pre-martial sex to attending parties. She struggles with wanting much, but not taking the time to prayerfully listening for answers. Gallagher gives readers an insightful look at a character whose struggles imitate those found in real life.
December 1, 2010
I was very confused by this book, I really don't know how to rate it. I'm a reader of both general market/secular fiction and Christian fiction, usually there is a pretty clear line between the two, for me Amy Inspired blurred the line. If I were to classify it as anything it would be women's fiction with faith elements since there is not a lot of romance but rather a relationship between two girl friends and their struggles with men, family, etc. Amy lived in an apartment with a guy she was attracted to and even slept with him, no sex but I definitely do not see my grandma reading this! I'm absolutely fine with authors mentioning sex, alcohol, etc. but I guess I'm just not used to it in Christian fiction. That said I would definitely say this is an "edgy" book.
On one hand this story is very realistic with Amy wondering about her love life, career and writing which I liked reading about but on the other hand it's almost too realistic. Did I really need to know about basic bodily functions? no, these were definite "TMI" moments for me. On the other hand this book had some great lines that made me say, "Oh wow! How true!" I won't say that I didn't like Amy Inspired but it will definitely take some getting used to. Readers who don't generally read Christian fiction might want to give this a chance as it is not too "preachy."
*I received my complimentary copy as part of the Bethany House Publishers book review program.*
On one hand this story is very realistic with Amy wondering about her love life, career and writing which I liked reading about but on the other hand it's almost too realistic. Did I really need to know about basic bodily functions? no, these were definite "TMI" moments for me. On the other hand this book had some great lines that made me say, "Oh wow! How true!" I won't say that I didn't like Amy Inspired but it will definitely take some getting used to. Readers who don't generally read Christian fiction might want to give this a chance as it is not too "preachy."
*I received my complimentary copy as part of the Bethany House Publishers book review program.*
December 6, 2010
This book was interesting. It was different in ways that I haven’t quite decided are good or a bad, and as with other reviewers, I’m slightly confused as how to review/rate it.
There were parts of the book that were entertaining and even certain moments where I was laughing at loud at the situation or witty thoughts of the main character, Amy. Yet, there were also moments of randomness (a student who has a crush on Amy, her mom’s makeup business, the Cheetos bag), which left me confused as to how it all fit into the story. Also, though the description mentions a possible romantic interest in Eli (which does happen), I felt that the main relationship in the story was between Amy and her roommate, Zoe, as they deal with the struggles of their writing careers, men and their families.
The story seemed to drag bit, but the last few chapters saved this book for me. Maybe I’m a sucker for a happy ending, but I really liked how Amy and Eli met up again and how the title of the book came into play within the story. Overall, this was decent book.
There were parts of the book that were entertaining and even certain moments where I was laughing at loud at the situation or witty thoughts of the main character, Amy. Yet, there were also moments of randomness (a student who has a crush on Amy, her mom’s makeup business, the Cheetos bag), which left me confused as to how it all fit into the story. Also, though the description mentions a possible romantic interest in Eli (which does happen), I felt that the main relationship in the story was between Amy and her roommate, Zoe, as they deal with the struggles of their writing careers, men and their families.
The story seemed to drag bit, but the last few chapters saved this book for me. Maybe I’m a sucker for a happy ending, but I really liked how Amy and Eli met up again and how the title of the book came into play within the story. Overall, this was decent book.
August 27, 2016
Amy Inspired is a Christian novel about a young woman who was raised as a fundamental Christian and now is finding her own way through life and through her faith. Amy is a writer, but none of her work has been published. As she nears her 30th birthday, she starts to wonder why her life seems to be off track. Amy's roommate, Zoe, has a friend Eli, who falls on hard times. After bed bugs infest his apartment, the 2 friends agree to let him stay with them for a short while. Eli is nothing like the other guys Amy has dated in the past, but there's something about his unorthodox approach to life that Amy finds intriguing.
Through losses and friendship, Amy starts to see where she can change and follow her heart and God a little better.
Through losses and friendship, Amy starts to see where she can change and follow her heart and God a little better.
February 9, 2012
The story was interesting, the characters likeable in their oddities, and the main character being a writer intrigued me since I am a writer. While I really enjoyed the style and POV, I felt a little let down when I finished. I didn't come away with a strong sense of the message of the book. I think it could have been a deeper story--but then, I prefer deep stories! Still, it was a good read, and I did find some tasty little tidbits here and there that made me nod and think, "Exactly."
did-not-finish
June 7, 2017Okay... Well, I made it to 10% and decided I have lots of books on my kindle and didn't need to spend my time on this. There were quite a few crude references that felt pointless accept to be crude and Amy seemed too apathetic in her own beliefs for them to seem real. It has a depressing feeling that I just don't want.
On to the next book on my Kindle.
On to the next book on my Kindle.
June 30, 2017
I really liked Pierce's style of prose: the vivid imagery, the simple elegance, and the humor (see Lonnie). I related to the characters, especially Amy, and I thought Zoë did remind me some of my college roommate, Jessica. Rejection was Amy's biggest fear, and it was realized in her relationships and her writing. I felt like I was in her world completely. The pastor's sermon from Ecclesiastes was solid, the discussion questions at the end were well-written, etc. The only thing I didn't really like was how Amy fell for Eli; I still don't understand their connection. However, I'm glad the book didn't end with a specific "and then they got married," but rather a "their future was filled with hope." That's not the most fulfilling ending for a romantic, but sometimes a deep breath is enough. This book was a breath of fresh air.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2018
Well-written. I liked the way Ms. Pierce was able to change writing styles to show the writing of different characters who were authors (or aspiring to be) - Adam, Zoe, Lonnie, Amy and then herself as the narrator. She also did a good job describing academia and life in a small college town.
September 5, 2019
This held my interest, but it was very different from most Christian fiction.
May 2, 2020
Reading this book was like a nice ride 😘
Want to read
July 20, 2020hoopla
April 4, 2022
It took me so long to read and I'm not really sure why I finished it. Oh well.
July 3, 2023
2.5 stars. I wasn't a fan of pretty much anything that happened with Eli, but I did appreciate Amy's friendship with Zoe, and the author's treatment of her grief.
November 13, 2010
Readers of Christian fiction who tend to be a bit more conservative, may find Amy Inspired edgier than what they prefer to read.
The Christianity presented in this book comes from what appears to be along the lines of an emergent view and for those who aren’t comfortable with a more "Kum ba yah" approach to God, this book might even be offensive.
Granted, there’s nothing too shocking or hair raising but readers should be aware that this isn’t your typical sweet Christian fiction. Based on your personal convictions, I think this is one of those titles you'll either love or hate. There's some slang and suggestive conversations/situations.
However, if you can get past the incense, poetry readings, hemp jewelry and tattooed co-ed roommates sleeping together (but not having sex) then you may enjoy the journey of Amy Inspired.
The main character is quickly approaching thirty and is extremely frustrated with her life. Her biological clock is ticking and she is questioning every decision she’s made thus far. Sometimes she even questions her own faith. Having recently broken up with her atheist boyfriend, Amy continues to plod through life, underpaid, bored and feeling rejected.
A struggling writer, Amy is teaching at a college (a job that doesn’t satisfy her) and sharing an apartment with her quirky, roommate Zoe. Zoe is a free spirited vegetarian barista who drives Amy nuts and at the same time, is her closest friend. Later in the story, readers are introduced to Eli, another free spirit who Amy begins to have feelings for. Eli moves in with Zoe and Amy and complicates Amy's life even more.
Amy’s lifelong dream is to become a published writer and though she’s repeatedly rejected, she continues to submit her story to magazines hoping someday her work will be recognized. She’s a sweet girl with a good heart but lives in a continual state of emotional conflict, confusion and self-doubt. She’s unhappy with her current job, restless and feels like she’s always settling for second best.
There is a lot of turmoil and indecision going on in this book and the overall impression was chaotic. I found the book hard to get into and a bit monotonous at times (often depressing!) but I attribute that to the fact that I don’t really fit the intended audience for this type of story.
I didn’t connect with the characters and I had a hard time following what point the author was trying to make. I think this book may be better suited for college age readers or "20 somethings" who can better identify with Amy.
This is the first book I’ve read by Bethany Pierce and I would be willing to give her books another chance, but sadly this one just just didn’t work for me.
December 1, 2010
Amy Inspired is truly an engaging and challenging novel. Where do you sit on the questions that she poses? This is after all a romance novel, one injected with humor, humanity, and the human condition. Here is the synopsis so maybe you can catch a little flavor of what is in the pages: ”Amy Gallagher is an aspiring writer who, after countless rejections, has settled for a career as an English professor in small-town Ohio just to pay the bills. All her dreams suddenly start to unravel as rejections pile up--both from publishers and her boyfriend. But just as Amy fears her life is stuck in a holding pattern, she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. She struggles to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated. When secrets, tragedy, and poor decisions cause rifts in Amy's relationships, she must come to terms with who she's become, her unrealized aspirations for her life, and the state of her faith. Can she dare to hope that she will find love and fulfillment despite it all?”
Intrigued? I think it is hard not to be and that is what drew me to the novel. Bethany Pierce had me in a quandary within the confines of the small world she has built here. I like things nice and tidy, but our gal Amy seems to have things woven in a different fabric. Whether I stand for or against her choices is not the point, nor do I wish to get up on a soap box for either side, my question is did she make me interested in her characters and did I find them believable enough to become emotionally invested in them? For that I have to give it all a yes. Amy was fun to follow and I truly enjoyed trying to figure out which turn she was going to make.
Amy Inspired lives up to its title in more ways than one. The method, means, and arrival may not be for all, and some expectations may not be totally met, but for me this definitely deserves a minimum of four stars for the humor, dialogue, and determination. I am hopefully going to be reading more from Bethany Pierce in the future; she has inspired me to do so.
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Intrigued? I think it is hard not to be and that is what drew me to the novel. Bethany Pierce had me in a quandary within the confines of the small world she has built here. I like things nice and tidy, but our gal Amy seems to have things woven in a different fabric. Whether I stand for or against her choices is not the point, nor do I wish to get up on a soap box for either side, my question is did she make me interested in her characters and did I find them believable enough to become emotionally invested in them? For that I have to give it all a yes. Amy was fun to follow and I truly enjoyed trying to figure out which turn she was going to make.
Amy Inspired lives up to its title in more ways than one. The method, means, and arrival may not be for all, and some expectations may not be totally met, but for me this definitely deserves a minimum of four stars for the humor, dialogue, and determination. I am hopefully going to be reading more from Bethany Pierce in the future; she has inspired me to do so.
What are you reading today? Check us out and become our friend on Shelfari & Linkedin. Go to Goodreads and become our friend there and suggest books for us to read and post on. You can also follow us on Twitter, Wattpad and the Gelati’s Scoop Facebook Fan Page. Did you know you can shop directly on Amazon by clicking the Amazon Banner on our blog? Thanks for stopping by today; We will see you tomorrow. Have a great day. http://www.gelatisscoop.blogspot.com
December 29, 2015
Amy Inspired is the second novel by author Bethany Pierce. It's the story of 29-year-old Amy Gallagher who is a creative writing/English lit professor at a college in the fictional Copenhagen, Ohio. She's an aspiring author who keeps receiving rejection letters from publishers and faces serious writer's block, while her roommate Zoe continues to type away with seemingly no issues. Amy's life feels like it's going nowhere fast as she continues at the job she took to just get by with while everyone around her seems to be moving forward. Then Zoe's friend Eli's apartment is taken over by bedbugs. Zoe, being the humanitarian she is, offers her and Amy's garage apartment as a refuge. Amy isn't thrilled at all with this, until Eli actually arrives at the apartment...
I had originally posted a rather confusing, not-so-stellar review of this book earlier in the year. Yet I reread the book a few months ago and I kind of fell in love with it. I suppose it's just one of those books that need a closer read for one to truly enjoy it. It gets better with time. I loved it so much in fact that I bought my own copy from abebooks.com, knowing full well I could rent it anytime I wanted at the library. I just really wanted my own copy for my bookshelf at home. If that doesn't say love, I don't know what does.
I think part of the reason I felt conflicted about Amy Inspired after my first reading it was the fact that it deals with a woman struggling to become a published author and maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read that at the time. But this time it wasn't so much soul draining as it was relatable, and I didn't freak myself out while reading it. And when you aren't focusing solely on that, then notice all these golden nuggets of wonderful words. Bethany Pierce really has a way with words and I'm kind of jealous.
Amy Gallagher is the sort of person that I would like to be friends with. She's smart, witty, loves good books and is honest. She doesn't put up a show, there are no smoke and mirrors. I wish I could find the real life Amy Gallagher and become friends with her and that to me is a sign of a good book.
The romance is this book is definitely there, but not over powering. I like Amy and Eli as a couple; they seem to go together and balance each other out. And the faith elements are there, though not in-your-face.
Amy Inspired is a book that I felt conflicted about upon first reading it, yet after my second read, it became one of my favorites. I would recommend this book to anyone.
I had originally posted a rather confusing, not-so-stellar review of this book earlier in the year. Yet I reread the book a few months ago and I kind of fell in love with it. I suppose it's just one of those books that need a closer read for one to truly enjoy it. It gets better with time. I loved it so much in fact that I bought my own copy from abebooks.com, knowing full well I could rent it anytime I wanted at the library. I just really wanted my own copy for my bookshelf at home. If that doesn't say love, I don't know what does.
I think part of the reason I felt conflicted about Amy Inspired after my first reading it was the fact that it deals with a woman struggling to become a published author and maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read that at the time. But this time it wasn't so much soul draining as it was relatable, and I didn't freak myself out while reading it. And when you aren't focusing solely on that, then notice all these golden nuggets of wonderful words. Bethany Pierce really has a way with words and I'm kind of jealous.
Amy Gallagher is the sort of person that I would like to be friends with. She's smart, witty, loves good books and is honest. She doesn't put up a show, there are no smoke and mirrors. I wish I could find the real life Amy Gallagher and become friends with her and that to me is a sign of a good book.
The romance is this book is definitely there, but not over powering. I like Amy and Eli as a couple; they seem to go together and balance each other out. And the faith elements are there, though not in-your-face.
Amy Inspired is a book that I felt conflicted about upon first reading it, yet after my second read, it became one of my favorites. I would recommend this book to anyone.
November 10, 2015
Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce
I have not figured out what this author wanted this book to 'be'.
I read a lot of Christian fiction and a lot of secular fiction--this doesn't fit in either category.
Premise: Amy is a adjunct teaching English and not loving it. She wants to be a writer (but struggles to write). She is struggling with bills and so has a roommate (and not loving it). She is single (and not loving it) but has some family…(loving that?). A homeless artist moves into the apartment, invited by the roommate Zoe, and she's not loving that (initially).
Not an uplifting start--even with a 'happy-ish' ending, it isn't really uplifting.
On the plus side, there are a few funny lines and some pretty good discussion on writing (although some of it is her classroom teaching).
On the minus side:
The 'flow of consciousness' narrative included numerous comments that were rather distasteful (e.g. wedding night discussion, "chastity for its own sake had become pure drudgery", sleeping together hints about a number of book characters).
There was a sermon--seriously!? I love good Christian fiction. This wasn't it. If a sermon was actually a good writing tool in fiction, more would use it…. They don't.
After the sermon- an attempt to be deeper in faith? but felt like a different person. The book blurb stated "even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated". Maybe that's where I am getting lost. Most of the book gave me the feeling that she didn't know what "her faith" was--she just seemed confused about it.
Overall, the book format which showed every thought in her head didn't show the development of relationships with much of anyone in her life. There were many details but not much in the threads for showing her growth as a dynamic character. I thought I should feel some changes happening, rather than tell me later that something happened.
The relationship with Eli jumped from dislike, to secretly really like, to love, to crazy fight, to love--without much grounding in the changes happening or why (besides them spending some time together in a bar?).
The family relationships stayed rather distant. The roommate relationship with Zoe jumped around some but at least that seemed to develop.
I found this a difficult book to finish. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters who all seemed to have a superfluous number of shortcomings and few likable moments.
I would not recommend this.
I have not figured out what this author wanted this book to 'be'.
I read a lot of Christian fiction and a lot of secular fiction--this doesn't fit in either category.
Premise: Amy is a adjunct teaching English and not loving it. She wants to be a writer (but struggles to write). She is struggling with bills and so has a roommate (and not loving it). She is single (and not loving it) but has some family…(loving that?). A homeless artist moves into the apartment, invited by the roommate Zoe, and she's not loving that (initially).
Not an uplifting start--even with a 'happy-ish' ending, it isn't really uplifting.
On the plus side, there are a few funny lines and some pretty good discussion on writing (although some of it is her classroom teaching).
On the minus side:
The 'flow of consciousness' narrative included numerous comments that were rather distasteful (e.g. wedding night discussion, "chastity for its own sake had become pure drudgery", sleeping together hints about a number of book characters).
There was a sermon--seriously!? I love good Christian fiction. This wasn't it. If a sermon was actually a good writing tool in fiction, more would use it…. They don't.
After the sermon- an attempt to be deeper in faith? but felt like a different person. The book blurb stated "even as staying true to her faith becomes unexpectedly complicated". Maybe that's where I am getting lost. Most of the book gave me the feeling that she didn't know what "her faith" was--she just seemed confused about it.
Overall, the book format which showed every thought in her head didn't show the development of relationships with much of anyone in her life. There were many details but not much in the threads for showing her growth as a dynamic character. I thought I should feel some changes happening, rather than tell me later that something happened.
The relationship with Eli jumped from dislike, to secretly really like, to love, to crazy fight, to love--without much grounding in the changes happening or why (besides them spending some time together in a bar?).
The family relationships stayed rather distant. The roommate relationship with Zoe jumped around some but at least that seemed to develop.
I found this a difficult book to finish. I didn't feel a connection to any of the characters who all seemed to have a superfluous number of shortcomings and few likable moments.
I would not recommend this.
March 13, 2013
Amy Gallagher's life epitomizes the aspiring writer's worst fears: extra time to write spent doing everything but writing, additional rejections on pieces that have already been rejected, and a love life as unreliable as a magazine article on dating. In Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce, the reader finds Amy at an impasse. If she continues on her current path, will she ever be a writer? Ever have love?
The writing style in this story is fresh, humorous, and entertaining. So much so that author Bethany Pierce does a good job of keeping the reader interested even when nothing major is happening. The main character, Amy, is likable and easy to relate to. And the faith elements prompt the reader to evaluate how much of their belief system comes from external expectations and learned behaviors versus a genuine response to a relationship with God.
SPOILER ALERT!!! Though the remainder of this review won't divulge every aspect of the story, the outcome is revealed. Don't read further if you haven't yet read Amy Inspired and intend to.
There wasn't much I disliked about the story. Occasionally, however, I wondered where it was going. I expected to see the character falling in love or at least eventually writing that novel she dreamed of writing. It made me nervous when I neared the end but didn't see the plot culminating towards resolution. I would've liked to take that journey with the character. Unfortunately, the story ends without Amy accomplishing the goal. That she begins a relationship with the mysterious Eli (starving artist/ex-roommate) is implied at the end of the story; as is the notion that she will leave safe Copenhagen, Ohio to move to New York. However, it is left to the reader's imagination whether or not Amy and Eli will last, if Amy will publish an article let alone write her novel, how well she will transition into life as a New-Yorker, and if her IL (Interesting Life) will end in a happily ever after.
Without the achieved goal, it read more like a very well written television series: where there's no finish line in sight, but the cast and crew keep it so interesting you're going to stick around to see the finale regardless.
Though I don't mind an occasional loose end, the unspoken in this novel leaves room for a sequel, which I hope Pierce will one day write. I'd buy it. I want to see more of what Eli and Amy look like as a couple and experience their process of falling in love.
The writing style in this story is fresh, humorous, and entertaining. So much so that author Bethany Pierce does a good job of keeping the reader interested even when nothing major is happening. The main character, Amy, is likable and easy to relate to. And the faith elements prompt the reader to evaluate how much of their belief system comes from external expectations and learned behaviors versus a genuine response to a relationship with God.
SPOILER ALERT!!! Though the remainder of this review won't divulge every aspect of the story, the outcome is revealed. Don't read further if you haven't yet read Amy Inspired and intend to.
There wasn't much I disliked about the story. Occasionally, however, I wondered where it was going. I expected to see the character falling in love or at least eventually writing that novel she dreamed of writing. It made me nervous when I neared the end but didn't see the plot culminating towards resolution. I would've liked to take that journey with the character. Unfortunately, the story ends without Amy accomplishing the goal. That she begins a relationship with the mysterious Eli (starving artist/ex-roommate) is implied at the end of the story; as is the notion that she will leave safe Copenhagen, Ohio to move to New York. However, it is left to the reader's imagination whether or not Amy and Eli will last, if Amy will publish an article let alone write her novel, how well she will transition into life as a New-Yorker, and if her IL (Interesting Life) will end in a happily ever after.
Without the achieved goal, it read more like a very well written television series: where there's no finish line in sight, but the cast and crew keep it so interesting you're going to stick around to see the finale regardless.
Though I don't mind an occasional loose end, the unspoken in this novel leaves room for a sequel, which I hope Pierce will one day write. I'd buy it. I want to see more of what Eli and Amy look like as a couple and experience their process of falling in love.
Read
March 5, 2015This is by far one of the worst books I have ever read before. The storyline is at first appealing but after awhile, the general pessisimistic view of the main character is not appealing at best. The characters in the novel read as a bad soap opera. Amy Gallagher literally has no self-respect for herself. She works as an English teacher and complains about it all the time rather than being grateful she has a job. She is an aspiring writer and yet she sets no realistic goals for herself when it comes to writing. Instead she just waits for inspiration which she rarely gets. She is insecure about her looks, job, relationships, family, pretty much everything. Her relationship with God is not real or vibrant. She meets a guy who is just as insecure as her, not only that but he was abused as a kid and at one point he grabs her arm causing her pain and doesn't even apologize. She is the one who ends up apologizing for hitting him because she slaps him in self-defense. She mourns over the fact that all her relationships failed and yet doesn't seem to see how her actions contribute to that. She fantasizes rather than choosing to accept reality. She hates her father for leaving her and rather than working on all of her insecurity and emotional baggage, she hides away from the truth and as soon as she meets someone who is tall, dark, and handsome she falls for him. She decides to drive all the way to new York to be with him, because she keeps on thinking about him. I mean really, does she not have any purpose other to chase guys for her security and fulfillment?! What is worse is even when she is give an opportunity to share hope with someone, she can't because she herself doesn't know what to believe. By the end of the book, I was really starting to despise her character. I'm sorry but meeting the guy of your dreams is not the magical formula that will suddenly make all your insecurities vanish. This book is garbage! And it just inspires me to write something better and worth reading rather another stupid useless supposedly Christian romance novel. So I have said my say. It's your choice if u want to read this book but I warn you, by the end of it, you will literally feel your brain dying because it's so exceedingly painful. It's
I,e a horror movie with no happy ending. I'm amazed it even got published.
I,e a horror movie with no happy ending. I'm amazed it even got published.
January 2, 2011
This review first appeared on my blog: http://jewelknits.blogspot.com/2011/0...
COVER: LOVE!
Amy is a 29-year-old aspiring writer currently working as a visiting faculty professor in Copenhagen, Ohio. She has an eccentric roommate, also an aspiring writer, named Zoe, a jittery assistant named Everett, a fundamentalist mother, and a younger brother, Brian, who is preparing to get married to his Indian girlfriend Marie.
Adam, Amy's boyfriend, is a newly published novelist who also teaches at the university. He is also an atheist, and their views and morality differ greatly.
When artsy Zoe's friend Eli, who ran a gallery that recently closed, needs a place to stay, Amy is under the impression that it's only for the holiday weekend, and tells Zoe that it's OK, even though she wonders what her mom would think of a man living under the same roof with her. Eli's girlfriend, Jillian, is a student at the university who is currently away in Germany studying painting, and their relationship continues through telephone conversations.
I liked reading about Amy and her family and friends. There are moments with tongue-in-cheek humor and moments where I simply laughed out loud. There is also a deeper subtext of friendship and family. Zoe's mother is battling cancer, and her boyfriend, Michael, seems as though he might want to put the moves on Amy. This is Christian fiction, but not in a preachy sense; I think that it works well for mainstream fiction as well, especially for lovers of character-driven novels.
QUOTES
Studying my reflection, I knew I wasn't miraculously gong to be anything at thirty that I hadn't struggled to become in my twenties. In other words, I was off to a very bad start.
"Love in the Time of Cholera," he read. "That's like titling a book, "Love in the Face of Massive Diarrhea."
His tastes had never been literary.
"Amy Gallagher, you are the most interesting woman I have ever had the misfortune of living wtih>"
"What about 'you're beautiful',", I said. "Or 'I'm deeply attracted to your intelligence'."
COVER: LOVE!
Amy is a 29-year-old aspiring writer currently working as a visiting faculty professor in Copenhagen, Ohio. She has an eccentric roommate, also an aspiring writer, named Zoe, a jittery assistant named Everett, a fundamentalist mother, and a younger brother, Brian, who is preparing to get married to his Indian girlfriend Marie.
Adam, Amy's boyfriend, is a newly published novelist who also teaches at the university. He is also an atheist, and their views and morality differ greatly.
When artsy Zoe's friend Eli, who ran a gallery that recently closed, needs a place to stay, Amy is under the impression that it's only for the holiday weekend, and tells Zoe that it's OK, even though she wonders what her mom would think of a man living under the same roof with her. Eli's girlfriend, Jillian, is a student at the university who is currently away in Germany studying painting, and their relationship continues through telephone conversations.
I liked reading about Amy and her family and friends. There are moments with tongue-in-cheek humor and moments where I simply laughed out loud. There is also a deeper subtext of friendship and family. Zoe's mother is battling cancer, and her boyfriend, Michael, seems as though he might want to put the moves on Amy. This is Christian fiction, but not in a preachy sense; I think that it works well for mainstream fiction as well, especially for lovers of character-driven novels.
QUOTES
Studying my reflection, I knew I wasn't miraculously gong to be anything at thirty that I hadn't struggled to become in my twenties. In other words, I was off to a very bad start.
"Love in the Time of Cholera," he read. "That's like titling a book, "Love in the Face of Massive Diarrhea."
His tastes had never been literary.
"Amy Gallagher, you are the most interesting woman I have ever had the misfortune of living wtih>"
"What about 'you're beautiful',", I said. "Or 'I'm deeply attracted to your intelligence'."
February 2, 2011
My recap of the story:
Amy Gallagher, a thirty year old woman who loves to read, write, and think about how her life will end up. She’s tired of watching the women around her falling in love, dating, or even getting married. Amy likes to keep to herself even though she’s lonely. Although her old manuscripts, student’s papers, and her books give her some kind of company, nothing can compare to the thoughts and feelings she has for Eli—Zoe’s friend.
Zoe is Amy’s roommate who’s the complete opposite of her. Zoe and Amy’s relationship is like two sisters who love each other, but jealousy is sometimes involved. Amy admires her spunk, energy, vegetarian food, her writing, and thinks her boyfriend is cute. Actually, Amy is a little on the flirtatious side, well, Zoe thinks so.
Tired of getting rejected by ex-boyfriends and agents, Amy finally gets up the nerve to write until she gets somewhere and chase after the man that stole her heart.
My personal thoughts on: ~ Amy Inspired~
This is the first book so far that I did not connect with. The blurb on the back of the book sounds great, but to me, the story was slow, flat and I never grasped Amy Gallagher. Her character was boring and she seemed like a character than a real person. I thought Zoe, her roommate seemed more like the main character. I really like her, she kept me entertained.
Towards the last few chapters Amy started to come more alive and the plot had me a little excited, but the end was boring. I think if there was more of a PUNCH to the end, it may have turned out okay.
I do not recommend taking your time to read this.
October 23, 2015
I'm going to preface this review by saying that I identify with Amy. A whole lot more than I was expecting to when I read the back cover of this book.
I wasn't sure what I was in for when I cracked the book, but as an aspiring writer myself, I figured I"d at least enjoy Amy's journey. I wasn't expecting to find myself looking back at me as I was reading. I guess that's a bit melodaramatic, but it hit me rather hard. I'm twenty-nine, and single, and reading Amy's thoughts on being twenty-nine and single was like I had written them myself. While I have more "inspiration" than Amy when it comes to writing (I never agonized like she did over writing, and in fact I'm kind of overflowing with ideas), I can definitely identify with her love of words.
Not to mention, a reformed bad boy? Be still my heart. Eli seemed to be my poor pre-teen heart's dearest desire.
This book is definitely character driven, as opposed to plot-driven. I know that would put off a lot of people, especially as the book moves fairly slowly, but I liked it a lot. I liked getting to know these people. I liked Amy's reluctance to admit that she was in love with Eli, I sympathized with her desire for male attention, and I laughed at her attempts to dodge one particular awkward male's attention. As cheesy as it sounds, I felt like this book was written for me. Bethany Pierce has a lovely prose that I wish I could emulate, and she has an intriguing way of drawing characters that makes me wish I could meet them in the flesh.
In the end, I enjoyed every bit of it.
I wasn't sure what I was in for when I cracked the book, but as an aspiring writer myself, I figured I"d at least enjoy Amy's journey. I wasn't expecting to find myself looking back at me as I was reading. I guess that's a bit melodaramatic, but it hit me rather hard. I'm twenty-nine, and single, and reading Amy's thoughts on being twenty-nine and single was like I had written them myself. While I have more "inspiration" than Amy when it comes to writing (I never agonized like she did over writing, and in fact I'm kind of overflowing with ideas), I can definitely identify with her love of words.
Not to mention, a reformed bad boy? Be still my heart. Eli seemed to be my poor pre-teen heart's dearest desire.
This book is definitely character driven, as opposed to plot-driven. I know that would put off a lot of people, especially as the book moves fairly slowly, but I liked it a lot. I liked getting to know these people. I liked Amy's reluctance to admit that she was in love with Eli, I sympathized with her desire for male attention, and I laughed at her attempts to dodge one particular awkward male's attention. As cheesy as it sounds, I felt like this book was written for me. Bethany Pierce has a lovely prose that I wish I could emulate, and she has an intriguing way of drawing characters that makes me wish I could meet them in the flesh.
In the end, I enjoyed every bit of it.
November 24, 2010
Amy Inspired
By Bethany Pierce
Published by Bethany House
When Amy Gallagher accepted an Adjunct teaching position in Copenhagen, Ohio she thought it would provide her with the flexibility she needed to launch her writing career. Two years and a mountain of rejection letters later, Amy---, an obsessive-compulsive list maker, has little to show for her floundering passion for words.
Enter the enigmatic and intriguing artist, Eli. A friend of Amy’s housemate Zoe, Eli has moved into their tiny apartment before she realizes what’s happened. Attempting to maintain her distance from this rough, tattooed, drifter, Amy can’t help but be drawn to him. Deceptively handsome and beguiling, he challenges Amy and the world she has created for herself.
After an infelicitous encounter, Eli moves out of the apartment leaving Amy puzzled and alone. Forced to probe the walls and boundaries she has spent a lifetime constructing; what Amy discovers, is that life goes on, with or without her rigidity, and that just might be OK.
Witty and compelling, Amy Inspired is a coming of age novel for adults who have not yet found their niche in life. Pierce’s seemingly effortless yet very real character development is captivating and irresistible.
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
By Bethany Pierce
Published by Bethany House
When Amy Gallagher accepted an Adjunct teaching position in Copenhagen, Ohio she thought it would provide her with the flexibility she needed to launch her writing career. Two years and a mountain of rejection letters later, Amy---, an obsessive-compulsive list maker, has little to show for her floundering passion for words.
Enter the enigmatic and intriguing artist, Eli. A friend of Amy’s housemate Zoe, Eli has moved into their tiny apartment before she realizes what’s happened. Attempting to maintain her distance from this rough, tattooed, drifter, Amy can’t help but be drawn to him. Deceptively handsome and beguiling, he challenges Amy and the world she has created for herself.
After an infelicitous encounter, Eli moves out of the apartment leaving Amy puzzled and alone. Forced to probe the walls and boundaries she has spent a lifetime constructing; what Amy discovers, is that life goes on, with or without her rigidity, and that just might be OK.
Witty and compelling, Amy Inspired is a coming of age novel for adults who have not yet found their niche in life. Pierce’s seemingly effortless yet very real character development is captivating and irresistible.
I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.
July 29, 2011
Title: AMY INSPIRED
Author: Bethany Pierce
Publisher: Bethany House
October 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0850-4
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
Amy Gallagher is a freelance writer and a college professor. As an English major, she has an obsession with words. But it seems no one wants her articles or short stories. Rejections are piling up, and not just the written kind from publications. Even her boyfriend rejects her.
When it seems Amy’s friends and family are moving on and leaving her behind, Amy meets Eli—mysterious, attractive, and unavailable. But as the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli becomes more and more smudged, Amy has to make a decision: play it safe or find the courage to follow her dreams.
AMY INSPIRED is the first book I’ve ever read by Bethany Pierce. Written in first person, it is very cleanly written, but I struggled my way through it. While I did laugh out loud at something in the prologue, the rest of the book seemed to drag.
There were instances in the book where I wondered at the inspirational status of this book. In fact, I went and checked the publisher, and was surprised they actually published something so… not inspirational. But perhaps this book isn’t meant for someone like me, perhaps someone more… progressive, free-thinking, and not so old-fashion is someone this book is intended for. Discussion questions are included at the back. $14.99. 320 pages.
Author: Bethany Pierce
Publisher: Bethany House
October 2010
ISBN: 978-0-7642-0850-4
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary
Amy Gallagher is a freelance writer and a college professor. As an English major, she has an obsession with words. But it seems no one wants her articles or short stories. Rejections are piling up, and not just the written kind from publications. Even her boyfriend rejects her.
When it seems Amy’s friends and family are moving on and leaving her behind, Amy meets Eli—mysterious, attractive, and unavailable. But as the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli becomes more and more smudged, Amy has to make a decision: play it safe or find the courage to follow her dreams.
AMY INSPIRED is the first book I’ve ever read by Bethany Pierce. Written in first person, it is very cleanly written, but I struggled my way through it. While I did laugh out loud at something in the prologue, the rest of the book seemed to drag.
There were instances in the book where I wondered at the inspirational status of this book. In fact, I went and checked the publisher, and was surprised they actually published something so… not inspirational. But perhaps this book isn’t meant for someone like me, perhaps someone more… progressive, free-thinking, and not so old-fashion is someone this book is intended for. Discussion questions are included at the back. $14.99. 320 pages.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews