Customer Reviews

Back and Forth

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Back and Forth by Fon James is a look at how hard the struggle is for young Christians to always stay non-sexual. Faith Walker and Gavin Roberts are a young couple in love. Though Faith really loves Gavin, she feels as a Christian she should not have sex; he loves her but does not buy into celibacy. So, to keep her man happy, Faith wavers back and forth on whether or not to engage in sex with him. During her freshman year in college, Faith made a decision she knew God had forgiven her for but one that will stay on her mind for years. During that time Gavin and Faith's best friend, Chrissy Jackson, was always there for her.

Senior year finds the young women as close as ever, however, Chrissy makes a decision that will tear the young women apart, jeopardizing their friendship. As bad as her decision is there are be other issues and bigger complications that will make these young women look at their lives in ways they never planned. Will the adage forgive and forget play into how they deal with the issues that confront them? Or, will secrets and misunderstandings break them apart forever?

Fon James wrote a compelling, nicely paced novel about how difficult it is for young Christians to stay focused on the spirit and not get consumed by the flesh. There is also a relevant message about forgiving and moving on. I recommend this book to all readers but particularly to young adults.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

Although she's been saved since age nine, Faith Walker is having premarital sex. She really wants to do right and not continue to go Back and Forth on this sex thing. She wants to please God and not have sex again until she's married, but it's so difficult for her to be consistent. Her boyfriend, Gavin, knows how much she loves him, how much she loves to be with him. He claims to love her, yet there are times when he takes advantage of her weakness. Faith's best friend, Chrissy, is also a Christian and she, too, struggles to remain celibate.
Faith is deeply hurt by two people who should have her best interests at heart. Along with struggling to abstain from sex, she begins to struggle with forgiveness. And then a shocking family secret is revealed and everything gets to be too much for Faith to handle.
When I read what this book was about I just had to buy it to see how in the world two people could "accidentally" sleep together. There were times when dialogue didn't flow very well (characters weren't speaking naturally) and some parts were predictable, but the author did surprise me in the end when something was revealed that I did not expect. Overall, I did like the story. I especially liked how honest the author was about forgiveness. God wants us to forgive as He forgives, but it's not always easy. It won't always happen overnight; sometimes it takes a while.
I do plan to buy the sequel, Forward March, and I look forward to reading it.

I bought this book to keep up on what young people were reading. I couldn't believe this was even published. In my opinion, t there was no literary value to it at all. I actually dumped it in the trash. I don't think I have ever thrown a book away unless it was covered in mildew.

Faith Walker is a college student with a commitment to God and abstinence. She is constantly torn between her obedience to Christ and her love for her boyfriend, Gavin. Faith often shares her frustration with her childhood friend Chrissy, who is also her college roommate. When Faith and Gavin experience a traumatic situation, she is able to share it with Chrissy. In fact, that's not all that they shared. As Faith is betrayed by her closest friends and even her family, she learns to lean on the true definition of her name.
Back and Forth was a very inspiring Christian read. Although the story itself was fictional, the circumstances surrounding the story take place in the lives of young adults every day. I think this book is an exceptional read for young adults who are struggling with the decision of trusting God or trusting their friends. Even adults could be reminded that the desires of your heart are not always God's will. As a former college student, it was very easy to relate to this story and the situations it included. As a parent, it is a book I would recommend to young adults who have reached that point in their life where peer pressure becomes so prevalent. While I do believe the story is more fitting to and educational for young adults, all who read could certainly benefit from the lessons gained in this realistic drama. I commend the author on a job well done and for writing on a subject that many shy away from.

When I first began reading the book, I thought, "Here we go. Another typical christian book storyline." However, I was gladly mistaken. I loved all the twists and turns. I think this book gave me a better idea of how to handle myself when I will face certain challenges. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline. Can't wait to read your next book!

Although Back and Forth is considered a young adult novel, the storyline transcends age. Whether in college or out, people will be able to relate to betrayal. It's universal. I did not want to put the book down.

Back and Forth is an impressive debut novel by author Fon James. The characters are well-developed. Fon certainly captures the essence of the youth, yet she writes with a level of maturity that engages readers at any age. When I finished reading Back and Forth, I hated for the story to end. Admittedly, I was left feeling satisfied and felt a sense of closure. I highly recommend Back and Forth, and I look forward to reading other books by Fon James.

Faith Walker, Chrissy Jackson, Gavin Roberts, and Remi Aguilar are friends who have known each other since freshmen year at Jackson State University. They are part of the famous marching band at the school and seem to be inseparable. That is until two of the friends made a horrible decision that could tear their friendship apart forever. During her college years, Faith recommitted herself to Christ and made a vow that she would stay celibate until she was married. Her boyfriend Gavin is not too happy with her decision, but he respects her wishes since he loves her that much. Faith's walk with God is tested, and she wonders if she's made the right decision. Will Faith compromise her walk with Christ to keep her man or will she stand firm and stop going back and forth?

Back and Forth is a nicely written Christian Fiction for young adults about how young Christians need to stay focused on their faith and not be consumed by worldly obstacles. There's a message for all people, young and old, about forgiveness. The only criticism that I have about this book is that it was extremely predictable. Once you start reading the book and really get into it, you can tell what's going to happen just by the way the book flows. I would recommend Back and Forth to any young person that is struggling with their walk with God as this would be a true inspiration for them.

Reviewed by Jackie
for Urban Reviews

I must admit, being a graduate of Jackson State Universtiy, I may be a little biased in this review. However, being out of college for a while and being able to take a trip back throught the eyes of this author was a great experience. I highly suggest this book for any book club, or just for a good read on the beach. Be ready for a real life journey.

This is a real review from a real person that came across a well thought out book. The book takes a very interesting look at what everyone has had to deal with in some point in their lives. It was well written. It is easy to read. I would suggest everyone to take a look. you will be pleased with the results. It has a great ending; not the typical I knew it would end that way story. I suggest you get the book.

Marcus

Fon is able to capture all things human in her debut novel. What I loved about BACK AND FORTH is the fact that she didn't try to make imperfect men and women seem as though they never make mistakes. What the book does show is that we can fall down, but what matters is if and when we make the decision to dust ourselves off and keep going.

The characters actually seem to live, which is why I believe so many will think the author has drawn upon people she knows to construct the story.

I look forward to reading more of our inspirational stories in the future.