Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver ... At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn't want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it's an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That's why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg. And that's why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager---that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be 'churchy' Ben---definitely not Becca's type---she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings. This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she 'suffers' through her dates, gains perspective on her life's purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.
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Becca is the only nonbeliever in the Getaway Girls book club, mostly due to her unhappy childhood as the neglected daughter of a manipulative alcoholic mother who habitually pretended to be saved every time she wanted money. And Becca is equally adamant in her opposition to commitment, choosing to consider herself a free and adventurous spirit. When she breaks her leg skydiving and is forced into a lengthy recuperation, however, the other women in the group seize the opportunity to challenge her on several levels, and she soon finds herself introduced to Christian singles groups, language, concepts, and role models that gradually induce her to reevaluate long-held convictions. Walker’s newest Christian chick-lit novel is a leisurely spiritual coming-of-age tale rather than a romance like the first two in the series, and the prickly narrator is difficult instead of sympathetic. But readers who persevere will find the humor, snarkiness, and camaraderie engendered by a close-knit group of women of diverse ages and walks of life entertaining. --Lynne Welch
Review
Walker, Laura Jensen. Becca by the Book: A Getaway Girls Novel. Zondervan. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-310-27697-5. pap. $14.99. CF Becca Daniels, 25, hops from job to job and relationship to relationship in search of new experiences. Accused of being commitment-phobic, Becca bets her friends that she can withstand 25 dates with the next man who asks her out. Imagine her surprise when that man turns out to be Ben, who's very involved with his church and committed to his faith. VERDICT Chick lit for the young Christian set. Walker's third series title (after Turning the Paige and Daring Chloe) is a fun story with well-developed characters. -- Library Journal
(Library Journal )
(Library Journal )
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More About the Author
Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer and popular national speaker. Her previous novels include Daring Chloe, Turning the Paige, and Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the first-ever Novel of the Year for Women of Faith® conferences. The author of several non-fiction humor books, Laura lives in Northern California with her husband, Michael, and their canine daughter Gracie.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting read but not my favorite book from the author,
By
This review is from: Becca by the Book (Getaway Girls) (Paperback)
Ever since I was introduced to the Getaway Girls Book Club in Daring Chloe, I have wanted to become an honorary member. Seriously, they read the best books and then go on exciting adventures based on the books. What more could you ask for? This book speaks to us from Becca's point of view, which I knew was going to be interesting considering Becca had been my least favorite of the Girls. Something about her in the previous books just kept rubbing me the wrong way. I'm not sure if it was her attitude or what, but I found myself getting annoyed with how she acted in the other books in the series. I was hoping that this book would erase any prejudgments I had about her.
Well after reading, to be honest, I'm still not a Becca fan but I have learned that I can stand her for at least one whole book. To be fair, this story is very interesting as Becca is introduced to the "world of Christian-ese" as she attempts to win a bet she has with the other book club members. By dating Ben for a long period of time, she's thrown into the world of church potlucks, conferences and Jesus nail polish, a world she knows nothing about. The view that we get from Becca about these things is very interesting because as a non Christian, she questions as to why Christians use certain "code words" or act the way that they do. It's actually quite refreshing to see that a lot of times, Christians don't really know what they are doing and just seem to be talking the talk but not really walking the walk. I enjoyed Becca and Kailyn's trip to New York as that is one of my top destinations in the US that I MUST visit before I die. I was especially geeked that the John Lennon memorial in Central Park was mentioned and visited. This trip seems to be the BIG one since the Statue of Liberty is placed on the front over. However I thought the trip to Monterrey and Salinas was much more interesting even though it took up less pages. More of the group got to share in this trip and the highlights mentioned sounded fabulous. I was rather intrigued by Paige's situation at the end of the book. I did not see that coming nor was there any indication that her character would have acted that way. The previous book in the series was told from her perspective and I never would have thought that she would have found herself in that predicament. As it stood in this book, it's rather glossed over which I found a bit surprising. I did have a few qualms with this book. To be honest I felt that it was the weakest one of the series. I didn't really like how members of Ben's church were portrayed. They were portrayed as the extreme stereotypical Christian. I can understand why Walker made them that way, but they just came across as very cardboard characters. I just didn't appreciate the close mindedness of some of the members and that there was no rebuttal to their actions and thoughts. I also felt that the book ended rather abruptly. I felt as if there could have been more to Becca's story but the story pretty much came to a complete halt and then there's an epilogue updating as to what the rest of the club is doing. That also made me pretty sad as it seems this is the last book in the series. I felt that there could have been more books spotlighting all the members. Jenna completely disappears from the story by the beginning of the book with not much explanation and I didn't feel as if we got to know the group members as well as we did in previous books. Overall, even though this is probably my least favorite book by the author, I did enjoy the book. It was a fun read and I really liked all the references about books (although the comment that Christians shouldn't read fiction - while said as a stereotype - did irk me). If you've read the other books in the series, you will want to read this one. I will say that if you don't normally read Christian chick lit, this book might not be your cup of tea.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Seldom Seen,
By A Reader (Texas) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Becca by the Book (Getaway Girls) (Paperback)
Unlike other reviewers, I saw nothing disparaging about churches or Christianity in the latest novel by Walker. Though the eyes of Becca, we get an honest, insider's view of how easily mainstream Christianity is misunderstood. While Becca is often wickedly snarky in her observations, there is a gentle, woundedness about her that I found heartbreakingly poignant. This is not a book knocking Jesus. This is a book that shines a light on how sometimes our best efforts alienate those who most need God's love. I encourage anyone seeking to minister to those outside the mainstream church to read this book with an open mind. There is much to be learned from Becca's story. Thank you Laura Walker, for having the courage to tell it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Needed Reminders,
By
This review is from: Becca by the Book (Getaway Girls) (Paperback)
Becca is refreshing because her perspective is one we need to hear. She isn't a Christian. She has no desire to be "churched". She has a radar for all tell-tale signs of Christianese. (Is that a word?)
Of course, as we all know God will run take every step possible to try to get your attention. However, He is a gentleman. He won't force Himself on you. Becca is part adventure and part control freak. Those two parts collide when she has a sky diving accident that leaves her with a broken leg. With no means of normal adventure, she accepts her Getaway Girls' challenge to date the next guy who crosses her path. Not just one date, but twenty-five! Wouldn't you know that God would put Christian Ben in her path who will take her out on dates to every conceivable church event, singles group potluck and worship conference he can think of. Not because he is trying to convert her, but because that is his life. I loved the journal she began to keep of all the lingo and words that Christians use. Someone I think maybe Mrs. Walker should actually publish that book because we Christians forget how crazy we sound sometimes. I am not sure if Becca's character is going to continue is another book or not, but I hope so because I was disappointed to see the end kind of left hanging.
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