Customer Reviews

Becca by the Book (Getaway Girls)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Becca by the Book is the third book in the Getaway Girls series, a series I have enjoyed tremendously. Becca is the only non-Christian in the group which makes for a fun and entertaining story. I have to admit though; I initially did not care too much for Becca. She seemed a bit to sarcastic and negative, but as I kept reading about her, I started to understand why she is that way and I really started to like her and appreciate her quirky sense of humor. It was really nice to see Chloe, Paige and the other Getaway Girls in this book as well. As always, Laura Jensen Walker has written a very entertaining book with charming characters and realistic stories.

Now, while Becca by the Book is a wonderful book, as are the other Getaway Girls books, it makes a very strong and important point. Becca may not be a Christian, but she has nothing against Jesus. She likes Jesus, but she is simply tired of the same old, same old from Christians. All of the old ways and sayings of Christianity have left her feeling disillusioned about Christians. That is certainly understandable. The bigger point this book is trying to make is that there is an entire generation of people who are not being reached by the "old ways". There are many people, not all young, who just don't want their grandparents' Christianity. Becca got a glimpse at the other side (the more accepting side) of Christianity and I think that is important for us all to not only see, but embrace that type of Christianity and drop the judgments and trite sayings and allow Jesus to really lead us the way He wants us. I think Laura Jensen Walker did a gutsy thing here and it may ruffle some feathers. I hope it does, it should. She gets it.

This book never feels heavy, even though it makes this very important point. There is a lot of Becca's wonderful humor and honest observations that make this a wonderful read. I loved Becca's story and I grew to like her very much and I left the book rooting for her. This book goes above and beyond Christian Chick-lit and I highly recommend it.

Becca Daniels is bored. She's just quit her job ... and broken her leg. Becca is a free spirit - she loves change and, as her friends tell her, can't commit in any area of her life. When her book club friends challenge her to stick to a guy, she answers by saying that she'll date the next guy that asks her for 3 months straight. She just knows she can do it and prove her friends wrong. Shouldn't be a problem, right? Unfortunately for Becca, the only non-Christian in the book club, it's church-going Ben that asks her out. Can she possibly keep this up for 3 months and win the wager?

This was a fun read, although my favorite book in this series is still the first one, Daring Chloe. But, Becca is fun to get to know and it's very interesting to see Christians and church from her perspective. A worthwhile read!

If you'd enjoy a fun, snarky look at the church from the outside, then this book's for you! I enjoyed Becca's witty commentary on the church's subculture and outsider's look at things I've come to find common. It was also fun to see Becca's preconceptions challenged, her view softened, and her interest in Jesus piqued. She's not your typical Christian chick-lit character, and that made it fun to see life through her eyes. If you're looking for something different, something that might rattle some cages, then definitely check out Becca by the Book!

Laura Jensen Walker's third book in her witty Getaway Girls series, Becca by the Book, is an unexpected offering. Unexpected, yet intriguing. Becca is a different kind of Getaway Girl, doing the inner eye-roll in response to the Christian-speak and lifestyles of the others in the group, but also drawn to the authenticity of the friendships within. I loved Becca's moxie as she wagers that she can go the distance with churchy Ben. In this case, the distance is to date the man for three months.

Ben isn't what she expects. Nor are the close friends she finds among the churchified. Becca's journey takes her on a touching, wild, and hilarious ride that delights the heart of the reader. Laura's natural gifts of sparkling dialogue, quirky yet deep characters, and side-splitting humor make these books page-turners to the last.

I loved Becca. And I hope hers won't be the last adventure we readers share. So many more Getaway Girls...so many more adventures to tell.

Don't miss this one!

This is my first read of the Getaway Girls series and I was left wanting more.

Becca abhors boredom. Her search for the next best interesting thing has lead her to leave her job at a bookstore in hopes of finding something more interesting to do with her English Lit degree. Most recently her thirst for adventure led her to skydiving and it was exhilarating. Hoping to capture that feeling again she returns for another round of skydiving only to crash to injury. With more time on her hands and limited mobility, she has time to take her friends up on a bet. Becca is the lone non-Christian remaining in the book club that she formed. Her Christian friends bet her that she can't overcome her obsession with avoiding boredom and date the same guy for 3 months...something she has never managed before. The next guy who asks her out, at the bookstore where she has returned to work, is the target. Much to her chagrin, the next person who ask her out is Christian Ben. Thus starts a series of dates that takes Becca into the world of Christians...new language, potlucks and other things that Becca is less that thrilled with. The book takes us on a journey with Becca to see how both she and the Christians she encounters will be changed if she sticks to the 3 month bet...

It was a very engaging story that wasn't predictable and kept me interested from the very first page to the last!

Becca by the Book is the third book in the Getaway Girls series by Laura Jensen Walker. Becca in unusual in her book club; while the rest of the group is Christian, she's firmly noncommittal, and that doesn't just apply to religion. Becca can't seem to commit to a job, hobby, or guy, so her pals bet her that she can't date the same guy for the next three months or twenty-five dates. She can't pass up the dare and accepts an offer for coffee with cute Ben, who just happens to be a Christian and many of their dates end up involving the church. I am a huge fan of this series that doesn't focus so much on a woman's finding the right man as finding where God wants her to be in life. Becca is searching for a way to give in a meaningful way; Kailyn just thinks that happiness comes with a husband and children, but her dreams are on the stage. Walker has thrown together a wide variety of women with someone to please every reader, and each one has a something to offer. Becca is a breath of fresh air with her refusal to believe that she needs a husband and her fierce determination that while Jesus is cool, Christians usually aren't. Walker writes Christian fiction that should please Christian and secular readers with a intelligent main character and a sweet non-romance. I can't wait to see what's happening next in this series!

I've enjoyed Laura Jensen Walker's books, but I particularly loved this one. Several times I did the "laugh out loud" thing while reading it. Laura isn't afraid to show us Becca's perspective, which gets particularly interesting and funny when she, a non-churched girl, attends a church-sponsored women's function. Although I didn't grow up in church, I've been in it long enough to be entrenched by the language we use. This book helped me re-evaluate the church experience from the outside, to better understand how it might look to someone who is searching. I loved Becca's story arc, loved the getaway girls, and of course enjoyed the frequent literary allusions. Well written, smart, insightful and funny.