Everything Is (Not) Fine is a Christian inspirational book written by Katie Schnack.

Summary: This book contains wisdom and encouragement for dealing with hard times.

My Thoughts: I liked this book. The author did a good job of mixing a healthy dose of encouragement, humor, and likeability into a serious topic.

I liked that it read as if you were sitting down with a good friend for a talk, rather than someone just preaching at you.

I also appreciated how vulnerable the author was in sharing her own struggles.

I did feel the book was a little disjointed in the timeline as sometimes she was sharing about her child as an infant, and then all the sudden he was a toddler, and then she was back to discussing him as an infant, so that was a bit confusing.

Also, it was a bit repetitious in parts.

Overall, though, I appreciated the authenticity, humor, and encouragement the book had to offer, and thought it was a good read.

I would like to thank InterVarsity Press for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

"Everything Is (Not) Fine: Finding Strength When Life Gets Annoyingly Difficult", by Katie Schnack, is an honest and relatable book detailing how to keep your hope when life throws curveballs at you. Schnack is the mother of a child with some difficult physical ailments, yet she keeps her sense of humor and joy through it all. I especially enjoyed this portion of the book detailing a quote that resonated with Schnack: "Cynicism is a lazy slide down a slippery slope on a flabby ass. Hope, on the other hand, hope requires that you engage the old gluteus maximus, and stand up. In short, hope requires courage, where cynicism requires absolutely nothing."

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This book was very encouraging for me as I walk through a tough dark place. Some of the things about walking with young children was not relevant but it was a good reminder of things that I already knew and had experienced. Life is tough .... But God is good and faithful.

This is a refreshing and candid exploration of life's toughest moments, where the world sometimes just doesn't make sense. Schnack's honesty and humor shine through as she shares her personal journey, including challenges during a global pandemic, without resorting to simplistic platitudes. It's a heartwarming reminder that even in the most difficult times, there's room for self-compassion, resilience, and a bit of light to guide us through.