Depends on the Reader

I chose to review The Whisper Theory written by Amber Albee Swenson because no one else had reviewed it yet. After reading a few chapters of the book, I began to see why. In the preface there is a comment about how it is not the author’s intent to put a heavy burden on teens. That was the first clue.

Meghan Shanahan believes she is a good Christian and is determined to influence her two college roommates—Carol and Jeff. What she didn’t count on was the power of their influence on her. Through a series of bad choices, Meghan ends up with a broken heart. Will Meghan turn her hurt and despair over to God or will she turn from him completely?

My major issue with this book is that I feel like someone who is secure enough in their faith to share it constantly with others would reflect on what they were doing wrong. In The Whisper Theory, the main character makes bad choice after bad choice with no reflection on her decisions (other than mentioning she’s never done that before). She doesn’t pray about anything and doesn’t spend time in God’s word, even though she talks to her roommates about needing to be in God’s word.

There was a lot going on in this book and after each chapter of the fiction story, there is a chapter that is a Bible study which is really confusing at first. I could see this being used as a girl’s Bible Study but would not recommend teenage/college age girls read it themselves.

****Thomas Nelson Publishing provided me with a free eCopy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.