Books for Christian Girls: "We Are Gathered Here" by Erynn Mangum

About this book:

“A collection of four novellas: - Easter Carats - Fish & Chips - Return to Chocolate - Identical Differences”

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“Easter Carats” by Erynn Mangum:

About this book:

“Emilie and Blake are coerced into an Easter family vacation together by their spunky grandmothers. When everything is different than the vacation rental brochure made it out to be, Blake and Emilie start to see the one thing they have in common is the most important thing of all.”

Spiritual Content- Set during Easter time; Prayers & Blessings over food; Scriptures are mentioned, read, remembered, thought over, & talked about; Having a church service at home & discussing; Talks about God, Jesus, & worry; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, a Bible study, & books of the Bible; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going, & services; A few mentions of prayers & blessings over food; A couple mentions of Sunday School classes;

*Note: A few mentions of the devil and sin.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘darn’, a ‘gosh darn’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘sheesh’, a ‘suckerhead’, a form of ‘wimp’, three ‘gosh’s, and four ‘oh my gosh’s; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Mentions of pain & blood/bleeding; A few mentions of sharks biting two people’s legs off; A mention of the possibility of a car accident; A mention of cattle slaughter;

*Note: Mentions of TV shows; Mentions of car brands; A few mentions of brand name clothing; A mention of Jurassic Park; A mention of an actor.

Sexual Content- a hand kiss, a cheek kiss, and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Remembering (and worrying about) a cheek kiss; Touches, Embraces & Tingles (barely-above-not-detailed); Remembering touches & embraces (barely-above-not-detailed); Noticing & Nearness; Mentions of a cheek kiss; Mentions of dating, dates, girlfriends, & boyfriends; Mentions of blushes, winks, & a whistle; Some Love, falling in love, and the emotions;

*Note: A mention of underwear.

-Emilie Stevens, age 26

-Blake Sullivan

P.O.V. switches between them

100(-ish) pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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“Fish and Chips” by Erynn Mangum:

About this book:

“Raina is sarcastic, witty and apparently, a fish-killer. When her goldfish dies after living a couple of days, she returns it to the pet store to meet the equally witty and sarcastic Chip, the son of the store owner. Sparks fly and fish accidentally die in this novella about life, God's love and the pursuit of the perfect mate.”

Spiritual Content- Prayers & Blessings over food; A couple Scriptures are remembered; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of God blessing a conversation; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, studying, & books of the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, & sermons; A few mentions of those from the Bible; A few mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food;

*Note: A mention of a zen feeling.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘crap’, a form of ‘dumb’, a ‘gosh’, a ‘oh my gosh’, a ‘sheesh’, a ‘wimp’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of gossip; A couple mention of a divorce & a possible one; A mention of (hug not) drugs; A mention of taking an item and shoving it where the sun doesn’t shine;

*Note: Mentions of car brands; Mentions of singers & celebrities; Mentions of actors/actresses, shows, & movies; A couple mentions of Starbucks; A couple mentions of Colgate.

Sexual Content- a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Hand Holding, & Tingles; A few Blushes; Noticing & Nearness; Mentions of dating & dates; A mention of polygamy (for a goldfish); Some Love, being in love & the emotions.

-Raina Miskin, age 26
1^st person P.O.V. of Raina

100(-ish) pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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“Return to Chocolate” by Erynn Mangum:

About this book:

“Jane's mom calls to ask her to move back home and help out with the failing chocolate store her family has owned for over a hundred years -- Not a welcome request. In the midst of everything, will Jane's constant prayers of complaints turn into something else? Or has God brought her home to driver her completely insane?”

Spiritual Content- Prayers; Church going & worship; Talks about God, Christians, converting, & churches; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, & blessings over food; Mentions of churches, church going, pastors, & sermons; Mentions of Christians; A few mentions of a Bible study; A few mentions of hymns/songs; A couple mentions of blessings; A mention of thanking God; A mention of Sunday School.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘holy cow’, a ‘oh my gosh’, and a ‘stupid’; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Mentions of crimes & a serial killer theory; A few mentions of lies & lying; A mention of a death in a car accident; A mention of a divorce; A mention of urinal; A mention of vomit;

*Note: Mentions of Starbucks & going there; Mentions of TV shows & movies; Mentions of car brands.

Sexual Content- Touches (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing; Mentions of dating & dates; Mentions of blushes & winks; A few mentions of a prom & embraces; A mention of a married couple failing to conceive a son; A mention of a married couple kissing; Some Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Jane Wallman, age 27
1^st person P.O.V. of Jane
100(-ish) pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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“Identical Differences” by Erynn Mangum:

About this book:

“Alexia Patterson has spent her whole life waiting to get out of small town Longsville, Oregon. When her twin sister, Rachel, calls to tell Lexi that she's engaged and asks her to come home for a few weeks before the wedding, Lexi is anything but eager to go. Add in Justin MacPherson, a guy she's hated since Junior High, and it's just a giant mess. can God change even the most stubborn heart?”

Spiritual Content- Prayers; Church going & a sermon; A few talks about God; Mentions of God & Jesus; Mentions of prayers, praying, a prayer chain, talking to God, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & those and events in the Bible; Mentions of churches, church going, Sunday School classes, Bible studies, worship, pastors, & sermons; A couple mentions of thanking God; A couple mentions of being saved; A couple mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of sin & sinners; A few mentions of Christians; A mention of a miracle.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘screw up’, and four ‘oh my gosh’s; Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Mentions of beer, wine, & drinking; A few mentions of a thought of a stalker & killing; A couple mentions of nightmares; A mention of a break-in; A mention of a tipsy uncle;

*Note: A few mentions of Target; A few mentions of car brands; A few mentions of movies; A couple mentions of Starbucks; A couple mentions of Nike.

Sexual Content- Touches, Hand Holding, & Embraces; Noticing; a ‘babe’; A few mentions of a couple kissing; A few mentions of blushes; A couple mentions of staring; A mention of a honeymoon suite; A mention of eating disorders; Some Love, falling in love & the emotions.

-Alexia Patterson, age 26
1^st person P.O.V. of Alexia
100(-ish) pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

Let me just share my ~~fangirling~~ thoughts after I finished each novella :) –

Easter Carats:

Okay. Okay, okay, okay.

That was absolutely precious, I literally can’t.

There was adorkable moments, tons of faith content for being a novella, cute characters (don’t ask me to pick a favorite!) and lots of humor. This novella remaindered me just why Erynn Mangum is a top favorite author of mine!
Fish and Chips:

How does Erynn Mangum do this?! Another fantastic, absolutely hilorus story with great characters, faith discussions, and also humor that had me crying from laughing so hard. Really, though, Raina is fabulous.

Return to Chocolate:

How was this so cute?! It’s like the movie You Got Mail, but with chocolate & better! Honestly, though, how is every Erynn Mangum book so good, so fun, & always a wonderful read? It’s a talent of the author’s, that’s for sure. :)

Identical Differences:

This was another great Erynn Mangum novella! I didn’t start out enjoying this one as much as the previous novellas in this collection, but by the ending, I really enjoyed it!

So, all in all, I really enjoyed this novella collection! Just in case my fangirling didn’t conceive you of that. ;)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review! :)