I'm not a huge fan of Christian fiction in general, but often read the genre because it is a book club pick. Usually the transformative moment feels forced to me. I definitely felt that with a little bit with this one, but I really did enjoy the characters, particularly younger sister Gracie, whose storyline reminded me of Eleanor & Park. The troubled marriage storyline of older sister Carmen felt a little worn, but the dynamic between the two women was very nicely portrayed. ( )

From infertility to miscarriage to marital problems to mental breakdowns to alcoholism to dementia to a multitude of teenage angst, The Art of Losing Yourself paints a portrait of people with real issues – tough issues – and packs a pretty emotional punch. Yet, even at the darkest moments, beautiful waves of hope saturate this novel – hope for redemption, hope for truth, hope for joy.

Oh my goodness, y’all. This book had me transfixed. Absolutely riveted from beginning to end. Katie Ganshert tackles a bunch of tough topics with grace and compassion and TALENT. So much talent. The dual first-person narrative (going back and forth between Carmen’s perspective and Gracie’s perspective) was so unique and added a deeply personal aspect to the story that I think might have been lacking in a third person voice. I ached for each one of them in turn and hung on every word to see what would happen next.

Ben & Carmen just about broke my heart. Even though we saw their marriage from Carmen’s POV, Katie Ganshert did a magnificent job of capturing Ben’s emotions through his actions, his expressions, his words. We don’t get his thoughts but I never felt like I needed them – it was so much more powerful without them, in my opinion. And the flashbacks! Oh my heart. Watching them fall in love with the grinning and the flirting and the kisses. And the key relationship moments – seriously, I wasn’t sure my heart could handle it. I fell in love with them … and I wanted them back. The them that began at The Treasure Chest Motel before life numbed Carmen to the feels. THE FEELS!!! You guys!!! Ben and THE FEELS! I know I am making so little sense right now. But you must read this book and then you will get my poorly-structured ramblings about Ben and his emotions and his love and AHHH!! This book tore. me. up.

And Gracie. Oh goobers – where to start with Gracie. Broken fragile little girl wrapped up in a snarky insecure teenage body. She’s so used to people rejecting her that she doesn’t know quite what to do with the ones that refuse to let go. The people… and God. From the moment Eli asks her who she says Jesus is, Gracie is confronted with the idea that Someone out there cares. But yeah… that realization doesn’t come easy when every time she puts her heart on the line it gets crushed and humiliated.

Which brings up my next point. There are some mighty powerful truths encased in this book. Things like – sometimes all you can do is get through something because “some things in life we aren’t meant to get over”. Or the sobering fact of entropy, that nature is predisposed toward disorder and unless we actively fight against it things will fall apart – “motels and marriages alike.” (I felt the whole concept of the motel ruin and restoration was a brilliant metaphor for the potential of Carmen and Ben’s marriage. How it had fallen into disrepair because of neglect and what it would take to undo all the damage. The last scene – brilliant.) Along those lines, this quote of Aunt Ingrid’s hit me in the heart – “Not all things are worth saving. But some are worth every ounce of fight you can throw at them. You just have to know the difference.”

And the ending?!? I refuse to spoil things for you but it’s not your typical ending. And I loved that about it. (Ok. Part of me scrolled frantically to find more of the book, an epilogue, anything! But most of me applauded it for its realism and hope.)

Bottom Line: This is not an “easy” read – it will tear at your heart & your soul. But it will also plant vivid seeds of hope in the power of redemption and restoration. You will probably need a box of tissues – especially if you’ve ever found yourself in a storm of any of the issues I mentioned at the beginning – but these tears can bring sweet healing. I highly recommend this book, especially if you love contemporary fiction and aren’t a huge fan of sappy romance.

(I received a digital copy of this novel from the publisher in conjunction with Blogging For Books in exchange for only my honest review.) ( )

Book review of The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert
From goodreads.com:

The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert
(Goodreads Author)
4.73 of 5 stars 4.73 · rating details · 91 ratings · 52 reviews

Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.


Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They're the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together. But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.

Until Carmen’s sister—seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher—steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?

Paperback, 320 pages
Published April 21st 2015 by WaterBrook Press

Leona's review:

This is the first read for me by this author and not one kind of book I usually read. I won it from freshfiction.com and I always try to read and review the books I win.

I found myself involved with the characters and their problems. Carmen, who is a meteorologist for a TV station, has had six miscarriages and thinks an adoption of a baby will be the answer; her husband, Ben, does not believe it is. Ben is the coach at the high school where Gracie now attends. Gracie has run away from home and her alcoholic mother. Carmen and Gracie are sisters and have the same mother but different fathers. We meet Eli/ Elias who has a white mother and a black father. He is on the football team and seems to have so much patience and cares for others. He is close to his pastor, Pastor Zeke, who is also a caring person. We also meet Aunt Ingrid who has dementia and still grieves for Gerald, her husband who passed away four years ago.

I think the connection for the family is the Treasure Chest, a mom and pop motel, that Aunt Ingrid and Uncle Gerald owned. It is in shambles and Carmen and Gracie fix it up again and I believe it brings them close together. It connects the family as well.

The chapters switch between Carmen and Gracie in the first person. It does not confuse the reader. This is fairly quick and easy read. I would suggest high school age and up for reading and understanding the problems.

At one point Carmen says to God that she does not believe in Him and realizes she is talking to God.

There are some passages from the Bible.

There is a reader's guide at the back of the book. Two questions are: "What story did you enjoy more- Carmen's or Gracie's? Why? and Who is your favorite secondary character? Why?

The book is dedicated to: For Salima, my brave, brave, brave little girl. Being your mother is one of the greatest honors I will ever be blessed with on this side of eternity. Come what may, God's writing a grand story for your life.

I liked this book and will give it a 5 star rating. The opinions are my own.

It is not a depressing book, but one I see that has a lot of faith and hope. It is an inspirational and moving book. A good book club read.

Katie Ganshert may be reached at: katie@katieganshert.com;www.katieganshert.com; Twitter @KatieGanshert;
Facebook www.facebook.com/AuthorKatieGanshert and
Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/katieganshert

Leona Olson
http://www.mnleona.blogspot.com ( )

Saturday, May 23, 2015
The Art of Losing Yourself by Katie Ganshert, © 2015

Can an antiquated Florida Panhandle mom and pop motel bordered by lapping waters and starry sky be renewed bringing life back to it again? Can hopes come alive, once they have become dilapidated from neglect? Carmen Hart and her sister, Gracie Fisher, have been estranged from each other. Carmen and her husband, Ben, have finished college and are in their chosen careers. From the outside looking in, all seems well. From the inside out, hearts cry to be whole.

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he
brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set
me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.
He led me back and forth among them, and I saw
a great many bones on the floor of the valley,
bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of
man, can these bones live?”
—Ezekiel 37:1–3

Aunt Ingrid's words return at just the right moment, as Carmen remembers her profound truth:
"Not all things are worth saving. But some are worth every ounce of fight you can throw at them. You just have to know the difference."
--The Art of Losing Yourself, 232

Dreams come alive, hope is waiting; home. Coming home; wishing for renewal to come along with it.

Christmas for Gracie and her older sister Carmen brings new visions ~ of yesteryear, as they would like it. Releasing what has been to embrace what is before them, opens new avenues of now. It is all in the perspective of what is valued and needed. Direction not to be detoured but to go forward, gleaning what can be. Hope renewed.

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength
—Isaiah 40:28-31a (ESV)

I like the trust that is steadily built as Gracie unmasks who she really is ~ vulnerable and caring. By decisions she makes, observing others and embracing what can be hers, she in turn, reveals forgiveness. A stepping stone too for Carmen's faith and marriage.

A secondary character that was so important to the story is Carmen's friend Natalie. She would appear just when an encouragement and helping hand was needed, giving fresh air and a new glance at trust.

This is Katie Ganshert's fourth novel I have read ~ she has a following of real life issues. I like her reference to dead bones ~ for God can bring back to life and restore what is yielded to Him.

***Thank you to WaterBrook Multnomah blogging for Books for sending me a copy of Katie Ganshert's newest novel, The Art of Losing Yourself, which released April 21, 2015. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.*** ( )

Carmen - married with a messed up family, she is trying to deal with the struggles of adoption after miscarriage. Her husband Ben is a wonderful guy, but just can't seem to help her.

Gracie - raised by an alcoholic mother and absentee father, she heads off on her own. She arrives at the place she thought would be a safe haven, only to find it abandoned. The woman she thought would help her needs help herself.

The book is written from the point of view of the two women. The seamless transition between the two allows the story to flow smoothly, while learning different aspects of the narrative. As always, the author has taken a story and made it come alive. The characters are written in such a way that the reader feels a connection with them. The voices and emotions are authentic. The descriptions put me into the small coastal town as I lived the story with the characters. But this isn't just a beautifully written story; it has an artfully woven message of salvation, forgiveness, and hope. Once again the author has hit this out of the park. I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

I received this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review. ( )