It's Not About Me (A Second Glances novel, #1) (edit title)

• Rated 5 stars

“The author of this book is a very good friend of mine. We go way back-seriously. Still, I am going to give my honest review of this book. I have to admit, I haven't read many YA Christian fiction books. The ones I have were good, but they were a long time ago when I was young, and was nothing like this one! This is a great YA book. I think many people try to make Christians out to be prim and perfect, but this book portrays what it is like to be a Christian in the real world. We've got the main character, the heroine, who appears to be perfect-but isn't and two men in love with her-Whoo-Hoo! These men are brothers and I love that conflict in the story. One lives by the bible, the other has strayed out in the world. Their parents role in this was good to read also. There is so many real world issues in this book- that is what makes it great. I was a little annoyed, when she couldn't choose who she wanted to be with. I'm like, 'come on!' It should be obvious. Nevertheless, this is a book that every young person should read. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“I enjoyed this book. It dealt well with the concept that the struggles of sexual temptation, pornography, and alcohol -- as well as "mean girls" -- are indeed found within the walls of the church. And yet it offered hope and guidance that young adults can make right choices with God's help. I do recommend this for older teens/college age students but suggest that parents read through it before letting younger teens read it, as it does give some detail about the sexual temptation being faced by the characters in the story. While not graphic, it is frank, and less-mature teens might find it a little too "educational." This is a great debut novel, and I look forward to the next one in the series.
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• Rated 3 stars

“Annie Myers was a Christian girl who wanted to wait until marriage to have sex. Tony Lane had been dating Annie for almost four years and the flesh was getting weak. It was becoming more difficult to wait to have sex, so when it was obvious that he wasn’t going to get what he wanted out of wedlock he proposed marriage. Then tragedy struck and Tony regretted giving Annie his late grand mom’s expensive ring. While Tony was having a hard time dealing with what happened, Daniel Lane saw it as an opportunity to get closer to his brother’s girlfriend; close enough to take Tony’s place in Annie’s life.
I liked Annie. I felt so bad about what happened to her and about all she had to go through during recovery. She was a strong girl, though. And instead of becoming bitter and angry she began strengthening her relationship with the Lord.
Why this girl was being told that she wasn’t a Christian, I really didn’t understand that part of the story. Annie said the sinner’s prayer when she was in seventh grade because she was told that was what she needed to do to be saved. I believe she mentioned twice that she’d said the sinner’s prayer. And since she wanted to be saved I would think she not only confessed with her mouth that Jesus is Lord but believed in her heart that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). She was attending First Christian Church, singing for the Lord, serving God as the church’s secretary, wanted to be married in the eyes of God before she had sex – sounded to me like she was following Jesus’ teachings. Yet, someone suggested to her that she wasn’t really a Christian. If she wasn’t working on her personal relationship with Jesus, not growing in Christ wasn’t really a good thing but it didn’t mean she wasn’t a Christian. If she got saved, then she was a Christian.
As for the love triangle, I’m sure it was supposed to be romantic, but I just couldn’t see it that way. I understood why Annie would choose Daniel over Tony, but if Daniel really loved his brother like he said why would he want the girl his brother loved and had been with for almost four years? Not four months, four years! Daniel claimed he wanted to be more like Jesus and there were areas in his life where he was Christ-like. But Jesus wasn’t selfish. I think it was selfish of Daniel to want a relationship with Annie. If he wanted to be like Jesus so much, why didn’t he sacrifice? Tony loved Annie. He also had serious issues and needed his brother’s support. Where was Daniel’s respect for his brother’s feelings? Even if Tony wasn’t right for Annie, he had been with her a long time. They’re brothers. There are some lines you just do not cross. Where was the family loyalty? Tony was the youngest and the troubled one throughout most of the story, yet he was the bigger man in the end and much more like Jesus then Daniel.
There were phrases in this book that popped up repeatedly – lumps formed in throats or aching throats, tightening of chests or chests aching. Besides that and the “being saved” contradiction the author wrote a good, dramatic story. And it was really good that she included Teen Challenge, letting teens and parents know there is help out there.
Sutton also makes some important points in her debut novel: True Christianity isn’t just about getting saved, but having a personal relationship with Jesus. Alcohol consumption can only make a bad situation worse. What’s in a person’s heart means much more than outer appearance. A Bible-believing church service should always include a salvation invitation so those who aren’t saved can become Christians if they choose. And Jesus can change people!
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• Rated 5 stars

“I could not put it down today because i knew it would change by end of the story. It brought my tears and joy for what great scene of heronic has a good heart to Annie. this is best story I ever read it. It feels it is real life story of teens today .

Awesome job Michelle.. ”

• Rated 5 stars

“"It's Not About Me" is an outstanding debut novel from Michelle Sutton. If this is the launchpad for her career, I can't wait to see where God will propel her. This was a wonderfully entertaining, drama-filled, eye-opening story that can be enjoyed by mature readers as well as teens. It is filled with believable situations and relatable characters that will capture readers from beginning to end. "It's Not About Me" taps into subjects that the typical Christian-based young adult novel may not address, earning it its label as edgy Chrisitian fiction. It was more than interesting to see how young Christians handle themselves in secular situations. Readers will, no doubt, find themselves rooting for these youngsters and sitting on the edges of their seats, hoping, wanting, praying for them to make the right decisions. Kudos, Michelle, for a job well done! ”

• Rated 5 stars

“I think this is a very good book for young adults or older teens. It deals with sex before marriage, the temptation, and peer pressure teens face today. So deffinently not for younger kids. Michelle really deals with issues like that instead of just saying, "This is wrong, don't do it". She shows you the consequences, the pain that stuff can cause. I loved it and can't wait for her next book.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Michelle Sutton has brought the events of this short span of Annie’s experience to life and penned a collection of vivid characters that will live on for the reader beyond closing this book. I am amazed at the debut authors I am discovering who have a power with words that I have rarely seen over many years of reading. I suspect that her books along with two of my other favorite new authors Geralyn Beauchamp and Julie Lessman will one day join the ranks of authors such as Karen Kingsbury and Francine Rivers due to the exceptional power in their writing. While this novel’s main characters are in their late teens and early twenties it still touches a chord with readers at a variety of places in life and chronological age because of the emotionally gripping narrative and her ability to draw the reader into the lives of her characters such that it is difficult to put the book down once you have started it. Read the full review: http://bibliophilesretreat.com/2008/09/its-not-about-me-by-michelle-sutton-my.html”

• Rated 4 stars

“This was a great first book. It's written for teens but I truly enjoyed it.

Michelle's writing style captured my interest right away and carried me through the book. The characters were real--iritating, irrational, emotional teens who are hungry for more than what the world offers. As I read I remembered my own youthful days.

I highly recommend this for teen readers and for anyone who would enjoy being carried back to an earlier time.

Michelle also did a great job of sharing the pure clear gospel message. It was great to see it presented without pretense or conditions.

Thanks Michelle.

Bonnie ”

• Rated 5 stars

“First off, don't let the YA label fool you--Michelle lives up to her Edgy Inspirational Author title in a way that infuses a strong dose of reality into the reader. INAM digs into the nitty gritty of teen life in a way that's not commonly seen by we adults. Issues like violence against women, teen pregnancy, and alcohol abuse are faced head-on in this fast-paced story. The best part is, the story is unapologetically Christ-centered! This would be a great read for a mature teen, and one that Christians can share with their friends and know that the gospel message is going out. Bravo, Michelle!”

• Rated 4 stars

“I applaud Michelle Sutton for asking the tough questions of life in this book directed towards teenagers to read. It was refreshing to see an author tackle the subjects that no one wants to talk about . Michelle has created a book that teens can use to start talking about the uncomfortable issues. They can now say to a friend, "Hey, I just read this book and it was talking about..." I have to say that in the beginning it took a little adjustment to read the description of how Annie's boyfriend was touching her. But I later felt it would help to describe what goes on between a man and a woman; things that may lead to situations that are hurtful in the long run for both parties. There is no doubt about what not to do and how fast things can get out of control. I loved how Michelle made these characters come alive.

Annie is your typical teenager just going through the motions of life, trying to be "good" and doing all the "right" things because she goes to church and that's what is expected of her. Then the unthinkable happens to her; she starts to see life in a whole new light. She questions everything and starts to listen to that still, small voice that is piercing her heart. Her boyfriend, Tony, can't take what's happened to her and goes out to deaden his pain in ways he hadn't done before. He is totally unavailable to Annie and her pain. This adds to Annie's whirlwind and she loses her purpose in life. Everything has changed.

Tony's brother, Dan, reaches out to Annie and her family as a friend. Everyone is devastated about what has happened to Annie. Everyone feels uncomfortable, and no one knows what to say. Dan is able to talk to Annie and her family and pray for them. And, ask those questions they hadn't thought of before and help them see things from a different point of view. God's. Michelle asks questions in her book like: "If someone goes to church all of their life, does that make them a Christian?"; "Just because someone professed with their mouths to be a Christian, are they?"; "What makes a Christian?"; "Is pornography dangerous? What could it hurt to look at these magazines?". "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

I loved how Michelle tackled these and other matters in her book. Teens many not run to their parents to get these questions answered, or even feel comfortable asking the questions in the first place. I feel that Michelle is helping bridge the gap between teens and their parents. This could give teens the courage to talk to their friends about these tough issues. They now have a tool and can start talking about the book and let it go from there. Thank you Michelle, for bringing a book that I think will really touch the lives of many teenagers. It's a book that draws you in right from the start, be prepared to stay up late once you start reading "It's Not About Me". Michelle makes you want to find out what happens next -- I couldn't put it down; you won't be able to either!!

Nora St.laurent - ACFW Book Club Assistant
Book Club Servant Leader - www.pslam516.blogspot.com”