phyllish
Written on Mar 27, 2020
My rating is 4.5 stars
How do you take a difficult subject, make it palatable, and then ensure your readers enjoy it? I mean, really! Did you read the synopsis? How much more contemptible could a guy be than to cheat on his girlfriend and get the "other" girl pregnant? Yet, with compassion and enough light-hearted moments to keep it out of the mire, author Christy Hayes created an enjoyable, moral-filled story in Formula for a Perfect Life.
Kayla was a Christian who knew better. Yet the night she spent with her long-time crush - the night he sought her out - her hormones took over her rational thought. Frightened and feeling alone, she was devastated when she found out that things were worse than she thought. Ben had a girlfriend! And didn't exactly take Kayla's news well.
Despite what you might think, I ended up liking Ben right away. Not because he was handsome or charismatic but because he seemed so lost. Sure, he slept with his girlfriend and didn't think there was anything wrong with it. Sure, he didn't even love her. Yet seeing into his heart, I felt compassionate toward him and hoped he learned his lessons and made the right choices.
Ben's dysfunctional family was interesting - to say the least. The secret pain and guilt Ben carried had him seeking atonement by following the path his parents wanted him to.
I've read other stories about unplanned pregnancies before, so this was not a new theme. Yet I don't recall seeing so clearly the struggles of what to do about it as I did here. While only Ben and Kayla's thoughts were expressed, I could even understand why her parents reacted as they did and their suggestions. (Ben's dad - yeah, I didn't get him at all other than the grief he was wrapping himself up in like armor - but I did say he was dysfunctional, right?)
I was glad to see it made clear to Kayla, Ben, and those around them the consequences of making bad choices, even the result of being a bad example. They turned to God for help and were sorry for their sin. As in Maybe it’s You, however, the Christian message is subtle and not the predominant theme of the story.
While there were some raw, uncomfortable moments and some crude language used in a couple of places, it was momentary. I would have preferred they weren't there and yet won't stop reading this series because of them - they were mild. I found this to be less edgy than Maybe it’s You (which I was glad about!)
Formula for a Perfect Life stands alone though Kayla is one of Reagan's dorm mates from Maybe it’s You, and picks up where it left off. If you enjoy new adult fiction and don't mind reading of grittier moments, I recommend reading them in order.
Read my full review at Among the Reads
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.