Book Review: Tricia Goyer’s Beside Still Waters

Raised among the Amish of Indiana, 18-year-old Marianna Sommer plans to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and set up life in the only community she has ever known. But when her older brother chooses the world’s path following his rumschpringe, and a younger sibling begins showing interest in Englisch ways, Marianna’s parents move the family to Montana. Although she is also in her rumschpringe years and not obligated to move, Marianna makes the journey to dutifully help her mother who is expecting another child. Surprisingly, from strangers on the cross-country train ride to the less rigid stance of the new Montana community, many Englisch influences awaken within Marianna—and even her father—the desire to pursue a deeper kind of joy and love for God. After an accident, Marianna tells her friend Ben a defining story about the Sommer family, and his response further illumines the active relationship God seeks with His followers. In due time, she learns the move from Indiana was not about losing anything, but finding out who God really is. Despite all the shake-ups, Marianna feels a sweet peace, like still waters, in her soul.

This isn’t my first experience with Tricia Goyer’s work, but it was my first experience with an “ARC”, advanced reader copy. I admit it was different for me to hold in my hands a copy not ready for release that contains editor notes and different formatting. I love processes so although this has nothing to do with the book, I confess I enjoyed trying this book through an ARC experience. Interesting.

Now, Beside Still Waters grabbed my attention because of Tricia Goyer. She has to be the most multi faceted author around because I love her WWII historicals, but I also love her non fiction work covering motherhood and marriage. I wondered if she was joining the Amish bandwagon, a genre I must confess I feel is oversaturated right now. There is so much Amish fiction right now I mix the authors and I don’t want to do that. So when I find an Amish work, I’m looking for a fresh angle to the story that hasn’t been covered in previous Amish works before.

Beside Still Waters delivers the fresh angle I was looking for. The theme of letting go of the past is woven as beautifully throughout the entire book as a colorful Amish quilt. I might not be an Amish person packing up my life to move to a new place but I can definitely relate to living everything behind that I know and believe and wonder about my future. Marianna’s story is so relatable and yet remains a fresh Amish setting. I grieve losses, change and fear right with her. I understood the emotions behind her parent’s choices and concerns. Every character had a story and purpose that as a reader, I could use as a take away for my own life.

Not only did Tricia develop deep characters, she painted a beautiful setting with Montana. I could almost smell the air and I loved reading about a place not realized as a central Amish location. If Tricia continues writing Amish related novels I’d like to see experiences my mom is learning about as a friend of her local Amish community: their trips to Mexico for cheaper but risky surgery, the issues that so many families deal with such as abuse. Again fresh angles that she proved she can deliver.

I only have one question—what can’t Tricia Goyer write? She has a God given gift and I know she doesn’t take it for granted.

To purchase Beside Still Waters, click here.

B&H Publishing group provided an advanced reader copy for my honest review.

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