“…God loves you … He plans for your good, not your hurt. It’s true that things happen in life that seem wrong and are painful, but it isn’t because God likes to see us suffer. He wants to see us grow. He wants us to love Him, to trust Him.” – the preacher
Once upon a Summer by Janette Oke
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Josh’s parents died when he was a small child. Ever since then, his Auntie Lou, who was only five years older than he was, took over the role of his mother in the best way she knew how. They lived with Grandpa (Lou’s dad) and Uncle Charlie. And then when Grandpa and Uncle Charlie started talking about marrying Auntie Lou off, Josh wondered what he’d do without her. And then he decided, maybe he won’t have to find out…
“Holes in socks are sorta like sin, Josh. If you don’t tend to them right away when they’re small and controllable, they grow with amazing speed.” – the preacher
(I had to stop reading the book when I came to that quote and ponder it. Just… wow.)
As if that wasn’t bad enough, his great grandma died, leaving his great grandpa a widower. Grandpa and Uncle Charlie invited him to live with them. Josh wasn’t sure what to think about this, but he felt like it would disrupt everything.
Between Grandpa and Uncle Charlie trying to marry off Auntie Lou and a great-grandpa that he had never met coming to stay with them, Josh had a lot on his mind. The big question was, what would he do about it?
“Whenever something comes into our life that hurts us, we do the decidin’—do I let this work for my good, as God intended, or do I let bitterness grow like a bothersome canker sore in my soul?” – Auntie Lou
This story is told from 12-year-old Josh’s point of view. The writing style is so different, which I enjoyed, though it took me a chapter or two to get into the rhythm of it.
Josh’s character was well developed. Without revealing any spoilers, it was a joy to follow his story from start to where he is at the end of the book. He grows a lot. And the ending almost brought tears to my eyes. It was great.
There were too many amazing quotes in this book to list them all, but I think this one was my favorite:
“He could let us go through all of our life, bundlin’ us and shelterin’ us from anything and everything that would hurt us. I could do that with my petunias, Josh. I could build a box around them and keep them from the wind and the rain, the crawlers and the bees. What would happen iffen I did that, Josh?”
I jest shrugged. The answer was too obvious.
“They’d never bear flowers,” said Auntie Lou.
Aaaand the fun doesn’t stop here, because Janet Oke wrote four books in this series – which I have and look forward to reading soon. 🙂 However, I think this book could be read as a stand-alone. Until recently, I didn’t know that this book was even part of a series. If I had, I would have gotten my hands on the other books long ago!
It sounds like a book I’d love to read! 🤩🤩
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😀 I hope you get to! 🙂
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That does sound like a nice book!!!
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😀 It so was. I’ve read it three times. 🙂
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Whoa!
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I like the sound of this book! Great review overall.
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😀 It was so good! And thank you! ❤
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My pleasure!
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I love her books.
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😀 If I may ask, how many of hers have you read? So far, this is the only one of her books that I’ve read – but I found a bunch at Goodwill a couple of months ago. A few of the Canadian West series and Love Comes Softly series and some others. (Only $1 apiece!!) I can’t wait to devour them too. 🙂
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I’ve read the Love Comes Softly series and still have them in my library. 🙂
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Oohhh, I have some of those. Our local used bookstore put them on clearance and I bought quite a few. 🙂 Encouraging to know that you enjoyed that series. 🙂
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Sounds like my kind of book. Just looked at NY Public Library, they don’t have it…will look around. Thanks for great review! 🌹
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I’m sorry that your library doesn’t have it. I hope you are able to find a copy. 🙂
❤ Thanks for the kind words. 🙂
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A great author and so many great books.
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This was my first of her books, and I look forward to discovering her other books. 😀
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I love the Love Comes Softly series. Absolutely wonderful stories.
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My local used bookstore closed out a bunch of her titles, and quite a few of the Love Comes Softly series were there. (And I bought them – only $1.50 each.) It’s encouraging to know that you enjoyed them – I’m sure I will too. 😀
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The movie they made based on the first book is also a favorite of mine.
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Oohhh, I’d like to see it. 🙂 I think my mom has that movie – perhaps she will watch it with me sometime. 🙂
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Those have been favorites of mine for years. ❤❤❤
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This makes me even more excited to read the other books in the series! 🙂 ❤
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Oh, they are so delightful! My mama and I would read them together out loud when I was young. ❤
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Aww, how nice that the two of you made such lovely memories with these books! 🙂 ❤
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Awww, yes!! I am so blessed for these memories. 🤗🤗
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🙂 ❤
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My type of book! I want to read it. Is it downloadable via phone?
Thanks for this great review.
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😀
It does look like you can get it on Kindle. At least, Goodreads says that there is a Kindle edition. 😀 I hope you can get it!
❤ I'm glad you enjoyed the review!
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Oh okay cool I’ll check and see!
Yup sure did 🙂
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Yay, great! 😀
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Lol yeah.
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