She Makes It Look Easy by Marybeth Whalen strikingly portrays the dangers of misplaced trust and the freedom that comes with true friendship. Ariel Baxter believes everything will be perfect when she moves into her dream neighborhood, but even with her new organizational notebook things are less than ideal. Ariel's neighbor, Justine Miller, flaunts her perfectly organized life; yet, in reality her whole world is falling apart. Ariel discovers how to respond in difficult situations as she wrestles with a world where façade is taken as fact.
Whalen shows her readers two completely different women through dual-perspective writing. One chapter probes into Justine's secretive thoughts whereas the next explores Ariel's confused loyalties. Justine's dark side is a direct foil to Ariel's trusting disposition. It is a dynamic relationship that clearly illustrates the folly of absolute trust in another human. This is most evident when Ariel, prompted by the promise of Justine's friendship, ignores her instinct to tell her husband about her wild night out. The emotional distress in this scene compels readers to evaluate their own priorities.
The frantic mother of three boys, Ariel longs for the peace and organization of her new neighbor, Justine. However, when troubling news of Justine's marital unfaithfulness reaches an innocent Ariel, she must decide whether blindly to support her neighbor against the rumors or to pursue an ugly truth. Faced with undeniable proof, Ariel finally faces the lies of perfection she has believed and ultimately opens her heart to the only perfect friend.
The believability of Ariel's character shines through her flaws. Because she is a messy mom who does not have it all together, readers can sympathize with her struggles and successes. The ups and downs in her spiritual life also give a sense of reality to her personality that seems to lift her off the page. Her interactions with other characters are meaningful and serve to further the plot through authentic dialogue.
Whalen does an excellent job of speaking to the insecurities and struggles of women in She Makes It Look Easy. Through Ariel's difficulties readers realize that only God is worthy of absolute trust and that true friendship requires honesty. This simply written but gripping novel would be a good addition to any Christian womans personal library. Anna Soden, www.ChristianBookPreviews.com
