Few memoirs have made me laugh like Spiritual Misfit. Michelle DeRusha's brave honesty will have you looking at your own uneasy faith and perhaps even voicing a few shaky feelings to God.

Michelle deftly walks you through her tenuous faith journey. From her Catholic upbringing to her personal doubts to the warming of her heart, she testifies to a God Who loved her completely and pursued her passionately.

Spiritual Misfit is a perfect selection for a book club and is sure to invite a lively discussion. Her experience is unique, but her ponderings are universal. Michelle writes in such a way that everyone can connect with her and may even breathe a sigh of relief that they're not alone in their questions about God.

Michelle DeRusha's book, Spiritual Misfit, is as open, engaging, and honest. The topic of spirituality in today's culture and society has become more open than it once was, so I think this book is a great place to begin a conversation. In the book, she discusses her entire path, all parts of it. From when she attended religious services out of duty, to her pure avoidance of the topic altogether, marrying someone with faith, and the slow walk to where she is today.

She writes poignantly her story, a story that twists and turns, one that shows life doesn't have to be ascribed to through the beliefs of others. This book is powerful and impactful in that eventually Michelle finds her place. It wasn't through her husband, or her friends, or her family, but through herself. She came into her faith and spirituality on her own, with the help of others she sought, but also with the acceptance and understanding that she doesn't have to be like anyone else.

Spiritual Misfit is heartfelt. It's real. It's raw. And...it's funny! Just when I thought I was reading someone else's story, I was reminded of God's love and grace for me. Michelle DeRusha tells her story with honesty - the kind that makes me brave to tell my story.

God moved her to Nebraska to get her out of her comfort zone, to take her away from childhood misconceptions, and to open her heart and mind to Him. Spiritual Misfit is Michelle DeRusha's story, her testimony of God's gentle work in her life.

Michelle starts at the beginning, documenting the particular event and the circumstances of her upbringing that led her, first, to live in fear, then, to reject belief in God. Michelle tells how she chose to keep this rejection private, attending church and going through the motions just as if she believed. She then goes on to tell how God used her children, her community, and all that was beyond her control to help her begin to consider His Truth.

My favorite chapters were "Why Not," "Taking a Mulligan . . . Again," and "Beloved Misfit." I appreciated the natural progression of the entire story which started out as a simple testimony then subtly started exploring significant topics of the Christian faith through Michelle's experiences. And I got a kick out of Michelle's sense of humor toward herself, her environment, and life in general. If you enjoy reading the stories of God's personal work in individual lives, you may like this book.

I received my complimentary copy from Blogging for Books in exchange for this honest review.