The Secret Blend
by Stan Toler

My rating: 4 / 5
Genre: Christian living

My husband recommended this book to me after reading it for one of his pastoral training classes. Though it is a fictional story, it is one meant to teach, specifically seven lessons about acquiring true wealth in the form of fulfilling relationships. As one who has always struggled with friendships, I appreciated not only the lessons but also the starting point of the main character. I can see real merit in what is presented in this book. What the book doesn’t really account for, though, is people who are super awkward in social situations. The main character just didn’t really take the time or effort to make friends before starting to learn these lessons, but it comes fairly easy to him once he tries. It would not be so smooth for me. Also, I don’t actually encounter a whole lot of people on a daily basis. All of that being said though, the story is touching and biblically grounded, so not just an empty self-help book.

I have to say, though, that as a fiction writer and reader, Toler’s writing style grated on me. This may not be his normal genre, and maybe any editors or publishers involved are also used to non-fiction more than fiction, but someone really need to read this out loud before publishing it. The main thing that bothered me was the way that the characters constantly said each others’ names as they were talking. And entire conversation would occur where the characters would say each others’ names when they started speaking back and forth, and no one talks like that in real life. My husband didn’t notice this when he read it though, so it’s clearly personal preference (and probably has something to do with me being a much heavier reader than him). Those annoyances aside though, I do recommend this book for anyone who struggles with making or keeping friendships or feels that their life could be richer in this area.

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If you’ve read this book, or read it in the future, feel free to let me know what you think!