Reviews

Entertaining Angels by Emerald Barnes

alstrath's review against another edition

5.0

Gosh! I started this book in the morning and have just not been able to put it down. The emotions & angst Madison is dealing with are wonderfully captured by Emerald Barnes - you feel as if you are inside her head. An ending that took me totally by surprise - was wonderful though.
This is a Christian-based story, so if you are dead against this genre this is not the book for you. If on the otherhand you are feeling overwhelmed by your situation and feel your self esteem slipping, this is the book for you.
(I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review)

jeanz's review against another edition

4.0

INITIAL THOUGHTS
I have read and thoroughly enjoyed other books written by Emerald Barnes, so I was looking forward to this one, hoping it would be something like "Read Me Dead". I also enjoy emerald's writing style, so I guess this should be an easy, enjoyable read.

MY REVIEW
I downloaded this one from Amazon UK . The cover features a female, probably Madison from the book, looking quite happy, sitting in grass. There is also a male pictured, so that could be Chase or Zach. There's the usage of "white light" on the cover which I initially thought was to go with the "Angels" part of the book title. I like the way the halo is used over the "g" of the word angel, it brings a little cute touch to the cover which suggests "fun". Would the cover make me pick up the book in a bookstore? I think I'd pick it up and take a look at the blurb so yes.
First of all it does say in my review policy that I do not read heavily religious content/books, having said that I chose to buy this book and read it as I have read and loved two other books written by Emerald Barnes. I totally admit I don't go to church on a regular basis though if someone asked my religion I would say Church Of England probably without thinking about it. I tend to believe "God" is everywhere and you can pray/speak to him when and where you wish. I do also believe in the "afterlife" too. Now having said all that I did enjoy the plot of this book, hence the 4/5 stars on Goodreads. The main characters are Madisons or "Mads" to her friends who is on the larger side, who is unhappy with her body and image. (Come on ladies we've all thought this at some point in our lives), she puts herself down, regularly skips meal, to the point of not eating or drinking at all and ending up collapsing. You may presume that Mads doesn't have supportive friend & family, which is definitely not the case. Her parents but her new pretty clothes and so on but she is constantly picked on by her younger brother Connor, who regularly call's her names such as fatty, or drawing attention to her weight or what she is wearing. Mads parents do tell Connor off and on one occasion in the book take his phone from him. I do feel they should have told him off and perhaps punished him more especially when they realised how affected Mads was by it. Mads is also being bullied and picked on at school by what I can only describe as the "popular, built like a twig (you know what I mean ladies). This girl threatens Mads several times in the book that she will make Mads life hell and she really means it and does it too. Mads best friend Chase tries his best to support her, as does newcomer to the area Zach. Zach is both figuratively on a mission to support Mads when he see's her being picked on by the popular girl and her followers at school. As you read further into the book you realise that Zach truly has been sent on a mission.
This book is about growing up, the "coming of age and more independence" of Mads and there are positive messages throughout. Madison's parents also quite forcefully encourage her to get a job and start earning her own money. This book is set in America so some things easily translate over to us in the UK, whereas others may not be the same as they would be in the UK.
I can imagine this being read in junior school, Sunday schools and the like. It really does make you think. It certainly made me think of bullying I underwent both in childhood for being "different" to others and within my adult life from peers within a home and work situations. The book is religious, which normally puts me off a book. Each chapter begins with a bible verse, which I really found myself enjoying a lot. It was towards the end of the book, that it became more about going to church, accepting God into your life etc. Which I know some people will love, sadly I felt like the book became a little too pushy on the religious parts. At one point I felt that Chase, his mother and Zach were "badgering" or being overly forceful in suggesting Madison going to the church with them. I also know from reading the book that they all had her best interests at heart but it did come across a little aggressive.
There are also two bonus sections, the first is Zach's story, about his mission, who sent him, what he was thinking and feeling at different parts in the book. The other bonus section is told from Chase's point of view. I did enjoy both bonus stories though of course they were quite religious in content too.
So did I enjoy the book? I enjoyed the actual basis of the plot, and the "moral of the story" part. It was just a little too pushy with the religious content. I felt the over use of the religion kind of spoilt the book a little for me. Would I recommend the book? Yes, to younger YA readers, and for schools to help teach better tolerance of one another and use within an anti bullying campaign.
Would I like to read another book in this series? ie. about the same characters? I think I'd want to read more about Chase and Madison, but my "star rating" would still probably reflect the fact that I do not like overly religious themes/books. Would I read other titles by Emerald Barnes? I have read other titles by this author and always look out for new titles by her and I will continue to do so.

gothamgal's review against another edition

4.0

Madison Andrews is 16, and a self-confessed nobody in Mississippi. Except for her best friend, Chase Sanders, everyone either ignores or teases Madison for her weight. When they arrive to school on the first day, the big news everyone is talking about is Zach Taylor, from Ohio. He’s tall, dark, handsome and WAY out of Madison’s league, or so she thinks.
While Madison beats herself up inside, she hides her body in loose, shapeless clothing. She uses coping mechanisms like starving herself and adopting more self-deprication than should be legal. A terrible treatment at a party brings more attention to Madison—including the attention of Zach. Asked out on a date, Madison changes her dress and wants to be perfect for Zach—and ends up in the hospital by the end of the evening, due to her starving ‘solution.’
Is happiness and thinness ever in the cards for Madison?

I really enjoyed the book by Emerald Barnes. I think it’s a perfect YA book for someone with body image issues. Or someone who is looking for a story about people who don’t necessarily fit into society’s norms and that those people can still be touched by Grace. As someone who had experienced a little bit of bullying at Madison’s age, I wanted to grab my phone and give her a call, letting her know that things would get better for her.

Barnes’ writing is honest. Very honest. And I really enjoyed reading this and then it’s followup novella, Before we Say I Do, especially so I could find out more about Madison’s future.