Rating: 3.75 Stars"Mennonite on the Edge" is an interesting book. The book is described by the publisher as a novel exploring "themes of love and marriage, belonging and culture." To me, however, the book reads more like a self-help book disguised as a novel.
Adam and MaryJo are a likable couple in their mid-20s. They are deeply in love, and readers will feel it. They have good friends and family. However, the events that cause MaryJo distress -- wanting to get back to the country, memories of an emotionally abusive boyfriend, her feelings about the Mennonite church and church teaching of the rapture, etc. -- come off as contrived, a way to create some tension between her and Adam. Their relationship is strong enough for those to be things they could have talked about easily between them, as they seem very comfortable sharing most things in their lives.
I would have liked to have given this book more than 3.75 stars. It is well-written and, when mentioned, captures the late '80s/early '90s period with descriptions of music and fashion trends of the period as well as the feel of living in New York.
Despite the average rating, I would love to read more novels by Cynthia Yoder to see how she develops as a novelist. She shows tremendous promise, and I applaud the author's effort in not trying to be a clone of Beverly Lewis, Wanda E. Brunstetter, Marta Perry, Emma Miller or others who write Amish and/or Mennonite fiction.
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