This book wasn’t in my TBR (to be read) pile. In fact, I don’t even own it. But somehow, as I was pulling books from the library system or adding up a wish list of items at Amazon, I came across it. It all started when I read Beyond the Night, her Christy award-winning novel. (Read my review and interview with Marlo here.) I remembered Beyond the Night was poignant and deep, a powerful read which didn’t simply entertain, I’d been drawn closer to God. So, I recently picked up If Tomorrow Never Comes. This novel exceeded my expectations.I believe in dreams—God-given dreams. Kinna’s problem in If Tomorrow Never Comes is she has decided what her dreams are; she has decided how to get there. She has believed the prideful and sometimes misguided notion of “you can do anything you put your mind to.” Her struggle? Infertility. And she can’t force the hand of God. Even if you’ve never faced infertility or chased a dream, you’ll find yourself in these pages. The author tackles issues of father-son relationships, healing from a painful childhood, letting go, forgiveness, trusting God—all weighty issues. She also delves into issues within marriage as the married hero and heroine of her story face their weaknesses, their history, their love, and their hopes in the course of the story.
The book is listed as general contemporary fiction, but I’d call this a married couple romance. For those of us how enjoy that type of read, this is a rare find. But If Tomorrow Never Comes is so much more than a simple, or formulaic, read. Without preaching, Marlo drew me to Jesus, glorifying Him. And just when you think the story is about to wind down, it really winds up.
This is definitely one of the best books I’ve read in a while. She hooked me from the very beginning, and through her use of universal themes (see above) kept me turning pages through the end.
Highly recommended!
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