Longing--a Book Review

Title: Longing
Author: Karen Kingsbury
Published: 2011

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

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Bailey Flanigan is a character not too unlike myself. She is a girl in the midst of the unknown, trying to make sense of the paths that are ahead for her. Is she to continue on Broadway? Is she to make another movie in Hollywood? What about the guys in her life--has she let go of Cody? Does Brandon really have her heart? She is clinging to her Savior as she looks for the answers.

Cody Coleman is still wrestling with the demons that occasionally conflict his soul. He has seen great progress in the lives of his football players. They have become more passionate about Christ, which has warmed Cody's heart. But Cody himself has some problems in his life. His girlfriend, Cheyenne, has been diagnosed with brain cancer and to top everything off, he realizes that he is still in love with Bailey. He can never feel about anyone else the way that he does about Bailey......but what can he do about it?

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I am a huge fan of Karen Kingsbury's works. Ever since I read her 9/11 series--and bawled my eyes out--I have read as many as I could get my hands on. Of course that means that I read all about the Baxter family which lead to Bailey Flanigan. Being the age of Bailey, I find her very easy to relate to. When I first began the series, I felt as if I was seeing my own life written out on those pages.

Longing takes place on the streets of New York city and the beaches of California. (I dream of the former and have been to the latter.) It also takes place on a football field and on the Broadway stage. Having the book start out around the Thanksgiving dinner table and reading it on that particular day just made me feel warm and happy inside. I feel like I am truly a part of the Baxter and Flanigan families in my own way.

Which makes the lower rating painful for me to give. I still loved it, don't get me wrong, but through the course of the book, Karen Kingsbury went down a path that irritated me. I can't give the story away, but it feels as if she is repeating a storyline that she has already done once before. Maybe it wouldn't peeve me so much.....if I wasn't on the side of all-American, war veteran, high school football coach.

I was so upset I cried at the end. Now, I always cry at Karen's books......but this time, there was a dual reason behind it. It was a good-bye scene (and I do NOT do those), but I was also frustrated. Perhaps this chronic pessimist will get the ending she wants come March; who knows...but I doubt it.

So, would I recommend Longing? Yes I would.....because I love Karen. But if you are on "Team Cody" (to borrow a Twilight colloquialism ;-), be prepared to get annoyed and question the author's decision.