In the fun new novel “The List” by Melanie Jacobson, we meet Ashley Barrett, a young lady who has plans. She’s seen how dull people’s lives become after they get married, and how they aren’t able to do the things they want to do once they’re tied down, so she has created a list of all the things she wants to do before saying “I do.” She’s managed to work her way through several of those goals—some of which are pretty impressive—and this summer, she’s got her eye on two more: learning to surf, and having a summer fling. She didn’t realize she’d be able to cross off two goals in one fell swoop until she meets Matt Gibson, who not only is an awesome surfing instructor, but is prime summer fling material. With some fancy talking, she’s able to secure free lessons, and piques his interest in her as well. So far, so good.
What Ashley didn’t expect, though, was that she wasn’t just going to learn how to surf—she was going to learn things about herself. She was going to have growth experiences and opportunities to change her world view. And when Matt learns he’s an item on her list, his reaction is surprising and refreshing.
I enjoyed watching Ashley’s metamorphosis throughout the course of the book. At first, I wasn’t sure I fully identified with her, but by the end, I was totally on her team.
As I read the book, I couldn’t help but smile. Yes, there are things that are more difficult to do once married, but it’s not as limiting as one might think, especially when you marry someone who has the same goals as you. I’ve been blessed to find a man who supports me in my goals and dreams. Granted, it took a little while for us to get to that point—me to express my goals, and him to get on board. That was a growth experience for both of us. But now we’re on the same page, and he backs me up in whatever pursuits I have. (Interestingly, his name is Matt, just like the hero in our book.) By the same token, I support him in his dreams. I think this novel will show that a relationship can be a blessing in the fulfillment of dreams, and you don’t have to turn aside from your goals when you marry.
This novel was published by Covenant Communications in 2011. It has some light LDS themes but can be enjoyed by readers of any denomination. I received a copy for review purposes, but that did not influence my opinion of the book.
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