I’m not good at this and I am always worried that I won’t do a wonderful book justice but here goes from my heart.
I love that moment when I read the title in the book! All Manner Of Things shall be well. This story touched my heart. My uncle fought and was wounded in the Vietnam War. I would write him letters as a young girl in the fourth and fifth grade so this story brought it home for me. The courage that each of these family members had will build your courage. Take one day at a time and have hope that all will be well. I love the way Mrs Susie Finkbeiner writes because I get drawn into the story right from the start. Not a lot of romance if your looking for that but oh so much deeper than that. The author brought in race for a couple and the trouble it causes among some people. Then a deep love and hope for two people that thought they didn’t have any love left. I loved the way Mike and Annie wrote to each other and the way they showed their love through letters. Faith, courage and perseverance brought the family through tragedy and everyday trials. A quote I loved “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” I truly felt this story and it will definitely be one of my favorites for this year.
I received this book from the publisher/author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.

“All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.”
― Julian of Norwich

Susie Finkbeiner has used this quote on which to base her new book, "All Manner of Things." Taking place during the Viet Nam war, the book chronicles the lives of Annie, her brothers, her mother, and to some degree, her father.

Annie lives with her family and works in the local diner belonging to her Uncle Bernie. Her wages go to help out her mother keep food on the table for her and her brothers.

Her older brother, Mike, comes home one day to tell his mother that he has enlisted, because he knows that his number will come up in the draft and he may as well beat the rush. Before he leaves, there are a few family adventures he must participate in.

His grandparents all live in the same town in Michigan, and his grandfather is suffering the debilitations of dementia. He wanders off and all the family comes together to find him. Annie and Mike know where he used to like to go. They find him disoriented and very slightly injured. They bring him back home to safety.

Annie's life is pretty much the same day to day, except when she starts getting letters from a former neighbor. She finds out it's because his fiancee wrote him a Dear John, and he's wanting to find a replacement. Mike doesn't approve of this man, he's known as a player. About the same time, Annie gets a new customer in the diner, a man working for the park service. They strike up a friendship that appears to become more than just friendship.

When Mike is finally deployed to Viet Nam, he goes as a medic. In one of his letters home, he uses this quote by St. Julian.

Susie has made this book a compelling read. The side characters fill out the plot and add to the richness of the novel. It's a five star read, two thumbs up, and a left-over pastry from the diner.

Revell Publishing supplied the galley I read through NetGalley.com, asking only for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I have never read a Vietnam era book, but it did not disappoint. Be sure to have tissues ready. You will laugh, you will cry, it will make you have all the feelings! .

The author has a way of describing places, emotions and feelings so that you feel like you are right in the room with the characters. I feel in love with all the characters and they were developed really well.

Favorite quote:
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Wow! This story and its characters wove themselves around my heart. I laughed, I held my breath, I cried. This story welcomed me into an intimate, heartfelt journey with these characters. The characters felt so real that I felt like I became part of their family.

My parents were born in 1956. I have seen pictures and listened to the music they grew up listening to. I’ve enjoyed listening to the stories they have shared of memories they have of this time period. Reading this story, was even better than listening to their stories (sorry mom & dad) because I felt like I lived the story with the characters.

Susie Finkbeiner tackles difficult topics and through the characters, we are reminded of the importance of forgiveness as well as given a gentle reminder that even in our darkest moments, God is still with us. I highly recommend this story!

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

All Manner of Things was an interesting story that unfolded nicely. The characters were unique and will stay with me for a while. I appreciated the time setting during the Vietnam war and the grittiness of war and how it effects families. There was not any huge intrigue or mystery, but it kept my interest since I was invested in the characters. Annie was like-able and Jocelyn was a gem and I think most any female can relate to either having or wanting a best friend like her. The supporting “cast”of characters were phenomenal. I would really love a follow up story on Jocelyn and cousin Bernie. Annie’s longings for a “normal” family were understandable, yet I liked how this family was not “normal” because what family truly is? We all have issues and pasts and deal with them the best we can. I feel like I made a few friends and I mourned with them and felt so many emotions while reading.

All Manner of Things is a beautifully written, character driven novel set during the Vietnam conflict. I loved the characters and the small town Michigan setting. The writing style is lyrical and poetic. Faith plays a dominant role in the story. The faith of the main characters grows immensely through out the book. This is a quiet novel, but a lot happens by the end. Be prepared to have your heart broken. It's a sweet coming of age story, and it tackles a lot of difficult subjects. I highly recommend this books to readers who enjoy literary fiction or small town settings.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.

Have you ever read a book that made you want to crawl inside the pages and just live there for awhile? To become woven into the fabric of the story, breathing the same air and experiencing the same things as your new imaginary friends?

I would love to be Annie's friend. I would so crush on Mike. I would finally have a kid brother in Joel. I would help Gloria clean the grease stain off of her dining room wall. And I would give Frank a good tongue lashing, then a huge hug.

Normally I shy away from any book, television series or movie that takes place during the VietNam era. My brother made the same choice Mike made, and my mother reacted the same way Gloria did. Me? I was only 3, but I remember the change when my brother 'came' home from the war.

Susie Finkbeiler hasn't just crafted a novel meant to become a classic in the years to come. She has sliced a portion of Americana from our history and given it flesh, bone, breath, words, light, laughter, tears...and so much more. This is masterful writing.

It makes me glad to be a reader. It makes me glad to be a reviewer. It makes me glad to be a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend, a wife, and a mother. It makes me thankful for all of the men and women who served and who will serve.

It makes me happy to highly, highly recommend this book to you. I wish I could give "All Manner of Things" 10 stars. Five just doesn't seem to do it justice.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, and all thoughts and opinions are offered freely and are all my own.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Sometimes stories just captured you and take you away. You forget everything around you and focus on every detail of the story. This book is exactly that. A story that unravels the 1960s when the Vietnam War was in the headlines and the country was in chaos as demonstrations broke out over the country.

It is easy to relate to Annie because she is such a charismatic character. Her family life has been difficult at times with a father not active in her life. Her oldest brother Mike, is like the man of the house and I found him to be a strong, determined person. My heart stopped as I read that Mike had enlisted in the army. He believes that it is his duty and figures that he would be called up anyway. I remember that time a little and how young men were waiting for that letter in the mail. The family is worried for Mike’s safety and Mike tells Annie something before he leaves that really shocked me. You may wonder what that is, but you must read this story and find out as we follow Annie and her family during this era that was filled with tragedy, heartbreak and hope.

It was very interesting to read that Annie’s family had a pattern of running away. It goes back several generations, but it makes you wonder if that is why her father left. The author does a great job of letting us into Annie’s life and get to know her better. I loved the letters she received from her brother and how they encouraged each other. Each letter starts to get a bit darker as Mike describes what he sees in Vietnam. The author has done a great job of taking readers to a time in history where war was on everyone’s minds, demonstrations were everywhere and tucked away was a family who knew first hand what the war does to a family. They prayed daily for Mike's safety and I loved how the church kept them in their prayers as well.

This story is one that will require tissues as you read this story. We get a glimpse through Mike's letters that the war is tragic and depressing. I loved how the story reminds us of a time when serving your country was not popular and of the men and women who gave all for our freedom.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

This book! Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book. This is the first time I have read a book by Susie Finkbeiner, but it will not be my last. I was taken in by this book from the first page and could not put it down until I finished it then, I didnt want it to end.. It was beautifully written, the characters were real and I have to admit I almost did the ugly cry more than once. The Viet Nam War and 1967/68 was my time but this is not a political drama nor does it preach to you. This book is about family, love, friendship, and life. Believe me when I say this book is a don't miss read.

This is a touching novel about a small family during the Vietnam War years. The book is character driven, seen through the eyes of the daughter Annie, a recent high school graduate. The story centers around changes in family dynamics as Annie's older brother, Mike, decides to enlist in the Army instead of wait for his draft notice.

The effect of war on a family is a strong issue in the novel. Annie and Mike's father had been in the Korean War. Upon his return, he was unstable and abandoned the family. Mike had become the responsible man in the family and now he was leaving for war. We see how Annie, her mother and younger brother deal with the change. Through a series of events, the father is back in the picture after being gone over a decade. Another part of the novel is how the family members react to him.

The plot was a tad bit predictable. There is no suspense. There are no surprises. There is some romance with Annie but I found it a little puzzling and unsettled. The strength of the novel comes from Finkbeiner's writing style. Her work is a pleasure to read. This is a book for readers who would enjoy a novel centering on family relationships in troubled times.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Susie Finkbeiner captured the essence of America during the Vietnam War era. Through the vessel of the Jacobson's family story she explores the impact of war on soldiers and those they leave behind, social unrest, racism, the effect of an uncertain future on the already turbulent times of adolescence and young adulthood, and the search for God within it all. The emotions in this book are real and raw. The characters will join those from other books of great depth who continue to reside with you in the recesses of your mind. Above all, the theme of hope will ring true.

Susie Finkbeiner is a new-to-me author, but one I will continue to look for in the future. I am very grateful to have received a copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

All Manner Of Things by Susie Finkbeiner is a heart-wrenching Christian historical novel focusing on a family affected by war. The action is set in 1967 during the Vietnam War but families are still reeling from the Korean War. I do not normally cry over books but I cried over this one. It is beautifully written and I ‘felt’ included in the family as the book is written in the first person from the point of view of eighteen year old Annie.
The novel is a microcosm for the macrocosm of American families affected by war. It is a close knit family and community that laughs together, lives together and cries together. In some ways life in 1967 was far simpler but in many ways it was so much harder.
War hurts. It hurts civilians. It hurts the forces and it hurts God. “I can’t believe that God created us for all this death and destruction… War wasn’t His idea.” The reader becomes acquainted with the thoughts and fears of both the servicemen and those on the home front as part of the novel is in the form of letters to and from Vietnam to various family members. The servicemen were brave young men who ‘did it afraid’ as they answered the call to serve their country. “You gotta just look to God… When I get scared, it’s about the only thing I can do.” God was alongside those serving and those at home at all times, even if He seemed silent. He never left His children alone.
War alters people. A shell of a father returned from the Korean War. “A different man returned. One haunted by explosions and death and the stink of war.” Today we would diagnose PTSD. Then, a father tried to run away from his fears but “he still hadn’t outrun Korea.” The affects lasted a lifetime. There is a very tender and beautiful opening scene with this father and six year old Annie in 1955.
True treasure and self-sacrifice are the order of the day. “You can’t save everyone. But I know you can save some.” This contrasts with the love of money and possessions. “Your worth isn’t in what we’ve saved up in our bank account.” True treasure is found in our actions and love for others.
The fictional family has been beautifully drawn by Susie Finkbeiner. They are not perfect but they are realistic with their hangs ups and character flaws, and they are full of so much love. It is a love that radiates beyond the pages of the book. The reader witnesses a sibling love that can never be broken. A self-sacrificing love is witnessed again and again.
Susie Finkbeiner has written such a beautiful novel that has really affected me. She has presented the horrors of war, not so much in the blood and gore, but in an everyday way that tears families and communities apart.
I can highly recommend All Manner Of Things. It is such a beautiful novel about the bonds of love but you will need tissues close by.
As the novel has ended I feel lost without my new friends. The love within the book surrounded me and has left me feeling serene and loved.
A beautiful, beautiful book.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Set in the turbulence of the 60s with the war in Vietnam and racial divide at home, author Susie Finkbeiner captured me from page one. Finkbeiner has a unique way of taking a time in history and putting the reader in the middle of it. With the inclusion of letters written between the characters, it was an unusual but enjoyable way of tracing thoughts and feelings. Of having difficult conversations when a distance a part.

Raw and honest, I was literally reading as fast as I could. I didn’t want it to end yet I so badly needed to know the ending. And yes, I sobbed like a baby the last few chapters. And that’s okay because if we don’t emotionally connect with a book like this then we’ve wasted our time. All Manner of Things is an emotional roller coaster with characters who are desperately depending on God but learn that His ways are not always our ways. As Mike reminds us, “Don’t duck and cover.”

If you enjoy historical fiction then you must get a copy of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is wonderful! The writing and the characters will draw you right in! For those of my generation, you will make a lot of connections. This time period is portrayed very realistically. My uncle went to Vietnam, and I remember my grandparents watching the news and making recordings to send to him. Unfortunately, he did not make it home. I like books that just pull me into the story, and this one definitely did that. I felt like I was there and reliving a part of my young life (teen-age years). I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book by this author!

Not much of a romance, just real life as portrayed in 1967. It seemed historically accurate. It was a bit slow for me but enough for me to keep reading. I liked the depth of the ending.

This is a fabulous story of loss and the redemption of pain. The understated fear had me holding my breath dreading what might be coming, but Finkbeiner did a masterful job os seeing the beauty behind everything. Annie, Mike, and the rest of the Jacobson family are deeply drawn, and the poetry of scenes echoed long after I closed the book.

I heartily recommend Finkbeiner's book.

I received a digital copy of this book from Net Galley as well as a print copy from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner is an amazing story--a story of Annie and her family, a family that has captivated this reader's heart and will not easily be forgotten. Having read several of this author's books I was eager to dig into this one and was not disappointed. At first, I wondered if she was writing my story...an older teen in 1967, small-town Michigan, Anne(ie)...then the author described Annie as one with a startinglingly beautiful soul and my bubble burst! Seriously though, this was a fascinating book in which the author tackles the gritty subjects of the Viet Nam war, shell shock/PTSD, abandonment, grief, and a touch on the issue of racism and does it well. The richness of the characters and their emotions is genuine and deeply moving, resonating within the reader. Bernie, Annie's boss, and third cousin, plays the part of a grumpy old man to a T and yet is compassionate and wise; Frank, Annie's daddy, quiet, sullen charming, complicated--a man who loves his family and finally realizes what he had missed over the years since he left; Jocelyn, her dearest friend--I loved how their houses were so close they could chat through the screens and each of the other characters (even the 'stinker' character, Aunt Rose, bring so much into the story. Readers will get caught up in the lives of these characters and their stories. The author has captured well the setting and era of All Manner of Things as she has expertly written the distinctive dialogue and descriptive scenes of the book. I enjoyed her use of letters scattered throughout the book to share the hearts of the writers with those they love. The author has so many pithy sayings...'Don't duck and cover. Keep your eyes open'; 'You can't live your life afraid of what might happen'; because we are made for eternity, even in death we still are...were some that I really liked. Poignant and intense, this character-driven story takes the reader into the heart and soul of a family and the small town community they were enveloped in, as they deal with the horrors, the searing pain, the sorrows, and the unknowns of a war that seemed to make no sense to many. Don't miss the chance to fall in love with the Jacobson family, a family who just wanted to be normal, a family with a history of running away and yet a family tied together by strong, unbreakable bonds.
I received a complimentary copy of the book and was not required to write a review. The opinions are my own.

There are times when words just cannot do justice to how incredible a book is. That time is now with Susie Finkbeiner’s novel, All Manner of Things. I’ve waited several days after turning the final page, hoping that my review could communicate all I felt and learned. I’m afraid it will be woefully incomplete and and ineffective. This was a book I fell into and did not want to emerge from for the mundane chores of my life. It was if the book world that Finkbeiner created was more real than that which was going on around me. However, this is definitely not escape fiction, but a journey into the heart and soul of the time and place of narrator Annie Jacobson’s life. Vividly descriptive with spot-on details of the Vietnam-era, All Manner of Things receives a Very Highly Recommended rating from me.

From the first few pages, I sensed that Annie Jacobson was special. Told from her point of view, as well as letters the family receives and writes, the novel is an intimate look at Annie and her family. The dynamics of her life fit the time and place of small town Michigan of the mid-1960s, yet are relevant for a modern audience. The story is simple — a family without a father is plunged into the real world when the oldest son, Mike, enlists in the Army. His path seems destined to end up on the other side of the world in war-torn Vietnam. Yet there is nothing simple about this book. Its many layered themes and insights will resonate with a wide variety of readers. Characters are complex, and often perplexing — pretty much how real people are. Many I loved, and some I want to shake. 😉 I was a child in 1967, but All Manner of Things brought back that time with its language, references to music, and the daily news accounts of how the war was going in Vietnam. The book is subtle in many ways and has various threads, but I especially loved Mike’s story and the increasing maturity, both emotional and spiritual, that is portrayed in his letters home. His peace within chaos is especially poignant. I think just about all the characters grow up in the year that the book encompasses, and I believe that their hard fought lessons will speak to the reader as well.

There really is much more I could say about All Manner of Things, but let me leave you with just one thought — READ. THIS. BOOK. But don’t forget the tissues. I blame Finkbeiner for some ugly crying I did towards the end. 😉

Very Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

This book is worth far more than the measly 5 stars I can give it. It's like a perfect gem of a story, a glimpse into the life of a family who could have been any family during the Vietnam War. And people, it made me cry. I rarely, if ever, cry for books, but I did for this one. I won't tell you why, though, so don't think this is a spoiler. This one just edged right onto my Top Reads of 2019 shelf--the very top of the shelf. I loved Finkbeiner's first books, yet somehow she's getting even better with every book she writes, and she's shifting the way Christian fiction looks and feels while she's doing it. It's more REAL somehow, more like the people I see every day and the kids I grew up with. This book. Buy it. It's more than worth the read, and I'm betting it'll go on your keeper shelf.

Thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book on NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.