The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd is a perfect fit for readers who appreciate historical fiction, biblical stories, and feminist themes, and are drawn to stories of strong, independent women who defy societal expectations and seek to make their mark on the world.

I almost didn’t read or share this new fiction from Sue Monk Kidd. The Book of Longings challenged me to explore my convictions about how much wiggle room a fiction writer is free to take with her subject and, even more crucially, to withhold judgment until I’ve had time to process the role of fiction in expanding my knowledge of a story I thought I already knew.

Ana is a strong and feisty female protagonist whose New Testament-era story provides deeply revealing insights about life in a tightly knit Jewish community in Palestine.

She is also the wife of Jesus, a premise that set my mind against the book from the beginning–until I winnowed my objections down to one question: What difference would it have made if Jesus had been a married man? I embrace his full humanity, and I reject the notion that singleness or celibacy are prerequisites for ministry leadership, a belief that has caused no end of heartache and error for centuries.

Much of Jesus’s early life is left unrecorded, but is it also left to our imagination? Sue Monk Kidd thought so, and in applying her unique gift of lyrical prose to Ana’s life story (this is clearly her story), she offers insights to the Greatest Story that are both reverent and startling.

Ana’s gift to the world is the record of her heart’s longings, what they taught her, and the manner in which God answers her writerly prayer for beautiful words that make a difference. Sue Monk Kidd’s gift to me is the realization that my orthodoxy can become a wall, shutting out the what-ifs of a story that is not mine to control. Would I have been more comfortable if Ana had been a sister to Jesus or even a close cousin? Sure, but maybe my comfort isn’t the point…


Many thanks to Penguin Random House and Net Galley for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my reviews which are, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

As a non-religious person, I wasn't sure what to expect of this book. Needless to say, it stunned me. I will be thinking about this powerful story for a long time to come. Will be perfect for bookclubs.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review...
Things I loved: well written, well paced historical fiction. The point of view of the last 20% of the book was my favorite part of the whole read-I finished the book on Palm Sunday so the story was on my mind.
Things to consider: the main character is Jesus' wife. If this turns you off, then don't bother reading the book. It reminded me of other biblical fiction books that I have liked and remembered: The Red Tent and The Dovekeepers.

A unique and interesting novel. I think it was bold to show Jesus having a wife. Ana was a great character. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This book was received as an ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Books in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I could not be more fascinated with a historical fiction novel than I am with The Book of Longings. The information presented and how Sue Monk Kidd interwoven it throughout the story was so brilliantly constructed that my eyes were glued throughout the whole book. Ana's back story was so fascinating and how she got connected with Jesus, Mary and the brothers and sisters made my heart warm and melty. Then of course Ana's connection with Judas was a real eye opener and such an unexpected twist. Sue Monk Kidd is a very popular author in our Fiction collection and I know The Book of Longings will be very popular.

We will consider adding this title to our Historical Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.