#WayMaker #NetGalley #bookreview

Publisher: Thomas Nelson - W Publishing
ISBN: 9780310352198

Release: March 1, 2022

The Promise (Descr from Publisher):

In WayMaker, bestselling author Ann Voskamp hands us a map that makes meaning of life, that shows the way through to the places we’ve only dreamed of reaching, by a way we never expected. Voskamp reveals how God is present in the totality of our lives.

The Expectation (mine after reading the promise, etc):

I debated about requesting this book from NetGalley because while I have friends and connections who love Voskamp, I find her depressing and not hopeful at all. I was angry in one of her books that was recommended to me by several people - when I got to the end and it was still depressing. So, while I'm hoping this is better; the description reads like it could very well be that same book just rewritten and updated; if so, I hope it contains more hope and peace. I hope that I don't get to the end of the book and discover that I have more hope here in this moment for this book than the book has. I'm giving Voskamp a chance to redeem herself in Waymaker.

Favorite/Summary Quote:

Whenever we choose to connect, we disconnect from more pain.

It’s never about the storm - it’s always about your sail.

Welcome to life, where Plan A transforms into Plan Z to transform you.

Life is the art of the turn.

What I connected with:

She has some good one-liners & quips & quotables. My favorite was about how Love lays down … and the remarks the pastor shared at her wedding.


What I struggled with:

If a modern day Job was female and wrote her biography today, this would come pretty close. (Only I think Job was better).

I struggle with not saying “I hate her writing.” Hate is such a strong word. Her writing is not for me. She time leaps. She throws in random stuff and wanders - often -off course. I literally got a headache every time I picked up this book. She jumps from story to story. There is no map. The description to this book is so far from what this book is. This book is a biography of her marriage and family and all of the trauma and drama with Scriptures to show she relied on God.

Her depression oozes through her writing. For people who like this kind of book, then it’s definitely a good read if you can follow it. But it’s definitely not my kind of book - I’m disappointed that this is not what the description was in NetGalley. However, I’m not surprised because of who wrote it.

I know what it’s like to suffer from depression. It’s hell. So I’m not judging the depression of the writer. I just don’t want to be taken back into that journey and be reading a book that focuses on all of the bad stuff. I’d rather read the book of Job.

But here is some redemption. If an aggressive editor for a hold of this and gave it some boundaries, easy to follow timeline, removed the unnecessary side bars, and actually tied in applicable, relevant Scripture and and created the road map that was in the book description, I think there’s content here that would make an amazing book - which is why I am giving this 3 stars instead of one. I also understand her writing style is polarizing & people tend to love it or hate it. I just fall in the latter category.

I really think she has a personal story of endurance & faith that would make ONE amazing memoir - as long as someone else wrote it. If that happens, let me know. I would read it.

But for now this is just a horribly written, time leaping, difficult to follow, memoir of a depressing woman who focuses on all of the drama & trauma of her life; but sprinkles in Scripture to show her faith & then marketed as an inspirational book for Christians. . . again.


What I learned:

I won’t be reading any more of her books.

How it transformed me:

It didn’t.

I won’t be recommending this book to friends and family. I don’t want a hard copy of the book. All I want is for my headache to go away after trying to follow this book. Where’s the ibuprofen?

Ann Voskamp is my go-to when I need to refocus and recharge my faith and spirituality. Waymaker, Ms. Voskamp's newest guide to practicing religion that can really make a difference in one's life, is incredibly crafted. The beauty in Ann's writing is that it is evident to a follower that she is not merely writing, rather God is creating and scripting her every thought and written word. She is truly led by a higher power, and the sheer brilliance and beauty in her compilation is evident on every page. My only regret with this latest book is that it did not apply to my life as well as her other books, One Thousand Gifts and The Broken Way, did. Nonetheless, anyone familiar with Ms. Voskamp's style and sterling voice will appreciate each page and accept it as the gift that it is meant to be. Thank you NetGalley for this amazing spititual gift that you granted me.

WayMaker is a book I will return to and mull over. Ann Voskamp writes with narrative honesty and spiritual insight. At first glance, I am inspired and am thinking through the message this author is sending.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.
This book to begin was a little hard to follow however it had lots of stories related to every day life.
2 stars