Four siblings, Martin, Kelsey, Beth, and Jonny, approach their Amish grandparents with a request to reside with them. This decision is not driven by a need for shelter, but rather by their shared decision to embrace the Amish lifestyle, seeking to forge new identities for themselves. Their parents are divorced, with Kelsey’s father having once been Amish. Seeking stability, the siblings yearn for the guidance and support they believe their grandparents can provide. Although their parents are initially pleased with their request, they suggest that the siblings live with them in pairs of two for a year, rather than all four simultaneously.

Martin and Kelsey, eager to lead the way in adapting to the Amish lifestyle, find themselves fitting in remarkably well. Naturally, they must acquire new skills and relinquish all English-language and technological possessions. However, the adjustments extend beyond practical matters.

A romantic connection may be imminent for both siblings. Martin develops a strong attraction to his grandparents’ neighbor, Patti, who bears a port wine birthmark that has caused her significant self-consciousness. This birthmark has made her feel isolated, but Martin and Kelsey, consumed by their shared pursuit of Amish life, including the immediate acquisition of Pennsylvania Dutch, easily overlook her birthmark. Kelsey, on the other hand, is instantly drawn to Preacher Richard, leading to the blossoming of romance for her as well.

As Martin and Kelsey immerse themselves in their newfound community, they discover that their journey has only just begun, with unforeseen obstacles and opportunities presenting themselves. In this captivating and immersive read, the siblings navigate their newfound lifestyle, simultaneously contemplating the possibilities that lie ahead. The next installment in the series, B is for Bonnet, is scheduled for release in January.

Many thanks to Kensington and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

This was different from any Amish book I have ever read, and I've read a lot. If you're looking for a unique book about the Amish life, this is a great one to read.

Shelley Shepard Gray shines in her Amish fiction stories, and this one is both fun and poignant at the same time.

Four siblings, raised by their divorced parents - lapsed-Amish father and English mother, look to their Amish grandparents for any stability in their lives. When all of them decide together to explore becoming Amish, their grandparents aren't as immediately excited about the prospect as they expect. They offer to take them in, two at a time, and let them live Amish for a year each to see if they are really willing to make the sacrifices necessary to fully embrace the Amish life.

First up are Martin and Kelsey. As the oldest, Martin has been holding his family together since his parents' marriage fell apart. He's been working in an office, surrounded by technology, for a number of years, so becoming Amish will be tough for him. Reeling from a bad breakup, he just wants a different life and what could be more different than his grandparents' Amish lifestyle. Meeting their neighbor, Patti Coblentz, he's drawn to her helpfulness, and her sweet nature. She doesn't believe any man will ever look past her facial birthmark to see her heart, so when Martin starts paying attention to her, she doesn't take him seriously. Can Martin truly give up all that he has worked to achieve in the English world for a much simpler Amish life that he is ill-equipped for?

Kelsey, on the other hand, takes to Amish life like she was born to it. Can she convince her grandparents that what she feels is true, and she really does want to stay?

I think this is going to be another great series by SSG! These siblings are so tight that they can almost predict each others' thoughts. I loved that their grandparents didn't immediately "jump for joy" when they approached them with the idea. Their caution rang very true to the story, and to what I already knew about the Amish. I can't wait to read Jonny's story next, and then Beth, (and probably Martin again...)

Readers who enjoy Amish fiction will enjoy this one. I listened to this on my Libby app, and felt like the narrator did her homework on pronouncing most of the Penn Dutch words Gray used. Sometimes, that can be a sticking point for me, but it didn't trip me up as often with this book. I loved it!

I enjoyed reading this book and the start of a brand new series! I liked getting to know the four siblings and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series to find out how their individual journeys go with whether to become Amish or not. My 14-year-old also enjoyed reading this as well. Great setting, characters and storyline!

This book is the first in a new series. Josiah and Sylvia Schrock are an elderly married couple. They had one son who left the Amish faith. He married an Englisher and they had four children. Josiah and Sylvia were very close to their grandchildren who are now in the 20’s. The grandchildren spent time with their grandparents while growing up and are familiar with the Amish ways. This book starts off where all four of the grandchildren come to the grandparents to tell them that they want to become Amish. Since their house is very small with only one bathroom, the grandparents tell their four grandchildren that they can only have two at a time to live with them. So Martin and Kelsey decide that they will go first and decide that they will each spend one year with the grandparents and then decide if they should continue in the Amish faith or go back to their lives. I enjoyed the book and I give it five stars. I think that it will be interesting to see how many of the four decide to become Amish. I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series.

Thanks os much to NetGalley for the Advanced ebook. All opinions are my own.

Josiah and Sylvia make a pact with their 4 English grandchildren that show up at their door stating they want to become Amish. 2 can stay with them for a year and see if the Amish way of life is for them. If it is, then they can take their kneeling vow to become Amish. Martin and Kelsey are the 2 that decide to try it first. Kelsey finds true happiness and contentment and knows that the Amish way of life is for her. Martin struggles. He knows that he isn't finding happiness in the English world, but isn't sure if he's happy in the Amish world either. But he's fallen in love so now what?

If you could change how you live your life, would you do it? Shelley Shepard Gray spins a beautiful story about four family members who want to try. Will they go through with it?

If you're searching for a captivating book with characters you can truly connect with, this one won't let you down. From the very beginning, when I discovered that four English siblings decided to leave their world behind to become Amish, I knew it was going to be an intriguing read. I wasn't wrong—I couldn't put it down.
I do feel for the grandparents though as their lives were turned upside down, but give them kudos for how they handled what their grandchildren want to do. Another thing I must mention is that hen Anna, boy she could have her own story. There were moments when I found myself laughing for the characters when they couldn't, a testament to the book's emotional depth. I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in this series.

A is for Amish is a good and sweet book. It is a story about keeping and having faith in God, making decisions in your life as an adult, relationships with family, friendships, and falling in love. It is the story of four grandchildren that are trying to decide if they want to join the Amish way of life and faith like their grandparents do or if they want to keep living their lives in the modern world. This is the first book in a new series by Shelley Shepard Gray. Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for giving me a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Shelley Shepard Gray does it again with A is for Amish: Amish ABCs #1! The Amish ABCs series centers around four siblings who were raised English by their now divorced Amish-raised Father and English Mother who want to follow in their Amish Grandparents footsteps and become Amish themselves. A is for Amish focuses on eldest sibling Martin and youngest sister Kelsey. Martin has been successful at whatever he tries his hand at, but never satisfied with it. Martin thinks that becoming Amish will solve his dissatisfaction with life, especially when he finds himself attracted to Amish Woman, Patti. But Martin's dissatisfaction remains. Kelsey on the other hand, finds peace falling in love with the Amish lifestyle and the local single preacher Richard.

Ms. Gray brings out a lot of Truth in A is for Amish. I found myself making notes on quotes that Ministered to me. I was swept into A is for Amish and found myself rooting for all of it's core characters. I'm looking forward to the next book in the Amish ABCs series and cannot wait to see if the rest of the siblings become successful at being Amish like Kelsey, but most importantly if they find the Peace they are all looking for. Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book. My review is also on Goodreads.

I am fascinated by the Amish traditions/ way of life, and this felt like a very realistic telling of it. The story of the siblings and their journey, family, faith and how it all comes together in life made for a good read.

First book of the Amish ABC's series, the author introduces us to four children. Their home growing up was anything but normal. The parents were an ex-Amish, an English woman whom decided to divorced leaving oldest, Martin left to raise his siblings. Now that they are older they all agreed they wanted to change their life that included stability, family, and simplicity. When all four presented this idea to their Old Order Amish grandparents it became quite overwhelming moment for them. With stimpulations set by Josiah and Sylvia Schrock, Martin and Kelsey would stay a year before committing to the decision. The author provides quite the journey of learning the challenges of living the life of the Amish, from collecting eggs from angry hen to the twist on falling in love. Can't wait for the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Four grown siblings, Martin, Kelsey, Beth, Jonny are all somewhat discontent with their lives and long for the peace of the Amish lifestyle that they've experienced when visiting their Amish grandparents. Their dad was raised Amish, but left and married outside the faith. There was a divorce, and the parents were pretty much doing their own thing and searching for their own happiness and left the kids to their own devices.
The four kids all turned out successful, yet their lives all seem to be missing something that they long for, so they visit their grandparents and drop the bombshell on them that they want to become Amish! The grandparents suggest that only one-two of them at the most, come at a time.
It is decided that Martin and Kelsey will be the first two to go. They are to live with their grandparents and try out the Amish lifestyle for one year.
Martin meets the neighbor, Patti, who is very insecure about a birthmark. She feels unworthy of every finding a man who will be able to look beyond the birthmark to see her for herself. Well...Martin doesn't even notice the mark that Patti feels is so glaringly obvious to all. Could a romance bloom between the two of them?
Martin seems to just be dissatisfied no matter what. The author failed to take the opportunity to point out that true peace and contentment only comes from a relationship with our Lord. You cannot find that by changing your place of residence or dating someone new.
Patti has some adventures of her own. One of her chores is to gather the eggs. She is intimated by the chickens, one in particular. Anna. Anna has pecked her and is quite the ornery hen. Patti begins to have doubts as to whether she can truly be an Amish woman. She seems to have ideas of what is required of an Amish woman.
The preacher takes an interest in Patti. I thought that was rather odd as she was not Amish and didn't know, for certain yet, if she would remain there and join the faith. But, the story is fiction, after all, so anything can happen, right?
It was an enjoyable, lighthearted story. Pretty sure a sequel is coming!
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Kensington Books through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

A fantastic start to a new series! This is a very heartwarming story and a great escape read, with themes of faith, family, and personal growth.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I’m really frustrated! Loved the story and premise . The frustration came when the book ended on what I would call a cliffhanger. Can’t wait for the next one.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Shelley Shephard Gray is a MUST read author for me! But the story ended in a cliffhanger so I have to wait to find out what happens!!!
Four siblings decide that they want to become Amish. They move in with their Amish grandparents so they can transition to the Amish lifestyle. Martin and Kelsey decide that they will be the first ones to become Amish. This is a great faith filled story that you won’t be able to put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. Many thanks to the author, Kensington Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

4.5 stars

“You’re not afraid of giving up your life… you’re afraid that even after doing all this, you still won’t be happy.”

A is for Amish took so many different turns that I wasn’t expecting, and I love that even after years of reading Shelley Shepard Gray’s books she can still surprise me!

I find the concept of this series to be really intriguing – four siblings who long for more peace and meaning in their lives want to move in with their Amish grandparents and become Amish themselves. Of course it’s not going to be that simple, and I appreciated the approach that Gray takes – both in the wisdom their grandparents show and in (the first two to try it) Martin & Kelsey’s struggles to adjust to Plain life. Their understandably-mixed emotions (and not-cut-and-dried decisions) had me wondering if I could do it – and (because I know you’re dying to know lol) I think that as long as there were books to read I could probably give up my phone and my computer and the internet and TV… but I know I couldn’t give up air conditioning (unless there are Amish in Alaska maybe) and I know I couldn’t gather eggs from pecky chickens.

Making all of this even more complicated is that Martin and Kelsey have fallen for more than just the idea of Amish life – they’ve each fallen in love with a member of the community, too. Both romances took me by surprise, though for different reasons, and the personality of each romance is just as contrasting as Martin & Kelsey’s respective personalities. One budding relationship is sweet but very multi-layered and had me shedding a few tears, too (and I suspect it will be an ongoing arc of the series which I’m eager to follow), and one is everything swoony and breathless and made me grin big. For all the uncertainty revolving around this possible conversion for them, one thing that Martin and Kelsey definitely have in common is the sincere desire to make the right decision for the right reasons, and I so respected them for this.

Bottom Line: It didn’t take getting too far into A is for Amish for me to become completely immersed in the Schrock siblings’ determination to convert to the Amish faith, as well as the complications, emotions, and relationships they encounter in the process. Their grandparents are colorful characters who may be just as conflicted about their grandchildren’s decisions as the siblings themselves are but also pour wisdom, love, and stability into the situation. Martin and Kelsey, the sibling focus of this particular book, are easy to love – and so are their romantic counterparts – and I was invested heart-first in their struggles and triumphs, as well as their love stories. And when I say ‘heart-first’ I mean I giggled, I grinned, I swooned, and I cried, and kudos to author Shelley Shepard Gray for writing such a fresh and unique Amish fiction plot! I look forward to reading the other books in this series and will be waiting most impatiently for them to release!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Four siblings raised outside of the Amish faith, but have spent time with their Amish grandparents decide they want to part of the Amish community.

Not as easy as it sounds as they have lived with modern conveniences, earning a living that will impact their lives when they move.
It was a bit hard to believe the four of them would show up and expect to be taken in by their elderly grandparents. Ultimately the grandparents agree to take them in pairs, the boy is conflicted as to what he wants while his sister throughly embraces the lifestyle.
It’s an interesting storyline.

Four young adults travel to their Amish grandparents' farm and announce that they all want to become Amish. What seems like a simple request is met by frowns.
I want to thank Shelley Shepard Gray, Kensington Books and NetGalley for my advanced Reader's Copy of this book. This is my own personal and unsolicited opinion.
A is For Amish is a different kind of story. This group of grandchildren are familiar with their grandparents and the community having visited over the years. Dawdi and the bishop give the four specific instructions on how the request will be met. Only two of the siblings can some into the community for a certain amount of time.
It appears that things could go smoothly but there are some interesting twists and turns, even potential romance which can really complicate things. Amish and English are two separate worlds. There's a lot to think about, pray over.
This is a good story. I really enjoyed it. Visiting and learning how to become Amish are two very different things. The story ends on a cliffhanger leaving an intriguing opening for the next book in the Amish ABC's series.

A is for Amish, written by one of my favorite authors, is an enchanting beginning of a new series. Four English siblings are contemplating a huge change in lifestyle by becoming Amish. I was quickly drawn into the story and it kept my interest throughout. It made me think about how my life would be changed if I were to make such a decision as these characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next book, wondering if all four of the siblings will be able to follow through with their decision. Another thoroughly enjoyable book from Shelley Shepard Gray. I received a complimentary book from NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.