I really wanted to love this book. I hate to say it, but I found it super boring. I just really didn't care about the characters. I kept waiting for the story to grab me. It never did. It was like reading those Christmas letters you get telling you all kinds of information that you probably don't want to know about people you never see. The characters seemed like first world problem tourists, which is basically what they were. It feels harsh to say it but it's true.

An absolutely delightful, engaging, impactful story, full of true friendship, a love of Africa, and relationship struggles and spiritual truths and growth. Lily and Fern - the Suitcase Sisters - became real to me, and I was drawn into their lives and struggles - laughing and crying with them, and sitting in awe with them of the wonders of the African continent. I will definitely be reading the next books in this series. Love her voice!

I'd never read anything by Robin Jones Gunn, but that is DEFINITELY going to change. Highly recommended!

Oh my goodness! I am blessed to have had the experience of losing myself in this story. Gunn's eloquent language paints the most beautiful, vivid pictures of Africa and creates the most intense experience of empathy for the leading ladies of Tea With Elephants. As if my TBR pile wasn't large enough, now I want to go back and reread her Sister Chicks series while waiting for the second book in her new Suitcase Sisters series.

Fern and Lily have been long-distance friends since meeting in Costa Rica as teenagers. Now they are a bit older and a bit wiser traveling together to Africa at a time when they are both at a crossroads in their lives. Robin Gunn does such a beautiful job of demonstrating the beauty of close female relationships and the importance they play in emotional health.

So, grab your favorite comfort food or indulgent treat and that hot beverage that always brings along that deep sigh and sweet smile; draw that hot bath or snuggle under that cozy blanket or quilt and settle in for hours of reading pleasure.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Tea With Elephants from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

My heart is so full. I read all the Sister Chicks books and hoped that Robin Jones Gunn was not finished blessing us with travels that include God’s heart.
I love Lily and Fern’s stories. The journeys that life took each of them on and the journey they experienced in Africa.
I whole heartedly recommend this book. Read it with an open heart. It is a very Christian women’s fiction. If that isn’t your jam, please move one to something else.
Thank you to Netgalley and Revell for the blessing of reading this book.

Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn is a book meant to be savored. Following in the flavor of her Sisterchicks books, this novel is full of poignant memories, sisterhood adventures, and deep insights. Reading this was like coming home after a long time away - refreshing, cleansing, and healing. Gunn is a master storyteller, and I never leave her books unaffected. I can only hope there are follow up books to this one. I am not ready to let Robin Jones Gunn go!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This story is a heartfelt journey of friendship, faith, and self-discovery that takes readers on an emotional safari through the stunning landscapes of Africa. Centered on the friendship sister bond between Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden, the book truly captures the essence of a long-term friendship that has weathered the trials of time and distance.

Tea with Elephants, A Suitcase Sisters Novel by Robin Jones Gunn is a cleverly conceived and amusingly executed story that had me thinking it was real instead of fiction. Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden are close friends since their teenage years of serving summer conference together. They had big plans to do great things for the Lord as they got older. However, life seemed to get in the way. That life can be resonant with many, it certainly did with me. However, the underlining theme is trusting God, His plans, His ways and His grace.

I thought that the women’s trip to Africa would involve a mystery. You know like a cozy mystery story. Instead, the mystery was how God would use this time to change their perspective, their trust in Him and then their lives, along with their families. What a wonderful excellent simple story of complex women with everyday lives.

This marvelous storyteller is a new-to-me-author but boy, is she great. Now I will be looking for all of her books, this is one Christian author to put on you TBR list.

I have never read Robyn Jones Gunn (sue the gasps...) and wanted to know what all the hype was about. It was a sweet story about friendship and life challenges, with an African safari background. I loved all the African proverbs at the beginning of each chapter. It was a pleasant read.

Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - 4 Stars
This story is a heartfelt journey of friendship, faith, and self-discovery that takes readers on an emotional safari through the stunning landscapes of Africa. Centered on the friendship sister bond between Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden, the book truly captures the essence of a long-term friendship that has weathered the trials of time and distance.

This is a Christian contemporary women's fiction story that I truly felt connected to. I loved the writing style, faith content, travel elements and the characters. This book opens up to the teenage years of Fern and Lily, who first connected while volunteering in Costa Rica. 20 years later, here they are, embarking on a long-awaiting trip to Africa - a dream trip that they talked about many years ago. This trip soon becomes one of emotional growth as each woman carriers their own struggles. The author intertwines their personal stories well with the beautiful backdrop of Africa.

We see Fern dealing with struggles as she lost her job at a Christian publishing company and is unsure of what her next steps in life are, just as Lily is worried about the hardships within her marriage. Both ladies experience personal growth and lessons that challenge their perspectives and encourage them to surrender to the Lord's plan in their lives.

Overall, this is more than just a safari story among friends - this is a story filled with lighthearted moments and deeper reflections between two friends who are more sisters than friends. I loved the side characters they met along the way that encouraged them in their faith and challenges. Anyone who loves good faith filled, travel, contemporary adventure stories will like this!

Highly recommend. Thank you to the publisher for providing an early copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

DNF. I was excited when I read the premise, but from the get go we're dropped into the characters' lives in what feels like a lot of telling and not a way for me to become connected to the characters. The writing felt descriptive and dramatic and I couldn't find a way to get closer than arm's length. I found myself detached from the story and ultimately I wasn't compelled to continue.

I will begin this review by saying that I'm not the intended audience for this read. I'm a romance girl, through and through. I love stories of friendship, but I usually need a strong romantic storyline to hold my attention through the whole shebang.

With that being said, I definitely enjoyed the details of traveling in Africa. There were several moments when I felt like I was right there with Lily and Fern, experiencing the highs and lows of such a beautiful trip. I feel the author carried Africa with humility and respect in this novel.

I also really enjoyed the spiritual truths shared throughout the book. Some books in Christian fiction are more reserved in the spiritual storytelling, but I was pleased that this author was very straightforward and generous with the message. It's evident that her heart is to share the Lord through the story and I was blessed several times, especially through Fern's growth.

Overall, I firmly believe you should read this book if you enjoy tales of friendship, stories that make you feel like you've actually boarded a plane to travel, and a novel that doesn't shy away from the Gospel. This book releases later this month, so get your hands on it!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All expressed opinions belong to me.

Fern and Lily struck up the beginning of a lifelong friendship as teenagers on a missions trip. The two of them were on fire for the Lord and ready to travel anywhere and everywhere together. But then along came a boy and Lily got married instead of traveling the world.

Fast forward 20+ years. The two women find themselves reuniting for a vacation in Kenya. Each of them are in very different places. Fern has been working through struggles with an adopted teenage step son as well as the loss of a job. Lily feels distant from her husband and is scared for her marriage.

This was my first book I’ve read in the genre of “Women’s fiction”. It was fun to read something a little different. It wasn’t focused on mystery or romance, but instead on two friends just walking through life together.

A few of my favorite things…
-the setting. All the details about Africa had me reminiscing about my time there. Street markets, hospitality, bright clothes, scenery, animals…I loved it.
-playful humor
-friends who encourage each other
-Anne of Green Gables references
-delicious description of food and drinks

I didn’t care for…
-I can’t think of anything.

Know that…
-it deals with a women being scared she might follow in her mom’s footsteps and get a divorce

Perfect for…
women looking for a relaxing comfort read about traveling and going through life changes.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A sweet story of friendship, adventure, and faith. I loved the Africa descriptions that help the reader to experience the wonder the MC feels as she sees new things with wonder. I also learned a few friendship tips along the way!

I used to read books by Robin Jones Gunn as a teenager, but I hadn’t read one of her books in years. Tea with Elephants did not disappoint. What a sweet story about two friends discovering the beauty of Africa while helping each other through the disappointments of life. They both come home changed by their experiences. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book is so delightful on so many levels. I’m so glad I started it right before getting on a plane - so I had uninterrupted time to keep reading, and finish, it!

My teenage, Christy Miller-loving self so enjoyed the subtle nods to that series (and even a Glenbrooke reference!). I’m sure there were many other references that went over my head, but I sure enjoyed the ones I picked up on!

Longtime readers of Gunn’s books (especially the Sisterchicks series) will settle right back in here; it’s totes a comfort read that feels like sitting down with an old friend or putting on a comfy sweater as we enter the fall season. New readers will also enjoy it, and Easter eggs aside, it’s a great start to Gunn’s body of fiction. It also makes me want to travel to Kenya (with the first-class plane tickets and upscale hotels/moments…it’s true, I’ll admit it). I have expensive taste.

I really enjoyed watching the two MCs reconnect in person after some time/life has passed and under trying circumstances. They both experience growth, change, challenges, and epiphanies on the trip - as any good trip has! - and learn about themselves and God in new ways. I’m excited to see how future books in the series unfold!

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TeaWithElephants is classic @robingunn . Me and Robin go way back with the Christy Miller series then the Sister Chicks. This a sweet book of friendship, travel, life change, and some romance 😉

Thanks @netgalley for ARC in exchange for a review

When I first looked at this book, I wasn’t sure that I wanted it. But now, I’m so glad that I chose it. Oh my! I so enjoyed this! I didn’t want this to end at all!
The characters were delightful and fun to know. Especially Wanja and her mom. Fern and Lily are two lucky ladies to get to go on such an adventure. They’re also lucky to have such wonderful families too.
Love is an amazing feeling. It also takes work to make things work, too. I was rooting for these ladies that they’d find their inner peace that they needed so much.
The animals! I honestly felt like I was there in Africa. I really enjoyed and appreciated the safari a lot. I definitely didn’t want that to end. Now I want to go on one.
Five stars from me for keeping me entertained with all the wonderful animals, especially the lions. They’re so beautiful and majestic. Nothing cuter than a lion cub.
I will be re-reading this again and again because this is a wonderful adventure.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

'Tea with Elephants' is a breath of fresh air for Christian fiction readers. I'm usually weary of women's fiction novels, because of 'worldly' messages regarding feminism, selfish ambition, idolization of alcohol, infidelity, man-shaming, etc. Instead, Robin Jones Gunn has debuted a fantastic series about 2 best friends in their late thirties, facing unexpected disappointments, and finally getting to travel the world like they committed to as teenagers. One of my favorite aspects of this novel was seeing the characters cry out to God with vulnerability and trust.

Special thanks to the Publisher, Revell, and Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a perfectly lovely story about 2 friends and their journey in Africa and their personal journeys in life. It makes me want to grab a friend and take a trip. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader’s copy.

How can I do this newest book by Robin Jones Gunn justice?

This novel was a very easy, enjoyable and engaging read, It is not a romance novel but about two longtime friends, nicknamed Suitcase Sisters and how an unexpected trip to Africa together changed their perspectives of their individual lives.

It is so beautifully written and I enjoyed reading the eARC so much I preordered the book. This is one I will read again.

This is the first in a new series and I can’t wait to read the next.
Tea With Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn is definitely a must read.

Thank you Revell Fiction for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.