Book Review: Then There Was You by Kara Isaac

Title:  Then There Was You
Author: Kara Isaac

Publisher:  Bellbird Press

Release Date:  June 7, 2017
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction 

Would you give up everything for a life you hate with the person you love?

Paige McAllister needs to do something drastic. Her boyfriend can’t even commit to living in the same country, her promised promotion is dead on arrival and the simultaneous loss of her brother and her dream of being a concert violinist has kept her playing life safe and predictable for six years. Things need to change. A moment of temporary insanity finds her leaving her life in Chicago to move to Sydney, Australia. There she finds herself, against many of her convictions, as a logistics planner for one of Australia’s biggest churches, and on a collision course with her boss’s son.


Josh Tyler fronts a top-selling worship band and is in demand all over the world. But, in the past, his failed romantic relationships almost destroyed both his reputation and his family. He's determined to never risk it happening again. The last thing he needs is some American girl tipping his ordered life upside down. Especially one who despises everything he’s ever worked for and manages to push every button he has.

When Josh and Paige are thrown together to organize his band’s next tour, the sparks fly. But can they find a way to bridge the differences that pull them apart? Or will they choose the safety and security of what they know over taking a chance on something that will require them to risk everything?

There are just so many reasons why I fell in love with Then There Was You by Kara Isaac. If you want me to list the ways, here it is:

1. That cover. Shall you see it again? Can there ever be a sweeter, prettier, simply gorgeous cover that says it all? The colors, the silhouettes of the setting, the bench, the couple, and the hand written style of the title are just perfect. Read the story, and you'll know what I mean.

2. Paige. She is just so....AWESOME. I mean, yes, she has her quirks, but don't we all?

"'First, it's not your sister's fault if you slept in. Second, I have a killer right hook, and if you so much as set a toe in this bathroom, you'll be meeting it.' Slam. "(181)

She's harboring a hurt that digs deep, but her journey to be free of it was so emotionally beautiful. At least I thought so.

". . . your brother. . . he's so proud of you right now. I can just see him up in heaven cheering you on. . . Paige wasn't sure about that. . . that Paige had made Ethan a promise as he lay dying. And broken it every day since." (40)

3. The Romance with a capital "R". If you enjoy romantic comedies, Then There Was You will be a winner. *Sigh. It was just too cute and fun all at the same time.

"Sounds like the perfect meet cute." (66)

Indeed it was. And the simple romance that captivate us readers.

"His breath stalled. When had everything about her stopped being annoying and become beguiling?"(171) 

". . . there was something about her that captured him and refused to let go." (171) 

4. The Messages. Yes, more than one, and there are so many truths in this book, it will inspire you when you're disheartened. It will encourage you when you need a cheering squad and it will rebuke you if you're in need of an awakening. And then there are those that quietly stay in the backdrop, until you're ready to pick it up again. 

"We're not superhuman, able to resist getting big heads and falling into the trap of believing that Harvest's success is about us. That's why we have ourselves surrounded with good people who hold us accountable. But at the end of the day, it comes down to our own hearts. If we neglect that, if we lose sight of our relationship with God, then this whole thing is a sham." (126)

"Sometimes people are so caught up in what they want to see, they can't accept reality when it's right in front of them. . . People convinced themselves they can make all sorts of things work because they're blinded by physical attraction and refuse to see all the other things that make them completely incompatible." (179)

"The only way any of us can do this is in God's strength. That's it. The moment we start relying on ourselves, we need to get out, because it will end badly." (315)

5. Janine, Sarah and most of the characters. Yes, there's always Josh, and trust me when I say he's one of the reasons, but it's quite funny to relate Josh in terms of the other characters, especially his mother and sister, and his team! 

"If I hear you're making Paige's life difficult, my son, I will take you down." (77)

For a light read, as we tend to associate with most romantic comedies, Then There Was You packs quite a punch. It's worth exploring over and over again. You just might pick up something you've missed the first time around.  Delightful  and enchanting, Then There Was You has it all, and is a must read! I end with this portion of a song that Josh sung that embodies this novel, for its characters and hopefully for the readers too.

"When everything is broken, still I will trust in You. When there are no words to be spoken, still I will trust in You." (216)

Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book from the author/publisher in a giveaway. A review was not required. This is my honest opinion.

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Kara Isaac is an award-winning writer who lives in Wellington, New Zealand, where her career highlights include working in tourism as Private Secretary for the Prime Minister. She loves great books almost as much as she loves her husband and two Hobbit-sized children.

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