Book Review: Life Just Got Real by Sadie Robertson

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Life Just Got Real
Author: Sadie Robertson
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genres: Contemporary | Realistic Fiction
Released: June 7th 2016
Review Source: Howard Books

From Dancing with the Stars runner-up and Duck Dynasty star Sadie Robertson comes a fun novel about two teenage girls from different backgrounds and opposite lifestyles who discover there is more to friendship than meets the eye.

Sixteen-year-old A.J. Smith, born and raised in backwoods Tennessee, loves nothing more than repairing broken cars with her father and hanging out with her brothers and their friends. Not far away in the busy city of Nashville, Kate Kelly is always dressed in the latest fashion, wearing clothes from her mother’s boutique and jetting around the world with her father.

When A.J. starts going to the school Kate attends, they instantly dislike each other. But as the year progresses, Kate’s brother Val is drawn to A.J., and when prom comes around, he asks her to be his date—much to his sister’s displeasure. But Kate has bigger things to think about, including the reality show Real Life. Everyone says the show is her chance to make it big. But then the producers decide to bring A.J. into the show.

As the producers of Real Life try to stir up the drama, Kate’s idea of the perfect prom spins out of control. When Kate’s life goes disastrously wrong, it is A.J. who steps up to help—no questions asked. A friendship between the two girls just might grow—but only if they both live original and stay true to whom God made them to be.

In Life Just Got Real Sadie Robertson inspires teens to find the value God has placed inside us all and to live with confidence and purpose in a very complicated world.

This book follows the stories of AJ and Katie. Both juniors in High school not realizing how close their opposite lives are about to get.

Katie is the daughter of a big-time businessman and a successful boutique owning mother. She’s polished, academically accomplished, and heavily involved in school. She’s had what most people would describe as an easy life, though she puts a lot of stress on herself. Contrasting that, we have AJ. Originally from Louisiana, AJ has grown up covered in car grease from her late father’s mechanics shop and being one of the guys being raised alongside two older brothers.

After her father’s death, AJ, her mother, and brothers move to Tennessee. This is where she meets Katie. At this same time, Katie’s father is sealing a deal with a company to film a reality show in her high school.

Through AJ’s differing character, her blossoming relationship with Katie’s brother, and the new perspective she adds to the community, she is cast to be a member of the reality show. However, this was not without a battle.

It was nice to read about AJ’s romantic relationship with Katie’s brother and how she was so aware of herself and her emotions throughout. It was also interesting to see just how vastly she differed from Katie. This book was set up so each chapter was from the point of view of either Katie or AJ so the reader could get first person dialogue from the main characters.

The book was an easy read, the storyline was just a little young for me. I would recommend this book to a young girl between 11 and 13 years old. The conversations being held and the overall plot wasn’t anything necessarily new or reinvented.

Book Review: UnPHILtered: The Way I See It by Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach

UnPHILtered: The Way I See It
Author: Phil Robertson with Mark Schlabach
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Non-Fiction | Christian | Inspirational
Released: September 2nd 2014
Review Source: Purchased
 

The beloved patriarch of A&E’s® Duck Dynasty® series, Phil Robertson, shares his thoughtful—and opinionated—philosophy on life.

In Phil Robertson’s #1 New York Times bestseller, Happy, Happy, Happy, we learned about Phil’s colorful past and the wild road to becoming the beloved patriarch of A&E’s smash hit show, Duck Dynasty. Now, he returns to share his philosophy on life, which can be summed up in five short words. Love God, love your neighbor.

In this inspirational and entertaining book, you will learn what makes Phil Robertson tick. Robertson shares his views on faith—and how it has totally changed his way of life and how he treats others; family—how he raised his kids and is raising grandkids while teaching them the life principles he lives by; ducks—and the business principles that started the Duck Commander empire; marriage—including what he’s learned from his own marriage; and of course, his opinions on controversial topics like gun control, taxes, prayer in school, and the government.

UnPHILtered is the ultimate guide to everything Phil Robertson believes in. Balancing his sometimes off-the-wall comments with his strong focus on home and family life, it is sure to spark discussion, laughs, and a sincere appreciation for Phil’s unique approach to life.

I am a big fan of the “Duck Dynasty” show and Phil has always had a way of saying things throughout the seasons that left me wanting to know more, to hear more. I requested this book in audio format because I needed to hear Phil’s thoughts in his own words. You can tell when someone is passionate about something when they speak, you can just tell it in their voice.

Phil Robertson is one of the stars of the hugely successful show on A&E, Duck Dynasty. On the show we get a peek into what the days are like being a part of America’s favorite redneck family. Mostly funny, always entertaining and Hey! there is no denying this family has some strong beliefs about hunting, food, family, the state of the world today and God.

It is clear to me that this is all due to the core values that Phil Robertson lives by and has shared with his family, friends and anyone else who seeks out his words.

There is no mistaking that Phil is a Godly man. He shares with us in this book how he was lost before, was a doubter of the bible “thumpers” and what happened in his life to turn all of this around. Some of you may be aware of the controversy that surrounded Phil last year after an interview for GQ magazine. Let me say that if you were offended by any of that, this is not the book for you. I wanted to know what the bid deal was surrounding Phil and what he said. I wanted to know why so many people were offended by the words he was quoting from the Bible. UnPHILtered covered that story and so much more.

When I was done listening I wanted to go out and have everyone I know take a listen. All of Phil’s solutions offered up for how to get America back on its feet revolve around love of two things, Love GOD and Love your neighbor. It seems pretty simple. You will either love this book or hate it. Personally, I loved it.

The topics are not to be taken lightly… guns, homosexuality, religion, politics and God. Whether you agree or disagree with all or some of Phil’s solutions, at the very least this book will get people talking and hopefully thinking. While I would not recommend this book for younger readers, I absolutely would recommend this book to teenagers and all adults. Love God, Love your neighbor.