I absolutely loved this book. It was my first by this author and will not be my last.

The setting, era, people, places, I loved them all. It will take you on a ride you won’t soon forget. I had a very hard time putting this book down.
It’s told with such love in my opinion. Very well developed characters. I was turning pages until way past my bedtime. I absolutely could not put this book down.

From the first page to the very last it will keep you intrigued. You’ll feel like you are right there with these people. It’s one of those books that comes once in a lifetime and holds you captive.

Thank you #Netgalley and #Revel for the ARC of this awesome book.

A big 5 stars from me. I highly recommend this book!

I’m not good at this and I am always worried that I won’t do a wonderful book justice but here goes from my heart.
I love that moment when I read the title in the book! All Manner Of Things shall be well. This story touched my heart. My uncle fought and was wounded in the Vietnam War. I would write him letters as a young girl in the fourth and fifth grade so this story brought it home for me. The courage that each of these family members had will build your courage. Take one day at a time and have hope that all will be well. I love the way Mrs Susie Finkbeiner writes because I get drawn into the story right from the start. Not a lot of romance if your looking for that but oh so much deeper than that. The author brought in race for a couple and the trouble it causes among some people. Then a deep love and hope for two people that thought they didn’t have any love left. I loved the way Mike and Annie wrote to each other and the way they showed their love through letters. Faith, courage and perseverance brought the family through tragedy and everyday trials. A quote I loved “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.” I truly felt this story and it will definitely be one of my favorites for this year.
I received this book from the publisher/author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions stated are my own.

“All shall be well, and all shall be well and all manner of thing shall be well.”
― Julian of Norwich

Susie Finkbeiner has used this quote on which to base her new book, "All Manner of Things." Taking place during the Viet Nam war, the book chronicles the lives of Annie, her brothers, her mother, and to some degree, her father.

Annie lives with her family and works in the local diner belonging to her Uncle Bernie. Her wages go to help out her mother keep food on the table for her and her brothers.

Her older brother, Mike, comes home one day to tell his mother that he has enlisted, because he knows that his number will come up in the draft and he may as well beat the rush. Before he leaves, there are a few family adventures he must participate in.

His grandparents all live in the same town in Michigan, and his grandfather is suffering the debilitations of dementia. He wanders off and all the family comes together to find him. Annie and Mike know where he used to like to go. They find him disoriented and very slightly injured. They bring him back home to safety.

Annie's life is pretty much the same day to day, except when she starts getting letters from a former neighbor. She finds out it's because his fiancee wrote him a Dear John, and he's wanting to find a replacement. Mike doesn't approve of this man, he's known as a player. About the same time, Annie gets a new customer in the diner, a man working for the park service. They strike up a friendship that appears to become more than just friendship.

When Mike is finally deployed to Viet Nam, he goes as a medic. In one of his letters home, he uses this quote by St. Julian.

Susie has made this book a compelling read. The side characters fill out the plot and add to the richness of the novel. It's a five star read, two thumbs up, and a left-over pastry from the diner.

Revell Publishing supplied the galley I read through NetGalley.com, asking only for my honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I can't remember ever reading a historical set in this time period. It feels weird to call it historical because the events happened only a decade before I was born, but I liked reading something set in a time period that wasn't early 20th century or late 19th century, even though I enjoy stories set in those time periods as well.

It doesn't feel like a lot happens during the story, but don't take that to mean it's boring. Far from it. The Vietnam War is always looming in the background of the everyday back-at-home events. To me, this is a beautiful illustration of what it's like for families with loved ones serving in a combat zone. Life at home doesn't stop, but it's always shadowed by thoughts of war. The story doesn't drag. It moves at a comfortable pace and reflects what I assume were the ordinary goings on of a teenager's life in the 1960s.I'm already a fan of the author as a person and now I'm a fan of her writing as well. I can't wait to read more of her stories!

This one moved me to tears and left me lifted with hope at the same time.

I received a digital copy from the publisher. Review reflects my honest opinion.

I have never read a Vietnam era book, but it did not disappoint. Be sure to have tissues ready. You will laugh, you will cry, it will make you have all the feelings! .

The author has a way of describing places, emotions and feelings so that you feel like you are right in the room with the characters. I feel in love with all the characters and they were developed really well.

Favorite quote:
"All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well."

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I adore this book.

I adore it, not because it's all sugary and perfect, but because it's real! The characters come alive, the daily, normality of life is relatable, and the ups and downs of family life was special to me. There is sadness, but also laughter too. There is disappointment, but also love. There is anger through confusion, but hope in the future.

This book has everything a book should have. I loved Annie and her family. Mike was such a great big brother, reminding me of my own. The setting was fabulous and the horrors of the Vietnam war very real. I can't forget to mention David either, who slipped in and out of the story so well <3 Oh, and Frank, Joel, and Oma...and Bernie!! <3

I love this book...so, go read it. It is clean with real emotions of romance and fears. It is a beautiful book in every way :)

Wow! This story and its characters wove themselves around my heart. I laughed, I held my breath, I cried. This story welcomed me into an intimate, heartfelt journey with these characters. The characters felt so real that I felt like I became part of their family.

My parents were born in 1956. I have seen pictures and listened to the music they grew up listening to. I’ve enjoyed listening to the stories they have shared of memories they have of this time period. Reading this story, was even better than listening to their stories (sorry mom & dad) because I felt like I lived the story with the characters.

Susie Finkbeiner tackles difficult topics and through the characters, we are reminded of the importance of forgiveness as well as given a gentle reminder that even in our darkest moments, God is still with us. I highly recommend this story!

(I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including Netgalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own.)

All Manner of Things was an interesting story that unfolded nicely. The characters were unique and will stay with me for a while. I appreciated the time setting during the Vietnam war and the grittiness of war and how it effects families. There was not any huge intrigue or mystery, but it kept my interest since I was invested in the characters. Annie was like-able and Jocelyn was a gem and I think most any female can relate to either having or wanting a best friend like her. The supporting “cast”of characters were phenomenal. I would really love a follow up story on Jocelyn and cousin Bernie. Annie’s longings for a “normal” family were understandable, yet I liked how this family was not “normal” because what family truly is? We all have issues and pasts and deal with them the best we can. I feel like I made a few friends and I mourned with them and felt so many emotions while reading.

All Manner of Things is a beautifully written, character driven novel set during the Vietnam conflict. I loved the characters and the small town Michigan setting. The writing style is lyrical and poetic. Faith plays a dominant role in the story. The faith of the main characters grows immensely through out the book. This is a quiet novel, but a lot happens by the end. Be prepared to have your heart broken. It's a sweet coming of age story, and it tackles a lot of difficult subjects. I highly recommend this books to readers who enjoy literary fiction or small town settings.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher for the purpose of review.

Have you ever read a book that made you want to crawl inside the pages and just live there for awhile? To become woven into the fabric of the story, breathing the same air and experiencing the same things as your new imaginary friends?

I would love to be Annie's friend. I would so crush on Mike. I would finally have a kid brother in Joel. I would help Gloria clean the grease stain off of her dining room wall. And I would give Frank a good tongue lashing, then a huge hug.

Normally I shy away from any book, television series or movie that takes place during the VietNam era. My brother made the same choice Mike made, and my mother reacted the same way Gloria did. Me? I was only 3, but I remember the change when my brother 'came' home from the war.

Susie Finkbeiler hasn't just crafted a novel meant to become a classic in the years to come. She has sliced a portion of Americana from our history and given it flesh, bone, breath, words, light, laughter, tears...and so much more. This is masterful writing.

It makes me glad to be a reader. It makes me glad to be a reviewer. It makes me glad to be a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter, a friend, a wife, and a mother. It makes me thankful for all of the men and women who served and who will serve.

It makes me happy to highly, highly recommend this book to you. I wish I could give "All Manner of Things" 10 stars. Five just doesn't seem to do it justice.

I received an advance copy from the publisher, and all thoughts and opinions are offered freely and are all my own.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Sometimes stories just captured you and take you away. You forget everything around you and focus on every detail of the story. This book is exactly that. A story that unravels the 1960s when the Vietnam War was in the headlines and the country was in chaos as demonstrations broke out over the country.

It is easy to relate to Annie because she is such a charismatic character. Her family life has been difficult at times with a father not active in her life. Her oldest brother Mike, is like the man of the house and I found him to be a strong, determined person. My heart stopped as I read that Mike had enlisted in the army. He believes that it is his duty and figures that he would be called up anyway. I remember that time a little and how young men were waiting for that letter in the mail. The family is worried for Mike’s safety and Mike tells Annie something before he leaves that really shocked me. You may wonder what that is, but you must read this story and find out as we follow Annie and her family during this era that was filled with tragedy, heartbreak and hope.

It was very interesting to read that Annie’s family had a pattern of running away. It goes back several generations, but it makes you wonder if that is why her father left. The author does a great job of letting us into Annie’s life and get to know her better. I loved the letters she received from her brother and how they encouraged each other. Each letter starts to get a bit darker as Mike describes what he sees in Vietnam. The author has done a great job of taking readers to a time in history where war was on everyone’s minds, demonstrations were everywhere and tucked away was a family who knew first hand what the war does to a family. They prayed daily for Mike's safety and I loved how the church kept them in their prayers as well.

This story is one that will require tissues as you read this story. We get a glimpse through Mike's letters that the war is tragic and depressing. I loved how the story reminds us of a time when serving your country was not popular and of the men and women who gave all for our freedom.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Reads Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.

This book! Thank you so much NetGalley for allowing me to preview this book. This is the first time I have read a book by Susie Finkbeiner, but it will not be my last. I was taken in by this book from the first page and could not put it down until I finished it then, I didnt want it to end.. It was beautifully written, the characters were real and I have to admit I almost did the ugly cry more than once. The Viet Nam War and 1967/68 was my time but this is not a political drama nor does it preach to you. This book is about family, love, friendship, and life. Believe me when I say this book is a don't miss read.

This is a touching novel about a small family during the Vietnam War years. The book is character driven, seen through the eyes of the daughter Annie, a recent high school graduate. The story centers around changes in family dynamics as Annie's older brother, Mike, decides to enlist in the Army instead of wait for his draft notice.

The effect of war on a family is a strong issue in the novel. Annie and Mike's father had been in the Korean War. Upon his return, he was unstable and abandoned the family. Mike had become the responsible man in the family and now he was leaving for war. We see how Annie, her mother and younger brother deal with the change. Through a series of events, the father is back in the picture after being gone over a decade. Another part of the novel is how the family members react to him.

The plot was a tad bit predictable. There is no suspense. There are no surprises. There is some romance with Annie but I found it a little puzzling and unsettled. The strength of the novel comes from Finkbeiner's writing style. Her work is a pleasure to read. This is a book for readers who would enjoy a novel centering on family relationships in troubled times.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Susie Finkbeiner captured the essence of America during the Vietnam War era. Through the vessel of the Jacobson's family story she explores the impact of war on soldiers and those they leave behind, social unrest, racism, the effect of an uncertain future on the already turbulent times of adolescence and young adulthood, and the search for God within it all. The emotions in this book are real and raw. The characters will join those from other books of great depth who continue to reside with you in the recesses of your mind. Above all, the theme of hope will ring true.

Susie Finkbeiner is a new-to-me author, but one I will continue to look for in the future. I am very grateful to have received a copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and received no monetary compensation.

All Manner Of Things by Susie Finkbeiner is a heart-wrenching Christian historical novel focusing on a family affected by war. The action is set in 1967 during the Vietnam War but families are still reeling from the Korean War. I do not normally cry over books but I cried over this one. It is beautifully written and I ‘felt’ included in the family as the book is written in the first person from the point of view of eighteen year old Annie.
The novel is a microcosm for the macrocosm of American families affected by war. It is a close knit family and community that laughs together, lives together and cries together. In some ways life in 1967 was far simpler but in many ways it was so much harder.
War hurts. It hurts civilians. It hurts the forces and it hurts God. “I can’t believe that God created us for all this death and destruction… War wasn’t His idea.” The reader becomes acquainted with the thoughts and fears of both the servicemen and those on the home front as part of the novel is in the form of letters to and from Vietnam to various family members. The servicemen were brave young men who ‘did it afraid’ as they answered the call to serve their country. “You gotta just look to God… When I get scared, it’s about the only thing I can do.” God was alongside those serving and those at home at all times, even if He seemed silent. He never left His children alone.
War alters people. A shell of a father returned from the Korean War. “A different man returned. One haunted by explosions and death and the stink of war.” Today we would diagnose PTSD. Then, a father tried to run away from his fears but “he still hadn’t outrun Korea.” The affects lasted a lifetime. There is a very tender and beautiful opening scene with this father and six year old Annie in 1955.
True treasure and self-sacrifice are the order of the day. “You can’t save everyone. But I know you can save some.” This contrasts with the love of money and possessions. “Your worth isn’t in what we’ve saved up in our bank account.” True treasure is found in our actions and love for others.
The fictional family has been beautifully drawn by Susie Finkbeiner. They are not perfect but they are realistic with their hangs ups and character flaws, and they are full of so much love. It is a love that radiates beyond the pages of the book. The reader witnesses a sibling love that can never be broken. A self-sacrificing love is witnessed again and again.
Susie Finkbeiner has written such a beautiful novel that has really affected me. She has presented the horrors of war, not so much in the blood and gore, but in an everyday way that tears families and communities apart.
I can highly recommend All Manner Of Things. It is such a beautiful novel about the bonds of love but you will need tissues close by.
As the novel has ended I feel lost without my new friends. The love within the book surrounded me and has left me feeling serene and loved.
A beautiful, beautiful book.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

Wow! This was a beautiful book. I was born in 1966, so it brought back all sorts of memories of my growing up years (although I was too young to remember the Vietnam War). I loved the depth of the characters and the careful balance of seriousness and humor Susie wove throughout this book.

Set in the turbulence of the 60s with the war in Vietnam and racial divide at home, author Susie Finkbeiner captured me from page one. Finkbeiner has a unique way of taking a time in history and putting the reader in the middle of it. With the inclusion of letters written between the characters, it was an unusual but enjoyable way of tracing thoughts and feelings. Of having difficult conversations when a distance a part.

Raw and honest, I was literally reading as fast as I could. I didn’t want it to end yet I so badly needed to know the ending. And yes, I sobbed like a baby the last few chapters. And that’s okay because if we don’t emotionally connect with a book like this then we’ve wasted our time. All Manner of Things is an emotional roller coaster with characters who are desperately depending on God but learn that His ways are not always our ways. As Mike reminds us, “Don’t duck and cover.”

If you enjoy historical fiction then you must get a copy of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

Thank you to Net Galley and Revell for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book is wonderful! The writing and the characters will draw you right in! For those of my generation, you will make a lot of connections. This time period is portrayed very realistically. My uncle went to Vietnam, and I remember my grandparents watching the news and making recordings to send to him. Unfortunately, he did not make it home. I like books that just pull me into the story, and this one definitely did that. I felt like I was there and reliving a part of my young life (teen-age years). I highly recommend this book and look forward to the next book by this author!

Not much of a romance, just real life as portrayed in 1967. It seemed historically accurate. It was a bit slow for me but enough for me to keep reading. I liked the depth of the ending.