I was fortunate enough to Beta read an early copy of this delightful MG contemporary by Niki Lenz and then again later, in the form of an arc from NetGalley.
The Stepmom Shake-Up is a charming, funny, and wonderfully heartwarming story showcasing the unbeatable relationship of Grace and her pastor-father, Davy. Despite Grace and Davy's strong Team-Gravy partnership, a committee at church decides to intervene and start setting up their pastor with dates. Desperate to keep her life exactly as it is, Grace and her best bud, Bea, launch Operation Stepmom Shake-Up into full effect thus trying to ruin and thwart as many of Pastor Davy's dates as possible. As their covert operation gets a bit out of hand, however, Grace realizes that the perfect woman for her widower father may have been under their noses the entire time.
What stands out to me the most about this MG is its ability to confront grief, questions with faith, and the coming-of-age for a young girl so seamlessly. Add in hilarious dashes of laugh-out-loud humorous scenes and dialogue, and this story is an absolute knock-out of an MG.
The Stepmom Shake-Up will appeal to fans of Judy Blume, Kate Messner, and Karen Rivers.

I found this wholesome book rather too twee for my tastes, but I could imagine the child reader who might very well love it. Every book has its reader, right?

Niki Lenz is reliable for quirky characters put in humorous situations in which they must learn to accept new things and stand up for themselves. Readers saw this is Beatrice Buttman, Model Citizen, and they’ll be delighted to find it again in The Stepmom Shake-Up. Recommended.