Clara Kip has entered hospice care. Her story is in the hands of a young journalist, who may be too impetuous for the job. In her last days, Clara strives to show God's love to all those who enter her path. She has her regrets, too, of never travelling with her husband. Follow her story with a fresh take on what it means to share God's light.

This book right here is a 2023 Christy Award winner, and for good reason!

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, by Sara Brunsvold will make you laugh; it will make you cry; it will make you ponder so much in your life.

This is a tale like no other. It’s the tale of unforeseen friendships. It’s the tale of alliances found in the most unlikely people. Best of all, it’s the tale of the extraordinary Mrs. Kip and her many life lessons!

While you'll most certainly laugh at her silly antics, by the time you turn the last page, you won’t be able to help but aspire to be a little more like Clara Kip.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I wish I could give this book infinite stars. Seriously, if you only read one book this year, make it this one. It will change you.

"She wanted to find the place where lightning bolts were stored, to discover where the wind began, and to watch as love poured down in generous waterfalls into hearts that moved in its current. What a joy to be among the chorus when one more of those hearts turned to the Son. How loud the sound must be."

I wanted to like this more, the Christian aspect was a little heavy for my personal taste. Readers would have gotten the same message without being reminds of it so often. Mrs. Kip was delightful I MIGHT try another book from this author but only if she isn't hitting me over the head with the message.

Unfortunately,I did not finish this book. For some reason the format of the book would not hold my place when I would finish reding during the day. It became too cumbersome to scroll through chapters to find where I left off the day before.
I will say,the main character was proving to be a sweet little spit fire of a woman.

Hope to get a chance to read the book fully once published.

** UPDATE**

I finally circled back and read this extrodinary book and I love it. As someone with the ability to make book sugestions as a part of my job,I suggest this one when approprate.

The inspiring main character,Clara,is who we should all aspire to emulate. She is an unassuming,humble woman doing God's work by loving on those she meets.

LOVE,love love!

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip by Sara Brunsvold is truly a special book. How can I best describe this book— surprising, inspiring, heart-breaking, touching— it is all of that and more! This book will linger with you long afterwards with truths about life coming from the story and from God’s Word. There’s so much we could all learn from Mrs Kip. This book is truly astonishing and I think it would appeal to a broad audience. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

"You said the mark of authentic love is dying a thousand deaths to self. I get now what you meant by that because I watched you live it out." Aidyen's words to Mrs. Kip who is a cancer patient in a local nursing home. Aidyen is trying to break it big in the journalism world and is given the assignment of writing Mrs. Kip"s obituary, not knowing that there is a much bigger story behind it all. It's a beautiful story of friendships forged from adversities and across social, age, economic, and language barriers. A very inspirational story..

Aidyn Kelley is an ambitious junior journalist in Kansas, but when her ambition gets her in trouble, she finds herself relegated to writing obituaries. Her editor sends her to a local hospice to interview the somewhat eccentric Mrs Kip.

Clara Kip is seventy-nine years old, and an unexpected cancer diagnosis has left her not in hospital but in a hospice. Still, she is determined to die as she has lived – with Jesus.

Clara is immediately likeable as a character. She’s bubbly, bright, and determined to see the best in everything and everyone. Aidyn? Not so much. She’s self-absorbed and thinks she’s above the rules. That’s probably not too different to many other bright young graduates in their mid-twenties, but it didn’t help me like her.

Not liking Aidyn meant I found the first quarter of the book a bit of a struggle. I actually set the book aside for a couple of weeks. What got me reading it again were a few of the comments I saw online, readers praising the book as brilliant and heartrending.

So I picked the book up again, determined to give it another chance. But it wasn’t until Aidyn and Clara met for the second time that I found myself really being drawn into the story. And once I was drawn in, it was impossible to put it down.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot in case I give spoilers. But I can explain why I changed my mind.

The story flips between the present (well, the book is set in 2016) and Clara’s past. At first, the past stories seemed like random anecdotes, with no particular purpose. But as I kept reading, it became apparent that the past stories were tied up with the present, in that they were the stories Mrs Kip was telling Aidyn, the stories that show how ordinary can become extraordinary when walking with God.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs Kip is Christian fiction of the best kind. Mrs Kip has been a Christian for decades, and she’s the kind of Christian we should all aspire to being: one who loves God and loves those people He puts in her path and loves them well.

The whole story took place over less than ten days in book time, but the changes Mrs Kip inspires in Aidyn made it feel like a much longer timeframe. I guess that’s because of the lesson of Mrs Kip’s extraordinary death—and life—which is one we can hear and adopt ourselves.

Recommended for fans of authors such as Cynthia Ruchti, Sharon Garlough Brown, Elizabeth Musser, and Christine Dillon.

I had put off reading this book because it sounded pretty deep. But God seemed to bring me to it when I needed the message. This book is very well written. The characters are likable and the plot is easy to follow. Every now and then it's nice to read a book that doesn't involve a murder or something sinister. Other reviewers had said that they took notes regarding the special wisdom contained between the cover. I decided to highlight some of the passages, and I'm glad I did. We learn that wisdom can come from unexpected places, and God is at work in our lives when we can't see it. Many good lessons to be learned here.

My first thought when I saw the title of this book was “What an unusual title!” I was not but a few pages in before I was certain I could not read it. After all it had not been so very long ago that we spent six months in a hospice center with my mother where she spent her last days. It was still too fresh and often painful to remember. However, having committed to a review, I persisted and am so glad I did.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip was truly an extraordinary story. At times it was very difficult to read due to my own memories but Aidyn and Clara’s interaction was such a profound experience that I think everyone should read it. Despite her obvious daily decline, Clara had such strength of spirit and was determined to fulfill the Lord’s mission to Aidyn before her death. Clara’s own story is one of self-sacrifice as she lived her life for God.

The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip is poignant yet also humorous at times. Mrs. Kip is a character that one would do well to emulate. I wish I had had her as an example early in my life. This is a MUST READ

Aidyn is a young newspaper reporter and thinks she's ready for better stories than the fluff she's been assigned. When the editor assigns an obituary for a woman at the local hospice she's disappointed but resigned to do the story. There is much more to Clara Kip than most people realize. She is a friend to all but very independent. She has dedicated her life to helping others and the story is now ready to be revealed. Mrs. Kip is a fascinating woman and Aidyn grows into a writer to share the story. I learned a lot about the immigrants coming to the US in the 70's .

"In her years alongside her friend Mai, she had learned that where there is pain, there is a calling. A duty. And a great and wonderful commission."

The title drew me into this book, and the characters kept me there. But I must admit that the plot had me concerned - could I really enjoy a book where the main character is telling her story while on hospice? The answer is a resounding "YES!"

Aidyn makes a major misstep in her journalism career, so when she is given the assignment to interview an older woman who wants help to write her obituary, she reluctantly agrees. Little does she know that meeting Mrs. Kip will change her life. I know that I definitely would be honored to have her heart and enthusiasm toward both fun and people as I continue to get older.

How do we make a difference in the lives of others? Do our actions matter? The life of Mrs. Kip does NOT go as planned. Yet she learns over time to continue to trust God. Throughout the book, I laughed many times, but I cried through multiple chapters as well. So inspiring. I highly, highly recommend this one - I already know it will be one of my top ten books of the year! SO glad to read this one on NetGalley - all opinions are my own.

Perhaps it is best to end this review with inspiring words from Mrs. Kip.
"I am nothing but a feeble bag "of bones with a decent smile. I did nothing good - not one solitary thing - apart from God. Whatever empowerment I had came from him. It's the same empowerment you have for the taking. It's walking at your right hand, as close as an ask. Whatever comes your way, you don't need to be shaken."

Maybe it’s because I’m about to round the corner into my sixties this month, but I experienced an immediate kinship with Clara Kip, Sara Brunsvold’s protagonist in The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. Already well into her seventies, medical pronouncements on the order of “aggressively metastasized” have acquainted Clara with her own mortality. Even so, her foot remains firmly in its place on the gas pedal.

After all, there are residents and staff at Sacred Promise Senior Care Center who need the peace of Christ that has carried Clara through grief and into joy. Therefore, when Aidyn Kelley shows up full of youthful ambition, journalistic fervor, and a writing deadline, Clara begins to see the answer to her perpetual prayer–which is no surprise since “the Lord never fails to answer a request for more to do.”

Diving into Clara’s journals, Aidyn also becomes immersed in the mystery of Clara’s deep following life. Together, they learn to pray the prayer that never fails: “Break every hint of pride to accomplish your will in my life.” Brunsvold merges strong character development with a gently suspenseful plot line to create one of my favorite reads of this summer!

Many thanks to Revell for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.

The title was enough to make me want to read this book, but I’ve also heard so many great things about it. Creative and witty with colorful, realistic, and engaging characters, this is a story that will stay with me for a long time. It made me think and examine my life to see what I could do to make a difference in the lives of others.

Clara Kip was an amazing example to those around her. I loved her humor and positive outlook on life, even though she’d had many hardships. The impact she had on others changed their lives. When Aidyn Kelley, a talented reporter, is assigned to write an obituary for Mrs. Kip as she enters hospice care, Aidyn gets more than she expects.

“I did a lot of hard things. But hard things usually end in the biggest blessings.”

“I simply tried to love people as best I could for as long as I was privileged to be with them. We don’t stay long in each other’s lives—that’s the crux of our humanness. You have to be the friend people need while they are there with you, because it’s the only chance you’ll get.”

This is a Christian fiction book and has a lot of Christian references. It is very well-written and brings out all the emotions. I highly recommend it. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to Revell & NetGalley for a digital advance reader's copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was a moving and memorable debut novel that was inspired by the actual experiences of the Laotian refugee resettlement effort in Kansas City in 1975, during the Vietnam War era. But this isn’t a story about war. It’s a story about Mrs. Kip, a determined American widow with a vision for helping others, and Aidyn Kelley, the young cub reporter who meets her at the end of her life.

Unlike many Christian novels which just hint at faith, God is mentioned frequently – how He motivates and empowers Mrs. Kip, inspires Aidyn, and works in so many people’s lives. Mrs. Kip frequently refers to the Bible, prays, and often shares wisdom from her life’s experiences. But this is all delicately woven into the novel without heavy-handedness. There were so many encouraging observations and inspirational remarks that I found myself noting the memorable statements, just as Aidyn did while interviewing Mrs. Kip.

The story begins with inexperienced reporter Aidyn Kelley being assigned by her newspaper to write an obituary of Mrs. Clara Kip. Unbeknownst to Aidyn, Mrs. Kip has had an amazing history of assisting Hmong refugees after they have escaped Laos and Viet Nam to resettle in Kansas City.

What made the book a page-turner for me was the relationship/friendship that developed between Mrs. Kip and Aidyn. They only had seven days together, yet grew so close and Aidyn learned so much about friendship, about God’s power, and what is really important. Author Sara Brunsvold created a vivid personality with Mrs. Kip. She was bold, fun, strong, loving, encouraging, brave, feisty, and loyal. She was a great role-model for Aidyn - and for any reader.

As another reviewer noted, even though the present day story takes place in a hospice, and I used many tissues toward the conclusion, the novel is one of hope and joy.

Extraordinary doesn’t begin to describe this book! Have you ever had a book that just touched your soul? I’ve highlighted so many points in this book and this will be a novel I read over and over.

Although of course I loved Clara Kip, Aidyn Kelley stole my heart. The author allowed her character to grow slowly chapter by chapter – a reporter assigned to just write an obituary for Mrs. Kip. What a blessing and teacher Mrs. Kip was to this young lady. “The roots of their short time together had plunged deep into Aidyn’s existence.” Like they surely had for many others she had touched.

I promise that this will be a book that stays with you long after you finish it.

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishers through NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I’m a mood reader and I’ve been in a mood for some time, focusing on primarily romcoms to de-stress, but I wanted to read Mrs. Kip because I’d received a copy from the author and really wanted to support her (opinions are all my own). This novel didn’t immediately suck me in, and in general it had a slower pace, but despite my mood and despite the subject matter being so different from my typical read I kept plugging away one chapter at a time. The last 30% of the book I leaked slow tears. I believe that’s a testament to the strength of writing as well as the overall wisdom found within the pages. While I didn’t connect super strongly with either of the main characters the point of the story still hit its mark within me, and the day after I finished I found myself in the midst of my Bible study, connecting the dots between what I was reading and the lessons I’d learned at Mrs. Kip’s side. I understand why I’ve been seeing so many raving about this book, and if it sounds like your kind of story I’d definitely recommend it. If it sounds like too much and you’re going through hard times you may want to wait, though I didn’t regret pushing through.

Aidyn Kelley is ready to tackle more serious journalistic assignments for the Kansas City Star. But after she pushes too hard, her editor assigns her to write an obituary for Clara Kip, an unremarkable woman in hospice care. The spirited septuagenarian may be dying, but she’s not quite ready to cash it in yet. She wants to die with pizzazz and realizes that God brought the young reporter into her life for a reason. Aidyn will have to work for the story, though.
This book encourages me to live to the fullest and love, love, love. Mrs. Kip believes in the tender worship of companionship and models this action. And she does indeed die in the most extraordinary way possible - while loving.
The introduction of Aidyn and flashbacks to different times were confusing. I wasn’t always sure what was going on and thought that maybe I was missing some of the details. This flaw made me almost quit reading, but I’m glad I didn’t. The story does get more cohesive and interesting.
Expect lots of preaching. The author does include inspiration, too.
Favorite quotes:
“A leaf has the most extraordinary death. There is so much beauty to it.”
“Loneliness. Silence. Dying. Three flaming arrows impossible for anyone to deflect without help.”
“Clara closed her eyes. ‘Lord, help me feel your presence here. This breath I have is fading, but it still comes from you, still for your purposes. Despite what my body does or refuses to do, embolden this spirit of mine to stand on in this battle. Empower these weak arms to hold fast to the shield of faith. Like a mighty warrior for your glory, God.’”
“Our God is the God of new life. Carve that in a stone somewhere, because it is the gospel truth.”
“I have never seen the vast smallness of American minds until I’ve attempted to get them to wrap around the concept of hospitality toward outsiders.”
“Women have the lion’s share of God’s tenderness attribute because it’s one of our greatest opportunities toward others.”
“Use your love wisely. Give it away for its intended purpose, and don’t be afraid to risk loss.” “Authentic love is the greatest joy there is, but it requires a thousand little deaths to self.”
“I may have been in between friends, but I was never alone.”
“I always let the Lord guide me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

There are just some books that you know immediately you’ll never forget. This is one such book. The beautiful, magical relationship that develops between Clara and Aidyn is just so precious and unforgettable. As we dip into Mrs Kip’s adventures with John, Mai, Martha, and others paints a picture so vibrant, so rich, that one can only hope to live an ordinary life and die an extraordinary death just like she does.

I was drawn to the book, The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip, because the setting is in my hometown. It’s fun to read of familiar places and historical events that occurred in your own backyard.
Mrs. Kip is absolutely an extraordinary character. I believe most readers would agree, that our world would benefit from a lot more Mrs. Kips. She definitely challenged me to examine how I have responded to my own good and bad life experiences.
Aidyn, young and ready to take on the world, is relatable. Fresh out of school and going to climb the ladder of success farther and faster than her peers. The Mrs. Kips of the world are relics of a far off past and seemingly irrelevant to Aidyn’s goals.
The setup for this story was engaging and attention gripping for the first half. Somewhere along the way, I felt like I struggled to keep up with what Mrs, Kip was seeing in and hoping for Aidyn. I understood conceptually where the book was heading, but I felt like I was lost in the innuendos of Mrs. Kip’s perspective. I still loved this story. It was very moving and tears should be expected. Grab your tissues in advance!

I received a review copy courtesy of Revell through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.