This book is a breath of fresh air when it comes to processing times of crisis and the fallout from them. Adriel gives us gentle and repeated reminders that we are never without hope:

"My commitment is to light a candle in your darkness and stand by as you adjust to the low light. I will hold a mirror for you while you ask God’s Holy Spirit to show you something you’ve not been able to recognize before. I’ll be the string around your finger, reminding you of what (I hope) you already know: that God loves you and cares for you and has, in fact, tethered you to hope , even if that hope feels elusive or imperceptible at times."

The book is broken into 5 parts that are titled:
1) Life In Liminality
2) The Dignity of Recognition
3) The Art of Examen
4) Practices And Postures That Form Us
5) A Hopeful Witness

As someone who has lived through countless large scale crises as well as the more typical kinds that life brings us. This is a powerful support to have on hand.

I read Adriel Booker's writings on Substack religiously. She captivates me with her words of wisdom, peace and, frankly, with words that I could imagine Jesus saying. Not the words of the ludicrous Jesus of the American fascists, but the Jesus who gave us the Sermon on the Mount and the Jesus whose longest recorded conversation was with a Samaritan woman.

In Tethered to Hope, Ms. Booker doesn't offer the usual clichés or easy answers. Instead, she sits with you in the 'liminal space'—that confusing gap between who you were and who you are becoming. Her writing on the 'quiet kindness of God' helped me put my thoughts into precise words. I must have said "That's it!" a dozen times while reading this book.

It’s a poetic and sturdy companion for anyone whose heart has been torn open. Especially for those living in these surreal times and wondering "where are we going and why are we in this hand basket," the book provides anchor points of thought.

Tethered to Hope is a profound exploration of spiritual formation in the middle of upheaval. Ms. Booker masterfully reframes crisis not just as something that happens to us, but as a catalyst for deep transformation. I particularly appreciated her work on the 'Art of Examen' and her 'Tether' metaphor-which she describes not as a restrictive leash, but as a life-sustaining connection to God. For those wrestling with doubt or a jarring shift in faith, this book offers a rare combination of raw vulnerability and theological depth without ever feeling preachy.

If you’re feeling unmoored and could use a dose of solidarity and someone who will believe for you until you can believe for yourself that you are already tethered to hope and tethered to God, this book is exactly what you’re looking for. Between Adriel’s own experiences and drawing on a depth of wisdom from the great cloud of witnesses, you will feel less alone. KJ Ramsey says that hope is a team sport, and I believe that everyone needs someone like Adriel not only on their team, but captain of it. May you always remember that you are already tethered to hope and that it will never let you go.

I am very grateful to have read this book early as a part of the launch team. Thank you NetGalley and Baker for making it possible!
What a tender and gentle invitation to see where God already is (with us) in our in-between spaces. Rather than offer simple solutions, Adriel instead is an empathetic companion, asking careful questions and pointing out profound truths. I leave this book feeling encouraged that God is holding me and curious to look a little more closely at what God is doing in my own imperfect story.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC. This is easily the best book I've read this year. It's tender and gentle whilst communicating challenge and encouragement for living in the aftermath.