You Are Not Behind: Building a Life You Love Without Having Everything You Want

In this unfocused debut guide, Asbury assures those who feel unfulfilled that “God is writing a better story for your life—a story that is unfolding right in front of you.” After moving to Charlotte, N.C., in 2019, the author thought she’d found what she was looking for—a good job, a tight-knit community—but remained dissatisfied, leading her to wonder “where God was, what he was doing, and whether anything would ever change.” Describing how she sought to appreciate what she has while also working to build a better future, she recalls how she got honest with God about what was making her feel behind in life; let go of the hope that, before she turned 30, she would start dating the man she’d eventually marry; and attempted to strike a balance between pursuing her goals and seeking contentment with the life in front of her. Asbury makes clear that her quest is ongoing, which lends the proceedings a somewhat contradictory and scattershot feel (“I want to be married. I want my own house... and if I’m honest, today I want all of it more than I want God... But deep down, I also know I want more than that”). Despite some bright spots, this fails to deliver. (Sept.)