hashtag blessed
Four young women, Christian influencers, are online trying to help other young woman who are struggling. These young women are members of the most popular megachurch in town, Moving Word, which fills up each Sunday with believers. The four friends call themselves the Moral Mavens and offer up tips for what to wear, how to do their makeup, how to budget, how to stay pure. But it’s advice they don’t always keep themselves.
Camryn wants to get married. She met her boyfriend at college, and she’s waiting for him to propose. She’s working hard to be seen as a leader in the church and online. And she’s running up her credit cards. Her boyfriend isn’t comfortable with debt, so she tries to hide her bills. But he is suspicious. Camryn feels like if she were to get married, everything will fall into place. But she just keeps waiting for the question that doesn’t come.
Savannah is a middle school teacher who grew up on a reality show about her religious family. But her father’s very public indiscretion ended the show and made Savannah turn away from the family. But she wants a family. She and her husband, the son of a politician and personal trainer, have been trying for a baby for almost a year. She is scared and disappointed and questioning if fertility treatments line up with her beliefs.
Trishy is single and ready to mingle. She’s been single for a long time. She used to use the apps, meeting up with different guys. Now she’s trying to meet someone she can have a long-term relationship with, something meaningful, someone she can take to church. But sometimes she slides back into those old ways.
Kristin is the newest addition to the group. She’s fresh out of college, where she was a competitive swimmer. She works at the church, for Pastor Kyle and his wife Cassidy. So she’s the one who notices some issues with the upcoming gala. Moving Word is throwing a big celebratory gala for the holidays to support a charity that helps those who have been trafficked. Kristin notices some anomalies with the accounts and wonders at some of the expenses, but she’s not sure what to do with that information.
The four women use their online platforms to try to elevate others while finding their own way, but when rumors of Pastor Kyle’s financial improprieties interrupts the gala, Camryn, Savannah, Trishy, and Kristin all have to figure out what that means for their own spiritual health and their futures.
Too Blessed to Stress takes on the world of Christian influencers, pointing out their devotion as well as their shortcomings. It’s smart and sassy, with moments of genuine warmth and fellowship among the moments of piety. These characters bring to light many of the tropes that religious influencers embody and weaves their stories together to create a clever and funny satire of modern-day megachurches.
I spent some years growing up in a megachurch, before the time of influencers and social media, but i still recognized these people and their roles in the church. I will admit that this story danced a little close to some of my old trauma, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nonetheless. I think fans of reality shows about religious families and those who enjoy a good satire of modern day popular culture will find a lot to love in this book.
Egalleys for Too Blessed to Stress were provided by Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
