May We Make Them Proud is a laugh-out-loud, touch-your-heart kinda story.
One that keeps you flipping pages and brings tears to your eyes. Issabelle Perry has given us a gift with this story: the reminder that there's always a second chance at
love, hope, and making dreams come true.
Y’all, I devoured this novelette. Not just because it was so short…but because it was so precious and heartfelt that I couldn’t put it down! Issabelle Perry is not only talented at bringing an entertaining story to life in such a few short words but also at weaving in touching truths and beautiful themes. May We Make Them Proud was such a sweet, tender second chance romance that gave me all the feels and spoke to my heart.
Perry writes from experience, lending an authenticity to the heroine Wren and her struggles with grief. Wren’s story of gaining a second chance at life itself was so inspiring, even though I’ve never endured the tragedy she has.
And then there’s our man Jax. Y’all, this dude was sooo sweet! I absolutely adored him (and his banter with Wren!) and how he wooed his woman back!
Pair loveable characters with Perry’s clear but gorgeous prose, and you’ve got a story that sucks you in! The conflict, the humor, the depth of the story all added new layers of richness to May We Make Them Proud. I fell in love with Jax and Wren and rooted for their second chance, even when all hope seemed lost!
I love how Perry kept things real and clean, and how her story focused on God in a way that was genuine—never preachy or diluted!
Even in such a short story, Perry gave me something to mourn, something to hope for, and something to rejoice over. She gave me a compelling and inspiring story that reminded me we only have one life...and a God who gives infinite second chances. So don’t be afraid to reignite old passions, redeem lost time, and achieve forgotten dreams.
the vibes
~ cozy downtown bookstore
~ steam wafting from tea
~ the smell of fresh-ground coffee
~ slow dances in the moonlight
~ second chances and restored hope
~ fairy lights twinkling against the curtain of twilight
read this if…
~ you love books about books
~ second chance romance gives you all the feels
~ you’ve struggled with grief
~ you feel like you’ve missed your chance
~ you’re full of crazy dreams
~ inspirational themes touch your heart
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
~ the book ~
the only way to fly is to first fall...
Wren is sure that all she needs in life are books, music, and her husky. Forget all her old plans to be a travel vlogger and see the world, now Wren's only concern is to make sure the bookshop she owns—her late father's greatest life work—doesn't fall under. But when her childhood friend suddenly arrives back in town two years after a disastrous fight that Wren prefers to leave forgotten, his presence resurfaces emotions she had thought were buried too deep to remember. Yet with the bookshop's many needs, she doesn't have time to dwell on childhood crushes and memories of life before her father's passing—when she knew what it was like to live.
May We Make Them Proud is a moving, inspiring novelette about love, healing, and learning to dream again.
~ the author ~
Issabelle Perry is a proud Jesus follower, an extroverted writer of historical fiction, and a homeschool graduate. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, jamming to Skillet, bullet journaling, hunting for Narnia in wardrobes, or envisioning herself wielding a magnificent sword (but due to her clumsiness, let’s hope that never happens). This self-proclaimed exclamation mark enthusiast can be found hanging out at Teen Writers’ Nook, a community of teen authors Issabelle co-founded in 2020. Her short story “Fairly Impish” was featured in Owl Hollow Press’s Change the World anthology, and Issabelle is the co-editor for Teen Writers’ Nook’s Imagine anthology and Tell Me You Love Me, Grace A. Johnson's Christian romance anthology. What she’s probably doing right now is fangirling about her favorite books to random people or scanning the pantries for chocolate.
Subscribe to her newsletter to stay up-to-date on book releases and writing projects, and be sure to check out her website and Teen Writers' Nook for writing advice, book reviews, and more! You can find the Imagine, Tell Me You Love Me, and Change the World anthologies on Amazon!
If you haven't snagged a copy of May We Make Them Proud yet, then what are you waiting for??? This short but sweet story is just what you need to bring a little bit of hope and love to your day, so make sure to order the ebook for only $0.99 or the paperback for $4.98 on Amazon!!
(Ooooor stay tuned for an upcoming ✨giveaway✨!!! Keep your eyes peeled; it's coming soon! 👀)
If you'd like to learn more about Issabelle Perry, check out our recent interview here! And if you'd like to hear about her story and her journey to becoming a Christian author, become a patron!
What's a short read you've enjoyed this spring? What aspect(s) of May We Make Them Proud appeals to you? I'd love to hear about it in the comments! How do you like the new additions to my review?
yours in spirit & script,
grace
(Pst! All my Amazon links are affiliate links, so if you make a purchase through my affiliate link(s), I'll receive a small commission at no extra cost to you!)
AWWWW THANK YOU SO MUCH for this sweet, sweet review, Gracie!!!! It has made my entire week!!!! I absolutely LOVE the li'l graphic you made for it!! I see you've been looking at my Pinterest board. ;P Thank you again SO much for the review and for helping me share about my new release!!!!! <333333
Congrats again Issabelle!
I enjoyed listening to a collection of short mysteries a few weeks ago.
Aww, such a beautiful review, Grace! Congrats, Is! This looks like such a touching story. I absolutely love the aesthetic ❤️
Ahhh, I am pumped to read this!!
Ahhhh, BEAUTIFUL review!!! Thank you for sharing it here!! (In fact, I almost teared up reading it... 😭 The theme of second chances is hitting hard.) So so so excited to read May We Make Them Proud!!!