Now for the inevitable criticisms. As I said, Flabbergasted is a fun and easy read, perfect for the beach (much of the book is set at the beach). But it left me a little flat. It was a little to one dimensional. Jay is a likable fellow and all, but his fears and weaknesses seem rather to easily overcome. The way he just ends up hanging out with all these Christian singles and drawn into church seems convient and/or simplistic. None of the characters seem to wrestle with anything deep or profound. Even the tension between Jay's job as an investment broker and Allie's calling as a missionary seems flat; as if life presents so stark a choice to everyone: wealthy investment broker or dirt poor missionary. Allie's life as a missionary is presented with rose colored glasses. Sure she is out in the middle of nowhere without TV, email, and hot water (until Jay manages to buy and install a water heater) but little is said about the pressure and stress such a spiritual responsibility can entail. No discussion of loneliness or doubt. Jay's encounter with a homeless man in New York seems forced. This is the danger of explicitly Christian novels they can avoid the dark side of issues. Despite being about adult singles, the issue of sex is never even hinted at except once when the men's group confesses "impure thoughts" or when Allie and Jay fall asleep on the beech and Allie worries about what others will think. I appreciate the wholesome perspective, and probably prefer it to most secular novels where an obsession about sex pervades everything, but shouldn't there at least be some tension involved with adults dating nowadays? Despite touching on dating advice and the pressure to find someone, the book rarely touches on whether Church should be just another place to find a date.

That being said, Flabbergasted is an interesting read and a family friendly one at that. It is refreshing to read a book that doesn't treat becoming a Christian like joining a weird cult or as a fig leaf for a warped psyche. Given the bias and antagonism that much of our culture has towards faith Blackston provides a nice counter-balance. He paints a picture of real people living real lives yet doing it in within the context of church and faith. Jay's path to faith may seem a little trite at times but it is honest and sincere. Not everyone needs to go through a "dark night of the soul" to come to faith in Christ.

So, whether you enjoy books set at the beach or you need a book to take to the beach, Flabbergasted is an enjoyable, light hearted, and wholesome read.