Now and Not Yet
16. Jennifer A. Marshall, Now and Not Yet: Making Sense of Single Life in the Twenty-First Century
This is a book geared toward a very specific demographic: Christian women in their 20s through 40s who are currently single but who hope to be married someday. The book starts by discussing the cultural changes that have resulted in women marrying later in life. Unlike in previous generations, where young people got married right out of college (or even high school), young people today often remain single into their 30s and beyond. For young women who hope to marry, this period of singleness can often be confusing and stressful. Marshall’s main point in this book is that, instead of viewing singleness as an obstacle on the way to wedded bliss, young women should focus on developing their talents, deepening their relationship with God, and finding contentment no matter what their marital status.
My cousin recommended this book to me since I’m a member of its target demographic: I’m in my 20s and single, but I’d like to get married someday. Marshall spoke with several women to get their stories and perspectives on being single in today’s world, and I could definitely identify with many of their stories. I appreciated the message that singleness should be viewed as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. While the book doesn’t offer a lot of practical suggestions for how to lead a full life as a single person, I was inspired to think about my own goals and desires in life. I realized that most of these goals can definitely be accomplished while I’m single, which caused me to think about how I can start achieving them. So overall, I’m glad I read this book, and it’s motivated me to make some positive changes in my life.