“The cross is where we see the proof of God’s love for us. Jesus’ death on the cross is really convincing evidence that God is for us, not against us—that He loves us deeply—even when our circumstances appear to contradict that.” -My Refuge
My Refuge is a beautiful example of how God is with us in all circumstances. It also revealed the importance of good friendships and how we should surround ourselves with reliable people to hold us accountable as we pursue a relationship with Christ.
4.5/5 Stars
(SPOILER-FREE ZONE)
(Briefing)
Four stories. Four girls. All pursued by hope.
Eden, a young musician suddenly hospitalized with heart failure, awaits the day when she can lead a normal life. Will she overcome the anger and confusion inside of her as she waits for a heart transplant?
Zahra, an aspiring engineer trapped in a refugee camp, desperately tries to further her education with limited resources. Will she finally find something that no one can take away from her?
Mei, a girl experiencing the effects of quarantine, battles the onslaught of insecurities and self-worth as she finds ways to impact the world from the safety of her home. Will she learn to see herself the way God does?
Katya, a victim of war, longs to be reunited with her mom while waiting beneath the protection of a bomb shelter. Will she overcome her growing fear and anxiety as a war rages above her?
(First Impression 4/5)
The story begins with Eden, a girl hospitalized with heart problems. Her anger and frustrations, as well as sorrow for her predicament, leaped out of the pages. Tears were brought to my eyes as Eden watched the days go by from the hospital window and saw her friends living the life she once lived on social media. What a drastic change to happen in a young girl’s life, yet a beautiful opportunity for God to reveal His glory. Ashley introduced Eden and her story with precision, filling me with anticipation for the next three stories to come.
(Character Development 5/5)
All four girls were vastly different, just like the storylines. They grew in so many ways, from fear to hope, despair to joy, insecurity to confidence, from feeling trapped to being free. Eden, Zahra, Mei, and Katya transformed and took flight. Yet, I know there’s so much growth left to come, and I cannot wait to continue walking alongside these girls on their journeys through life and as they are brought closer to Christ.
(World-Building 5/5)
The circumstantial world-building was exquisite. I say “circumstantial” because of the four unique concepts brought to life. Each story focused on an important issue that inspired and brought forth the floodgates of tears. The imagery and settings were easy to fall into. Ashley made each story powerful and impactful in their own way. We see Eden struggling with anger, Zahra with desperation for more, Mei with self-worth, and Katya with anxiety. Though their lives and circumstances differ, each girl is brought closer to Jesus. I thought this was a lovely concept. No matter the difficulties worldwide, God offers hope to all.
(Emotions 5/5)
There was a point when I was reading this book in public, and let me say it was a challenge to keep the tears from falling. Many heavy and sorrowful topics were tackled in My Refuge, ones that teenagers, girls specifically, battle with daily. This world needs more books like this; the younger generation needs books like this. Ashley did a phenomenal job reaching out to young girls and touching on issues I’m sure many are familiar with. I believe even adults would be able to relate and feel inspired by this book. My Refuge is a tear-jerker and will make your heart ache, but it will also bring a smile to your face to see how God is faithful no matter the situation.
(Style 4/5)
My Refuge was written well, with plots and emotional situations that were easy to get lost in. The only issue I had was with the two POVs that would clash from time to time. It changed from third to first person, enabling the characters to share their thoughts instead of being referred to in third person. I loved reading what they were thinking, but the clarity was a bit fuzzy and didn’t separate the two POVs all the time, apart from a few thoughts being in the classic italics. Even so, I barely noticed this because the story was so intriguing and held my attention in a firm grasp. I’m only mentioning this because it did cause a bit of confusion. Other than the POVs, this book was excellent, and I quickly absorbed the captivating points Ashley aimed to get across.
(Cleanliness 5/5)
This book was almost entirely clean, apart from a brief indication of inappropriate photos. These photos, however, were not detailed at all. War is mentioned, as well as some dramatic scenes that may be sensitive to some readers, but still PG. Ashley tackles anxiety, despair, and loneliness in the most lovely way. My Refuge is undoubtedly the perfect atmosphere for the age group it’s geared towards.
(Conclusion 4/5)
I didn’t think I’d cry as much as I did while reading My Refuge. The best word to describe this book is powerful. Ashley excelled at handling daunting and challenging situations, and she did a wonderful job of keeping each story intriguing. I’m a little bummed with how it ended because there’s still so much left to be told of all four stories. However, I saw the mention of a possible second book in the future, so I’m thrilled about that. I was sad when it ended because I didn’t want to stop reading.
My Refuge was an incredible read and makes you think about other people’s sufferings and how even the most minor acts of kindness and compassion can make a huge difference. We may not always see this difference, but God certainly does, and I believe He uses our small acts of love to further His kingdom in so many ways. I highly recommend this book to everyone, but especially teenagers and young adults.
Genres: fiction, Christian, young adult, contemporary
!Trigger Warnings!
War, violence, emotional, anxiety, despair, loneliness, mentions of inappropriate content online
Thank you, Ashley, for sharing a copy of your book with me. I feel so blessed to have been able to read and review your book. It will no doubt impact the lives of the teenage girls you are aiming to reach. I will look forward to reading your next book!
Follow Ashley on Instagram!: @ashleyalsalibywrites
“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape that you may be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV
Julia Rose Books 