Moxie was one of my favourite books of 2017 so I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into Jennifer Mathieu's latest book. Devoted is such a suffocating and compelling read - I felt as trapped between the pages as Rachel felt in her family home. This was such a delicate, detailed and well-balanced look at religion and how oppressive it can be in certain communities. It was eye-opening, claustrophobic and terrifying in parts. 

Although not a religious person myself, I really liked that Mathieu didn't provide an entirely damning view of religion in itself. I liked that Rachel was given an opportunity to see that religion didn't have to be as oppressive as the Christianity that she grew up in. 

I gave this book 3* because although Devoted is a compelling and eye-opening read, I felt that it didn't have the same punch as Moxie and I found some of the characters difficult to like and support. Despite this, I'm looking forward to seeing what Jennifer Mathieu does next!

I was braced for something that was going to essentially make me feel hopeless about religion, the unfairness of how girls and women are treated within the context of strict religious doctrine and just generally something with a sensationalist and unsatifying ending. Instead, Mathieu presents a perfectly balanced narrative that looks at all sides of the equation. Rachel, the MC, ‘wins’ but no one else has to lose for this to happen. I’ll admit I have a knee jerk reaction to organised religion having been raised strict Catholic (and turned my back on Christianity as a result). This was so refreshing in that Rachel reasons out what works for her and doesn’t just throw everything away. The struggle for balance, for love of her family against the desire to be more self directing is poignant and realistic. A very impressive novel.

I read Moxie and it was my favourite book of 2017, and I am happy to say that I loved Devoted just as much.
Rachel is a brilliant character, she is so interesting and I loved seeing how she developed as a person when she begins to be able to truly think and act on her own thoughts rather than what she had grown up with.
It's full of realistic emotion and it's played out so tenderly, I truly cared about Rachel and was really rooting for her throughout the story.

Read it now!