Review of Hey, Jude Carpenter by Storm Schultz book review

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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Hey, Jude Carpenter is a sweet Christian young adult book with a hint of romance by Storm Schultz. It’s ideal for early high schoolers through adults who love sweet clean reads and small town stories. 


What would happen if Romeo and Juliet had a happy ending? This book has nods to Romeo and Juliet but is thoroughly original. Mona Montgomery’s life intertwines with Jude Carpenter’s more than they realize as they develop a friendship at the age of 14.


Their family members are well developed and Storm does a great job exploring the emotional roller coaster that fills the mind of early teens as they react and try to navigate relationships and life experiences that impact them. Sometimes they have great ideas and reactions that aren’t tainted like those of adults who’ve experienced the hard things in life, and sometimes their reactions are driven by their ever changing emotions.


I really enjoyed this book and wish it had been around when my three oldest were younger. I’m glad I still have one teen. One of the highlights is the faith arc which is found not only in the lives of the young people but also the adults. 

For concerned parents, there is a very simple (technically two) kiss towards the end of the book. Not much more than two pecks on the lips.


Book Description from Author:

Jude Carpenter likes his life. Sure, his mom is a little intense sometimes, and sure, it would be great if his older brother would help out more on their family dairy farm, but overall, Jude is happy. That is, until he finds out his family could lose their farm, and Jude’s life goes from peaceful stability to tense uncertainty.

Enter Mona Montgomery, whose life revolves around her cat, Shakespeare, the Beatles, and church. There’s not much else to do in Clearwater. Then she meets Jude, and life gets interesting.

With Jude's family losing their dairy farm, Mona is desperate to help. Though helping isn't as easy as she had hoped it would be. Jude's mom distrusts the Montgomery family, and that includes Mona. Mona's family did split a whole church, after all.

Romeo and Juliet had less trouble being near each other than Jude and Mona do. As time slips by and the deadline to lose the farm approaches, can Mona help Jude save the farm he loves?


Get your copy of Hey, Jude Carpenter here. Releases February 22, 2024.



Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the page above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

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