"Anything but Plain" by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Anything but Plain (Oct. 4, 2022) by Suzanne Woods Fisher.*

*This is a standalone ​ novel with overlapping characters.*

Being the bishop’s daughter isn’t easy, but it’s especially tough for Lydie Stoltzfus. She never remains in a job for more than a month or two before getting let go. All she does is disappoint her family and her Amish community, which she’s decided makes leaving Stoney Ridge, Pennsylvania, a necessity. But first, she’s filling in at her doctor-aunt’s practice. Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus is Stoney Ridge’s only doctor. All Lydie has to do is be “reliable, dependable, nondistractable,” all things which she is not. As she works for Dok, Dok recognizes the symptoms of a disorder rarely diagnosed amongst the Amish. She asks Lydie’s dad, David, to have her tested, but he is adamant that she not be, because, “Labels are for cans and jars.” Dok encourages Lydie to read a book and it’s like reading a book about herself, which is often out-of-order within the conforming Old Order ​Amish community she lives in. Will Dok’s willingness to work with her convince Lydie she can stay? Or will she continue to think on how she’s going to say goodbye to her neighbor, Nathan Yoder? They both clearly care for each other, but Lydie believes she’s not good enough for him. As Nathan wonders about Lydie, he’s also focusing on his goal of Black Gold Farm becoming certified organic, but with his dad and older brother, Mick, the top users in farming chemicals in their community, he’s got his work cut out for him. Additionally, it wrenches his heart that Mick has seemingly captured Lydie’s heart.

            Every story I read from Woods Fisher grabs my interest, whether it’s Amish-driven, contemporary-focused or historical-based. Woods Fisher’s protagonists in this story are ones you want to root for. Lydie is a square peg trying to fit in a round hole, and it’s not an occasional thing, but an overwhelming, all-the-time thing she lives with. The story brims with compassion, but also contains the tension that so easily occurs when others try to “fix” instead of understand and support. Lydie’s character, with her strengths and her struggles in relation to a disorder not oft seen in storylines, is engaging and humble. Her dynamic with others is fascinating to read, whether the other party is trying to improve her, is frustrated with her or simply loves her. “Anything but Plain” roots deep into a reader’s heart with its sweet/spunky/salty characters (not to mention Hank Lapp, who’s just LOUD), the picturesque landscape of Stoney Ridge, the excitement and stress of a new Farmer’s Market and love that already has buds waiting to fully bloom. It’s a story that reminds us all to practice mindfulness, cherish others (differences and all) and focus on God as a farmer “walks the beans.”

* Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are expressly my own. 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.”