Title: The Opposite of Certainty
Author: Janine Urbaniak Reid
Release Date: May 12th, 2020
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Synopsis:
What happens when we can no longer pretend that the ground underfoot is bedrock and the sky above predictable?
All Janine Urbaniak Reid ever wanted was for everyone she loved to be okay so she might relax and maybe be happy. Her life strategy was simple: do everything right. This included trying to be the perfect mother to her three kids so they would never experience the kind of pain she pretended not to feel growing up. What she didn’t expect was the chaos of an out-of-control life that begins when her young son’s hand begins to shake.
The Opposite of Certainty is the story of Janine’s reluctant journey beyond easy answers and platitudes. She searches for a source of strength bigger than her circumstances, only to have her circumstances become even thornier with her own crisis. Drawn deeply and against her will into herself, and into the eternal questions we all ask, she discovers hidden reserves of strength, humor, and a no-matter-what faith that looks nothing like she thought it would.
Beautifully written and deeply hopeful, Janine shows us how can we come through impossible times, transformed and yet more ourselves than we’d ever allowed ourselves to be.
My Review:
The Opposite of Certainty is a great read that shows us that we are stronger than we know, especially when we face tough times. Janine details the experience of finding out about her son’s brain tumor, learning how to cope with her emotions, and trying to stay strong through it all.
Janine starts out by taking her son Mason to get a check-up for some tremors. She knew and felt that something was wrong but tests came back negative. After living a pretty normal life, she noticed that her son’s symptoms were getting worse and were more noticeable. Her mother’s instinct kicked it and she took him back to a specialist. It turned out that he had a brain tumor.
She didn’t want her son to go through radiation or chemotherapy if it wasn’t absolutely necessary. When some doctors thought she might be crazy because she didn’t automatically agree with that treatment, she still sought out a second opinion.
This book reminded me to trust yourself. I have experienced something like Janine and spent many times at a hospital caring for a loved one. Sometimes we notice symptoms or things that are just off that doctors and nurses wouldn’t automatically look for. That doesn’t make us wrong for pointing it out. Maybe it’s our way of coping but maybe God made us see it so that we could catch it and bring it to a medical professional’s attention.
When you go through a stressful time, you constantly feel stressed and on edge. Worrying becomes the norm. But I believe that faith and prayer can help us no matter what. And Janine proved that it helped too.
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I give The Opposite of Certainty 5 stars. I loved that Janine opened up completely and that will allow readers to understand her decisions and emotions. Janine, you are a strong woman, mother, and cancer survivor. Thank you for writing this breathtaking book.
Purchase Links
Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble
Connect with Janine
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
Instagram:
Monday, May 4th: @angelareadsbooks
Tuesday, May 5th: @livingmybestbooklife
Wednesday, May 6th: @bluntscissorsbookreviews
Thursday, May 7th: @books_faith_love
Friday, May 8th: @mommaleighellensbooknook
Saturday, May 9th: @books_with_bethany
Sunday, May 10th: @mom_loves_reading
Monday, May 11th: @balancingbooksandcoffee
Tuesday, May 12th: @dropandgivemenerdy
Wednesday, May 13th: @thegreeneyedreader
Thursday, May 14th: @thelit_bitch
Friday, May 15th: @bookswithjams
Saturday, May 16th: @basicbookmama
Sunday, May 17th: @books_and_broadway
Reviews:
Monday, May 18th: Tabi Thoughts
Tuesday, May 19th: Mom Loves Reading
Wednesday, May 20th: Run Wright and @karen_runwright
Thursday, May 21st: Leighellen Landskov Photography
Tuesday, May 26th: Cheryl’s Book Nook
Wednesday, May 27th: Orange County Readers and @orangecountyreads
Thursday, May 28th: Stranded in Chaos
Friday, May 29th: Well Read Traveler and @wellreadtraveler
Monday, June 1st: @irishgirliereads
Wednesday, June 3rd: Nurse Bookie and @nurse_bookie
Monday, June 8th: Living My Best Book Life
Living My Best Book Life 
I absolutely enjoyed this one so much. She did such a great job writing this and I really felt like I was dealing with this right along with her. Thank you for being on this tour. Sara @ TLC Book Tours
LikeLiked by 1 person
I felt like that too. Such a great read!
LikeLike