This came highly recommended from another early reviewer and it didn't disappoint. This is not only an excellent primer for reflective Christian retreats, but also includes multiple full retreat guides on different topics such as grief, transitions, and discernment. The introduction and the conclusion include so many practical steps on preparing to take time away and debriefing upon return. I found the suggestions well-rounded and the way the author shares about her own experiences was appreciated. Finding the time and finances to retreat could be a hardship, but the author offers multiple suggestions on how to make it work.

I was a little sad that there was only one guided retreat that included a 6-hour and 24-hour option (the one on rest), while all the others were 48-hour retreats. I understand why those deeper topics require more time and I think the exercises in those retreats could be adapted, but probably without the same impact of actually doing them in focused succession.

My other small hang-up is a linguistic one. Every time she mentioned the concepts of "detachment" and "attachment" my brain went to Buddhism instead of contemplative Christianity. I'm aware this comes from my own biases and lack of context for that language being used within Christianity. It likely has a longstanding history of being used, but I had to do a little mental leap each time and remind myself that I still agreed with the content even if I'd use different language to describe it.

Overall, this is a book I'll definitely be picking up in print and I've already been researching some nearby, affordable places where I could make a retreat like this happen in my life.

Thank you to NetGalley and IVP Formatio for the digital review copy and the opportunity to serve as an early reader.

This tickled my funny bone in quite a few places, especially the opening where bird watching is described, and the later contents about bird feeders, journaling, etc. The illustrations are fun and there is a bit of actual useful information in the book. That being said, there are surprisingly few birds included in the book. I'd hoped to see more varieties in it. And while the strong language and frustration with birds' constant chirping and being everywhere was funny for the first few species, it got a little repetitive after a while. Overall, an enjoyable little book that pokes fun at the pretentiousness of ornithology. It was probably a good starting place for me, as someone who doesn't plan to take myself too seriously with the hobby, but I think a more detailed guide would be of greater help.