Choosing Cheer: Experiencing the Joy of Jesus in the Everyday and Unimaginable

Choosing Cheer Podcaster Bell encourages dispirited Christians to adopt a sunnier attitude in her stale debut. According to the author, most people “rob themselves” of joy by comparing themselves to others, expecting relationships to bring fulfillment, and tying their happiness to external circumstances. A better bet is strengthening one’s faith, which helps people find cheer and solace amid life’s inevitable problems. Bell interweaves anecdotes about drawing on her faith to endure her own hardships, including a devastating miscarriage, with tips for stoking a joyful faith by reading scripture and praying alone or with others. While those stories are affecting, the book collapses under the weight of distracting inconsistencies, including a tone that wavers between upbeat and sermonesque, and a tendency to conflate cheer with emotions like gratitude. Despite its good intentions, this falls short of the mark. (Apr.)