Almost Amish

"Cushman crafts strong characters that are
easy to connect with."--Romantic Times

Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She's overwhelmed and burned out, and in today's unrelenting society, her kids are, too. When her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series promoting simple living, and needs another family to join her, it seems like the perfect opportunity.

The location is an idyllic farm outside an Amish community in Tennessee. Julie, with her two children, joins Susan and her teenage daughter for a summer adventure. Susan needs to succeed in order to become self-sufficient after an ugly divorce, Julie needs to slow down long enough to remember what her priorities are and regain a sense of purpose and meaning. It becomes clear from the start that "living simple" is no simple matter. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. With each new challenge, their season of "going Amish" gets more and more complicated, as each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.

From the Back Cover

Proving the Simple Life Isn't So Simple After All

Overcommitted and overwhelmed, Julie Charlton is at the breaking point. She knows she should feel blessed as a mother and wife--but she just feels exhausted. And then, the miraculous happens. Her sister-in-law Susan, a Martha Stewart-in-training, lands the chance to participate in a reality TV series about trying to live like the Amish and needs another family to join her. It's just the break Julie needs.

But the summer adventure in simple living soon proves anything but simple. With the camera watching every move, Susan's drive for perfection feels a lot like what they left behind, while Julie suddenly finds herself needing to stand up for slowing down. Whether it's cooking, cleaning, or dressing differently, each new Amish challenge raises new complications...and soon each woman learns unexpected lessons about herself and her family.



"Cushman crafts strong characters that are easy to connect with."
--Romantic Times

"In this heartwarming story of Plain living, Kathryn Cushman creates a simple--yet inconvenient--life. Lessons are learned and timeless truths applied to the challenges of modern culture, making Almost Amish a delightful, impossible-to-put-down read."
--Leslie Gould, co-author of the #1 bestseller, The Amish Midwife

"Readers will be eager to see how the pressure will affect Julie and Susan, who couldn't be more different. Cushman excels at creating easily relatable characters facing challenges that will make them stronger in this fast-paced, engaging inspirational novel." --Booklist

"Well-developed characters and a heartwarming story make Cushman's fifth novel an enjoyable read. Recommend it to fans of Fannie Flagg." --Library Journal

"A superb story...with a fast-moving plot and excellently crafted characters."--The Budget