At Every Turn by Anne Mateer is an enjoyable read about an unusual girl at an unusual time in history.

Set in 1916, At Every Turn is the story of a young woman coming of age and pursuing independence in an age of carefully constructed social expectations being challenged by ever progressive times. Alyce Benson doesn’t quite fit in with her wealthy peers nor the conservative townspeople, thanks to her penchant for driving automobiles–and driving them fast. As Alyce pursues her devotion to God through her adamant support of a missionary couple, she finds that in order to keep her word–to her church and to God–she must find a creative way to raise $3,000, but her actions soon put herself and others at risk.

Amid her emerging independence, a hint of romance, and a few fast race cars, Alyce finds her way back to her submission to God and her burden to help those in need.

The story starts off a little slow as we get to know our heroine and her love of driving. First-person POV is difficult to pull off, and the author seemed to struggle to do so successfully without the pace of the plot getting mired with unnecessary details. However, as the reader progresses through the book, a slightly brisker pace sets in as we delve further into Alyce’s adventures.

The supporting characters were largely predictable, used only to further the main plot line with little additional development in their own right–it is unfortunate because the lives of a private mechanic like Webster Little or a manufacturing baron like Alyce’s father could have made for fascinating characters.

At times, Alyce’s naivete was unrealistic and even irritating–a young woman who had lived on her own in a city like Chicago for several years is unlikely to be so unaware of her own small town and the people in it. Alyce does learn several lessons in this book–lessons about her impetuous behavior and act-before-you-think approach to life. The author also brings to light Alyce’s penchant for worrying about appearances more than truth, but being humbled by circumstances and choosing to walk in truth in spite of circumstances are two very different things, and Alyce’s story is the former. And as for Alyce’s tendency to conceal the truth–and sometimes outright deceive others–her only consequence is the guilt from her conscience.

That said, this book is enjoyable, largely thanks to the interesting era in which it takes place–a time of dramatic change that left many navigating uncharted waters.

I received a complimentary copy of At Every Turn from Bethany House Publishers, but I was not otherwise compensated for this review. All writing, thoughts, and opinions are solely mine. ( )