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When God Wrecks Your Romance: Orthodox Faith, Unorthodox Story
When God Wrecks Your Romance is a coauthored memoir written by a newly ordained priest and a young married mother of four children. It’s the story of two kids who fell for each other as teens, and, spoiler alert, ultimately did not end up together. It’s pretty much the opposite of a quaint and dreamy Hollywood ending. Yet it most certainly is a happily ever after. ". . . Amanda and Fr. Matt haven’t written a vocations fairy tale, they’ve given us one a true-to-life example of what it means to 'hear' God calling you forward and to choose your response. It’s hard to think of a book this good at showing spiritual growth." —Steven Lewis, Creator of Steve the Missionary "When God Wrecks Your Romance is a well-crafted love story that is relatable as well as endearing. . . . Even as a non-practicing Catholic, this story had a way of inviting me in and keeping me entertained." —Kim Collier, Founder of Brown Girls Who Write "Far from being a sappy romantic story with a predictable ending, When God Wrecks Your Romance is a beautiful and faith-filled account of love and the human desire for true happiness. At times thought provoking, at other times touching and tender, these reflections are honest and real." —Bishop William A. Wack, CSC, Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
248 pages, Paperback
Published December 13, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 5, 2019
A beautiful and tenderly written memoir - one that tells a story that is somehow both familiar and totally new. Reading it brought back so many memories from my own childhood - the impact my faith had on my formation, the intensity with which I longed for a future, my uniquely adolescent thirst for beauty, purpose, and love, and the pangs of uncertainty (about nearly everything) that seem to be a rite of passage when "growing up." At the same time, this book reveals an incredibly beautiful and unconventional story of true friendship - the kind of friendship that puts God at the center and the good of the other before the desires of one's self. This would be an excellent read for tweens/teens making their Confirmation!
Side note - I read parts of this in print and listened to parts of it on audiobook. The audiobook is fantastic - Amanda and Matt are wonderful storytellers!
Side note - I read parts of this in print and listened to parts of it on audiobook. The audiobook is fantastic - Amanda and Matt are wonderful storytellers!
April 30, 2024
Who can resist a title like this? Certainly not me. 😁
My favorite parts were the interesting insights on relationships across gender and the portrayal of priesthood as a beautiful commitment to God.
My not favorite part was the first part with all its gushy romantic encounters.
My favorite parts were the interesting insights on relationships across gender and the portrayal of priesthood as a beautiful commitment to God.
My not favorite part was the first part with all its gushy romantic encounters.
April 2, 2019
I listened to this book on audible and couldn’t stop listening! It was an incredible story and truly is unbelievable. It broke my heart and brought up so many feelings regarding past heartbreak! But the resolution was beautiful and filled with hope and love.
The writing improved through the book. There was something great about hearing the authors tell their own story. However there were times where I would’ve preferred hearing a professional perform this book.
The writing improved through the book. There was something great about hearing the authors tell their own story. However there were times where I would’ve preferred hearing a professional perform this book.
August 26, 2020
I love this book! I couldn’t put it down!
September 1, 2020
Not what I expected, but overall decent story. I admired the characters willingness to follow God as they discerned His will for them.
May 12, 2025
When you have "romance" in the title, I expected there to be romance in the pages. Both Amanda and Fr. Matt definitely followed Gods will for their lives and they both turned out beautiful. It was just slightly disappointing that there was really no romance to speak up, except the THOUGHT of a romance occurring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2020
Ah. Well. It's wise to keep in mind not to confuse the gift with the Giver, and to entrust our loved ones to the One Who can love them better than we could ever do. It breaks your heart but at the same time it also makes your heart full.
April 13, 2019
I don't like rating memoirs with low scores, and this book had the misfortune of my reading it alongside
Engaging Benedict: What the Rule Can Teach Us Today
. But When God Wrecks Your Romance was just too superficial for me to even consider two stars. It reminded me of
Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes
in its self-indulgent style.
First, I went into this book thinking that Amanda Vernon and Matt Fase were a couple. Rather, they were two teenagers who saw each other once a year at weekend-long retreats, sometimes chatted in between, and thought that the other person was cute, funny, and smart. Hardly a "romance." Hardly "unorthodox." It's called a "crush," and anyone who has ever been a teenager can tell you about that emotion.
Second, Vernon found the love of her life and married at age 21. Fase felt the call to the priesthood while he was in college. I'm elated for them, but it's not as though either anguished over the path that God was leading them for long. (If they did, there was not much mention of it in the book. Just one question posed by Fase but not elaborated upon.) Every vocation in life carries "What if?"s. That's where trusting in God comes into play. Neither Vernon nor Fase wrote about their discernment of their vocation. They detailed small conversations, what AIM was, and the feel of the grass, but there was little detail on the major issue of the book: discernment.
Trust is easy when there aren't long droughts. Surety is uncomplicated when you are not committed. (See: James Martin's In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience . (Funny enough, I heard of this book through America Magazine.))
I just didn't feel like either Vernon's or Fase's story was remarkable enough to warrant a book.
On its face, the cover is really pretty.
First, I went into this book thinking that Amanda Vernon and Matt Fase were a couple. Rather, they were two teenagers who saw each other once a year at weekend-long retreats, sometimes chatted in between, and thought that the other person was cute, funny, and smart. Hardly a "romance." Hardly "unorthodox." It's called a "crush," and anyone who has ever been a teenager can tell you about that emotion.
Second, Vernon found the love of her life and married at age 21. Fase felt the call to the priesthood while he was in college. I'm elated for them, but it's not as though either anguished over the path that God was leading them for long. (If they did, there was not much mention of it in the book. Just one question posed by Fase but not elaborated upon.) Every vocation in life carries "What if?"s. That's where trusting in God comes into play. Neither Vernon nor Fase wrote about their discernment of their vocation. They detailed small conversations, what AIM was, and the feel of the grass, but there was little detail on the major issue of the book: discernment.
Trust is easy when there aren't long droughts. Surety is uncomplicated when you are not committed. (See: James Martin's In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience . (Funny enough, I heard of this book through America Magazine.))
I just didn't feel like either Vernon's or Fase's story was remarkable enough to warrant a book.
On its face, the cover is really pretty.
October 8, 2019
-HILARIOUS. Like their publishers thought, almost seems made up, and a rom/com, but it's real. Some thing are hilarious without them trying to be as well.
-Also deals quite well with real issues of brother/sister, God's will, sin, attraction, discernment, etc. Showing how God truly does fulfill our desires, and how He fulfills His personal promises to us even if it doesn't make sense, or isn't in the way that we expect.
-Toward the end, didn't explain super well that the love they spoke of was brother/sister. Sounded as if their tenderness toward each other still had a longing of wanting to be married. Which, perhaps it does, but doesn't quite capture that their intimacy surpasses that. As a reader, and having experienced similar things, I understand because I know that attraction can be acknowledged and present, yet surpassed for a deeper love, but to a less mature audience, or an audience who doesn't understand, it seems like they're still pining for each other. Also would have loved to see more of Amanda's relationship with her husband, and how Fr. Matt fits into their family life rather than dealing with the 2 of them interacting alone all the time.
-Not the best prose- could be annoying at times, and with unnecessary details. I appreciate the flashbacks/shifting perspectives.
-Also deals quite well with real issues of brother/sister, God's will, sin, attraction, discernment, etc. Showing how God truly does fulfill our desires, and how He fulfills His personal promises to us even if it doesn't make sense, or isn't in the way that we expect.
-Toward the end, didn't explain super well that the love they spoke of was brother/sister. Sounded as if their tenderness toward each other still had a longing of wanting to be married. Which, perhaps it does, but doesn't quite capture that their intimacy surpasses that. As a reader, and having experienced similar things, I understand because I know that attraction can be acknowledged and present, yet surpassed for a deeper love, but to a less mature audience, or an audience who doesn't understand, it seems like they're still pining for each other. Also would have loved to see more of Amanda's relationship with her husband, and how Fr. Matt fits into their family life rather than dealing with the 2 of them interacting alone all the time.
-Not the best prose- could be annoying at times, and with unnecessary details. I appreciate the flashbacks/shifting perspectives.
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April 29, 2025So vulnerable and real it made me cringe at times and could read as immature (no purple!!) but loved the Notre Dame content (learned CSC stands for Santa Croce.) The audiobook was interesting to hear the authors’ perspectives in their own voices. While Amanda seemed to find refuge in flowery, lyrical language and descriptions, Matt used the liturgy to pace and relate his story. My biggest gripe is that I feel that David did not get the attention he deserves-hard to root for the ultimate couple since he’s not really present.
January 3, 2020
This was a great story of love... from the way we tend to view “being in love/lust” as a young teen to understanding how love can grow and develop and reveal itself in Christ’s call to “love one another as I have loved you...” I enjoyed the authors candor & was even a little surprised at how connected they were to their faith at such a young age. In working with young teens in the Catholic Church today it is beautiful to hear about families who lead prayer filled & mostly God centered lives.
April 6, 2019
My heart! What a beautiful book. I related to so many of their prayers along the way. To God be the GLORY! 🙌🏼
April 28, 2019
This is the kind of book I wish I had had when I was in high school.
June 4, 2019
Beautiful testimony of love, what it is and how to do it. While written with a catholic lens, Amanda and Fr. Matt tell a relatable story of falling in love. It’s a memoir everyone should read.
June 20, 2019
Loved loved loved it!!! Matt and Amanda are AMAZING! And not only did I love reading their story but I connected with a lot of what they wrote about because I am a practicing and devout Catholic.
June 9, 2020
Heartbreaking and uplifting. A great story with a powerful message.
August 15, 2023
This book is both very interesting and very strange. Lots of good insight about romantic and platonic relationships.
December 4, 2021
As a practicing Catholic, I wanted to give this book all the stars !! I loved how deeply it delved into our traditional beliefs. However, there was absolutely no romance in this story between Amanda & Father Matt. That was absolutely fine with me, I actually preferred it that way, but the title of the book just didn’t jive with me.
The whole basis of the book was a sweet 15 year old girl having a crush on a terrific 14 year old boy, who only saw each other once, maybe twice per year at youth group retreats. I felt Amanda’s feelings were sincere, but were not reciprocated by Father Matt, as a high school friend.
All in all this was a beautiful memoir about Catholicism, I just felt given the title, it really didn’t warrant a book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars !!
The whole basis of the book was a sweet 15 year old girl having a crush on a terrific 14 year old boy, who only saw each other once, maybe twice per year at youth group retreats. I felt Amanda’s feelings were sincere, but were not reciprocated by Father Matt, as a high school friend.
All in all this was a beautiful memoir about Catholicism, I just felt given the title, it really didn’t warrant a book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars !!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews