He’s Fine...But is He Saved?

By Robin Caldwell

Author: Kimberley Brooks

Kimberley Brooks’ debut novel, He’s Fine…But is He Saved? is written appropriately about three 20-somethings negotiating life and love in the big city. Girlfriends Michelle and Liz and newly-saved Sandy; three very different personalities, deal with the realities of being young, single and saved. The biggest challenge facing them is remaining virtuous in a world of temptation.

He’s Fine follows a well-established formula in Christian “chick lit” without deviation. In some ways, it is quite predictable, and in a few others it is surprising. The most surprising and appreciated element being the author’s use of popular culture to tell her story. The nuances of contemporary music, language, and culture create a believable backdrop relative to the issues of each character. The book is not strong on character development. The motivations and choices of these characters are often unexplained, explained superficially, or left to the reader’s imagination.

Michelle is the book’s narrator and voice of reason. She is the good girl, a real paragon of virtue with few flaws. Sandy is the pretty, man-crazy friend who gets herself into a whole heap of trouble towing the fine line between her faith and a deep longing to be loved by a man. Liz is the frumpy, no-nonsense school teacher who is perhaps the most loveable of the three.

Unfortunately, Michelle’s take on events comes across a bit self-righteous given her storyline is way more tame and little is revealed about her insecurities or sins.

Troubling is the way Sandy, the only non-virgin in the trio, appears to be punished for making an unwise choice. Nevertheless, she brings the drama to He’s Fine.

Liz, the frump, was my favorite character and the most appreciated. Brooks lends more depth and dimension to Liz who is dealing with both a weight gain that leaves her feeling unattractive and a major crisis on the home front. In the beginning of He’s Fine, Liz is portrayed as judgmental and critical, hardly endearing qualities. But by the end of the book she is the one to be admired and the one who demonstrates the most spiritual growth.

As in most novels of its kind, men are either one of two basic types - good or bad. The bad ones in He’s Fine are fine, superficial, and really, really bad. The good men are at best just good. Their roles are to simply move the story along.

He’s Fine is a good starting point for Brooks who ambitiously self-published the novel. He’s Fine is one of the better books financed by a writer. He’s Fine is a promise of some good story-telling brewing in the soul of Kimberly Brooks.

Visit www.kimontheweb.com for more information on the author and book.