Re-reading this gem that has become foundational in our ministry (I first read itbin December 2009) a lot of new things stood out. Also listening to it as an audio book change my perspective the characters of Stephen and Lindsey became more real.

Still I wonder how we are to become true protectors and create that community of grace when so few seem interested in truth or grace for that matter. ( )

Steven bumps into an older guy called Andy, who turns out to have been a friend of his father's. They get chatting, and while Andy seems rather odd, Steven reckons he's worth getting to know. This seems a little unlikely given that Steven's having marriage difficulties and is - naturally - a bit suspicious of Andy, but it's how the book starts.

Andy takes him to an eclectic, informal gathering at a cafe, where Steven gets to know some rather unlikely people and learns about God's grace and acceptance.

It's not preachy, and the writing is good, on the whole, with some interesting characters. However I didn't find the book as revelatory as I had expected... the people Steven meets seem quite ordinary to me. Full acceptance, warts and all, is something I expect from my fellow Christians, and I'm disappointed when it doesn't happen.

Worth reading, particularly for anyone who doesn't understand God's infinite grace and love.

Latest full review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/03/bos-cafe-by-john-lynch-bill-thrall-... ( )

Steven Kerner has a life that seems to be perfect. Status in the community, a nice house, lots of money, a beautiful wife, and a daughter named Jennifer. But what goes on behind closed doors is sometimes very different than what your colleagues, family and friends see. Steven has anger issues and Lindsey has had enough. She takes Jennifer and leaves but soon realizes that Steven is the one who should have left. She tells him she and Jennifer want to move back in, so he rents a room at the Marriott and ends up staying for way longer than he expected. One day he drives to an old restaurant where his family used to go when he was young and goes inside. There he meets Andy, a stranger who offers unwanted advice and a friendship Steven is not sure he wants. Through meetings with Andy and his friends who meet at Bo's Cafe, Steven learns the real truth behind his troubles.

Although I liked the book from the first page, I wasn't really drawn into the story at first. Then, the more I read, the more I wanted to read until I couldn't put it down. The characters were so real and down to earth that I felt like I was sitting at Bo's with them. My favorite character other than Andy was Cynthia. Like me, she is a hippie at heart. I loved the descriptions of her clothes, jewelry and mannerisms. I loved the bond these friends had and that they met at Bo's on a regular basis to keep that friendship strong. I loved that they all found each other at a time in their lives when they so badly needed someone to help them get through a very tough time.

This is a story of finding the true "you" even when it is nothing that you want to hear or acknowledge. It's a story about God's Grace and what you can overcome only through Him. It's about having people who love you and who you love no matter what flaws any of you have. It's about forgiveness and humility. It is a book I would recommend to anyone and everyone. ( )

I really enjoyed Paul Young’s The Shack so when I realized Windblown Media had finally brought out another book I was very keen to read it. Bo’s Café is certainly an interesting book; very different from the Shack, but with a similar grace-filled message. While the Shack starts with solid real-world tragedy then slides into mystery, Bo’s Café opens with a mysteriously meaningful encounter, only to slide its way into everyday pain.

The main character, Steven, is a person that many men might easily relate to, and a spouse that many women might recognize. He means well. He tries. But he knows his job is to provide and somehow he forgets there’s another provider, and that he’s also supposed to be present and part of his family.

As Steven repeatedly reasons himself out of guilt, I find myself feeling sorry for him, then sorry for his wife, then guilty for my own mistakes—yes, wives make mistakes too. Meanwhile the angel in the truck-stop turns out to be a very real man with his own history and faults, as are all the other people Steven meets at Bo’s Café.

I enjoyed the characters and their interactions. I valued the small insights into how their lives went downhill before they changed; they were changing still. But the story itself felt more preachy than The Shack—more determined to give me answers than to inspire me to seek for myself. The Shack had a lighter touch it seemed, filled with a sense of the wonder and otherness of God. But Bo’s Café is the other side of the same coin, heavier and more firmly grounded, with a God who is passionate about right relationships and attitudes.

If Men are from Mars and Woman from Venus, then Bo’s Café might make a good sourcebook for translation. Mars and Venus strike sparks and fly apart, till they finally learn a way to live in balance with self and others. The book gives a fascinating insight into the male mind, and into God’s love. I enjoyed this it; just not so overwhelmingly as I enjoyed The Shack. ( )

Reviewed by Grandma Bev for TeensReadToo.com

Steven Kerner and his wife live the good life, but things sometimes get edgy, and one night his anger explodes. His wife, Lindsey, kicks him out, and he retreats to a hotel. Then Andy Monroe extends a hand of friendship, but Steven is not trusting of that friendship, and carries a massive chip on his shoulder.

Lindsey does not accept Steven's apology. She just doesn't feel that he will be able to change on a deep enough level without outside help. Help that Steven is reluctant to seek.

Andy introduces Steven to a group that meets at Bo's Cafe who try to steer Steven to an acceptance of God's grace, and to allow himself to trust. They each have a story to tell in their conversations with each other, much like an Alcoholic's Anonymous group.

Steven does eventually begin to unravel his pent-up feelings, and learn to cope with life without temper blow-ups.

Windblown Media published THE SHACK, which turned into a publishing phenomenon, and this is their follow-up inspirational book, designed to encourage and challenge readers who struggle with problems in their personal life.

It is a message that we can all profit from. It teaches you to give, receive, and to trust, opening yourself up to self-realization, and helping you to experience God's grace. ( )