Good Apple

Tales of a Southern Evangelical in New York

By: Elizabeth Passarella

Narrated by: Jill Blackwood

"For a woman who thinks of herself as a New Yorker at this point, I buy a lot of clothes from companies named things like Shrimp & Grits. Why? Because identity is complicated."

Elizabeth Passarella is content with being complicated. She grew up in Memphis in a conservative Republican family with a Christian mom and a Jewish dad. Then she moved to New York, fell in love with the city--and, eventually, her husband--and changed. Sort of. While her politics have tilted to the left, she still puts her faith first, and argues that the two can go hand in hand, for what it's worth.

Whether you have city lights or starry skies in your eye, Good Apple will show you that:

• God pursues each of us, no matter our own inconsistencies or failures
• There's beauty in the gray areas of our lives
• We can all embrace the absurdity, chaos, and strange sacredness of life that brings us together

In this sharp and slyly profound memoir, Elizabeth upends stereotypes about Southerners, New Yorkers, and Christians, making a case that we are all flawed humans simply doing our best.

Praise for Good Apple:

"With sly humor, ecumenical warmth, and disarming frankness, Elizabeth Passarella builds bridges between red and blue and North and South. Good Apple makes a strong case for New York City as the kingdom of God--and for handwritten thank-you notes."

--Ada Calhoun, author of St. Marks Is Dead, Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give, and Why We Can't Sleep

loved this book!

what a warm, entertaining and yet serious book. I totally enjoyed it and would recommend it heartily.

Loved it!

Real life
Fun times
Truth weaved in about life in Christ
Enjoyable read. Looking forward to the other book she has released.

Beautiful, Funny, and Hopeful

As a woman raised in conservative, Evangelical subculture, I found a lot I could relate to in Good Apple. Working through the process of finding my own voice and place in my faith that is different than my own upbringing, I found a lot of hope and joy in listening to the author’s experiences.

Charming and Fun Listen

A charming and interesting story about life as a fish out of water in NYC. While at times the narrative comes across as arrogant, just when you start to get frustrated the author self deprecates in a way that makes you want to have lunch with her. The musings on being a Christian AND a Democrat are particularly wonderful and smart.

My philosophical doppelgänger!!

I could not love this any more. As a southerner who moved “up north” - all the way to Saint Louis ;) - the cultural descriptions were spot on. And as an evangelical Christian who has lately often felt the need to repent for the Republican Party, I love Elizabeth’s honesty about her own angst. I feel ya sister!! Thanks for putting it in black and white.