Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise — A Review From Someone Who Actually Knows Sugarcreek
I have to admit that I went into this movie with very low expectations. As a middle-aged male, I am not the target audience for a film like this, and it struck me as typical Amish romance book fare. Just not my jam. But I figured I'd give it a shot since it was Amish-themed — and I've spent nearly thirty years visiting Sugarcreek, Ohio and the surrounding Holmes County Amish community. If anyone was going to have opinions about how this town and its people are portrayed, it was going to be me.
I was wrong to be skeptical.
What Is Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise?
The movie premiered on UPtv in April 2025 and served as the pilot for the full series now launching April 23, 2026. After Cheryl's three-year engagement ends in a devastating breakup, her life is turned upside down when her aunt offers her an escape from Chicago to the Amish town of Sugarcreek, Ohio. Struggling with being a fish out of water, Cheryl uncovers an unsettling secret that could disrupt the small town. UPtv It's based on the popular Guideposts book series of the same name.
The Cast:
- Galadriel Stineman as Cheryl Cooper — the Chicago banker turned Sugarcreek shop manager
- Kevin Joy as Levi Miller — Naomi's chiseled brother and Cheryl's potential love interest (and in a fun real-life twist, Stineman's actual husband)
- Denise Gossett as Naomi Miller — Cheryl's Amish friend
- Riley Beeson as Esther Miller
- Todd Terry as the gruff police chief
- Candace Kirkpatrick as Aunt Mitzi
Directed by Sandra L. Martin, written by D.F.W. Buckingham.
Where to watch: The movie is currently streaming on UP Faith & Family via Apple TV Channel and Amazon Channel, and is available for free with ads on The Roku Channel.
A Familiar Face Helps
First of all, I was pleasantly surprised to find a familiar face in the role of Cheryl. She is played by Galadriel Stineman, an actress I was already familiar with from her role as Axl's girlfriend in the show The Middle. So that helped right away.
This Isn't Reality TV — And That's a Good Thing
What I don't like about shows like Suddenly Amish on TLC is that they purport to be "reality" — but this movie is nothing of the sort. Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries is a classic mystery movie. I cut a lot more slack for something like this than TLC fare masquerading as documentary. I'm not as concerned whether Sugarcreek Mysteries is perfect or not. It's entertainment. And it delivers on that.
A Rare Thing: Something You Can Actually Watch With Your Kids
I don't want to sound like a prude, or like I completely shelter my kids, but it was really, really nice to watch a movie where I didn't have to worry about a sex toy storyline, violence, blood, or anything like that. It was just a good wholesome movie to watch with my nine and twelve-year-olds. That alone is a rarity worth something.
Does It Get Sugarcreek Right?
Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries is set in the town of Sugarcreek, Ohio — and I'll have a separate post soon with more about the real town behind the show. For now I'll say this: the town didn't factor quite as much into the movie as I thought it might. Other than a few bits of footage, the movie could have been shot in Anywhere, USA. I wish they had leaned into the Sugarcreek angle a little more. That's a missed opportunity Still, there were some familiar sites to those familiar with Sugarcreek, for instance, the World's Largest Cuckoo Clock makes an appearance!
Were the Amish Portrayed Realistically?
Yes and no.
As somebody who has studied Amish culture for decades, I know I'm looking at this movie through a different, more critical analytical lens than most viewers will.
The Amish portrayed in this movie would not pass for Swartzentruber or even traditional Old Order Amish in most cases. However — and this is important — based on the men's beard styles, hairstyles, lack of Pennsylvania Dutch accents, and more progressive bent in the movie, these could very well have been New Order Amish or New New Order Amish, both of which are actually found in that part of Ohio. In that sense I found them absolutely believable.
Do I think the producers were deliberately saying "let's portray a New Order Amish family"? No, absolutely not. I think they were trying to portray typical Amish — and if that's the case, they got it wrong. The hairstyles, the dress, the lack of Dutch accent: none of those were an accurate portrayal of Old Order Amish.
What they did get correct, though, is that even the Old Order Amish — maybe especially the Old Order Amish — have complicated lives that are intertwined with non-Amish people. The scene where Amish friends and patrons gather at a restaurant grand opening, mixing and mingling with non-Amish neighbors, was absolutely plausible. Most shows don't get that right.
The Plot (No Spoilers)
Cheryl is a young banker from Chicago who is asked by her Aunt Mitzi to move into her house in Ohio while she's doing missionary work in Indonesia. Cheryl is supposed to take care of the house, the cat, and fill in for Mitzi at her Amish-themed tourism store, the Swiss Miss.
Cheryl is quickly greeted by a colorful cast of Sugarcreek characters — including a very gruff police chief, Mitzi's friend Naomi, Mitzi's teenage daughter Esther, and Esther's chiseled brother Levi.
I'm really not going to get into much more of the storyline because I want you to watch the movie and enjoy it without any spoilers whatsoever. All I can say is that the storyline worked well, and my daughters and I were left guessing until the very end as to what the final outcome would be. That's the type of movie that's really fun to watch with your kids.
The Bottom Line
Personally, I liked that the Amish were portrayed as people with complex emotions who didn't isolate themselves from the rest of society — people whose lives are intertwined with ours. That's the realistic portrayal. Most shows don't get that right. Most Amish-themed fiction programs suffer from an abundance of bonnets and beards and buggies. This show had very few of either, yet you still felt the Amish presence without being ridiculous.
If you're looking for something wholesome to watch with your family before the series premieres on April 23rd — this is it. I went in skeptical and came out genuinely looking forward to what comes next.
What's Coming Next: The Series
The full Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries series debuts Thursday, April 23rd at 9 p.m. ET on UPtv, with eight episodes. The same core cast returns, and the show is based on the bestselling Guideposts book series. Watch for my separate post previewing the series and my guide to the real town of Sugarcreek, Ohio — coming soon.
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