I’ve followed. Mandy for years on social media. Her words have always been so healing. This book is the same and I loved the message.

I'm always a bit hesitant to read the "Christian" book because too often it's sugar coated sunshine that rings false. I'm glad to say that Hale's book isn't like that. It's raw enough, honest enough, and it rang true enough that I didn't mind the read. It still feels a little light--but I'm use to digging super deep and this one gets under the surface, but not too deep. Even so, it's a good read for anyone struggling to "be the amazing" all the time, or who is feeling like they aren't enough.

I was completely unfamiliar with Mandy Hale and any of her books before this one, but picked it up because I thought the cover and description looked interesting. While I appreciated her passion about seeing women feel like they are enough and advocating for mental health, I just didn't enjoy the book. I felt like the writing was all over the place, the message didn't feel Christian but more generically helpful, and her comments about exes and even the church felt scathing and sarcastic instead of helpful. I can see why this book may appeal to a certain group of people, but I didn't find it so.

I can't describe the joy and love I have for this book. In a nutshell, I experienced major life changes recently and found myself feeling guilty for finding what I was thought was happiness and also lost over the major changes I had went through. Just like Mandy, I felt bad for wanting to find the kind of happiness and joy that makes life shine brighter. From a woman's perspective, it always helps to find someone (like Mandy) who experienced the same type of things you did and know that she came out on the other side after hitting the very lowest point possible. This was an uplifting, life changing read in my opinion. I had been searching for a book, an article, or anything to help me gain perspective on all the mixed emotions I had after closing the door on a rough period of my life. This book was perfect. Plain and simple. I'll never be able to say enough about Mandy, her experiences, and the bravery in telling her story.

The content of this book didn't really meet me where I am at, as a 45 year old stay-at-home mother of 2 teens. However, I was able to glean a few encouragements and helpful insights. It is always helpful to know you are not alone in your struggles and even though our struggles may not be the same, it is possible to come through the storm and emerge on the other side. I truly enjoyed Mandy Hale's writing style, her honesty and vulnerability.

Hale has struggled with feeling she is not enough. She writes of a “life crash” in her midtwenties when she was held together by therapy, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. (Loc 626/1480) She suffered from clinical depression in the winter of 2016. Her parents intervened and she ultimately spent time in intense therapy at a mental institution. It was a dark night of the soul for her. God seemed to be hiding and she didn't feel Him. Therapists and a new antidepressant helped her out of that situation. She came through that dark time with the understanding that she was enough, she writes. She knew she was imperfect and messy but enough, she says.

I am not so sure she did understand. A couple of months after the new understanding resulting from her therapy, she felt the need to reconnect with the boyfriend who had previously devastated her with their breakup. Reconnect they did. “As usual,” she writes, “I let my heart get ahead of my head.” (Loc 960/1480) There was talk of marriage. And then she got hurt all over again, finally realizing he would have been wrong for her. She did come to understand that actions reveal truth often hidden by words.

Hale shares her journey and how tragedy brings life into focus and gives a new understanding of who you are. She is honest about her feeling God was absent and not helpful during her dark time. She shares her raw feelings of just needing to survive.

She has not arrived at the point of being convinced she is enough (despite her earlier claims in the book). She still struggles with it, she writes. She wrote this book so she can come back to it and remind herself of the truth. (Loc 1429/1480)

Hale pretty much documents two years of her life. Millennials might like it. Readers who like reading about a young woman's experiences may like this book. Don't expect any conclusive teaching as the author is still struggling with this issue.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

From an author who has written primarily for the single woman, this honest and open memoir should have much wider appeal. All kinds of people experience low points in their life and could benefit from reading about this author's experience dealing with heartbreak, disappointment and deep depression. One of the quotes that really stood out to me was "When you lose yourself, you find yourself." Going through the low times makes you stronger and more appreciative of the high times. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to preview this book. I intend to read more of Mandy Hale's books in the near future.

After years of trying to prove she was enough in the world's eyes, even working alongside Oprah and hitting the New York Times bestseller list, Mandy hit rock bottom. But as it turned out, that very rock bottom became the most firm foundation she had ever planted her feet on. A foundation so solid, it finally provided the springboard she needed to outrun the taunting shadow of unworthiness that she'd tried to escape her whole life.

Now she wants readers to see that though life may not always be lighthearted and happy and shiny, each woman is deserving of the life she dreams of and hopes for. Nothing readers do can ever take away from their worthiness or enough-ness in God's eyes.

This book is for any woman who wants to overcome heartbreak, claim her healing and step into wholeness!

I wanted to love this but it became just like every other Christian self-help book targeted for women feeling less than. It’s a memoir that essentially has been put on a better shelf and trying to set an example for Christian women.

It was less than vulnerable for this author to write and felt like this could have had much more meat and structure. This book sounds like every other book in this category out there. To boot, if you’re going to have a Christian book backed with scripture, please use verses from an accredited Bible instead of the Message, which falls flat in retaining biblical meaning in the same way that ESV or NIV or even KJV have.

It could have been great, but it’s the same as everything else. This is worth a shot if you’re interested in reading the same thing over and over or are particularly interested in this genre.

1 star
Unfortunately, this book is just another self-help feel goodism book written under the guise of Christianity. The book is all about being good enough and other similar feel-good statements. There is just not enough gospel presented. There is not enough Jesus presented within these pages.

Basically, Hale has written a memoir wrapped into a self-help book. The Bible verses that are included are from "The Message" which is a devotional translation, not a true Bible translation. At the end of each chapter, there is a closing paragraph about why you are good enough. This paragraph does not include any Bible verses.

This book had SO much potential, it completely missed the mark.
I don’t recommend this book at all. I am just so extremely disappointed by this book and Mandy Hale

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

Reading along in this book, I thought this woman knows me! She's living my life! I've gone through so much of the same stuff and heartbreak that she has. And I thought I was going to get answers to some of these mind bending questions, but by the end of 8 chapters of "Have you ever..." and " Did you ever... " I felt I was let down. She didn't really give an answer other than therapy. That's very vague in my opinion.

However, I did like how her story continued about her life and ended with how she intends to go forward from here.

This is a book everybody needs to read. Everybody at some point in their life feels like they are not "enough". Mandy Hale is very open and honest about her feelings. It will not only help you if you are feeling like this, it will help other's understand what you are going through. Thank you #NetGalley, FaithWords and #BooksGoSocial for an ARC copy of this book. But most of all, THANK YOU Mandy Hale for writing it. This is my honest review.