I really enjoyed this book. It was very encouraging and relevant. I will definitely encourage other women to read it.

A beautiful book about finding beauty in your life, even when things go wrong. Moving stories about the women photographed and interviewed by the author.

"Finding Beautiful" by Rebecca Friedlander was such a good read! This book was interesting and inspiring, each chapter offering a new perspective.

The best thing about this book was Friedlander's ability to tell a story. Each woman has a unique perspective and Friedlander articulates it so well. She looks at each woman and finds the good, the perfect, the beloved. Each story is told with clarity and with compassion. Friedlander's ability to look beyond the past and see the heart is amazing.

Also, the "beautiful" theme was apparent throughout the whole book. It was repeated and repeated to really sell the lesson. Beauty is everywhere, we just have to look for it. And the bigger message: God sees our beauty even when it isn't abundantly apparent to the eyes. I loved resting in this message and letting it wash through my life.

The one critique I did have for this book was the placement of the photos. I read the ebook version, so perhaps the print is different, but the photos were all saved for the end. I think if the photos were at the beginning and end of each chapter it would have added value to the text and would make the messages stick with me more closely. Some moments felt dull and pictures may have sparked more interest.

Overall, this read was excellent. It taught me a message I needed to hear and I feel like all women would benefit from this book!

Americans spend millions on beauty products, weight-loss programs, and age-defying medical interventions each year. We set impossible standards and feel bad about ourselves when we don't reach them. Is beauty truly that difficult to attain? Or could it be that our idea of what's beautiful is simply too narrow?
With engaging personal stories and dramatic before-and-after photography, filmmaker Rebecca Friedlander uncovers the true beauty of 12 women from various ethnicities and backgrounds, empowering us to shatter the lies of rejection, doubt, and low self-esteem. Utilizing compelling biblical truth and questions for personal reflection, Friedlander helps us identify our own personal battlegrounds, celebrate our uniqueness, and embrace God's definition of beautiful.
Anyone who loves a great makeover story or who wants to explore their unique identity will love this eye-opening book. Let's stop letting the world define beauty and start being a voice that tells the world what true beauty actually looks like.
The stories of 12 women finding beauty & good in thier lives. Over all stories of finding happiness & being happy with ones self. 5 stars!!!

Finding Beautiful
Discovering Authentic Beauty around the World

by Rebecca Friedlander

Baker Books

Christian

Pub Date 30 Apr 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Finding Beautiful through Baker Books and Netgalley:

Americans spend millions on products to make them more beautiful, or to help them loose weight as well as medical treatments that are meant to make them look younger. We set impossible standards setting ourselves up for failure and when we do fail we become angry with ourselves. Is beauty that difficult to obtain or are we perhaps looking at it in the wrong way?

This book includes engaging personal stories as well as before and after photography. Filmmaker Rebecca Friedlander shows the beauty of twelve women of various ethnicities and backgrounds empowering us to shatter the lies of rejection, doubt and low self esteem. Friendlander encourages us to utilize compelling biblical truth and questions.

I found Finding Beautiful to be a necessary book, one that helps us to define beautiful far beyond outward appearances and look inwardly. I find this book to be worthy of five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Interesting stories of "conversion" - stories of women discovering their true identity as daughters of God. I found some of the stories to be written in an overly saccharine manner, but I enjoyed the reflections provided by the author.

I love introducing readers to great new Christian books…
and I have an amazing one today!
Finding Beautiful by Rebecca Friedlander

In 1 word I would call this book – Beautiful!
It is beautiful to look at, with a gorgeous picture on the cover, and thick shiny paper inside to show off the color pictures in it.

In the book, there are 12 women who each share their story from broken to beautiful.

The author takes beautiful color photographs depicting the before situation of each woman, and their life after transformation!

Their lives were spiraling downward, but change happened and each woman rebounded to a new life!

Each woman’s story is very different, yet each story is truly an inspiration.

I loved every page of this book!

This is a book you will enjoy keeping and thumbing through the pictures to remind you of what is beautiful in you. This is a book you will want to give to other women you know who need hope.

God sees in us a beauty that we don’t believe exists, but it does.

This book helps women find the beauty inside them. The author gives a few questions at the end of each chapter to help readers find the beautiful qualities that God sees in us.

I will be giving a copy to my daughter!

Really beautiful book highlighting God's love for us through 12 women & their stories. The author has beautifully showcased the stories with before and after photographs of each woman. Very uplifting and an extremely important message, especially to women. No matter where you're from, where you're at on your journey or how well you think you are we all seem to be a little more self-conscious and doubting of our value. This book lifts women up and drives home the love our Father has for each and every one of us.

I kinda feel guilty with my review of this book. I think Rebecca may have been trying to make a really inspirational book regarding these women's journeys and tie in some scripture then add a personal story/testimony as well. But it come across as almost...shallow and false to me. Flying all the way across the country or halfway across the world to take a couple of pictures of these women in various outfits and to get a couple of pages of their story seemed kind of excessive and made the book feel like it *almost* approached being genuine but missed the mark. Don't get me wrong, the women's stories were each fairly raw and beautiful but I felt like there could have been so much more to them, instead, there was a greater description on their physical aspects, the way they looked (and since the physical has pictures, this seemed superfluous), place the meetings took place, than on their actual story.

Finding Beautiful focuses on discovering beauty in our lives and in ourselves. The author traveled around the world and interviewed 12 women. They told her their stories and talked about how God helped them overcome their hardship and fear. As well as interviewing them, the author also did a before and after photo shoot to tell their story.

I really like how the stories were included and how powerful some of them were. I also like how the author tied in a biblical application as well as putting at the end for discussion. She concludes the book with telling us how we can show beauty though out actions and give about 12 different ways we can do it. With that being said I have few things I didn't like. I've grown up in a Christian house hold, went to youth group and even went to a christian school from Kindergarten all the way through college...I feel like this subject is extremely over done. Not that it doesn't need to be talked about but I think it's just really hard to get a fresh take on it. Thats just me personally thinking that.

Also the photographer in me wasn't huge extremely impressed with the pictures. Again I blame the fact of going to a Christian college for my photography degree. I've seen this type of photo shoot done before. I just think it could have been done a little more uniquely.

I think that this book would be a great book to read with teenage girls in a bible study or even in college age girls. Like I said this is a message that still needs to be heard...especially with the false view of beauty that social media give us. Overall an ok read.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

As I began reading this book, I found the cover to be beautiful, the inside photos to be beautiful and the writing to be beautiful.

Twelve women search for and find beauty as they are drawn closer into a relationship with their creator. God was with them each step of the way as they became aware of their worth, as they learned to trust in Him and as they began to dream again. They learned to be beautifully secure by spending time in God’s word and in His presence.

Each woman journeyed down a unique path and yet all of them headed in the same direction. They were on their way to a place where they finally realized that God saw them, heard them, understood what they were going through and that He cared deeply for each of them.

I enjoyed getting to know each of the twelve, amazing women. I especially loved reading about how their lives had changed from ones of sadness and depression to ones of excitement and joy. As each one realized that they were loved, chosen and valued, they were able to find beauty and worth.

Now that I have finished reading this beautiful book, I can apply the truths that I have learned as I search for opportunities to serve others. Even though I have never given birth to a girl, I seem to have collected several “daughters” that God has placed in my care. This book will help me to love them better and more. Let the journey begin.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Baker Books and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The idea of identity is such a big thing in our world today and Finding Beautiful addresses that issue through the powerful stories of these beautiful women. Along the way, Rebecca Friedlander includes bits of her own personal experiences. She states that she takes artistic license with Bible passages to include a section of Biblical fiction relating to each chapter. Throughout the book, the author asks thought provoking questions. I definitely think that this book would make for a great small group because the content easily lends to discussion. The group could read one chapter a week and have plenty to discuss. My advice is to read this book slowly as these stories of transformed lives are rich in lessons that will touch your heart. I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Baker Books for the advanced copy, all opinions are my own.
Absolutely loved how the Author tells the story of 12 women who lives were filled with pain, brokenness and struggles. But they found “true beauty” and redemption in finding Jesus Christ. This book is filled with hope, inspiration, encouragement, reflecting questions, and scriptures. If you have ever struggled with not being “good enough”, Please read this book! Perfect book for gifting, women’s bible study and All ages.

Thank you to Baker Books for the free review copy. All opinions are my own. 

This book takes the reader through a journey of twelve women's stories of redemption, grace, and finding their inner beauty throughout their story. I appreciated the honesty and vulnerability in these pages. I found I could relate to some aspects of every person's story. 

I like how the pictures of the session were printed in the book. I also like how Jesus was presented at the end of each story. With each of these women's personal stories, there was also a story from Jesus that affirmed what they had been experiencing in their personal lives.

Inspirational. The author shares personal stories and stories from other women. How we define beauty in the world can bring happiness or sadness. This book is filled with encouragement. Reflecting questions and Scripture is also included. Great read. Perfect to give as a gift. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.

In Finding Beautiful, Rebecca Friedlander looks at beauty from 12 different angles. Using "before" and "after" photos of women, the author tells their stories and explores aspects of beauty from different points of view. First, she tells the subject's story, then her own, then a Biblical reference. Finally, she ends each section with a "True Beauty Tip" and Questions for Reflection. This book would be a good jumping off point for small group discussions.

I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.