Phylicia Masonheimer is one of my favorite people on the internet. She doesn't shy away from truth and hard topics but handles it in such a gracious and kind manner. This book is so needed in what tends to be a shallow Christian culture. Phylicia will help you learn how to go deeper. I purchased a physical copy of this book as well. So good!

Hi, yes it's only been two months and I've read this book again. I had to read my own copy. I will review this one soon!

5 stars. I loved this. This book isn't out yet and I've been hyping it up to everyone. Review to come! (Yes, I even pre-ordered my own copy.)

Due to being a high school teacher, I have been falling behind on reviews. Here are my initial thoughts.

So, full discloser: I haven't finished reading this book yet.

HOWEVER. What I *have* read is so good and filled with biblical wisdom that I have no doubt I'm going to continue enjoying it through to the end. This is the first Christian book I've read that's specifically geared toward women and I couldn't be happier with the content.

Thank you for the ARC and I hope to read more from this author soon!

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've followed Phylicia on Instagram for a long time, and enjoyed her breadth of knowledge on the subject of doctrine and theology - especially since so often it seems like most experts on the subject are usually men and also Calvinist. Phylicia is neither and I really loved her perspective, and I'm so glad there are more books for women that aren't all flowers and cursive. Women want and need to understand the Bible as well - and the title alone expresses so much of my own frustration with women's books in the Christian publishing realm. I can't wait to see what else she ends up writing, this is one I'll recommend over and over.

This book got better the further through it I went. I live in a different context to the author, so not everything was applicable, and my church experience hasn't had much of a separate sex ministry, but I have still had some frustration that what I have experienced has often been focused on the book of ruth, and the teaching has often been twisted, so I can see why this book would be useful for people for whom that has been their main experience of church. I enjoyed the last five or so chapters most, which focused on relationships and friendship, and I really appreciated the authors own honesty, about subjects which are really quite tricky, and also I have never read a Christian book marketed specifically for women with anything about evangelism so points for that. ( I have read Christian books about evangelism and even ones by women about that topic, but not books specifically marketed to women. All in all a worthwhile read

I love this book. This book is a reality check! In a self centered society we need to hear that we need more of God and less of us. I love that the author becomes vulnerable and talks about her struggles that many of us keep hidden somewhere deep in our hearts. This book was delightful And I would recommend it to any young lady!

I haven't finished reading this book yet but I've already bought multiple copies for gifts! Excellent and filled with so much wisdom.

I picked this book because a friend had talked about getting it and I was curious what it was about. The title is catching and makes you wonder what the author is meaning to talk about. Well, it turns out, that that is exactly what the author wanted to address: Stop calling me beautiful.

In an age, where women strive for beauty, where we give lip service to God and tell our fellow sisters that they are beautiful and God loves them and now all their troubles should be over, Phylicia comes with a different message. She brings a message of change, but also one of lasting hope. She encourages women to move past the "pink fluff" of being beautiful in God's eyes, which while true can hide a lot of sin, and to purse lasting change, to pursue a real relationship with God. "Being told we're beautiful in God's eyes is a surface response to a soul-deep problem. That problem is our own sinfulness."

"A worshipful heart naturally desires the things of God." Phylicia points out the need to read and study the Bible for who God is, for seeing what His Word says and then living that out through the power of the Holy Spirit. This enables us to live lives free of shame, free of worrying about what people will think, free of anxiety and panic; it allows us to live for God, bringing our brokenness to Him and letting Him make us new. "When we live under condemnation, we naturally condemn others. But when we live under grace, we are quick to offer compassion."

This book challenged me a lot. I want to live that life of freedom in Christ, that life of freedom from shame, that life of walking in step with Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit, that life that reflects Jesus and not others' opinions. I have much growing to do, but I was encouraged by the message that Phylicia gives to the world and I hope many people will follow her example and dig into the Word of God.

I received this book from Harvest House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

If I could just say one thing about this books, it’s “PREACH, GIRL”. I’ve followed Phylicia on social media for a while now, and have come to so enjoy her theologically sound speaking of wisdom and encouragement. This book is a direct reflection of that same heartfelt, biblical truthfulness. It didn’t feel like “feel-good” fluff. It goes deep to the heart of the matter of what’s truly missing in our lives as Christian women, and the message it got across was powerful yet encouraging. This isn’t a breezy self-help read. It’s a heart check rooted in Scripture.

I love the eloquence with which Phylicia writes, and that she’s not preachy with her own thoughts. She takes you right to the source, the Bible. There is so much I’ve been convicted of and that’s I’ll be walking away from this book with. I’m already anticipating a re-read. it’s that fundamental, it’s that important, it’s that needed.

Thank you NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for the gifted copy.

In a time of cultural balking at stereotypical assumptions of anyone comes a well timed book for women who wish to dive deeper in theological studying beyond the norm "Daughter of a King" (Not that there is anything wrong with that...) but many books/studies/sermons geared specifically toward women and faith stop there. .
There is more to be said.  More to read.  To find more depth.  In her book Stop Calling Me Beautiful Phylicia Masonheimer  addresses the discovery beyond "feel-good faith"  and much more. .
Dive into the word and find truths.  Many topics are covered in this book.  It is worth a read if you are seeking to discover more beyond the surface.

The premise of the book, Stop Calling Me Beautiful, is that we as women need more than simply the message that we are beautiful and have worth when we gather for Bible studies and conferences. We need more than the shallow beauty message because that message does not bring us to know God Himself, does not go to the root of our needs and issues, and cannot bring lasting freedom and victory.

Women need more than pretty framed pictures of Bible verses and reminders that we are beautiful. Instead we need a message that helps us cultivate our relationship with God. We need to learn how to properly read and understand God's Word and apply it to our lives in the context it was written.

This is a needed message in the Body of Christ because the messages we often hear instead focus on us more than on God. Feel-good and self-help "sermons" abound in our modern age, but without Jesus they are empty and without power.

Stop Calling Me Beautiful covers various issues women face, showing readers how to seek victory in these areas through knowing Christ and His truth. Issues covered: legalism, anxiety/overwhelm, grief, broken sexuality, cultivating community, fear of man and shame.

These topics are covered thoroughly and will benefit any reader. That said, the book highlights the importance of getting to know God for Himself, reading His Word not to find personal insights, answers we need, freedom and peace, etc. It is in seeking to know God rather than seeking for ourselves that we come to experience the vibrant spiritual life God intended.

A few quotes from the book:

"God wants us to experience Him. But experiencing God doesn't begin with emotion. It begins with desire, and it is accomplished by diligence."

"Apart from Christ, we are not beautiful, pure, or acceptable because all humankind possesses a fallen nature. Though God originally created humans as perfect creatures, humankind's sinful choice makes our purity impossible without Jesus... in order to become like Jesus, we must diligently seek Jesus."

"We don't go deeper with God by reflecting more on ourselves, or even by reading God's Word to look for insight about ourselves. Roots of spiritual growth develop as we seek God for who He is and allow Him to do the transforming work in our hearts that we can never do on our own."

(A copy of this book was provided to me by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

A great overview of what a life growing in Christ should look like. The author says enough with shallow faith (especially targeted at women). Looking at a variety of areas in life, readers will see how Jesus alone can help us live a more godly life, where own efforts fail again and again.

This book truly fed my soul. As I read it I felt like someone was pointing me in the right direction rather than merely patting me on the back. It calls women to live better and to achieve more, not just about being sufficient where you are. I appreciated the pep talk, ultimately, to find an identity in Christ and succeed in a walk with Jesus in a world that doesn't see Jesus as a beacon of moral character and find solace in the scriptures; the word of God.
This is definitely a book I'll recommend to others and pass along for the betterment of Christian women.

“The problem of shallow Christian teaching pervades women’s conferences, retreats, ministries, and devotional books. We have heard the same message time and time again—a message meant to empower us to live better lives. Yet no matter how many times we hear it, change evades us. If this message is so powerful, why haven’t our lives, marriages, and experiences of motherhood changed for the better? Why does the Christian life still feel so heavy if Jesus promised His burden was light (Matthew 11:30)?”

After reading this sentence I knew this book was for me. I knew it would be life changing but I wasn’t sure if it was a book “the church” was ready for. I’ve been following Phylicia for a few years and I’ve admired
1. How disciplined she is in her faith
2. How she teaches the Word of God to women in a non fluff tradition which. you usually find with devotional and bibles studies geared to women.

This book is a must read for women. No, it’s not the you are God’s princess book that is pushed in stores, in churches and on social media. This book is about accountability, evaluating where you are in your faith and deciding if what you’re doing now is really growing your faith. I have to admit when I evaluated my life I felt the instant shame but I also felt hope. Knowing I could change if I was disciplined enough and actually wanted change.

The only thing stopping me from giving this a 5 star was all of chapter 4. It was so disappointing reading all of the judgment in that chapter. And I understand the point she was trying to make with her thoughts on social media but her approach was off putting and made me want to stop reading.

All is all a solid 4 star read. I look forward to Phylicia’s future books and blogs.

Phylicia is one of my favorite people to follow on Instagram, so I was so excited to read her book! If you're not following her on Instagram, go do that now - she is such a needed voice in today's world, teaching on discernment, how to study God's Word, the importance of community, and more.

In Stop Calling Me Beautiful, Phylicia uses the story of the woman at the well to encourage us to go deeper in our faith and live as overcomers in Christ. Her writing style is convicting, practical, and full of grace, and her passion for her message shines through. She touches on topics like spiritual disciplines, legalism, anxiety, community, and more, showing us how the power of the gospel message and getting to know Jesus can transform every part of our lives. I found myself highlighting multiple lines in every chapter; this is definitely a book I will be re-reading and recommending to my friends. Read this book if you want to go deeper in your faith and in your understanding of theology - if you want to live an abundant life as an overcomer in Christ.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In a nutshell this book is a call for women to go deeper in their faith and find their identity in the Christ of Scripture rather than the surface level teaching often found in some Christian circles today. It's well worth reading and it would pay dividends to take your time with it and make your own notes from your own life. Some discernment is needed as at times the author plays a bit fast and loose with Scripture but generally it's well worth reading. PS. I'm a man and found it helpful!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harvest House for ARC.

In this book, Phylicia brings to attention the habit of women's ministries to water down the Bible. She then challenges women to not be afraid to go deeper in their study of the Bible and their relationship with God.

My pet peeve for many years has been the lack of depth among women's speakers. When I started reading this book, I was saying to myself "Finally! I'm not alone in this!" Women are craving a deeper knowledge of scripture. Phylicia gives you exactly that. She doesn't shy away from the more complicated issues; she tackles them head-on with scripture to back up what she's teaching. In a world of fluff pieces, it was a breath of fresh air. You won't find much fluff here. You'll find some hard but helpful teaching. It's the kind of book that feels like iron sharpening you.

I left this book feeling not just like a "beautiful daughter of the King", I walked away feeling more than that. It left me feeling stronger, more like a warrior than a princess. If you're like me and tired of the lack of depth, then this book is for you.

Stop Calling Me Beautiful
Finding Soul-Deep Strength in a Skin-Deep World by Phylicia Masonheimer
[Harvest House

[Christian , [Religion & Spirituality]


Pub Date 18 Feb 2020


I am reviewing a copy of Stop Calling Me Beautiful through Harvest House Publishers and Netgalley:



We as Christian women are beautiful in the eyes of the Lord, but that is not the most important thing the fact that we are Children of God and that he loves us is far more important.


“Being told we’re beautiful in God’s eyes is a surface response to a soul-deep problem. That problem is our own sinfulness.“ Phylicia Masonheimer tells us in the opening of Stop Calling Me Beautiful.



Masonheimer reminds that the true gospel is available to us through God’s word. Because of that it is important that we learn to study it, that we allow ourselves to grow in understanding.


Masonheimer reminds us “God wants us to experience Him. But experiencing God doesn’t begin with emotion. It begins with desire, and it is accomplished by diligence.” Experiencing God is not just an emotional experience, it is in fact an all encompassing experience, or at least that is what it is meant to be.


In this book we are reminded too that the right way to be a Christian is to follow the word of God.


This book is great for those of us who are tired of hearing watered down Christian teachings, and are hungry for a deeper spiritual life. A spiritual life that gives real answers to your difficult questions. If you are looking to grow in your spiritual walk, then I would highly recommend Stop Calling Me Beautiful!


I give this book five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This book is one of the best Christian books written for women I have read. Phylicia’s call for women to stop accepting fluffy, surface-level gospel is spot on. I really enjoy how much she digs into stories from the Bible. I’ve read them 100 times, but have learned so much more about them through this book. Great life applications throughout this book. I would rate 10 stars if I could!!

I love the concept behind this book. It's one I first heard from Jen Wilkins and one I support wholeheartedly: let's offer more than just "milk" theology to women who are able to handle solid food.

Now maybe I used a more stringent statement standard while reviewing this book because of the author's claim that too many books for women are really just watered-down sermons, but I really wanted more.

In many ways this book felt like a series of disconnected ideas that were kind of smushed together in this book. While there were some interesting lessons, I felt as though the author did what she accused other writers of doing: hinting at something greater without telling us how to do it.

The greatest piece of irony for me was found in the chapter on overcoming legalism. It was in this quote which I really hope will be corrected before publication:

The scribes and Pharisees took God’s broad principle— the command to set aside the first day of the week to honor the Lord— and made it a heavy, legalistic burden.

There is no commandment to set aside the first day of the week to honor God. All biblical occurrences of this commandment refer to the Sabbath as the seventh day of the week.


Know God--Ms. Masonheimer makes a good point, we should be reading the Bible to learn more about the God who wrote it. Only when we know him will we give him the honor and glory due to his name.

Know yourself--if we are to have a more intimate relationship with God, we have to be aware of the state our present relationship is in. Only then will we know that change is needed.

Run your race--it's great to attend Bible study and conferences to learn more about God but ultimately each person needs to put in the work to know more about God.

One thing I have taken away from this book is that when reading the Bible, I always look for an attribute of God and what the passage teaches about him. I received an advanced readers copy from NetGalley; a positive review was not required.