Sent invite about this book

If someone tells you something about yourself repeatedly you believe it to be true.

Enneagram can help us see ourselves
and share with those around us; helps us relate with them and spiritual developmental tool also.

We need to re-village our communities
Become an integral part of something - commit to growing community around
one area of your life that enlivens you or fills a need.

We need more women comfortable with themselves.

"When this environment gets one part of you but that environment gets another, when you tuck away one piece in front of this crew but pull it out proudly for that one, when the hidden you is screaming in protest because she is not allowed to speak, whatever felt solid about your core self-dismantles. This is an unhappy, unhealthy way to live."

Even though I'm not Jen Hatmaker's usual demographic, I've read and really enjoyed several of her books. Regardless of my background or beliefs, she usually has sound advice/perspective and as with all self-help books (which this definitely leans towards being) I can choose what works for me and leave the rest.

And there's plenty of great advice in this book.

It's structured around basic tenets like "I am wired this way", "I deserve goodness" or "I need more connection." Each chapter covers an area and each area offers a combination of Jen's thoughts, a researcher or some science and then Jen's personal stories. Many of them have things you can do to help yourself, shift your thinking, or next steps you can take.

There was a lot here and I highlighted much of the book. All told in Jen's typical honest, straightforward and funny style. While there might not be a lot of new ideas here if you've been following Jen for a while, the book is organized in a way that makes the content really easy to consume. As many of these were not new to me, I found myself wishing for more. I wished her personal stories went deeper. I wished there were a handful of other stories, too. In some cases, where my issue was similar to hers, her words were very resonant and help me get a pep talk. In others, where my style/issues might be different, I found myself wishing for more.

The last part where she lists her single sentence for each chapter was very powerful and brought so much of the guidebook part back in focus for me. After seeing that, I almost found myself wishing there were little pause moments at the end of each chapter for Jen to do more of that with an encouragement for the reader to do the same along the way instead of at the very end when there's just so much to process.

As with her other books, I enjoyed my time with this one, took a lot of notes, and have much to think about. Here's to more of us being fierce, free and full of fire.

With gratitude to netgalley and Nelson Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

The author has written an empowering and inspiring book. The writing is transparent and relevant, and authentic. I appreciate how the author uses wit and candor then grounds it with heart and truth.

If you are lacking in confidence and feel that you are not really living as your authentic self, Jen Hatmaker can help you to stop living a stereotypical life and discover who you really are.

Love, love, love this book! Jen is always humorous, but this book is uplifting, motivating, honest and helpful! Everyone woman should read this book and take her insight and advice to heart. Jen lets us all into her head and heart to understand how she used to think, what she's learned (personally and as a Christian) and how it impacted her new mindset, attitude and outlook. A positive book that will help women who want a supportive and instructive view on how to change the status quo ideas of being a woman and especially, a "good" Christian woman. Thanks Jen!

Departing from the essay-style of writing that Hatmaker has used in her most recent books, this title returns to a longer chapter format broken up into five sections. Each section has 2-3 chapters, which didn't quite feel like enough. Although it is not being marketed as self-help, this is definitely a self-help book. I wish I had known that before beginning. For those who are used to Jen's voice and writing - either through previous books, social media, or her podcast - you'll see much of the Jen you know. But there's much more language and sass (less humor) than previous publications. I was disappointed in her joking about detention centers and by the end of the book, I know more about Jen but not about how this book translates into my own life besides "choose to be fierce and free and full of fire" - which I got from the title.

Jen Hatmaker is the bubbly, funny, and loving pastor from Austin you may have seen in photos floating around of a woman in a "Free Mom Hugs" shirt at pride parades. She's fierce, smart, and has made a lot of enemies by focusing on the love of Christ for all, versus a select few. In her new book, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire, her goal is to speak directly to the women who are overwhelmed and need help being removed from the sidelines of their own lives and being put directly into the game.  

Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire focuses on five categories of self reflection: who I am, what I need, what I want, what I believe, and how I connect. The book is designed to get women focusing on the ones that they need help with the most and guiding them through with love. Don't mistake, this is a self-help book of the best and loving kind. Hatmaker's pages are full of encouragement, even when you're in the midst of a "so that's why I do that" breakdown.  Her work is definitely written from a Christian-belief perspective, but she's also not the typical fire and brimstone kind of preacher. Her work highly encourages women to fight against the status quo that's hurting women, people or color, and the LGBTQIA+ communities. 

While this book is designed mostly for believers in Christ, you best believe there are lessons here that help with all walks of life.  As someone who has seen Hatmaker speak live, I have to say the woman practices what she preaches. She's out there listening before she dives in to help. She's there as a loving support. She's reaching out to communities that are struggling and helping. If you want to hear someone who is walking the actual faith walk and giving love to help you be your best self, Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire is a fabulous place to start. 




Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire is available April 21, 2020 from Thomas Nelson Press.

I love Jen hatmaker. Her humor, her honesty. The fact that she takes her self both very seriously as well as not too serious at all. This book was genuine Jen Hatmaker. I did not necessarily relate to some of it, however, if it were more my stage of life for some sections (looking to pursue a new dream or young with children), then I would have totally connected to more parts. However, the portions I did relate to were both a punch in the gut while simultaneously make me feel up lifted and supported. A true Hatmaker gem.

I enjoyed this new book from Jen Hatmaker. Her writing style is so encouraging--you feel like she's a friend talking directly to you. I enjoyed many of the topics that she discussed. We, as women, need to stop being afraid and just get out there and show the world what we're great at. What a great message! Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Jen Hatmaker may be one of my absolute favorite people because she’s real & open about everything. She’s not afraid to voice her opinion which makes for entertaining reading. Highly recommend this book for those that enjoy a good laugh, a good cry, & just a genuinely fantastic time!

Let's keep this short: this book bored me. I couldn't wait to finish reading it. Anyone who's been following Jen Hatmaker for at least 6-12 months knows what the core of her ministry is. This book is the expanded version of all her Instagram posts (which she admits at the end of the book).
A lot of information structured into twelve chapters was thrown at me, the reader, and many reseachers' words and studies that supported Hatmaker's ideas.
I think this might be useful for some women, but I was not the audience for it. Expect a lot of self confidence, self reliance, family&friends reliance, LGBTQ+ supporting, women's rights, and much social justice advocacy. Despite what she says, I don't believe that everythings she endorses is Bible based, so I guess I'm the one in the conservative camp she talks about.
She does mention Jesus and her love for Him, but this is not a Bible verses filled book, so temper your expectations if that what you're after. This is her manifesto, what she believes in. Kuddos to her for being open and willing to share it in book form.
The ideas seemed repetitive, despite the clearly distinct chapters. There is the clear funny Hatmaker the world is used to, but also the serious Hatmaker. I was curious to see what she can say that I didn't already know related to her beliefs, but not much was new.
As a whole, it was OK-ish, but as I said, I wasn't the target audience for it.

This book feels like Jen is right beside you, talking directly to you. It's full of warmth, and humor, and heart. I loved her messages and her personal experiences.

Jen Hatmaker has done it again. This is exactly the book we need right now. Full of truth-telling, wakeup calls, and hard-won lessons along the way. Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire is all of those things. It calls the reader to turn inward and examine themselves with a critical, but also gentle, eye. If your life isn't going the way you want it, now is the time to look at what you really want in conjunction with who you are and who you want to be. With hard-hitting chapters like "I am strong in my body", and "I need more connection" Jen takes us on a journey to improve the level of honesty and authenticity in your life and I am here for it. *I received an ARC from the publisher to review. This in no way influenced my opinion.

I have read several of Jen's previous books, so I felt like I knew what to expect with this one. It completely met my expectations - and then some. Jen Hatmaker is herself, fierce, free, and full of fire, and that is just what you get with her new book. I love it. I love the way she comes in blazing hot shouting from the rooftops right from the very first page. I love how she settles into longer discussions obviously well researched and thought out. I love how she gently holds our insecurities and inhibitions, reminding us that she doesn't have it all figured out either. I love how she pushes herself and us to be absolutely, completely, shamelessly, our true authentic selves in every situation, public and private. And if the haters gonna hate - well, just let them. If you have ever needed a pastor or minister to give you permission to be wholely uniquely you, Jen Hatmaker gives it to you. Be yourself, sister. Love yourself, sister. You have permission. (Not that you ever really needed it!)
I received an e-arc from NetGalley for my honest opinion of this book.

As a longtime Jen Hatmaker fan, I was so excited to receive an advance digital copy of Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire. I felt like she was speaking directly to me as she guided readers to consider Who I Am, What I Need, What I Want, What I Believe, and How I Connect. Her words encourage every woman to be their best self. My copy is covered in yellow highlights of sentences and paragraphs that I want to reread and use for self-reflection. I will be gifting this book to many women in my life!!

This book blew me away. As someone who has struggled with authenticity in the last few years, Jen’s words were the exact thing I needed! She equipped me with the tools to look at where I am, and accept the perfect mess that I am. Everything from spirituality to body imagine to marriage and parenting is covered in this book. This is one I will read over and over. I suggest buying this one and having a highlighter handy! You’ll need it. I want to buy it for my half of the females I know, and beg the rest of them to read it themselves.

I have been a big fan of Jen Hatmaker for a while now and I can tell you that this is her best book yet. Jen is known for her sense of humor and honesty with her writing. This one is no different but I found myself pausing more often to reflect. Underlining more often the passages that stood out to me. Sharing an excerpt with friends more often. You will want to share these words with your sisters and moms and daughters and friends.

She says in the beginning that certain chapters will likely resonate with you more than others and she’s absolutely right. I love books like this because you can return to them at different stages and phases in life and it will read like a totally different book. Are you struggling with body image, kids, friendships, relationships, faith, standing up for what’s right - check, check, check. There’s a chapter for you in this book and it’s like she speaks directly to your heart. Discussions are richer around it because everyone takes away different pieces. This is one you will want to plan lunch and brunches and coffees to talk with friends and family and add it for consideration with your book club.

Whether you’ve loved Jen for years or this is your first book of hers to read, you won’t be disappointed.

I was able to read Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire by Jen Hatmaker for free from Netgalley for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It was a wonderful book that covers five major topics: who I am, what I need, what I want, what I believe, and how I connect. I enjoyed the advice she gave in her book and the personal anecdotes she shared. This is another great book for encouraging, inspiring, and motivating women.

I thought this was going to be a book on Christian life for women, but it is more about Jen's path to becoming an empowered woman with occasional spiritual stuff thrown in. I'm all for empowering women, but there was too much swearing in the ARC for the community my library serves. Hoping they fix that before publication.

I’ve read most of Jen Hatmaker’s books and I occasionally listen to her podcast. I enjoy her brand of sarcasm and humor and enjoy her writing style. When I hear she has a new book out, it automatically goes on my reading list.

In this book, Jen details living an honest, whole, and integrated life. The chapters are grouped into these headings: Who I Am, What I Need, What I Want, What I Believe, and How I Connect.

I felt like this book meandered a bit. It didn’t feel extremely cohesive for me until the very end when she listed her 12 statements relating to the categories listed above. That’s when it all came in to focus for me. Also, I didn’t read the table of contents beforehand, so I had no idea where we were going. My bad. *Smile*

There are always gems to mine from her books. I particularly agree that Christians need to reignite and follow their spiritual curiosity and child likeness. We have no need to hold to dogma so tightly. Let’s not be pricks or prudes. Let’s be lifelong learners and listeners. I particularly liked this quote from Peter Enns, “...discern God’s presence here and now.” This is more important than getting our spiritual ducks in a row. We’ve gotten way too skilled at shutting each other down and shutting each other out. It’s such an easy behavior to emulate. Listen to God. What is He speaking right now? Jen wonderfully leads by example in this regard. She has been honest about her past struggles to listen and find spiritual evolution, but now she is all ears and humbly leading the charge. We are not meant to be the same people 20 years from now.

Along those same lines of thought, “I am convinced that maturing faith doesn’t get smaller and tighter but wider and freer.” Amen sister! 100%! “In whatever faith community we’ve chosen, our questions should evolve. We no longer ask: What are the rules? What is the line? Who is in and who is out? Who is right and who is wrong? What do we do with dissenters? What is allowed? How do we maintain what is? Wonderfully, we begin to ask instead: Where is the life? What does a flourishing faith system look like? What feels and sounds and looks like actual good news? Where is there more joy and less fear? What is kind? What is generous? What feels like Jesus? Where are people coming back to life, coming back to God?” I wholeheartedly agree. There’s a whole lot of effort spent maintaining what was when we would do better chasing what is.

I also loved this quote, “He [Jesus] doesn’t subscribe to our human hierarchies and systems of power, no matter what powerful people say. Jesus loved women and children and sick people and, irrationally, Roman leaders oppressing his people...His grace knew no bounds, which people loved and hated and ultimately killed him for...” I love the part about loving the Roman oppressors. I love her use of the word irrationally. Bam! If we are being like Jesus, it’s gonna tick a lot of people off. May it be so.

There is a lot of great stuff to delve into. Enjoy!!

I received an ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.