I have been a listener and follower of Sophie Hudson’s for years and also a fan of her written work as well. I read this book several years ago and I still hear her encouraging me and other readers to care for ourselves and others even in times we rather do anything but. This late review does not reflect on the quality of the book but rather but inability to press submit/send after I’ve already typed the whole thing out. So if you’re reading this I apologize for leaving you on “read” but know the contacts in my phone suffer this same annoying habit of mine. Thank you for your words, in all formats.

I love Sophie but this book made me love her even more. It made me laugh and cry. I will be passing this one along to friends and family. Just perfect.

Prior to "Stand All The Way Up" I hadn't had the privilege to read any books written by Sophie Hudson. This book was a great introduction to her work as it was both witty and heartfelt. It is one of those books that feels like a coffee chat with a dear friend and I really appreciated that aspect of it.

This was such a delightful read. I love the honesty with which Sophie writes, in both the funny stories and the more serious.

I did not get to this book before it was no longer available for download. The description sounds great and I wish I had a chance to read it before it wasn't available.

This was not the book I expected to be. But that's okay. Turns out I really enjoyed it, and it was exactly what I needed to hear this week! She had fun stories, a little bit of TMI (which means I love her even more!), sprinkled in with religious thoughts and ideas. The story was all about spreading love and kindness, not only to others, but to ourselves. And we definitely need more books and people that spread that message to the world!

In her recent book, writer Sophie Hudson presents everything to the table- the general mishmash. While doing this, Hudson utilizes her unique mind, backtalks, and a statement to bring a delightful gift for the readers. The author’s composing style is so amazing. She can cause the readers to feel like they are probably the closest companion and they have met after a long time to catch up.

She is confronting fifty and with that comes time for some contemplative and profound otherworldly investigation to handle where she has been, the place where she is, and what the future resembles- all while managing the one-of-a-kind difficulties in the present society. The book has 13 chapters along with the introduction and epilogue.

The author opens up on issues in her day-to-day existence that we as a whole face now and again, and it was so reviving to have somebody articulate what so many of us feel or have gone through. The starting of the book was so funny, I was laughing so hard, however, this book can make the readers emotional as well as we move further into the story. The writer welcomed me into quite possibly the most legit and crude pieces of her life and I can’t envision how hard this book probably has been to compose.

The author cleverly strolls us through how to stand tall in the midst of difficulty. This book is an astounding one to pursue where the readers get a chance to giggle and need some consolation for confronting difficult situations with elegance. Through 170 pages of stories, counsel, and support, we figure out how to discover strength from God to hold up. This book will support and inspire the readers a lot and will give them a ray of hope and freshness in their dark days. Highly recommended!

Rating of the book- 4⭐/5⭐

This new book by Sophie Hudson is mostly funny stories. There was not much help for growth, nor advice, UNTIL the last chapter! If you get this book, be sure to read the last chapter! Finally, Sophie digs deep and gives us real insight, and good advice on improving our relationships.
If you want a light, easy read, that will make you laugh, then this is a good book. Enjoy!

One of my personal challenges this year was to read more Christian fiction and non-fiction. This one falls into the second category and I'm glad I got the chance to read it. This was my first book by Sophie Hudson and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sophie Hudson is funny and it doesn't seem forced. Many authors try too hard to be funny and it shows. This author is not one of those. Her humor is refreshing and made this book fun to read. I didn't read anything in the book that struck me as "I was today years old when I learned..." But then again, this is first and foremost an autobiographic book and since she is so funny, I didn't mind one bit.

Thank you, Netgalley, for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!

Prior to "Stand All The Way Up" I hadn't had the privilege to read any books written by Sophie Hudson.

This book was a great introduction to her work as it was both witty and heartfelt.
It is one of those books that feels like a coffee chat with a dear friend and I really appreciated that aspect of it.

I think the below quote from the book is one of my favorites and sums up the message of it:
"We can't be agents of change when we're too busy fuming and screaming and ranting and railing. And as I've processed and prayed through and confessed my anger, I've realized something: I really don't want to burn it all down. I want holy fire to fall."

Definitely enjoyed this read and recommend it!

***Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book. All views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.***

This book was received as an ARC from B&H Publishing Group (B&H Books, Holman Bibles, B&H Español, and B&H Kids) in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really needed to read this book at this time. Sometimes I feel like I have no power at all and what I say people will either ignore, talk over or completely disregard what you have to say. With the election right around the corner, it is more important than ever to stand up, speak your mind and let your voice be heard to protect and fight for all. I love the humor and sass Sophie brought to this book to make an intense topic seem relaxed and fun to read. There will definitely be a following at our library for this book most definitely.

We will consider adding this title to our B Non-Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

Stand All the Way Up: Stories of Staying In It When You Want to Burn It All Down by Sophie Hudson
Publisher: B&H Publishing Group
Genre: Christian | Religion & Spirituality | Personal Development
Release Date: June 16, 2020

Stand All the Way Up by Sophie Hudson is perfectly timed for the world we are living in right now.

Reading this book felt like I was sitting down with a friend who was sharing stories from her life. I had never read anything by Sophie Hudson before and now I feel like I was missing out on something. This book was so funny and felt so authentic & real.

I look forward to re-reading it with my highlighter and notebook and really diving in to this. I enjoyed this book because it made me laugh and brought me some hope.

I'm so grateful to Sophie Hudson, B&H Publishing Group, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.

I love listening to Sophie’s podcast! Her voice and her comical storytelling are incredible to listen to. The tone of this book within these times may work for some as an uplifting/escapist read, but I couldn’t connect with it for some reason. It was well written and an easy read so I’m hopeful I will pick it up again in the future.

Sophie Hudson definitely knows how to tell a story! And she does so with humor and sass. For the most part, I enjoyed reading this collection of stories that reminded me to stand up - that's a concept I sometimes struggle with because it's often easier and way more comfortable for me to sit down.
Some of the stories are personal and rambled with more detail than I needed or wanted to know. This is a personal feeling -I would have probably felt differently if I had heard of the author before I picked up the book.
I chose to read this book because of the title, and it certainly delivers. BooMama shares her frustrations and emotions about getting older, losing her mama, needing community, and balancing work-life-dreams. And she always ties the frustration into what God has shown her about His truths and how she can continue to stand up in the midst of the frustration.
I appreciated the author's honesty and humor. Here are some of my favorite quotes/insights:
What does it look like to stand? To stand in my own life. To stand for the unheard or unsee. To stand for the generation behind me. To stand for the cause of Christ. To stand all the way up.
I am welcome at the gate.
These are the days. This is the time the Lord has ordained for me to live and love and give Him glory.
In tough times of frustration, anger, fear, grief, etc.-something beautiful will surprise you. Something beautiful will be the grace of God when you're in a tough stretch. On the day when you expect it the least but need it the most, that beauty will move you a little futher forward. And it will be enough. So keep showing up. Keep standing up. (And wait for the Lord! Look for Him!)
When we know the Lord has called us and directed us in a specific way-stand there. That is holy ground.
Our job is to tell the truth, to bless God, and to refuse to be swayed by the fear of man.
Her mama kept prayer journals, and this legacy allowed the children to feel closer and encouraged and taught by their precious mother. I want to leave the same legacy for my children, and that's what my journaling is about - me and Jesus working through an issue.
Middle age - no nonsense with things we disagree with, don't want to do, etc.
We can disagree, and we can love each other.
Choose to love one another more than we love our perceived rightness.
The power of living low - Jesus could have insisted on being exalted, on receiving adulation, but He chose to serve. To love. To minister. To bend down.

Thank you to Netgalley and B&H Publishing Group for the Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All opinions and views are my own.

Prior to "Stand All The Way Up" I have never read a book by Sophie Hudson. This woman is funny and authentic. I can't say anything particularly lightning-boltish-from-the-sky-raining-fresh-theology occured here, but it read like coffee with an encouraging friend. And if that's the vibe you're looking for, this is a good book. While my biggest complaint is that the organization was occasionally caddywampus (e.g. going from a moving chapter on her mother's death to a chunk of advice on what should be in your closet), some of that is likely to be expected because of the informal writing style. I wish I had understood the flow of the book a little more or what the over-arching goal of the was. That said, she's witty, original, logical, and has a practical heart for Jesus. Some of my favorite quotes from the book:

"God intervenes to keep me from choosing my greatness over His greatness.

Don't be afraid of doing the thing in front of you.

Like Moses, you have a staff. I mean, not a literal one, probably, though if you're into shepherding then consider this sentence a virtual high five. But you for sure have a God-given something that enables you to lead and serve and help God's people. Maybe it's accounting or teaching or organizing or cooking or compassion or gentleness or patience or singing or whatever. You have a staff.

I pulled out my journal and began to list all the ways my anger had been blinding me. To be clear, many of the things that poured out on the page were legitimate issues to be upset over. It's not wrong to care deeply about what's going on in the world because 1) some of it is heartbreaking 2) some of it is legitimately horrible. I'm good with not being okay with all that stuff. However, when those issues create anger that is eating us up from the insides out, we are compromised. We can't be agents of change when we're too busy fuming and screaming and ranting and railing.

And as I've processed and prayed through and confessed my anger, I've realized something: I really don't want to burn it all down. I want holy fire to fall."

I'd rate this book a G.

Mrs. Hudson is an excellent author and speaker, but this is her best book to date. She writes about errors that she has made in her own life, not speaking up against some social racial justice issues. She challenges us to do the same.

Recommended for public libraries and small groups.

I am one of Sophie's biggest fans and absolutely adore her. All her books are amazing, and this one is no exception! Fits in well with her others, and still works well for the times!

Sophie Hudson is the friend you always wished you had. She has the best stories, the best recipes, and the best sense of humor. In her new book "Stand All the Way Up: Stories of Staying In It When You Want to Burn It All Down" she knocks 2020 flat on its butt. Lulling you in with a few chapters of her usual southern charm and stories, she wastes no time in diving into scripture and calling a spade a spade. "I am so angry" she exclaims at one point, actually she exclaims "I am so angry. I am so angry. I am so angry." confessing that the refrain of her heart this year has been hard to escape. It's like she knows my secret shame. There's so much to be angry about right now, but Sophie gives you a way through. Like the song says, if you're going through hell just keep moving. If you're fortunate enough, you'll have Sophie on your side, with a cup of coffee, an AC unit, and a flaming sword of truth. Hers is the voice I needed to hear this year, speaking scriptural truths during a time where common sense and reason have been laid to waste. Speaking heart and home, where so much is being torn apart. "I've seen hatred hiding in places I thought were sacred, which means I've had to consider the ways I've been complicit in ignorance and injustice and oppression." She talks us through what kindness means as opposed to people pleasing. How to disagree with people we love. And, at the end of the day, how to stand our ground, when the holy ground we are standing on is all that is left while everything else burns around us. It doesn't matter who is comfortable with your choices, it doesn't matter who likes your choices, you can't please all the people all the time, and you shouldn't try to. Sophie speaks like a voice in the wilderness, showing us that there are things worth saving, and things that we just have to let go.

Sophie made me laugh, cry, & smile all the way through this book. She gave me a fresh perspective, which made me reevaluate some things in my life. I’m so grateful for her & this amazing book!

Move over, Erma Bombeck. There’s a new queen on the humor scene. Her name is Sophie Hudson. And although she may not be new to you, she was to me. Ditto her hilarious, excruciatingly insightful Stand All the Way Up: Stories of Staying in it When you Want to Burn it All Down.

Talk about a breath of fresh air.

Anyone who opens a book with monkeys invading an open air lodge in Kenya and stealing Cajun-flavored Pistachios has me hooked. Ditto an author who candidly admits she’s “having issues” with birthdays where a “nine” rolls over into a zero, and her “stand-offish relationship” with fifty.

I hear ya, sista.

Indeed, this uplifting, inspiring collection of insights, observations and hilarious life episodes seen through a biblical lens will warm your heart and then some. I’m willing to go out on a limb here: if you give Stand All the Way Up your full attention and read with an open, listening heart, you may not be the same person on the final page as you were on the first.

So there’s that.

Told with a twinkle, chapters are lithe and supple. They’re also bite-sized and easy to digest. Each chapter glides seamlessly into the next. Chapters can also be read as stand-alones, if you want to pause and ruminate a bit before taking another bite. All are generously seasoned with dry wit and humor as well as a hefty dose of keen spiritual insights. (Chapter 9, Putting My Foot Down, is especially good. Just sayin’.)

So. If you’ve ever wanted to punch being late in the face, dip into a bowl of Chipotle guacamole, struggled with luggage or carry-ons, or wondered about the fine art of over-explaining and a host of other Real Issues and Questions, this book is for you. A brief sampling:

- Perils of people-pleasing
- Confronting manipulators– how and why
- How to stop playing go along to get along
- Boundaries
- Why disagreeing with someone doesn’t make them your enemy
- Encouragement
- Aging parents
- The “ministry of fried chicken”
- Camp cooking in an un-air-conditioned kitchen. In summer.
- Truth
- Grief
- “Spirited fellowship”
- The ministry of presence
- How to stand strong and long
- “Pinch and zoom"
- Women’s magazines
- Capsule wardrobes and cold shoulder tops

Witty, clever, and eminently engaging, Stand All the Way Up addresses all this and more in a way that’s natural and authentic. Along the way, Hudson deftly tucks in gentle reminders of God’s lovingkindness and faithfulness through thirteen breezy, chatty chapters plus an Epilogue.

Kindly note that by “stand all the way up,” the author isn’t promoting or advocating belligerent, bellicose, mutton-headed nincompoopitis or a terminal case of screaming meemee shilling with a self-centric chaser. No. Thankfully, the author neatly sidesteps that common pitfall.

Instead, she gently leads readers through candid observations and lessons in standing up:

- Through grief and struggle
- Through things God calls you to keep doing.
- For what’s right.
- For yourself.
- For others.

Without being preachy, Hudson uses examples from her own life to show how to stand all the way up in the face of adversity, knowing that a loving, faithful God has your back. And your front. And everything else.

Cuz when you stand up, God shows up.

You’re welcome at the gate, ya’ll. So I’d dive right in ‘fize you. You’ll love it!


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