Holy Hot Mess was my first introduction to Mary Katherine Backstrom, but I will be following her in the future. In the writing style of Melanie Shankle, she lets us do life with her and invites us into her life a if we are her BFF. She lets us see the bad and good she has experienced in life and how faith in Jesus upholds her though it. She manages to keep her humor during all of it.
This is a great book for all women to read as a reminder that all lives have peaks and valleys, but we will survive them all.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

What a refreshing memoir. MK is honest about her life. She has a good ability to combine life lessons with humor. I like to read books that share insights from life but I rarely laugh like I did with this one. Truth telling is important, MK says. We need to share our struggles and failures to develop real connectivity and trust with others. I really liked her comments about messy church. She is realistic yet encouraging, reminding us that church stretches our ability to love. After all, the church is a place for the broken.

This is a good book for readers who want encouragement to be themselves, messes and all. MK describes herself as “unfiltered” and some may raise an eye brow or two at some of her stories. You'll laugh at her stories and benefit from her insights into spiritual life because of them. You'll learn of the potential trouble with rescuing a goat. You'll be encouraged to never give a rat as an anniversary gift. (You have to read the book.) And you'll find out you're never too messy for grace.

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

🙏 Book Review 🙏

🙏 Holy Hot Mess by Mary Katherine Backstorm

🙏 Publication Date - 3rd August 2021

🙏 Mary Katherine Backstrom shares heartbreaking and hilarious stories of how God uses each "mess" in our lives to bring us closer to Him. She shows us that it's okay to celebrate exactly where we are right now—holy, hot mess and all.
 
🙏 Backstrom is open, honest, raw, and emotional in this book. She shares lots of stories about her life that shaped her and molded her into who she is today, and shows us God's presence in her life and the way He has worked with her throughout it all.

🙏 She shows us that it is perfectly OK to be a holy hot mess because God created us that way She encourages us to embrace our differences and to stop trying to be a "perfect mom, perfect wife, perfect life", and to just be us and be comfortable in doing so.

🙏 Backstrom writes with humour and cheekiness. It almost feels that she's still trying to hide behind her humour and ability to laugh at herself. Which is not necessary a bad thing because a lot of us likely do the exact same thing to cope with our own issues. It makes her seem more relatable and honest to a degree.

🙏 Holy Hot Mess will have you laughing, crying and really thinking about the things you've done in your life and the way you react to different scenarios. She makes you realise your quirks and traits may not be for everyone you meet but that's okay. God made you with them for a reason and He doesn't want you to be ashamed of them.

🙏 Highly recommend to anyone! You don't have to be a Christian to read her book. She's not preachy or judgemental in the slightest but very open and honest about her own life, issues and situations she's found herself in.

I am glad that Mary Katherine Backstrom decided to overcome her fear,and write, Holy Hot Mess. This book is a good but slow read, but I would read the book again. MK thank you for the book, you showed me I wasn't alone when it comes to my life.God Bless you Mary Katherine, Tonya Laws

Mary Katherine (MK) strikes again! Yes, that MK of the laughing videos and interview with Ellen. Ladies, watch out! She'll have you belly-laughing, so if you have "leaky valves", take precautions. There is method and meaning to her hilarious humor. That is where the 'holy' comes in. With Jesus, to Whom MK directs the reader, helps make sense out of the hectic and/or hurting lives that seem to be one of mess after mess. Lighten your load and nourish your soul, as expressed by MK in her book, you'll find,

"glimpses of God in the mess, "

and that,

"He's got us in His hands" (Chapter 16, page 20).

Comforting thoughts.

~Eunice C., - Reviewer/Blogger~

July 2021

Disclaimer: This is my honest opinion based on the review copy given by the publisher.

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/2f3597fd3b60c0b12061511c4a42f470cf85ac95" width="80" height="80" alt="10 Book Reviews" title="10 Book Reviews"/>

I have to start off by saying that I really requested this based on the title alone. I hadn’t heard of the author before, but now that I’ve read this I feel like I’ve been missing out! She is relatable, authentic and flat out funny!
This is full of real life stories that we can all relate to on some level because they either make you laugh or cry at having been there at some point. She shares valuable insight into how she navigated various everyday situations in a realistic way but then also adds scriptural input on how she could have handled it better looking back on it and to share that bit of knowledge that helps us walk through the trials of this life and see God’s hand at work in the chaos of life. Everything from buying bras to little kids making messes is covered with humor and meaning. It is valuable as a Christian woman to see that I am not alone in my struggles and that I can get through it with a smile on my face!
Will definitely be buying this for myself and as gifts for friends.
Thanks to Worthy Books and Netgalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Mary Katherine Backstrom’s Holy Hot Mess can switch from laugh out loud funny to deep introspection to teary eyed all in the snap of your fingers. Her witty voice and relatable stories are perfect conduits for sharing her faith, reminding us that while we were fearfully and wonderfully made, we can still be a mess.

I highlighted the heck out of this ebook. Backstrom has a gift for saying hard things in a gentle way, slowly bringing her readers out of their comfort zone and inspiring perspective shifting thoughts even as she jokes about kidnapping a goat.

Some of my favorite moments from the book include these:
“Hey, God. If You do have a plan for my life, could you make it a little bit easier?”

“…Learning to live fully in the duality that exists in both the mountaintops of clarity and the marshes of the mess. You see, mess doesn’t cancel out the marvelous.”

“Whose standard of perfection am I trying to live up to anyway? Nobody can clear that bar. Mess is an equal opportunity definer. We all have crumbs under our proverbial car seats.”

“Doubt had infected my spirit. It found the wound of young social rejection and slipped in through that partially open door. It was a voice that whispered, “you’re too much” and “you’re not enough,” all at once, in a confusing, twisty lie.”
“We are fearfully and wonderfully made- every awesomely awkward piece. And if someone isn’t drawn to the parts of you that God made quirky, then, quite simply, those aren’t your people. And that can hurt, because dadgummit, loneliness hurts. But you were never, ever unlovable.”
-Mary Katherine Backstrom, Holy Hot Mess

And those are only half the hilarious, insightful, and inspiring sentences I took the time to highlight. Backstrom has the gift of validating the reader’s experiences without dismissing the pain or diluting the uniqueness of the moment. She’s able to be relatable without force, reminding us that though childhood hurts can be a universal experience doesn’t make any one hurt less impactful to the individual.

Holy Hot Mess is the kind of book you want to read alongside your best friend, snorting with laughter at Mary Katherine’s crazy hijinks. By the end of the book, you feel like you’re one of MK’s friends, and start accidentally calling her by the nickname her friends use in the dialogue of the book, completely forgetting you’ve never actually met the woman.

Authenticity and relatable anecdotes populate this book, making it a fast and satisfying read. There are laugh out loud moments alongside sentences that hit you right in the gut and send you through shockwaves of introspection and deep thought. It’s a beautiful gift of a book, full of love and acceptance, and completely devoid of judgement and shame.

Mary Katherine Backstrom’s Holy Hot Mess is available now. Thank you to the author, Net Galley, and Worthy Publishing for an advanced copy such that I could write this review.

Holy Hot Mess is a fabulously heartfelt and downright hilarious collection of wisdom! Mary Katherine Backstrom’s voice brims with raw honesty and humor. She captures the experience of motherhood so accurately that I was nodding my head and smiling throughout almost every passage in her book. It’s a much needed reminder that we are all beautifully imperfect and God loves all our broken pieces. This book has earned a prominent spot at the forefront of my bookshelf. Thank you so much to Worthy Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley!

I have totally enjoyed this book Holy Hot mess by Mary Katherine Backstrom. Her honesty and humor is beyond any I have read so far this summer. She has experienced much in her life as most have and is willing to laugh at herself, forgive herself and others along the way. Sharing lessons learned as well. MK is such a fresh of breath air with all that is going on in the world todayl

I highly recommend it for everyone to read.

C D

I have already read this book twice! In true Mary Kathrine style, this book is filled with relatable stories from her life - from early childhood, right on through to married with children. Whether it is a story filled with heartache, or a story filled with joy, MK has a way of making it relevant to our own lives, and how God is in the midst of it all. It is easy to read, and feels like you are spending time with a good friend who has a way of making you feel like you are loved, and everything is going to be ok. I highly recommend this book.

This book was a joy to read. When you read this book it is like talking to your best friend. Life is hard and being able to find joy and laughter in some of the most horrific times can be difficult. You will laugh and cry. This book is about love, laughter, and life. I look forward to sharing this book with my friends!

I just want to start out by saying, I loved this book! I feel like I would get along well with the author, Mary Katherine Backstrom. Have you ever just felt like a hot mess? I know I have, and often jokingly give myself that title. But thankfully for me, and others like me, God can use our messes to bring us closer to him.

Backstrom was very relatable, and shared many personal stories. Some had me laughing, and some just had me nodding along sympathetically. I appreciated her authenticity, and how she used her story to show how God uses the daily messes in our lives for our good. Backstrom encourages us to see that we are all a work in progress. I appreciated that she was not afraid to address topics such as depression and difficult relationships.

Here are some quotes that stood out to me from this book:

“We are active construction sites, all mess and mud. We are artworks in progress, with paint on the floor. We don’t have a clue where this thing is going. But listen to me: God does.“

“When we share our messy, honest selves with one another, that’s when we find our deepest communities.”

“God molded our bodies straight from clay and brought us to life with a holy purpose. His plans for us have always been good, friends. We weren’t made to swim in the trash. But from time to time, we find ourselves there. That’s the broken world that we live in.”

“The scariest story you’ve ever heard is the one you are telling yourself: that if you are honest with people and share your flaws, they’ll realize you are unlovable. Insecurity is haunting you and terrifying your town, but you don’t have to believe it. It’s just another one of Satan’s lies…you are enough, exactly as you are.”

“I meet people I like, and I get goofy and excited: Please like me please like me please like me. Maybe they will like me. Maybe they won’t. Their feelings don’t determine my worth.”

“The strongest relationships hold space for the messes and can offer grace for each other’s imperfections.”

“Remember to hold grace for others; everyone is pulling their own luggage. Today it is them; tomorrow it’s you.”

If you feel like your life is a hot mess, and you want some encouragement on how even (and maybe especially) the messy times in our lives can draw us closer to God, I encourage you to pick up a copy of this book. It was a quick read, yet gave me a lot to think about!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, through Net Galley. All opinions are my own.

I received an advance copy of, Holy Hot Mess, by Mary Katherine Backstrom. This is a very honest book about being holy, and how hard it is to be holy.

Authenticity. Honesty. Imperfections.

How do we embrace our true selves, especially in modern times, when it is so easy to hide behind a screen? MK brings us into her circle of friends and then asks us to look at the messy parts of our lives and embrace the mess. I loved reading this book - I laughed out loud, I felt heartache when she pulled on my heartstrings, I felt kinship.

Charmingly relatable, yet intensely challenging, this book is a must read for any woman who has felt that she is being held back by her imperfections, when all we must realize is that God speaks to us through and over the mess.

Thank you to NetGalley and Worthy Publishing for this free advance reader copy. The opinions here are my own.

I absolutely adore MK. I've followed her on social media for some time now. She is so real and funny. This book was delightful, I expected nothing less!

Oh my goodness, Holy Hot Mess described my life! I felt like I was sitting with MK and chatting over coffee. The personal stories, relatability over feelings, and being validated as a mom/woman are just… a breath of fresh air. Who knew that we were created to BE a hot mess?!

What a good surprise this book was. I loved the author´s sense of humor on telling to the reader about all the situations and experiences Shes has lived through, and seeing How God is still by our side, even when We think that We are alone and abandoned. good job!

Once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. I laughed, then cried, then laughed again, and then cried again, all while sharing passages with my best friend and my husband, who impertinently asked me if we were reading this book together. Of course we are dear man!. You'll want to share this book with everyone you love. I'll certainly never look at a rat or a hamster again and not think of this book. Mary Katherine Backstrom is authentic, funny and inspiring, and proves once again that showing up as we really are in a world that loves it when we sparkle is a super power. My favorite part by far was towards the end: "AndBy sharing your story, you are sharing the gospel. Don’t you dare water it down. How beautiful that God has embraced our worst and presented it as His best. He loves us, adores us, and has a plan

I finished the whole.ding.dang.thing in less than 24 hours. It was so good. Reading each page felt like conversing with your BFF - laughter, encouragement and insight. This book helped clarify so many feelings and I'm still.processing how much it has changed my perspective on everyday moments.
I love MK. She is real and authentic no matter what. She embraces her messiness and encourages others to do the same. She welcomes EVERYONE at her table with no judgment. She is so funny and puts it all out there. She is my best friend in my head (shhhhh...she might think I'm crazy lol).

Order this book yall. It's awesome and you need a copy. FOR REALZ!!!!!

Mary Katherine is a phenomenal writer. This book speaks to me. Her stories are authentic and relatable. She speaks from the heart. She let's you know that that every "mess" is a learning experience and something to grow from. I can't tell you how much I am loving this book! Thank you MK for this masterpiece!