Exhale

Exhale is for the woman who is suffocating under the pressures of being all things to all people. The pressure of filling every unfilled spot at church, home, and work. The pressure of trying to do it all right, make decisions that benefit everyone else, and keep everyone happy.

Rather than adding more to your to-do list, in this book Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory show you how to

· lose who you're not
· love who you are
· live your one life well

This isn't a time management book filled with how-to lists and calendar tools. Rather, it walks you through a process that releases you from the things that have created unbearable pressure. Then you'll be free to start investing your life in ways that fulfill the desires of your heart, benefit your people, and bring glory to God.

Includes Now Breathe activities that correspond to each chapter's content and interactive assessments to help you move toward gentle change.

Great story for the really busy mothers / women who have 100 things to do. I am single and not a mother but this book had me appreciating my mother and all the mothers out there. So much respect for these women.
4 star book!!!

Exhale: Lose Who You’re Not, Love Who You Are, Live Your One Life Well is like a breath of fresh air. And as an (often) overcommitted perfectionist, this book really spoke to me. Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory urge us to live our lives well by releasing those self-images and preconceived notions that hold us back and embracing fully our God-given gifts and accepting who we are. They ask us to cast aside the labels that have defined you – be it your role in life (wife, mother, daughter), occupation, or the ever-popular “Wonder Woman.” Instead, look toward the person you are, with unique gifts and talents, given by God’s grace. Live in God’s light, not the world’s, know your boundaries and personality, and above all trust God in all that you do.

Exhale is written in the alternating voices of Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory, and this shifting perspectives allows the reader to identify aspects of each of their stories that are applicable to his or her own life. I appreciate that real-world examples are interwoven with Biblical stories and passages to aid in ultimate understanding. Perhaps the most vivid example of this is Cheri’s analogy of the basil plant. Like the basil plant that regenerates when pruned, we can flourish when we let go of expectations and focus on the gifts before us right now. I also found the brief exercises at the end of each chapter (called “now breathe” to be quite useful.

All in all, Exhale: Lose Who You’re Not, Love Who You Are, Live Your One Life Well, is a thoughtful, well-written book, that gives us Christ-centered reasons and approaches for slowing down and finding contentment right where we are.

I have read other books Cheri has co-authored and jumped at the opportunity to read Exhale. The head nodding in agreement is a recurring theme. The only time I had a tiny bit of concern is in Part 3 of the title, because as a recovering control freak out it would be easy to see Part 3 as a challenge to work for my worth. This is clearly not the intention of the author's. But, an observation from a recovering control freak.

For almost 1.5 years, I was privileged to serve as the graphic design intern for Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory’s Grit n Grace Girls podcast. Since they invested so much in me, I was happy to be on the manuscript development team for Exhale, their first collaborative writing project.

Amy and Cheri take turns, every other chapter, telling their stories of struggles with perfectionism, comparison, meddling and relationship issues. They also use a key Bible story in each chapter that shows us how we can let go of our struggles, exhale in peace, and choose a better way. Amy and Cheri make a great team on the podcast, and you will love their insights in their book. It promises to be a perennial favorite on my shelf as I work to overcome perfectionism.

Favorite quote:

“Friend, when error terror wants makes you want to cower in your boat, remember this: Jesus transforms abject fear into active faith.”

I received a preview copy of Exhale from both Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers.

I received an ARC of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley, this review is my personal opinion.


With an honest and very fresh approach to deep situations of the heart and character this book, which is divided into three parts more than a book in my case it feels like an ongoing journey. I must say that Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregori both of them did a great job.

Book parts:

1- Loose who you are not, and I must say It was eye-opening to see the truth about so many things. And how Jesus is in the middle of the process of change, all do they talk from their own experience is all center on what God says in the bible. I like that after each chapter we had to work deeper with God and a declaration to finish it.

2-love who you are, wow!!! This part of the book was truly powerful and important for me, being completely honest. I recently started liking myself and to read all this beautiful true were like a balm for my heart.


3- Live your one life well, which I believe is the biggest challenge of all, to accept, enjoy, be grateful even in the unknown and in our present life according to God's will and plans for us and not what we may think.

I recommend this book because I believe that what is on this book represent what God longs for each one of us, with practical, biblical and sound advice for the change we all want. To let go of all the weight, we need to take a step. This book is a great first step to be healed and whole in Christ.


Truly grateful to Bethany Publishers for the ARC of this book.

This book is on point for the Attacking the struggles of so many women today - being on all the time, being perfect, being everything to everyone. This is a practical approach to teach us women who feel this way how to let go, breathe, and let God.

This book really helped me examine how I do that in my life and to replace that with recognizing who God made me to be and the life He created me to live. I have two Daughters and I can see them already falling into those struggles. This book has encouraged me to call it out when I see it and discuss with my daughters the importance of not being afraid to make mistakes, and to identify what passions they have that may be directing them in God's calling for their lives. I really appreciated this book and I know I will go back to it as a resource time and time again. I received a free copy from the publisher through NetGallery, all my opinions are my own.

Amy Carroll and Cheri Gregory are a dynamic team! I love their heart for women and their scripturally-sound encouragement.