Follower: How Getting Close to Jesus Brings You to Yourself

by Jennifer A.G. Layte

What if Simon Peter wasn’t quite who you thought? What if he wasn’t even who he thought? After meeting a traveling rabbi named Jesus who nicknamed him at first sight, Simon begins to be transformed into Peter. As you witness Peter’s transformation into himself through the influence of Jesus, you can take your own steps toward following Jesus more closely through suggested spiritual practices. By the end of this book, may you too know Jesus—and yourself—better than ever. May you step into the freedom of becoming more fully the person you truly are.

JENNIFER A. G. LAYTE is an online spiritual director, in-person pastor, and founder of The Pilgrimage, an online spiritual formation community. Her background in literature and theology gives her imaginative ways of retelling the stories of the Bible and of others, encouraging people to live within their own stories better. She is an amateur artist and the author of two novels, Trees in the Pavement and Favored One. Jennifer lives with her husband, Paul, and their two rescue dogs in the “ruralburbs” of New England.

Kindle Edition

Published April 2, 2025

About the author

Jennifer A. G. Layte was four years old when she first told her mother she wanted to write stories. Since then, she has found both more and less traditional ways to do that. She is the author of three books and is the founder of The Pilgrimage—a Jesus-centered online spiritual formation community, created especially to tend to the stories of those who have been hurt by the church or are otherwise struggling in their faith. Jennifer also pastors—to her own surprise—a small historic church in Central Massachusetts.

Jennifer’s training and certification as an Advanced Practice Board Certified Chaplain, a spiritual director, and an ordained pastor have provided her with unique opportunities to work with diverse (on just about every metric) groups of people. The human stories she has carried and the ways she has found of shepherding people through the difficult parts directly influence her writing. Meanwhile, her formal background in literature and theology gives her imaginative ways of retelling the stories of the Bible and of others, encouraging people to live within their own stories better.

Jennifer and her husband Paul live in New England with their two adorable rescue dogs, an impressive garden, and, to their fascination but not always delight, an astonishing array of wildlife.

Reviews

[Debbie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have read the Bible for a long time, like me, you may think that you don’t have anything new to learn about Simon Peter. But pick up this book and you will be surprised at the fresh insights the author brings to Peter’s story and how Peter’s story relates to your story. Each chapter is followed by a gracious opportunity to go deeper and apply what you have learned in creative and meaningful ways. Also, it’s worth buying the book for the really fun cover alone!

[Emily Cline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I appreciate this book and the journey that the author takes through Peter’s life. I found the content to be well articulated and built, and the overarching message to be strong. It reads very conversational - which makes sense when you learn that the book started as a sermon series.

I did struggle with the myriad of questions and speculation the author posed as to the personal feelings Peter, Jesus, or others may have had. This was particularly evident in chapter 3. I’m sure that we have all had our feelings misunderstood from time to time, so I find it dangerous that we are speculating about others’, especially the Son of God. I believe that if God wanted us to understand these feeling so that we could know Him better, He would have inspired the authors of The Word to include those feelings. When recommending this book I would caution readers on the danger of hanging any truths on arguments built from speculation.

[Michelle VanLoon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This exploration into the personality, calling, and acts of Peter is at once comforting and challenging. Peter's oh-so-relatable humanity shines through each of 11 thoughtful chapters. (That's the comforting part!) But so does the challenging, faithful, and transforming work of the Holy Spirit at every juncture of Peter's journey. Don't let Layte's warm, conversational writing style fool you - she is an apt Bible scholar who brings excellent research and a deeply pastoral heart to the page. Layte is also a trained spiritual director, and she ends each chapter with a suggested practice crafted to help you connect with God by actively connecting Peter's story to your own.

[Lisa Humphries · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenn Layte's book "Follower" takes readers on a journey through the life of Peter, one of the original 12 apostles. As readers move through this moving and illuminating exploration of Peter's faith, they find that they are actually exploring their own faith as well, guided by Jenn's skillful writing. Through both her writing and the suggested reflections in the "Follow More Closely" section at the end of each chapter, readers find themselves not only exploring their own faith more deeply, but drawing closer to Jesus, just as Peter did.

[Kim Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone who follows or wants to follow Jesus needs to read this book.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This weekend, while in contemplative mood, I gave myself the luxury of time and tea by a fire to read through “Follower” in one sitting. I didn’t intend to read it all at once, but then didn’t want to put it down. The voice is real and approachable, as though through an oral conversation. That first read-through brought Simon Peter into focus, following the breadth and depth of his life with and for Jesus. The author's goal is to have the reader think about Peter’s up and downs as a disciple compared to one's own, and to see oneself as Jesus does - a thrilling if startling thought! - that brings one closer to Him.
Now I have begun a second, more important read, in which I am going chapter by chapter, enjoying the good humor, and taking the devotional time for the “Follow More Closely” suggestions at the end of each chapter. I am thoroughly enjoying this book, and will mention it to my pastor, as I think it would be an excellent study book for small groups.

[Persis · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Follower" is a refreshing look at the story of Simon Peter in the Bible. This book focuses less on how to answer Bible study questions "right," and more on how Peter's relationship with Jesus shaped him to become a follower. As modern readers, it's easy to overlook the amount of time and day-in-day-out life together that Jesus had with his disciples. This book captures that relationship aspect well. There were little details in Peter's life that I had missed that the author brought to my attention. The chapters on Peter's denial as his "dark night of the soul" and his subsequent restoration brought me to tears.

I recommend "Follower" for Christians, those who have become wary of the church, and also folks who are curious about the faith. The writing will keep your attention, and the humorous moments will make you smile. But especially commend this book for showing how real a person Jesus was and is and how our relationship with him, like Peter's, will make us more like him.

[Kassel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Jenn’s book and was part of funding her Kickstarter. I really believed in her book and how her teaching of the story of Peter could translate to learning more about myself. Peter, to me, has always been the most relatable character in the Bible, and Jenn does a great job on expanding on the stories and ways to think about Jesus and Peter and their interactions. The Bible often presents Jesus as one-dimensional, but Jenn gives Jesus a personality that reminds us of the good, gentle God that he is.

I began reading the book to see if it would provide practical tips for my life, but it wasn’t the way I expected. The focus is on Peter, identifying with him and his relationship with Jesus, and through that, learning more about ourselves. It’s much more of a contemplative book rather than “here are 5 tips to get closer to Jesus.” Regardless of my initial expectations, it’s still an excellent book that will have me ruminating on Peter’s experience with Jesus and the parallels in my life. I’ll likely reread it again at a later time in my life to see how I view it then.

Well done, Jenn.