My Secret Ingredient Is Love: Discover how you can overcome self-doubt, fear, and life's hardest moments through six inspiring stories

by Faith Olaniran

What if I told you we all have superpowers?We do, and I call them secret ingredients.Life always tests us with our patience, our faith, how deep our love is, and so much more by throwing obstacles our way. Sometimes we overcome and come out stronger, but other times… we don’t.

This collection invites you to discover how you can overcome self-doubt, fear, and life’s hardest moments through six inspiring stories.

The first story, and the title of the book

My Secret Ingredient Is Love, follows the lives of two sisters, Naomi and Esther, seven years apart in age. Naomi, the older sister, has always shown Esther love, treating her with grace and respect despite the age gap.

But Esther doesn’t understand why. Why does her sister love her that much? Is it just obligation?

That’s a question Esther will get an answer to.

Esther is still hurting from something that happened six years ago, something Naomi has already healed from. An event that changed their family forever.

Through their deep conversations, named the Naomi and Esther Sessions by Esther herself, Naomi shares all she’s learned about love and life. From books, videos, and her own experiences, she pours wisdom into her little sister in the gentlest way.

These sessions are the kind you’ll come to love and maybe even recreate in your own life.

But the real question is…

Will Esther finally be able to let go of the pain she’s been carrying for so long?

And will she get a surprise visit from someone she least expects?

This collection includes six stories arranged in the most beautiful reading order.

358 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 22, 2025

Reviews

[Teminikan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of 6 stories that focuses on six ingredients (love, Joy, Faith, Prayer, Patience and Kindness) needed to navigate through life. The author uses fictional stories to give insights on the importance of these ingredients and how we can exhibit them.

The stories are engaging and easy to read. I felt the author’s descriptive style to of writing was perfect for the message she was trying to convey. I liked how each character had their distinct personalities, their imperfections and how they were used to shape the stories.

Each story had their unique lessons but my favorite stories are My secret ingredient is Joy and My secret ingredient is Prayer, they felt very inspiring and personal.

Although, I didn’t like that the author had a personal message at the end of each story because it made it seem like a NF, I still understood what she was trying to do.

If you are looking for a read that will inspire you and help you navigate through life then this is for you ❤️

Thank you to the author for sending me an Arc

[Adaeze Ekpeson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very relatable series of stores that would keep you hooked till the end. I haven't seen myself so much in a book in a long time and this book..it did it for me! especially for young people navigating adulthood this book is a breath of fresh air..you just know everything would be fine because you have these little ingredients!

[Temitope Adeniran · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the author described this book as inspiring, it's no understatement. My secret ingredient is love comprising six short stories, each one representing the secret ingredients we really need to live wholly in a world of constant happenings that might not be too palatable.

She uses fiction to draw out many life lessons from different perspectives. As a Christian, I could largely relate with what these stories represent and how it affects everyday life in general. I found my secret ingredient is joy and my secret ingredient is faith speak so profoundly to me.

I like that the chapters were short and easy to breeze through, making it hold my attention whilst reading.

This is a beautiful read.

[Estar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful collection of six short stories, each centred on a core value: love, joy, peace, prayer, kindness, and patience. What stood out to me most was how seamlessly the author used fiction as a means to teach and communicate these messages without making the stories feel heavy handed.

Each story was engaging in its own right, yet they were all tied together by a gentle moral compass that made the reading experience both meaningful and enjoyable.

I particularly appreciated the subtle incorporation of the bible passages and biblical teachings. They were woven into the narratives in a way that felt natural and intentional, and not overwhelming or preachy. This balance made the book lovely to read, even for readers who might usually shy away from nonfiction, faith based themes or books (readers like me 🌚).

The restraint is one of the book’s greatest strengths. Rather than reading like a devotional or non fiction text, the stories remain firmly rooted in fiction, allowing the lessons to unfold relatably through the characters and their experiences. This approach made the messages more impactful.

Overall, this is a heartfelt and uplifting book that manages to inspire without imposing.

I really enjoyed it and would recommend it to anyone looking for short, meaningful stories that gently explore faith, values, and everyday life through fiction.

[Anuoluwapo Ogunmoroti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished reading this book and all I can say is Whao. It was such an amazing read. A collection of short story that teaches the fruit of the spirit. It was totally worth the read.
From the first short story to the last one I was completely hooked. My favorite short story was the story on Hope and Faith, it just slaps differently It took me one week to read and I was 100 invested in the story.


And the book cover nah it ate and did justice to the content of the story, I would totally recommend.
🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Nanbyen Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book. It’s a collection of 6 short stories that highlight important traits that we all need to have as Christians.

The writing style is beautiful. The stories are relatable and very engaging. It took me just about 2 days to get through the book cause it just flowed nicely.

I think this is a book that everyone should read because it has important lessons that we can all learn.

My favorite stories to read were My secret ingredient is Joy and My secret ingredient is Faith because they really hit close to home.

I highly recommend this one!
5/5 stars

[thenerdyyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

My secret ingredient is love is the best novel I’ve read this year( not trying to hype it), but this book is THAT book you shouldn’t miss out on.
And the parts I loved, was Ms Faith inserting scriptures every chance she gets, those scriptures has really helped me and are still helping me.
So if you haven’t, get your copy now and readdd.
This book is amazingggg

[Olatunbosun Tosin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very relatable and inspiring. Love it

[Ebube · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of stories that'll leave you inspired. I enjoyed reading this

[Tamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing and very relatable. I found myself nodding in approval at several intervals. I literally couldn't stop reading which is quite rare to find these days.

It's a MUST read guyss.

[EstherJP · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very lovely read. If you’re looking for stories that are very relatable this is the book for you. I even picked some things that I would love to incorporate into my own life