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Unashamed: Overcoming the Sins No Girl Wants to Talk About
Are you living in silent shame, hiding a “secret sin”? Maybe you numb life’s pain with a bottle, razor blade, or sex. Maybe you “binge and purge” or act on feelings for other girls. Whatever your “secret”—shocking or not—if you’re trapped by it, you’re trapped by it. And chances are you’re not getting help because you’re too scared of what people would think if they found out.
Unashamed breaks the silence about the sins girls think they have to hide. With daring and a touch of humor, author Jessie Minassian shares her own story of struggle and victory. God longs for you to live in the freedom He died for!
So whether you’re caught in a cycle of sin yourself or just want to know how to help the silent sufferers all around you, let this book be the beginning of your journey toward health, healing, and freedom in His love for you.
Unashamed breaks the silence about the sins girls think they have to hide. With daring and a touch of humor, author Jessie Minassian shares her own story of struggle and victory. God longs for you to live in the freedom He died for!
So whether you’re caught in a cycle of sin yourself or just want to know how to help the silent sufferers all around you, let this book be the beginning of your journey toward health, healing, and freedom in His love for you.
- GenresNonfiction
Unknown Binding
First published May 21, 2015
25 people are currently reading
168 people want to read
About the author
Jessie Minassian
7 books69 followersJESSIE MINASSIAN is a popular speaker, blogger, and author of fifteen books, including Your Brightest Life, and her award-nominated fiction debut, A Gentle Tyranny (pseud. Jess Corban). As the "resident big sis" at Life, Love, and God—a Q&A website for teen- and college-age girls she founded in 2005—she keeps her finger on the pulse of each new generation of young adults. In addition to speaking across the country, Jessie’s work for girls and their parents has been featured internationally through outlets such as Focus on the Family, Parenting Today’s Teens, She Reads Truth, Axis, Revive Our Hearts, and YouthWorker Journal. She and her husband live on the central coast of California with their two teen daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 18, 2022
VIDEO REVIEW: https://youtu.be/BPr7zjtdij4 (I’m using this and another book as jumping off points to talk about anti-science rhetoric used by fundies.)
Put “experts” in quotes when talking about her takes on self harm.
Said “homosexuality is a sin against your own body” and said, I kid you not “it’s dumb” to engage in things that harm your body.
Compared being in slavery to being a sinner.
Put “experts” in quotes when talking about her takes on self harm.
Said “homosexuality is a sin against your own body” and said, I kid you not “it’s dumb” to engage in things that harm your body.
Compared being in slavery to being a sinner.
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January 25, 2019How do I even begin...
I find this book to be incredibly dangerous and toxic. Understand Fortunately this is not an uncommon problem, I find with the Christian,books.
Somebody who has no idea what they’re talking about decides that they, understand problems. As somebody who has lived with, mental health issues for practically my entire life.
This book is deeply hurtful; and quite frankly insulting.
There’s an undertone of judgment, and a subtext if you have mental health problems and you can’t pry,them away you’re a bad person.
The demonization of lgbtq+ individuals is sickening.
What ,you need to understand.
Is kids are killing them selves, hem and tell them how horrible they are.
I wanted this book to be helpful, I wanted this book to have things that could actually, help people.
But at the end of the day.
Telling me that my mental health diseases actually, diagnosed illnesses are just mean, not trying hard enough is unacceptable.
Please I beg of you if you’re struggling and not read this book 📚.
I find this book to be incredibly dangerous and toxic. Understand Fortunately this is not an uncommon problem, I find with the Christian,books.
Somebody who has no idea what they’re talking about decides that they, understand problems. As somebody who has lived with, mental health issues for practically my entire life.
This book is deeply hurtful; and quite frankly insulting.
There’s an undertone of judgment, and a subtext if you have mental health problems and you can’t pry,them away you’re a bad person.
The demonization of lgbtq+ individuals is sickening.
What ,you need to understand.
Is kids are killing them selves, hem and tell them how horrible they are.
I wanted this book to be helpful, I wanted this book to have things that could actually, help people.
But at the end of the day.
Telling me that my mental health diseases actually, diagnosed illnesses are just mean, not trying hard enough is unacceptable.
Please I beg of you if you’re struggling and not read this book 📚.
July 4, 2018
The subject matter of this book couldve opened the door for a very powerful and dynamic read if Minassin (in my opinion) took a different turn. In areas regarding sexual sins, homosexuality in particular, I think she couldve went into further detail about the elements of lust that I believe quite frankly encompass a number of sexual sins and I feel that her scripture usage throughout the book couldve been used alot more. Ultimately I wished the author hit on the focus of knowing God more and pleasing him in order to have a more consecrated relationship with him. I didnt finish reading the book because i felt like this read wasnt really for me. Many things in here I could identify in during my youth years and the reason i read it was to gain a knowledge of how to to encourage young women dealing with this, however I came to the conclusion early on that Jessie and I have different views on how to address and or encourage. She presented a good subject matter, I just thought that it couldve been executed a bit better in her writing. I also didnt really like how she added many sidenote commentaries in parenthesis...it made for a slower read and i felt like it interrupted my read instead of making it humorously flow together.
June 5, 2015
I'm disgusting. No one could ever understand this. I am all alone, and God will never forgive me.
So many girls (and woman) tell themselves these lies about their sexual or painful secrets. Cutting, alcohol, drugs, abuse, homosexual behavior...they are all ways we use to take control of our lives, but at the cost of our relationship with God.
In this highly personal book, Jessie Minassian shares lessons she's learned about secret sin and God's never ending grace. Well written and readable, Unashamed would be helpful for parents of teen girls, woman still living in shame, counselors, teachers, and youth Bible study groups. Jessie uses God's word to show us how to escape the clutches of sin and to truly live in grace.
Having suffered "secret sin" for most of my life, I appreciated the personal stories of Jessie and other girls who dealt with the same issues. The Enemy tells you that you're all alone, that no one will ever understand. Reading first hand accounts of other females working through the exact same problems will show you how much you've imbibed his lies, and bring you one step closer to breaking free.
SimplyHomeschoolLiving.net
So many girls (and woman) tell themselves these lies about their sexual or painful secrets. Cutting, alcohol, drugs, abuse, homosexual behavior...they are all ways we use to take control of our lives, but at the cost of our relationship with God.
In this highly personal book, Jessie Minassian shares lessons she's learned about secret sin and God's never ending grace. Well written and readable, Unashamed would be helpful for parents of teen girls, woman still living in shame, counselors, teachers, and youth Bible study groups. Jessie uses God's word to show us how to escape the clutches of sin and to truly live in grace.
Having suffered "secret sin" for most of my life, I appreciated the personal stories of Jessie and other girls who dealt with the same issues. The Enemy tells you that you're all alone, that no one will ever understand. Reading first hand accounts of other females working through the exact same problems will show you how much you've imbibed his lies, and bring you one step closer to breaking free.
SimplyHomeschoolLiving.net
April 7, 2020
I commend Jessie's passion to reaching female teenagers. Her style works well with this age group and it is more relatable than technical. Jessie gives practical advice and doesn't sugarcoat the reality of sin or how it affects us. Before getting into anything more personal, I can appreciate her words of wisdom, which I wasn't expecting, "If you know that reading even a matter-of-fact description of a sin might cause you to be more tempted to sin or to try a sin for the first time, please just skip to page 33." As someone who struggled with a secret sin for a decade, I did not have this wisdom and 'matter-of-fact' information about that sin caused many pitfalls when I thought I was strong enough to handle it. Jessie does have testimony's littered throughout the book with struggles of sin and no 'skip-ahead' warning but the wisdom still applies - know your limitations.
A parent who might be hesitant about allowing their daughter to read this book: perhaps going through it together might be helpful? Or maybe even read the book and chapters first and make it into a conversation. Either way, I would highly recommend this book simply for the fact that a lot of children are navigating the world apart from their parents help (or without godly resources/guidance) and it's leading them down dark paths. I know too many people, even people with well meaning *godly* parents, who fell into secret sins in their childhood and it's been a battle well into their adulthood. Sin comes from within, so don't fall to a false sense of security in thinking your child would never do something. This book is good in that Jessie is direct, sensitive, and points back to Jesus.
I gave it a three star because there were some spots that I was hesitant on. I found some of her wording off - though perhaps this comes simply through the style of writing to teenaged girls. I found it very insightful and gleaned many truths from it, but I'm not a teenager so I felt disconnected (for a lack of a better word). Otherwise, as a three star indicates, I *liked* it.
A parent who might be hesitant about allowing their daughter to read this book: perhaps going through it together might be helpful? Or maybe even read the book and chapters first and make it into a conversation. Either way, I would highly recommend this book simply for the fact that a lot of children are navigating the world apart from their parents help (or without godly resources/guidance) and it's leading them down dark paths. I know too many people, even people with well meaning *godly* parents, who fell into secret sins in their childhood and it's been a battle well into their adulthood. Sin comes from within, so don't fall to a false sense of security in thinking your child would never do something. This book is good in that Jessie is direct, sensitive, and points back to Jesus.
I gave it a three star because there were some spots that I was hesitant on. I found some of her wording off - though perhaps this comes simply through the style of writing to teenaged girls. I found it very insightful and gleaned many truths from it, but I'm not a teenager so I felt disconnected (for a lack of a better word). Otherwise, as a three star indicates, I *liked* it.
March 26, 2016
Unashamed 'Overcoming the Sins No Girl Wants to Talk About' by Jessie Minassian is a tremendous asset for young women today. This knowledgeable book will help individuals understand that they are not alone and need not isolate. Young people no longer need to suffer in silence. The most wonderful news is that there is hope. The author helps the reader find the spiritual tools to break from bondage and free herself of self-hate, anorexia, cutting and other disturbing practices that become addictions. Ms. Minassian makes a sensitive approach on dealing with those things that what otherwise beset us. I was given the tremendous opportunity to read and review this book for the Tyndale Blog Network.
November 29, 2020
Every thing said here I cherished.. here are some excerpts
God views each sin the same. Every sin breaks His standard equally, and He offers the same forgiveness and mercy for every single one.
When God mends the broken pieces of your life, you are more beautiful for having been broken. He doesn't just make you beautiful despite your biggest mess-ups; He makes you beautiful because of them.
God views each sin the same. Every sin breaks His standard equally, and He offers the same forgiveness and mercy for every single one.
When God mends the broken pieces of your life, you are more beautiful for having been broken. He doesn't just make you beautiful despite your biggest mess-ups; He makes you beautiful because of them.
May 1, 2018
Book about the very important topic - the secrets sins of girls. Like food - related issues (anorexia, bulimia...), substance abuse or sexual-related issues.
This is a Christian book.
I applaud the authoress for her honesty in sharing her own personal story. This makes her a relatable partner in this very much needed debate about the secrets (so often accompanied by shame) in which so many girls are silently suffering. Yes, they do need to know that they are not alone. That they are not bad. That there is hope and healing for them.
But while I recognize the warm approach, I wish to read more about God´s mercy.
I find important the topic of dealing with the "why" more, too - what is the "base" for the particular sin. Like the longing for love might be the (mispaced) base for sexual sins. I believe than recognizing the fallen nature of the sins might start the desire for the real thing.
I would recommed to accompany this book with several others when handing it to someone suffering. Namely the wonderful novel The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St. James, Nancy N. Rue dealing with the cutting.
This is a Christian book.
I applaud the authoress for her honesty in sharing her own personal story. This makes her a relatable partner in this very much needed debate about the secrets (so often accompanied by shame) in which so many girls are silently suffering. Yes, they do need to know that they are not alone. That they are not bad. That there is hope and healing for them.
But while I recognize the warm approach, I wish to read more about God´s mercy.
I find important the topic of dealing with the "why" more, too - what is the "base" for the particular sin. Like the longing for love might be the (mispaced) base for sexual sins. I believe than recognizing the fallen nature of the sins might start the desire for the real thing.
I would recommed to accompany this book with several others when handing it to someone suffering. Namely the wonderful novel The Merciful Scar by Rebecca St. James, Nancy N. Rue dealing with the cutting.
November 5, 2023
I get nervous to read Christian books because they always seem so harsh and judgmental, and the author seems to act like they are so much better and knowledgeable than the reader. But this book was nice, it was very gentle, kind, and understanding. It tackled sin in a way that wasn’t trying to make the reader feel bad, but rather genuinely understand why sin is wrong, and how to overcome it without feeling horrible about yourself.
April 13, 2022
Jessie gives practical steps to overcome temptations and how to not keep sinning. She also indeed voice out the needs of every woman to be heard of. This is not my to go Christian book but so far it will help me to be reminded that I should be always obedient to God's commands in order to have a reward— which are His promises.
May 28, 2018
Great!
Great advice and simple! Very practical, down to earth, relatable and great attitude. No matter what you are dealing with you can connect with her.
Great advice and simple! Very practical, down to earth, relatable and great attitude. No matter what you are dealing with you can connect with her.
July 22, 2015
I was given this book to review and really felt drawn to the subject of girls struggling in the hidden places of life. I loved that the author starts out with making us, as the reader, feel like she's talking to a friend. It's easy to follow and easy to get hooked into the flow of chapters. Some heavy stuff is talked about in this book and some of it makes me have such a heavy heart. Girls struggle with so many hidden things, it's heartbreaking. I felt the author touched on how Jesus is better and the only answer to living free from it all, but I do feel it only scratched the surface. It was definitely a quick read for me, and I felt the book is mostly at its best in a middle school girl grade level. Which is probably fine, since we need to start talking to our girls about this stuff now. Its a good reference book, as well, for youth leaders/workers.
December 21, 2023
Very helpful and lovely 💕
April 3, 2017
A good tool to give to a girl who is struggling. I love all of Jessie's Minassian's books.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews