Be Free. Be You.

by Achea Redd

In today's culture of stress, competition, and perfect images, it's all too easy to hit rock bottom. Confronted by anxiety about our appearance, our performance, and ourselves, we can feel trapped, imprisoned by the person society expects us to be. The only way to escape that prison is to learn to love who we are--who we really are.

Be Free. Be You. is all about the journey to wholeness and happiness through loving and embracing the real you. With humor, empathy, and honesty, Achea Redd takes you through the ups and downs of her own life and uses her story to show you the path to self-love and authenticity. Let this book be your guide to finding happiness in the person you really are.

168 pages, Paperback

Published June 18, 2019

Reviews

[Caitlin Hix · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read books twice, but Achea’s book is one I’ll pick up often for years to come. My favorite chapters are on forgiveness and being a trailblazer (the latter regarding relationships with women you may not like very much):

“You can dislike a person or not get a person and still speak to them. It’s called being polite—better yet, it’s called being a grown-up. Let’s not mistake “being real” for being immature.” 👏

This tiny-but-mighty book is filled with insightful reminders on living authentically, creating genuine relationships and letting go of toxic stories we’ve been telling ourselves for years. A must-read.

[Alysha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really want to like this book. I love the premise behind it. Achea Redd encourages her readers to embrace their individuality and work through their struggles instead of trying to bury them. Redd writes in a way that pushes her readers to have the courage to let go of what doesn’t serve them and to nurture the things that will make them stronger. I have no doubt that if Redd and I were to have a face-to-face conversation, we would hit it off, as we do share a lot of common interests and experiences.

But… I constantly felt myself wanting MORE from the author. I wish she would have spent more time telling stories that emphasize the points she makes. I wish she would’ve spent more ruminating on her thoughts in order to make them sink into my malleable brain. I wish it felt like we were having a conversation. Make me feel like I, the reader, am your friend and we are out for brunch, discussing life. Make me feel like I have known you my whole life. Instead, it feels like I’ve read a list of bullet points for how to live my best life, but haven’t really had any of them sink in. The bullet points are good, but as the reader, I wasn’t led through the long and soul-clenching process of how to apply these lessons. It almost feels like I am on information overload.

Redd does provide journaling opportunities throughout the book, but the activities seem vague and I had a hard time feeling inspired to complete the challenges. For example, on page 24 the “Action Activity #2” asks the reader, “What are some moments of reality that you have been overlooking or ignoring?”. I felt this was quite a vague question, and wasn’t sure on how this journal opportunity could help me deepen my own personal journey. Overall, this book didn’t seem quite finished. It felt like I was reading an outline to a really promising upcoming release, but it just hadn’t been completely developed yet.

In all honesty, I likely have forgotten most of what I read. And I actually wish I could remember more, as Redd gives some solid words of advice. I think if the ideas in this book could have been expanded further, this book would go from sub-par to stellar.

[Katie Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This uplifting and heartfelt book offers an honest exploration of self worth, authenticity, and the courage to embrace who we truly are. Achea Redd combines personal experience with practical encouragement, creating a message that feels compassionate, relatable, and empowering. Her reflections address the pressures of modern life while reminding readers that genuine happiness begins with self acceptance rather than perfection. The writing is engaging, warm, and filled with wisdom that encourages lasting personal growth. Each chapter inspires readers to release fear, overcome self doubt, and build confidence from within. Its balance of vulnerability, humor, and hope makes the journey both meaningful and encouraging. It is highly recommended for readers seeking personal growth, emotional wellness, self confidence, and a more authentic life.

[Cassidy bookswithmybulldog · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was pretty underwhelmed by this book. It has very heavy religious undertones, and although the author states in the prologue that the religious aspect can be overlooked if you don’t agree with it, I found that there was no possible way to “read around” it. The writing was clunky and choppy at times. It touched on many important self help topics but didn’t dig deep enough into any of them for me. After finishing the book I’m left feeling confused and not sure what the authors advice even was - aside from the overbearing idea that we should all find God.

[Reading Writer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this gem 💎 of a book 📖 in just an hour. Achea gives the backstory of her dealings with anxiety , self - image + depression. As the wife of a former NBA player , her transparency speaks to the pressures of a certain social status as well as the stigma of mental health in the black community. Definitely a 🧡 good read for anyone who lives with anxiety|depression or desires to grow in understanding in these areas.
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[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author wrote a great book about letting go of the need to please everyone and to start to love yourself for who you are. Our society encourages us to be anxious about our appearances, what we have, etc. and the author of this book gets the message across that we don't need any of that to be happy as long as we have love for ourselves. This was a book that makes the reader think about their life and want to make changes.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book of dealing with anxiety and questions at the end of each chapter to work through.