In this book, you're going to read about a different kind of love story. It's a love story each and every one of us is currently playing a role in--whether we're aware of it or not. And truth be told, it's scary-critical that we stay tuned-in to this love story. Because outside of a growing relationship with your heavenly Father, no other love (or lack of love) has the potential to improve or implode your life like the love that you have for you .
For anyone who has ever struggled with their identity, Landra Young Hughes has a radically simple give up. Specifically, give up your need to be in control of how other people see you. Instead, let God's words--not yours and not others'--define you. Through her own deeply personal story of trying to control her circumstances and others' perceptions of her through an eating disorder, Landra points the way toward a life free from self-obsession and self-resentment. She shows you how to listen to God's voice, let go of the struggle for perfection, and live authentically from your deepest self.
Landra was a young teen when her family came under fierce media scrutiny. Her dad was a successful pastor who was under (false) attacks. Landra responded to the family crisis by controlling the only thing she felt she could, her food intake. The action developed into a potentially deadly eating disorder.
Landra is open and honest about her experiences, sharing the truths she has learned from them. She helps us understand the shame and lies that pervaded her life. She encourages us with the healing that came out of honesty. She admonishes us to be kind to ourselves, to stop being the mean girl inflicting inner pain. She includes practical suggestions for conquering whatever obstacle is in front of us. These come from her own experiences and trust in God's wisdom.
This is a good book for teens and young women. The length is not overwhelming. Hughes and Crawshaw have a very readable writing style with many personal illustrations and a good dose of humor. Hughes is familiar with the influence of current media, like television, movies and social sites. Young women would relate to many of her experiences and insights. I recommend this book to young people desiring to understand and live out who you are in Christ, embracing the real you without shame. Unfortunately, the galley I read included no questions for personal reflection or group discussion.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
This book is cute! I was a little confused about the audience for the book. I know she is a 20-something wife and mother, but it also felt like it was written toward teen girls and young 20s. I am neither. So while I certainly wanted to read her book and enjoyed the style of writing, I can't say that I learned something new. Of course it was full of great scriptures and relatable stories. Her personal story is such an important story for young women to hear--not that it stops with young women, but she clearly relates well to them. Also, it wasn't written like a self-help book, so there weren't specific points or how-to's. (Another great reason it would be a great read for young women.) For me, it didn't connect for practical how-to's, which is something I look for in my teaching/self-help books. I want to be able to walk away from a book and know exactly what I can do take from it to apply to my life. I didn't feel that from this book. Nothing wrong with that format, just not exactly what I expected. As valuable and important as her story of fighting an eating disorder is, her resolution to it lacked that practicality that the reader could take away and say this is what I am going to do. Yes, confess to someone who will help hold you accountable with love and grace. Yes, dig deep into the Word of God. Yes, learn love yourself the way God does. But for me, I need more practical steps. But that just wasn't what this book was. Like I said, that's okay. It made for a great "memoir" style book.
I was so excited to be given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review because the cover immediately caught my eye! We all, including me, struggle with loving ourselves and I was ready to hear how I could mirror God’s love for me.
Landra writes of her experience with eating disorders in her late teens and young adulthood and how that made loving herself the way we were designed to extremely difficult. I appreciated her vulnerability and honesty throughout the book on this specific area of her life as well as her willingness to share the impact of her family’s media attention on her childhood.
Although she stated that God’s love is the most important love (truth!), I felt like there was a lot of that missing throughout the book. I just expected a little more - especially in a culture where the concept of self-care and self-love can be in opposition of scripture. That wasn’t the case in this book, but I feel she has an awesome platform to discuss the difference between what’s biblical and what culture is telling us. The writing was also a bit cheesy in my opinion, but the message was good overall.
In this book, Landra shares her struggles and difficulties in a truly raw and vulnerable manner. Through her openness and honesty, she allows her story to impact the reader in very real ways. Peppered with consistent Bachelor jests and content, her personality shines through enabling the reader not just to receive content but to also connect to the author. While the message about loving oneself is wildly popular in our culture today, Landra gives fresh insight into the practicalities of how that is truly walked out in a relationship with God. She writes, “When I fell in love with God, I was also able to fall in love with me.”
This is a great book that is a quick read that delivers phenomenal content! Glad I preordered it and read it and would encourage others to do the same.
In her book A Different Kind of Love Story, Landra Young Hughes tells her own gut-wrenching story of battling back to abundant life from an eating disorder while helping readers learn valuable lessons about what it means to find your identity in Christ. She speaks openly and honestly about her own struggles, meeting readers where they are and offering empathy with their own struggles, however different.
Hughes, the daughter of Fellowship Church pastor Ed Young, Jr., gives readers plenty to chew on while making sure she backs up everything with Scripture. When I first picked up the book, I had no idea who Landra is. But my esteem for her only grew hearing her story. I have lived the "pastor's kid" life myself, though maybe not as high profile. So I can understand many of the pressures she discusses. Regardless, anyone who has struggled with identity issues and wondered about God's love for them will find a kindred spirit and much-needed encouragement to head to the Scriptures for truth.
A Different Kind of Love Story opens the door for honest, authentic discipleship, helping readers realized we are all humans who make mistakes and sin. But none of us are too far gone that the love of Jesus cannot reach us. She helps readers learn to grasp that love and hang on to it. Her down-to-earth tone and her "sitting in a coffee shop visiting" manner help readers feel at home and understood.
This is one book you need to read. And while you may want to hear the next part of the story, you really ought to sit and soak in each chapter. I hope that the author and publisher will publish a small group guide or make some discussion questions available so small groups can walk through some of these ideas together.
Note: I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for this honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
A Different Kind of Love Story is a fabulously written personal life story from Landra Young Hughes. In A Different Kind of Love Story, Landra shares a journey starting in her teenage years to being a young mother. She was raised the daughter of a famous pastor and endured some turbulent times as a family that were very public, not necessarily by choice. Landra then went on to develop an eating disorder and went to treatment for her eating disorder. Although this book does share about her eating disorder it is applicable to many.
On page 122 Landra shares a label that women need to put on themselves. It is “Chosen By God”. This really resonated with me!
On page 148 Landra writes, “Maybe you need to keep your personal life private because that’s what’s been modeled for you. Maybe your parents never talked about spiritual or faith based topics and it’s just a foreign concept to you. Maybe it feels weird to let others in when you have doubts because you are afraid of looking stupid or weak or like you’re not a ‘good’ Christian.” Laundre then goes on to share how opening up your personal life will deepen your spiritual life.
A Different Kind of Love Story is full of wisdom, personal experiences and encouragement.
A Different Kind of Love Story is an excellent book that I would recommend. I was given a free copy from the publisher for my honest review which I was happy to do.
This book is interwoven with the author's struggle to overcome an eating disorder and references to The Bachelor. Her struggle to love and accept herself consumed her and nearly destroyed her life. While many of us will not have such a dramatically visible experience, the lessons imparted in this book will still get you on the path to loving yourself.
Know God--God created us to be loved in a way only he could love us. He did that because he wanted to create a desire in us for a relationship with him. When you understand how God loves you, it puts the way you view yourself in a new light.
You view yourself through his eyes. You love yourself because he does.
Know yourself--one of the things the author purports is the importance of knowing yourself in relation to who God is. When we base our identity on things outside of Christ, we run the risk of losing who we are in the process. We make poor choices and do things we wouldn't normally do.
Run your race--every one of us needs to practice self-kindness. That means not listening to the "mean girl" in our heads and taking the necessary steps for us to be physically, spiritually, and emotionally healthy.
I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher as part of the Baker Bloggers program; a positive review was not required.
I believe God put this book in my life or at least led me along a path to find it. As a person who is seeking to get to know God and Jesus better each day, this book has given me tools to help me quicken my pace and gave me courage to continue.
The author explains why she believes we seek God's unconditional love and reassures readers that individual "plot twists" in one's life can be big events, chronic ones, small or big. Everyone is dealing with issues. Without knowing of the greatest of God's love, people tend to turn to other people, social media, drugs, alcohol or other addictions to try and fulfill the need. But while people and all the worldly stuff make us suffer, God will never desert us.
I learned that anything that makes me lie to others who love me, encourages me to hurt myself and endanger my health, is actually a sin. The author quotes Biblical proof of most of her points and after reading this book I have a much better understanding of how the Bible applies to me today.
The author discusses how we are our own worst critics and shows her readers how to redirect their mean thoughts to how God would say them. She encourages us to be kind to ourselves because God loves us, no matter what. "...regardless of how big or small, our acts of faith carve pathways for God's miracles in our lives." She continues to let readers know having faith is not always easy. "Demonstrating faith requires something of us. It requires action. It also requires courage."
My favorite quote from the book is that we are "Chosen by God." I immediately wanted to get this on a tee shirt, a magnet, a sign. I continued reading and the author suggested that her readers write this phrase down and keep it where we can see it every day.
I highly recommend this conversational and very personal journey that this author shared with us.
“Your fear, your worry, your uncertainty in what comes next, does not compare to what we know to be true. God’s love is bigger. And he is for you.”
I will admit, I am really hard on myself. I have even struggled with low self-esteem at times, even though my family has always been supportive and I have a strong faith. This made me really connect with the author in A Different Kind of Love Story. This book is an inspiring message about learning to love yourself because you have a God who already loves you more than you can comprehend. Hughes interweaves her own story of overcoming an eating disorder with encouraging words to help us turn to God in our struggles. I wish she would have included a little more of her story, but I enjoyed learning more about her and soaking in the message of her book. I read it in one weekend, and I especially appreciated reading about the importance of being willing to seek help, because that has always been really hard for me.
“We’re afraid we’ll be seen as weak. But isn’t asking for help the opposite of weak? Think about it. What takes more courage, speaking out or staying silent? What takes more bravery, taking a step or remaining still? What takes more strength, being comfortable or making progress? But did you know that asking for help is honoring to God? It is. God created us with a need for help.”
I would recommend this book for anyone who is working on loving themselves and self-growth, while also focusing on drawing near to God. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Baker Books, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
If you have ever struggled with perfectionism, how others view us or loving ourselves as we are... this is the book for us! I don't know about you, but that seems to cover just about every woman ever, doesn't it? Let's be honest, these are common struggles that we face to some degree.
With Valentine's Day having just passed, love is certainly in the air... but this book is as the name suggests not your typical love story. It is a story about finding your identity in God and learning to love yourself. Isn't that one of the most important love stories ever to be told. We get a very open and honest look into the author's life and her struggles with loving herself, control and eating disorders. As someone who struggles with perfectionism, I could see so much of myself among these words. Still, as heavy a topic as this might have been, it was actually a rather enjoyable read regardless. Landra Young Hughes offered an open voice that I think readers of all ages can really relate to, as it doesn't feel forced at all. I really came to enjoy her voice. While there are certainly other books on the topic, this is one that I would certainly recommend.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for consideration. All thoughts are 100% my own.
A Different Kind of Love Story How God's Love for You Helps You Love Yourself by Landra Young Hughes Baker Books Christian Pub Date 04 Feb 2020
I am reviewing a copy of A Different Kind of Love Story through Baker Books and Netgalley:
A Different Kind of Love Story is about a love story we all play a role in, the love story we all have a part in whether or not we realize it. It is critical that we stay in tune with this love story, no other love or the lack of love has the potential to make you stronger or break you than the love we have for Jesus and the love we have for ourselves.
In this book Landra Young Hughes has a radical and different approach, a radically simple message that is to give up, that is to give up on the need to control how we are seen by others. In this book we are reminded to let God's words not the words of ourselves or others define you.
This deeply personal and moving book helps you to grow in the knowledge that who we are is not defined by how we see ourselves or how others see us, but it matters how we are seen by God.
I give A Different Kind of Love Story five out of five stars.
In A Different Kind of Love Story by Landra, she writes about the love story that each reader gets to live. It isn't your typical love story, but one that is radical and transformative because this is the love story that romances every single one of us. This kind of love is something that can only be purchased by our Heavenly Father, through Jesus. No other love can satisfy our souls.
And for anyone who has ever struggled with their worth or identity, Landra can relate as well. Her message is "give up"- meaning stop controlling how others see you and instead be concerned about how God sees you. She recounts to the reader how she struggled with an eating disorder and how the disorder consumed her identity until, she was able to grasp the truth of who God was and the message he was trying to covey to her, through His love.
This book is one to read and read again. The messages of truth and identity are real, important and based on the word of God. I am very thankful for this book and thankful for how raw Landra is when writing it. I highly recommend picking up a copy today.
Landra grew up in the spotlight as the daughter of well-known pastor, Ed Young Jr. When the Young family's values and intentions were questioned, Landra felt like her life was crumbling beneath her. Landra's struggles in life led her to an eating disorder. While she is still not fully healed, she has learned how to cope by finding love within herself, with her treasured husband, with her blessing of a daughter, and most of all, with her Savior, Jesus.
Landra had me at page one when she said, "I love The Bachelor." As a reality television addict, I can relate. I knew right away that Landra's story would be one I could relate to and learn from, and I was right. Landra is open and honest with the things she has dealt with in her life. By being obedient to God and sharing her story, she is allowing God to take a terrible situation and turn it into something good. Landra's story is touching and real and will help more people than she even realizes. Thank you, Landra for telling your story. I really appreciate being able to read and review this book from Baker Publishing.
"Outside of a growing relationship with God, no other love (or lack of love) has the potential to improve or implode your life like the love that you have for you."
Landra Young Hughes is now able to love herself but that hasn't always been the case. A Different Kind of Love Story is the honest account of how she has overcome her doubts and an eating disorder and finally learned that God offers her, and all of us, an unconditional love. She has filled twelve chapters with personal reflections and Bible scripture that offer readers encouragement, inspiration, and the reminder that there is nothing that we can do to earn God's love. She also relates that "God knows who you really are. God knows what your labels are. The good, the bad, the ugly. He knows the real you."
A Different Kind of Love Story is important for all who have experienced doubts about their self-worth and its conversational style makes it especially appealing to younger women.
I received a free copy of this book from Baker Books. There was no obligation to post a positive review.
This is a nonfiction read, and is one of those books that really can speak to our innermost being. I so much appreciated the wisdom and story I read in these pages. So much that I’m reading it through again, a second time. This time, reading it out loud to my daughters.
Landra Hughes has opened up herself, her life, and shown us some of the very hard things she faced as she learned more about God, His Love, and herself.
I love her honesty, her openness, her authenticity as she tells about the struggles she faced during some of her darkest times.
If you are looking for a better understanding of God, of His Love for you, and just about how to better live a life for Him, then you won’t want to miss this one!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I really enjoyed reading “A Different Kind of Love Story” by Landra Young Hughes. Landra shared a lot of her own story and also shared stories/scriptures from the Bible. I appreciated Landra’s raw honesty, and it felt like Landra was sitting here talking to me as a friend. I loved how she stressed, throughout the whole book, that our identity is not based on what others think. I think we women all need to hear this. This is an age where we, as women, compare ourselves to other women often. This happens to women of all ages and walks of life. I know this, because I tend to do this often. Landra shows us how that doesn’t matter. All that matters is what God thinks of us. This was such a gentle reminder for me.
I definitely recommend this book for all women.
I received this book from Baker Books for my honest opinion.
Landra Young Hughes is the daughter of Pastor Ed Young founder of Fellowship church. After a scandal hit her familly she developed an eating disorder during her teenage years. She tried to hide it, lying to her familly and others, but her therapist advised Landra's parents to send her in an inpatient facility. Her healing was a journey, little by little confessing the truth to her boyfriend, reading the bible, going to church... was some of the things who helped her.
In her book she explains how much it is important not to being mean to yourself because it can be destructive and in the contrary if you are kind to yourself is constructive. You also need to remember you are more than what people think about you, you should not let them put a label on you because you are God's child, you are treasured and chosen by Him.
Landra has some serious spunk and a lot of very insightful things to say. I have read a lot of Christian living books and I still had a few "I have never thought about that like this before!"
In the beginning I was eye rolling a bit when she kept bringing up her parents and everything that they had went through, thinking she was using this novel to make a statement. When she talks about the next part of her life, the destructive eating disorder that stemmed from all the hurt and pain of living that public humiliation and betrayal, I completely understood why she walked us through her family's journey first.
Landra is loveable, funny and smart. She writes like she is having a heart to heart with a close girlfriend but packs her chapters full of relevant scripture and real life stories. Definitely a great read I can't wait to share with my friends!
A Different Kind of Love Story: How God’s Love for You Helps You Love Yourself is an important book by Landra Young Hughes. The book sends the great message of how freeing it is to let go of the need to be in control, and instead let God be in control. Hughes’ personal story is very captivating, and she talks about her struggle with an eating disorder. Hughes is witty, and she infuses her book with a tone of pleasant lightheartedness. A Different Kind of Love Story reminds us that failures are normal and God is our refuge.
This book was inspired writing, challenging and encouraging to read with that also allow and guiding us to learning and see-through ourselves the same way as God had loved you and see in you with trust in the unfailing, unchanging, unyielding, and with unconditional or lack of love that God had created us to be from inside and outside. I highly recommend to everyone must to read this book. “ I received complimentary a copy of this book from Baker Books Bloggers for review”.
A Different Kind Of Love Story is a Spiritual Growth book by author Landra Young Hughes.
At this time of year, romance is especially exciting. However, as the author states, “This book is about learning to love yourself.” I’ve heard it said, “If you don’t love yourself, how can you love others?” I believe God made us to love and be loved. We are made in His image and even though He is the God of justice He is also the God of love.
This book is also a memoir of Pastor Ed Young’s daughter and the difficulties she went through after the rumors of her dad made the headlines. Difficulties including eating disorders, lying, and time spent in rehab.
I recommend this book to fans of memoirs or anyone with an eating disorder.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255