What do you think?
Rate this book
Choosing Love in a Broken World
This is a book about love. It’s about how you choose to love and who you choose to love, but most of all it’s about the God who first chose to love you and the ways his incredible love can shape our own relationships.
In a world where teenage girls are bombarded by different messages about love, dating and marriage, God’s voice can get lost in the noise. Take some time to discover the kind of love God wants for you. Learn how listening to God and choosing to love like he does – even when it’s difficult – can lead to real, deep satisfaction and a love that helps others see the heart of God. You might just find that God’s design for relationships is bigger and more wonderful than you ever imagined!
Each chapter includes questions to think about, Bible passages to help you dig deeper and discussion questions to use if you’d like to read this book with a parent or youth leader.
The riches and beauty of God’s love and his plan for relationships are yours to discover.
In a world where teenage girls are bombarded by different messages about love, dating and marriage, God’s voice can get lost in the noise. Take some time to discover the kind of love God wants for you. Learn how listening to God and choosing to love like he does – even when it’s difficult – can lead to real, deep satisfaction and a love that helps others see the heart of God. You might just find that God’s design for relationships is bigger and more wonderful than you ever imagined!
Each chapter includes questions to think about, Bible passages to help you dig deeper and discussion questions to use if you’d like to read this book with a parent or youth leader.
The riches and beauty of God’s love and his plan for relationships are yours to discover.
127 pages, Paperback
Published July 30, 2019
14 people are currently reading
142 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
May 29, 2023
Read with girls from youth group but what I really needed to read and reflect on myself.
A book for Jesus-following teenage girls which seeks to thrill them with the gospel and the all-satisfying, never-ending love of God and then helps them to think about how to apply that to relationships. I loved that it wasn’t a “Do this, don’t do this” book. More of these for teenagers please!
A book for Jesus-following teenage girls which seeks to thrill them with the gospel and the all-satisfying, never-ending love of God and then helps them to think about how to apply that to relationships. I loved that it wasn’t a “Do this, don’t do this” book. More of these for teenagers please!
March 12, 2023
Received this as a free ebook + it is definitely for a younger audience. I believe I would have found this helpful as a teenager.
January 1, 2020
Grateful for Heidi waking through what true biblical love is — with gentle questions guiding conversations between parents and teens. This book would be a fabulous read for mama and young teen girl. So well written & biblically based — encourages more conversation on these topics. And if you listen to the audible — the author reads herself and has a fabulous accent!
May 7, 2020
I enjoyed this book and I appreciated the way Heidi Johnston approached the areas of relationships, marriage and sex in the bigger context of God’s design for the world. As a teenager I struggled to find a Christian book on relationships which wasn’t preachy, but this book seemed different, I liked Heidi’s tone and her desire to share God’s good design with the readers out of concern and love. It is helpful and clear, with many illustrations, and discussion questions after each chapter. I can see myself sharing this with others, but I think it is for quite a specific audience. The author explains that it is written primarily for teenage girls who are committed Christians (and their parents), and that definitely comes through. The book is quite meaty, and includes references to a lot of bible passages to show where the principles come from, so I think it would need a committed and competent reader. It could also be a useful basis for a teenage girls small group/youth group. On a personal note, being married with a baby daughter, it was helpful to be reminded of God’s good purposes for marriage and to think about how I might approach these important topics with my daughter in the future.
August 12, 2020
Wow!! My Christian gals out there - READ THIS!!
January 6, 2020
Written for teen girls, this is a great resource as they think about dating/finding a husband.
The overarching message is to “remember that you are already loved”, vs. searching for love/satisfaction in a dating relationship. This book rehearses the gospel all throughout.
This book helps build a lens or framework for girls as they think through what it means (for a Christian) to pursue marriage...not the typical “how to” dating guide, this reads more like a good heart level conversation...The Qs at the end of each chapter are thought provoking.
The overarching message is to “remember that you are already loved”, vs. searching for love/satisfaction in a dating relationship. This book rehearses the gospel all throughout.
This book helps build a lens or framework for girls as they think through what it means (for a Christian) to pursue marriage...not the typical “how to” dating guide, this reads more like a good heart level conversation...The Qs at the end of each chapter are thought provoking.
July 28, 2019
Love can be marvelous, love can be perilous. Heidi guides the conversation with gentle courage and invites heartfelt questions. I look forward to reading this with my 11-year-old daughter soon.
September 27, 2024
Choosing Love in a Broken World by Heidi Johnston
This is a book I think I’d have benefited from a great deal more perhaps six or eight years ago when I lacked a very full understanding of the function of marriage- or even some close relationships apart from a romantic context. (If you know a young woman in her early teens- I’d very highly recommend this book to her). It’s very rich- yet brief. It took me one afternoon to finish after spontaneously pulling it off the shelf. (Pay me to watch your cat and you’ll also be paying me to pick through your shelves).
Heidi Johnston gives a wonderful explanation of man’s need for abiding companionship among others and how this may (and often does) take the form of marriage. In defining Biblical love (as commitment of the will unto another’s wellbeing- not merely emotive in nature) and covenants (vows broken only by death), Johnston reminds her readers of God’s steadfast love and Christ’s atonement. The two major applications our author made were as follows:
1. The love any daughter of God seeks after is already and wholly hers in Christ.
2. Relationships are designed to reveal God’s love - (ergo: examine your intentions and proceeding behavior towards those you care for against Jesus’s character)
Many young women possess only a counterfeit concept of love so much lower than that which they were made for. I really do think many key discussions with our younger sisters in Christ on this topic may be opened and deftly guided through Johnston’s work.
This is a book I think I’d have benefited from a great deal more perhaps six or eight years ago when I lacked a very full understanding of the function of marriage- or even some close relationships apart from a romantic context. (If you know a young woman in her early teens- I’d very highly recommend this book to her). It’s very rich- yet brief. It took me one afternoon to finish after spontaneously pulling it off the shelf. (Pay me to watch your cat and you’ll also be paying me to pick through your shelves).
Heidi Johnston gives a wonderful explanation of man’s need for abiding companionship among others and how this may (and often does) take the form of marriage. In defining Biblical love (as commitment of the will unto another’s wellbeing- not merely emotive in nature) and covenants (vows broken only by death), Johnston reminds her readers of God’s steadfast love and Christ’s atonement. The two major applications our author made were as follows:
1. The love any daughter of God seeks after is already and wholly hers in Christ.
2. Relationships are designed to reveal God’s love - (ergo: examine your intentions and proceeding behavior towards those you care for against Jesus’s character)
Many young women possess only a counterfeit concept of love so much lower than that which they were made for. I really do think many key discussions with our younger sisters in Christ on this topic may be opened and deftly guided through Johnston’s work.
February 24, 2021
Next time I place an order with my local bookstore, I’m buying a copy of this book. My daughter is 3 years old so I won’t been it for another 10 years or so, but I don’t want to forget about it.
This book is AMAZING!! The approach to love, dating, marriage, and relationships is so firmly grounded in God. God’s love and the Bible come first and are the focus. I love the length of the chapters and the reflection questions that will help teens really engaged with the text (and the ideas therein), and apply it to their own lives and puts them in the position of making their own choices. It’s not just a book of instruction—these are the right choices you should make. It’s a book of invitation highlight the beauty that God envisions for your future and offers that word of grace too! I love this approach and and the set up for discussion when it’s time to address these topics with my daughter.
This book is AMAZING!! The approach to love, dating, marriage, and relationships is so firmly grounded in God. God’s love and the Bible come first and are the focus. I love the length of the chapters and the reflection questions that will help teens really engaged with the text (and the ideas therein), and apply it to their own lives and puts them in the position of making their own choices. It’s not just a book of instruction—these are the right choices you should make. It’s a book of invitation highlight the beauty that God envisions for your future and offers that word of grace too! I love this approach and and the set up for discussion when it’s time to address these topics with my daughter.
Read
December 16, 2020Overall I liked this book...
Chapter 10 on forgiveness is a keeper! I’ve listened to it several times and hope to, at least once more, before it returns.
She has just enough of a different take on things that it caused me to think about old topics in a new way.
The author’s understanding of God’s love is beautiful.
My favorite parts talked about loving someone and being careful because it’s not an isolated relationship; there are many other people who love your significant other.
Other reviews noted that the book description does not allude to the fact that this is written for teenagers. But I listened anyway because I needed a short book so I can meet my reading challenge. lol
It is approximately two hours and read by the author who has a lovely Irish brogue.
Chapter 10 on forgiveness is a keeper! I’ve listened to it several times and hope to, at least once more, before it returns.
She has just enough of a different take on things that it caused me to think about old topics in a new way.
The author’s understanding of God’s love is beautiful.
My favorite parts talked about loving someone and being careful because it’s not an isolated relationship; there are many other people who love your significant other.
Other reviews noted that the book description does not allude to the fact that this is written for teenagers. But I listened anyway because I needed a short book so I can meet my reading challenge. lol
It is approximately two hours and read by the author who has a lovely Irish brogue.
May 10, 2020
I read this book to review. I’m not the authors intended audience. It’s intended for Christian teenage girls thinking about relationships, dating and marriage. With that in mind I think it is helpful for those in the intended audience and their parents. I think the order of chapters could be re-ordered and the whole aim of the book, particularly who it’s for, could’ve been stated at the front rather than in the author comments at the back. I’ll contemplate how I am to review this but I think it’ll land in the ok basket. Solid gospel truth. Traditional Christian ethic around sex and marriage. Little take away practicalities. Big on identity and satisfaction in God.
January 18, 2022
A great resource to have on your bookshelf as a mama to read through with your daughters, but also pass out to other fellow mamas. I appreciated Johnston's approach to digging and leaning into bibical love. And also God's design and purpose for us in the heart of relationships (with anyone) and what that means/looks like in a very practical way without being a lecture or in a box type structure. I absolutely love the questions, think more, and digging deeper prompts for leading farther discussions.
February 7, 2024
This book was so beautiful and I’m so grateful to Heidi for writing this! This has truly spoken to me in numerous ways, reading this at 18 was perfect for me it really made me realise that having Godly standards of love is the best way to be despite what the world says! There were so many quotes that spoke to me but the main one for me was this: ‘The problem is that unless we allow him to teach us how to love and be loved, we will always settle for less. The love God wants for you, even when it takes courage, is better than anything you’ll find on your own.’ 🫶🫶🫶
May 4, 2024
Aimed at teaching teenage girls about dating.
From that perspective, I would give this to any christian teenage Girl out there.
Why did I, a 29 year old guy rate this book so highly? Because _mostly_ this book is about the Gospel. This book, like all the best topical Christian books, talks about Gods love for his people, and therefore reminded me of plenty of things about Christs love for me.
Incidentally, I think at least 95% of the dating advice is gender neutral (if not all of it) and pretty timeless and ageless. So I'm sure I benefited from that as well.
From that perspective, I would give this to any christian teenage Girl out there.
Why did I, a 29 year old guy rate this book so highly? Because _mostly_ this book is about the Gospel. This book, like all the best topical Christian books, talks about Gods love for his people, and therefore reminded me of plenty of things about Christs love for me.
Incidentally, I think at least 95% of the dating advice is gender neutral (if not all of it) and pretty timeless and ageless. So I'm sure I benefited from that as well.
June 3, 2020
If you have a teen daughter, read this book and have your daughter read it. It hits the root of what true love is and what relationships should be. In fact, while the book is targeted to girls, I read it to all three of my kids, including my son, and I feel that it's just as important for him. What does it mean to have healthy relationships? That's the key point Heidi explores in an engaging, practical, and biblical manner.
March 31, 2021
Audio on this one brings with it pros and cons. Pro, it's read by the author in her Irish accent. Con, it blazes through chapter discussion questions. Personally I prefer workbooks with questions in print but I know not everyone does. I appreciate the fact the author wrote this for her teen daughters and I think it's a good starting point. But it also doesn't go too in depth and is more a first introduction.
October 8, 2023
It's exactly what I need. Lots of tear while reading this book. It's a book that wrote from a loving heart of a mother that I think every daughters need to read this. This book helps me to keep standing firm of the foundation of the word of God. Touched on topics like sex, love, what is love, forgiveness. Almost everything about love. So good. Recommend it.
June 30, 2024
This is an excellent book for teenage girls who are professing believers. I found it at a thrift store and pre-read it before giving it to my 15 year old daughter to read. It would be a great book for a girls’ Bible study.
August 28, 2020
A vital message for teenage Christian girls growing up in today's world. Well written and easy to read.
November 8, 2020
Great basic Bible study on all aspects of love with short focused chapters.
February 20, 2021
great resource for Christian teenage girls and parents.
March 5, 2021
I thought this was a very uplifting and lovely book. Very heartfelt and spoke peace to my soul. Forgiveness and kindness and tolerance and forbearance are qualities to strive for.
Read
April 23, 2021Great book; simple, excellent examples/explanations, and very clear message. I would recommend for ages 12-16.
January 19, 2023
An amazing book looking at different aspects of relationships and finding support through these from a Christian viewpoint.
October 23, 2024
Great message to find satisfaction in God. Lots of relevant discussion points with your daughter.
December 5, 2025
This is great! I'll be reading it with my daughter when she's the right age.
March 16, 2021
An excellent book for teen girls! The book is gentle, loving, clear, and very helpful. This isn’t one of those flimsy, feel-goody, antidote-filled, fluff books targeted at young women, but one of real substance and value. I wish I had this book as a teenager, and will be sharing it with those in our church’s youth group.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 7, 2024
A beautiful book that gives young women a starting point when looking at what God means when He tells us to love. Such a good read!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews