This book serves as a reminder that we do need to love ourselves first. Because God loves us and we were created in his imagine.

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.

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.

I hope that this book is being marketed to teens, because it relies heavily on The Bachelor references, pop culture, and "jokes" throughout. It felt like the author stayed on the surface, making a joke instead of a point, and I quit reading after chapter 4. Not worth the time, and not what the book description promises.

“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.

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.

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.



Happy Reading!

Throughout the book, Landra is pretty open and honest about her struggles and the lies that she told her family and friends as she tried to cope with feeling like she didn’t measure up. Her honesty and willingness to be authentic, made me feel as though I was talking to my best friend at a coffee shop.

Throughout her book, she reminds us that we are often our own mean girls inflicting pain; telling ourselves that we are not pretty enough or smart enough and the list goes on and on. The author reminds us that instead of holding on to the negative thoughts that take control of our lives, a better approach is to redirect them and instead focus on the truths of what God says about you.

Even if you have not struggled with an eating disorder, the message that we need not let society define who we are was very profound. Instead of focusing on how others view us, we should seek to be defined instead by the master creator himself. This was an easy and encouraging read reminding us that we are loved, and not too far gone to receive God’s love.

She is currently at a place of contentment with herself and shares with readers practical steps that got her to this point. One being to seek community, we are all better together and can better navigate through our struggles together than alone.

You read can also read the 7 day devotional of A Different Kind of Love Story on the YouVersion Bible App or pickup a copy of A Different Love Story to discover a greater love and appreciation for yourself, in light of the word of God.

3 stars
Not my kids of devotional. Too much emphasis on pop culture and not enough on the Bible. I wish writers would signify what Bible version they were using instead of me having to go hunt it down. Not for me.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

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.

A different kind of love story by Landra young Hughes is an insightful and helpful read.

The book description says:

For anyone who has ever struggled with their identity, Landra Young Hughes has a radically simple message: 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.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants a deeper relationship with God.

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.