Go Bravely

Girl power! This book is stunning. I was highlighting all over the place. If you are a woman of faith or are interested in learning more about the faith, I urge you to pick up this book. There is something in here that will speak to your heart. Thank you to Emily Wilson Hussem for writing such soul-filled work.

As a Christian Woman living in today's world, this book resonated with me so much. I started reading this just after the church service and I could not stop highlighting quotes from this book. It was just so amazing. However, there was times when I didn't completely agree but that is just a personal gripe and nothing to do with the writing or the book itself. One of my favourite quotes from this book is 'when we give each day to God, we are inviting him into our lives more fully, and we are able to surrender to a dependence on his will and his strength throughout the day' and I so think that is true. We should try to live every day 'bravely' in God. Ave Maria Press, you are welcome to send me any books like this in the future because I was truly in awe of this book.

Thank you to Net Gallery for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

This is a delightful book about self love and friendship between women. There were part of this book I couldn't relate to, as someone who's not religious but I still loved the message. It was uplifting and brave. My favorite part of Go Bravely was how much it stressed the importance of being kind to women. I LOVE that message. I was glad I got a chance to read something outside of my comfort zone, I really enjoyed it and the message will stay with me long after.

I am in love with this book and I highly recommend checking it out!

In a culture where the phrase "it doesn't really matter" resounds, Emily Wilson Hussem provides a voice of hope and encouragement that our choices and desire to live for Christ do matter.  In fact, she helps us see in twenty relatable points that making decisions based on our relationship with Christ is so important for living a Brave life.

This pretty little volume is packed with great advice for young women. This is just the thing to share with a young lady navigating the drama of high school or college, or for someone a little older who needs a reminder of their innate worth.

Be yourself. 
Do what you know is right. 
Take good care of your body. 
Don't worry what everyone else is saying. 
You are a daughter of God.

Ms. Hussem shares personal stories of how she navigated tricky situations in her young adulthood, and each chapter ends with ideas for taking action. I have not read such a wise and truth-packed advice book in a long time, and I highly recommend it!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ave Maria Press for providing me this book in exchange for a honest review. 

I decided to read this book because of the cover and title, they looked interesting so when I found out that the book was actually a sort of self-help guide for christian women I was really surprised. I've never read a book like this before, I'm in my twenties and I don't have a lot of experiences but I want to give you my thoughts and opinions about this book anyway.
The writer speaks to women, younger or older it doesn't really matter, every woman out there can understand the messages between this pages and learn something from the author. She tells some stories about her life as a religious woman and it was quite interesting to see how her religion influenced her way to see the world. I never talk about my belief online but I have to say that I could relate to some parts of this book and I have friends that would be really glad to read something like this. I can't say this book is for everyone, but there are so many important messages in it and I'm glad I've read it. It's about accepting yourself, your body and your individuality. It's about faith, marriage and life during university years and after that. There are a lot of different things in it and the author connected all of them with her feelings and her belief. My favourite parts were the "Take action" sections at the end of each chapter. When you are first introduced to a subject there is a strong message, then an explaination with examples, but in that last short section of a chapter the "Take action" shows that you can really do something, you don't need superpowers to change your life, everyone can make a difference.
I would recommend this book mostly to Christian women that are looking for a guide and are interested in learning how they can conquer life without denying themselves.

An interesting book which provides reassurance to young women on how they can be themselves in a difficult world.

Whilst targeted towards Christian young women, many of the pages will resonate with all ages and people of different faiths or non faith.

Uplifting, inspiring, a must read for all young women of God

I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't have this book when I was younger. Being a young Christian in today's world is not an easy task; in fact it's hard living a faithful life.
Emily shares her struggles and ways forward and gives inspiring advice to all who read this book. Even as a married evangelical women; I found a lot of the advise uplifting, encouraging, inspirational and motivating.

‘Go Bravely’ is a really lovely book. The cover caught my eye straight away, a very calming collection of colours and images, and the description hooked me in even further. This book is a faith-centred book for women at every stage of their lives. Chapters include topics on; being kind to and loving yourself, being kind to other women, finding a good support network and following the word of God in our everyday lives to help us live fuller and more meaningfully. This was, what I would call, a note-taking worthy book. I sat and jotted things down as I went, took photos of passages of text to share with friends or to keep in my phone and wrote down Bible references to check out at a later date. A lot of the Biblical quotes are already within the text, but for some sections where multiple references are made, they are bracketed for ease of reading. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of how we deal with failure, and how failing does not make you a failure; relevant in a world where so much is expected of women in careers (and as mothers) as we are compared and held up against these ‘model images’ of women who apparently have it all - including a photographer and a very good set of filters to make their lives seem so good. I really like this book and it's one I would share and recommend to the women in my life. Everyone needs a friend like this author (Emily) to build you up!

Go Bravely is exactly the kind of book that girls of my generation crave. It contains words of authentic truth, spoken in a way that is honest and beautiful and full of life, bearing no resemblance to the sterile sermons that are so often preached to young people. It's the same message, certainly, but the fact that it's presented by an author who provides anecdotes from her own life brings it down to earth and makes it relatable, realistic, and even enjoyable.

The author incorporates several different elements that make this book a much-needed breath of fresh air. What stuck out to me the most was the usage of examples from the lives of the saints. As a girl who grew up learning about a plethora of saints and falling in love with the likes of Joan of Arc and Therese of Liseux, I loved seeing friends old and new appear on the pages. But if you're new to the concept of saints, don't worry - the saints provided provide practical help and inspiration, and are presented in a way that's not overwhelming or overbearing.

I also loved the author's focus on the relationships between women and how important they are. It's much more common to find books targeted to my age group that speak of relationships between men and women, and while this book does touch on that, it's not to the extent that is common. My friends and I speak often of how important strong, beneficial relationships between women are, and wish that more of an emphasis would be placed on these kinds of bonds. Ms. Hussem speaks on the subject beautifully, in a way that is brutally honest while still being beautiful and heartfelt.

Beyond that, this book touches on many "hot topics" that, surprisingly, are not typically covered by other authors - body image and self-love, chastity, true modesty (dressing for God rather than merely dressing for men), and forgiveness are all subjects that I love reading about but rarely see featured in Catholic literature. Additionally, the author provides "Take Action" points at the end of each chapter - short, simple tips for living the truth presented in one's everyday life. I look forward to using this book as a devotional, and choosing sections to implement in my life based on the virtues that I wish to strengthen.

I would recommend this book to young women who are tired of being spoken down to and told the same things over and over - dos and don'ts that can seem stifling and meaningless. Emily Wilson Hussem speaks words of truth and beauty that many of my generation will find refreshing and welcome. I can envision this book being used in women's groups, as a weekly discussion starter. It's truly a book for our times, and one that I intend to spread to all those I know who have been longing for a book like this for some time.

I requested a digital copy of this book from the publisher to review on netgalley. Disclaimer, I am not religious but interested in learning about different experiences of religion.

As a friend of people who practice varying religions to varying levels I was interested in seeing what this writer had to say and how young women may experience growing up as a Christian. It covered many aspects about faith for Christian girls and women. This included marriage, virginity, university life etc. The writer included helpful "Take action" sections at the end of each chapter, encouraging the reader to make small changes. In general this was an encouraging book that aspired to encourage women to retain Christian morals without restricting their lives. 

I would recommend this book firstly to Christian women but also to those interested in learning about how Christianity is experienced by young women.

I absolutely love the beautiful cover. Thanks again to the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

This book is full of motivation and encouragement to be true to who you are, to be comfortable in your own skin, and to love your body from within. Being written by a Christian author for Christian females, there are scriptural quotes and encouragement to live in a way that pleases God, but I not being of the Christian faith still found the majority of the text to be uplifting. Emily Wilson Hussem is open, letting us into her life and experiences. She is full of pragmatic realistic advice. And most importantly she is not preachy, judgey, or pretends to be anything other than human. A book I would recommend for all who are working on developing the inner voice of compassion regardless of faith. Thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and the author for this beautiful piece of work. I finished reading inspired to reflect and improve on my own life journey. The book is peppered with highlights and I know it is a book I will be returning to when I get stuck or need to be lifted up.

Emily's authenticity, honesty, and faith are truly inspiring. She brings up so many crucial questions and topics that are not often talked about in today's society but are so important to remember and strive toward in order to live God's plan of happiness for our lives. Although it is easy to feel outnumbered living a virtuous life in pursuit of Christ, Emily reminds us that we are not alone on this journey. After reading her book, I have answers to questions and worries that have been on my heart for so many years. This book helped strengthen my foundation in faith and I feel prepared to live it out bravely.

I have not enjoyed a book this much in a long time. I totally feel like god literally sent me this beautiful book on purpose. I needed this marvelous wisdom in my life. I found so many similarities of myself to the author. For one we are both named Emily, singers, Christian, and lived in Phoenix near ASU. I found her story very relatable to my own life. I am now inspired after receiving this beautiful arc. Thank you for sending it to me. This was my first arc and I could not have been gifted a better novel. Four stars from this book nerd.

*I received a copy of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Like others below, I did not read the synopsis carefully enough because this was a very Christian themed book, (which is fine). I grew up Southern Baptist, so it was very easy to follow. Another reviewer commented that the themes seemed much more Catholic, and they very much do after reading this book, so keep that in mind. I think this will appeal to many Christian women out there, as it relates to the issues many women face in today’s society. The “Take action” sections at the end of chapters will definitely stick with me for awhile as they were empowering! I have never read a book like this before but I was grateful to receive this copy.

Yes to girls empowering other girls. This is the kind of book that I live for.

Go Bravely is a personal testimony from Emily Hussem on her religious journey. Thought-out this book she goes over several  accounts of her personal growth and how it can directly correlate with your lives. Not only faith, but the struggles and insecurities you have as a women are brought up and fleshed out. I love the how beautifully made this book is and the message she shares. My favorite aspect of the book is at the end of each chapter there is a  "Take Action" section. Not only does she explain on how to improve your relationship with God, but gives you real world tasks on how to achieve those things.

Go Bravely is the big sister we all need cheering us on and challenging us to make good choices. Emily’s voice in this book is true to her encouraging presence as a public speaker while challenging young women to go bravely into the world knowing our dignity and being unafraid to live counterculturally. As someone a couple years beyond college, I found that it would be more ideal for high school or college age. It would be a perfect starting high school or heading off to college gift, I think. There are so many toxic messages girls encounter and internalize nowadays. We need more people challenging the status quo and showing that a countercultural life is beautiful, empowering, and more than anything - freeing - like this book shows.

Emily goes through a variety of topics relevant to the lives of today’s young women, drops truth bombs, recommends concrete actions to take, and sheds light where society obscures the beauty we’re called to as women of faith. This is not a theological treaty, literary ground-breaker, or Biblical exegesis. It’s a big sister telling it like it is and challenging young women to embrace the life God made us for. This is the calling every young woman has: to find freedom in who God made us to be. Go bravely and claim that!

I loved this book. I would recommend it for high school (maybe even middle school) girls. It's so tough being a believer in this big crazy world. This book gives a constant reminder that it is ok and vital to believe. Share this with your young ladies. It's important

A powerful text that invites young women to examine how they are building their self-esteem, one choice at a time. Author Emily Wilson Hussem shares amusing and poignant stories from her own life, to empower other women as they grow in faith, healthy relationships, and courage. This text would serve well in a young woman's book club or as a resource for a young woman who is looking for mentoring.

Full disclaimer - I did not realise this was a Catholic book! My mistake.

I'm not Catholic, but I still read and enjoyed this book. Go Bravely is designed to help young women overcome some of the obstacles they might face in the process of growing up, in a way that honours God and brings Him glory. The writer covers a whole range of topics, including self-image and body confidence, sexuality, peer pressure, forgiveness, dating, friendship, and more. She writes in a way that feels very trustworthy, often giving examples from her own life. I like it when Christian writers can be vulnerable and open to their readers - it's vital that we get to see other people stumbling and how they overcome it. One chapter about hateful comments and how to deal with other peoples' negative opinions really moved me. Emily Wilson Hussem's heart obviously overflows with the love and grace of God, and it shows in the warmth and kindness of her writing. She also writes without a hint of judgment, which is so important when dealing with emotive topics.

I also enjoyed the practical steps at the end of each chapters - ideas for things to do or pray about in relation to each topic. I felt that these would really help to solidify the wisdom in each chapter.

Obviously, not being Catholic, there were sections that I theologically disagreed with, and references to things I didn't quite 'get'. But that is more my fault than anything for not picking up on this before I read it!

The spirit of the book - encouraging young women to go into the world, authentically themselves, without shame or fear, sticking close to God and allowing Him to direct them and guide them - is really valuable. I would have appreciated a book like this when I was in my late teens trying to navigate life with God.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ave Maria Press for the e-ARC!

I found this book to be very insightful. I was interested in reading this book because I'm a young adult female who is Catholic. I was brought up in a fairly moderate Catholic household and as I grew up and went to a public high school, I became more liberal with my opinions. Oftentimes, I forget to think about God in my decisions but in the end of the day, I'd like to think that he's still beside me. I struggle a lot with what I want to do and what I know what God would prefer me to do. This book helped me with that. I figured that as long as I remember God in the end of the day, I should be fine.

As I said, I'm a liberal Catholic. I'd like to think that as society moves forward, so does God because he just wants us to be happy in our lives. This book, however, made me want to try harder on remembering God on more aspect of my life. I tend to only pray when I feel alone and need help. I rarely pray when I'm thankful. I liked how on every end of the chapter, there were these little things that you can practice in your life just to bring you closer to God.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It's ok to be different and tell others about your faith. There's nothing to be ashamed of. In my 18 years of existence, I have learned not to care about what people thought about me and I guess it's time that I learn to accept that some people just think that believing a religion is "dumb".

Go Bravely is a book every young adult Christian woman should read. Emily's thoughts and ideas on what it means to be a woman following Christ while living in a culture where finding your faith in God as a young woman either just entering college or just stepping out of it can be difficult. It's not easy maintaining a relationship with God when social media constantly tells us what's in "style" or what's not. I really connected to what she had to say about finding her faith and how important it was for her to find her own routine of time spent with God on a daily basis. I especially enjoyed what she had to say about being loving and kind to other women. In a time where the idea of lifting our fellow women up and being kind to one another is finally being recognized as a vital part of every woman's life. 
I look forward to reading many more books by Emily.

Emily Wilson Hussem wrote a book for all women. God wants us to see ourselves as he sees us. He doesn't see us as being less than or average. He sees us mighty women of God. Hussem wants us to evaluate how we see ourselves. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects, we should reflect on the positive. God makes originals and not copycats. I enjoyed this book and I believe that it will help many women see themselves in a different light. Thank you Netgalley.

A great book for working on becoming a self-confident, virtuous woman! Emily Wilson Hussem knows what she is talking about because she's walked the walk that she's preaching. She isn't just empty words, she does what she preaches. 

If you want to be encouraged as a woman, if you struggle to see yourself in the right light, if you struggle to take your own stand on issues, if you are afraid of what people think of you, you've found the right book to help you overcome those struggles.

This was a super inspiring novel. I can’t believe I never picked it up sooner. The author takes about religion and going through today’s world being faithful. This was like a parent or sibling cheering you on while reading. Emily tells it like it is all through out the book there is no sugar coating and I wish everyone could read this book.

A perfect book for me to recommend to my students who sometimes struggle to understand how Christianity works in modern day society.
As a spiritual person, I adored this book from start to finish.

This book helped me a lot and I believe it will help others of faith to be brave in their life living for God. I enjoyed reading and applying all the “Take Action” sections. Those steps will help anyone to go out and “Take Action “ with their faith. And just the whole book itself will as well. Would I recommend to anyone? Yes, I most certainly would!  If you’re looking for something to help give you support or uplift you, this book will. 
I thank NetGalley and the publishers for the copy of “Go Bravely” for my honest review.

Go Bravely is broken up into chapters with each one showing a different part that we are all struggling with. At the end of each character is a Think Critcally portion where Emily poses questions or affirmations for us to do or remember as we are finding our way in the world. 

Go Bravely is one of those books that I was skeptical of at first. But it turned out to be one that I absolutely loved. 
Emily talks about some of the big things that affect all of us that are young people in today’s society. From bullying to social media, body image and trying to figure out your place in the world. She does this by sharing her own stories and life experiences while also showing us how to live the best life we can to help others and to be kind. While this is a book of faith, its teaching can apply to everyone. Not just too young women, but to everyone. We live in a society that is constantly pushing us to do more and more while enjoying less and less. 
This book states again and again to live life through what you believe is correct while also making sure not to put anyone down if they don’t share your same believes of feelings on something. To me this is something that is very important and has seemed to leave most peoples minds sadly. 

So much of this book really resounded with me and I know I will be reading it again in the future.

This book is such an easy read.  I enjoyed it even though I think it's aimed at a bit of a younger age group.  The lessons that Emily shares are still good reminders for women of all ages.  I actually stumbled upon her Youtube page through a Twitter recommendation after I read this book - but didn't connect the dots until later. 

Emily calls out one perspective that I think is really a crucial point to understand and recognize as a Christian these days:  "It's not supposed to be easy.  Take up your cross and follow me."  It is definitely not easy to be a Christian woman in America right now but I do believe that it is worth it.  I think that many feel that the beliefs of Catholic women in America today are outdated.  Emily does a great job of pointing out reasons why it is so important to surround yourself with strong women in your life.  She says, "women have a nurturing trait that is so needed today" and I really connected with that statement.  The world is sorely lacking love and it's that love that real women are so capable of giving.  (Cue: All You Need Is Love by The Beatles)  Emily also points out that "no woman has ever been made better by speaking poorly of other women. She has insecurities and troubles just like I do. I am called to celebrate who God made her to be."  This is one of those reminders that I believe women of all ages need to hear time and time again.  Why do we feel the urge to put others around us down?  It really never makes us feel better in the end.  I do hope other women celebrate the woman God created me to be - and that means that first I need to lead by example.

Emily shares other great tips about relationships that I heard from female role models in my life during junior high and high school.  This book would be a great resource to share with younger ladies in your life.  Sometimes it's easier to listen to authors vs parents or others close to us.   

"God doesn't force himself into your life, you should invite him into your day each morning."  What a simple, yet true statement.  I read this and thought, did I invite God into my life today?  I highly recommend this book for you and all of the females in your life trying to be strong, take up their crosses and live their faith.

I loved this book! I always need a reminder to be who Jesus created me to be! I am always hiding behide my fears and not being who i want to me. this was a great reminder to be Brave in my walk of faith. she gives you such food for thought!

I really enjoyed and benefited from this book. Emily shared great insights and stories that really helped me to think deeper and consider things I haven’t before about my faith and Christianity overall.  This is a great book for women to read- I think anyone who does will find something they need and connect with.