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itsautumntime9's review against another edition
DNF at 20%. I’m a big believer in setting boundaries and walking away from friendships when necessary, but beyond that I guess I’m not that picky about my friendships. I have never put this much thought into my friendships but I think I’m ok with that in this stage of my life.
annetjeberg's review against another edition
1.0
I don't mind reading books written by Christian authors. Heck, I am a believing woman myself.
The moment, however, the author starts throwing in judgements like: "that is what you would expect from non-Christians."
Who does she think we are? Does she truly think that only Christians are not allowed to backbite (for example)? That us, the unsaved of the world, don't have expectations around behaviour, whether grounded in faith or not?
Please, Amanda Anderson, find yourself a whole lot of friends, from a whole lot of very DIFFERENT backgrounds and learn and see that there are decent people everywhere.
Also, no, I don't invite many people into my home. I have very good friends. Thank you very much.
The moment, however, the author starts throwing in judgements like: "that is what you would expect from non-Christians."
Who does she think we are? Does she truly think that only Christians are not allowed to backbite (for example)? That us, the unsaved of the world, don't have expectations around behaviour, whether grounded in faith or not?
Please, Amanda Anderson, find yourself a whole lot of friends, from a whole lot of very DIFFERENT backgrounds and learn and see that there are decent people everywhere.
Also, no, I don't invite many people into my home. I have very good friends. Thank you very much.
anneke_b's review against another edition
1.0
I don't mind reading books written by Christian authors. Heck, I am a believing woman myself.
The moment, however, the author starts throwing in judgements like: "that is what you would expect from non-Christians."
Who does she think we are? Does she truly think that only Christians are not allowed to backbite (for example)? That us, the unsaved of the world, don't have expectations around behaviour, whether grounded in faith or not?
Please, Amanda Anderson, find yourself a whole lot of friends, from a whole lot of very DIFFERENT backgrounds and learn and see that there are decent people everywhere.
Also, no, I don't invite many people into my home. I have very good friends. Thank you very much.
The moment, however, the author starts throwing in judgements like: "that is what you would expect from non-Christians."
Who does she think we are? Does she truly think that only Christians are not allowed to backbite (for example)? That us, the unsaved of the world, don't have expectations around behaviour, whether grounded in faith or not?
Please, Amanda Anderson, find yourself a whole lot of friends, from a whole lot of very DIFFERENT backgrounds and learn and see that there are decent people everywhere.
Also, no, I don't invite many people into my home. I have very good friends. Thank you very much.
mackenziekoppa's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book- everyone should have this book around as a manual on friendship!
nebulots's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Nelson Books for giving me a digital copy of this book to read and honestly review. I have to admit starting out that I got a little excited and requested this book before realizing that it was a Christian book. I decided to read it anyway because it's a book about friendship, how religious can it be?
Answer: Extremely religious. It's filled with scripture and religious anecdotes, lots of love for God and Jesus that is no doubt extremely genuine. All of the authors friends seem to be Christian and I'm not sure if the judgy author could even be friends with someone who isn't.
I didn't really like this book and starting at about 65%, I skimmed the rest of the way through.
Answer: Extremely religious. It's filled with scripture and religious anecdotes, lots of love for God and Jesus that is no doubt extremely genuine. All of the authors friends seem to be Christian and I'm not sure if the judgy author could even be friends with someone who isn't.
I didn't really like this book and starting at about 65%, I skimmed the rest of the way through.
kendranicole28's review against another edition
4.0
This strangely titled book is not one I would have picked up on my own were it not the subject of my women’s group at church. We did the video study that corresponds with (but does not exactly follow) the book, and I decided to dig into the subject further by listening to the full book. In it, Bible teacher and recovering codependent Amanda Anderson explores a subject that is difficult for many of us women: friendship. Anderson understands that relationships are messy because people are messy, but she shows us how to move beyond our mess to walk in healthy, life-giving friendship with other women.
The template Anderson provides for friendship is an encouraging one, filled with helpful suggestions for navigating authentic friendship that is built on mutual respect and encouragement rather than cattiness, comparison, or selfishness. Anderson uses her own relatable stories and examples from Scripture to show how we can seek and offer accountability and encouragement, know what to say and how and when to say it, and be our full selves in relationships while allowing friends to do the same. This is not a book about how to make or find friends, but it is a great guide for being and attracting the type of friends we want to have. It provided me with several eye-opening moments regarding the ways I have shown up in friendship and how I can grow. It was great to read and study these ideas along a group of likeminded women.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Audiobook
The template Anderson provides for friendship is an encouraging one, filled with helpful suggestions for navigating authentic friendship that is built on mutual respect and encouragement rather than cattiness, comparison, or selfishness. Anderson uses her own relatable stories and examples from Scripture to show how we can seek and offer accountability and encouragement, know what to say and how and when to say it, and be our full selves in relationships while allowing friends to do the same. This is not a book about how to make or find friends, but it is a great guide for being and attracting the type of friends we want to have. It provided me with several eye-opening moments regarding the ways I have shown up in friendship and how I can grow. It was great to read and study these ideas along a group of likeminded women.
My Rating: 4 Stars // Book Format: Audiobook
kkuru42's review against another edition
5.0
“By all means, set high standards for all your pursuits.... But by no means set unrealistic expectations for yourself in friendship. Forgive and make allowances for each other and then notice your level of joy.”
I first heard Amanda speak three years ago when she gave a talk to our MOPS group. I try to hold close her takeaway of “There’s enough good in good enough,” which she also touches on in this book. I have admired Amanda ever since and fangirl just a bit anytime I hear her name mentioned!
I absolutely adored this book. I knew it was going to be good when I opened to the first chapter and found one of my favorite quotes from Anne of Green Gables about finding your kindred spirits. This book felt like an old, trusted friend was giving me advice, wrapped in cozy blankets (or quilts!), over hot coffee. Amanda is funny, authentic, real, endearing and willing to laugh at herself over past struggles or embarrassments, making her extremely relatable.
I loved hearing her stories, the scripture, and the reminders of how we can be good friends to one another. How we can support and encourage when we are authentic and vulnerable with one another. I can’t wait to reread this book and dive deeper into it with my girlfriends.
My favorite chapter was Two Superhero’s and No Sidekick. I have struggled with comparison in the past (who hasn’t?) and I loved the takeaways from this chapter and how she effortlessly sheds light on some of my past failed friendships (codependency) that I hold on to guilt over. I appreciated her honest and humorous start of the chapter where she admits to always having a nemesis. “It somehow has seemed to give my life a little more interest to have a Newman to my Seinfeld, a Mr. Heckles to my Rachel and Monica, a Slugworth to my Willy Wonka.”
I love her reminder to encourage and empower one another and check on the health of our friendships. “Through this friendship I have come to judge the health of other friendships: the measure of our love for each other is how much we want to see the other succeed. This concept is called mutual mentoring, in which two people see themselves as different but equal. I’m not your project and you’re not mine. Rather “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). Different gifts. Equal strength.”
I first heard Amanda speak three years ago when she gave a talk to our MOPS group. I try to hold close her takeaway of “There’s enough good in good enough,” which she also touches on in this book. I have admired Amanda ever since and fangirl just a bit anytime I hear her name mentioned!
I absolutely adored this book. I knew it was going to be good when I opened to the first chapter and found one of my favorite quotes from Anne of Green Gables about finding your kindred spirits. This book felt like an old, trusted friend was giving me advice, wrapped in cozy blankets (or quilts!), over hot coffee. Amanda is funny, authentic, real, endearing and willing to laugh at herself over past struggles or embarrassments, making her extremely relatable.
I loved hearing her stories, the scripture, and the reminders of how we can be good friends to one another. How we can support and encourage when we are authentic and vulnerable with one another. I can’t wait to reread this book and dive deeper into it with my girlfriends.
My favorite chapter was Two Superhero’s and No Sidekick. I have struggled with comparison in the past (who hasn’t?) and I loved the takeaways from this chapter and how she effortlessly sheds light on some of my past failed friendships (codependency) that I hold on to guilt over. I appreciated her honest and humorous start of the chapter where she admits to always having a nemesis. “It somehow has seemed to give my life a little more interest to have a Newman to my Seinfeld, a Mr. Heckles to my Rachel and Monica, a Slugworth to my Willy Wonka.”
I love her reminder to encourage and empower one another and check on the health of our friendships. “Through this friendship I have come to judge the health of other friendships: the measure of our love for each other is how much we want to see the other succeed. This concept is called mutual mentoring, in which two people see themselves as different but equal. I’m not your project and you’re not mine. Rather “as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Prov. 27:17). Different gifts. Equal strength.”
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