Fierce, Free and Full of Fire: The Guide to Being Glorious You by Jen Hatmaker

"I Have taken up way too much space for some women. They are among my most severe critics, and they usually reach for Christian tropes to shrink me down to size: "this is why women shouldn't preach, you are a false teacher, you just love the world." (Side note: yes, I do love the world. Jesus loved the world, which is why he came.) I sometimes check my critics bios to determine if I should engage in good faith, and when the comment is especially mean-spirited, nine times out of ten the woman's moniker is "Daughter of the King". The King's daughters are THE WORST. I only want to hang out with the King's kitchen staff, because his internet daughters are mean as the Devil's hell."

I don't think I could ever encompass my great love and respect for Jen Hatmaker in one little book review, but I feel like I would be letting her down if I didn't at least try. Reading Fierce, Free and Full of Fire felt like I was facing her on her living room couch, both of our legs crossed and knees touching. It felt like a personal conversation. Sometimes that conversation was advice only a mother would reiterate. Even though she KNOWS that you KNOW, she just had to say it one more time because it is important to her. Sometimes the conversation was hard and unrelenting in both passionate intensity and tender love.

When I read Jen Hatmaker's books I feel like she understands women better than anyone and as a result reading her books give me the fleeting experience of being understood as a woman in the world. That fleeting feeling is something I experience intensely when I am with other women that I love and would die on any hill anywhere for, but experiencing the warm hug of being known by picking up someone's writing is something I think only Jen could cultivate so successfully.

Her chapters on asking for help, finding community, the fluidity of her faith journey, and on what she would march for, were home-runs for me. Some of these mentioned chapters gave words to frustrations I have had for so long. I love the sobering way Jen can unveil a topic, release it into the wild, put the practical steps behind its capture, and bring it home with relatable stories, put to the music of her wonderful sense of humor.

Jen Hatmaker is a treasure. We must protect her at all costs. I know that she marches for women everywhere and I would march for her any day. I would even march for her in one of those obnoxious hoodies her and her friends buy on vacations. Give me a sweatshirt Jen, I'm here for it. Dig in ladies, there is something in this book for all of us!

Reviewer's note: A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review.

You can find Fierce Free and Full of Fire on a bookshelf near you NOW!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5 stars