A Different Kind of Love Story by Landra Young Hughes with Holly Crawshaw

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 did not include any questions for personal reflection or group discussion.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Landra Young Hughes is the daughter of prominent pastor Ed Young Jr. and Lisa Young of Fellowship Church. Landra has a passion for seeing people maximize their God-given potential and embrace their God-defined self-worth. She and her husband lead Fellowship Church's Norman campus and live in the Norman, Oklahoma area with their daughter. Photo credit: Ej Young.

Holly Crawshaw is a writer and editor. She was on staff with North Point Ministries for eight years. Holly currently serves as lead writer to life stage strategies at Orange/The Rethink Group. She lives in Cumming, Georgia with her three daughters. Photo credit: Farrah Power Photography.

Baker Books, 176 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.