You Are Enough by Mandy Hale

Hale has struggled with feeling she is not enough. She writes of a “life crash” in her midtwenties when she was held together by therapy, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication. (Loc 626/1480) She suffered from clinical depression in the winter of 2016. Her parents intervened and she ultimately spent time in intense therapy at a mental institution. It was a dark night of the soul for her. God seemed to be hiding and she didn't feel Him. Therapists and a new antidepressant helped her out of that situation. She came through that dark time with the understanding that she was enough, she writes. She knew she was imperfect and messy but enough, she says.

I am not so sure she did understand. A couple of months after the new understanding resulting from her therapy, she felt the need to reconnect with the boyfriend who had previously devastated her with their breakup. Reconnect they did. “As usual,” she writes, “I let my heart get ahead of my head.” (Loc 960/1480) There was talk of marriage. And then she got hurt all over again, finally realizing he would have been wrong for her. She did come to understand that actions reveal truth often hidden by words.

Hale shares her journey and how tragedy brings life into focus and gives a new understanding of who you are. She is honest about her feeling God was absent and not helpful during her dark time. She shares her raw feelings of just needing to survive.

She has not arrived at the point of being convinced she is enough (despite her earlier claims in the book). She still struggles with it, she writes. She wrote this book so she can come back to it and remind herself of the truth. (Loc 1429/1480)

Hale pretty much documents two years of her life. Millennials might like it. Readers who like reading about a young woman's experiences may like this book. Don't expect any conclusive teaching as the author is still struggling with this issue.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

Many Hale is a blogger turned New York Times bestselling author. She is the creator of The Single Woman brand, books, blog, and social media platforms. You can find more at https://mandyhale.com/.

FaithWords, 176 pages.

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