I liked the message that the book was sharing but I’m not sure the writing style is meant for me! However, because I like the points it was making and it was biblical sound, I would share it with a friend at Bible study.

Interesting, but ultimately not for me. Had some good points about control and surrendering to God which I appreciated, but overall felt like it was aimed towards a different audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As a reader and a writer, this book hit home. It was deep and encouraging to my heart. I highly recommend this book to all readers and writers, really anyone. It can impact anyone!

As I read this book, I felt like Tara and I would be kindred spirits. A lot of the things she shared in this book I really relate to. I’m also a type A personality with a tight grip on my plans. And like her, I had God pull my plans out of my hands and give me a path I had no desire to go on but in the end found myself closer to Him because of it.

I love how Tara consistently points readers back to scripture and to truth. It’s only in surrender that we can have peace. And we truly can trust our God with our lives! I just loved the relatable tone and easy read that this book was and would definitely recommend it! Tara’s vulnerability in sharing her own personal life story and struggles made her point that much more authentic. If you’re struggling with control, I highly recommend this book!

The title of this book immediately caught my eye. I knew that I needed to read it. When I started chapter one, I was in it until the end. One of my favorite parts about how this book is written are the questions for reflection at the end of each chapter. They allow you to explore your own path to surrendering to God. I found the questions to be very helpful and not overwhelming. They were something I could do in less than 15 minutes. I actually decided to devote part of my journal to my answers so that I could have them all in one place.

I found myself highlighting or bookmarking something on almost every page. While I don't consider this a Bible study, the journey Tara takes the reader on is biblically sound and full of Truth. I could hear the Holy Spirit working through Tara's writing and encouraging me to look at my own relationship with Christ and grow closer to Him.

I would happily gift this book to a sister in Christ to help her on her own spiritual journey!

Thank you NetGalley and Nelson Books for sending this electronic book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I’ve followed Tara online for a little while now. Her content is always so encouraging. This book is no different. I love her heart for people and for God. Her story is one of courage, faith, and following Christ. I am so thankful for her boldness in speaking the truth and pointing people to the LORD. This was a fun, heart-warming, edifying read. There is something every woman can glean from this gem!!

I really liked the message of the story, but I found the writing to be okay. It was a lot of repetition within what she was saying. I would not read it again.

Synopsis: “If you’re weary, frustrated, and disappointed by your attempts to control your own story and you’re ready to try the better way— then this book is for you.” With hopes of and dreams planned out and ready to go, Tara Sun was ready to take on the world. But her detailed plans all came crashing down one day with severe symptoms and a diagnosis of fibromyalgia. God had another plan for her life. Another story to write. In her book, Surrender Your Story, you’ll discover Tara’s story and how God redirected her path and taught her that his way is best. It’s filled with biblical truth, solid advice, and lots of practical application! You too can surrender your story to the one who knows you and loves you best of all.

Analysis: I think Tara tackles a subject that is not often talked about in our world today. So many people have plans or at least ideas of what they want life to look like. Maybe that means college, maybe a family, maybe a great career. But what happens when those don’t go like you thought they would? It’s HARD to surrender our plans to God’s. Tara goes back to the basics of Scripture and helps young people start building a foundation for their Christian faith. You’ll find tips on Bible study, prayer, and many other spiritual disciplines. I would highly recommend this one to a young adult audience or those that just need reminding of God’s good and faithful character.

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Surrender Your Story By Tara Sun

I have been following Tara on social media for awhile now as well as listening to her podcast and she is and always has been such an inspiration. When I found out she was releasing a book I knew I had to get my hands on it. Surrender Your Story did not disappoint. I absolutely loved it! If you want to trust God with your life and do not know where to begin this book is for you. If you feel burnt out by life and the hustle and grind mentality of todays world and you want to surrender it all to God, this book is for you. Tara will inspire you to trust God and lay it all at His feet. This book was truly an inspiration and I will be recommending it to all my friends. I don't doubt every single person could learn something life changing from this book!

I was unfamiliar with podcaster and author Tara Sun before reading Surrender Your Story, but I can now see why she would be so popular. Her story lays the foundation for a call to change for those who find themselves overwhelmed by unmet expectations, pressure to be real-life superheroes, and slaves to perfect social media lives.

You might not think a 23-year-old would have a compelling story about ditching the myth of control and discovering freedom in trusting God, but Ms. Sun’s life is packed with challenges and she’s living proof of what it means and what it takes to surrender it all over to God.

Sun admits she hasn’t perfected relinquishing control, which makes her all the more relatable. The impressive examples she shares of her relationship with God show the beautiful and distinct communication we can expect from God when we truly open ourselves to Him and listen to His voice.

I appreciated that Ms. Sun acknowledged the difficulty of understanding the concept of the Holy Spirit and discussed the importance of His role in our lives. I enjoyed hearing about her life’s journey in (eventual) obedience to God as well as the actionable steps Sun laid out to guide readers to a fulfilling life surrendered to Christ.

Who would benefit from this book:
Anyone struggling under the weight and pressure of perfection or the societal challenge to “do it all” would definitely benefit from reading this book. If you’re looking to deepen your relationship with God, Surrender Your Story will help you get started.

One of the most beautiful and catching book for a girl or woman in every season of life. Feels like want to keep it with you wherever you go.

Besides the fact that I really enjoyed Tara Sun's writing style and personality, I found this book to be very engaging, entertaining, but most of all, informative while biblically sound. Her story is an inspiring message to anyone struggling with control and an inability to surrender. What a beautiful book. Praise God for how He works through us, with us, and in us.

This book was amazing! SO many truths and such an important message. I loved it! Thank you Tara!!! Surrender your story and God will do amazing things

Today's culture is peddling a seductive promise, a message that bombards social media feeds and dominates bestseller lists: you can control your circumstances and achieve any goal through positive thinking, organization, and sheer force of will. But anyone who's tried to white-knuckle their way to self-fulfillment has discovered what lies on the other side of this supposedly empowering message: frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion.

Tara knows what it's like to be obsessed with control--all under the guise of the supposed virtues of being self-sufficient, organized, and high achieving. When a battle with severe chronic illness demolished her illusions of control, Tara embarked on a journey of discovering the antidote to the burdensome and ultimately empty myth of control: surrender to the God who cares for us and has an infinitely better blueprint for a life filled with joy, peace, and meaning. Readers will identify how the false promises of control and self-sufficiency have warped their view of themselves, their hopes, and their purpose; learn to trust God--in the big events and the small details of their lives; discover practical steps and strategies for letting go of control and moving forward in faith, even in the face of setbacks and disappointments; and be inspired by examples from Tara's life and from the Bible of the strength and purpose that comes through a lifestyle of surrender.

I loved this book, although it wasn't exactly what I had expected it to be, There was a lot of testimony in this book, which I found comforting, it is nice to know that I am not the only one who feels a certain way or who struggles with certain things.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Surrender Your Story
Ditch the Myth of Control and Discover Freedom in Trusting God
by Tara Sun
Pub Date 07 Mar 2023
Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson
Christian | Nonfiction (Adult)



I am reviewing a copy of Surrender Your Story through Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:


In Surrender Your Story through Nelson Books, Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:


In Surrender Your Story popular podcaster and self acclaimed control freak points out that today's culture is peddling a seductive promise, a message that bombards social media feeds and dominates bestseller lists: you can control your circumstances and achieve any goal through positive thinking, organization, and sheer force of will.


Anyone who has to white-knuckle their way to self-fulfillment has discovered what lies on the other side of this supposedly empowering message: frustration, disappointment, and exhaustion.



Tara understands what it is like to be obsessed with control, all under the guise of the supposed virtues of being self-sufficient, organized, and high achieving. When a battle with severe chronic illness demolished her illusions of control.


Tara embarked on a journey of discovering the antidote to the burdensome and ultimately empty myth of control: surrender to the God who cares for us and has an infinitely better blueprint for a life filled with joy, peace, and meaning.


In Surrender Your Story readers will learn how to identify how the false promises of control and self-sufficiency have warped their view of themselves, their hopes, and their purpose; learn to trust God--in the big events and the small details of their lives; discover practical steps and strategies for letting go of control and moving forward in faith, even in the face of setbacks and disappointments; and be inspired by examples from Tara's life and from the Bible of the strength and purpose that comes through a lifestyle of surrender.


I give Surrender Your Story five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!