Really enjoyed this book. If you have ever listened to Jamie's podcast, her voice comes across so clearly through her writing. I really appreciate Jamie's vulnerability and openness.

Honest, real and vulnerable are the three words I would use to describe this book. I’ve followed Jamie’s journey for years, and can say that her honesty and openness are so very admirable. Jamie consistently encourages women to share their stories and how God is showing up in their lives. If You Only Knew, is no different. It’s a call to break free from the chains of sin and struggle that weigh us down, and to live out our redemption in Christ. As Jamie would say, “Jesus is better.”

If You Only Knew is a book every woman should read...Jamie is so open, honest, and so vulnerable about her past and how she came to find freedom in her relationship with Christ. We are so scared of telling our "ugly" stories and the things we struggle with because we fear what people may say or think about us...I know I do. This has been a big struggle throughout my whole life thinking "what will people think of me"...and there was a sentence that stuck out to me and has had me thinking on it ever since I read it, Jamie said "When we spend our days living in fear of what the world would think of us, if they really knew us, we haven't yet believed and trusted the truths He says about us." Wow...how powerful is that statement?!?

The older I get the more I realize what true grace is and what a gift God has given us by gifting that to us. Here is another quote from the book that really got me..."He is more concerned with drawing our hearts toward Him, not getting us put together enough so that we're capable of coming to Him. The reason He wants us acknowledging and repenting of our sins is so that we can follow Him, not so He can confirm why He's rejecting us. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. (John 3:17)" If you aren't a follower of Jesus, know that He isn't asking you to get your life together before you follow Him. He wants you to follow Him, worship Him, and give Him your all. And when we do that, our life does start to get together. Our picture of this is pretty much all wrong - that we need be perfected before we come to God. In reality, the exact opposite is true. He does the perfecting in us the more we come to know Him." I had heard that verse my whole life growing up, but not until reading this book did it truly come alive for me and made me realize that God sent His Son so we could have a better life and love Him.

This book is possibly one of my favorites I will have read for 2018. I could go on and on with truths that Jamie shared that has made an impact on me and that I am still thinking on and processing. This book is so freeing on so many levels and I am so thankful that Jamie took the brave step that so many of us are scared to do and told her story. I am learning that there is freedom in telling and sharing about your struggles and while I am honestly not there yet...it is something I am going to be working towards with God's help.

Please go get this book...you will not be disappointed and I believe it will make a difference in your life and living with freedom that comes only from Christ.

This was the first book that I've read by a Pastor/Preachers wife where they had a REAL past . Jamie shares her very real very flawed and very forgiven past - and it truly gives hope to the rest of us. She doesn't try to explain it away or sugar coat it - just gives us the hope to overcome our pasts and reminds us of our Loving FORGIVING Father. I absolutely loved this book!!!

I discuss this book with the author, Jamie Ivey, on episode 74 of What Should I Read Next: "WSIRN Ep 74: Finally falling in love with reading – at 30!"

So happy to be given a whole budget to replenish our senior shelves in the school library. The books in there are far from appealing at the moment and I have been delighted to find books here that will intrigue, captivate and engross my senior students.

This is a fantastic read that will provide plenty to talk about and make them think harder about their own lives and the circumstances they find themselves in.

It's great to read a book that does not feel formulaic and gives some credit to their reader's intelligence too. Young people are very fussy about the books they choose to read and in this time-precious day and age it really has to be something above and beyond the ordinary to get them to put down their devices and get their noses stuck in a book.

I think this is one book that will capture their imagination and keep them turning the pages until the end. This is definitely going onto my 'must-buy' list and I really look forward to seeing what the young people themselves think of this unusual and thought-provoking read.

So many stories are filled with a past that has been overcome and its always good to know that it is possible. I think that is the encouragement that this book gives; God can overcome and use whatever "it" is.

We all have moments in our lives that we are not proud of. Times where we made the wrong choices, times where we felt less than worthy of God’s love. These are the things that we don’t want anyone to find out about. We fear what would think of us if we told them every little secret we had.

In If You Only Knew, Jamie Ivey tells us her story of becoming free. Free from those exact fears of her past becoming known to everyone. Her story of failures and coming out of hiding, to have a true and rewarding relationship with Jesus Christ and with others.

I love how her story is helping others to break the walls down and come out of hiding. She tells us that when we quit hiding, God gets all the glory and we can have an honest, true relationship with Him. The relationship that you’ve been longing for.

This is a great book, one that I highly recommend to anyone that is hiding and feels like they are the only one suffering with this issue. Break down the wall, come out of hiding and embrace the relationships we are meant to have.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for free. A favorable review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview this ARC of If You Only Knew by Jamie Ivey.

I always feel bad reviewing books when I know I am not the right audience. I didn't know when going into this what a HEAVY religious and Christian theme that this would have. But, the kind of religion and Christianity that I can't stand. The peer policing, judgmental, confess your sins type of Christianity. The kind that tore our family up when I was a kid. The kind that is shame inducing. So nope I didn't not enjoy this and it certainly did not help me find Jesus.

I’m such a Jamie Ivey fan. I’m not sure I’ve read a more honest memoir. Jamie lays it all out – her past mistakes, unplanned pregnancies and miscarriages, and even current sin struggles – which makes this book really profound. It reads conversationally, and I love that, because I hear Jamie’s voice so clearly. Her big message is vulnerability and how when one person shares her mess with her people, it makes it easier for others to share. Ultimately, she drives home the truth that no matter our pasts, we as Christ followers have a new identity that makes it so possible to share the ugly parts of our stories that God has redeemed. Preach it girl.

A year or so ago, I started listening to a podcast called The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. I became addicted to Jamie's fun-loving, funny, honest, and completely sincere podcast. I binged on it, which is all the rage these days, and when she mentioned that she had a book coming out I pre-ordered one.

Have you ever met someone for the first time and thought, "oh if you only knew what I've done in the past"? Or have you avoided subjects all together because you might be expected to share your thoughts or experiences? I know I have! Did you grow up in a legalistic church and think you were most definitely going to hell for what you have done? I did! Jamie went through these things too. But don't get me wrong, I'm not near brave enough to talk or write about all my past like she has done. I am thankful for honest women like Jamie, who are willing to be vulnerable, open and honest about their lives so that others will know that we are not alone.

Jamie shares her story of struggles, but then points us to scripture time and time again. Pointing out how God sees us despite all of our messy parts. She encourages everyone to trust in Jesus, and shares her walk with Him so that we can see that it isn't always sunshine and rainbows. Your struggles might not be what hers were, but you can approach them all about the same. Remember God's grace!

She has an amazing testimony, a messy one, but amazing. I loved reading how God worked in her life, and still does. I know you will too!

Jaimie's book is real, raw, and so needed in the Christian world. To talk openly about sin, without shame, is so hard, and If You Only Knew breaks down the barrier with grace. Too often, sin can be hidden and pushed away, but Jaime asks us to tell our story and not be ashamed of who we are. The resounding message of this book is that we are loved and our stories matter. God is good. Jaime writes with humor and I just felt like I was listening to her weekly podcast. I loved it!

This book is compelling because of the author’s openness in telling her story; but also for her compassion for others that permeates the whole book. She knows what it’s like to have sinned; grieved over her sin; and to have received the overwhelming love and forgiveness that Jesus offers to all of us. This book is a call to the church to have a renewed sense of compassion for those who are hurting because of sinful choices. I am glad to have read her story. It’s developed that renewed sense of compassion in me.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion about this book.

In this book, Jamie Ivey encourages us to embrace our whole story - not just the pretty parts - and allow God's grace to cover those chapters we'd rather keep hidden. She writes it like she is having a conversation with you at the kitchen table. Her writing isn't spectacular, but it's personal and she speaks truth over you, as a reader. She shares a lot of inspiration along with some stories that will make you laugh. This is a heartfelt and honest look at why we keep ourselves from allowing God to cover us with His grace and set us free. *ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

One thing that I like about this book is the author is being true to her reader and also her self.
I can relate with the guilty feeling, the shame, and also the thoughts of not being good enough but feels okay about that.
However, for my personal preferences, I needs more dialogue, interactions, not just personal thoughts that author poured. I understand it's kinda for self-reflection, but it's kinda make me hard to really enjoy the book.

Jamie Ivey is honest and vulnerable in her book, If You Only Knew. She speaks God’s truth into the lies we often believe about our own sin and worth and give the Church things to think about (and hopefully change) when it comes to confession of sin.

I love the way Jamie writes as though she's talking face to face with you, it's a really good book for someone who is experiencing the guilt of past sins and cannot let go. She teaches you how to see yourself as God sees you and that you are forgiven, and how to take a stand against the accusing darts of the enemy. Jesus is enough to wipe away our sins, His sacrifice on the cross removes them as far as the east from the west. If you are feeling the shame of bad choices this is the book for you.

This book has encouraged me as I've walked the isolating path of struggles, sorrow and pain. I've been reminded that community is important, that I need to be vulnerable with people around me. But most importantly that "Jesus is better", he is the only way I can get thru my pain & embarrassment.

Jamie Ivey writes shares about the less talkable parts in life. She shares her story of how God has transformed the parts of her life that most if not all people keep quietly tucked away in the dark. She opens up with her readers to the prospect of God Getting the glory when we are able to share the dark parts of our life and the power of God to transform us. There is freedom in getting past our “Scarlett letters” and the relief of being known that God loves us. In sharing with close safe friendships there is freedom that in our deep dark secrets we aren’t alone.

She tackles the shame one feels and covers the importance of being able to share what we are ashamed of. We are able to share the power and testimony of Christ. Because in sharing our past even through our mistakes and the negative labels we have pinned onto ourselves we are able to share the redemption power of Christ in the present and find how God sees us.

She has a gift of writing that draws the reader right there into her past stories. She is relatable and with each chapter I am able to feel like we are having a conversation face to face!

I was amazed by Jamie’s candor - she is far braver than me! A great reminder to be yourself and remember that God loves us no matter what.