I don’t know about you, but I am pretty sure that if there were pictures in the dictionary, you would find mine right beside the word “insecure“.

So, it’s no surprise that I was thrilled to read this book as soon as I saw the title, because, who doesn’t want the Biblical kind of confidence in this thing called life?!

So, within even the first few pages of this book (I am reviewing the digital version), I knew this book was written for me. Kayla is so completely honest in this book about her life, her fears, her insecurities, her mistakes, from adolescent age to adult…that any mom cannot help but relate to something within the pages of this book. But, most likely, you’ll be like me…laughing…crying…nodding your head…and wondering how she could possibly know so much about you when you know you have kept it hidden well beneath the walls of your life.

She mixes her life story, her testimony, with lots of witty humor and with God’s word, and how she’s learned from it over the years.

It’s one thing to know you are insecure, but this book takes it to a whole new level as it challenges you to learn that God didn’t make you to be insecure…to set unrealistic expectations for yourself and your life as a mom/wife/employee/homemaker/etc. And how to change.

I read this book pretty slowly. Much due to the busy life I have with the three kids and all that we are uncles in as a family, but I decided I liked it more in short sessions–a little laughter with a challenge during my little one’s nap time. I personally wouldn’t recommend rushing through it, though it is not a hard read at all!

The Word is our metamorphosis, coming to life within us, and we emerge stretching damp gossamer wings of grace.

If you are a woman/wife/mom, this book is for you. I am not sure that I have ever read a more open and honest book. It was refreshing to feel that I’m not alone in my innermost thoughts and fears, and that there are others who not only have been there, but have found their way away from their fears and insecurities and straight to God’s grace and confidence in who He designed them to be.

I won't say I got this book for some profound reason. What immediately caught my eye was the cover photo. I mean that beautiful floral art with its simple touch of femininity and beauty just grabbed my eyes. As I continued to browse the cover I spotted that the book was called In Bloom and its focus is about "trading restless insecurity for abiding confidence." Before reading the synopsis I was hooked! The cover just really grabbed me and then the title and subtitle just flowed seamlessly with the artwork. This is indeed one stunning book.

Now that I'm done raving over the gorgeous cover, lets talk about the "meat" of this beauty...the content written inside. One thing to note is that this book mainly uses the CSB translation with references to the ESV, NLT and MSG occasionally. For some it may be a bother. I am not a huge fan of these translations as I prefer the NKJV but I find that having my Bible or even Bible App handy works wonders in reading the scriptures shared in this book.

I've never read any work written by Kayla Aimee so I was extremely excited to dive into this book head first with a pen, journal and highlighters (yesssss, I highlight and write in my books!). This book goes into what all women have, but don't want to discuss which is insecurity and Kayla dives into it in such a humorous way so that it's not all serious to make you cry your eyes out.

Is this book rooted in all scripture? Not at all. There are many points where she focuses on her own personal life and experiences to help connect with the readers and it contains few scriptures for reference. For me, I wish there was more scriptural references as I prefer to be able to connect a persons thought and/or experiences to the Bible. Does this fact dilute the effect of the book? Not at all. This is definitely a book I enjoyed reading and fell in love with Kayla's writing.

I love the study guide at the back of the book that helps to make the reading experience more hands-on. Do I recommend this book? Yes I do. I think it's a good one to read. It will help you get insight on yourself and make you want to search scriptures for yourself to understand more about yourself.

A cute uplifting book on just loving yourself. I thought her stories were cute and relatable. It is a good reminder to just know your worth and have confidence with yourself. This book discussed everything from issues with self-confidence, friendships and even love. There was also a lot about her daughter and just parenting in general in there. It was relatable but I feel like there is so much more to be said that the writer will eventually learn as her child grows. It was good if you are just in the mood for something to read to kill a bit of time or even a mood lifter.

Every woman is intimately acquainted with feelings of insecurity and inadequacy. Whether fueled by a culture of makeover shows, by the lingering memories of mean girls, or by events much more wounding to the soul, we can become so conditioned by self-doubt that it becomes our inner monologue.

What we want is to be free of shame and comparison, to turn our uncertainty into a bold confidence. But to flourish in our own skin, we first have to rewrite the narrative.
In this fearless, funny, and refreshingly relatable chronicle of her own metamorphosis from the insecurity that once held her captive, author Kayla Aimee unfolds the blueprint for women to:

• Identify the deep-seated sources of our assumed inadequacy and replace them with steadfast truths of scriptural affirmation
• Replace our need for approval with the enduring promise of acceptance
• Uncover our purpose, unlock our potential, and celebrate the God-given gifts in our unique personality

To every woman who longs for belonging, this journey through Kayla’s inviting prose, biblical promises, and journaling prompts will help guide her from restless insecurity to a beautiful becoming.

What I enjoyed about this book is the fact that the writer is so easy to identify with. I could see myself in many of the examples of her own life that she wrote about. The honesty in the words of Kayla spoke to my heart. Her words remind me that we are not alone in daily struggles and also, there is always something to laugh about.

Any woman dealing with insecurities of any type would really appreciate this book. It is written by a woman who has been there. The book is written in a warm, friendly way that invites us in and makes us feel welcomed.

At the back of the book is a study guide, so that this book can be read and discussed as a group or individually. This would be a good book for a mom's group to read together.
I was provided an ARC of this book by the Publisher & NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own and without influence.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Kayla has such a way of sharing her story and having us feel like saying yeah, me too. Being a teen is difficult on it's own, without adding hateful remarks from “mean girls.” I believe most of us can relate to at least some of the insecurities Kayla faced. I know I have my own scares, but I too have been able to find the comforting truth in God's word and grow from it. Kayla does a wonderful job of honestly sharing her pain, but she doesn't leave us there. She helps us find our compass or true North. I went through all emotions reading her story. One minute I was crying, the next I found myself laughing out loud. I must say Scarlette, Kayla's daughter was my favorite thing in the whole book. She was 5 going on 30. What a delightful little girl. Just one example, when Scarlette comes in the room seeing her mother dressed ready to drive her to school, in yoga pants and a sweatshirt : “Scarlett walked in, looked at me, shook her read and said, “Mommy, You can't just keep wearing your jammies ALL DAY all da time! You needa wear CLOTHES sometimes, You know! REAL clothes! Just try it!” I enjoyed this book and would recommend it. I received a copy of this book from B&H Publishers. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I enjoyed this book. The author had an approachable, fun voice as a writer. I think it is a great entry level book for those struggling with insecurity and wanting to know how God speaks to this struggle in our lives. However, I only gave it three stars because it is definitely entry level. And I was hoping for a little more depth. Overall though a fun and engaging book for those looking for encouragement.

I received this book for free from B&H in exchange for an honest review.

A must read for all women because, let's face it...we all find ourselves lacking in some area of life, right? This book is a life-saver. It brought me up when I was feeling down. I don't re-read books often, but this one is going to be a yearly read. Get ready to laugh out loud! This book is honest and super amusing. Love it!

This is a great book for anyone, but especially women who feel insecure and doubtful at any time. Refreshing!

Haven’t finished this book but I feel good about it. I love her voice and style, her writing is smooth. Her story is one of laughter , tears and honesty. After reading just a bit I felt much better about my own struggles and how I raised my daughter. Very human and down to earth

Really great read that will have you laughing, cringing a little, and enough heart and wisdom to really make you think.

Kayla Aimee is real...I want to sit and have coffee with her and talk about all of the things she's learned. Her memories of adolescence made me alternately laugh and cringe...and so much of what she wrote feels like a conversation with a good friend.

In Bloom is a wonderful book on a struggle common to so many women. She shares her insecurities and struggles in a real (and humorous!) way. This book will be encouraging for any woman, especially for anyone who feels lonely, lost, or just out of place. What a great reminder of His love for all of us!

Major bonus points for the level of humor in this book. I laughed out loud more than once. As in...I was still laughing pages after reading a funny story. You know it's good when you are still snickering pages later. I thoroughly enjoyed this book! And I found myself wanting to hang out with Kayla. :)

I received this book free. I was not required to write a review. All opinions above are entirely my own.

I really really wanted to love this book. The description was great and I had (maybe too high?) high expectations for it. The author is very open and honest with her reader and isn’t afraid to say the ugly things we all think and feel. I commend her for that. It’s not easy to say to a close friend let alone strangers who will pick up your book. I could relate to what she was saying but that’s about it. I wanted more in terms of how can we practically get over these things with the help of the Lord. I wanted deeper revelation. Deeper biblical application. It left me feeling rather fluffy... comfortable with my insecurities (cuz other people feel them too... they could relate) as opposed to presenting a solid biblical way to turn those insecurities into wings to fly on for the glory of God.
I received a digital copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Kayla is relatable, raw, and relentless in her pursuit of encouraging women to know and embrace their worth and live with confidence. In Bloom is for you!

Very, very sweet author with a welcoming style and lots of good advice. I didn't connect with this book but I could see how others in this type of situation would. I would definitely buy this book for a few of my friends who I can see are dealing with the same type of issues. I'm torn on the stars as I personally had a hard time finishing it but the writing style and commentary would be so beneficial to some. I went with four stars for that reason.

We all deal with insecurities and some times think we are the only ones dealing with it. In Bloom: TradGing Restless Insecurity....Kaylee did an awesome job drawing us into the book. Over and over I kept saying "that was me, too" many times, the author confronts real battles of feeling insecure with truth filled encouragement. We are bombarded with media and images that of those who appear to have it all together, what "real women" should look like and act like. Our faith is in Jesus, not those who feel the need to make others feel insecure. This was the first book by the author that I have read and was impressed with the raw and heartbreaking honesty.

A Must Read!!

Kind of like the overall theme of this book, I wrote a review and it disappeared. I suspect Kayla Aimee can feel me in this. Her book is about shame, insecurity, and blame. Who hasn't felt these emotions or experienced awkward situations? This book takes the theory of Bréne Brown and marries it with the experience of real life. We can all feel seen and heard because Aimee shares her own vulnerable moments in order to share God's grace. It is refreshingly honest and truthful. Great book with a timely message.

Insecurity has long been my unwanted companion. Since I’d love to be free from it, I chose this book from a virtual shelf. The bright, pretty blooms also called to me.

Kayla Aimee writes about tough subjects with lots of laughter and entertaining sarcasm. She tells many stories based on her past, and uses humor to open the door to dealing with past pain. Her hurts include suffering from bullying, always wanting to fit in, self-image problems, recovering from her parents’ divorce, and a child who was in the NICU for six months. She speaks about how her faith anchored her, chased away her insecurity and ultimately helped her bloom with confidence.

You’ll like this book if:
- You have a dry sense of humor
- 90’s pop culture is your jam
- The perfect world painted on social media both attracts and repels you
- Quotable quotes make you happy
- You enjoy cute stories about little kids

Here’s a sampling of the many well-written, faith-based quotes from In Bloom:

- The small slight that we’re currently agonizing over is magnified by the power of memory.
- Rejection is hard. Because regardless of our age, we all just want to fit in.
- One of the worst feelings in the world is to not be seen. No one wants to go through life unnoticed. We all just want someone to tell us we matter.
- Keeping up appearances is such a heavy burden placed on women.

If you’re looking for a light, funny read that still packs loads of spiritual truth, I recommend In Bloom.

Thanks goes out to Netgalley for a free review copy of this wonderful book.

I loved this book. Kayla seriously writes like she could be my best friend. Did she look in my middle school diaries? I related to her so much. The topic of identity and self-acceptance can be a bit heavy, but she tackled it head on with humor and grace. This book gave me confidence to be myself and that all God's plans are good. From another girl who's hair tends to grow triangular..solidarity. Total solidarity.

Kayla was able to capture feelings I'm sure every woman has experienced and articulate them in a way we can understand. She understands the feelings of inadequency and not being enough and she gave us pratical tips on how to rewrite our narrative and make it our own. We don't have to be or even look like what the world says. We must be who God says we are.