Cover Image: For the Love

For the Love

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

My favorite Jen Hatmaker book, "For the Love" is filled with wisdom, insight and humor. Jen is a REAL Christian woman and the big sister we all want and need in our lives. Refreshing, transparent, and filled with great advice and storytelling, it doesn’t get much better than this.

Was this review helpful?

Umm... I'm confused.

I thought this was supposed to be a book about giving and receiving grace in a world where standards are high and how to navigate that giving and receiving in your everyday life. Instead what I got was the author's random thoughts as she thought them.

Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy her voice and the content was quite fun to read (probably why I breezed through it), but I was definitely expecting more theology, more bible references and more gospel truths. I was not expecting her random "thank-you's" to the world or her fun anecdotes and secular theology.

I'm a little confused at all the positive reviews and nodding in agreement to all those who are shaking their heads and just as puzzled as I am. This is more a collection of anecdotal and humorous essays with a splash of God thrown in. I don't think it is titled correctly as I don't see much that actually helps a girl out in the whole "fighting for grace in a world of impossible standards" thing.

I didn't come away from this book with anything that really grabbed me or anything I could apply to my life in any sense. It was just a slightly enjoyable read but not one I would pick up again or recommend. Though I might check out her Instagram - she really is quite funny.

**Many thanks to Jen Hatmaker, Thomas Nelson, and Netgalley for a free copy of this e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I heard Jen Hatmaker speak at a Women of Faith conference, and have read snippets of her writing from time to time as part of a daily devotional email, so I went looking for her books on Netgalley. I was blessed when the publisher "granted my wish" to receive an ecopy. My opinion and enjoyment are not based on the cost of the book.
This book was a delight for me to read. Jen veers from happy chat about everyday bits of life to silly thoughts on fashion (rules for wearing leggings as pants was a favorite of mine) to deep thoughts such as how the world views Jesus because of how they see Jesus-followers treating each other.
Laughter and tears punctuated my reading. I can't wait to read another of her books!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. This book was funny and engaging. Jen Hatmaker is open and honest and real. Just a refreshing book.

Was this review helpful?

For The Love is a wonder book that makes you feel unburdened and closer to my family and GOD. the author said something that said it all, she said, "I deeply believe GOD wants this freedom for us. Scripture instructs us to live presently and joyfully resisting worry and believing JESUS set us free for freedom's sake. We have an abundance of good and perfect gifts...." isn't that perfect to what we need to hear?

Was this review helpful?

Engaging and funny, and sometimes quite challenging. Jen Hatmaker knows how to write!

Was this review helpful?

I really like Jen Hatmaker. We women often tend to place on ourselves these impossible standards. Jen takes a look at this common perspective and balances it with biblical grace. I appreciated how open and honest she is. It produces a level of trust that is important with non-fiction voices.

Was this review helpful?

I adore Jen Hatmaker and will read almost anything she writes. While this book wasn't one of my favorites, and I found myself skimming through parts of it, other chapters had me totally engrossed and nodding "me too".

Was this review helpful?

Jen Hatmaker is hilarious, sweet, honest and real! This book is the reason I want her to be my best friend. Go read it, you might even find yourself adding "For the love" in your catchphrase rotation.

Was this review helpful?

This is my first taste of Jen Hatmaker, and I know I’ll be back for more. (7 has been living in my car in anticipation.) I am already a little in love with Austin (Texas) thanks to her. (I’ll have to write her a humorous and sincere thank-you note.) Jen has the voice of a dear friend who loves fiercely and will help me meet hard truths. I resonated with her admission in chapter two that acknowledging others’ accomplishments can feel like “indictments on my uncertainty,” and her exhortation on calling is instructive. I am captivated by her vulnerable truth-telling on marriage, family, and life.

I did struggle to find an overall cohesiveness in the work—the fashion commentary and re-imagined social media feel surprisingly out of place, and the though the thank-you note chapters are a fun treat, they are totally unnecessary. Love’s chapters would do well as blog posts (and perhaps were, initially), but I am unconvinced a book is their best form. However, I have no regrets reading For the Love.

Was this review helpful?

For the Love by Jen Hatmaker is a book made up of a collection of thoughts and stories, for the purpose of encouraging busy moms and others that it’s okay to not be perfect. This book was published in August of 2015, so it’s not as recent of a release as most of my books that I review, but I was invited to review it a good bit after it was published anyway.
Hatmaker, as mentioned previously, mostly just talked about her everyday life as a pastor’s wife and mom of five. I’ve enjoyed one of her video Bible studies before, and I personally liked that better as it was less “rant” and more applicable to me (but that could just be me). I’ve also read books with similar themes to this, such as Wild and Free: A Hope-Filled Anthem for the Woman Who Feels She is Both Too Much and Never Enough by Jess Connolly and Hayley Morgan, or Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely by Lisa TerKeurst, and, well, I just related to them more. This book, at the time of writing this review, has 4.7 out of 5 stars on Amazon, so obviously it is engaging and relatable to others. In other words, don’t pass it by on account of me! I guess I just connected with Hatmaker more when I could see and hear her ramble rather than read it.
Thank you so much to Harper Collins publishing and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Was this review helpful?

I adore Jen Hatmaker! This was another amazing uplifting, positive, and encouraging book for my collection.

Was this review helpful?

A funny, honest, and rich book and most things in the life. Jen Hatmaker's clear-eyed and concise analysis of the various topics are a relief, a breath of fresh air. In a world of political correctness and inclusiveness, we need more people, more believers who will be courageous enough to tell the whole truth. Thank you, Jen Hatmaker.

Was this review helpful?

http://saraslibrary.blogspot.com/2017/03/for-love.html

Was this review helpful?

Ahhh, Jen Hatmaker....I love your humor and I love your books. For the Love was no exception. I don't think I've laughed til I cried so much when reading any other book! My family gave me strange looks the whole week I was reading this, because I'm not one to make any noise while reading no matter how good or bad the book is.

Let me start off by saying that I truly enjoyed the book, and not just for the mini sections of humorous "Thank You Notes." I loved that it was like a collection of essays on various topics, but all in a general heading of giving ourselves grace in a world of "pinterest" perfection. She had me thinking seriously about how I view myself, or how I'm teaching my teenage daughters to view themselves and I even suggested they both read the book. They are enjoying it (not sure about "just as much"), but I think the section on Calling was what I especially wanted them to read as they are missionary kids and there is lot of pressure to find their calling/purpose in life even at the tender age of 16.

My favorite section was on being 40, mainly because I, myself, turn 40 this year. Oh, what fun!

However, I have to be completely honest. I kinda felt duped with the title. I was expecting a bit more on the topics of love and grace. And while they were sprinkled in here and there, in the end, I had a hard time putting my finger on any one takeaway for me personally. Strangely, the first half of the book was hilarious with some great insights on life in this day and age, then I hit the 50-60% area of the book and the humor almost ended abruptly and the section on Missions had me scratching my head. I am a missionary and I'm still wondering just how we'd go about implementing any of her ideas. But it's making me think and mull over points of view I had never considered, so maybe it's doing it's job.

If this book sounds even somewhat intriguing, I highly suggest you give it a read. Here are a few of my favorite quotes/sections:

"Love God, love people. Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly. Treat people as you want to be treated. If you want to be great, be a servant."

"Who else will deliver hope to your people? Who else will embrace the weary and lonely?...Who else will raise your children in strength?...You will. We will together...We will cheer each other on, refusing to speak doubt into our gifts. ...It's time. Don't wait for permission; we've already been given it. (referencing 2 Tim 2:15) Lead, sister. You have authority to use your home as a sanctuary, your hands as tools of healing, your voice as an instrument of hope..."

I received an ARC from the publisher. No review was required–all opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

From what I've read regarding Jen Hatmaker's beliefs I can no longer consider reading a faith-focused book she has written. It is, sadly, obvious that she does not hold all of scripture to be true (which is my belief) and I don't know that she will have interpreted things accurately.

I know many who have read this book and enjoyed it but I don't have enough reading time to read something written by someone I no longer trust.

Was this review helpful?

Jen is a prolific author and blogger. She seems to be able to reach a place in many of us that wasn't previously touched. She's honest and raw about things we struggle with: being perfect moms, being enough, wearing leggings. I felt this book reached out to us in a wonderful way to encourage and enlighten folks everywhere.

Was this review helpful?

For the Love
Fighting for Grace in a World of Impossible Standards

by Jen Hatmaker

Thomas Nelson

Nelson Books

Thomas Nelson









Nelson Books


Archive Date Not set

Christian

Pub Date 18 Aug 2015






Archive Date Not set
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of For the Love through the publisher and Netgalley:
This book remins us that we often treat others the way we treat ourselves, and if we don't think we are good enough then we feel no one is good enough. But God wants us to let ourselves and others off the hook.
The Author goes on to arguewith if Theology isn't true everywhere then its true nowhere.
The author deals with everything from fashion donts to meals, and to relationships and marriages, to having children. The book even includes a couple of recipes.
I give For the Love five out of five stars.
Happy Reading.

Was this review helpful?