This is my first book by Stasi Eldredge. She immediately pulled me in, pointing to experiencing God through the supernatural and drawing near to His Spirit. Too often, we view our walk with the Lord as performative, while it is meant to be a loving, intimate relationship with our Creator. His daughters (or sons) meet the Divine in a beautiful exchange of knowing how to relate to God through various attributes of His character. As we take the steps up the ladder of love, we grow in our intimacy and maturity as we seek not only to become more like Jesus but also to allow Him to transform the deep spaces within our hearts. These various steps, while important, should be taken one at a time to fully embrace this walk as a process rather than a sprint, while also knowing they are interchangeable and not always seamless. A ladder is meant to be used for going up and down, depending on the circumstances or the season. There is no perfect 10-step plan or timing, as our loving God nurtures our relationship with Him in accordance with who we are and what needs tending, shaping, or healing. When we discover our true identity and worth in Him alone, we deepen our relationship with Him. As we continue to draw near and stand on the truth of His Word, we will stand firm in our faith, joining the Lord not only as His image-bearers but also in our God-given purpose and calling. At the end of each chapter, there is a Selah moment inviting us to connect deeply with the Lord in prayer. I found this exercise very relaxing and sacred, as too often we don't take the time to connect with the Holy Spirit within us, even though He desires our fully surrendered hearts. The most important relationship in our lives should be the one we have with Jesus!

"Come near to God and he will come near to you." -- James 4:8

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."-- Jeremiah 29:13

"The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth."-- Psalm 145:18

Truly an inspirational book, The Ladder of Love is a reference book to key Biblical passages, a theological guide for male and women parishioners alike, and a devotional with scripture and prayer to welcome and usher enthusiastic readers into a deeper relationship and conversation with God. Exquisitely written, The Ladder of Love reads like a welcome bridge inviting Christians to know God more intimately and build a more trusting and endearing committed relationship with him.

This was an excellent look at how we relate to our Father and Creator. I will start by saying I have read and thoroughly enjoyed everything that the Eldredges have written over the years and most of them are on my "keeper" shelf. This one will soon be joining them as this is one I will want to re-read and reference again and again. Taking the reader through each "stage" (or ladder rung, if you will) of relationship with God (love), each chapter helps us understand how our loving Father guides us as clay, sheep, servants, children, siblings, friends and lovers of God. Each of these rungs is based firmly in scripture. The author takes us through her own experiences as well, as she teaches us how we need healing from our earthly relationships in order to get to the perfection of relationship with God. I loved her descriptions of how He pursues us in each of these realms as well. And how we don't leave a stage behind, but live in many of them (even all of them) concurrently. I was able to analyze my own life experiences a bit more clearly in light of some of these things and learned some things about the life of Jesus that I didn't know before. This book is one I will recommend again and again to anyone who wants to know God better and grow in their relationship with Him. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

*The Ladder of Love* by Stasi Eldredge is one of those rare books that feels both tender and transformative. I used it as a daily devotional, and each chapter became a gentle invitation to sit with Jesus in a deeper, more intentional way. Stasi explores the many facets of our relationship with Christ — Brother, Friend, Bridegroom — and she does so with a warmth that feels like a hand on your shoulder, guiding you toward rest, honesty, and renewal.

“Diving deeper. Sinking into rest. Leaning on God’s strength… Enjoying His Presence.”* That rhythm of slowing down and truly meeting with Him is woven through every page.

One of the most meaningful aspects of this book is the way it encourages us to bring our painful memories into the light of Christ’s love. Not in a self‑focused “therapy culture” way, but in a deeply holistic, Jesus‑centred way. Stasi gently prompts us to ask God how to move forward from the experiences that have scarred us, and to allow Him to heal what has long felt tender or unresolved. It’s reflective, restorative, and profoundly hopeful.

Read this book if you’re carrying pain you want the Saviour to tend to. Read it if you long to go deeper in your walk with Him. Read it if you want to move beyond rote prayers and into meaningful, lingering time in His presence. *The Ladder of Love* is a devotional that doesn’t just inspire — it shepherds your heart toward wholeness.

Stasi Eldredge presents a beautiful picture of spiritual growth through the different ways Scripture describes our relationship with God. Her gentle approach, guided prayers, and emphasis on being deeply loved by Jesus make the book feel personal and comforting. This is one to read slowly and return to during seasons when God feels distant.

Thank you to NetGalley and Nelson Books for the advance copy of this book.

Ladder of Love offers a beautiful illustration of how we are invited to draw closer to God and, in doing so, come to better understand ourselves and our identity in Him. Through the imagery of a ladder, author Stasi Eldredge guides readers on a spiritual journey of discovering God’s love, healing, and the wholeness we can find through a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Each rung of the ladder represents an opportunity for spiritual growth, with Jesus as the firm foundation. Throughout the chapters, Eldredge invites readers into meaningful soul work, personal reflection, and guided prayer before moving to the next rung. This is not a book to rush through, but rather one to read slowly and intentionally, allowing time to reflect on what God may be revealing along the way.

I especially appreciated how the book encourages us to examine the ways shame, unworthiness, and false beliefs can shape how we see ourselves. Depending on your own life experiences and spiritual journey, certain chapters may resonate more deeply than others. I found the ladder to be a meaningful reminder that growing closer to God is an ongoing journey, one that invites us to experience more of His love, peace, and grace.

I recommend Ladder of Love to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of their identity in Christ. It is a thoughtful, contemplative read that reminds us we are invited to release the things that keep us from fully embracing the love and belonging we already have in Him.

I give this 5⭐️.