I truly enjoyed this book. It delves deep into the topic of femininity and its profound significance within the kingdom of God. Women have an active and crucial role in God's mission, and this aspect is beautifully explored throughout each chapter.

However, my only conflicting thought is that I wish I had received this book during my high school or early college years. I firmly believe it would have had a remarkable impact on my perception of womanhood as a believer. That being said, it doesn't mean that the book lacks wisdom for women of all ages. It's just that this simple thought did manage to distract me and, at times, almost bore me during certain chapters. But this is by no means a criticism of the writers. In fact, I was highly impressed by the structure this book follows. Stasti and John write in a cohesive and easy-to-follow manner. Many Christian books and authors tend to lose their readers because their writing becomes disjointed and all over the place. But this one definitely stands out in a positive way in that regard.

"Captivating" validates almost all the insecurities that a woman who loves God might have. It actively discusses various important aspects such as mother/father wounds, spiritual warfare, the pain associated with dating, sexual sin, and our true significance.

Overall, I would say that if you're struggling in any way with your identity as a woman and need affirmation that you're loved by God, this book is an excellent choice for you. After all, women are truly awesome and deserve the utmost respect. God hears us, sees us in our affliction, and desires to meet us in our deepest wounds. God loves you. Alright, I'm done.

I'm not typically a big enthusiast of "self-help" books such as this one. However, a dear friend mentioned that she couldn't stop thinking of me while reading it, so I decided to give it a try.

Last night, I delved into the first two chapters and was pleasantly surprised to find that it had a wealth of valuable insights to offer!

After completing the book, I can truthfully state that this is one of the finest books I've ever come across regarding being a woman, understanding how women were created, and delving into the essence of women. I'm truly amazed. I firmly believe that every woman should read this book (18 seems like a suitable age, or perhaps 16 for those who are mature enough to handle discussions about marriage-related topics), and every man should do so as well (preferably 20 and above). John Eldredge authored Wild at Heart, and I now have the intention of reading that one too to gain a better understanding of the journey of the Christian man (or all men, but with a specific focus on Christians). Captivating is the counterpart for women.

I'll definitely be rereading this book, perhaps even before the end of the year, as it contains an abundance of great information and practical applications that can assist in answering the questions of our souls.

So, if you're a woman over 18, don't hesitate to get your hands on this book!

First off, I am well aware of numerous women who hold a deep affection for this book and strongly identify with John & Stasi's narrative. Their love for it, in sharp contrast to my own frustration, has once again served as a reminder that our spiritual journeys with God are as distinct as we are as individuals.

Do not let my negative review deter you from picking up this book and giving it a try. However, perhaps I could suggest that you consider borrowing it or obtaining it from a library? I purchased it with the limited cash I had as a young adult and later gave it away to someone who was more enamored with it than I was.

"Captivating" presents what I believe was intended to be a healing narrative for women regarding God's purpose and plan for them. In reality, it portrays a walk with Christ in a somewhat fairy tale-like light and, as a dear friend of mine so aptly put it, is overwhelmingly "Princess-heavy." References to beautiful dresses and twirling in fields are abundant. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the princess narrative, but is this truly the only aspect of womanhood that we are going to address in Christian non-fiction? At times, it seems that way.

If you find yourself reaching the conclusion of this book, confused and disheartened by a depiction of "biblical womanhood" that bears no resemblance to your own, rest assured that you are not alone. Some women adore dresses, twirling, and feeling beautiful; others have a passion for working with their hands, getting dirty, or feeling strong, or perhaps all of the above! Honestly, in attempting to describe them, I find myself falling into the same trap that the Eldredges have succumbed to: that of pigeonholing women into yet another category. Each one of us is entirely unique, divinely created to accomplish something singular, and yet fully accepted and loved by our Heavenly Father. This may be mentioned a few times within the book, but I found that the overall content conveys a very different message.

At first glance of this book, I'm not gonna lie.

I kind of rolled my eyes a little bit and thought this was going to be super cheesy.

However, as I delved deeper, the overall theme and the things that it brought up in me truly amazed me.

It made me realize the hurts, longings, and desires that I had been suppressing and not allowing God to touch in the past.

This was enough confirmation for me that this book had some real substance that I needed to work through.

It really opened my eyes to understanding women's true value.

We experience a wide range of emotions, are relational beings, and God gave us the passions and desires on purpose.

It is our responsibility to choose to open our hearts to the invitation He has given for us to live it out.

This book was very healing for me, and I know there's a lot from it that I'm going to have to continue to revisit multiple times.

It has truly been a life-changing experience for me.

It took me a really long time to complete this task. However, every single time I picked it back up, I was truly struck by the remarkable beauty of womanhood. The Lord has indeed deemed it to be GOOD in so many wonderful ways.

This experience has also been of great help to me in redefining my view of femininity. It has made me realize the wounds that we are sometimes left with, but at the same time, it has shown me just how incredibly good it is to trust that Jesus is our one true love. Haha, it's such a profound and amazing truth.

I am so grateful for this journey of discovery and growth, which has opened my eyes to the many facets of womanhood and the power of faith in Jesus.

How interesting.

Some women I know read it and they are like "This is actually putting women down, this book simplifies all women, this book doesn't really take women seriously, it doesn't really deal with women's feelings etc."

The other group of women I know respond as follows "It glorifies women too much, it shouldn't be so emotional, it doesn't show God enough respect, etc."

People seem divided between thinking the book is trying to be better than they are and between thinking the book is beneath them. These are two totally opposite views of the book. But I don't think either group totally understand what I understood from the book (I've reread it a few times). I'm part of the third group: The ones that enjoyed the book.

To those who think the book is trying to put them down, I think you're missing the point. It says over and over that your sense of identity SHOULDN'T rely on a guy. I also think the desires it presents can be misinterpreted by some. I understood that what it meant was that women desire to be part of something great, know they are valuable and have that value revealed and understood. I know a lot of women that have been so uplifted from this book. When I first started reading it, I was a little skeptical - but then Staci talks about how she has started reading "Christian" books that did talk down to women and that she threw it across the room. I can so relate to that - I was hurt deeply once by this retarded "Christian" book that told me CRYING was a sin, unless I cried for "completely selfless reasons."

I think this book is meant for women, who have never had someone show them they are valuable, that need to be told what they think matters, who want to learn more about a God that loves and treasures them for who they are.

As for women who think this book isn't "spiritual" enough, well, they probably don't want to know my opinion as I'm obviously not as spiritual as they are.

Is this book perfect for every woman? Of course not, but I know my walk with God has been strengthened by this book and that I'm a better person because of this book. I recommend it to others at church, and well, if you haven't decided if you want to read this book or not, you'll only know if you give it a chance. It offers unique perspectives and insights that can have a profound impact on a woman's self-perception and relationship with God. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but for those who are open to it, it could be a life-changing read.

I was not a fan of this book.

Eldredge took her individual experience and expanded it to cover every woman's experience, and then infused it with some piety. I put it down after she poorly waxed theological on why women shouldn't do sports (REAL women desire to be at rest!), and then later complained about her weight. It seemed petty beneath a pious guise: the Christian version of rude accusations that imply women who are not passive are not truly feminine.

Overall, the book relied solely on the post-19th century association of women with passivity, with little self-reflection or historical background, and really no solid theology at all. It was "pretty" to read, a nice feel-good book for single 20-something Christian girls, but unfortunately it doesn't address the scope of our generation's current problems or offer an effective way to deal with them. It was an easy read that attempted to touch on something good and at times came close, but overall I found it theologically flawed and deeply unhelpful for the current situation of Christian women.

The Sacajawea line truly had a profound impact on me.

It was not just a simple line; it carried with it a sense of history and significance.

As I stood there, looking at that line, I couldn't help but imagine the journey that Sacajawea had taken.

She was such a remarkable woman, guiding Lewis and Clark through the unknown territory.

Her courage and strength were an inspiration.

The Sacajawea line served as a reminder of her important role in American history.

It made me realize how much we owe to the pioneers and explorers who came before us.

It also made me appreciate the beauty and vastness of our country.

Overall, the Sacajawea line was a powerful and moving experience for me.

There are so many aspects of this book that I could discuss in detail. However, it would take far too long to cover everything here.

In brief, the theology presented in the book is not entirely reliable. It seems to be overly emotional, often bringing God down to the level of human beings. Moreover, there are far too many references to movies and books used to support the arguments rather than relying solely on the Bible.

On the other hand, their perspective on women is quite reasonable, and I truly appreciate how the book is 'pro-woman'. It presents a positive and empowering view of women, which is refreshing.

This creates a bit of a conundrum. Do you hold onto a book that has questionable theology simply because you like its overall message? It's a difficult decision to make. Hmm...

I have persisted in reading this book, despite my better judgment, and I have grown increasingly uneasy about it.

Not only does it manipulate your emotions to elicit a response, but it has misapplied scripture that was intended for Israel to me. That is simply absurd.

Also, as an editorial aside, when referring to any member of the Trinity in the second or third person, it should be capitalized!

Oh, and the nerve to ask God to show me how He loves me! Come on! The questions should be: How have I glorified You, Father? How am I loving You today? Am I living in a way that brings You praise? These are the questions a daughter of the King should be asking. Would you ask your best friend to prove his or her love for you? No! You would love them so that their beauty is evident to those you encounter.

This book truly annoys me.

As I continue reading, I am becoming more and more disappointed with the book's premise. Chapter 3 is extremely judgmental.

I'm not sure if I will finish it, but perhaps chapter 4 will be better.

Ok, I finished it out of spite, to be honest. I have this nagging feeling that whoever penned this piece seemed to assume that everyone had a traumatic childhood or was somehow lacking a fundamental part of themselves. There were numerous passages where it was attempting to explain why women are the way "we" are, and it really had me wondering about a few things.

Firstly, I questioned whether these statements were made by a woman or if it was a man writing the book and constantly flipping the narrator. It was a bit confusing in that regard. Secondly, I couldn't help but think that perhaps the author, whoever it was, was just trying too hard to be inclusive and ended up overreaching. As if all "memories" or "experiences" could be universally applied to every woman. I really don't understand it.

The only points that I thought were even slightly interesting were those about men. Maybe I'm being overly dramatic, but this whole thing felt like I was being gaslit. I kept asking myself if I related to any of the things that I was automatically assumed to have dealt with or was "supposed" to be feeling or "have" struggled with "as a woman", and it just didn't ring true for me. It seems like this piece is either right up your alley or it's going in the complete opposite direction.

DNF 30% of the way through.

While I do understand the author's intentions, it is blatantly clear that they are not executed well at all. The fundamental premise is that all women long for the same things: to be romanced and to play a significant role in a great story. However, the author leans too heavily on her own experience as a reference for the wishes and needs of every single woman. Stasi had a particularly difficult upbringing with two uninvolved parents, and she insinuates that all women have had precisely the same experience. Instead of delving into the vast diversity of all women and their unique life experiences, she treats hers as if it is the only valid truth.

Both she and John (who writes some passages of the book) constantly take Scriptures out of context to fit their narrative. If one were to read just a little further, it becomes evident that the verse cited has no connection whatsoever to the point they are trying to make. They cite pop culture, fairy tales, and secular works to strengthen their arguments rather than relying on the Gospel, and they ignore several New Testament Scriptures that do not align with and, in some cases, blatantly disprove what they wish to convey. They encourage women to keep looking within themselves rather than turning to God for what they perceive as shortcomings.

The very character of God is called into question, suggesting that the desires of our hearts are what define a woman's Godly purpose. They argue that God is powerless to work in our lives unless we choose to let Him, which completely discounts the sovereignty and omniscience of the Lord.

Not to mention that the book has moments where it not only generalizes women but also blatantly objectifies them. At one point, it insinuates that Eve is a sex symbol and insists that a friend of theirs (who endured repeated sexual assault by her father and his friends in her childhood) should overcome her valid fear of intimacy and "embrace her true calling of beauty to be alluring."

Had this book been written about how women with difficult childhoods or circumstances could thrive through a relationship with Christ, or how they could improve their interpersonal relationships, I believe it could have been much better. But unfortunately, that was not the case. I would encourage anyone who has read this to immerse themselves in Scripture and learn more about the true character of God directly from the source.