Skip to main content

Review: No More Christian Nice Girl

No More Christian Nice Girl book cover on blue background

No More Christian Nice Girl: When Just Being Nice–Instead of Good–Hurts You, Your Family and Your Friends by Paul Coughlin and Jennifer D. Degler, PhD has for some reason been on my ARC list the longest, even though its message would have probably been just as beneficial for me when I first received it. Thankfully, it's never too late to review a book! The timing has also worked out that my husband is reading the male counterpart, so it's been giving us lots to discuss 😊

Many thanks to Bethany House Publishers and LibraryThing for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Thoughts content is also posted on LibraryThing.

Book Synopsis

A life-giving message of change for women who are tired of pleasing others and who want to move from being nice to being good.

When passivity and false niceness don't bring the abundant life Jesus promised, some Christian women try even harder to hide behind a fragile façade of pleasant perfection. Paul Coughlin and Jennifer Degler give women the empowering message that they have options far beyond simply acting nice or being mean--if they will emulate the real Jesus Christ and face their fears of conflict, rejection, and criticism. Brimming with enlightening information, thought-provoking questionnaires, real-life stories, and biblically based teaching from both the male author of the pioneering No More Christian Nice Guy and a female clinical psychologist, this book will motivate women to allow God to transform them into authentic, powerful women of loving faith.

Source: Amazon and Goodreads

Book Thoughts

Though this book may not apply to all Christian women, it is certainly one that grabbed my attention as I often fall into the trap of acting like the nice Christian who does not want to cause waves. Thankfully, this book emphasized how and why this behaviour can be detrimental, not only to others, but to our faith as well. It's astounding to see how easily some falsehoods can creep into our conduct, such as the myth of being nice to avoid hurting feelings or the myth of taking on so much and acting like a martyr. I appreciated that the book referenced all of the facets of Jesus, including an entire appendix that highlights the occasions in which Jesus does not come across as “nice” in the Gospels.

The call to goodness over niceness is compelling, and after reading the book, I can already think of ways in my life in which I have allowed others to mistreat me or how I have hurt others over the long term in an attempt to avoid short-term pain. With chapters ranging from childhood to marriage and relationships to work, this book moves beyond self-help by pointing to how we need to emulate the fullness of Jesus in our lives, which includes His loving side but also His firm side. There were a lot of insights that I gained in No More Christian Nice Girl, including the origins of cattiness, the feminization of the church, and the need for humility over inspiration when it comes to lasting change. Anyone wanting to step beyond a demeanour of passivity or fear will find this book to be useful toward becoming a woman of strength and a more complete picture of Christlikeness.

Book Summary

  • Format of book: 📖
  • Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
  • Recommendation: 👍

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Final Word - Bite of Betrayal #2

This is a book where the name Miles Morgan will have you wishing he was a real person after getting to meet his character.  The Final Word  is the next book in the Bite of Betrayal series by Laura Thomas , set in the English village of Bramble Downs. Combining the opera, a bakery, a book based on a Cinderella retelling, and sisters who have each others' backs through thick and thin, there is much to explore in Miles and Sophie's story! Many thanks to  Mountain Brook Ink  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Content to be aware of : scenes of violence and death, domestic abuse, stalking Book Synopsis When aspiring author Sophie Brooks chooses to trade a vibrant Paris life for the tranquility of a quaint English village, she imagines her final days in the City of Lights will be magical. Sophie doesn’t anticipate a chilling encounter with an old flame—nor does she plan to find a new love on her very last nig...

Review: Terms and Traditions - The Reluctant Romantics #1

With Christmas coming in just a few months, it's the perfect opportunity to read the new Reluctant Romantics series by historical and now contemporary author, Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht . Terms and Traditions introduces us to an unconventional office romance, church friends, and a family gathering that could rival the Addams family over the holidays. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis Fake dating my millionaire boss was not on my Christmas list, but I’m not complaining. Stephanie: I’ve kept my crush on Nash Prescott under wraps for two years. We might be friends, but I’m still his PA. Until that fatal office Christmas party when my frayed emotions had me opening my big mouth and asking Nash to spend the holidays with me at my dysfunctional family’s cabin… as my fake boyfriend. I’m not sure what’s more surprising—that I didn’t pass out when I asked or the fact he said yes. But Nash...

Review: A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture

Not only does this book have a catchy title, but it reinforces the notion that retreat is not always the best defense. Looking back at church history, I am always amazed that how God uses His people to stand up for justice, truth, and righteousness. However, this is not done as a result of anyone's personal strength or will. God is the one who equips, with followers obediently living up to the call that has been placed on their lives to understand the times and how best to interact with them. A Compelling Faith in a Compromising Culture by Mike Tatlock is a blueprint on how we can follow these steps today. Many thanks to  Moody Publishers  for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis When our faith is challenged, the best response isn’t to fall back. It’s to go deeper. We’re living in a cultural storm. Perhaps you feel it. Postmodern philosophy and secular ideologies have trickled from academia to the broade...