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Book Review: Is It Just Me

Grace Valentine helps young college women find healing from old wounds that lead to trust issues in relationships, friendships and with God. By Olivia Scherzer
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Do you struggle with trusting God? Just me? I’ve struggled, felt lonely and confused that I was the only one struggling to trust God, and because of that, I felt like I wasn’t a good enough Christian. But a 24-year-old popular blogger and author named Grace Valentine, author of “Am I Enough” (2018), has a word for young adults—specifically college-aged students—that you are not alone in these struggles.

In her book, “Is It Just Me?” (February 2021), Grace helps young college women find healing from old wounds that lead to trust issues in relationships, friendships and with God. She walks the reader through her own life experiences, whether embarrassing or not, and brings a relatability to the chapters that isn’t typically present in the Christian book genre. She writes to the reader, the young women her words often speak to, with a refreshing honesty and zero judgment. In addition to trust issues, she writes of experiences dealing with burnout, busyness, adulting, purpose, being overlooked, hearing and not hearing God’s voice and so much more that young college women face today. 

“She writes to the reader, the young women her words often speak to, with a refreshing honesty and zero judgment.”

When reading throughout the five parts of the book that uncover these trust issues, hurts, doubts and fears, I came to realize that this was the book that I needed so, so much in college. At the end of each chapter, Grace includes discussion questions that you can either answer right there in the margins of the page or in discussion groups. Whether you’re reading alone or with a group of pals, Grace invites you to participate honestly and from the heart. (Make sure to grab a pen or highlighter when you’re reading.)  

With relatable confessions and witty stories from her past aside, Grace most importantly incorporates Scripture and references Bible passages as if she’s just chatting with you about Jesus over coffee. In her introduction, Grace writes, “In this book, we are going to wipe off our fake smiles and be honest about the issues, doubts and fears we face.” She invites the reader on her own journey—a journey of community, finding trust in Jesus and renewing strength after a season of trust issues—and helps the reader in her own journey as well. 

If you’re looking for a Christian book that also includes funny dating stories and relatable college life experiences, then Grace Valentine’s book, “Is It Just Me?” may be your next book purchase.

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