Of Mess and Moxie: Wrangling Delight Out of This Wild and Glorious Life
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
New York Times bestselling author, Big Sister Emeritus, and Chief BFF Jen Hatmaker returns with another round of hilarious tales, shameless honesty, and hope for the woman who has forgotten her moxie.
In this highly anticipated book, beloved author Jen Hatmaker parlays her own triumphs and tragedies into a sigh of relief for all normal, fierce women everywhere. Whether it's the time she drove to the wrong city for a fourth-grade field trip ("Why are we in San Antonio?") or the way she learned to forgive (God was super clear: Pray for this person every day, which was the meanest thing He ever said to me. I was furious.), she offers a reminder to those of us who sometimes hide in the car eating crackers that we do have the moxie to get back up and get back out. After all, this race is not a contest--there is enough abundance to go around--and
- you are not in competition with your peers,
- your seat at the table is secure, and
- you have indelible gifts to offer.
Each of us can choose to live undaunted "in the moment" no matter what the moments hold, and we really can lead vibrant, courageous, grace-filled lives.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
Early in college, I picked up my Mom’s Sweet Potato Queen books and my life was forever altered. Jill Conner Browne hasn’t written anything new since 2012, and I’ve obviously read everything she’s written. Something new has to fill that void. Enter Jen Hatmaker – a Christian women’s writer and podcaster recommended to me through my best friend’s sister. I listen to her podcast on and off, “For the Love, With Jen Hatmaker,” but every time I do I end up thrilled to bits with the takeaway.
First, let me just say that I ran my eyes over some GoodReads reviews before actually writing my own, as I sometimes do. I like to read the lowest ratings first because sometimes they’re amusing, sometimes they’re disparaging, but often they’re brief and totally misguided. Most of the people who hated this particular book found very uncreative ways to express their disgust that this was a “preachy” Christian book. It wasn’t preachy, actually, though it was Christian. So let’s get that part out of the way – this book is Christian. If you can find it in your heart to look past that, then you should be just fine. I can say that this book isn’t preachy because apparently, I have very different ideas of what the word “preachy” means compared to some people. Are Jesus and prayer mentioned? Yes. Dogmatic instruction with threats of fire and Hellstone? …No? This isn’t even Jump-Down-Your-Throat “Get Good With God” Christianity. Honestly, if this is preachy, then I want to go to Jen’s church.
of Mess and Moxie is like a friendly chat with girlfriends over wine or coffee or both. It’s frank conversations about marriage and motherhood, but it doesn’t make single, childless women like myself feel excluded. That’s nice! Who knew it was even possible to enjoy someone else’s children’s antics without being made to feel a little worthless for not being part of that tribe? Truly. Jen Hatmaker leaves no stone unturned, and everything she says is at least somewhat relatable. Her casual voice might grate on some people who dislike people who aren’t super serious all of the time, but if you can’t laugh at yourself, then please leave.
I really, really enjoyed this book and immediately went out and ordered some of her other books, and have already recommended it out to other people I know (namely, my Mom. Make your mom read it, too.)
this review was originally posted on my blog, which you can find here
First, let me just say that I ran my eyes over some GoodReads reviews before actually writing my own, as I sometimes do. I like to read the lowest ratings first because sometimes they’re amusing, sometimes they’re disparaging, but often they’re brief and totally misguided. Most of the people who hated this particular book found very uncreative ways to express their disgust that this was a “preachy” Christian book. It wasn’t preachy, actually, though it was Christian. So let’s get that part out of the way – this book is Christian. If you can find it in your heart to look past that, then you should be just fine. I can say that this book isn’t preachy because apparently, I have very different ideas of what the word “preachy” means compared to some people. Are Jesus and prayer mentioned? Yes. Dogmatic instruction with threats of fire and Hellstone? …No? This isn’t even Jump-Down-Your-Throat “Get Good With God” Christianity. Honestly, if this is preachy, then I want to go to Jen’s church.
of Mess and Moxie is like a friendly chat with girlfriends over wine or coffee or both. It’s frank conversations about marriage and motherhood, but it doesn’t make single, childless women like myself feel excluded. That’s nice! Who knew it was even possible to enjoy someone else’s children’s antics without being made to feel a little worthless for not being part of that tribe? Truly. Jen Hatmaker leaves no stone unturned, and everything she says is at least somewhat relatable. Her casual voice might grate on some people who dislike people who aren’t super serious all of the time, but if you can’t laugh at yourself, then please leave.
I really, really enjoyed this book and immediately went out and ordered some of her other books, and have already recommended it out to other people I know (namely, my Mom. Make your mom read it, too.)
this review was originally posted on my blog, which you can find here
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