The Girlfriends Guidebook {Book Review}

While there are ample books for women on dating, career, marriage, and motherhood, less prevalent are thoughtful writings about the everyday handling of female friendships. Inspired by the highs and lows of a backpacking trip across Europe with four gal pals, Marian Jordan’s The Girlfriends Guidebook charts a winning pathway through “jealousy, competition, control, anger, manipulation, and resentment-just to name a few less than cuddly aspects of our personalities.”

Informed by her faith, Marian encourages deeper friendships built on Christlike honesty and love, emphasizing the development of such qualities as loyalty, trustworthiness, compassion, and forgiveness. Jordan also makes it clear that The Girlfriends Guidebook should be read first with one’s self in mind… recognizing that when we are freed from our own emotional baggage we will really be able to enjoy the journey!

Well hello book written just for me. I mean, have you saw my struggle with friendships over the past few years? Yeah, this girl couldn’t wait to get her hands on this book!

As I started reading this book, I found myself saying “aahh, me too…me too” over and over again.  In this book are three key points super important to friendships.  First, as women, we need to make sure we allow God to fill our emotional needs. We can’t seek our boyfriend or spouse or other friends to fill that emotional need. Secondly, we need to realize our own sin nature has an adverse affect on promoting godly relationships. Our pride, envy and jealousy can get in the way and create such baggage that when left to grow will only destroy our friendships. Finally we need to understand and practice the characteristics of godly friendships.  

One certain bit of advice stuck with me…to have a friend, be a friend.  I will be the first to admit, once my feelings are hurt I immediately build a wall.  And I make you work mighty hard to get that wall broken down.  I know that’s wrong…I know I know I know…yet it still happens.  I know if I hurt a friends feelings, I would want them to extend grace to me.  So who am I not to extend that same grace back?

The book tells us to let go of emotional baggage to be a good friend. It is a great check up for the health of your current friendships. I highly recommend this book to any mom wanting to improve her friendships and to teach her daughters about godly friendships. I recommend this to any ministry leader wanting to teach a series on godly friendships or to do a weekend or week long retreat. This book will be an invaluable resource for this generation of women!
B and H Publishing Group provided this book to me for free in exchange for this honest review.