February often reduces love to romance. But self-love — real self-love — is about discernment, boundaries, and emotional maturity.
In this episode of The Brave Bookshelf, I reflect on five books I recently read and what they revealed about trusting your own lived experience:
The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
Pursuing Success God’s Way: A Practical Guide to Hustle with Heart by Erin Harrigan
Sweet Tea and Thee: 90 Devotions to Perk Up Your Day by Linda Kozar
Lovin’ with Grit and Grace: Straight Talk About Romance, Sex, Fun, and the Tough Stuff Too by Jessica Ronne
Caregiving with Grit and Grace: 100 Days of Hope and Encouragement by Jessica Ronne
Some of these books deeply resonated — especially around boundaries and caregiving for a child with a neurological disability. Others didn’t fit my current season of life. And that difference became the heart of the conversation.
This is not a traditional book review.
It’s a reflection on:
Letting people have their emotions without absorbing them
Outgrowing messages that once served you
Navigating faith with nuance and honesty
Recognizing when relationship advice doesn’t reflect your reality
Finding language for grief, exhaustion, and complicated love in caregiving
Self-love is not about consuming inspiration blindly.
It’s about trusting your internal compass.
If you’ve ever read a popular book and quietly thought, “This isn’t for me” — this episode offers permission to honor that knowing.
Because self-love isn’t always gentle.
Sometimes it’s brave enough to tell the truth.
More about the books and authors
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon
If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated with where you are, the problem isn’t you. The problem is the power you give to other people. Two simple words—Let Them—will set you free. Free from the opinions, drama, and judgments of others. Free from the exhausting cycle of trying to manage everything and everyone around you. The Let Them Theory puts the power to create a life you love back in your hands—and this book will show you exactly how to do it.
In her latest groundbreaking book, The Let Them Theory, Mel Robbins—New York Times bestselling author and one of the world’s most respected experts on motivation, confidence, and mindset—teaches you how to stop wasting energy on what you can’t control and start focusing on what truly matters: YOU. Your happiness. Your goals. Your life.
Using the same no-nonsense, science-backed approach that’s made The Mel Robbins Podcast a global sensation, Robbins explains why The Let Them Theory is already loved by millions and how you can apply it in eight key areas of your life to make the biggest impact. Within a few pages, you’ll realize how much energy and time you’ve been wasting trying to control the wrong things—at work, in relationships, and in pursuing your goals—and how this is keeping you from the happiness and success you deserve.
Written as an easy-to-understand guide, Robbins shares relatable stories from her own life, highlights key takeaways, relevant research and introduces you to world-renowned experts in psychology, neuroscience, relationships, happiness, and ancient wisdom who champion The Let Them Theory every step of the way.
Learn how to:
Stop wasting energy on things you can’t control
Stop comparing yourself to other people
Break free from fear and self-doubt
Release the grip of people’s expectations
Build the best friendships of your life
Create the love you deserve
Pursue what truly matters to you with confidence
Build resilience against everyday stressors and distractions
Define your own path to success, joy, and fulfillment
. . . and so much more.
The Let Them Theory will forever change the way you think about relationships, control, and personal power. Whether you want to advance your career, motivate others to change, take creative risks, find deeper connections, build better habits, start a new chapter, or simply create more happiness in your life and relationships, this book gives you the mindset and tools to unlock your full potential.
Mel Robbins is the creator and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast, which is the most shared and followed podcast in the world and is nominated for the first-ever Golden Globe for Best Podcast, and author of The Let Them Theory, the chart-topping, #1 selling book of 2025.
She has amassed 40 million followers online and is one of the most respected experts in mindset, life improvement, and behavior change. The Wall Street Journal calls her a “billion-view podcaster,” and TIME magazine says she gives millions of listeners around the globe “a reason to believe in themselves.”
Her books have been translated into 65 languages and include the #1 New York Times, #1 Amazon, #1 Audible, and #1 Sunday Times bestselling The Let Them Theory, which is the top-selling book of 2025 according to Publishers Weekly, with 8+ million copies sold in its first eleven months. The Let Them Theory was named one of the Best Books of the Year by Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, Audible, Books-A-Million, Publishers Weekly, Target, and Waterstones, and is on pace to become the most successful nonfiction book launch of all time. Robbins is also the author of the multimillion-copy-selling The 5 Second Rule, The High 5 Habit, and seven #1 audiobook releases on Audible.
USA Today calls Mel “a force to be reckoned with.” She is a global phenomenon in the publishing industry and podcasting. Her Boston-based media production company, 143 Studios, produces award-winning content, podcasts, events, audio series, online courses, journals, and books, along with professional development education for partners like Starbucks, Ulta Beauty, JPMorgan Chase, LinkedIn, Headspace, and Audible.
The Mel Robbins Podcast is one of the most popular podcasts in the world. It is nominated for the first-ever Golden Globe Award for Best Podcast, and was named the #1 most-followed show on Apple Podcasts and selected as one of the best podcasts of 2025 by the Apple Podcasts’ editorial team. It was recognized as the third largest show in the world by both Spotify and Apple Podcasts for 2025, and had the #1 most-shared episode of the year on both platforms. It also has won some of the most prestigious awards given to podcasts, including Webby, Signal, Spotify Creator, and iHeartPodcast Awards.
Notable accolades for Robbins include being named to TIME 100 Creators as one of the most influential digital voices of 2025, USA Today Top Mindset & Performance Coaches in the World, one of the fifty most influential influencers on The Hollywood Reporter’s Creator A-List, and a Forbes 50 Over 50 Honoree.
Learn more at melrobbins.com.
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon
The world is noisy. Everywhere we turn we see what is expected of us, including in business. Messages about powerful women entrepreneurs bombard us: Boss Babe! Supermom! Mom Boss! We are taught to envision a life of prosperity, push ourselves to succeed, do whatever it takes, and strive for recognition. Those channels promise success and prosperity, yet what happens when the promise is unfulfilled? Not because we didn’t succeed, but in the midst of our success.
When I found myself hitting this successful-yet-something-was-missing wall, I was left feeling like there must be something wrong with me. Was I not focused enough? Did I not want “it” badly enough? Was I not willing to work hard enough? Was I not cut out to be an entrepreneur? These lies are just what the enemy wants us to believe, as he seeks to distract us from God’s purpose by planting seeds of discouragement, doubt, and discontent in our minds.
When some major setbacks led me to seek answers, I encountered Jesus. And that changed everything I knew about business.
This book is for you if any of these resonate with you:
• You are a successful entrepreneur (even if you believe you were, but aren’t now), who feels she’s lost her joy for the business
• You feel like you’re chasing the money but losing fulfillment, and you wonder what to do next
• You’re formerly of the corporate world, now translating all that drive, discipline, competitive edge, and resilience into your own business in search of hope and freedom
• You seek to keep your relationship with Christ in the forefront as you build a business in the midst of drivers and strivers all around you.
I wrote this book to bring hope to women like you and me, who desire to make an impact for God’s glory but aren’t sure if it’s possible (or even appropriate) to bridge faith and business. God gave us businesses to live out His purpose for us and to steward wisely. The only way to do this is with Him at the center, and that’s how we Hustle with Heart.
Erin Harrigan is a speaker, author, and Biblical business coach for Christian women to scale new heights in their business or career without compromising their faith.
With 35+ years of corporate leadership and 17+ years of entrepreneurship, she helps women break free from the drain of “business as usual” by redefining hustle and aligning business strategy and goals to God’s truth.
Erin coaches women to integrate their faith and business to transform the way they work and the results they achieve.
Erin hosts the award-winning podcast “Redefining Hustle: Navigating Success as a Christian Woman.”
Her books include Pursuing Success God’s Way: A Practical Guide to Hustle with Heart and
The Redefining Hustle Journal: 90 Days To Define, Direct, Bring Discipline To, and Develop Your Business With God.
To connect with Erin, click → ErinHarrigan.com | Instagram | LinkedIn
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Sweeten your life with God’s love.
Pour yourself a tall glass of iced tea and revive your world-weary spirit. Sweet Tea and Thee invites you to step away from the busyness of your everyday routines and cultivate a lifestyle of peace and joy.
With southern charm and biblical insight that will bless your heart, award-winning author Linda Kozar shares the perfect brew of inspirational quotes, scriptural truth, daily guidance, and homespun humor. This 90-day devotional will help you
refresh your soul,
fortify your hope,
nurture your faith, and
treasure God’s truth in your heart.
Sit back, sip your sweet tea, and soak in the wisdom that comes from reading God’s Word.
LINDA KOZAR is an award-winning multi-published author of fiction and nonfiction inspirational novels and books with a sassy Southern flair. Linda and her husband Michael live in The Woodlands, Texas and enjoy spending time with their two beautiful daughters, their wonderful husbands, and grands Eden and Wesley.
Connect with Linda at lindakozar.com
Book Buy Link: Goodreads | Amazon
Jess and Ryan blended their families after losing their spouses to cancer in 2010.
In Lovin’ with Grit and Grace, they offer a his-and-hers perspective on this unexpected marital journey with their eight children, seven of whom have lost a parent, including their eighteen-year-old son Lucas who is profoundly disabled. They address many tough topics, like grief, addictions, and intimacy, with a vulnerable honesty that is a breath of fresh air in an age when most would rather avoid these difficult issues, with the topics following the acronym HIS/HERS:
• Health • Intimacy • Sex
• Household tasks • Excitement • Romance • Spirituality
Many of their personal stories offer a lesson learned, a tried-and-true recipe that applies to the situation, and questions or takeaways for the reader to consider; but above all else, they explain why a love like theirs is worth celebrating and fighting for.
Book Buy Links: Goodreads | Amazon
Caring for a loved one can stretch the heartstrings and the soul in equal measure,
leaving caregivers to walk a path that is exhausting, isolating, stressful, and seemingly
thankless.
In Caregiving with Grit and Grace, author Jessica Ronne offers solace for your journey and extends a heartfelt invitation to view your role through the lens of eternity. Learn to:
• reframe your challenges,
• embrace God’s ever-present faithfulness,
• be more present with your loved ones, and
• draw strength from the fellowship of suffering.
Jesus sees your labor of love—every sacrifice, every tender touch, every hard-earned sigh. Let this book remind you that with every act of devotion, you glorify God and reflect the heart of the One who cares for us all.
Jessica Ronne is an author, speaker, podcast host of Coffee with Caregivers, associate producer of the “UNSEEN” documentary, and caregiver advocate. She is founder and executive director of The Lucas Project, a non-profit dedicated to serving parent caregivers with recognition, respite, and resources.
Jess and her husband Ryan live in Michigan with their eight children, including their son Lucas who has profound disabilities. Her story of beauty from ashes is detailed in her memoir, Sunlight Burning at Midnight. To follow the ongoing saga, she can be found at jessplusthemess.com or through reading her stories in her most recent books, Blended with Grit & Grace and Lovin’ with Grit and Grace.
Connect with Jessica on jessplusthemess.com
