Friday, October 14, 2022

Book Review - Rebuilding Beautiful by Kayla Stoecklein


My Review

Rebuilding Beautiful: Welcome What Is, Dare to Dream Again, and Step Bravely Into What Could Be is Kayla Stoecklein's story of how she rebuilt her life after her husband's suicide. There are elements of the memoir here but this book is also an inspirational guide to moving forward after loss.

I wanted to read this book because I have had a difficult personal loss this past year and Rebuilding Beautiful looked like an inspiring read. It is.

I really like the way the author organized the book in short themed chapters like Cultivating Community, A New Narrative, I'm So Proud of You for Trying, Habits of Self-Compassion, and Defiant Joy.

The writing is fresh and real.  The author illustrates each chapter with stories from her own life. She also gives practical suggestions (i.e. in the Cultivating Community chapter) and sometimes addresses the reader directly for truths.

I recommend Rebuilding Beautiful for anyone who is rebuilding their life after a loss of any type. I found it reassuring, comforting, and thought provoking. I think you will too.

Book Synopsis

Speaker and author Kayla Stoecklein delivers an inspiring message of how she came face-to-face with crushing personal loss and discovered how to rebuild a beautiful life. 

Kayla Stoecklein became an unexpected widow in August 2018 when her husband, Andrew, the pastor of their large church in California, died by suicide. With three young boys also grieving and a heart full of pain, it became her mission to bring hope and help to others who have faced unexpected hardships. Rebuilding Beautiful shows people that they not only have a purpose, but that they can build a beautiful life once again.

In Rebuilding Beautiful,Kayla shares the life experiences that have turned into lessons, including

  • acknowledging the pain;
  • making the choice to start healing;
  • finding courage in uncertainty;
  • embracing God’s constant presence; and
  • exploring a new path and falling in love with life all over again.

Sometimes, the journey from agony to awe takes time. Rebuilding Beautiful is the perfect roadmap for anyone who’s on the path from heartache to a life that is a new kind of beautiful.

Author Bio

Speaker and author Kayla Stoecklein delivers an inspiring message of how she came face-to-face with crushing personal loss and discovered how to rebuild a beautiful life. 

Kayla Stoecklein became an unexpected widow in August 2018 when her husband, Andrew, the pastor of their large church in California, died by suicide. With three young boys also grieving and a heart full of pain, it became her mission to bring hope and help to others who have faced unexpected hardships. Rebuilding Beautiful shows people that they not only have a purpose, but that they can build a beautiful life once again.

In Rebuilding Beautiful, Kayla shares the life experiences that have turned into lessons, including

  • acknowledging the pain;
  • making the choice to start healing;
  • finding courage in uncertainty;
  • embracing God’s constant presence; and
  • exploring a new path and falling in love with life all over again.

Sometimes, the journey from agony to awe takes time. Rebuilding Beautiful is the perfect roadmap for anyone who’s on the path from heartache to a life that is a new kind of beautiful.