Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart: Discovering the Beauty and Freedom of God-Defined Sexuality

I bought this book a few years ago when I was struggling. My church had a purity group and me and a few other girls went through this book chapter by chapter together. You know, it was really well written and helped us a lot. years later when my sisters told me that they were also struggling with this issue. I immediately went through this book with them.

Kristen and Bethany have done it again, touching the very taboo issues of women in our day and age. If you were wondering about/struggling with issues such as purity, lust, sexual intimacy, same sex attraction, pornagraphy, erotica, and masturbation this book is for you. Sex, purity, and the longings of a girls heart (SPLGH) dives right into the major struggles that happens in a woman’s heart and mind from the first chapter. You will get an open and honest eyesight into the life struggles of Bethany and Kristen. They share their real life experiences with us in a very vulnerable way that you may be able to relate with them. I enjoyed reading this book and agreed with all these ladies had to say. A few of the thing I loved while reading this book was: ~ All the questions you have are answered in this book and are supported thoroughly by scripture references. I love that about SPLGH because ultimately the answers for life comes straight from the word of God, that is where the ultimate answer comes from. ~ They reveal biblical truths for God’s design in sexuality and the lies we believe from culture. ~ They include quotes from women who opened up about their struggles with sexual purity. I love this aspect as it opens us up to be honest with ourselves and also allows us to see that we are not alone in our struggle. ~ They include tests for us to see where we struggle (if you are being honest with yourself), and blank spaces to write our own personal struggles in. ~Throughout the book there are quotes from different bloggers, authors, and speakers. ~The message is clear, that salvation is the first step to Sexual Freedom that Lasts. ~ They use biblical stories to get the reader to see how these struggles existed in the Bible and show us biblical strategies to overcome and win our battle against sexuality. One thing I did wish there was more of directly from the book was talk on same sex attraction. It was just a lil bit out of the whole book and not one of the bigger focuses. For more information on this topic they refer you to blogs and a book by former lesbian Jackie Hill Perry and a book by John Piper. All in all, this book is a great investment in the life of any women who reads it. I recommend this book for 14 year olds and older. The reason being that many children are exposed to and know more on these issues than they let on. It is especially true if they have social media interactions. However that is for the parent to decide. So grab your copy of this book and some friends, and become open and vulnerable with each other, and really begin to thrive as women of God! DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of this book from the authors for review purposes.

Highly recommend for girls to read this!

As a young woman navigating the complexities of relationships, identity, and faith, "Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart" has been an absolute game-changer for me. From cover to cover, Bethany Beal and Kristen Clark's words resonate deeply, offering profound insights and practical wisdom that every woman deserves to hear. This book beautifully blends vulnerability with strength, inviting readers to embark on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. The authors fearlessly addresses taboo topics with grace and honesty, dismantling shame and providing a refreshing perspective on God's design for sexuality. Their words are not just inspirational; they are liberating. What sets this book apart is its relatability. The authors share their own struggles and triumphs with authenticity, making her message all the more impactful. As I turned each page, I felt understood and encouraged, as if I were having a heartfelt conversation with a trusted friend. Moreover, "Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart" offers practical guidance for navigating relationships, setting boundaries, and embracing God's unconditional love. The authors insights are rooted in biblical truth yet presented in a way that is accessible and relevant to today's young women. Overall, I cannot recommend this book enough. Whether you're wrestling with questions about love, purity, or identity, or simply seeking a deeper understanding of God's plan for your life, "Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart" is a must-read. It's a powerful reminder that true freedom and fulfillment are found in embracing God's beautiful design for sexuality.

I wish this book existed when I was growing up! Kristen and Bethany write as though they are my older sisters (in Christ!) and impart such valuable wisdom in this book. I was so excited to read "Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart" because of all the topics it covers - just the table of contents showed me that I would gain answers I had been seeking for years on topics like masturbation, porn, sexual abuse, etc. This book is so valuable because it talks about topics that I haven't seen discussed in churches or youth groups. While there are many sermons and books on purity, there are not that many discussions about the "hush-hush" questions about sex, sexual desires, erotica, and other topics that Kristen and Bethany talk about. I was both relieved and enlightened while reading this book because of how openly these women spoke about these topics I had been ashamed to discuss! "Sex, Purity, and the Longings of a Girl's Heart" is not a book that chastises or condemns women for being impure. Rather, Kristen and Bethany realize - and admit! - that we are all sexually broken and need God's love to fully forgive and heal us from our sin. Our desire for sex, passion, and intimacy points to a deeper need for God's love. Kristen and Bethany explain this so clearly by exposing the facades of society's broken view on sex and encouraging women to follow God's plan for sexual design. I am so grateful this book exists - I bought another copy to share with a sister in Christ! I am so happy Kristen and Bethany have tackled issues like LGBTQ+ beliefs, pornography, masturbation, and other sexual struggles that Christian women battle on a daily basis. This book, equipped with Biblical truth, is a wonderful example for the current (and next) generation of strong Christian women. NOTE: I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. These opinions are 100% my own and not sponsored or endorsed by the authors (I own their other two books and absolutely loved them!).

This book is great - but I personally don’t believe this book should be read by every Christian girl out there. Here’s who should (maybe shouldn’t) read this book: You should read this book IF: you’ve grown up in an un-sheltered Christian home, you’ve grown up in the public school system, you’ve been struggling with sexual sins, or you really don’t know what the Bible teaches about homosexuality, purity, etc. If you fall under this category, then yes, you would benefit from this book! You probably shouldn’t read this book IF: you’ve grown up in a very sheltered Christian home, you have been home schooled in a very safe environment, or you are barely a teenager and haven’t been taught very much about sex yet. This book is very upfront and candid about the topics of sex and purity. If I had read this book as a teenager, I would have felt very uncomfortable and probably would have felt like I completely lost my innocence. But, unlike some girls, I grew up in a very godly home, I didn’t need to learn about some of these things until I was older. And when I did, it was from my parents, not from the world or my peers. If a young girl from a sheltered, conservative Christian home, reads this book on her own, she may come away from this book knowing about things she would have been better off learning from her parents…not from a book. She may even come away with more questions and confusion than before. If possible, I would much rather see godly moms, or mentors work through the information in this book with young women – instead of them reading if for themselves and having no where to turn with their own struggles, questions, and concerns. I most definitely would have benefited from the biblical teaching and principles outlined in this book if, perhaps, my mom and I had gone through it together as a book study. But I don’t think that reading this book on my own as a single teenage girl would have been the healthiest thing for me. For those of you questioning whether or not you should read this book, pray about it! Then ask yourself these questions: Is there someone godly in my life that would be willing to read this book before I do, or at least read it with me? Is there someone godly in my life that I can turn to with any questions or concerns this book may bring to light? The last thing I want to see is a young girl reading this book and coming away feeling as if she has lost her innocence and not having a godly woman to turn to with her questions and concerns. To all my friends choosing what books to read: Please be careful. Use wisdom and discretion before picking up a book and reading it from cover to cover. Have someone godly and stable in your life who can help keep you accountable! Allow your parents to filter the books that you read! Other Thoughts (Positive and Negative) Negative… Bible Versions: I wish the authors would just use the King James Version but like most new evangelical authors they do not. The Bible versions mentioned in the book come from the ESV, NIV, KJV, and NLT. If you ask me, this just creates confusion. Lack of Clear Boundaries: While this book definitely had some amazing suggestions and action steps, when it comes to romantic relationships, they really didn’t give very clear boundaries or suggestions at all. In one sentence they basically said the Bible is pretty silent on boundaries in relationships. I don’t quite think that is true (see 1 Cor. 7) and I think some girls could have benefited from some clear boundaries and suggestions. Positive… Personal Examples and Stories: I appreciate Kristin’s and Bethany’s willingness to open up about their own struggles as teenagers. They do not present themselves as poster children for purity. They readily admit their mistakes in the hopes that we can learn from them. Covers all the Basis: This book really does cover a lot. I appreciate that the book is very thoroughly written. They touched on the topics that are the most relevant for young women growing up in this sex-obsessed and gender-confused society. It’s Not a Cultural Problem – It’s a Sin Problem: I was so glad that this book did not push for cultural reform or fixing the surface problems produced in our culture. No, Kristin and Bethany clearly write that all these issues stem from a SIN problem. We will never have victory and freedom until we get our relationship with the Lord right and thoroughly address the issues of sin in our life. It’s Not Just the Guys: Not only did Kristin and Bethany clearly define that the issues we are facing are SIN problems, they also made it very clear that lust is not just a guy problem. It’s a human problem. Because of sin, we can ALL struggle with sexual sin – not just the guys. Final Thoughts Is this book good and necessary? YES! Is the information about sex and purity in this book biblically based? YES! Do young women need to be taught the principles found in this book? YES! Should every Christian girl read this book? NO! Please prayerfully consider whether or not you should read this book. if you’re a mom, I would encourage you to pick up a copy to read and share with your daughter for when she is ready. ♥

This is a great book with a very powerful biblical, Christ-centered message about how to live a Christian, sexually pure, chaste, modest and Holy Life. Kristen and Bethany haven't written just another book about the Christian, Biblical and Godly views about sexuality but they have delved deep into God's Word to give solid answers to all the sexual perversions that plague the postmodern world in general and our extremely hypersexualized society in particular. They explained from God's Word and Our Lord and God Jesus Christ's teachings not just how to be outwardly modest and Chaste but how to be inwardly and truly sexually pure persons. They were not afraid to tackle the hard subject of sodomy, masturbation, inordinate same sex feelings, sexual abuse and pornography. They dealt with these subject in a very compassionate but very powerful way at the same time. They were compassionate but they didn't give a watered down message. They were powerful in clearly pointing out from scriptures all the verses that demand us to flee from sexual immorality, homosexuality, masturbation and impure lust; yet at the same time they didn't condemn anyone but showed how all of us are impure sinners who cannot fully be pure without the Blood of Our Lord and God Jesus Christ that was shed on the Cross to wash and cleanse us from all sexual impurity, sins and unrighteousness. I will be ordering at least ten copies to give to many friends and families. Once again may Our Lord and God Jesus Christ Bless Kristen Clark and Bethany Beal for being such a voice of Truth, purity and Holiness in this day and and age of darkness, immorality and sexual perversion. May Our Lord and God Jesus Christ leads us all to lead a life of purity and Holiness to reach the kingdom of Heaven.

I LOVED this book. Not only is the content fabulous, but this book has a gorgeous cover and interior design. Kristen and Bethany give practical tips, answer questions not commonly talked about, and share lies and truths about our sexuality. I appreciated the overall theme--how Christ is our satisfaction and we're created for intimacy with Him. I also love the voice of this book--Kristen and Bethany speak with both truth and compassion. I think you often find one or the other in Christian circles, so I appreciated their balance in their writing. I thought they talked about issues not commonly talked about appropriately. (By the way, if you struggle with reading these topics, you might want to skip chapter 11 or get a mature woman to preview the book for you.) In the back, there's also a special section for those who have experienced sexual abuse, providing action steps for healing and a list of additional resources. I thought there were times when they over-quoted other authors, but the quotes they did choose were wonderful. Those people they quoted also make for great resources to look up later, as many of them have written their own books. Out of all three of Kristen and Bethany's books, this one is my favorite. It's rich and chock full of help and truth. I know it will be a huge blessing to many women and girls. *I was part of the launch team for this book and received a free copy in exchange for my review.

These girls are full of wisdom, creativity, and the skills to deliver it seamlessly! This was such a well-written and truly intellectually stimulating book. Kristen and Bethany do not bombard you with their opinions and believes but instead look straight to the word for guidance and understanding. This is amazing and truly helped me see the "why" in doing what we do as "good Christian girls". Thank you ladies for giving us this tool to fight the lies of society and our mind with!

I have been looking forward to reading this book for quite some time now. So when I finally got my hands on it, I read it cover to cover in one single day! Ladies, this is a much needed book that you need to get your hands on! It's raw, it's honest and real. Kristen and Bethany are very open and direct about the problems girls struggle with in terms of sexuality and purity. They do not shy away from talking about masturbation, pornography and lust. With this book, they counter the lie that "girls don't struggle with these things" and offer practical help and show what sexuality defined by God looks like. The book was easy to read and understand with many examples and personal stories to illustrate their points. All throughout the book, what they say is based on Scripture and they refer to it. There's also a study guide and an appendix on healing from sexual abuse at the end of the book. This book did not focus on biblical womanhood or God's design for relationships, because these topics have already been the focus in their first two books. One might therefore want to read Girl Defined and Love Defined to see how it fits into the whole picture :) I can only recommend this book to any young Christian woman trying to figure out sexuality and fight temptation. I think this is Kristen and Bethany's best book so far! However, please note that if you grew up very sheltered or have not been confronted with these issues so far, you might want to read this with your mom or a mentor.

This book is so needed for Christian girls right now. And even if you aren't a Christian, I would still highly recommend it as it will give you a different perspective on the topics of sex, erotica, porn, masturbation etc. because this book doesn't she away from the awkward topics. One of my favourite things about the book as a whole is how Kristen and Bethany always reference scripture and direct the focus on God and not themselves. By doing so, they are explaining how God's word is relevant to the present issues of sex and sexuality. I also like how the book is written: there is no condemnation, but instead it points women to the truth.

This fantastic book didn't last long. I started reading and couldn't put it down. It is so relatable and honest from cover to cover. I love how Kristen and Bethany are explaining everything and not just going like 'you should know this already': answers to the 'why'-questions are the most important ones. Huge thanks, such an helpful book. I definitely recommend!

It was really easy to read and understand because the way it explains biblical sexuality is very clear. It describe practical examples that helped me to keep in mind many biblical verses and concepts that is not usually talk about at the church. Like the other two books (Girl Defined and Love Defined), I related some situations in my life similar to those wrote in the book and I could learn how to overcome them through the tips and advices written. The bible references used were well chosen and very explained. This book changed my views about sexuality and reinforced some principles I stand for. I would highly recommend this book to single girls, especially those who grew up in a Christian home (like me) where these topics are rarely talked about. I also recommend this book as a great resource to mentoring young girls in group study. In short, every girl needs to read this! I'm sure you will enjoy this reading and, like me, have a better understand of the beautiful and perfect project God has designed for us, as women. I received a copy (eBook) exchange for an honest review. I loved it and already bought my hard copy :)