Friendship for Grown-Ups: What I Missed and Learned Along the Way

by Lisa Whelchel

Book Overview

Do you long for a true friend? "Isn't that what we all want? To be seen, in all our glory, for better or worse, the good, the bad, and the ugly and still be embraced?" If only such friendships were easy to find. And keep. For Lisa Whelchel and millions of others, friendship is a challenge. The vulnerability, trust, balance, grace, and time required to develop and maintain strong friendships do not come easily. Growing up as an actress in Hollywood,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400202779
• ISBN13: 9781400202775
• Release Date: May 2010
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 222 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Loved this super easy and inspiring read!

First I want to say that I learned so much from this book. I was expecting the typical self-help book on how to make friends once you've moved on from those couple years after college. What I got was a truly inspiring look at myself as a woman and a lesson on how to be a much better friend and in turn have true friends. I got that message because Lisa's words came across as if we were sitting in a cafe having coffee and a chat. This book was super easy to read. Although there were times when I didn't want to put it down because I wanted to keep learning more. I really feel like anyone that reads this book could benefit from it. Whether you have tons of friends, or only a few close friends, or mostly just acquaintances (like me). This book had several scripture references and lots of quotes from other books. It is definitely a keeper for the resource shelf.

Friendship

She grew up in Hollywood where there were few people to trust and even fewer to guide her. By adulthood, she was strong, safe, and lonely. Eventually, her desire to experience the connection of a true friend was stronger than the desire to be safe. She quickly learned, she didn't know how to be a friend or to have a friend. In this book, Friendship for Grown-Ups, Lisa Whelchel, from the hit sitcom, The Facts of Life, tells real stories of her path to friendship. She tells of triumphs and of heartbreaks. She tells of friends who betrayed and friends who loved. She talks of her fragile heart and her fears. She gives insight to finding a true friend, one who will love you, faults and all. I loved this book. I love how Lisa put it all out there for anyone to see. Sometimes we put people like her on a pedestal and believe they have it all together. I love how she shared how vulnerable she is, just like the rest of us. Human, with human feelings, trials, and insecurities. The stories are so real and heartfelt. There were times when I could imagine myself sitting across the table from her just listening to her pour her heart out. Her stories and insight really made me take a good look at myself and the kind of friend I am. It helped me see that I haven't always been the kind of friend I should have been and it deepened my desire to always be the kind of friend God wants me to be. It also made me look at the kind of friends I have and the kind I desire. I would recommend this book to anyone involved in a friendship or desiring a true and Godly friendship. I was blessed with a copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through the Booksneeze program in exchange for my honest review.

Friendship for Grown Ups

What woman my age (still holding on to the 30's, thank you) doesn't remember "The Facts of Life" on TV? Didn't you wish you were right there living with Blair and Tootie? Most of you know that (Blair) Lisa Whelchel grew up to be a minister's wife and major supporter of homeschooling and Christian parenting. What you may not know is that she went through a major life journey a few years ago. Turns out the picture perfect life we saw on TV was not reality for Lisa or the other girls on the show. Friendship for GrownUps is the story she wrote about her struggle to discover both why she kept her friends at a distance and how to tear down the wall she kept around herself to make true connections with other women. I absolutely loved this book and saw myself and other women that are and have been a part of my life reflected in her story. I would recommend this book to women without reservations.

A Must-Read!!!

Lisa Whelchel has written a very honest book about her own struggle with opening herself up to true, authentic friendship. While our stories are vastly different, I found that we share many of the same issues and struggles. I suspect these basic themes are common to many if not all women. The enemy uses these insecurities to rob us of the joy and growth that can be found in the context of relationship. God used this book to reveal my distorted thinking and set me on the path to healing and restoration. I highly recommend this book!!!!

Loved it!

As a fan of hers, I may be slightly biased, but I loved Friendship for Grown-ups by Lisa Whelchel. Most everyone has heard of Lisa because of the 1980's television show "The Facts of Life", but many more don't know that she is a devout Christian, gifted speaker and author of many published books. Friendship for Grown-ups cracks beneath the surface of the seemingly perfect Whelchel. She is candid and honest about her struggles with forming and developing supportive adult friendships. She is clear that this book is not a how-to for making friends, but more of a portrait of her journey, a journey that she states she is still on. I loved hearing about her friendships and I found her story to be so relatable, she has a wonderful way of making you feel like a friend; that you were invited to read a private journal of her journey. Lisa ties everything back into scripture, relating everything to God's amazing love for us. As a person who has struggled with my own self identity and finding my authentic self and then struggling to expose that person to others, I related well to this book. I think that the majority of women will be able to relate and ultimately draw comfort from Lisa's story. Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...]: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."