· 2021
A New York Times Bestseller! We know there are certain things we must have to survive--food, shelter, and safety to name a few. But there are also aspects of life that truly allow us to be joyful and fulfilled. For popular podcaster and bestselling author Annie F. Downs, fun is close to the top of that list. Few would argue that having fun doesn't enrich our lives, but so much gets in the way of prioritizing it. Tough days, busyness, and feelings that are hard to talk about keep us from the fun that's out there waiting to be found. With That Sounds Fun, Annie offers an irresistible invitation to understand the meaning of fun, to embrace it and chase it, and to figure out what, exactly, sounds fun to you--then do it! Exploring some research and sharing some thoughts behind why fun matters, she shows you how to find, experience, and multiply your fun. With her signature storytelling style and whimsical vulnerability, Annie is the friend we all need to guide us back to staying true to ourselves and finding the fun we need.
· 2012
Stop struggling with your body image and start embracing every part of your body just as it was designed—sacred and unique with a specific plan and purpose—through this thoughtful, funny, spirit-filled exploration that will help you finally and fully accept … you. Because you were made in God’s image and likeness, the way you view your body is directly connected to how you serve God. So how would you see yourself differently knowing every part of your body is linked to the divine? Each chapter in Perfectly Unique focuses on a different part of your body and the potential it has for growing your faith. With wit, wisdom, and compassion, having once walked the same road of daily self-criticism, Annie F. Downs will help you: Stop being so hard on yourself; Stop wishing you were designed differently; Stop comparing yourself to others; Stop criticizing the young woman you see in the mirror every day; and START honoring yourself instead. Ultimately, Perfectly Unique will not only help you understand the reasons God made you the way you are, it will empower you to lean on timeless spiritual principles—like forgiveness and humility—to embrace and celebrate (yes, celebrate) each and every part of you.
· 2015
Annie Downs is honest. She’s sincere. And she’s funny. In this two-book ebook bindup of her bestselling titles Perfectly Unique and Speak Love, Annie takes on two topics central to every teen’s life: how we see ourselves when we look in the mirror, and how we use our words in everyday life to either build someone up or take them down. In Perfectly Unique, Annie focuses on the you that everyone sees. Perhaps you are struggling with your body image or are trying to make sense of why God made you as you are. Maybe you are looking for new ways to understand Scripture or to love God more fully. Either way, this book will take you on a thoughtful, funny, and spirit-filled exploration of the way you were designed and will help you better honor the Creator by learning to value his perfectly unique creation (yourself!). In Speak Love, Annie turns the focus to the you that sometimes slips out via your tongue. Because everything you say—from what tell your friends, whisper about your enemies, post online, mutter to yourself, or even say to the celebrity you ran into at the coffee shop—carries a whole lot of power. Through very funny stories, Scripture, and a real understanding of the good, bad, and ugly ways we can use our words, Annie Downs explores the difference you can make when you speak love to others, to God, and even to yourself. Because when you speak love, you speak life. And that's what matters.
· 2016
“I want you to take every step of your life with excitement for where you are headed. And I want you to feel beautiful and confident as you do.” But how? When the enemy whispers lies that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Or you are too dumb, too loud, too quiet, too thin, too fat, too much or not enough? What if you don’t have what it takes to be who you really want to be? In Looking for Lovely, Annie F. Downs shares personal stories, biblical truth, and examples of how others have courageously walked the path God paved for their lives by remembering all God had done, loving what was right in front of them, and seeing God in the everyday—whether that be nature, friends, or the face they see in the mirror. Intensely personal, yet incredibly powerful, Looking for Lovely will spark transformative conversations and life changing patterns. No matter who we are and what path God has us on, we all need to look for lovely, fight to finish, and find beautiful in our every day!
· 2014
How often does fear hold you back from living your life to the fullest? Join New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker Annie F. Downs as she shares a call to embrace the God-given courage living inside you. Annie is the first to admit that she's not exactly the bravest woman in the world. Even now, she still cries sometimes when she leaves her parents' home in Georgia, she's never jumped out of a plane, and she only rides roller coasters to impress guys. But Annie knows that courage resides inside each one of us, and she's on a mission to conquer her own fears while encouraging you to do the same. Let's All Be Brave is more than a book; it's a battle cry. Annie uses honest and often humorous illustrations from her own life, contemporary real-life examples from the lives of others, and fascinating biblical stories to challenge you to: Discover God's surprising answers to overcoming fear, uncertainty, and anxiety Let go of the things that hold you back--relationships, comfort zones, expectations, and more Say yes to both small and big things Live boldly and sacrificially for God and others Hold on to hope, trust God, and be brave no matter your circumstances This book is your call to step into those places that require courage, giving you the help you need to take the next step forward—even when it's scary. Praise for Let's All Be Brave: "There are certain types of people who are capable of nudging us toward courage without making us feel small or insignificant, and Annie is at the front of the line. She has done that with Let's All Be Brave, and before you even mean to, you are putting your YES on the table." --Jen Hatmaker, New York Times bestselling author of For the Love and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire
· 2018
I know God is loving; I know He is good; I believe He is big and powerful. But sometimes I wonder if He is really kind— really deeply always kind. Is He? Christians love to talk about how God is in control, but that’s harder to grasp when things aren’t going like you thought they would, when your life looks quite different than you imagined. For centuries, God’s people have been building altars to Him—to remind themselves and the people around them of His work. His goodness. His kindness. Stacks of stones. Altars. Temples. Cathedrals. Why? Because they believed God and wanted to remember Him. In the back of my mind, God reminds me that He is the same trustworthy God—the One who always finishes the stories he starts. And this is my story—of wrestling with our God who gives a limp and a blessing. A God who is always kind even when my circumstances feel the opposite. God is who He says He is. He is kinder than you imagine. In a world where it is easy to forget who He is, we will not. We will remember God.
· 2013
Through funny stories, Scripture, and a challenge that could help you change the lives of every person you see, tweet, or message for the better, Annie F. Downs explores the difference you can make when you speak love to others, to God, and to yourself. Do you still remember a mean comment someone made about you online? Does something you said to your friend about your other friend haunt you sometimes? Has your day instantly gotten better because you received a compliment? That’s because everything we say has a lot of power—even the things we tell ourselves. Annie Downs has learned this lesson firsthand as both a reformed mean girl and the recipient of a lot of hurtful comments herself, and she knows we can break the cycle of harmful words and make a difference if we decide to focus on speaking love—positive, honest words—instead. Through truthful and very funny experiences from her own life, as well as examples from the Bible and every part of life, Annie shows the amazing changes that can happen when we send positive words out into the world and believe them about ourselves. Speak Love: Is the perfect gift for young women ages 13 and up who are ready to speak love and speak life Looks at the ways we speak to ourselves, to others, and to God—and how choosing to use positive words with each one can change our lives, and the lives of those around us Pairs well with the companion devotional, Speak Love Revolution, that contains thirty days of encouragement and tips, as well as journaling space to record your Speak Love journey
· 2021
No one knows how to have fun like kids do. But sometimes, even kids can use some fresh ideas for finding the fun in their lives. Fun is everywhere, and with this charmingly illustrated children's book, Annie F. Downs wants to help children ages 3 to 8 find it! Can it be found in science experiments, at the farmer's market, or in the kitchen? Yes! Can it be found on rainy days and starlit nights? You bet! Can it be found with friends or parents or even annoying little brothers? Of course! It's no secret that the world has felt a little less fun lately. What Sounds Fun to You? is the perfect book to get kids thinking about how to create their own fun right where they are, right now. And it's the perfect companion for parents who have run out of ideas!
· 2019
Find beauty. Find hope. Find your life of lovely. Annie F. Downs wants you to take each next step of life with excitement, heading forward with beauty and confidence. But what if the enemy is whispering lies that you are not smart enough, pretty enough, or rich enough? Or that you are too loud, too quiet, too thin, too fat, too much? What if you feel you don’t have what it takes to be who you really want to be? Personal yet powerful, A Life of Lovely offers young women honest stories, biblical truth, and courageous examples—all to encourage readers to persevere their way to hope. You will walk away excited about who you are becoming and challenged to look for lovely, fight to finish, and find the beautiful in your every day!
When a baby is on the way, everyone gets excited, including the little girls and boys who will have a new baby brother or sister to teach, play with, and care for. But sometimes things don't work out as expected. Sometimes a baby doesn't thrive. Sometimes they die and sometimes they can't even be born. Such a loss is hard on everyone--especially young children who wonder what happened to their baby brother or sister. Where are they now? Are they safe? Do they feel sad too? What about all the wonderful things they would have done if they had lived? Will they get to do them in heaven? After her sister's family suffered the loss of a baby, bestselling author Annie F. Downs wrote a story for her nephew, Sam, about where his baby brother TJ went. Beautifully illustrated by Jennie Poh, Where Did TJ Go? helps grieving families explain what happened and what kind of experiences a child might be having in heaven with the God who loves them and makes everything good in its time. Tender and sincere, this story doesn't shy away from the hurt even as it offers comfort and hope to those left behind.