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Braving the Truth: Essential Essays for Reckoning with and Reimagining Faith
Braving the Truth has descriptive copy which is not yet available from the Publisher.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published February 24, 2026
137 people are currently reading
1120 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Held Evans
24 books1,727 followersRachel Held Evans was a New York Times best-selling author whose books include Faith Unraveled (2010), A Year of Biblical Womanhood (2012), and Searching for Sunday (2015). Hailing from Dayton, Tennessee—home of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925—she wrote about faith, doubt and life in the Bible Belt.
Rachel was featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, Christianity Today, Slate, The Huffington Post, The CNN Belief Blog, and on NPR, The BBC, The Today Show, and The View. She kept a busy schedule speaking at churches, conferences, and colleges and universities around the country.
Rachel was featured in The Washington Post, The Guardian, Christianity Today, Slate, The Huffington Post, The CNN Belief Blog, and on NPR, The BBC, The Today Show, and The View. She kept a busy schedule speaking at churches, conferences, and colleges and universities around the country.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 25, 2026
5 stars! Rachel Held Evans is probably one of my most favorite writers of all time. She died on May 4, 2019 way too soon and left a hole in the world … a hole in my heart! I have been anxiously awaiting the publication of this book! Sarah Bessey, Rachel’s husband and a bunch of contributors put this masterpiece together- a collection of Rachel’s blog posts. I knew I would love rereading her words and remembering the crisp freshness of her honest faith that helped shape my own. But I wondered how it hang together- would this volume of blog post seem disjointed as a whole? No it absolutely did not! Sarah Bessey is one hell of an editor- or should I say quilt master seaming it all together! What I didn’t know I would experience is the words of so many other wonderful thinkers peppered throughout sharing brief reflections of how RHE’s work impacted them! Wow what a treasure this volume is! Thank you Daniel for sharing her with us again! Thank you Sarah Bessey for your amazing work bringing RHE and her dynamic, life giving, hopeful words to us again! I am forever grateful!
February 28, 2026
We all miss RHE. God knows we do. It’s a light to have a “new” book out with her name on the cover.
As described, this is a collection of her blog posts. It also includes a lot—a lot—of “reflections” by her friends and peers. Honestly, and I hate to say this, it’s too many and most of them lack any substance. A few are worth your while. I can’t imagine the task Sarah Bessey had ahead of her when she began this collection; she has selected a strong sample of RHE’s writing, but the reflections are enough to take off a star—a note for readers to manage your expectations when it comes to that half (!!!) of the book.
Overall, it’s worth your time—it is RHE—but it’s okay to skim most of the reflections.
*ARC via NetGalley
As described, this is a collection of her blog posts. It also includes a lot—a lot—of “reflections” by her friends and peers. Honestly, and I hate to say this, it’s too many and most of them lack any substance. A few are worth your while. I can’t imagine the task Sarah Bessey had ahead of her when she began this collection; she has selected a strong sample of RHE’s writing, but the reflections are enough to take off a star—a note for readers to manage your expectations when it comes to that half (!!!) of the book.
Overall, it’s worth your time—it is RHE—but it’s okay to skim most of the reflections.
*ARC via NetGalley
Want to read
February 12, 2026this book isn't MAGA, right? .....right???
February 25, 2026
RHE was such an inspiration to me from the earliest days of unraveling my faith. This book is a masterpiece and I'm thankful for the work Sarah Bessey put into making sure the best of her blog was put into book form. Time and again I thought how timeless Rachel's words were/are. My hope would be for church going persons to pick this book up, read it, and let the words change you for good.
*Side note: I would recommend the physical book for this one as the editor notes are narrated by Sarah, but the asides provided by Sarah are narrated by the same narrator as the rest of the book which makes it hard to differentiate between the two.
*Side note: I would recommend the physical book for this one as the editor notes are narrated by Sarah, but the asides provided by Sarah are narrated by the same narrator as the rest of the book which makes it hard to differentiate between the two.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rachel Held Evans died on May 4, 2019, following a sudden and severe illness. Evans was an “exvangelical” pioneer. Her first book, Faith Unraveled (then called Evolving in Monkey Town), detailed her deconstruction (was anyone calling it that back then?) from white conservative evangelicalism to a more progressive, more inclusive faith. She wrote a blog that became immensely popular as she worked through her new faith and gathered together a community of similar folks to walk the difficult journey with her. She had marshalled a movement that was progressing into a more loving Christianity and challenging evangelical power structures.
And then she was gone. A voice silenced way too soon. Three years into a first Trump presidency. One year before a global pandemic. Gone at a time we needed her the most. There was an unfinished manuscript—picked up and completed by Jeff Chu—published as Wholehearted Faith in 2021. But then…silence.
Braving the Truth breaks the silence. A collection of Rachel’s blog posts interspersed with commentary and reflections by friends, this posthumous compilation is a loving tribute to Rachel Held Evans and a beautiful reminder of her life, her work, and—I’m sure she’d say most importantly—her message. This book is a testament to Evans’ enduring legacy and the timelessly prophetic words she penned.
In some ways, this book is a time capsule into a much-different world. Many of the essays here predate the rise of Trumpism and confront a more genteel and less nationalistic evangelical conservatism. It’s a stark reminder for us, living in the throes of American Christofascism, that our current struggles did not begin and will not end with Donald Trump. To read words that are still powerful and prophetic today amid what feels like a much different socio-political context is jarring in a good way. Sometimes you read the Prophets and wonder “What if the people had listened?” I had the same thoughts when reading Braving the Truth.
Editor Sarah Bessey does a great job selecting essays that are evergreen, with those tied to specific events having an appropriate amount of context for readers who are coming to the essay a decade or so later. There’s also a bountiful selection of reflections and remembrances from friends and family that speak to how Rachel’s presence lives on through them and how their lives were affected by her person.
My worry going into Braving the Truth was that a book that is basically a series of blog posts was going to read like a series of blog posts and feel out of place in printed form. Whether it’s Bessey’s editing abilities or Evans’ writing style (it’s both, definitely both), I didn’t feel that it all. The movement through the book felt natural, the contributor sections showed that they had read and interacted with the section on which they were commenting. The whole thing radiates love. It radiates love from RHE; it radiates love for her. That a book curated from her writings almost seven years after her death can generate so much interest, attract so many contributors, and feel so powerful and personal is an incredible testament to who Rachel Held Evans is.
And then she was gone. A voice silenced way too soon. Three years into a first Trump presidency. One year before a global pandemic. Gone at a time we needed her the most. There was an unfinished manuscript—picked up and completed by Jeff Chu—published as Wholehearted Faith in 2021. But then…silence.
Braving the Truth breaks the silence. A collection of Rachel’s blog posts interspersed with commentary and reflections by friends, this posthumous compilation is a loving tribute to Rachel Held Evans and a beautiful reminder of her life, her work, and—I’m sure she’d say most importantly—her message. This book is a testament to Evans’ enduring legacy and the timelessly prophetic words she penned.
In some ways, this book is a time capsule into a much-different world. Many of the essays here predate the rise of Trumpism and confront a more genteel and less nationalistic evangelical conservatism. It’s a stark reminder for us, living in the throes of American Christofascism, that our current struggles did not begin and will not end with Donald Trump. To read words that are still powerful and prophetic today amid what feels like a much different socio-political context is jarring in a good way. Sometimes you read the Prophets and wonder “What if the people had listened?” I had the same thoughts when reading Braving the Truth.
Editor Sarah Bessey does a great job selecting essays that are evergreen, with those tied to specific events having an appropriate amount of context for readers who are coming to the essay a decade or so later. There’s also a bountiful selection of reflections and remembrances from friends and family that speak to how Rachel’s presence lives on through them and how their lives were affected by her person.
My worry going into Braving the Truth was that a book that is basically a series of blog posts was going to read like a series of blog posts and feel out of place in printed form. Whether it’s Bessey’s editing abilities or Evans’ writing style (it’s both, definitely both), I didn’t feel that it all. The movement through the book felt natural, the contributor sections showed that they had read and interacted with the section on which they were commenting. The whole thing radiates love. It radiates love from RHE; it radiates love for her. That a book curated from her writings almost seven years after her death can generate so much interest, attract so many contributors, and feel so powerful and personal is an incredible testament to who Rachel Held Evans is.
February 25, 2026
By Rachel Held Evans; Sarah Bessey
What I appreciated about Rachel Held Evans is that when she found herself face to face with something that didn’t fit with her understanding of the Bible, she asked questions. I have learned from her commitment to ask questions, to research, to study, to discernment, and to allowing her faith to be continually reimagined. Rather than pretend that everything made sense and fit into a neat little box with a bow, Rachel explored topics that had been taught and accepted by her culture but that did not sit well with her. At great risk to her social standing, her position in community, and her acceptance in evangelical academia, she pursued the Lord while pursuing answers that were consistent with who she knew the Lord to be.
A frontrunner in the Christian blogging community, she lived her life with an academic generosity. Currently, in some circles, there exists the term “girl’s girl” which is someone who defends and supports the women around her. Rachel did not limit her interaction to women, but in a similar style created a space that was safe for many different wonderers – supporting, resourcing, and championing them. She normalized wondering, healthy discourse, and a removing of the mask of certainty.
She supported a gracious dialogue in her community and fostered an allyship among those who wonder, those who journey, those who had lost community by their wondering, and those who had never found welcome.
This posthumous collection of some of Rachel’s most widely known writings, was curated by her good friend Sarah Bessey. Different excerpts are followed by essays and reflections from other friends or family members. I have appreciated reading through these pages, remembering when I read them the first time and reflecting on how the words have shaped my own journey. I have appreciated the charity she extended towards those with whom she did not agree. I have also been encouraged by the courage with which she asked questions. This book is a gift to all who wander, to those who are curious about the Faith, to those who want to know the Truth, and to those who want to live in the love of the Father who causes us to wonder.
Thank you to #netgalley for the advanced reader copy
#Rachelheldevans
#bravingthetruth
What I appreciated about Rachel Held Evans is that when she found herself face to face with something that didn’t fit with her understanding of the Bible, she asked questions. I have learned from her commitment to ask questions, to research, to study, to discernment, and to allowing her faith to be continually reimagined. Rather than pretend that everything made sense and fit into a neat little box with a bow, Rachel explored topics that had been taught and accepted by her culture but that did not sit well with her. At great risk to her social standing, her position in community, and her acceptance in evangelical academia, she pursued the Lord while pursuing answers that were consistent with who she knew the Lord to be.
A frontrunner in the Christian blogging community, she lived her life with an academic generosity. Currently, in some circles, there exists the term “girl’s girl” which is someone who defends and supports the women around her. Rachel did not limit her interaction to women, but in a similar style created a space that was safe for many different wonderers – supporting, resourcing, and championing them. She normalized wondering, healthy discourse, and a removing of the mask of certainty.
She supported a gracious dialogue in her community and fostered an allyship among those who wonder, those who journey, those who had lost community by their wondering, and those who had never found welcome.
This posthumous collection of some of Rachel’s most widely known writings, was curated by her good friend Sarah Bessey. Different excerpts are followed by essays and reflections from other friends or family members. I have appreciated reading through these pages, remembering when I read them the first time and reflecting on how the words have shaped my own journey. I have appreciated the charity she extended towards those with whom she did not agree. I have also been encouraged by the courage with which she asked questions. This book is a gift to all who wander, to those who are curious about the Faith, to those who want to know the Truth, and to those who want to live in the love of the Father who causes us to wonder.
Thank you to #netgalley for the advanced reader copy
#Rachelheldevans
#bravingthetruth
February 13, 2026
Yes this is essentially just a collection of Rachel Held Evan’s blog posts. If you followed her online, you may not have much reason to check this out. But while I loved all of her books, I only occasionally read her blog, and so this collection was much appreciated. No matter the topic, Rachel’s compassion, honesty, and humility shines through.
Braving the Truth is an interesting time capsule of what we’d now call the deconstruction movement from 2010-2019 (with the majority of the essays being from the earlier part of the decade). It was occasionally hard to read how hard she tried to maintain connection with the evangelical community of her youth, knowing now how much more intensely conservatives would lean into nationalism and patriarchy in the 2020s. I would love to read her thoughts on the current state of the American church even though I know it would’ve broken her heart even more.
This collection also includes numerous (perhaps too many) reflections from other writers and thought leaders who were impacted by Rachel’s writing. Many are moving but eventually the praise becomes redundant. But then I would be more than willing to share my thoughts of my brief encounters with her and the impact she has had on my theology so I understand why so many want to share.
Braving the Truth releases 2/24/26. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Braving the Truth is an interesting time capsule of what we’d now call the deconstruction movement from 2010-2019 (with the majority of the essays being from the earlier part of the decade). It was occasionally hard to read how hard she tried to maintain connection with the evangelical community of her youth, knowing now how much more intensely conservatives would lean into nationalism and patriarchy in the 2020s. I would love to read her thoughts on the current state of the American church even though I know it would’ve broken her heart even more.
This collection also includes numerous (perhaps too many) reflections from other writers and thought leaders who were impacted by Rachel’s writing. Many are moving but eventually the praise becomes redundant. But then I would be more than willing to share my thoughts of my brief encounters with her and the impact she has had on my theology so I understand why so many want to share.
Braving the Truth releases 2/24/26. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
October 29, 2025
Unless you've encountered the writings of Rachel Held Evans, it's hard to believe how compassionate, astute, and sincere one young person could be in her examination of her Christian faith. This is a collection of her writings gleaned from her blog posts and previous books with special commentary from a wide range of people who knew her before her untimely death in 2019 at age 37. She is a writer who makes you think, who connects with you, and who sincerely believes in the promise of God's love. Remarkably curious and forever questioning, she is a woman who moved from her childhood upbringing in an evangelical church through other church experiences and ending up in the Episcopal church--all documented through her writings. She was keenly aware of the vast injustices found in some denominations and completely convinced of "God's image" in all persons. She is needed today, more than ever, but this wonderful new collection of her writings will have to suffice. Approachable, down-to-earth, but not superficial, this author studied Biblical texts closely and wrote important messages about faith and life. Highly recommended.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advance copy.
Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for an advance copy.
February 26, 2026
Rachel Held Evans was a voice during a time when a lot was changing about the Church and mainstream Christianity. She put words to many people's thoughts, questions, and challenges with the Church and what we had always been taught and how that applied to culture. Reading her essays for the first time or again, you realize that all of it still holds and still applies to what we face today. She was one of the first to speak out in dissent to those in the Evangelical world who approved of Trump and his candidacy for president. She amplified voices from the marginalized. She didn't like being the center of attention, but she changed many of our lives and helped guide us through our evolving faith. What I do today is profoundly because of what she did. I am grateful for this book because it is showing me the blog posts I missed or did not understand at the time and now I am able to see them from a new perspective. Rachel's voice lives on through this book and will continue to affect generations of those to come.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh, this was so beautifully done. I can't imagine how difficult the task of taking Rachel Held Evans' entire blog output and making a book out of it must have been. How hard to choose posts! But this was well done, with plenty of information about Rachel and also essays by those who knew her responding to many of the posts. Some really important reads in here for American Christianity; Rachel was the first person I read who made me feel less alone as I began wrestling with my questions. Loved this so, so much.
March 2, 2026
I read an ARC through Netgalley. RHE introduced me to the progressive Christian movement through her book Searching For Sunday and made me realize I wasn't alone in questioning my Faith and Christianity was open to everyone. I never read her blog, but the snippets and the following essays showed she was a light to other Christians like me who felt disillusioned with right wing faith and were allowing ourselves to be open to new ideas and focus on people who were on the margins instead of the Religious Right's culture wars.
March 1, 2026
I was about ten years too young and behind in my deconstruction to have appreciated RHE when she was writing, so this was mostly new to me. I recognized so many of her quotes that have appeared in other books I've read on similar topics though, so she's clearly influential.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I truly enjoyed the collection and believe anyone that followed Rachel Held Evan's writings will appreciate this thoughtful collection.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a preview.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a preview.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews