What If Love Is the Point?: Living for Jesus in a Self-Consumed World

by Carlos PenaVega, Alexa PenaVega, Margot Starbuck (Contributor)

Overflowing with both laughter and honest reflections, What If Love Is the Point? shares Carlos and Alexa PenaVegas’ incredible story—from the red carpet, Spy Kids movies, and Big Time Rush to Dancing with the Stars to marriage and now parenthood.

The PenaVegas:
• offer an inspiring window into how God builds young faith and strengthens it into lasting love;
• give insight into how to put God at the center of relationships, family, and career;
• explore why society’s expectations never fulfill our true needs; and
• share ideas for resisting the hustle of today’s culture and finding true rest.

The world saw Carlos Pena and Alexa Vega enjoying the success of their acting careers—Carlos on Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush and Alexa in the Spy Kids movies. What fans didn’t see was Carlos struggling with the influences of Hollywood and reeling from broken relationships. Or Alexa hiding an eating disorder and recovering from a divorce. Or the question both Carlos and Alexa were asking in the midst of all that fame and fortune: What’s the point of it all anyway?

Then the two ended up attending the same Bible study. There they met people who seemed satisfied in life. They met new friends who seemed to be friends with God. They also met each other. Together, Carlos and Alexa discovered that God held the answers to their deepest questions—and even their unspoken longings. Now, happily married with three children, Carlos and Alexa want to tell others where they found true joy: in Jesus.

Carlos and Alexa believe that following Jesus was what they were made for—and they believe it’s what you were made for too. If you find yourself asking, Isn’t there more to life than this?, lean in to their remarkable story of tender faith, God’s persistent work, and learning why love is always the point of it all.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Memoir, Faith, Christianity, Religion

240 pages, Hardcover

First published June 28, 2022

Reviews

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW TO COME!!!!!!!
THIS MEMOIR WAS SO BEAUTIFUL😍!!!!!!!
SOME TEARS FLOWED😭!!!!!!!

[Tara Fleming · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book could not have came at a better time in my life. I am in a season where singleness and marriage are heavy on my heart - this book gave me the encouragement and assurance that I am exactly where I need to be. I loved the way the reader got both Carlos and Alexa's perspectives on the same events happening in their life. This book had the ability to full immerse the reader into their world. It made me cry, laugh, and get angry at all the right parts.

Life change ALWAYS pulls at my heartstrings and when Carlos BEAUTIFULLY described he came to know Jesus and God put the both of them at the right place at the right time - I only hope and pray that my faithfulness leads me in that right direction.

I loved everything about this book. If you are looking for glimpse of hope, I pray that this book finds you like it found me.

[hannah ☆ ୨ৎ˚࿔ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The PenaVegas will be your friends after reading this book (well, it will FEEL like they’re your friends 😉)! Carlos and Alexa go back and forth sharing their stories of their upbringings and careers and ultimately how they grew into their faith. I really appreciate how much they don’t hold back in sharing their struggles and tough decisions.

I’m in a very hard season of waiting right now, and I’m SO glad I decided to pick this book up at this time. The PenaVegas share a lot about trusting in God’s timing no matter what. It’s been encouraging for me to have this book as a reminder to be patient and simply trust. I found Alexa’s faith to be not only inspiring but a grounding force for me.

If you need an encouraging read or just want a deep dive on Carlos and Alexa, I def recommend this!

[Sonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.. speechless. This book is amazing. I was chosen to be apart of their launch team and got an advance copy and Lex and Los went rare into their lives, sharing things they haven’t share before and going into details about their faith, eating disorders, dark times, and all point it back to God. Their faith is amazingly strong and seeing what God is doing in their life is beautiful. I love it. Read it in one day, couldn’t put it down.

[Emily Hilderbrand Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book in the airport and read it the whole way home. Such an easy read. I really enjoyed how it went back and forth and told their story of love but also about their testimony of Christ. It was funny and so realistic. Very relatable.

[Sunshine Rodgers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a copy of "What if Love is the Point?" by Carlos and Alexa PenaVega because I watched Spy Kids, I watch their Hallmark Channel movies and I even voted for both of them when they competed against each other on Dancing with the Stars! Fun fact: my book is autographed because I met Alexa and Carlos at a Book Signing. So, I am a fan of these two! I must say though, this book was very difficult for me to read. Carlos (goes by Los in the book) and Alexa (goes by Lex) each writes a different chapter from their viewpoint, documenting different seasons of their lives. I thought maybe it was a little too... personal? I was upset finding out that Alexa didn't get to keep any of her money from the Spy Kids movies - her mom kept it. Alexa went into such detail about her eating disorder, and I almost got sick myself when she talked about throwing up twenty times a day - weighing 90 pounds - and her mother didn't seem to care. I didn't like hearing how promiscuous Alexa and Carlos were and even lived together before they got married. Carlos admitted to drugs and getting high. When she was still a teenager, Alexa met and consequently quickly married a man 12 years her senior and then divorced soon after. It also seemed Alexa and Carlos' relationship was also quick to date and marry as well. I thought it was funny when Carlos met Alexa at the bible study, but his attention was more on another girl, Sam. Alexa and Carlos share their times at work as actors, on set and on shows.   I liked how they name dropped a little in this book, like Alexa being friends with Kaley Cuoco and Carlos selling his house to Marc Anthony. And Alexa's sister was that little kid in the Nicolas Cage movie, The Family Man! What!? These two are around my age, so it was fun to pick up on their references, like Disney and Nickelodeon shows and or movies. They both talked about how they discovered Jesus Christ on a personal level and also explained their experiences as a married couple and as new parents. Carlos and Alexa shared how their relationship with God grew and ultimately freed them from their strongholds (i.e. eating disorders, cussing, drug use, etc). My favorite chapter was chapter 8 when Alexa talked about the experience with Dancing with the Stars, which is one of my favorite shows. Chapter 11 sums everything up nicely by expressing that Love is the Point and so is growing spiritually, emotionally, serving God and loving others. 

[Eliza Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was interested in this book as i’ve heard Carlos from BTR is a christian and know his wife from spy kids etc. Was interested to see if it was the American Jesus will fix your problems christianity or a gospel centred Christ died for my
sins christianity.

I think it was sadly more the first type. It is not super overt which i think is dangerous. There was little to no mention of Jesus sacrificing his life to save us from the wrath of God but way more Jesus is love be like him and he will be with you and help you.

Quite sad really.

[Laura Robinson (naptimereaders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved Alexa since Spy Kids & loved her and her husband even more when I saw them on DWTS. But wow. This book made me LOVE them.

Their joy, passion and kindness is so contagious. And their love for Jesus is so real and authentic.

When I listen to other celebrity memoirs- they usually talk about a *type* of Jesus or God that the believe in. But this couple? The REAL deal.

I loved every second of this memoir!

[CheyAnn Robin ·ᴥ· · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love them so much!! 🥹 My favorite couple! Did I cry while reading their story? Yes! 😭

As a fan of both Alexa and Carlos, I loved getting to read more about them. I loved reading their testimony and hearing about all God has done in their lives.

I love how they are so open and raw! They don't hide anything in their journey to where they are know in their relationship with God. I loved that Carlos opened about his struggles with his faith in God. I'm so glad he had Alexa and their pastor in his life, if he didn't he would have given up on God.

I am so proud of Alexa for opening up about her battle with her eating disorder. I hope her story has the power to inspire and support others who may be going through similar challenges. Thank you for being so vulnerable and sharing your story with us.

Their love for God grew and freed them from their eating disorders, cussing, drug use, sex, depression, etc.

Listening to Carlos talk about how lonely and depressed he was while filming Big Time Rush broke my heart. I'm so happy he has his band mates, Alexa and his family in his life to make him who he is now.


Thank you Netgalley, and the PenaVegas for letting me read this book for an honest review.

[Hannah Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will admit I don’t read a lot of non-fiction work; however, once I started What If Love is the Point, I could not put it down. I’ve been a fan of Alexa and Carlos for years and it was so interesting to get to know them a little more through this book. I loved reading about their journey so far and I just loved their journey’s getting to know Jesus stronger. I’m not famous, I am not in the entertainment business, but somehow, they made their journey so relatable. One of my favorite parts of the book was near the end where Alexa is talking about how she had made her list for things that she wanted (specifically in a boyfriend/husband) but really God has His list for us and that applies in all areas of life. I love this point that God loves us no matter what, no matter where we are, and we can try and have our own list of things we want to do or what we see for ourselves in a partner, but God knows what’s best for us and we need to give it up to Him and trust in Him. I highly recommend this book.

[Justin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terribly structured! The first 10 (of 11) chapters were written as alternating memoirs (one chapter by “Los” then one by “Lex”, going back and forth). It read as a cliff notes version of their lives, the whole book is 200 pages that they have to split between both of them, so it wasn’t nearly enough for them to dive deep. Though concepts and anecdotes of incorporating God into their lives was sprinkled throughout the book (yes they did meet at Bible study), it seems like they barely remembered the purpose of the book (and the answer to it’s title) at the end, jamming in several short concepts and anecdotes on “what if love is the point?” into the last chapter. Though they mention how they turn to prayer and how finding God turned their lives around, it seems they present their idea of God in a very general sense, rarely drawing on scripture, and heavily relying on the general concept that God is love. For me it didn’t dive deep enough into their lives nor make any unique observations or revelations about spirituality to make it a book I would suggest to others.

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I believe faith is a very personal choice and must be something you choose on your own, it is helpful to hear others’ stories. Carlos and Alexa were in an industry that was very “self-promoting,” leaving them feeling empty; surely, there had to be more than this. This is a beautiful testimony to their commitment to faith, as well as their marriage and family.

I commend them for sharing their journey with us and living their faith out loud.

Thank you @tlcbooktours and @thomasnelson for this spot on tour and a gifted copy.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars.

I love Carlos and Alexis!!! I’ve followed them on social media and on their YouTube channel and podcast and they just seem like lovely people. I listened to this book on audiobook and Lex and Los put their whole heart in it, you can tell. It was so entertaining to hear their story. They discuss their childhoods, adolescent years, and adulthood. They talk about previous relationships, their marriage, their journey into parenthood, and their relationship with God.
They aren’t perfect - they are real. LOVED this one so much.

[Lauryn Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 Stars ✨
These two just really reignite my hope for Hollywood.
What a beautiful family and story.
Life with God is a journey, but a journey done better when done with him, and the people he has put in your life who make you crave knowing Jesus.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I like reading stories about people and how God shows up in their lives.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed Carlos and Alexa since they appeared on Dancing With the Stars in 2015. At that point, I'd never heard of Carlos and barely knew of Alexa, but they really drew me in with the way they openly talked about their faith in Jesus Christ and their love for one another. I don't know them as celebrities but as really cool people who share their lives—which just happen to be different than ours—with their fans.

What if Love is the Point? walks us through both Carlos and Alexa's journeys to becoming youth celebrities. You'll learn about their families and their backgrounds, their teenage dating stories, the things they enjoyed about their lives, and the ways they struggled. You'll learn how each of them individually came to know Jesus Christ as Savior, and shortly thereafter met one another.

Because I've always known them as a married couple, I learned lots of new things about their growing up years. I also loved reading more about things that have happened since I've been following them, like becoming parents and their move to Hawaii.

Most of all, I'm so proud of them for releasing a story that unashamedly promotes Jesus Christ. They're honest about the things Jesus has helped them overcome, and how He has made good things happen from bad circumstances. You can feel their passion for Him and how much they want to honor Him with their lives. I have mad respect for that.

If you enjoy reading about celebrities or just two really cool people, I'd recommend this book to you.

I received my copy of the book from the authors. All thoughts in this review are my own.

This book originated at http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org

[Grace Avender · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so sad this book is over!! I wish it could've gone on and on!! Absolutely inspiring and adorable! And the authors read the audiobook!!!!!!!! So so good!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving an Advanced Copy and was able to dive into the book before it’s release! It’s a super quick easy read!

I want to start off by saying I’m such a huge fan of Carlos and Alexa. I grew up watching spy kids, and while I wasn’t as obsessed with BTR I knew who Carlos was. I’ve followed on social media, and their YouTube channel for years and have always admired their faith. I was super excited to hear them announce they had written a book! I was expecting the ultimate WOW (Words of Wisdom) After reading I felt like I needed time to digest it, and truly think through all of my thoughts before writing my review. But now that I’ve paused and reflected for a moment, let’s begin!

Let’s start with the Pro:

While reading this book you’re taken along for the ride as both Carlos and Alexa reminisce on various parts of their childhoods, their different rises to fame, the highs and lows of not only their professional lives, but their personal lives as well. We are invited into their lives as they vulnerably recount the moments they hit rock bottom, and how Jesus met them there. I love how honest and real they were about the struggles they faced, and while some aren’t necessarily something I could relate to (a few stories are more niche, focused more to the nature of their careers) even then I saw the heart behind it. All in all a lovely book sharing their testimonies, and how their love for God is always at the center of all that they do.

Now for the Con..

I think my biggest issue was the structure in which the book was written. It felt very jumbled and all over the place at different points, the timelines where often jumping back and forth and it was occasionally difficult to follow. More then once I had to stop and reread a paragraph to understand what was happening. During the process of reading I often wondered when the title would begin to make sense for the topics they were discussing in each chapter. While yes they were talking about their childhoods, acting careers, personal lives, and encounters with Jesus. They had yet to specifically draw the lines of why “Love was the point.” While I can see how it was written to be more of an abstract “wait till the end to see it all come together” it didn’t flow very well in my opinion. It felt crammed all into the final chapter, and I was left jumping from here to there as they shared why “Love was the point”

All in all a worth while, good read. If you don’t pay attention to the structure of writing, and want to hear the humble and honest reflections of a Christian Hollywood couple, you’ll probably love it! If you’re like me, I think you’ll still enjoy hearing their perspectives even if their writing style is a little more lax. Either way you tip it’s definitely worth the read!

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such an enjoyable read! I loved the vulnerability and humility that Carlos and Alexa wrote this book with. While I was very familiar with Alexa from Spykids, Big Time Rush started when I was in high school, so while I had heard of it, I didn't know it well enough to know the individual members and therefore, I wasn't familiar with who Carlos was. I really enjoyed learning more about Alexa and about Carlos through this book. Most of all, I love how they used their triumphs and strength through challenges to bring glory to God. I really didn't realize that there were such faithful and giving people in Hollywood. They are honest in the times they have fallen off course, but have rerouted when nudged back on the path and are really using their platform to spread faith, love, and God's word. I really think highly of both of them and enjoyed the conversational tone of this book. The audiobook is read by both of them and is simply delightful to listen to, so I would definitely recommend getting ahold of the audiobook to listen to their story if possible!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 27 of 2023

This was such a good, good book. Alexa & Carlos PenaVega hold nothing back in this story of who they are now and who they once were. They tell the story of how they came into their fame, as well as their struggles with their faith. I appreciated their honesty and transparency as they openly shared how their relationship with Jesus has become more and more authentic.

I didn’t know much about these two prior to their time on DWTS. I had heard of Big Time Rush & had seen Spy Kids, but neither of them were really on my radar before that. I loved seeing a happily married couple on DWTS & appreciated, again, their vulnerability on the show.

So glad I picked this one up. It’s a quick read & well worth your time!

Format: audiobook (Libby)

[Claire Dabeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 / A quick and easy read! It was cool to hear both of their stories and how they came to Christ and got together. It is memoir style for most of the book with switching POVs each chapter, and then the last chapter they wrote together to answer the question the title poses.

With how much they reference God being the center of their lives, I feel they missed an opportunity to clearly lay out to the audience what the gospel is. Their love for the Lord and commitment to Him is clear (and refreshing), but I’m not sure someone reading this book having no clue who Jesus is would walk away knowing the gospel.

[Brittany Willis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait to read this book! I’ve loved Alexa since Spy Kids and Carlos since Big Time Rush! My Nanny (maternal grandmother) & I LOVE watching Dancing with the Stars and Hallmark together! Alexa and Carlos are two of our favorites! 😁 When I learned they were Christians I was THRILLED! 🤩

After Reading:

Ever wondered what it’s like to be rich & famous? Are fame & fortune all they’re cracked up to be? If not, then what’s the point? In their new book, boybander Carlos & Spy Girl Alexa answer those questions & more.

I’m a major fangirl, aspiring podcaster, self-published author, & most importantly, a devoted Christ-follower. As such, Alexa & Carlos PenaVega are 2 of my favorite celebrities. Seeing they were launching a team to read their new book had me pumped! Idk how a launch team works. Idk if it’s first come first serve, all are welcome here, or a select number of people who get to join. Either way, it felt like a risk to ask to be on the team. I didn’t expect to get an invite. I figured thousands of people, if not more, would be asking to join. So, when I saw the email to join, I was SO excited! It’s always such an honor to get an invite into someone’s story. It’s why I do what I do. I share my story, so you can be a part of it, & so I might be a part of yours too. That’s exactly what Carlos & Alexa have done with this book! Why? Because Jesus invited us into His story & when we invite Him into ours everything changes for the best. That doesn’t always feel true, but it is.

There’s a time & place for philosophy & theology. This isn’t it. Both often leave more questions than answers. In this book, Carlos & Alexa give us the only answers that matter–love & Jesus.

Some might complain most of the book is their stories & not “the point.” I would argue that’s not true. If love is the point, then you have to get to know people & you have to get to know Jesus. How would you get to know people & Jesus without hearing their stories?

Maybe I’m biased. Maybe being a fan of BTR, Spy Kids, DWTS, & Hallmark made me love this book more than I would’ve otherwise. I don’t think so though. Alexa & Carlos were vulnerable & raw in this book. They were amusing & straightforward. I will recommend this book to anyone & everyone interested in the lives of child stars, heartthrobs, & what truly matters. I gave this book 5 stars, not for the writing, but for the story & the answers because love IS the point.

For a more detailed review keep an eye out for TWO podcast episodes coming soon!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly didn’t know what exactly to expect from this book. I have known these two since my girls were young and followed them through them. Because of that, I knew some of their story. When I started chapter one, I didn’t want to put the book down. I wanted to continue reading. To know their whole story. They were so honest with their life story and how Jesus worked through the good, the bad and the ugly to bring them to Him and each other. Then their journey together and how they try and live a live that shines brightly for Jesus in an industry that doesn’t and doesn’t always support marriage in general. I really was encouraged and impressed with their faith, commitment and boldness to follow Jesus and remain committed to each other in-spite of the demands of Hollywood. This is definitely a book I’d recommend reading and one I could find myself reading more than once and honestly, I don’t usually re-read books due to so many books I read. I’ve honestly almost picked it back up again to read already again! I think this book definitely has something for everyone. I encourage you to take a chance and read it for yourself. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

[Heather Comma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of reading this book before it publicly launched. Beautifully put together; An inspiring story of Alexa and Carlos PenaVega and their walks in Faith and their growing relationships with Jesus.
As a young wife and mom to 3 young kids (I grew up in church and have had a relationship with God from early adolescence, my husband had been to church as a child but his relationship didn't start to mature until early adulthood.), this book truly resonated with me. I also enjoyed their glimpse into raising their children as young desciples. I have adopted their nightly routine (minus song, I can't carry a tune) to do with my three girls at bedtime.
This book truly was an amazing reminder to keep your eyes and heart turned to Jesus and spread His love. An encouraging and inspiring book that I enjoyed reading and will definitely read again!

[BreeB · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was honored to be picked for an early read! With that being said; WOW!!
Let me start by saying I read this book within a few HOURS. It was so easy to read and the flow was so smooth that I didnt want to, and I couldnt, put it down. This was one of my first non-fiction books about someone's lives and I absolutely loved it. You get to experience Alexa and Carlos' lives separately and together in this quick read, while learning things about their lives that aren't very public. This book recognizes their journies in life and their faith and how they created a beautiful life that they live by their (and Gods) terms.
I highly recommend this book, even for non non-fiction readers!

[Desi RobeRson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really excited about reading this! I grew up watching Spy Kids, so later when I saw Alexa was a Christian (through instagram) I liked her even more. I have so much respect for her now after reading this. Whatta role model. I didn’t know anything about Carlos besides the fact he is in BTR.
I wasn’t much into the book though till about halfway. Maybe it was that I couldn’t relate well, but after the Dancing With The Stars part & the birth of their kids is where I was more into it. I was encouraged to hear how they talked about their relationship with the Lord, marriage, & parenting. It even sounds a little bit unrealistic how well they make their marriage sound & their relationship with the Lord. Pretty amazing.

So takeaway: I leave with the motivation to work harder on my marriage (even with this postpartum emotion crap) & remember that I should be doing all I can to know the Lord & supporting & loving my husband with the love language he has, not my own.

Love is the point.

[Kaitlyn Delia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re not already following the PenaVega family, you’re missing out on boatloads of fun (pun intended!) — this sweet family has won the hearts of thousands with their cruising content, lifestyle vlogs, and more than anything: their fierce devotion to God.

Driven by faith, Carlos and Alexa PenaVega are unstoppable. In their debut book “What If Love Is the Point? Living for Jesus in a Self-Consumed World,” they share the spotlight with their individual POVs on their marriage, their careers, and their relationship with God. They candidly air out their most vulnerable and challenging seasons in life, each chapter a new testament to God and his higher plan for all of us.

If you’re new to Christian Marriage or Christian Nonfiction in general, “What If Love Is The Point?” is an amazing place to start. Judgment-free, conversational, and poignant, Carlos and Alexa make difficult conversations about faith look effortless with heartfelt and tactful metaphors. Carlos has an amazing one towards the end of the book that I really love — that marriage and parenting has been is “a gym” that God uses to make him healthier and stronger. Each page is guaranteed to make you smile between Carlos’ infectious positivity and Alexa’s pure love and encouragement.

Touchingly sincere and a call to action for anyone exploring their relationship with God: Carlos and Alexa Penavega’s “What If Love Is The Point?” is a must-read.

[raya_reads_love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Believing in God & Jesus is just natural ☆5/5☆

》WHAT IF LOVE IS THE POINT?《
BY CARLOS & ALEXA PENAVEGA

Carlos and Alexa PenaVega just shared a lot of their lives in this book, their finding & bonding with God & Jesus in a very refreshing way.
They remark that God (& Jesus) love all beings & by that is willing to help everyone not only if asked to.

Opinion
I love that both write so refreshing about their love and trust in God & Jesus. It's easy to follow both on their journey till they find each other and afterward till today and how God's ways bring them together.
I like to read from both, Alexa and Carlos, point of view, how everything come together as long as they're having fate.
It totally was a pageturner. I couldn’t leave this book for a second and read it in only a few hours. I really felt immediately with their story and interestingly very peaceful, too.

Conclusion
Read it even if you're not a believer it brings light into your heart and soul.
Even if you cannot go with faith, believe me, it is still worth it. It is fresh and light.
All we need is (God's) love (that we already have).

I've got this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review, which I here share with you.

[Kristina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't expect much from this, but was still somehow disappointed. This is a memoir with a hint of Jesus, but from a lens akin to the prosperity gospel. Despite the tag line, there is nothing about living for Jesus; there is only the notion of what Jesus can do for us. And even this is sprinkled in amidst a ton of content about material possessions, being starstruck, fame and personal struggles (which would have been a great time to really point to living for Christ). The last chapter does point to Jesus more than the rest of the book, but it's still very surface level and doesn't redeem the rest of the book. Thankfully this was a quick audiobook from my library.

All that aside, the structure of this was a mess with the alternative chapters written by Carlos and Alexa. I'm not sure how much the ghost writer had a hand in the writing, but the sections from Alexa's point of view are of a higher caliber. The sections from Carlos honestly read as very immature and based solely on the text, I'm not convinced he's a Chrisitan. That's not to say he isn't, I don't know him personally and am not judging his heart; it just comes across as he committed to faith because of Alexa rather than because of his recognized need for Christ. I pray this is not the case.

[Lisa Pan · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I just want to thank Carlos and Alexa and the launch team for providing me with an advanced copy of this book before it was published.

After reading this book, I realized what a lot of people say is correct: social media is NOT real life. On social media, Carlos and Alexa definitely look like they have their lives together: happily married with three kids, doing what they love as their jobs, living on a beautiful island in a nice house, having strong, close friendships and family relationships, etc. When Carlos and Alexa started to talk about their stories, it really felt like they were having a one-on-one chat with me about my struggles: Alexa wanted to be seen and heard, and Carlos wanted to give up on God after a pipe burst. Celebrities are really just like us! But what’s different about Carlos and Alexa from a lot of other celebrities is how they handle their struggles, which is through their faith. At the beginning of my journey with God, I always wondered how Carlos and Alexa are able to live such perfect lives. As I continued to grow stronger in faith each day with the help of my wonderful church (and from reading this book), I figured out the answer: the PenaVegas’ lives aren’t actually perfect, but they seem perfect because they know God loves them and they can rely on God for guidance.

I read most of this book on a particularly stressful international trip where I would often be so focused in the moment that I would forget God is still there. Eventually, whenever I was able to be in a quiet place, I would remind myself that God loves me. Once I calmed my mind, I would read a chapter or two, reminding me that God can help me with all the stress and struggles I was going through. In fact, after seeing all the times Carlos and Alexa were able to solve problems by stepping aside and asking God for help, before I even finished the book, I started to pray short, quick prayers for something happening at the moment, as opposed to putting everything in my daily prayer before bed.

This book is a must-read for everyone: teens, young adults, parents, grandparents, etc. If you are going through a difficult time in life, I highly recommend this book, whether you’re Christian or not.