I had trouble rating this book, it probably gets more of a 3.75 than just a 3.5. It was a good book, a good solid devotional, but I did find some issues with the presentation style and writing. I think that this may have had a stronger resonance for me had I been at a younger point in my faith, a place that was as yet unhealed from a lot of this issues and struggles. I would and will still highly recommend it to others, and likely try something else by this author.
I treated this as a night devotional, reading a chapter each night, or every few nights depending on the fiction I was reading at the same time and my mood. The chapters are decent sizes and divided into different sections that sit well and carry over to each woman/topic. The chapters also rounded themselves up well for a chapter-at-a-time reading, as well as carrying over for the effect of the whole book tying together.
The author does a great job being inclusive, the book not being limited to certain denominations and containing scripture from a large majority of bible versions. She has also done a great job sourcing quotes from various religious and secular sources to show and reinforce her point, and break up some of the sections.
There were two big things that made up the 'not so great' part of the list were the fact that I felt the author featured her stories of struggle and history frequently, and while I understand that that will be the area she is most familiar with, I felt there could have been more stories from others. The other issue was I felt there was a lot of literary license taken with some of the stories about the Biblical women not mentioned in the bible, or that I have come across in study, such as theories on Peter's mother in law and her past, as well as Joanna, wife of Cleopas' journey to and of faith.
All over, a book I would recommend to a sister who is hurting, new to the faith or younger in age. An easy read that's accessible both it's language and approach and pacing.