Party of One

Truth, Longing, and the Subtle Art of Singleness

By: Joy Beth Smith

Narrated by: Madeleine Rose

Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's summary

Did you enter adulthood thinking marriage would find you, only to end up at a second-cousin's wedding, dodging yet another bouquet the night before you turned 30? Maybe you've started wondering if this the best the single life has to offer.

Joy Beth Smith says it's not - that single life doesn't have to leave you constantly waiting for real life to begin. If you let go of the tired lies weighing you down, you can turn toward truth:

• You don't have to be married to be wise. You don't have to be a mother to love. You don't have to own a home to be hospitable.
• Singleness is not meant to be pitied, shamed, fixed, or even ignored. It is to be celebrated.
• God doesn't promise you a husband, but he does promise comfort, intimacy, and satisfaction.

With humor, self-awareness, and been-there perspective, Party of One delves into the insecurities and struggles of singleness and encourages you to find the good, the true, and the beautiful, diving headfirst into community and no longer pressing pause on your life.

©2018 Joy Beth Smith (P)2018 HarperCollins Christian

This should be mandatory reading for all Christ followers

I’m a pastors kid and I would rate this book right under the Holy Bible. You should read the Bible, then you should read this book. Then you can read CS Lewis, Tim Keller, Dan Allender and NT Wright.
The truths contained in this book can satisfy all the what if’s and why nots you may be experiencing. This is not only good theology but life giving truths. I’m tempted to say this book should be sent home from hospital with all newborn girls. Buy this book and put it on the top of your stack. Read it.

Best book on singleness ever

This is by far one of the most healing books I have ever read in my life. I have never seen such a beautiful and bold standpoint on singleness. I think women that are single but also women that are married should read this. There are things I never thought about that are stated. Things that I am scared, or was scared to talk about and discuss, I am no longer fearful. This is one of the most incredible books I have ever put my hands on. Already read it twice. Completely gospel centered. Praise be to God.

All single people should read this book!

This book addresses so many struggles and thoughts about singleness that I thought only I was having. It doesn't discount marriage, but it encourages single people to walk confidently in the path that God has placed them on. Party Of One doesn't try to explain away the struggles that come with singleness, but it challenges us to change our perception and see them as tools for growth.

authentic

I could relate to this book as a 29 yr old single Christian. I have felt alone with how I'm feeling and she put words to my feelings. Most of my friends are married so the struggle feels lonely but I felt like I was connecting with a friend who gets it.

Harder to go through than I thought

As an older single than what they talk about in the book this still offered thought provoking emotions, and brought that struggle to light a little more intense in areas.

Almost every emotion mentioned and intense feeling shared was justified but was also broken apart to help review the conflicts and back and forth and insecure feelings that pour our into life due to these crazy feelings. We don’t always keep it bottled up.

When your own family gives up and your mom says; “I just didn’t think you were interested anymore.” You want to scream .... WHAT! You are supposed to know me? ...You don’t want to be desperate or cold...you move straight ahead not knowing if you’re doing anything right. Church just tries to pair you off like they never wanted a connection with their forever mate... ugh.

This book is refreshing and hard in that way. Calls you out for various day dreaming behavior and healthy relationship starters. Working in a male dominate field past a certain age they are married or younger now... it suggests option how you should feel when meeting, or motivating yourself to connect.

It doesn’t have the formula or answers but it clarifies you are not alone even at 49 never being married and wondering why. It’s a good read or listen and will make you cry, laugh, get sad for the reality, angry for stages in life gone, agree with the injustice, ...but it also calls us to reevaluate where our focus is or has been or where it should be for help during a period of time or the rest of our lives. Keeping God centered ... and our part in our lives to be healthy.

Thanks

Good ideas

Joy Beth truly understands the plight of a Christian single woman. She embraces the taboo and isn’t afraid of making her readers uncomfortable in order to edify them. For the most part, I agreed with her takeaways, but I had a couple of confused head-tilts along the way. This book helps singles realize they’re not alone in their journey or wrong to be on it, and I believe that women will appreciate the honesty, wisdom, and vulnerability found in this book.

Quirky, hilarious, raw and honest

Party of one was unlike other books on singleness I have read: it was written by a person who is actually living the single life. It’s raw and honest, delves into personal stories, theology, thoughts around masterbation, online dating, and church life as a single person and gives a refreshingly honest perspective around the struggles and attributes singles add to society. May the church rise up and embrace people who are single more because of this book!

Grateful!

Just grateful! I am left wrestling in a beautiful way. Thank you so much for writing this for us! Literally filled with tears because I am filled with so much gratitude! Looking forward to having my students read this!
We making this a best seller is Jesus name! Amen!

Have hope, but don’t wait...

I liked that it wasn’t read by someone that doesn’t sound like a robot , but I gotta say I listened to this at work (dog groomer) and I was in a good mood when I started listening but by the middle of it I was feeling a little discouraged and a little angry . It’s a good book and there are good points and stories but I’m not sure I’ll listen to it again because of the way it made me feel. I was hoping for a more uplifting experience. So what I got out of it by the very end was : Have hope for marriage, but don’t wait for marriage. But I’m already basically doing that so yeah . :)