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  • Title: Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be
  • Author: Rachel Hollis
  • Narrator: Rachel Hollis
  • Length: 07:04:00
  • Version: Abridged
  • Release Date: 06/02/2018
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson
  • Genre: Religion & Spirituality, Self Development, Health & Wellness, Counseling & Inspirational
  • ISBN13: 9.78E+12
Hello, audiobook enthusiasts!
Picture this: I’m winding my way through the dusty roads of northern New Mexico, the sun dipping low over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, casting long shadows that stretch like fingers across the sagebrush. My trusty rental car hums along, and in my ears, Rachel Hollis’ voice spills out through the audiobook of *Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are so You Can Become Who You Were Meant to Be*. It’s not just the landscape that feels expansive—this listening experience opens up something raw and honest inside me, like a conversation with an old friend over a campfire.

I’ll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I hit play. Self-development books can sometimes feel like they’re preaching from a mountaintop, all lofty ideals and unattainable promises. But Rachel Hollis? She’s down in the dirt with you, kicking up dust and calling out the lies we tell ourselves—those quiet, insidious whispers that say we’re not enough. As a travel writer who’s spent years chasing stories across continents, I’ve heard my fair share of those lies: *I should’ve settled down by now. I’m too restless to be a good partner. If I were more successful, I’d feel complete.* Hollis’ words hit me like a gust of desert wind—refreshing, a little gritty, and impossible to ignore.

It reminds me of a time when I was driving through the Atacama Desert in Chile, listening to Gabriel García Márquez’s *One Hundred Years of Solitude* on audiobook. The narrator’s voice wove magic into the surreal landscape, and I felt like I was living inside the story. Rachel Hollis does something similar here, narrating her own work with a warmth and tenacity that makes you feel like she’s sitting shotgun, sharing her life over a thermos of coffee. Her voice—equal parts encouraging big sister and no-nonsense coach—brings this audiobook experience to life. You can almost hear the laughter and tears she’s lived through, and that authenticity is what hooked me from the first chapter.

The book itself unfolds like a map of the human spirit, charting twenty lies Hollis has wrestled with and dismantled. There’s the lie that ‘something else will make me happy,’ the crushing weight of ‘I’m not a good mom,’ and the paralyzing fear of ‘I’ll never get past this.’ Each chapter is a mile marker on her journey, and she doesn’t just point out the potholes—she hands you the tools to fill them in. Her strategies are practical, grounded in real life: set goals that scare you, stop comparing yourself to others, give yourself grace when you stumble. It’s the kind of wisdom I’ve seen in the abuelas I’ve met in Oaxaca, who’d sit on their porches weaving tales of resilience with voices that carried the weight of experience. Hollis channels that same intimate, oral storytelling energy, making this less a lecture and more a heart-to-heart.

Take the chapter on ‘I’m not good enough.’ Hollis digs into her own struggles—failed dreams, messy motherhood, the pressure to perform—and lays them bare. It took me back to a night in Lisbon, sipping vinho verde with a local chef who’d once dreamed of Michelin stars but found joy in feeding his neighbors instead. We swapped stories of chasing ‘enough,’ and I realized how universal that lie is. Hollis doesn’t just commiserate; she pushes you to rewrite the narrative. Her faith shines through here, not as dogma, but as a quiet strength that says you’re worthy because you’re here. For anyone dipping into the *Religion & Spirituality* or *Self Development* genres, that blend of soul and hustle is a rare treat.

Now, let’s talk about the narration—because with audiobooks, the voice is everything. Hollis narrates with a conversational rhythm that’s pure gold. You can almost feel the Texas twang in her anecdotes, taste the determination in her pep talks. The audio quality is crisp, no background noise to distract from her message, and at just over seven hours, it’s the perfect length for a road trip or a weekend of reflection. She’s got this knack for pausing at just the right moment, letting her words sink in like the silence after a good story. It’s no surprise she’s sold over 3 million copies—this isn’t just a book, it’s an *experience*.

That said, it’s not flawless. Sometimes her tone veers into ‘tough love’ territory that might not land for everyone. If you’re not ready to be called out, it can feel like a splash of cold water to the face. And while her personal stories are relatable, they’re rooted in a specific experience—middle-class, American, female—that might not resonate universally. I think of friends I’ve made in rural Brazil or bustling Bangkok who might find her examples a bit distant from their own struggles. Still, her core message transcends: we all carry lies, and we all have the power to shed them.

How does it stack up to other self-help listens? Compared to Mark Manson’s *The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck*, which I devoured while hiking the Andes, Hollis is less cynical, more heart-driven. Manson tells you to pick your struggles; Hollis tells you to fight through them with grit and grace. Jen Sincero’s *You Are a Badass* might cheer you on with glitter and sass, but Hollis’ approach is more like a steady hand on your shoulder—less flash, more substance. If you’re into *Health & Wellness* or *Counseling & Inspirational* vibes, this audiobook fits right in, offering a mix of emotional uplift and practical steps.

Who’s this for? I’d recommend it to anyone who’s ever felt stuck—whether you’re a parent juggling chaos, a dreamer chasing a passion, or just someone tired of the inner critic. It’s perfect for long drives, quiet evenings, or those moments when you need a nudge to keep going. And if you can snag it as a free audiobook through a trial or library app, even better—though at $21.99, the digital price feels fair for the value packed into this listening experience.

Reflecting on it now, *Girl, Wash Your Face* feels like a companion I didn’t know I needed. It’s not about perfection—it’s about showing up, messy and real, and claiming the life you’re meant for. As I parked that car in Taos, the mountains glowing under a twilight sky, I felt lighter. Hollis’ voice lingered, a reminder that the lies don’t get the last word. And isn’t that a story worth hearing?

Until the next adventure, Marcus
Marcus Rivera