What Makes Us Girls: And Why It's All Worth It

By: Brittany Pettibone

Narrated by: Nicole Pettibone

We cannot give what we do not have. So, if we do not love ourselves, or even if we are too obsessed with ourselves, how then can we love others?

What Makes Us Girls examines the topic of self-worth through a modern cultural lens. Using examples from the author's life experience and the life experiences of a variety of other girls, What Makes Us Girls analyzes seven of the most common issues that result in a destructive sense of self-worth: comparison, rejection, bullying, inauthenticity, purposelessness, betrayal, and guilt.

Every girl in the world, no matter our age or the country we are from, will have to face a battle for self-worth. Some of us will win, and some of us will lose. But those of us who win will do so for two reasons: We are able to see the battle for what it is and, even more importantly, we have the right weapons to fight it.

©2018 Brittany Pettibone (P)2019 Brittany Pettibone

Very insightful

I have watched her on YouTube from almost her start. She has been an inspiration my life. I wish her an amazing marriage and many beautiful children. Thank you for the light you have brought into this world.

Good for Dads

I am a 53-year-old father with 3 daughters: 14, 18 and 24. This is a very fine audiobook which I’m listening to with them and also we listen separately. Without a lot of categories, but with great illustrations and stories, she gets to the real heart of the matter when it comes to what young women face these days. People from my generation have a hard time understanding emotionally how social media affects young people as they begin courting and moving toward marriage in 2019.


Her overarching advice is to become the kind of person you would like to marry. Healing hurts, but no free lunch. I also like the general tone not to expect perfection but to be discerning when you meet a guy. It’s okay if he is a project, as long as it is a project that you can handle.

Anyway, this book has really helped me as a dad and my daughters like it. It is timely and needed.


I feel that her sister was a good choice for reader because her voice really makes you appreciate the depth of the struggles girls face and touches the heart strings, while also remaining calm and consistent.

Easy Read

A basic understanding of girls and women. This is a great starter book for deeper issues within our society.
Nicole's reading is a bit bland and monotone, but it isn't so bad that I couldn't listen to it. Overall good book and I have added to my collection.

Thank you Brittany for helping a man better understand the women in his life.

Brittany, please allow me to send you my most sincere thanks for your book. I listened to your book here on audible because lately I have wanted to better understand the women in my life as I am a man. I wanted to know how to better care for them. How to better listen to them. How to be a better me for their sake. Your book I believe will help me achieve all of that. What you had to say about how things said about or said to a woman can affect her was very eye opening. Along with how you clearly explained the concerns most women have. Thanks to you I believe I can be a better friend to my female friends, a better son to my mother, and maybe one day should I receive the blessing to have a wife, to be a better husband than I would’ve been. Thank you! Also to Nicole. Your reading voice is absolutely lovely and your performance was perfect! Thank you!

Words for a good life

This is full of useful but untaught advice like how to handle (and sometimes give) rejection, how to have balance, and how to honor your own values. I was surprised how relevant it was to me as a man reading a book directed toward women, and would recommend it highly!

Short but Good

It was too short to leave me satisfied, but it was well written. And it was very well narrated by the author's twin sister. It was a strange blend of a self-help book for building up the character of girls and a lightly touched upon autobiography of a well known YouTube celebrity and political activist. Though they live their lives in public few YouTube personalities take a break from their video work to commit to writing their inner thoughts about that work. Here we get to know more about how one deals with public criticism and relates to her audience, competitors, partners, and friends. The deeply personal and honest introspection that B. Pettibone privileges us with in her book is unique and commendable. The style was distinctly female and will appeal to the target audience. Though it doesn't take long to listen to I think it's worth the price and hopefully it will help a lot of girls struggling with similar issues that live more ordinary lives as the same problems are shared by all.

one of our greatest minds

insightful for men And women alike. the best nonfiction book I have ever read before.

Great Performance, Good Advice

Overall, I enjoyed the book. Took me a bit to get through it, though. Great voice performance.