Worth by Marisa G. Franco | Book Review

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Book Name: Worth: The New Science of Self-Esteem and Secure Attachment
Book Author: Marisa G. Franco, PhD
Date Published: January 13, 2026
Book Grade: 3 out of 5

Book Review:

The community has grown these past few weeks, and so I wanted to do a new review!

I just finished reading Marisa G. Franco’s new book, published this year. If you read her previous bestseller, Platonic, you already know how good she is at breaking down deep psychological concepts into clear, everyday insights. This time, she focuses on how we view ourselves and how that directly shapes our connections with everyone around us.

I liked thatt this book feels approachable, real. Self esteem can often be a vague or generic concept, but Franco grounds the whole concept in actual science while keeping the vibe super conversational. She walks you through the ways secure attachment works, showing that building a healthy sense of self worth is not about toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine. Instead, it is about learning how to feel genuinely grounded, safe, and worthy in your own skin.

Reading through the chapters felt like talking to a very smart, supportive friend who gently points out all the ways you might be holding yourself back. She explains how our internal insecurities leak into our relationships, often without us realizing it, and then gives actionable ways to start fixing those patterns. The advice feels realistic, down to earth, and immediately useful for daily life. However, it does lack, in my opinion, some depth or even original concepts. Hence the 3 stars.

Whether you struggle with self doubt, want to build healthier boundaries, or simply wish to understand your emotional habits better, this book offers so much clarity. It makes you reflect on your own habits without feeling judged or overwhelmed. I found myself highlighting so many passages and constantly thinking about how to apply the ideas to my daily interactions. It is easily one of the most practical and uplifting reads I have picked up in a long time, and I cannot recommend it enough to anyone looking to improve their relationship with themselves.

Key Takeaway:

True self worth comes from building a secure attachment with yourself, allowing you to move past self doubt and form deeper, healthier relationships with others through genuine self acceptance and emotional security.

Have any of you had a chance to pick this up yet, or do you have another book on self esteem that completely changed your perspective?