What do you think?
Rate this book
JUST DO!: Stories about Discovering Purpose, Gaining Perspective and Being Present
In JUST DO! , Brandon Janous invites readers into his family’s journey of discovering purpose, gaining perspective, and being present. Through heart-warming stories, gut-wrenching loss, hilarious one-liners, brutal honesty, and a ton of self-reflection, Brandon gives you a front-row seat to all that unfolded when the life he had imagined living became unimaginable. In 2018, after Brandon’s wife, Rachel, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer, Brandon posted a seemingly insignificant blog, Wanna Feel Loved? Get Cancer, that captured the emotions of people around the globe. After over a million views, tens of thousands of comments, and countless inbox messages, it was clear that people had fallen in love with the Janous Family and wanted to hear more of their story. This is that story.
268 pages, Hardcover
Published December 13, 2022
11 people are currently reading
120 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 23, 2023
Definitely a must read for everyone! I finished this book in one day. Brandon is open and vulnerable about the love and loss he has experienced. You will laugh and you will cry and you will learn valuable life lessons about keeping the right perspective in life.
March 16, 2023
I started following Brandon on IG after seeing a post about him on Love What Matters. Widower, 3 kids, lost wife to breast cancer. Plus, he was cute! As I’ve followed his story, he’s someone I would want to be friends with and his kids are adorable! So when he said he was putting out a book I ordered it. If you don’t follow him and already know their story, grab some tissue as you read this book. This book is not only Brandon & Rachel’s story, including the adventures of living in an RV with 3 kids under 5 for a year, but also the lessons his wife taught him in the 10 years they were married. He also has lessons he’s learned from his kids through this life. As a first grade teacher, I know kids can teach you a lot if you’ll just listen! Brandon will remind you that life is short, sometimes shorter than you expect, so don’t hold back…Just Do!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2023
“I need you to be as excited to lift me up and to encourage me as you are about doing that for complete strangers.”
“We only have one life. Just one. So why aren’t we running like crazy towards the things we want to do?”
“Right now in this moment we are the youngest we’ll ever be again.”
“I told her that sometimes love can be super confusing, but that’s never a reason not to love. I told her that, in the end, choosing to love others will always be worth it. By choosing to love someone, you give them a hope they may have never even known existed. And you give them a sense of worth that they may have never felt before. The fact is, love is the only reason why we are here. So no matter how hard it may be, there is nothing more worth spreading in the entire world.”
“I don’t want you to live a life where you wake up unhappy. Life is way too short to live even one more day that way.”
“Let’s work on forgetting about yesterday because of we don’t, we may miss out on the amazing things God is doing in our lives today.”
“But we need to understand that people are hurting all around us, and we need to be better. We need to be more kind. We need to have more patience. We need to give more grace. We need to love more people.”
“We had one focus: to wake up and live that day the best that we could. It’s pretty special what occurs when you live your life that way, and it’s amazing how all the things that once mattered so much begin to not matter at all.”
“She would agree that some people are hard to love but remind you that sometimes we’re all hard to love.”
“We only have one life. Just one. So why aren’t we running like crazy towards the things we want to do?”
“Right now in this moment we are the youngest we’ll ever be again.”
“I told her that sometimes love can be super confusing, but that’s never a reason not to love. I told her that, in the end, choosing to love others will always be worth it. By choosing to love someone, you give them a hope they may have never even known existed. And you give them a sense of worth that they may have never felt before. The fact is, love is the only reason why we are here. So no matter how hard it may be, there is nothing more worth spreading in the entire world.”
“I don’t want you to live a life where you wake up unhappy. Life is way too short to live even one more day that way.”
“Let’s work on forgetting about yesterday because of we don’t, we may miss out on the amazing things God is doing in our lives today.”
“But we need to understand that people are hurting all around us, and we need to be better. We need to be more kind. We need to have more patience. We need to give more grace. We need to love more people.”
“We had one focus: to wake up and live that day the best that we could. It’s pretty special what occurs when you live your life that way, and it’s amazing how all the things that once mattered so much begin to not matter at all.”
“She would agree that some people are hard to love but remind you that sometimes we’re all hard to love.”
September 13, 2024
This book was very well written in my opinion for it to not have been edited. Reading it was like having a conversation with Brandon during one of those moments in small group where you share your testimony with everyone because the small groups have changed and most everyone's new to the group. It's amazing, his faith in God and how everything he experienced helped him grow.
March 1, 2023
One of the best books I have read. It was uplifting and hopeful. It was honest and raw. It was courageous and funny. It made me realize how previous time is and how important our time is. Everyone needs to read this, you will learn so much and realize what really matters.
February 28, 2024
3.5 stars
I enjoyed the overall message of Just Do! I felt Janous’s love and devotion to his wife and kids, which kept me reading. The ending definitely got to me, even though I knew it would happen.
I enjoyed the overall message of Just Do! I felt Janous’s love and devotion to his wife and kids, which kept me reading. The ending definitely got to me, even though I knew it would happen.
January 12, 2025
Brandon is a gifted storyteller and does an excellent job of sharing his journey as a father. The love this family has for each other is inspiring. Brandon reveals how God works through the hardest circumstances and the truths shared will encourage readers to love well and be present always.
January 20, 2023
A tear jerker that puts life into perspective.
May 23, 2023
All the feels with this one...raw and real. Tissues required. incredibly insightful and full of a great lesson for us all...to be present...and Just do! Highly recommended.
June 30, 2023
Excellent book (and a quick read too) for any parent or grandparent who is busy with kids, work, & other responsibilities. Great reminders of what is truly important in our families!
January 24, 2026
This book meant literally SO MUCH to me. their family is incredible, and i’m so lucky to have met rachel. Hadley, if you see this, YOURE AMAZING!!!!!! THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS EVERRR. it’s now been 5 years, and rachel has never been forgotten. on march 1st every year, i give the whole family the biggest hug ever, because they’re so amazing. once again, this book IS SO GOOOOOOD SO EXCITED FOR HADLEY TO WRITE HER NEW BOOK!!!!!!
April 15, 2023
Such a good book! I hope that I am a better spouse, friend, step-mom, grandma, and a better person! I’m going to share this book with friends and family!
March 5, 2024
five star
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews