It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect: A Memoir

by Gaelynn Lea

Folk musician, Broadway composer, and disability advocate Gaelynn Lea's warm, funny, poignant memoir is a love letter to every kind of body, to music, and to making it work––inviting us to embrace all of life's experiences with heart and determination. Read by the author and featuring original music.

Gaelynn Lea was born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Her parents were loving, cash-strapped theater kids, and she grew up racing about in her first electric wheelchair, having adventures with her siblings, and handing out playbills at her parents' dinner theater shows. Transfixed by an orchestra performance in 5th grade, Gaelynn was determined to play the cello. When her shortened limbs made playing the instrument challenging, she employed a familiar adapting. What if she held a violin upright in her wheelchair, like the world's tiniest cello? That what if was the key that unlocked her lifelong music career.

After winning NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert in 2016, Lea became a full-time touring musician—and that's when she began to truly struggle with the inaccessibility of the music world. Out of necessity, she became a dedicated advocate and activist, pushing back against the prevailing stereotypes, assumptions, and barriers with her own gently defiant style. Lea's warm, funny, deeply-felt memoir addresses love and faith, sexuality and mortality, the frustration and the joy of difference. She shows how disability inspires and enables unique and indispensable contributions to the world, and reminds readers to think creatively, fight for what they love, and savor the journey.

"I loved recording the audiobook of IT WASN'T MEANT TO BE PERFECT myself, as the author, because I was able to convey the emotion of the scenes in a way that will hopefully feel genuine to disabled people listening, as it's my authentic experiences I am sharing. Also, I had so much fun digging through my musical repertoire to put the perfect snippets of music underneath several of the scenes and during chapter transitions. People who are familiar with my music should enjoy these little Easter eggs, and for anyone who hasn't listened I think it will be a fun way to be introduced to the tunes! Recording the audiobook was a totally different experience than writing the book but it was really rewarding and I can't wait for people to hear it!” - Gaelynn Lea

Genres: Memoir, Disability, Audiobook, Music, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, Health

Audible Audio

Published April 14, 2026

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for an inspiring story of determination by a musician who overcame many obstacles in her career. Gaelynn Lea is a woman who has osteogenesis imperfecta, also known as brittle bone disease. It is a rare genetic disease. Her bones started to break while she still inside her mother, before birth. She required multiple surgeries to correct her malformed limbs enough so that she could use them to some extent. However, she has been in a wheelchair her entire life. She was fortunate to have parents who loved her and advocated for her. Her mother refused to accept one doctor's opinion who told them that there was nothing he could do for her and that she was going to die. A second doctor diagnosed asthma and prescribed drugs that enabled her to breathe.
She explains that she has benefited from the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). Still, she found that many music venues did not have a ramp for her wheelchair. These venues found it cheaper to have strong men lift her in her wheelchair to the stage rather than build a ramp.
She learned to advocate for herself by specifying in her standard contract that if there was no ramp to the stage, she would perform on the floor, rather than be embarrassed by being carried to the stage.
I believe that most Americans will benefit from the ADA at some point in their lives, even if it is only to use handicap parking spaces after surgery or when you are old and infirm. Two of my three grandchildren have a genetic disease and have benefited from ADA.
The title comes from a song that she wrote. She won the NPR Tiny Desk Music award and you can watch her award performance on YouTube. Do a search under her name. I watched it and enjoyed it.
She writes and performs folk music on a violin played straight up, in cello fashion. My wife heard the music and did not like it. She said that there was an atonal quality.
Thank You Hachette/Algonquin books and Gaelynn Lea for sending me this book. The author has included a signed letter talking about the book and her journey through life.

Cross posted on Storygraph, BookBub and Amazon.

[John (LHBC) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some memoirs try to smooth everything out into a clean arc. It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect goes the opposite direction, and it’s better for it. Gaelynn Lea writes with a kind of candid, occasionally irreverent voice that lets the messiness stay on the page. From her childhood surrounded by scrappy theater energy to the moment she decides to play an instrument that doesn’t quite fit her body, the throughline is adaptation. Not in a sentimental way, but in a practical, almost stubborn sense of figuring things out and moving forward anyway.

That spirit really sharpens once her music career takes off. The Tiny Desk win opens doors, but it also exposes how inaccessible those doors still are. Touring sounds exhilarating until it isn’t. Stages, travel, logistics, all of it layered with barriers most people never have to think about. She doesn’t dramatize it, which somehow makes it hit harder. There’s humor here, often dry and perfectly timed, but it sits alongside real frustration. You come away with a clearer understanding of how much talent gets filtered out when systems aren’t built to include everyone. Accessibility isn’t a bonus feature. It’s the difference between who gets to show up and who doesn’t.

Lea also doesn’t shy away from the bigger questions. She writes openly about love, faith, sexuality, and mortality, and those sections feel just as grounded as the stories about music. Nothing is overexplained or packaged into easy lessons. Instead, it feels like she’s inviting you to sit with the complexity. The result is a memoir that’s both personal and quietly challenging. It nudges you to rethink the idea that there’s a “right” way to move through the world.

By the end, what sticks isn’t a single moment or milestone, but the perspective. This isn’t a story about overcoming a body. It’s about building a life that actually fits it. And once you see it that way, it’s hard not to question how many other spaces, industries, and systems are still waiting to be reimagined.

[Edie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bravely honest memoir tackling difficult topics with candor & humor. I have little in common with the author - in addition to being able-bodied, I can’t carry a tune or clap on the beat, and am in awe of those who can. It was a gift to peer into someone else’s experiences, to see the world from a different perspective. I sent a friend the part about teaching music students and she affirmed that’s exactly how she feels too. I think most readers will find parts of Gaelynn Lea’s story they recognize. And most of us will be confronted with situations we’ve never had to face. It is obvious the author chose her words with care. Reading It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect is a well-rounded experience - there are poignant emotional beats, timely political insights, and overall a prevailing atmosphere of hope. And kindness. Kindness permeates the entire book. Acknowledgement and gratitude for kindness received. And grace for the bad behavior of others. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC.

[James Rechs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a lot of music memoirs, and this one did not disappoint! I've been a fan of Gaelynn's music for a number of years so was excited to get my signed copy of this. A highly engaging read- from growing up with OI (Brittle Bone Disease), to how she chose violin and came to play her instrument in an unconventional (but brilliant) manner. She also spends a significant amount of time talking about how she became a disability advocate, which was also super interesting. And as a fellow Minnesotan, it's always awesome to read a book that is centered in Minnesota. The pages fly by and it was a joy to read. Definitely recommend to other musicians, especially violin players (although I am not a violinist, I did play as a kid), disability advocates and Duluth enthusiasts. Or, if you just love memoirs, this is an absolute must! It is interesting, well written, good read for an old or young (or medium old like myself) reader! Also check out her NPR Tiny Desk show if you haven't seen it, and go see one of her shows!

[Tori DeFazio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sadly, I didn't know of Gaelynn Lea before listening to her audiobook. After listening to her book in one weekend, watching her NPR Tiny Desk concert, and following her on Spotify, it's clear I am now a massive fan. Lea's memoir is hilarious (I laughed out loud at her childhood backpack story) and so educational. I really appreciate how she includes information about being a professional musician, disability, and accessibility in the music world.

Gaelynn Lea narrates the audiobook and it's outstanding to hear her story in her own words. I love this audiobook's production; the chapters are short and often include musical interludes and snippets of Lea's songs. 5⭐️. I have been recommending this book to everyone!

[Valarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaelynn and I both have osteogenesis imperfecta, or Brittle Bone disease. Other than our senses of humor, that’s pretty much where the similarities end. Gaelynn is an incredibly talented musician and I’ve been a fan of hers for years. This book is perfect for anyone who wants to have a better understanding of disabled life. She hits on so many important topics. I loved it.

[Anne Porier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this memoir so much! Gaelynn Lea is utterly charming, funny, and so incredibly talented! I highly recommend the audiobook as each chapter is punctuated by Gaelynn’s beautiful music. Her work as a disability rights advocate is inspiring as well. Thanks to Libro.fm for the ALC.

[Pondie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a great memoir. I have met Gaelynn before and she is just as amazing as you’d imagine. It’s wonderful to hear her overcome so many obstacles, become a musician and an advocate for artists with disabilities. I’m so glad she shared her story. You should read it!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaelynn is a friend so of course this gets 5 stars :) Loved the way she put her story on paper, a story of finding her way to her music, to disability culture & activism, and to a lot of love along the way.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awe-inspiring, honest and irreverently candid memoir about growing up and living with Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) - aka brittle bone disease. I really enjoyed getting to know this talented violinist and disability advocate’s story.

She shares details of her life openly and with humor and I loved how creative and adaptable she was when it came to making instruments work to fit what her body was able to do.

Great on audio narrated by the author herself with bonus song/instrumental pieces. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first heard of Gaelynn Lea not long after her big break winning the NPR Tiny Desk Concert back in 2016, and I was intrigued enough to go see her live at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh during one of her first tours. What's funny is that she describes that show in her memoir as being a really awkward, not well attended night, where people talked over her. I'm proud to say I wasn't one of those folks--I enjoyed the show and bought a couple of her albums! I enjoyed her music, and in the years since, I've also come to enjoy her writing via Substack. She is truly a wonderful, positive, kind person, and her empathy shines through every word of her heart-opening memoir. If you need a break from the ongoing horrors of the news, sit alongside Lea as she develops her craft, overcomes manifold obstacles as a disabled person, finds love, and gets the recognition for her art and activism she so richly deserves. Lea is one of those people who wants me to be a better person. You'll feel like a better person if you read her lovely, earnest, funny memoir.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend this audiobook; the author read her memoir about the challenges and opportunities for the disabled covering several important topics including ADA, medical issues, education, inclusion, accessibility, and advocacy. As a mother of a disabled adult child, this book resonated with me and it is a great book for disability awareness.

I found out about this book at the Woods Hole Film Festival. The author was in a short film documentary (Make a Joyful Noise) about a group of accomplished disabled musicians breaking barriers. That film was followed by another documentary (Best Day Ever) about a grass root movement to create adaptive bike trails in Vermont. Both of these documentaries were excellent and showed disabled people thriving and breaking barriers through advocacy, inclusion and accessibility.

5 ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The remarkable violinist Gaelynn Lea writes about her life growing up and living with a disability, osteogenesis imperfecta. Her early years were filled with doctors and surgeries, and she knew she would be needing assistance for the rest of her life. Despite that, she is a delightful, fun and funny, intelligent and artistic human being. She created a career for herself with the encouragment of her many friends and husband Paul. The memoir is inspiring and educational. Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.

[Zach Strassburger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong memoir by a folk musician and disability activist. I hadn’t heard of her despite her winning NPR’s tiny desk concert. Most of the book is her story about being a touring musician, which is a hard life for anyone let alone when most concert venues are inaccessible to her wheelchair. I really liked the author talking about her thought process when trying to decide whether to play inaccessible venues. I also liked her writing about Judy Heimann and the disability rights movement—I liked the tracing of the history and the author placing herself within it.
I received this ebook for free in return for my honest review from NetGalley and the publisher.

[Bleu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a difficult book to review. I find myself in a strange position where I cannot completely pinpoint what it is that I didn't like about this memoir, yet I certainly can't say it was bad. It occupies a middle ground of respect for the author’s story without a corresponding personal resonance with the narrative itself.

Lea is a woman with an interesting and unique singing style, which, along with hard work and luck, has undeniably taken her far in her career. This layered approach is, arguably, the greatest feature of this book’s writing. Much of her story is nuanced, providing a voice that feels strikingly different from the standard memoir. One of the more thought-provoking sections involves her reflection on her childhood; she discusses how she believes much of her health fixation from this time stemmed from reading detailed medical descriptions in books. It is a relevant and necessary lens to consider at a time when many are adamantly advocating for ‘representation’ in children's literature without considering the potential for unintended consequences.

Another highlight is the layered, complex discussion between Lea and her now-husband regarding their future engagement. His feeling that her disability was never an issue, but that, as a true introvert, he was wary of the public attention her condition attracts. It is a refreshingly honest look at the external pressures on a relationship that the reader rarely sees. Combined with humorous tales of events that only came about because of her differences (the backpack), there are several points at which Lea plays with her life story for the entertainment of the reader and herself.

Much of the book involves Lea lamenting the lack of better physical access arrangements in businesses and venues. While her opinion is highly informed by her experiences and her commitment to her principles, there are times when her view feels somewhat narrowed by that very experience. She does eventually remark that it isn't always feasible to implement every possible adaptation in every instance, but the narrative often feels like a struggle between the ideal and the practical.

Perhaps much of my disconnect with this book comes from recognising that I simply do not share the author’s worldview. Thus, I understand her opinions but cannot share them. For example, she includes a definition for ‘disability culture’ from a group she co-founded:

Disability culture is a celebration of people who identify as disabled, while acknowledging the vast diversity of the disability experience and each person's inherent and equal worth. It is unapologetic, creative, innovative, adaptable, imaginative and rooted in problem-solving. It is based on the premise that disability needs to be seen, respected, included and celebrated. It includes our worldviews, our perspectives, our contributions, our art, our words and our music. Disability culture, at least in part, is a vibrant and thriving counter-response to the exclusion, marginalisation and oppression historically and currently experienced by many disabled individuals.

To her and her group, this was ground-breaking and essential; I see this as a lot of words saying very little. This definition aims to unify a vast cohort that actually has little in common. While Lea notes there is space for those with different views, this specific framing does not meaningfully resonate with me.

The narrative often struggles to find a grounding thread. It is difficult to learn of her hardships when, in the same chapter, she is regaling the reader with the fantastic, high-level opportunities and successes she has been fortunate enough to receive. The scale of her professional triumphs makes it difficult not to see her hardships as part of the general challenges of life (as experienced by all), simply categorised differently than most. One questions the crux of this memoir: is this a portrayal of the hardship of living with a prominent disability and the effort to overcome its limitations, or a celebration of a woman flourishing in her field? One could argue it is difficult for a narrative to be both simultaneously without losing its focus.

The audiobook is read by the author herself. While Lea reads clearly, she does not have an especially enjoyable voice to listen to for long periods. The production is interspersed with snippets of her playing and singing; these are a nice addition that effectively showcase her specific work and style, providing a musical context that the text alone cannot fully convey.

Ultimately, Lea is a woman of humility who has stood by her principles, but the resulting memoir feels like a collection of fortunate successes and specific grievances that never quite weave into a cohesive, relatable whole.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am no superhero–I was just a disabled kid with big dreams who grew up in a supportive environment. from It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect by Gaelynn Lea

Gaelynn Lea was a normal kid and teenager, doing normal things. Horsing around with her siblings, gossiping with girlfriends, going to summer camp, skinny dipping, having a sexual life. Except, she also had osteogenesis imperfecta.

In the womb, she already had broken bones which had healed wrong. She needed a wheel chair. Her scoliosis reduced her lung capacity, which contributed to a scarry hospitalization. She did struggle with hypochondria after that event, yet her courageousness led her to continue to risk having a full life: college, work, marriage.

Music changed her life. Her teacher found a violin her size and a special bow was made for her. She studied classical music until a friend introduced her to folk music. She became a traditional fiddler and singer songwriter, winning NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest in 2016. With her husband’s help, she went on tour across the world. She also wrote the music for a Broadway production of Macbeth starring Daniel Craig.

When I get bogged down by the typical frustrations of a working artist, or if my mind slips into comparison mode, I remind myself that the true value of music isn’t tied to capitalism or financial success. Music is a pure, even holy, activity to be pursued with reverence. I hope this is something I always remember.

from It Wasn’t Meant to Be Perfect by Gaelynn Lea

“Nearly all parts of life are touched by my physical disability,” Lea notes. She is grateful that she was born after the ADA requirements but contends with aging venues without handicapped accessibility. When she married, she fought to retain necessary Medicaid coverage.

Her style is forthright, open, and without self pity or emotional manipulation. Her personality comes through: a woman of intelligence and determination, taking control of what life has given her while reaching for her full potential.

Thanks to Algonquin Books for a free book.

[Sharon Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet Gaelynn Lea, born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or as it is commonly known, Brittle Bone Disease. Born with over 50 broken bones, her arms and legs were shortened, and she was confined to a wheelchair. However, her parents didn't coddle her; they helped her figure out what she could do.
Early in life, she heard a cello; however, because of her body limitations, she couldn't hold it. So instead, she took a violin, held it like a cello and was able to join the orchestra, which led to a lifelong love of music and her eventual career. She wins a contest with NPR and discovers an audience, and her career takes off. Along the way, she encounters places inaccessible to the handicapped, which leads her to become an advocate for the disabled.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Gaelynn Lea. While many autobiographies are narrated by the author, their voices are familiar and often soothing. In this case, due to her disability, her voice is higher-pitched, almost childlike. I admit, because of this, I couldn't listen for long periods.
And this book is long. She discusses everything, from growing up in a theatrical family, to going to college, her love life, to her meeting her husband, Paul. During her career, she has worked with some amazing artists and even provided the music for the Broadway show Macbeth (with Daniel Craig!!). In the audiobook, there were samples of her music, which had me downloading more of her music. She has several albums available on Spotify and Apple Music.
This isn't a relaxing summer read; it is something you need to focus on. There are a lot of names to remember. Maybe a list of names and characters at the beginning would help. I made a list after chapter 4. She meets amazing people along the way, has amazing friends, and has some fascinating experiences. There are times it becomes very wordy and la-la, but she leads a unique life that many can learn from.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me an advanced reading of this book.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some books I rate highly because they introduce me to a world I know little about, others because they are entertaining to read. This memoir is both.

The author was born with osteogenesis imperfect, aka brittle bone disease. Thanks to encouragement by her parents and others in her life, and her own indomitable spirit, Lea became a professional violinist, songwriter and vocalist, touring nationally and beyond, and winning National Public Radio's Tiny Desk Contest in 2016, one of 6100 contestants. She went on to write the music for Sam Gold's Broadway show Macbeth.

Nothing stopped her from pursuing her musical career, not using a wheelchair, not requiring a small-scale violin because of her short stature, not living in northern Minnesota, not completing college, nor falling in love with her husband, Paul.

The difficulties of touring, e.g., no ramp to the stage for her wheelchair, caused her to add disability advocacy to her life. She harbors no bitterness about the problems she encountered in a world not made for full inclusion of the disabled.

She stopped demonizing others for their lack of personal experience. "If integrity, respect and compassion guide my interactions, then there's a chance people will be open to learning from me."

It happens that this is the second memoir I've read by an individual with osteogenesis imperfecta. The other, also very good, is Stronger Than Bone: An Unbreakable Life with Brittle Bones by Gregory Smith. In contrast to Lea's musical career, he had a long and successful career as a social worker before retiring.

[Lorena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gaelynn Lea shares her interesting and entertaining story of life as a musician with osteogenesis imperfecta (sometimes called brittle bone disease). I wasn’t familiar with her before picking up this book, but I’m delighted to have discovered her.

She’s a talented musician and composer with a fiery spirit, amazing determination, and impressive adaptability. Although it was distressing at times to hear some of the ways she has experienced both personal and systemic discrimination, the overall tone of the story is hopeful and heartwarming. As a child who grew up with a disability, I would have loved to have Gaelynn Lea as a role model!

Gaelynn shares some intense experiences with surprising honesty and vulnerability, but she never made me uncomfortable by oversharing. I love her sense of humor.

The author narrated this book herself, and she did a great job. I’m picky about narrators, and I wasn’t sure about her voice at first, but her performance is so energetic and emotionally expressive, I can’t imagine anyone else narrating her story as well. The audio production was also great, and I loved the snippets of song included throughout the story.

I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone interested in memoirs, music, or life with a disability.

Thanks to Hachette Audio for providing me with a free advanced review copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Listen to the audiobook. Narration was ok. I was inspired by both Gaelynn and her parents. They were always so positive and never let anything stand in their way of achieving what they wanted. Gaelynn accomplished much in her life. I would have liked to hear more specific details on how she managed on her own in college. When she detailed that it took her an hour in the bathroom and the fact that she wasn’t able to walk, it would have been helpful to have a picture of how she did things she needed to do in her everyday life which included cooking and dressing herself, etc. Instead, her 3 years of being away on her own at college didn’t mention anything about that. I was a little frustrated by her descriptions of the doctor that suggested she have a hysterectomy and she immediately thought it was because she was disabled yet when a 2nd doctor mentioned it, she accepted it because he explained it to her. And while I’m sure that disabled people have a very hard time in the medical field, they’re not singled out. Women in general are discounted at every turn. I think the book had some very good interesting parts, but there were some parts that I was a little bit bored and wanted the story to hurry up and move on. It was probably 80% about her music and 20% about her life. And I think to be honest I would’ve been more interested in hearing about her life.

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I often dislike when there is music in between chapters of the audiobook, but I feel like it helped tell Gaelynn's story and the exact right amount was used. I also really appreciated that Gaelynn was the one narrating the audiobook-- her voice is unique and I think it's really empowering to be able to tell one's own story with one's own voice.

One of my favorite things about disability memoirs is learning how people's communities work with people with disabilities to create accommodations and accessibility. I really enjoyed hearing about how Gaelynn and her orchestra teacher worked together to figure out a way to make playing the violin accessible for her. Gaelynn's friends used her accessibility needs to build structures at the summer camp they all visited. Gaelynn figured out ways to protest inaccessibility at venues, leading to real increases in accessibility. While Gaelynn absolutely benefited from laws like the ADA, a lot of the real work came from her being a part of her community and the effort she and her community put in to make sure she was able to participate in community life to the same level as others. As the saying goes, nothing about us without us.

I received a free ALC for library employees from Libro.fm.

[Gregory Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hi Gaelynn,
Excellent book! Great job! I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta as well. I'm turning 70 in November so they tell me I'm one of the oldest people around with OI. It was so nice to read your story. Awareness of OI helps others by increasing inspiration and knowledge. I'm a former social worker, now retired and writing too. In fact, my memoir, Stronger Than Book, was published last November (I'm proud to say that I'm a Goodreads author as well!).
I can relate to many things in your story, both the pain and the joy. My parents were extraordinary too. And I love music (although I didn't become the accomplished musician you are!).
I'm really happy that our stories are out there, for others with OI- or any challenge for that matter- to check out. Your story gives so many people hope- hope which is needed so much in this sometimes crazy world we live in.
Thank you for writing this wonderful story. Let's connect! Please drop me a line at gapsmith1@verizon.net
Take care and best of luck with the book!
Regards,
Greg

[Stephanie Ton · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a memoir, this was really good! I wasn’t really sure what to expect going into this book, as I had only seen Gaelynn on NPR before this. This book does talk about Gaelynn’s challenges stemming from her health (some of which is for mature audiences only) but the main focus is her music career. I did not know very much at all about the music industry, but now I feel like I know a lot more. More specifically, I now have a new way to look at and think about those with disabilities who want to perform or hang out in a music venue- a place that I myself avoid as an introvert.
I think this book is an excellent young adult book. I also think this book would be phenomenal for anyone who has a disability, or who is trying to make it in the music industry. This book is proof that hard work can pay off - and that you do not have to debase yourself to ‘make it.’ I found the overall tone of this book to be surprisingly positive, and the overall message to be quite encouraging.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for an eARC of this in exchange for an honest review

Gaelynn Lea is a musician that I knew of from their hauntingly beautiful NPR Tiny Desk performance, but I was unfamiliar with their work beyond it. It Wasn’t Meant to be Perfect was a wonderful look at their work outside of that performance, and their life as someone who has stuck so close to their morals, passion, and joy regardless of their circumstances. While many of the stories and dialogue are obviously either seen through bias or rose colored glasses, I was consistently struck with how much of Gaelynn’s positivity and community focus showed throughout.

While I would recommend the ebook version that I read, I feel like this book would really shine as an audiobook to get a taste of some of the songs as they are discussed.

[Firetruckmama · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from the publisher, Algonquin Books, and I wish to thank them for that. “It Wasn’t Meant to be Perfect” is by Gaelynn Lea. If, like me, you have no idea who Ms. Lea is, you can pick up this book and enjoy it. Ms. Lea does a great job giving her backstory and her present story. While I've read a number of memoirs, this is the second book that I’ve read where I honestly felt like the author and I were sitting at a table in a coffee shop and she was just telling me about her experiences and her life - and, honestly, it was quite an enjoyable time at that virtual coffee table. If you have heard of Ms. Lea, then you’ll want to read this book to learn more about her, her music, and her experiences on the road (both touring and ADA awareness). I’m glad that I read this book.

[Mirandalamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much in this memoir about the plight of musicians, and disability culture. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a stage again without wondering if it’s accessible. I recently read Alice Wong’s memoir, Year of the Tiger, which is fantastic, and I’d put this book in the same category. I laughed and cried and felt all the emotions which make a good read. It was also interesting to get a little behind the scenes of how the Tiny Desk Concert went for Gaelynn and then learn of the other connections that were made after that. The book left me wanting a little more adventure and risk taking in my life, because by the end, we learn that Gaelynn’s rewards for taking risks and jumping into playing music have paid off richly by the end. We aren’t necessarily talking dollars here, we’re talking about living the good life.

[Erika Boyer-Kern · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard about this book while listening to NPR and I was so excited that someone I knew wrote a memoir! My path crossed with Gaelynn’s a few times in college and I was really interested to hear about her life and what she was doing now. What I did not expect was the humor, the vulnerability, and the delightfulness of learning about life on the road while on tour. Also, I listened to the audiobook, which was an added bonus because I got to hear her play music in between the chapters. Highly recommend to anyone who loves music, Minnesota, and listening to a badass lady who advocates for folks with disabilities with grace and passion.

[AnnieM · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have met Gaelynn at an event where she was performing and am a Patreon supporter of hers. I am a huge fan so am happy to be able to read her memoir. Her memoir is candid and truly is a great reflection of her personality - her humor, her humility, and last but not least, her incredible musical talent. I loved hearing about her family and her incredible husband. This is a great read - a loving tribute to being a pioneer and leading with power in our disabilities to make an impact in the world through Music and Social Action. Thank you for sharing your story! I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Algonquin Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

[LDW · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew of Gaelynn from her Tiny Desk concert, but this is just one very small detail of an amazing life filled with music, adventure, amazing parents, and marriage all leading to Broadway. The audio book closes each chapter with her music, adding even more to the overall experience of her memoir.

As a teacher, there was a lot to learn here around not just access for all, but what patience and not setting limits for your students can yield.

[Sascha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected to love this one. Gaelynn Lea's story is remarkable, as is her music, and her advocacy work speaks for itself. But I didn't feel a connection to the writing, which failed to draw me in. For several months, I found myself picking this book up and setting it down after reading a chapter without the real desire to return--a reflection, perhaps, more on this reader. Others will, no doubt, have a different experience.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy.