Grace, Not Perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy

by Emily Ley

I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection.

As a busy wife, new mother, business owner, and designer, Emily Ley came to a point when she suddenly realized she couldn’t do it all. She needed to simplify her life, organize her days, and prioritize the priorities. She decided to hold herself to a standard of grace rather than perfection. This mantra led to the creation of her bestselling Simplified Planner®, a favorite among busy women everywhere—from mamas to executives and everywhere in between.

Grace, Not Perfection takes this message from a daily planner to an inspirational book that encourages women to simplify and prioritize. Designed with Emily Ley’s signature aesthetic, this book gives women tangible ways to simplify their lives to give space to what matters most. With a focus on faith, Emily reminds readers that God abundantly pours out grace on us—and that surely we can extend grace to ourselves.

Have you been told you can have it all, only to end up exhausted and occasionally out of sorts with the people you love? Are you ready for a new way of seeing your time? Learn to live a little more simply. Hold yourself and those you love to a more life-giving standard in Grace Not Perfection,and allow that grace to seep into your days, your family, and your heart.

Ideas include:

List Making 101—tips to create effective to-do lists and get through them one step at a time
Simplify your life by simplifying the three major areas: your space, your time, and your mind
Strategies to center your day around an intentionally slower rhythm of life

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Christian, Personal Development, Faith, Audiobook, Christian Living

240 pages, Hardcover

Published October 11, 2016

About the author

Emily Ley is the founder of Simplified® - a brand of planners and organizational tools for busy women. Emily has been featured in Forbes, Family Circle, Better Homes and Gardens, Glamour, and Good Housekeeping. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including Best New Product at the National Stationery Show as well as Top 10 Designers to Watch by Stationery Trends Magazine. Emily and her team recently collaborated with AT-A-GLANCE® to create gift and planning collections carried in Office Depot, Staples, and Target. Emily is the author of national bestselling books, Grace, Not perfection: Embracing Simplicity, Celebrating Joy and A Simplified Life: Tactical Tools for Intentional Living. Now as an author, entrepreneur, wife and mother to three, Emily lives in Pensacola, Florida with her husband, Bryan, and their son Brady (8), and twins Tyler and Caroline (4).

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually feel a little bad rating this book as just "OK," because the author seems so sweet, loving, kind, and grounded in her priorities. I think that for people in the right demographic, this book might scratch them just where they itch, and really resonate. That demographic would include as many of the following traits as possible:

female
Christian
married
mom of very young children
financially comfortable or well-off
a big fan of blogs

I daresay that the fewer of these things describe a person, the less this book will have to offer to that individual. The author has a good sense of perspective--for someone who is very early on in the parenting journey, and who maybe hasn't had the broadest experiences. For the most part, this is an attractive repackaging of some pretty common themes out there now: let go of your guilt as a mom, play with your kids and don't worry about your house being in perfect condition, put down your technology and connect with your family, etc. It even contains the analogy about flight attendants telling you to put your own oxygen mask on before you assist others, but it is shared as though it's a revelatory notion rather than an overused cliche.
The book is beautiful: blog-inspired design elements; very pretty graphics (the author designs planners, and her gift with aesthetics is obvious); lovely photos that capture the mood of the writing; even thick, substantial pages (several times, I thought I grabbed two pages to turn by accident). However, the attention to detail did not extend to the editing. There are several mistakes and misspellings, and within the span of five straight sentences, two uses of "incredible" and two uses of "incredibly."

[Brooke — brooklynnnnereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This not only is a great inspirational and motivational read, it would make the perfect gift!

As a lover of the Simplified Planner, I decided that I had to pick this up. First, admittedly, it's incredibly aesthetically pleasing in both the outward appearance to the inner quality of the pages, the photographs, and overall content. If I was one to have "coffee table books", this would be a perfect one.

In this nonfiction, self-help-esque book, Emily Ley writes from her own personal journey as well as an encouragement for others. It's a book that goes perfectly with her brand of planners because it encourages us to live more simply. Be less hard on ourselves, lighten our load, decrease the pace of activity, halt comparison, and embrace who we are.

As I'm in a different time of life than Emily, I didn't think it would be as relatable as I found it. I am not married, nor do I have kids. I do work a full-time job but not one with an entrepreneurial background. All of that said, I related incredibly with the content. Both with what Emily struggles with now along with what she struggled with in the past.

I always find these kind of books helpful to pick up now and then because it's too easy to get caught up in the rapid pace of life. These books remind me to slow it down and not to be as hard on myself as I am.

I definitely would recommend this book to others that find they need a reminder every once and awhile to slow down, stop comparing, and give themselves grace. The content in this book may not be revolutionary or brand new but it's told in a different (and beautiful way).

[Chasity · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher.

Each time I thought the text was going somewhere, it tended to fall flat with Emily letting us know she has things under control, but here are some tips we might want to try. She offered tidbits like making lists for chores and taking out the trash each morning, but virtually nothing practical on how to release the strongholds of perfectionism and allow ourselves grace when these things don't get done. I also found the contradiction of the author's perfectly curated social media accounts while selling grace, not perfection for ourselves to be irritating - as if the tagline is more of a way to attract people to her brand (and sell her book) rather than an actual way of life.

[Sara Dahaabović · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is self-help book about the importance of letting go, saying no and enjoying the moment. Also it is a religious self-help book. (I didn't know that when I got this from NetGalley but I didn't mind).

In this book Emily Ley simply tell us what she learnt from being a wife, a mother and an owner of a small business. It was all nice but I couldn't connect with her, most of her advises are to new young mothers like herself, so I think the title was a bit misleading.

I liked how honest and transparent she was when she told her story of being pregnant with her son Brady, I loved how she embraced that story and realized that we as human can't control everything and that we sometimes just have to let go.

Brady has been a perfectly healthy, very tall little boy his entire life. No one can explain the anomalies of his ultrasounds. Except me. Enormous things changed in my heart during the nine months I was pregnant. I was broken down and built together again into a new woman.

Would I recommend this to anyone? Honestly no, or maybe to new young moms who are struggling and are a bit religious they would probably connect with book.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book - in its encouraging words and crisp layout. It is a mix of memoir, inspiration, and practical self-help written for moms, though I think women who don't have children could appreciate it as well. It certainly spoke to me. Grace not perfection. I love that. I need to put signs that say that everywhere I look.

I give it 4.5 stars. At times I felt like the author was trying to sell me one of her (admittedly beautiful!) planners. But maybe I'm being overly critical and that is just what happens when you read an entrepreneur's memoir.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

Read more of my thoughts here: http://www.jasonfreyer.com/twinsanity...

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cannot express enough how much I loved this book! It is such a treasure, it's beautiful but the wisdom within its pages are such a gift. This is a book I'll refer back to so many times in this season of life. Ladies you need this book in your life! If you only read one book this year make it this one!!

[Rachel | All the RAD Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I snagged this one before its release date thanks to all the books we get delivered at work, and I plowed through it one evening after the kiddos I was watching went to sleep. If you're an Emily Ley fan, a mama, someone who has a dream that you're hustling after while trying to find a balance in life, you'll love this one. It didn't really resonate much with me overall, but it sounded exactly like Emily (I follow her on social media and read her posts a lot) and was really a fun book, super feminine in its preppy design, with great nuggets of truth for women everywhere. I'm already going to pass this on to a friend who I know will love it!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you not love a book that comes with it's own ribbon book mark? The attention to detail in this book is exquisite. This book's focus is for women with busy lives which include careers, motherhood, relationships and the thought that everything should be done perfectly. I'm not there anymore yet I still thought this book holds great value. A woven thread throughout is her belief system in a God who truly wants you to live life gracefully. She writes honestly and helps all of us to know life is really about the small little graces in life that we just might miss if we don't take the time to slow down and notice.

[Laura Cason · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was essentially written for me: the stressed out, tired working mom of young children. But I really struggled with relating to author because her social media accounts and planners are exactly what I cannot relate to at this stage in my life. The perfect Instagram life doesn't exist and who has time to plan out their life in a planner that is so pretty you almost don't want to write in it? I can barely remember all my children's bags when dropping them off at daycare. So I definitely don't have any time or energy to curate their lives in a beautiful baby book (especially since I have more than one child).

A lot of what Emily says is great and there are plenty of practical advice tips that I appreciate, but I really struggled with making the connection of her down to earth advice in the book to her legit perfectly curated social media accounts and planners/baby books. They're beautiful! And this book is beautiful! And I would love to be friends with Emily - she seems so kind! But at this stage in my life I do not have time to perfectly plan out my life and let's be real - I didn't finish the $10 baby book I got for my first daughter...and I didn't even buy a baby book for my second daughter.

I didn't hate the read, but I didn't get much from it because I didn't feel like I could truly relate to the author.

In summary: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Emily Ley has a planner and stationary company. She also has a gorgeous Instagram feed and is a Christian writer. The book itself is beautiful but its content is nothing new or in any way original. It is full of the same ideas that are being touted by multiple writers these days: simplifying, decluttering, organizing, meal planning, getting rid of mommy guilt, and having gratitude.

Emily is a young mom with three children under the age of five. I had to laugh when she said that she had struggled for "years" with mommy guilt. At the time of the writing of the book her oldest child was three. She seems to be a kind, thoughtful, and obviously talented person but she has limited life experience in many of the areas that she is advising others about. This book would be good for a super young mom or a young adult just heading out into the world. It's full of common sense but has a rather limited scope. That said, a non LDS book that quotes President Harold B. Lee isn't all bad!! I loved reading that.

My Rating: So-So.

[Diane Estrella · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book that would be perfect for yourself or to give as a gift. The pictures included of the author and her home and family are beautifully done and add sweetness to the wonderful words inside. I like that there are questions for the reader to answer and go deeper into their own lives with. There are many Scripture verses and bullet points as well that really hit home for the reader. I had not heard of Emily Ley before but her simple wisdom is encouraging and enlightening.

I received this book as a gift from the publisher but was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Rachel McMorran · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written - as if we were enjoying a cup of coffee chatting about life. Loved it!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been wanting to read this since hearing Emily speak on Jen Hatmaker’s podcast. I was so lucky when Netgalley granted me this book as a wish, as I have been unable to find it anywhere here. Which is crazy to me because I literally live in Pensacola, the same place as the author. Unfortunately I didn’t love this book as much as I hoped. To begin with the formatting for the kindle version I received was AWFUL. Sentences would begin on one page and finish three pages later, or often you would get the second half of the sentence before the first. It was basically a choose your own adventure I didn’t choose. Still it was readable. She seems very sweet and loving and had some great points about remembering to be in the now and to appreciate what you have, but it was pretty generalized and honestly there just wasn’t enough content to warrant a book. I do think perhaps this is better suited towards mothers of young children.

[Cindy Davis- Cindy's Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book from a Free Little Library because the title (and color!) caught my eye! It is gorgeous. I enjoyed this quick read but feel it is written for women with little children, not those, like me, whose children are practically grown. I was still able to glean a few nuggets of wisdom here and there and enjoyed the pretty design inside the pages of the book.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard Emily Ley on a podcast and that was the first time I had heard of her so I picked up this book to read. It is a BEAUTIFUL book and I am going to recommend it to a whole lot of new mamas. But as a mom of teenagers, I still found a lot of good in it.

[AudreyLovesParis · Rating 2 out of 5]

A pretty book with no substance and too much religion for my taste.

[Chantel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is….meh. The first issue I had with this book, is that she never really tackled how to handle grace not perfection. Which, was the entire reason I picked it up. Sure, she 'blew off' the fact that she isnt a pinterest worthy cook, but it seemed like a lot of her 'find what makes it work' ideals come from a place of her still striving for perfection. And all the photos were
PURE perfection… there wasn't as much 'grace' as I was hoping and a ton of super awesome tips for how to be pretty darned successfully perfect. Felt like a contradiction the entire time I was reading it! On top of that there was so much entitlement - if you’re not well off a lot of what she says just sounds spoiled. I hate reviewing this book poorly because she seems like such a kind person but this title was just an attention grab and didn’t match the contents at all.

[Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this doesn't make my Top 10 Books of 2017, I'll be very surprise. This book had a profound effect on me. It affected my heart and all of the thoughts I had going on in the beginning of the year. While she does promote her planner, she doesn't try to get you to buy it. You really can apply the important part of her planner to any planner.
Her ideas and solutions really sparked my own ideas for a better life. This book is well recommended by me. I know of at least three people I will be purchasing this book for as gifts.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the practicality of this book, however as a single 21 year old who is not married, no kids etc it was hard to relate to at times. Most of her struggles came from being a mom with a business. Most of her suggestions for improving grace in her life were things that I found myself already doing. I would say this books is definitely geared toward those who are married and have kids. Overall it's a practical book but for a specific audience.

[Meghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to find this book on the new shelf at my library. It is designed beautifully and it was a pleasure to read. There are strong references to religion, but overall the book captures enjoying your passions, seasons, and simplicity of life. If nothing else, read pages 197-218.

"The peace of contentment is just as valuable as the confetti that comes with achievement." -Emily Ley 209

[Jade Geary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have loved this book more if I was a Momma. I find this book pretty unrelatable as this is not the stage of life that I am at. I would revisit this book when I am a Mom to give it another shot. If you are a mom, someone struggling with infertility, a stay at home Mom, entrepreneur, and Christian you would probably really enjoy this book. The author is clearly extremely sweet and caring as she shares her life and advice so if that is not your style you will not enjoy this book.

[Cindy (BKind2Books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that this book did not appeal to me very much because I'm simply not the person that the author had it mind when she wrote this. I'm sure that mothers of young children - harried and trying to do it all and be it all - would lap this up. For me, it was not a difficult read, but there was little to be gleaned for me, an empty nester still struggling with multiple responsibilities. A nice book - just not for me.

One quote I liked:

The joy is in the journey, even the hard ones.

[Zuleyka Araiza · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I picked up this book because the title caught me - who doesn't want to embrace simplicity and let go of perfection? I like that she has a lot of different exercises you can do, but after a while it seems repetitive. I also feel this book is more for married women and women with families. Overall, I'm glad I did read this.

[Kailyn Tauber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a great read and reminder to slow down, savor these moments, and don’t rush through your life! Give yourself grace, and aiming for perfection sets yourself up for failure. Take some time to simplify your life for what really matters! Loved this!

On a totally unrelated note, I am now going to walk through my house with trash bags finding things to get rid of and donate ✌🏻

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book! I certainly didn't agree with everything - some of the "theology" is really watered down... but the overall message of the book was inspiring, and I gleaned some new tips and tricks from this book!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because it's a pretty self help book, but I'm not exactly the target audience for it. Parts were irrelevant to me, but it's a nice book.

[Natalie Shawver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a firm believer that sometimes you read a book (or listen to in my case) exactly when you are supposed to. Grace, Not Perfection had been on my Amazon wishlist for quite a while so when I saw it was available via Libby app I knew it was time to give it a listen. And I'm so glad I did. Emily's words hit home - especially in this season of my life as a still relatively new mama (am I allowed to still call myself that when he's 18?) and with a recent change in job. She reminded me that it's OK to push pause and that sometimes doing so can be the best thing that ever happened to you. And, she said that just because you quit something doesn't make you a "quitter" - it means you are choosing something else that may be a better fit for you personally or for your family. It was like a giant sigh of relief and a major "THANK YOU!" in my head. (Not that I needed her permission - but coming from a writer/mama/try-to-keep-it-all-together woman, it was nice to hear.) I enjoyed hearing about Emily's career path and how she went from the corporate world to instead following her passion and stepping out on faith in a completely different capacity (starting her own business). She admitted it isn't for everyone but that sometimes even if you just take one step in a direction you want to go, other things will fall into place. She also offered some great practical tips that may sound overkill to some, but were brilliant to me (I even bought into her whole "live life simpler" and ordered her 2020 Live Simply planner ... haha I'm going old school with the paper again!). The most profound thing she wrote in her book - and something I know I'll be repeating to myself and others for years to come - is asking yourself, "If all you had for the rest your life was what you have today ... nothing more ... would you be content?" We talk about being content a lot in life, but for whatever reason, the way she worded that question struck me. I'm blessed beyond measure and yet I still have those days where I want more, more, more (don't we all?). This season of life, for me, is one focused on the simpler moments and basking in those. I'm thankful for Emily's kind reminders and I look forward to reading (or listening to!) her other books. Grace, Not Perfection was like a breath of fresh air - and would make a great gift for a friend!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would really rate this 3 1/2 but that's not possibly in Goodreads.
There were many useful and interesting things in this book. I enjoy hearing how someone 'made it' and Ley writes in a friendly, conversational way. I think she took liberty with 2 specific Bible verses she quotes. She took Gal 5:13-14 (...love your neighbor as yourself) as permission to love yourself more. She says in order to love others as ourselves we have to first love and take care of us. We can't be good mothers, employees, etc if we're stressed and out of sorts. While this may be true, I don't believe that's what that verse means.
She also uses Luke 12:34 (where your treasure is there your heart will be) to encourage you to pursue your dreams. If you treasure a certain goal your heart will long for it and you should do what you can to achieve it. In context, Jesus was talking about not valuing money on earth but treasures in heaven. Verse 34 is reminding us that what we treasure will show in our hearts, through our priorities, etc.
I also didn't like her 'you are enough' phrases in a few chapters. I know that's a popular phrase with women who feel like they aren't measuring up with other moms - which is the way Ley uses it - but we are not enough. That's why we need a Savior.
Ley does offer good advice about spending time with family, pursuing what matters, enjoying your season, etc. If you read it as more of a self help book and not for spiritual encouragement/guidance, I think it's helpful. I'm not questioning her Christianity but for a book published by a Christian company, I was a little discouraged. She points to grace a lot and talks about God but never really references how we receive the greatest grace - salvation in Christ alone. I'm sure because this was marketed as a self help more than a spiritual book.
It's a fast read and take it with a grain of salt.

[Rachel Delaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grace, Not Perfection: A Heartfelt Guide to Simplifying Life

Rating: 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’ve ever felt like life’s to-do list is running the show, Emily Ley’s Grace, Not Perfection is here to gently remind you to slow down, breathe, and let grace take the wheel. This book is a gem in the Christian book genre—think practical advice meets heartfelt encouragement, all wrapped up in a beautifully designed package. It’s like a warm cup of tea for your soul, brewed with equal parts faith and practicality. ☕✨

The Good: Ley’s personality shines through every page, making it feel like you’re chatting with a wise, witty, and wonderfully organized friend. The blend of theology and actionable advice is both uplifting and relatable. From tips on list-making to strategies for decluttering your space, time, and mind, it’s full of practical ideas to embrace simplicity without feeling overwhelming. It’s light, uplifting, and surprisingly fun—a rare find in this genre!

The Not-So-Good: Honestly, there’s not much to criticize here. If I had to pick something, it’s that the book stays relatively light and doesn’t dive as deep as it could into its themes. It’s more of a gentle guide than a life-changing manifesto. But honestly, that’s part of its charm—it’s meant to inspire and encourage, not overwhelm.

The Verdict: Grace, Not Perfection is the perfect companion for anyone looking to simplify their days and center their life around grace. Whether you’re a busy mom, a career woman, or just someone ready to ditch the idea of perfection, this book will leave you inspired to embrace joy in the midst of the chaos. A delightful, faith-filled read I highly recommend! 🙌

[Doreen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re like me, you wear many hats….woman, wife, mom, co-worker, sister, daughter, friend, homemaker, believer, volunteer, homeschooler, chauffeur, etc. It’s easy to feel like we have plates spinning on poles and we have to keep running around to keep them all spinning so they won’t stop and fall. When things are so chaotic, it’s hard to do everything well….or sometimes anything well. This book is written for people who desire a simpler life. It talks about changing our expectations….to extend grace to ourselves and others instead of expecting perfection….to “embrace quality of life over quantity of commitments” (location 226).
This book has lots of practical help to make meal planning easier, to create a weekly schedule, to declutter, etc. While this was good, what I appreciated most was the reminder that our need to be in control breeds anxiety. Ley stated, “I am constantly picking up, confident that a clean house equals a happy home. But so often, that’s not the case. I’m slowly learning that my happiest, most special moments happen when the circus is at its peak” (location 571). I can relate to that. I’m also aware that the circus in my home won’t last forever and I’d be wise to enjoy it to the fullest.
This book breathes grace and encouragement over weary souls. Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.