It's Your Universe: You Have the Power to Make It Happen

by Ashley Eckstein, Stacy Kravetz

Ashley Eckstein grew up inspired by all things Disney. She launched Her Universe, an apparel company catering to fan girls, which has become a preferred partner for Disney and their girl power initiative.

In IT'S YOUR UNIVERSE, Ashley shares her own life lessons, as well as lessons from iconic Disney characters, as a way to inspire girls to create big dreams and work to make them a reality.

Ashley tells her story of being a little girl dreaming of being on a Disney stage, voicing the first female Jedi, Ahsoka Tano, and starting Her Universe, a blockbuster clothing line and community for fangirls.

With space for readers to make journal entries and quotes from iconic Disney characters, Ashley shows how princesses, Jedis, and super heroes were great role models for choosing her own path.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Biography, Star Wars, Memoir, Autobiography, Biography Memoir

204 pages, Hardcover

First published May 8, 2018

About the author

Maria Ashley Eckstein (née Drane; born September 22, 1981), credited as Ashley Eckstein or Ashley Drane, is an American actress, voice actress, and fashion designer, known to audiences of Blue Collar TV and as the voice of Ahsoka Tano on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, and Star Wars Forces of Destiny. She also played a small role as Alicia in the film Sydney White and as Ms. Cole in the film Alice Upside Down, with both films being released in 2007. Eckstein also had a recurring role as Muffy on the Disney Channel sitcom That's So Raven.

Reviews

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge fan of Her Universe, I was definitely intrigued by the start up. For me, it seems like this brand came out of nowhere fast and just blew up. I mean, Disney park merchandising to the fashion shows at Comic Con (which are super fun to attend if I do say so myself), Ashley just seems to have the dream job and I was ready to know more.

Honestly, this book does seem as if it's geared more towards teens. The tone comes off very young and the writing exercises and inspirational messages are a little juvenile, but as a life long fan of Disney, it didn't really bother me. Since I was here more for her actual story than the advise anyway.

I would have liked a little more detail on her journey into the fashion world and how she branched out to other fandoms aside from Star Wars, but I get why it was so hyper-focused. I enjoyed reading about how Ashley's love of Disney and desire to be on the Disney Channel pretty much lead her journey. But we can all agree that what she has done for female fangirls is nothing short of awe-inspiring. And I love how it all started because she wanted a Star Wars shirt to wear to a convention. I have multiple Her Universe pieces - including my super fancy Loki dresses which I LOVE - and it's hard to imagine not having it around. It's also crazy to see how many others have followed in her wake and now female fangirls are a force to be reckoned with.

[Mari Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this book was made with love and heart. It is one of my favorite reads, Ashely Eckstein did an amazing job! It inspired me to work harder at making my dream come true!

[Jordan Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I've always been a Star Wars fan, it wasn't until a few years ago that I started getting into the expanded Star Wars universe. The books were obviously my first move, but I quickly found myself intrigued by the lone Star Wars television show: Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It seemed like there were a lot of varying opinions about the show, and the most controversy surrounded the creation of a single character. Ahsoka Tano was created specifically for the show, and although her role as Anakin Skywalker's Padawan initially ruffled a lot of feathers, she eventually became a favorite of the fans, myself included.

Since then, I've been following the exploits of Ahsoka's voice actress, Ashley Eckstein. Ashley fully embraced her new role in the world of Star Wars, and I loved seeing the different Star Wars clothing she designed for women and girls. I am unashamedly proud of wearing fandom gear, and Ashley's line of shirts and skirts and accessories for Star Wars as well as other fandoms made showing off my fangirl side so much easier and infinitely more fashionable. It's been amazing to see the growth of Her Universe from just a website to a true presence in stores and across the internet, and when I read that Ashley was writing a book about her experiences, I knew I had to buy it.

It's Your Universe is part memoir, part inspiring pep-talk, and 100% fangirling. Ashley shares her story, relating her determination to work for Disney, the ups and downs of deciding to become an actress, and her passion for developing a company for fangirls like herself. Aside from being a Star Wars fan, I'm a huge fan of all things Disney, so reading about Ashley basically growing up on Main Street, U.S.A. had me smiling from ear to ear. Even from those early days, it's clear that Ashley was willing to work hard to reach the stars. Her passion is so obvious and is only eclipsed by the determination she shows in chasing her dreams. If not for her perseverance and optimism and a lot of support from her family, Ashley couldn't have achieved her dreams and become such a role model for so many.

Ashley's story is the memoir part of this book; the pep-talk comes in the form of inspiring quotes, advice, and prompts for journaling or self-reflection to help you on the journey to chase your dreams. It sounds cheesy, but it comes across so naturally, and Ashley's joy and peppiness is so infectious that you can't help but want to immediately run out and start working towards your goals. It's the sort of push that anyone from 8 to 80 can appreciate in getting on (or back on) the road to being the person you want to be, and although I didn't actually write in the spaces provided in the book, I did find myself thinking about the questions and the goals Ashley sets out in relation to the things I want to achieve in my own life.

And since Ashley's dreams were spurred on by her fangirl nature, of course this book is a tribute to both Disney, Ashley's first love, and Star Wars, the canon that gave her the platform to chase her dreams further than she ever imagined. I absolutely love the incorporation of quotes and lessons from various Disney and Star Wars films, and Ashley Taylor's illustrations are just gorgeous. There are many pictures that I'd love to tear out and hang on my wall; I may have to buy another copy of the book to do just that! Ashley's seamless incorporation of these elements helps relate her own lessons to characters and themes readers are familiar with and also helps show the parallels in the characters' stories and Ashley's own: with hard work, confidence, and a little luck, your dreams can come true.

It's Your Universe is an encouraging and sweet book that will appeal to Disney and Star Wars fans of all ages. Ashley's story reminds us that we have the power to make our dreams come true if only we're willing to work hard and fight for those dreams. Her role as the voice actress of Ahsoka has provided her with amazing opportunities to speak out for fangirls, and I know I'm so grateful for all the work she's put into carving out a place for girls in the what were largely male fandoms. Ahsoka is not only willing to stand up for other, she's always determined to fight for what's right, and Ashley embodies that same spirit. If you're needing an upbeat and friendly pep-talk to convince you to really go after your dreams, this is the book for you.

[Cambear · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part biography, love letter to Disney and a roadmap for girl empowerment.

This is Ashley’s tale of how she grew up as a Disney fan girl and became an entrepreneur with a successful business. She frames her life story around life lessons and inspiration from Disney movies to help motivate readers to chase their own dreams. It’s positive, honest and optimistic which is great inspiration for young teens everywhere. Bonus points for some of the cute illustrations throughout the book.

Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy of the book for review.

[Laura]

I’m not going to rate this because I couldn’t finish it. It was so twee? Which I guess I should have expected for a book about Disney - this isn’t a knock on Disney or people who love it, because I do too. It’s just that it shouldn’t have been hard for me to see that there’d be a lot of overly sentimental sap in here.

I think it would’ve been better as a straight up memoir of a woman making her way in the world and creating a business, rather than the self-help stuff? I hate books that are like “anything you wish for can come true if you work hard enough!!!!” when reality is not that simple or straightforward. The things I always really wished for are totally out of reach, and reading books like this makes me feel more helpless and lost in the end because my dreams aren’t something I can reach.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would be the perfect gift for the tween in your life! Not too heavy that the advice feels overwhelming, but gets young folks started in thinking about how to make their dreams come true. Ashley's optimism and work ethic shine through in this part memoir part self-help book and it was a joy to read even as a thirty-something.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed this book! I’d met Ashley once before at an event at Star Wars Weekends at Hollywood Studios and the tone of this book felt just like it did then, a genuine sit down between people with a conversation of life and encouragement.
I did get the impression that perhaps this book is geared to a younger audience however don’t let that stop you from reading this, it really is a wonderful mixture of the story of her life, how Her/Our Universe came Into being and words and exercises of encouragement.
As an added bonus, the artwork was absolutely wonderful, a great added bonus to an enjoyable book!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Encouragement from Ahsley Eckstein (Star Wars voice actor and creator of Her Universe) to pursue dreams and stay with it. Her Disney background and examples very much resonated with me and provided a new backdrop for thinking about goals, dedication, and persistence.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me feel like I can take on the world. And the illustrations are pretty rad too.

[Melissa C. Nower · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really had me dreaming and wanting to do something! It’s so magical! It’s like Ashley Eckstien holds some of her own magical powers in writing through the whole book! And she really is a giver of hope to all fangirls and fanboys, and all young adults who need it to absolutely dream it, do it and trust it. I’m keeping this book as a reminder for not giving up hope and having faith in oneself.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

The pros for this book are that it is very positive and encouraging and the message that Ashley Eckstein carves out is one of relentlessly pursuing your dreams.

The cons are that it is pretty trite, relies on a lot of cliches, and makes a Disney reference every four seconds. Here's the thing about the Disney references: I get that a big part of the message here was, like, "Disney is FULL of positive messages and teaches you to PURSUE YOUR DREAMS." I get it, that's fine, it just felt like "here is a loosely related Disney reference," rather than using them with some sort of concrete analytical thought.

[Saimi Korhonen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"First of all... don't let anyone tell you, 'No, you can't.' And if you don't mind... please allow me to be the person to tell you, 'Yes, you can!'"

This was such a sweet book. What else could you expect from Ashley Eckstein, who is honestly one of those human equivalents of rays of sunshine? In this book she tells us how she made it as an actress, how she became the voice of Ahsoka Tano in the Clone Wars and how she created Her Universe, her groundbreaking fashion business just for fangirls. She writes about what inspires her, how she dealt with rejection and failure, how she had to work her butt off to achieve any of it and what being a fangirl and a part of the Star Wars universe means to her.

It's truly an adorable read, and even though it was clearly written for a younger audience than me in mind, some of her advice was honestly still really good and helpful, even for a 22-year-old. In this book she doesn't just give broad, seemingly helpful advice, but offers tangible, doable tasks anyone can do, no matter where you live or what you want to do. Some of it is super basic, but honestly I often need to be reminded about those things cause I tend to forget even little things can be very helpful in achieving whatever you want to achieve.

My favorite parts, naturally as a SW geek, were the parts where she talked about Clone Wars and the importance of Ahsoka Tano for Star Wars and fangirls. When talking about how Ahsoka was the first female jedi lead, she says: "Say what you want about Ahsoka's personality; she represented change and her presence alone was groundbreaking." . I love how much Ashley loves Ahsoka and how profoundly she understands the significance of her character and what Ahsoka has meant to female fans ever since she was first introduced.

Also I loved reading about how she went about creating Her Universe, which was, at the time, one of the only fantasy/scifi (if not the only one) fashion businesses that solely focused on creating merchandise for female fans. Ashley wrote a lot about how fangirls were, at that time especially, bullied for liking SW and other "boys' things", and how that fueled her dream to create Her Universe.

So yeah, this was not a book written with me in mind, but I still highly enjoyed it. It's a comforting book, a real pick-me-up, and would make a great gift for any young kid who feels bit like an outcast, or for just any fan of Ashley or Ahsoka.

[michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was only ok. I wasn't as motivational as I thought and I wonder if I'd have enjoyed it more if I was a bigger fangirl?? I also felt the photos didn't help the story either. It seemed more like a scrapbook and a way to share her favourite moments, which is great, but would be more apt for an autobiography instead of a book that seems to be more tailored as a self help book. I wouldn't recommend this book for someone looking for power/encouragement on how to make their goals happen.

Favourite quotes from the book below:

Whatever your journey may be, rejection is inevitable.

It's OK to fail. This is one of the most important lessons I hope you take away from this book. It's OK to fail. In fact, if you don't fail at some point, you're not trying hard enough. Everyone fails.

To achieve your dreams, you must take risks, take chances. Not all those chances are going to work out. Sometimes you'll just make a misstep, and sometimes you'll feel so badly that you go down in flames. I'm grateful for my failures because those were the times where I really learned, where I really improved, where I really made progress.

Embrace and admit your failures. Don't make excuses. It's OK to say, 'You know what? I tried, and I thought that would work, but it didn't. This plan failed.' However, there is a treasure trove of knowledge to be learned from each failure. Make sure you study and analyze why it didn't work out. We live in a society that applauds perfection and devalues failure.

But failure is essential for growth. A true test of bravery and maturity is the ability to stare failure in the face, learn from it, and succeed as a result.

It's important to know your strengths, but it's also important to know your weaknesses so you can find help in those areas.

I was confident and passionate, and I've found that when you have confidence with passion, it's a powerful combination. Honestly, I'd call it a superpower.

You never know when you'll get your chance, and you have to be ready when opportunity knocks.

Your conscience will always be your guide when it comes to how to treat others. Have you ever heard the phrase 'You meet the same people on the way up as you do on the way down'? It means that if you treat people badly as you're rising through the ranks, it's likely you'll see them again if and when you stumble. And they will remember how you behaved.

Confidence is your best accessory.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young girl, I could always be found in the boys' apparel section. This was partly because I was a a tomboy but also because the girls' apparel section never featured any of the series that I liked -- first Pokemon, then Yu-Gi-Oh!, and lastly, of course, Star Wars.

Looking back as a grown woman, I am amazed at how things have changed, and Ashley Eckstein's Her Universe clothing company has played an enormous role in increasing the amount of apparel for Star Wars fangirls, as well as increasing the visibility of fangirls overall. Her new book, IT'S YOUR UNIVERSE: YOU HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN, is part-memoir, in which she shares her story of making her wishes and dreams come true, and part-journal, in which she encourages readers to reflect on how they too can realize their wishes and dreams. Throughout the book, she expertly weaves in stories of the Disney princesses and lessons learned from them. The book also features simple but gorgeous illustrations by Ashley Taylor (I want a print of Mulan seeing Ping in her reflection!).

If you're a fan of Ashley, of Ahsoka Tano, of Disney, of Star Wars, of making dreams come true, and/or of empowering young girls, then this book is for you! IT'S YOUR UNIVERSE is written in a style that is accessible for children as young as third or fourth grade and, at the same time, applicable for young ladies wondering about their future and even for grown women who aspire to realize their dreams. I felt super inspired reading it and finished it in just one day.

As an aspiring teacher, I am always on the lookout for books that I might be able to recommend to my future students. IT'S YOUR UNIVERSE is one that I will be recommending to students for a long, long time.

[Cassidy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone at my job put some books out for free, and I thought this one looked interesting so I gave it a shot. I almost didn’t give this book a rating because two stars feels a little harsh since I went into this book with no expectations, but it also feels about right for if I had picked it up with intent to read the story. The message is great and the illustrations were beautiful. I loved reading about Ashley’s life, and she gives some really good advice. I just wish she had gone into more detail about her life. I honestly couldn’t tell if this book was intended for adults or children. I know it was backed by Disney, so it’s probably meant to appeal to a wide age range, but it felt disjointed for this reason. The message seemed very pointed towards adults and young adults but the way it was delivered felt juvenile. Again, I’m almost certain that is no fault of Ashley’s, but more so the “fault” of the Disney label attached to it. The pacing of Ashley’s story also felt a bit off balance. I loved learning about her early struggles to break into acting, but by the time she started taking about Her Universe it felt like the details of running the business were being left out in favor of finding the happy inspirational message she got out of the experience. I think I would’ve enjoyed the book more had it been a straight biography of Ashley’s life rather than an inspirational coffee table book. It seems like Ashley is trying to make a point that Disney can be enjoyed by everyone, adults included, but the book itself is trying to cater to a younger audience under the assumption that anything with a Disney label should be marketed towards children. That’s what I felt while reading it, anyway.

[Meredith Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Giving this book 5 stars was a no brainer for me because I have followed and loved Ashley Eckstein's Her Universe brand for a long time. I knew I woud love this book, but didn't know exactly what it would be about. After reading it, I like to call It's Your Universe a type of guide book. It's very inspirational and eye opening on how to move forward with your dreams. Ashley talks about her success but doesn't stop there. She explains her success. It makes you sit back and think; hmmm...I could be successful too!

It's also an interactive book! There are several areas throughout It's Your Universe where Ashley asks the reader to stop, grab a pen, and write something down. At one point she asks you to list your dreams, in another section she's asking you to write your fears, and throughout the story, she is asking the reader to engage themselves in a way that will help them finally fulfill their dream. I LOVED that part. Writing it all down, getting everything I've been thinking in my head out there was so helpful. She also uses inspiration from Disney to guide the reader along the way; and as a huge Disney fangirl, I found that extra inspirational!

Ashely seems very genuine; something I picked up on by following her on Facebook and Instagram. She truly cares about her fan base and making a safe and fun place for Fangirls to be! Picking up this book won't dissapoint the reader, it will make them a believer that if they can dream it, they can do it!

[Mandy Hobson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Oh boy, where do I even start with this disappointment of a book? I had such high hopes and was really interested to find out how Her Universe was created. I love the brand and the positivity it brings fangirls. The idea behind the company is fantastic and the clothing designs are phenomenal.

However this book was terrible. I couldn’t tell what audience it was supposed to be written for. It was like an English project a grade 10 wrote. The autobiographical aspects were sparse and vague. I wanted to get to know Ashley Eckstein and her journey but all I got were stories that were supposed to show her struggles and growth but ended up making her seem like everything fell magically into place. Her dad worked for Disney, she had so many contacts to help her, a supportive family. It felt like she was trying to make it seem like she had it so hard when the evidence she was using to back that up was pointing in the opposite direction.

Oh and the constant Disney franchise comparisons and quotes were so forced. Like she was trying to shoehorn them in to prove her points. Not at all effective. And there were way too many of them. More than of her actual personal story.

This was formatted as a guide and workbook. For whom though? I felt like a child as I read this.

So yeah, I do not recommend. Unless you want some cool Disney quotes and illustrations to cut out and turn into a collage. Which is totally what I’m going to do to at least get my money’s worth from this book.

[Kathleen Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute little inspirational, "if you dream it, you can do it" book (see what I did there, I just used her own motto). It was touch and go at the beginning because I had to get used to the tone of the book that's clearly meant for a younger audience. I honestly almost abandoned it after just a few pages thinking "Okay this is way too juvenile for me." However, I stuck with it because it got more interesting to me when author Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano in the TV show "Star Wars Rebels") talked about her own story/experiences. I hardly knew anything about her before so I enjoyed reading the details of how she grew up, what inspired her to be an actor (Disney!!), how she ended up as a Star Wars icon, and eventually, how she came to create the clothing line for fangirls: Her Universe. I feel like I even learned a lot about her voice character, Ahsoka Tano, and it made me a little more interested in watching the animated series....something my friends have pushed me to do for the past couple of years. All in all, I think this is a charming piece of writing to not only encourage young girls to work hard and set goals for themselves but to also make them realize it's perfectly cool to be nerdy! I applaud Ashley for all the positive work she's done since voicing Star Wars' first female Jedi, Ahsoka Tano!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

While primarily aimed at older teens, this memoir by Her Universe founder Ashley Eckstein couches some good advice for all of us when it comes to following our dreams.

Ashley's determination to work for Disney, eventually leading to her becoming a voice actor in the animated "Star Wars" series (Ahsoko) also puts her squarely in the middle of the fandom -- and discovering that merchandise and memorabilia are all aimed at male customers. Ashley knows there are women and girls who enjoy all kinds of fandoms, so she gets the idea to start a company focused on that audience -- and starts figuring out how to do it. In the face of what many people tell her are insurmountable odds, Ashley proves them wrong.

There are some lessons from Disney and Star Wars along the way, along with illustrations (the book is published by Disney, which made the licensing easier ...) There are also places where the reader can write in their to-do list or various other projects in the paper version; I read the eBook edition.

In any event, this is a nice piece of inspiration and information about staying positive, following your dream, and learning what you need to do to make it happen.

[Lorien · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not one for inspirational books. Most of them are by people who have never suffered from a mental or physical illness, and as some who suffers from both the lack of that is frustrating and make most of the advice fall flat.

There are plenty of books that are written by someone who has or was facing those kinds of challenges, but this isn't one of them. And I loved it!

While my challenges are different she compares following your dreams to Disney and Star Wars, which is so damn inspiring! She also turns her advice into the reader filling the blanks on our dreams and the path we can sorta follow.

That is what sets this book apart. It's not cut and dry, it doesn't say she just have to stay upbeat. Eckstein and Kravetz say you have to have the imagination, and while reading they give you lots of opportunities to see what you want, and how you can plan to make it come true. It's really a great book, and having so many Disney, Star Wars, and even Alice in Wonderland quotes just lights up your imagination. I got this from the library but now I need to own this and write in it! Totally recommend! 5\5

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is designed for a younger audience than a 40 year-old woman, so keep that in mind. This is partly an autobiography, partly an inspirational guided journal using Disney characters as metaphors for life's challenges. It's cheesy, but unabashedly so. Ashley Eckstein does owe a lot of her journey to Disney and she opines as any good fan girl would. And like the Disney heroines she references, she has some solid messages about following your dreams but working hard to achieve them. Throughout the book are journaling exercises where she encourages readers to set their own goals and find methods of meeting them. It's a righteous little book for young people who think Disney is awesome sauce.

As a older fan girl who would really love to know more about the voice of Ahsoka and founder of Her Universe, I was disappointed that her personal story was told at such a surface level. When I finished this book, I didn't know much more about her than I did when I started it. I hope she considers writing a more adult autobiography at some point, because I'd love to read it. I'm still a fan girl, after all.

[Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good advice!

At first, it felt like a memoir. So okay, this girl is a Disney fan....aren't we all? Lol
But as she talked about her journey from Disney Cast Member, to Ahsoka, to owning a business.....she gave some really good advice!
Again, at first it seemed like all we would be getting is fluffy "believe in Magic" kind of tid bits, but no. Yes, she does that too but she gives legit business advice in simplistic terms. While also adding the fun life lessons we can learn from our fav Disney movies 😍
I felt more and more engrossed as it got into the creation of her Universe and I learned some things I didn't know, making me respect her all the more and excited to check out her company (now under the ownership of Hot Topic, one my fav stores).
Good book for both Disney fans and fandoms in general who want to make something of their fandoms. She advices to get licensed and acquire a manufacturing partner, etc. Loved the cute illustrations too hehe

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up an uncorrected proof of this at a conference and, as a fan of Her Universe, I couldn’t wait to read it. I want to gush about this book for days! It’s Your Universe was an amazing work that is equal parts non-fiction/self help/memoir in a way that’s so empowering. This book is perfect for all ages but is particularly important for middle grade girls who are at that age where self esteem is shaky and dreams are big but can be easily deflated. Anyone who is in need of extra confidence, needs encouragement, or just wants to find out how Ashley went through ups and downs and achieved her Disney dreams needs to give this a read. She seamlessly incorporates Disney characters and memorable quotes from the films and applies them to her experiences. Ashley asks questions and provides spaces for readers of all ages to consider their dreams and lay out a doable plan for achieving them. I could go on and on, but this book was amazing! Check it out when it hits shelves.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in this because I love Her Universe and how it’s brought Fangirl life to the mainstream. This book is part memoir and part self-help book. I am not really the target audience being a 40-something Mom. It’s written for young adults and probably even middle-grade girls, but the story is interesting and inspirational and the artwork by Ashley Taylor is divine! If you’re not familiar with Ashley Eckstein, she’s the voice of Ahsoka Tano from Star Wars Clone Wars and the founder of Her Universe, a fandom fashion company for girls and women. When you see Star Wars t-shirts for girls everywhere you turn, it’s because Ashley fought long and hard to get Lucasfilm to license rights for a line of clothing just for female fans. This was a really quick book, worth reading if you’re a Fangirl like me to appreciates being included in the Star Wars fandom world! 4/5 stars ⭐️

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed reading about Ashley’s life journey and how Disney shaped who she was as a person, and her career goals. As someone who grew up with Disney in a houseful of boys, I rarely got to express my inner fangirl, but I took the lessons from each character and tried to live up to their integrity and values.

While I’m not as huge a fan of Star-Wars as other Disney series (aka Marvel), I still loved the fact she used her background as a Star-Wars voice-over actress for Ahsoka Tano and used that as inspiration in creating her business for fangirls the world over.

Ashley’s memoir is a prep-talk in all Disney goodness with areas to journal to set up your own game plan for your own adventure. Her joys and frustrations are so apparent it feels as if you’ve taken this journey with her. I will admit to thinking about some of the questions she asks and working on my new game plan.

It’s Your Universe is a book that I would recommend for any fangirl (or boy), especially those in the Disney and Star-Wars realms. She reminds us that our dreams can come true, you just have to put in the work and be willing to put in the effort. I’m grateful for all she has done in creating the Her Universe, the fashion line designed specifically for fangirls. This is a book I’m going to recommend for some of the children I work with looking for inspiration in their lives.

[Linsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book found me at the perfect time, just when I needed to be reminded of my inner power to make my dreams a reality. Ashley is such an incredibly positive and motivating personality and that comes through in her book tenfold. This book is great for people of all ages, because we're never too old to dream, which means we're never too old to be reminded to believe I our dreams or to keep trying even when things seem tough. As an actress, I especially appreciate Ashley's emphasis on the hard work, faith, and trust it takes to keep working on your dreams. She shares her own experiences in a relatable way that also gives you the feeling that you aren't alone in anything you've struggled with. I'm so grateful that a dear friend gifted this to me.

[Sandrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ashley is so wholesome! It was nice to read a short romanced biography of her that is also meant to be inspiring for tweens/teens. Though I admit I had to be in a good mood when reading this or it would make me more miserable...

I would recommend this book for tweens that are specifically wondering how to make their dream come true. I think Ashley presents a good action plan in there with examples from here life and writing prompts for the reader. If they are not into achieving a specific goal, I wouldn't have them read the book. They might only end up jealous that you don't live in Disney World nor have contact in Hollywood like Ashley did, haha!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed author Ashley Eckstein's career for a long time and I was so excited when I heard she was writing a book. Her story is one of big dreams and hard, hard work.

I enjoyed how Ashley brought her love of Disney to life through her stories and how she was able to relate real, life lessons back to lessons we all learned as kids watching Disney Princess movies.

I can't wait to share this book with my daughter and it will be one that I will share often with the other young ladies (and men) in my life.

[Paige Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I bought this intending to meet Ashley Eckstein at Disney Springs, but that didn’t happen (not her fault, mostly Disney’s for not being transparent about how the event was supposed to work). Still, I bought it and...I’m not mad. It’s definitely written for a much younger audience than me and there are lots of repetitive phrases, but I still cried over its core message and I learned a lot about one of my favorite brands: Her Universe. It’s definitely worth a glance, if for nothing else than the gorgeous art by my current favorite Disney artist, Ashley Taylor.

[Adrienne Organa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed getting to read Ashley's story. She shares her heart, her dreams and how she pursued them, and her passion for what she does. This was a very inspiring read and I definitely recommend. I enjoyed the journal element a lot and she poses some great, thought provoking questions.
Thanks Ashley for all you've poured into Her Universe over the years and all you continue to do, including this book :) <3