While I have absolutely no experience in show business, this memoir captured my attention and my heart. How do you leave the only true relationships yWhile I have absolutely no experience in show business, this memoir captured my attention and my heart. How do you leave the only true relationships you’ve ever known, even if it isn’t good for you? How do you walk away from a career that never really served you well? These universal questions may have been explored within Patty Lin’s Hollywood frame of reference, but are applicable to all kinds of relationships, family bonds and career paths. Her descriptive language and artful storytelling had me riveted to the page and I felt like she was cheering for the positive changes we could all make for ourselves right alongside her own. This is a fantastic memoir and I’m even more intrigued by what is still to come for Patty. ...more
Reading this book felt like a long, thoughtful conversation with a good friend over a cup of coffee (or maybe, a glass of wine), talking about what coReading this book felt like a long, thoughtful conversation with a good friend over a cup of coffee (or maybe, a glass of wine), talking about what could have been….and then actually deciding to go for it. Even at 40. Alisha shares a heartfelt, honest and hilarious account of her year-long experiment as an intern in multiple creative fields across the span of a year AND a pandemic. Her writing voice was so strong that I truly felt like I was sitting next to her as she shared her interning adventures and ultimately, convinced me to try my own. In fact, that’s what I loved most about this book: the inspiration to view life as a long series of internships, giving ourselves permission to pivot, to pursue our passions and find ourselves again. Every woman must read this book....more
Gretchen Rubin says we all need to have a spiritual master and Zibby Owens is mine. Seriously. While I cannot relate to her wealth and status, I CAN rGretchen Rubin says we all need to have a spiritual master and Zibby Owens is mine. Seriously. While I cannot relate to her wealth and status, I CAN relate to her love of books, the universal struggle to battle anxiety and depression and to figure out what comes next. A fellow book-lover, Zibby reads her way through life as I do, using the words and pages to heal and renew. And while that is enough to lead the way as a mentor from afar for me, her journey to claim her bookish passion and help others find the role of books in their lives is inspiring me to do the same. There might be an obstacle in my way right now, but seeing her pivot over and over again means I can, too. ...more
I’ve loved Amy Porterfield’s podcast for quite some time. She’s helped me grow my side-hustle, build my email list and feel like starting a full-time I’ve loved Amy Porterfield’s podcast for quite some time. She’s helped me grow my side-hustle, build my email list and feel like starting a full-time business of my own could actually be possible. And this book gave me the roadmap how. I’ve chosen my quit date, created an exit strategy, created momentum around my email list, outlined my new content plan, designed a new workshop and have lists upon lists of ideas to move forward with. I feel like giving my two week notice is truly possible now. This is a book not just to be read, but to be lived....more
I borrowed this book from the library and then bought my own copy so I could have my own sitting on the bookshelf for whenever I wanted to read it. ItI borrowed this book from the library and then bought my own copy so I could have my own sitting on the bookshelf for whenever I wanted to read it. It’s that life-changing. Lolly is trying to keep her family’s diner afloat, getting up day after day to make her mother’s lemon meringue pie and save the family business. But when she finds her list of life goals from her middle school notebook, she decides to make good on the promises she kept for herself instead of wondering what could have been. Armed with her Aunt Gertie’s magical lemon drops, she gets a glimpse into the lives she might have had and realizes some very important truths. This book reminds readers that we all have the power to create the life we want if we are honest, pay attention and seek joy. This is a new favorite book and the lemon meringue pie I baked as a result of reading it was utterly delicious....more
This book will live in my heart forever. Albert is a sixty-something year old postman who keeps to himself. He has his routines, his work and his cat,This book will live in my heart forever. Albert is a sixty-something year old postman who keeps to himself. He has his routines, his work and his cat, but not much else and he is just fine with that. But everything changes when he is forced into mandatory retirement and his beloved cat, Gracie, dies. As Albert falls apart, he starts to think about what could have been. But he doesn’t just think. He takes action to finally start living and maybe even find the love he lost so many years ago. This book will tug at your heartstrings and remind readers that it is never too late to start again. Fans of All the Lonely People by Mike Gayle will love this book....more
I love when a book can take me to another time and place so completely that I’m a bit disoriented when I finally look up. And I especially love when II love when a book can take me to another time and place so completely that I’m a bit disoriented when I finally look up. And I especially love when I can escape to another time and place while still learning lessons that can positively impact my life today. My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk gave me both of these things and so much more. Wolk introduces us to Annabelle, a young girl who is recovering from a traumatic event and is struck by lightning on her way home in a summer storm during the era of World War II. She’s mysteriously saved by an anonymous hero and soon discovers she’s developed heightened senses and a new understanding of animals. She uses these skills to find lost dogs, save hurt dogs and better connect with the humans they are connected with, too. She uses her newfound knowledge to come to terms with the recent difficulties she’s experienced and learn about the complex world around her. This book envelopes readers into a different time and invites them to put their assumptions aside and get to know people for who they really are. Annabelle may be young, but she taught this adult a thing or two....more
This week, I savored Boundary Boss by Terri Cole. Normally, I am a pretty swift reader, but this book is FILLED with opportunities for self reflectionThis week, I savored Boundary Boss by Terri Cole. Normally, I am a pretty swift reader, but this book is FILLED with opportunities for self reflection and well, work, so I spent a luxurious amount of time reading it. This book spoke directly to my heart and Terri Cole’s no-nonsense, conversational and heartful voice felt like I was having a conversation with a dear, and very real, friend. I don’t have enough space to share what I’ve learned here, but here was my BIG take-away: Boundaries matter. And most important, the boundaries we create for OURSELVES matter most. In the past, I’ve put too much focus on the boundaries outside of my control, trying to change everything and everyone around me instead of doing the hard work inside my head and heart to truly change from within. But after reading, I can’t go back and can feel a tangible shift in my energy for what’s to come. I highly recommend everyone read this. ...more
This book is calling to us and for us. It’s calling for us to get quiet and honor our inner selves and our innermost thoughts, dreams and wishes that This book is calling to us and for us. It’s calling for us to get quiet and honor our inner selves and our innermost thoughts, dreams and wishes that we might have kept hidden for quite some time. It’s a book to be devoured for the clear, compelling call to action to find ourselves, but it’s also a book to be read slowly and to journal alongside. If I’m honest, I had a hard time reading this. I wanted to rush through the goodness, to get to the next chapter that seemed to be better than the last, to find the wisdom that I was carefully annotating and recording in my notebook. But Joanna’s writing begs to be savored, reread and internalized in a way that I’m not used to living. And that’s the point. This book is for everyone who wants to find themselves again by telling their stories, disrupting their automatic ways of thinking and living and embracing the stillness, the pause and yes, the fun. ...more
From the first line to the last, this book had my heart. Super Bloom by Megan Tady is a book about healing, about finding yourself and about the transFrom the first line to the last, this book had my heart. Super Bloom by Megan Tady is a book about healing, about finding yourself and about the transformative power of reading and writing. In it, we meet Joan. Joan is massage therapist struggling to recover from the unexpected death of her boyfriend while stuck in a job that she doesn’t appreciate or enjoy. An unexpected encounter with a new client sets her on a new path, a path that reminds her of her love of writing and opens her eyes to new possibilities, even if she does get in a bit of hot water, too. This book is beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny and completely written for readers’ hearts to savor. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time. ...more
I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about how to better communicate with others and preserve familial relationships. While focI highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about how to better communicate with others and preserve familial relationships. While focused on the incredibly complex topic of family estrangement, readers can gain incredible insight into how families work (or do not work) and develop proactive communication strategies through the tool kits strategically woven throughout the book. Admittedly, it was an emotional read, but a very needed one so that I can hang onto treasured relationships and create stronger bonds around the others. If you are grappling with communication challenges or even estrangement in your family, you’ll want to take a look. ...more
Well. This novel has my heart. In it, we meet Dr. Liz and Laurie, a mother and daughter who set off on a vacation to Paris and Norway to reconnect aftWell. This novel has my heart. In it, we meet Dr. Liz and Laurie, a mother and daughter who set off on a vacation to Paris and Norway to reconnect after Dr. Liz’s health scare. What follows is an adventure in living and learning about each other. Each of them brings a very unique personality and way of living to the trip and we see the ups and downs of mother-daughter relationships run its course over their time together. Secrets are revealed, sentiments are shared and bonds grow. And then the reader is left in unexpected pieces with the plot twist of a lifetime. This book will make you call home and hold your loved ones tight....more
I’ve learned that I love books that bend time because it makes me examine my own life in a new way, too. And this book certainly did that. If we couldI’ve learned that I love books that bend time because it makes me examine my own life in a new way, too. And this book certainly did that. If we could go back in time, when would we choose to return? What would we change and why? And if we could, would we return again and again? Those are the questions that Alice struggles with as she finds herself back in time on the day of her 16th birthday. Small changes could have a big impact on her actual life: she could go from single to married, get the promotion she deserves, save her father from an unknown sickness and more. But will she? Would you? I devoured this book....more
This book was everything I expected, wanted, needed and more. In it, we meet Elizabeth Zott, a woman with a formidable presence and spirit. She’s a chThis book was everything I expected, wanted, needed and more. In it, we meet Elizabeth Zott, a woman with a formidable presence and spirit. She’s a chemist and approaches everything in life through that lens: work, relationships, family, cooking and even how the world works. I left this book a different person than when I began. Elizabeth, Calvin and Mad each taught me something different: that life is precious, that our voice matters, that it’s never too late. This book will stay with me for a long while. Don’t wait to read it. ...more
I am always inspired by women who go after their long-lost-deep-seated dreams and try to live vicariously through them. That is exactly what I was ablI am always inspired by women who go after their long-lost-deep-seated dreams and try to live vicariously through them. That is exactly what I was able to do in this powerful, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants (literally!) memoir. Alenka Vrecek so beautifully captures her experience riding her bike from her home in Lake Tahoe to her home in Baja Peninsula. Alone. After recovering from knee surgery. And battling two forms of cancer. And dealing with her husband’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. Any one of these things would be enough for many of us to raise our hands in surrender and give up. But not Alenka. Instead, she used those challenges to fuel her long-held desire to bike alone on the adventure of a lifetime. She chronicles her early adventurous spirit, the first marriage she painfully left behind, her child-raising years and her new-found love of a lifetime and I couldn’t put the book down. I loved these back stories just as much as I did the description of the actual ride and the people she met along the way. This was her journey, but one I thoroughly enjoyed taking with her as a reader. ...more
I can sum up my review of this book in a single word: hope. Amy Scher has given readers hope for the healing that is possible inside their own bodies,I can sum up my review of this book in a single word: hope. Amy Scher has given readers hope for the healing that is possible inside their own bodies, even when other approaches have failed. No. ESPECIALLY when other approaches have failed. Her ideas are based on her own personal healing journey, but supported with and by professional literature and science. And while some of the ideas presented might be a bit outside readers’ ideas of conventional healing, Amy reminds us to take what feels right and leave the rest. This book gives us an entirely new perspective about health, wellness and healing and I’m incredibly grateful for the power inside the pages....more
Some books arrive right when you need them for reasons you might not expect. This is one of those books. An End to Arguing by Linda and Charlie Bloom Some books arrive right when you need them for reasons you might not expect. This is one of those books. An End to Arguing by Linda and Charlie Bloom is a book that every person needs to read, not just those who find themselves struggling with communication or prone to arguing with others. In it, they share 101 lessons from their private practice working with couples and their own fifty-year marriage. While it does not need to be read cover to cover, I did just that and I am grateful for what I learned in the pages. I hoped to gain some communication strategies to help me during a difficult time, but what I got was much, much more than that. I gained permission to feel, to find my voice and feel seen. I gained permission to set boundaries, to stand up for myself and to demand respect. But I also gained a great deal of insight into the way I work: the grudges I hold onto, the shadows that are lurking and my need to finally take responsibility for how I hold onto the past at the expense of the present. Don’t let the title fool you. This book is for everyone who wants to create a healthy relationship within herself to then create healthier relationships with others. ...more
Well, this novel is aptly titled. Burst by Mary Otis literally burst off the page and into my heart. It’s a book with mother-daughter relationships atWell, this novel is aptly titled. Burst by Mary Otis literally burst off the page and into my heart. It’s a book with mother-daughter relationships at the core, as complicated and loving they might be. Charlotte and Viva are fiercely connected, but completely different. The book follows each of their stories as they weave back and forth from past to present, mother to daughter, frustration to love. Each grapple with their own identity, how intricately connected they are to each other and how to become free of what’s holding them back. I was completely invested, thoroughly taken with each of their stories and rooting for them both, helping me look at my own mother-daughter relationships with new eyes....more
Reading this book hit a new milestone for me: the most annotation I have done in a book. Ever. From the very first page, I was drawn into Tara’s storyReading this book hit a new milestone for me: the most annotation I have done in a book. Ever. From the very first page, I was drawn into Tara’s story and her journey. Her unflinching honesty, mic drop nuggets of wisdom and practical advice sent me right to my journal and a new place of possibility. This is a foundational book for anyone struggling to find their way or simply wanting something better for themselves….and the carefully dropped f-bombs make it that much more of an experience. ...more
Darling. Delightful. Charming. Inspiring. This picture book is sure to capture the hearts and minds of children and adults alike. It begins with a youDarling. Delightful. Charming. Inspiring. This picture book is sure to capture the hearts and minds of children and adults alike. It begins with a young girl feeling dismal and dim as the rain pours down around her. But that doesn’t stop her. She grabs her pup and heads to the local thrift shop to quench her curiosity and wonder. She sifts through multiple items until she spots a free, tattered, bright yellow umbrella. As they run home in the rain, the umbrella crumbles and tumbles behind her. Disappointed, but not down, they head out in the rain once again only to discover a beautiful field of umbrellas growing in the earth, planted from the drifting pieces they previously left behind. They pull them up, hold them high and stay nice and dry. They share their discovery with others and spread brightness throughout the town. Together, the community and bright yellow umbrellas chase the rain away and reveal glorious sunshine. The story is told in sparse, carefully chosen words that convey a powerful message. The illustrations are first drawn in shades of grey and purple to convey the mood of the book, but later reveal pops of yellow that bring sunshine to the pages. This book is sure to delight children with its whimsical imagination and adults with its lesson that good things can come out of hardship or challenges. A must read for all. ...more
Will on the Inside is a heartfelt account of one boy’s struggle to figure out who he is on the inside as he battles a health condition that changes evWill on the Inside is a heartfelt account of one boy’s struggle to figure out who he is on the inside as he battles a health condition that changes everything. Will is a middle school student starring on his school’s soccer team when things start changing. He’s tired, his stomach hurts all the time and doesn’t feel like himself. After being diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, Will attempts to get back into his own life, but everything has changed: he’s dealing with side effects from his new medication, grappling with his time off from the soccer team when they need him the most, questioning his identity and trying to understand the conflicting messages he’s receiving from his church, too. When things become too much to handle, Will finally asks for help in making sense of it all so he can truly heal. Readers will feel an instant kinship to Will as he navigates his new reality. The author’s intimate understanding of Will’s condition paired with his ability to portray characters and situations with striking clarity and empathy for all sides is commendable. This book is for readers grappling with a similar health condition, questioning who they are on the inside or willing to ask tough questions about how the world works. It’s a must-read for middle grade readers and adults alike....more
This book invites readers to consider what poetry is, what it could be and how they might write it themselves, too. Alexander and Nikaido, both accompThis book invites readers to consider what poetry is, what it could be and how they might write it themselves, too. Alexander and Nikaido, both accomplished poets, have created an immersive experience for readers. Lines of poetry splash across each page in varying fonts and sizes giving the book a lyrical feel to it. Readers learn how to begin with a question, use their senses to observe life around them and feel into their emotions and imaginations. Sweet's collage-like illustrations, themed colors and inviting drawings are enhanced by cutouts of book pages that come alive on the page. The three-dimensional effect invites readers into the experience and their potential as a writer, too. Combined, the artful words and illustrations provide a mesmerizing experience. Poets beginning their journey and those far along it will both enjoy this book. Readers who enjoy Georgia Heard’s poetry and Samantha Cotterill’s illustrations are sure to love this book, too....more
This graphic novel is sure to delight young readers with its simple, yet powerful, messages about friendship and how much better life can be with a goThis graphic novel is sure to delight young readers with its simple, yet powerful, messages about friendship and how much better life can be with a good friend by your side. Otis is a long-haired guinea pig, Peanut is naked mole rat and they are the best of friends. They are there for each other when they are afraid, feeling sad or going through big life changes. No matter what the situation is, Otis and Peanut are there to help the other out and learn lessons that will last a lifetime. The animal characters are utterly relatable and loveable and the situations they go through mirror real life situations readers might be going through, too. The whimsical drawings and color schemes invite readers into the pages to experience life alongside the characters. Readers who enjoy Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems will find another pair of friends to capture their heart....more
I have never read a book in this unique format and will now read any and everything this author has written. This book follows the life of Eva ThorvalI have never read a book in this unique format and will now read any and everything this author has written. This book follows the life of Eva Thorvald who was abandoned by her mother at an early age and endured hardships and challenges that ultimately came to define who she is today. Each chapter is told from the perspective of someone involved in Eva’s life over time, giving is glimpses both large and small, into the kind of woman she is becoming. I was completely absorbed not only in Eva’s story, but the stories of the other characters, wishing for more when each chapter ended and happily making connections between them whenever I could. This is a book to be devoured and savored, just as Eva does with her culinary masterpieces. ...more
I finished this book a day or two ago and I still do not have the right words to adequately express what I’m thinking and feeling. In it, we meet JeroI finished this book a day or two ago and I still do not have the right words to adequately express what I’m thinking and feeling. In it, we meet Jerome, a 12-year old boy shot by a white police officer in Chicago who mistook the toy gun he was playing with as a real threat. Moving between when he was alive and dead, a person and a ghost, Jerome attempts to make sense of devastation that has come to his family. But it’s not just his story. It’s the story of too many boys before him. Told from a child’s point of view, Parker Rhodes masterfully weaves historical facts with the current truth of what the world is like for some. This book will make you think, will make you cry and hopefully, will leave you as lost for words as I am so that we can do better. ...more
This was a heartbreakingly beautiful story of growth, identity, family bonds and the natural connections between us all. In it, we meet Rosalie, a DakThis was a heartbreakingly beautiful story of growth, identity, family bonds and the natural connections between us all. In it, we meet Rosalie, a Dakota woman torn from all she knew after her father died suddenly. Thrust into foster care, she was divorced from her family and her heritage as she tried to fit in and make a future for herself. She married a white farmer, had a son and found herself inextricably connected to seeds and gardening. This connection ultimately brought her back to her roots and to herself. Told in alternating perspectives with dual timelines, this book is sure to make you question what you thought you knew about the origins of our land, how everything is connected and what our place is in it. ...more
From the first line to the last, this book had my heart. Super Bloom by Megan Tady is a book about healing, about finding yourself and about the transFrom the first line to the last, this book had my heart. Super Bloom by Megan Tady is a book about healing, about finding yourself and about the transformative power of reading and writing. In it, we meet Joan. Joan is massage therapist struggling to recover from the unexpected death of her boyfriend while stuck in a job that she doesn’t appreciate or enjoy. An unexpected encounter with a new client sets her on a new path, a path that reminds her of her love of writing and opens her eyes to new possibilities, even if she does get in a bit of hot water, too. This book is beautifully written, laugh-out-loud funny and completely written for readers’ hearts to savor. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time....more
I almost didn’t finish reading this book after the first chapter. It packed a powerful punch and I wasn’t sure if my timing was right for this book. BI almost didn’t finish reading this book after the first chapter. It packed a powerful punch and I wasn’t sure if my timing was right for this book. But it was. This book was fantastic. Olmsted introduces us to Miranda, an up-and-coming law blogger and podcaster gearing up for her first daytime television show. But when a witness from a past case shows up unexpectedly, her world is turned upside down. What comes next is a series of events that has you turning the pages as fast as you can. There’s drama and suspense, there’s family and love and most importantly, there’s a whole lot of self-discovery. I’ve already shared it as a First Page Friday book inside my Get Lit(erate) community and am recommending it widely. I enjoyed every page. ...more
Hold onto your heart. Lia and Cassie are two lifelong friends struggling with eating disorders…until one of them dies. This book explores the incredibHold onto your heart. Lia and Cassie are two lifelong friends struggling with eating disorders…until one of them dies. This book explores the incredibly painful path to recovery from an eating disorder that can take hold of every aspect of your life. It’s raw. It’s real. It’s hard to read. But it offers an important glimpse into what it feels like to struggle with an eating disorder, helping those that have one feel less alone and those that care for their loved ones to better understand. I’m still reeling from it....more
When I was a little girl, I’d get so immersed in the book I was reading that I’d tune everything else out. I wouldn’t hear people talking to me, I’d mWhen I was a little girl, I’d get so immersed in the book I was reading that I’d tune everything else out. I wouldn’t hear people talking to me, I’d miss any commotion happening around me and I’d often blink and look around in confusion when I finally emerged from the page into the read world.
I loved getting lost in the world of books. I still do.
I think that’s why I adore Grace Lin and Kate Messner’s new picture book: Once Upon a Book.
This beautifully illustrated book literally immerses you in a story of childlike wonder and reading refuge. In it, we meet Alice. Alice is a young girl who is fed up with the cold, dreary days of winter and escapes into the pages of her book to faraway lands that look and feel very different from her own.
Page by page, she travels to a tropical jungle with the birds, the blazing hot desert with the camels, a refreshing coral reef with the fish, the wide-open freedom of the sky with the clouds and the quiet calm of the moonlight. While all of these places each had something wonderful to offer, what Alice ultimately wished for was a place full of coziness and warmth… her own home.
While readers will become entranced in Alice's story, they’ll literally experience it for themselves as a result of the artfully designed illustrations. Each two-page spread ensconces the entire page and alternates between living in a scene directly from Alice’s book to exploring the next page to come, propelling the reader through the story.
But the best part of the book, in my opinion, is the clever way Alice literally disappears into the pages. The story began with Alice wearing an adorable dress made out of fabric that resembled the pages of a book. As she jumps into the story, her dress literally blends in with the scenery as she gets lost inside the pages, just how I imagined myself doing the same as a child.
Reading Once Upon a Book will remind you of the power of reading and the utter joy readers feel when they lose themselves in the pages. This is a book to be read, to be savored and to spark a joyful reading habit....more
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