The Messy Lives of Book People Quotes

“If you meet something insurmountable, don’t try and fight it. It will only leave you with bruises. The trick is to outsmart it and do something it wouldn’t expect.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“I didn't do well at school. I cleaned houses and offices for a living. Some people looked down on me. Yet, Essie never did. She had her demands, liked her carpets cleaned a certain way, and hated the smell of grapefruit in her bathroom. But she treated me with respect, like I was a human being. If she asked me a question, she listened to my answer and considered it. Even a small gap in a door can let in a lot of light. And it made me feel special. I'm proud to be one of the few people she let into her life. The other people were you. Our relationships with her weren't smooth. Maybe Essie could have treated people better. Maybe they could have treated her better too...”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“And the thing is with baddies, you can't help admiring them a bit sometimes, she said. They do things you never would.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“The two women sat hunched together until Carol let her breath go. She patted the back of Liv's hand. If things are rocky between you and Jake, try to sort them out eh, love? But don't rely on him for your happiness You have to find your own path, too.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“There’s no point guessing how a story will end, sweet pea. Keep turning the page until you reach the next chapter.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“Keep turning the page until you reach the next chapter.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“Quite simply, Grant Cooper was the sentence to my paragraph, the full stop to my words.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“He was the sentence to her paragraph, the full stop to her words. Without him there could be no story.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“I’m drawn to books with happy endings. Who wants to spend time reading a story where things don’t work out?”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Book Share

“He’d probably ruffle my hair and say, There’s no point guessing how a story will end, sweet pea. Keep turning the page until you reach the next chapter.’ Carol nodded firmly. ‘He always said it to his students. Worrying never changes anything.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Book Share

“Every second of every day, you made decisions that affected your future and that couldn't be reversed.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“I guess I don't want to be the person you think I am.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“Sometimes you've got to take a chance in life, hon. What's your alternative?”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“Sometimes you had to make decisions and build them on whatever foundations you had closest to you.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“If you meet something insurmountable, don't try and fight it. It will only leave you with bruises. The trick is to outsmart it and do something it wouldn't expect.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People

“there was something special about having small children. All the shoelace tying, and nose wiping, and remembering to carry snacks had been exhausting, yet she missed the feeling of being the center of someone else’s world.”
― Phaedra Patrick, The Messy Lives of Book People