What Happened To You? {If you read one book this winter, make it THIS one!}

January 14, 2022January 14, 2022 ~ Genevieve

What Happened To You? Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing by Bruce D. Perry M.D., Ph.D and Oprah Winfrey

What is the last book you read that you couldn’t stop talking about?! 📖🗣⁣
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It is this book for me! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣
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In fact, if you have talked to me in person during the last month, you probably have heard about it on more than one occasion, sorry, but not really! 🤷‍♀️🙌⁣
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What Happened To You came highly recommended by some of my very trusted book sources and seriously did not disappoint. I alternated reading and listening to this one on audiobook format because I really had a hard time putting it down. Simply put, the concepts in this book truly are life changing and I try not to say that unless I am talking about Brenè…or Nedra…or well, you get the point! 🙏⁣⁣

Whether you have experienced childhood adversity or not, this book is revolutionary. The idea of looking at someone (or yourself) and instead of saying “what’s wrong with them?!” changing the narrative to “what happened to them?” can change so much. 💖⁣
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I am a big believer in therapy and because of certain circumstances, I am grateful to say it has been a part of my life from a fairly young age (although it was definitely not as normalized as it is now!) ⁣
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I think there can be a bit of a misconception that therapy (and probably personal development in general) somehow can seem a bit…selfish? But really, it is exactly the opposite! 💥⁣
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Spending time processing your own experiences (past and present) can not only help yourself heal, but ultimately can help you understand and better interact with the world (and people) around you. And this book connects so much with that idea. ✨⁣
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When we realize “huh, maybe that’s why I respond that way in certain situations!!” it also helps us understand why someone else might respond or act the way they do as well. In fact, this idea ultimately helps us have more compassion and empathy, which in today’s divided and challenging world, there just can’t be enough of. 💕⁣

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own, and I only feature things I truly love here.

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky / Putnam Books {Book Discussion & Rating}

January 13, 2022 ~ Genevieve

{thank you to @putnambooks for my gifted review copy}

Find Your Unicorn Space by Eve Rodsky

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date:

December 28th, 2021

Book Summary:

From the New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play and “the Marie Kondo of relationships” comes an inspirational guide for setting new personal goals, rediscovering your interests, cultivating creativity, and reclaiming your Unicorn Space.

With her acclaimed New York Times bestseller (and Reese’s Book Club pick) Fair Play, Eve Rodsky began a national conversation about greater equality on the home front. But she soon realized that even when the domestic workload becomes more balanced, people still report something missing in their lives—that is, unless they create and prioritize time for activities that not only fill their calendars but also unleash their creativity.

Rodsky calls this vital time Unicorn Space—the active and open pursuit of creative self-expression in any form that makes you uniquely YOU. To help readers embrace all the unlikely, surprising, and delightful places where their own Unicorn Space may be found, she speaks with trail blazers, thought leaders, academics, and countless real people who have discovered theirs everywhere—from activism to artistic endeavors to second careers.

Rodsky reveals what researchers already know: Creativity is not optional. It’s essential. Though most of us do need to remind ourselves how (and where) to find it. With her trademark mix of research based, how-to advice and big-picture inspirational thinking, Rodsky shows you a clear path to reclaim your permission to have fun, manifest your own Unicorn Space in an already too-busy life, and unleash your special gifts and undiscovered talents into the world.

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Affiliate Link

LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Review:

As a big personal development reader, I have learned so much about boundaries during the last few years, including that idea that to say yes to the things we really want, it also requires saying NO to things as well.
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My reading choices tend to be quite seasonal and this time of year, I am drawn towards books that have us looking at ourselves a bit more introspectively.

And it just so happens that one of my very favorite people, @everodsky, published a book the very last week of the 2021, one in which I have been also anticipating since it’s conception…Find Your Unicorn Space.
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My love for her 2019 book Fair Play runs deep, and it has made a huge difference in the day to day lives within our family unit. One of the things I love the most about Eve is that she is so real but also no nonsense. Your family and friends can’t read your mind, and ultimately, making something happen requires ongoing prioritization and communication and yes, boundaries!
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If you have seen someone off chasing their dreams (or just trying something new!),it’s most likely happening because they put a plan into place to make it happen. We can do anything, but not everything, right? And this is where the unicorn space comes in.
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“This personal time–what Rodsky calls Unicorn Space, what makes us interesting–isn’t just a luxury, she explains….Find Your Unicorn Space teaches anyone how to create time in their already-busy life to tap into their unique expression of creativity, and find purpose that will allow them to live a happier, more fulfilled life.”⁣
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I could go on and on about Eve Rodsky’s life changing work but instead, I think you should just check out this book and see how it can inspire you as well!

{I also have a giveaway going on over at @genthebookworm where you can enter to win one of THREE copies of Finding Your Unicorn Space HERE}

Disclosure: Some of the links above are Amazon affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I receive a small commission that helps support this blog at no cost to you. Thank you!⁣

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin | Berkley Publishing {Book Rating & Discussion}

November 27, 2021November 27, 2021 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted review copy}

Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes by Alexa Martin

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫⁣

Book Summary:

Two best friends say “I do” to living together, for better or worse, in this bold women’s fiction novel from Alexa Martin.

Jude Andrews is famous. Well, at least on Instagram. Her brand is clean eating, good vibes, Pilates, and casually looking like a sun-kissed goddess. In real life, however, she’s a total disaster. She has a strained relationship with her fame-hungry mom and her latest bad decision emptied out her entire savings account.

Lauren Turner had a plan: graduate medical school and become the top surgeon in the country. But when she became unexpectedly pregnant, those plans changed. And when her fiancé left her, they changed again. Now navigating the new world of coparenting, mom groups, and dating, she decides to launch a mommy podcast with all the advice she wishes someone had given her.

Jude and Lauren don’t have much in common, but maybe that’s why they’ve been best friends since the third grade. Through ups and downs, they’ve been by each other’s sides. But now? They’re broke, single, and do the only thing that makes sense—move in together, just like they talked about when they were teenagers. Except when they were younger, the plan didn’t include a five-year-old daughter and more baggage than their new townhouse can hold.

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Link

LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Thoughts & Review:

I have to say, I was initially drawn to this book by the title and book cover, it’s just perfection. But what I I didn’t expect is that behind this cute cover and clever name would ultimately be SO much more than just an easy contemporary fiction read.

Author Alexa Martin draws you in and introduces you to childhood best friends, Lauren and Jude. Their lives could not be more different but when unforeseen circumstances arise, they decide to enact their childhood dream of moving in together.

They are hoping to be able to help each other out while they both are feeling a bit down on their luck. Lauren is a Black single mom to her five year old daughter Addy and Jude is a social media “influencer”, so of course, things don’t go exactly as planned, as these friends are each in very different stages of life.

What I loved about this book is the focus on adult female friendship, and how it isn’t always smooth sailing. Seeing these two women root for one another, themselves and their relationship together while also traveling the bumpy road of adulthood was relatable and inspiring.

I appreciated that there were elements of love but this this story was also based in reality. Hard topics weren’t only tied in but also fully discussed, including, race, child custody, mental health, alcoholism,and motherhood. Both women have empowering parts of their lives and also things they are working through, and I appreciated that so much.

This was my first book by Alexa Martin and certainly won’t be my last! I highly recommend this one and think it would maker for a great book club discussion.

I shared this book over on my instagram account @genthebookworm back when this was published in September, if you are interested in hearing more!

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links. This means if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission that helps keep this website running and at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun // Atria Books {Book Discussion & Rating}

October 27, 2021October 28, 2021 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to Atria Books for my gifted review copy}

The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date:

September 7th, 2021

Book Summary:

In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.

Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it’s no wonder then that he’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star.

Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off.

As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.

Genre:

Contemporary Romance / Romantic Comedy / LGBTQ+ Romance

My Rating:

5/5 Stars

Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon Link

LibroFM Bookstore Link

My Review:

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Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult // Ballantine Books {Book Discussion & Review}

October 18, 2021October 27, 2021 ~ Genevieve

Thank you to Penguin Random House and Ballantine Books for my gifted review copy.}

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

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Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson | Scribner Books {Book Discussion & Review}

September 18, 2021September 18, 2021 ~ Genevieve

{Thank you to Scribner Books for my gifted review copy}

Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⁣

{My @GenTheBookworm #Bookstagram Discussion of Damnation Spring can be found HERE.}

Publication Date:

August 3rd, 2021

Book Summary:

Colleen and Rich Gundersen are raising their young son, Chub, on the rugged California coast. It’s 1977, and life in this Pacific Northwest logging town isn’t what it used to be. For generations, the community has lived and breathed timber; now that way of life is threatened.

Colleen is an amateur midwife. Rich is a tree-topper. It’s a dangerous job that requires him to scale trees hundreds of feet tall—a job that both his father and grandfather died doing. Colleen and Rich want a better life for their son—and they take steps to assure their future. Rich secretly spends their savings on a swath of ancient Redwoods. Colleen, desperate to have a second baby, challenges the logging company’s use of herbicides that she believes are responsible for the many miscarriages in the community—including her own. Colleen and Rich find themselves on opposite sides of a budding conflict that threatens the very thing they are trying to protect: their family.

Told in prose as clear as a spring-fed creek, Damnation Spring is an intimate, compassionate portrait of a family whose bonds are tested and a community clinging to a vanishing way of life. An extraordinary story of the transcendent, enduring power of love—between husband and wife, mother and child, and longtime neighbors. An essential novel for our times.

Continue reading “Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson | Scribner Books {Book Discussion & Review}” →