Welcome to Litsy!

Many of these essays resonated with me and the funny potrayal of the type-A personality was so honest and relatable. She reminds us how beautiful, scary and brave it is to be a child, a young adult, a parent...

I found ingenious her longing for a time machine allowing us to go back and forth in time and relive our life at different ages and maybe avoid or overcome our mid-life crisis by staying connected with older versions of ourselves.

On the phone with my grandma a while back, I asked her how she was doing. "I can't complain, but I still will," was her perfect response. ?

This essay collection is about doing everything right, but still feeling as if something is off.

Relatable, funny, and oh so entertaining.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was a wonderful read. So many of her essays resonated with me. There is a special blend of humor and reflection, vulnerability and honesty. I‘m so glad to have finally read this for my #Roll100 pick.

I‘m looking forward to this #Roll100 pick (#5) for March! This book was shared with me by my dear pen pal, @BekahPat and came highly recommended. It‘s a long overdue read, so I‘m excited to jump in! (And I‘ll be sure to get it back to you after holding it hostage for 3 years!!! I‘m so sorry! 🤦🏻‍♀️)

I was absolutely charmed by Mary Laura Philpott. While not every essay was relatable for me, I mean what 25 year old woman wishes for a lawn blower as a birthday gift (?!!?!) there were many moments I felt Mary Laura was speaking directly to me. She‘s self effacing,honest, astute, funny and the type of person you‘d want as your emergency contact. Overall an enjoyable listen. Thanks for the suggestion @britt_brooke 💚

Recommend by my girl @britt_brooke and using for #PoP22 #Onomatopoeia ( Blink is on the list!)
I‘ve already cracked up in the first 2 minutes when Mary Laura Philpott shares one of her daily mantras “Not my circus, not my monkeys” as a reminder that not EVERYTHING is her business or concern. Love it!!

Finished listening to this last night. Mary Laura Philpott is definitely on my radar now, really enjoyed this collection.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A quick #reread before starting an #ARC of her new collection. Recycling my original review bc I‘m lazy:

Philpott reminds us that being an adult, even one who seemingly has everything, is hard and periodically sucks. Sometimes we have to step back and assess ourselves; tweak a few things or make drastic changes. As someone who has moved a lot, I understand that urge. I enjoyed these stories, but feel like they only scratch the surface.

Well, I‘m between books and nothing is keeping my interest. After 5 years as a high school librarian, I go back in the classroom tomorrow at a new school teaching middle school STEM 😬 and feeling a bit anxious. Hoping this book will stick!

When you internalize what you believe to be someone else‘s opinion of you, it becomes your opinion of you.

This memoir-in-essays covers parenthood, existential angst, and just dealing with people and everyday life when it all seems so mundane. Perfect book for those of us who tend to think too much. Philpott's writing is amusing and comforting, and even though a lot about her life differs from my own, she made me feel like there's a lot we share.

“Doing something for humanity doesn‘t mean you won‘t still find yourself sometimes hating humanity.”

“Who were you when you weren‘t wondering who you were?”

I've been waiting for this book for almost a year - and it was so worth it! This collection of essays made me laugh, cry and think. I'm definitely going to be finding more of her writing.

I listened to this one on audiobook, mostly while driving. I typically enjoy memoirs where the author is basically telling stories from their life, and this was no exception. I enjoyed it and found a few parts to be particularly funny or poignant, but overall it was around average as far as enjoyment level and what I got out of it.

A lot of reflections in this book about perfectionism and the life of a creative person.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh. This didn‘t really land with me. I didn‘t read anything in here that I haven‘t already read a million times. I‘ll say what no one else wants to say: Ann Patchett is her boss and she‘s very fortunate to have gotten a big signal boost from her. Big applause for the PR team behind this book! If you haven‘t read a lot of white-lady-post-40-I-KNOW-I‘m-privileged-but-I‘m-gonna-whine-about-my-life-anyway-books, you can put this on your TBR.

This book of essays was funny and the author is easy to relate to. Any mom that needs to feel like part of something, and maybe feels a bit alone, should read this!

I loved meeting this author today and showing up on her Instagram page! #booknerd

My wonderful #penpal and #birthdaybuddy has showered me with love and kindness once again! 🤗🥰 Thank you, @BekahPat - you‘re so thoughtful. I promise I will be able to sit down and write soon. xoxo

Most importantly: Happy Birthday to You! 🥳

Loved this- I dont typically read essays, but I‘m not sure why. I related to this author and liked it more and more with each essay.

i‘ve been picking away at this essay collection that got rave reviews...but really, what middle-aged white woman needs to read about another‘s agita? ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Now THAT‘S some sound advice!

This is well-done - funny, frank, and charming. It just wasn‘t quite for me. I could identify with many of her experiences, but overall her tone and themes didn‘t speak to me. I could see this being a strong pick for others, though.

I made it through 198 pages, but this style isn't for me. I have no doubt that it will resonate with many readers. It's memoir-esque but more humorous observations on adulthood and the gap between expectations and reality. Her views mildly rubbed me the wrong way, and I want to spend my reading time on more engaging novels.

Memoirs from mother's who are honest about the ups and downs of motherhood are my jam right now. Definitely helping me in my journey as a mom.

My first 5-Star read of the year! So real, funny and raw. A good book to recommend to other women. #fivestars

Started this on audio and LOVING it. Great narration by the author. Funny, candid, and thought-provoking.

ModernMrsDarcy.com Summer 2019 Reading List

This is a book of essays/memoirs that is not only humorous but it gave me reasons to stop for a bit and evaluate my life and behavior. I particularly enjoyed Chapter 17: Rock You Like A Hurricane and Chapter 19: A Letter to the Type A Person in Distress (I believe she was talking directly to me). So funny! I love books that make be think and/or reminisce and this one certainly did.

I enjoyed this memoir via essays book because the author grows by evaluating self rather than those around her. It had a Brene Brown vibe which I loved. And if you evaluate your day by little checks against a myriad of self-made lists, this is a healthy book for you (‘er I mean me) to read.

And did I sneak a photo of mugs in a shop on the Country Club Plaza so I could coordinate with a book that was about to drop for me? Why yes I did!

Essays but also sort of memoir. Witty and fun while covering some more serious issues.

Laugh-out-loud funny and sweet by turns. Great writing and great narrating on audio.

Mary Laura Philpott hits me and all perfectionists right in the solar plexus with her essay collection “I Miss You When I Blink” 🤗#IMissYouWhenIBlink #essays #selfhelp

This is another book I read because it‘s on the Modern Mrs Darcy summer reading list. I liked the book overall, but like most essay collections, I connected with some of them more than others.

One of my current reads. Trading off between it and a few others but it is due back soon so it gets priority. I don‘t usually love essay collections but this one is pretty good.

1. I grew up in the desert of AZ!!! 🌵
2. I love plants of all kinds and can sometimes bring the most hopeless back to life. 🌱
3. Work reading and the tagged book 📚

@saguarosally @ReadosaurusText

Alright, I love-loved this; if you have been on the fence about whether you should pick it up next, then you should. SHE IS A WISE LADY. Her essays are succinct, and thoughtful, and they just punched all the buttons I needed right now- I love when you pick up the right book at the right time.

Some of the essays really spoke to me, some were funny—all around, this was a fun book to read. I think this will appeal more to people who are mothers

Good collection of essays that explore the parenting/ middle age white woman experience. She‘s definitely type A, comfortable with describing her bouts with depression, and humorous. I liked it enough but wasn‘t blown away. Soft pick, strong so-so.

Really enjoyable collection of essays that made me feel VERY SEEN but in a, “hey, you‘re not alone; we‘re all fundamentally broken and that‘s okay,” kind of way. I was not familiar with the author but when Samantha Irby praises it, I make it a priority. Bitches gotta read indeed.

I really enjoyed this collection of personal essays. Some stories, like her interpretation of her teacher‘s instructions to write a story about a lobsterman, had me laughing out loud. Other essays, such as the one about her feelings of guilt for experiencing depression when she had a good life, I liked because I related to them so much.

I began this essay collection thinking “Yes!! So relatable”. Then, this one is not so relatable, but ok. Interesting. And, finally, meh. Not so interested. I‘m not sure what it is, maybe just too much in one place. Might be better spread out over time. #24b4monday

So excited to read this book of essays funny touching drawn from her life experiences great reviews everywhere .

I really enjoyed this memoir through essays! Philpott has a great way with one-liners but she‘s a sharp and honest observer of herself and others too. Recommended!

This was one of the best essay collections I have ever read. She is very relatable. This will make you smile, laugh and even ponder some things. Can‘t wait to read more from her.

#BFC Book 3/8

I either like to relate to essay collections or learn something from them. To me, this wasn‘t a great collection. There are no great universal truths, and I didn‘t connect with all the motherhood anecdotes. It was basically an okay memoir. I think other Littens would appreciate it more.

I finished all three books I had started, so I‘m back to square one on the #BookFitnessChallenge, but I met all my fitness goals today!! 🎉🎉🎉