Book Review: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

Author: Rachel Hollis

Title: Girl Wash Your Face

Genre: Self-help, Nonfiction, & Memoir 

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 240 

Published: February 6, 2018

Where I Got It: My shelf (Book Depository)

Summary: 

Founder of the lifestyle website TheChicSite.com and CEO of her own media company, Chic Media, Rachel Hollis has created an online fan base of hundreds of thousands of fans by sharing tips for living a better life while fearlessly revealing the messiness of her own. Now comes her highly anticipated first book featuring her signature combination of honesty, humor, and direct, no-nonsense advice.

Each chapter of Girl, Wash Your Face begins with a specific lie Hollis once believed that left her feeling overwhelmed, unworthy, or ready to give up. As a working mother, a former foster parent, and a woman who has dealt with insecurities about her body and relationships, she speaks with the insight and kindness of a BFF, helping women unpack the limiting mind-sets that destroy their self-confidence and keep them from moving forward.

From her temporary obsession with marrying Matt Damon to a daydream involving hypnotic iguanas to her son's request that she buy a necklace to "be like the other moms," Hollis holds nothing back. With unflinching faith and tenacity, Hollis spurs other women to live with passion and hustle and to awaken their slumbering goals.

Review:

Recently, I joined a new little book club that is trying to get off the ground. The current theme is self-help books. We each pick a book and pass it around. So, in theory, later this month I should be borrowing a book from someone else while they borrow this. I am excited! Curious to see how this book club goes! I picked this one because I have heard non-stop good things....even my BFF has this on her shelf....so I figured it was time to check it out. 

This is written by Rachel Hollis who has a lifestyle website, is a CEO, and has written books in the past. This book goes over life, love, body-issues, motherhood, and so much more. 

Sooooooooooooo I avoided GR reviews because there is a def a split with half loving this...and half hating this book. I wanted to read this and not have their voices/words in my head to make me biased. I suggest you do the same. 

There were some really impactful sections and quotes that really hit my soul. There were some moments where I had to stop and really think about it. She talks about mental health issues, working on boundaries, setting realistic goals, never giving up, working hard, negative self-talk, therapy, trauma, and even body issues. 

There is a religious tone here and there, but, for me, it was honestly easy to ignore. Some of the quotes and life lessons were super relevant to drive a certain point home. It never felt preachy or that she was saying Christianity is the only way. Which I highly appreciate! 

Now...there was one part that really bugged me about her view on losing weight and whatnot. She made it so simple...too simple....just eat less and eat healthy. Boom. You'll drop weight and you will be healthy. You shouldn't eat anything bad because you need to take care of yourself. Sure...she is not 100% wrong and I can agree on some of her viewpoints! Eat good and take care of yourself. You owe it to yourself to treat yourself right. However, losing weight or gaining weight is not that black-and-white.

Now, I will applaud how she really promotes therapy. That is just so important.. Even if you had a perfect childhood and never had anything bad happen to you ever, I'm sure there is SOMETHING to talk about and work through. Therapy is a fantastic tool for deep issues or just day-to-day issues. I am so glad she kept saying it. 

But yes, this was a quick and easy read. I was able to finish this in just a couple of sittings. I did go back and re-read a few parts since I wanted to take notes for the book club coming up at the end of the month. She is funny and I enjoyed her writing style. This is def a good book if you want something not crazy involved for a self-help.

There are some good quotes! Like, "...the gift of life is that we get another chance tomorrow." Or "This is your life. You are meant to be the hero of your own story." OR, my personal fave, "SOMEONE ELSE'S OPINION OF ME IS NONE OF MY BUSINESS!" Some good gems FOR SURE.

In the end, I enjoyed this. It was good. It had some good things you can put in your back-pocket. Some good tips to navigate this wild thing called life. I had one big hiccup, but everyone is allowed their own opinion. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Book Review: Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It by Shad Helmstetter

Author: Shad Helmstetter

Title: Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It

Genre: Self Help, Nonfiction

Format: paperback

Pages: 105

Published: May 7, 2019

Where I Got It: Borrowed copy

Summary: 

Negative Self-Talk and How to Change It is an immediately helpful, life-changing handbook of how to deal with negative self-talk –– for yourself, or anyone in your life.

Shad Helmstetter, Ph.D., the best-selling author of more than twenty books, is the leading authority in the field of self-talk today.

In this ’60-Minute’ Book™ written for today’s reader, Dr. Helmstetter gives you all of the important information you need to change negative self-talk forever, in a short, easy-to-read, and condensed format.

Also included is a special “Guide to Changing Your Self-Talk” from The Self-Talk Institute.

Review:

Once in a while (maybe one or two books) I like to grab a self-help book. Sometimes we have read them for a book club or sometimes I find a random one. This time my therapist actually let me borrow her copy since we are working on my own negative self-talk and self-esteem issues. 

This book goes over the science behind self-talk and how our brain gets programmed that way. It also goes over how you can rewire your brain to cut out negative self-talk and how it will change your life. 

What I found extremely interesting was the part in the Q&A section about affirmations and activities like making notes for yourself (for instance, my therapist suggested I start putting sticky notes on the mirror to force myself to read them). The authors states it is good to do that, but it is a short-term remedy. The author states that in order to change the rewiring you have to listen to self-help audios and tapes. Listening and watching others helps more than reading words you yourself wrote. I found this interesting AND it makes sense. A lot of time the main reason we have these self-esteem and negative self-talk is because of listening to people and society shoving the idea that we are worthless down our throats. 

I also found interesting the first few chapters about the actual science behind why we are negative. Very informative. I won't even go into explanation hahaha. 

This is a condensed version of all his other works to give the reader a quick read and some good tips. It only took me about 30 mins and I was taking notes too. Super quick and an easy read. The author did a good job simplifying the science-y parts.

I do wish there had been more actually tips. The author goes over the 3 steps which were fantastic and easy to understand and follow. But I was hoping for more actual HOWs and tips/tricks. 

In the end, this was a quick read and I learned quite a bit. Very interesting. I do wish there were more tips and tricks to ACTUALLY working on how to change how you think. Luckily I have my therapist who has given me a lot of tips, but if I wasn't in therapy already and reading this I would feel like "well...cool. I should change how I think but I need more help than that." Maybe his other books have more? The author has a load of other books. 

But yes, not bad overall. Very informative. I'll give this 3 stars. 

Audiobook Review: Unfuck Your Brain by Faith G Harper

Author: Faith G. Harper
Narrator: Faith G. Harper

Title: Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-Outs, and Triggers

Genre: Self help

Format: Audiobook

Pages: 196

Published:   October 16th 2017

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Our brains do their best to help us out, but every so often they can be real assholes--having melt downs, getting addicted to things, or shutting down completely at the worst possible moments. Your brain knows it's not good to do these things, but it can't help it sometimes--especially if it's obsessing about trauma it can't overcome. That's where this life-changing book comes in. With humor, patience, science, and lots of good-ole swearing, Dr. Faith explains what's going on in your skull, and talks you through the process of retraining your brain to respond appropriately to the non-emergencies of everyday life, and to deal effectively with old, or newly acquired, traumas (particularly post-traumatic stress disorder)

Review:

This was one of the choices for the book club I am apart of. It might be selected for Jan's book choice but I still wanted to read this even if it doesn't get picked. It was on Audible as one of the freebies I can borrow. 

Here is another self-help book that really does dig more into the brain and what "triggers" us. Dr. Faith is a legit doctor and therapist who has a deep understanding of the brain and the science behind these mental illnesses we all know about and have suffered with in same way shape or form. 

This was super duper informative. I really did learn a lot about not only tips, tricks, and ways to help battle our way through our problems, but the actual science behind and WHY our brains react the way they do. It was like a behind-the-scenes in a way. But it was done with language that we all can understand. Very casual-like and there is some swearing. Heck - look at the title ;) 

People on Goodreads were divided about if the swearing added or hindered the story. I personally liked it. It felt like I was having a conversation with the narrator (who is also the writer). It felt casual and I could really understand what points she was trying to make. 

My only issue and it was a biggie.........the narration. Don't get me wrong. I loved the narrator herself. She was interesting to listen to. However....the actual recording itself SUCKED. Super sucked. Sucked so much I was tempted to stop when it first started. I did get used to it, but ugh. Did she film in her closet? Sighs. 

Overall though, this was really good and informative. I want her to be my therapist please. I highly suggest reading and not listening to this version. Super crappy recording. 3 stars is what I shall stamp this. 

Challenge(s):
- #59 for Audiobook Challenge

Book Review: Coffee Self-Talk by Kristen Helmstetter

Author: Kristen Helmstetter

Title: Coffee Self-Talk - 5 Minutes a Day to Start Living Your Magical Life
Genre: Self-help
Format: ebook

Published:  August 29th 2020

Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)

Summary: . What if you could wake up every morning feeling more incredible than ever before… in 5 minutes? Living the most epic life! Your mind mastered! Your life on a path to shimmering happiness!

Coffee Self-Talk transforms your life by boosting your self-esteem, filling you with happiness, and helping you attract the magical life you dream of living. And, very importantly, it creates feelings of wholeness and worthiness. All this, with your next cup of coffee.

Review:

I love reading a book like this once a year. It's so nice to get some tricks and tips to help myself grow and be better than I was yesterday. 

Coffee Self-talk is a way to transform your life by boosting your self-esteem, filling you with happiness, and helping you attract the magical life you dream of living. All of this in the time it takes you to drink your morning coffee.

This was quick but I enjoyed it. There are a lot tip and tricks anyone can sprinkle into your life. It was so uplifting just reading this book! 

I have read a few self-help books since I was younger so some of the tips were repeats for me BUT it was a good reminder to be kinder to myself. 

I tried this for the first time on Sunday. I wrote down some stuff. Brewed my coffee and took about 10 minutes to drink my coffee and read my list out loud. It did feel awkward at first, but by the time I was done reading my list a couple of times and finishing my coffee...I felt better. I smiled and then turned on some music to start getting dressed and ready to conquer the day. I ended up doing everything on my Sunday to-do list. Got all my running around done. Went shopping and my normal anxiety wasn't there. The busy and annoying people didn't bother me as much because I was happier and calm. It was nice. 

Even if you do not do this every morning, its good to take just a few minutes to remind yourself of how awesome you are and to remind yourself you CAN conquer your day and your goals.

I'm not a morning person so starting my day by myself, with my coffee (or tea), and getting myself hyped on positive energy is perfect. I'm normally a cranky morning gal, but doing this really seemed to help.

Overall, some of the content is similar to other help books, but the concept of just self-talking while you drink your first drink of the day is awesome and totally manageable. I highly recommend checking this book out. I'll give this 5 stars. 

Book Review: He's Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo

Author:  Greg Behrendt & Liz Tuccillo
Title: He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys
Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help, Humor
Pages: 208
Published: 2004
Where I Got It: Borrowed friend's copy



Everyone can use a daily wake-up call.

Now in bite-size mantras, the abridged empathetic wit and wisdom of the number one New York Times bestseller He's Just Not That Into You will recharge and inspire your dating outlook one wake-up call at a time. 

For ages women have come together over coffee, cocktails, or late-night phone chats to analyze the puzzling behavior of men. Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo are here to say that despite good intentions you're wasting your time. Men are not complicated, although they'd like you to think they are. And there are no mixed messages. 

'He's Just Not That Into You' based on a popular episode of Sex and the City educates otherwise smart women on how to tell when a guy just doesn't like them enough, so they can stop wasting time making excuses for a dead-end relationship. This book knows you're a beautiful, smart, funny woman who deserves better.


My friend has been in love with this book for a while and I noticed on Goodreads I have a lot of friends who simply LOVE This book. I wanted to check out all the hype for myself. And I am pleasantly surprised. Even though I'm in a 6 year relationship, I found this so helpful. It really made me look at my past single life and cringe. I made SO many excuses for bad behavior of the male folk. 

This book is a self help for all women (and men) to avoid shitty relationships. Stop making excuses for people especially men. Men are not complex creatures. If he doesn't call you or forgets you then he isn't THAT into you. 

This is my favorite snip bit from the book. I read it a million times:

"Being lonely, being alone, for many people, sucks. I get it, I get it, I get it. But I still have to say that, yes, my true belief is that being with somebody who makes you feel shitty or doesn't honor the person you are, is worse...

You are delicious. Be brave, my sweet. I know you can get lonely. I know you can crave companionship and sex and love so badly that it physically hurts. But I truly believe that the only way you can find out that there's something better out there is to first BELIEVE there's something better out there. I'll believe it for you until you're ready."

THIS! If you read anything from the book read this. I feel like it is not only something you can take for relationships but anything and anyone in life. If it makes you feel shitty and miserable then why keep it in your life? 

The humor was amazing. I love Greg. I want to sit down with him and talk with him. Why can't he be my brother? 

I do love that Liz had her pieces. Sometimes you need to hear the same thing told by a woman who has been there and done that. 

I can't express how much I love this book. I am going to buy my own copy because I want to re-read this in the future especially the ending bits. So profound. So good. 

This is getting a 5 star stamp. I recommend this highly even if you are in the best relationship ever. Sometimes you need to just hear these things. And the lessons can be applied to friendships, work, family, etc. All good. So good.