WOW! Joanna Gaines made me dig deeper than any therapist I’ve ever seen. Reading this book felt like having a conversation with a friend that is an excellent listener and gives meaningful advice that is relevant. I have more highlights in this book than in my therapy workbooks without the price tag.
Everyone struggles in life at one point or another but for some of us, it happens more often and managed to leave deep scars of hurt. Gaines helps tackle these scars not so they go away but so that we learn to view them differently, less negatively. This booked helped me to see how many of those scars were put there by me. It helped me learn to love myself by stop being so upset with my younger self for the mistakes, insecurities and self destructive behavior.

Everyone needs to read a book that speaks to their soul the way Joanna Gaines’ words spoke to mine.

This wasn’t what I was expecting. I expected more cute stories from Joanna’s life, maybe from her life before Chip, early FIxer Upper. But this book is not that. Instead she shares a very short blurb about her life and how she has used that moment to help craft her identity and values and to learn from it. She gives practical advice for using your own moments to learn and craft yourself as well. Lots of practical advice; nothing new, but still a pleasant read.

I enjoyed this read. It was repetitive at times but it does have some good takeaways. There isn't anything new and notable but I would still recommend it.

Not like I was expecting. Wanted to really like this one. More of an inspirational piece, which there are a billion just like it out there.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

Are you a fan of the Gaines? This is Joanna's story. Not the story of their business, or their family, or even their marriage. This is just Joanna looking at her life and figuring out what she needs to do to be more whole as a person. She gives us tips on how we can do the same and I found this book fascinating and highly enjoyable.

Joanna Gaines has been such an inspiration to me and I was ecstatic when I got the opportunity to read an advanced e-copy of her book (thank you Harper Select)! This is not so much a memoir of her life like I initially thought, but more so a love story to herself; past, present and future. She reflects on a range of topics on everything from her childhood to motherhood to her business empire and all in such a vulnerably heartwarming way that makes you feel so connected with her. While reading this I didn’t feel like it was just a book, I felt like I was having an intimate conversation with a close friend. One that I never wanted to end.

Though she is world famous, Joanna has not lost touch of what is most important to her in her life and this book makes you reflect on your own life and what values you hold. Her honesty throughout is to be applauded and her unfailing optimism is inspiring. She compels you to focus on your own story and lets you know it’s ok to change, to evolve, to rewrite your story until you find your spark and joy in life. So if you’re needing a little motivation, are a fan of Joanna or just want a book with a marvelous message, pick up a copy of #thestorieswetell.

Thank you Joanna for sharing your story with the world and reminding the little girl in me that her story matters.

If you are looking for more cute Chip and Joanna stories, this is not the book for you. If, however, you are looking for deep reflection on Joanna's life, what makes her tick, and how she works to overcome insecurities, you are going to love this book.

I struggle with placing The Stories We Tell in the genre of memoir, as it includes only a few stories from Joanna's life, and is comprised mostly of her inner dialogue as she has worked through emotional pain from childhood bullying and the lifelong self-doubt it inspired. The professional persona Joanna Gaines presents to the world as a coping mechanism is contrasted with the person she is in her innermost thoughts and dreams. The result is an easy-reading, almost conversational, look into the emotional growth of a woman who has lived the larger part of the last decade in the spotlight.

Once I got over my expectations for this book, I enjoyed reading, and will likely reread in the future for personal inspiration and self-growth. Overall, I grew to respect Joanna Gaines more as a flawed, yet inspirational human.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Select for the digital ARC of The Stories We Tell. The opinions in this review are my own.

I really enjoyed reading Joanna’s full story. It makes you really see the broken pieces in our own stories and gives hope to those who have yet to learn all those pieces make you who you are today. None of us have had easy lives and yet, some can bring hope in sharing and encouraging others to see their whole story. I enjoyed this read!

I'm a huge Joanna Gaines fan and couldn't wait to read this! I just sat down and read it all--just so good! I enjoyed reading her story and more about her life. It was well-written and inviting. The downloaded format made it kind of tricky to read, but I'm sure the printed version will be beautiful!

Thank you NetGalley and Joanna Gaines!

I've been a huge fan of Chip and Joanna Gaines since Fixer Upper! I have both of her cookbooks along with some of her magnolia kitchen items. I was excited to be able to get an advanced copy of this book. It has some insight into her life and her family but it's more about helping yourself through life. I've been going through some things lately and this book gave me inspiration . This book is a must read for people wanting to get inside of their head and really think about things in life and ways to make our lives easier. Not letting things get to us and do more journaling to get it out and help you down the road. I would definitely recommend this book. Thanks again for allowing me the opportunity to read this early.

This is a stunning and authentic look at our stories; how they shape us and create our lives. This is a masterpiece, and one I'll return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Not sure if my previous note went through but I was unable to read this book. Every 3-4 pages there were these blurbs about copyright laws that then took away text from the book. I had no idea of how much of her book I was missing and a few pages in it became to frustrating. I have since reserved it with my local library :)

The Stories We Tell, follows Joanna Gaines throughout her life story. As a young child she explores the teasing and bullying she endured, and the parts of her identity that she unknowingly suppressed in order to fit the mold of who she was expected to be. In The Stories We Tell, Joanna explores how she has unpacked all of these insecurities, fears, and misconceptions throughout her adult life--allowing her to build a successful business (understatement of the year!) and grow a loving family.

"Every time I choose fun over fear, play over performance, vulnerability over perfection, it feels like a homecoming, like I'm returning to myself after all these years." -Joanna Gaines, The Stories We Tell

I enjoyed following Joanna's journey in this memoir. I would definitely be interested in the audiobook of this--there were times where I found the text to be repetitive, which was intentional, but hearing it in her own voice, would have made the difference for me. There were several passages that I highlighted throughout the chapters, I found her words to be inspirational, but also grounding. I think that this book would make a great gift for a loved one or friend.

Thank you to Harper Select for allowing me to experience this ARC.

I appreciate Joanna Gaines’ clear, gentle voice on her show, and it comes through in this book. I didn’t find anything new or revelatory here, nor does the book leave me with anything particularly thought provoking to take away. But for fans of the Magnolia dynasty, this will provide an excellent opportunity to spend time with Joanna Gaines, which is, I think, the purpose of this project.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Stories We Tell.

I was late on the Joanna and Chip Gaines' bandwagon. I didn't become fans of theirs until COVID lockdown.

I knew of them but I'm not into home renovation shows but during lockdown, I began watching YouTube videos of Joanna Gaines cooking and interacting with her beautiful family.

I was drawn in by her warmth and personality, and the way she engages with viewers.

The Stories We Tell is less a memoir about Joanna, her family and husband, and more about her personal struggles with being biracial, overcoming fear and uncertainty and pushing through it to build a career and successful business, amid raising a family and jugging ongoing projects.

Sometimes, we forget celebrities are human too, and have fears and anxieties just like we do, and Joanna Gaines isn't afraid to confess she's not as confident and fearless as we may imagine her to be.

Yes, she's successful and has a great family and marriage, but she's worked hard to get to where she is right now, and she's never forgotten the journey.

My only caveat is the formatting on my Kindle version was a bit wonky.

On every page, a sentence would run off and disappear with no way to connect it to the correct paragraph or figure out where it belongs on the succeeding pages.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this before the pub day!

Joanna Gaines does an exceptional job of sharing her truth and looking to connect with her audience in what feels like an authentic way. She shares memories of her childhood, motherhood, marriage, and business that have shaped her, considers the things that mean the most to her, and discusses her journey to finding her purpose.

My big takeaway from this book is that she’s had a little and she’s had a lot. Gaines hasn’t forgotten where she comes from and decided that she was willing to trade fame for a life that encompassed her family and allowed her to focus on the little things (which, spoiler alert: are actually the big things). While much of this book is repetitive, it honestly has a lovely message that is worth repeating.
Joanna Gaines is relatable and this story is genuine. I loved what she had to say and it made me think about what means the most to me.

Thanks to Harper Select and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review. The Stories We Tell is scheduled for release on November 8, 2022.

I didn't realize Joanna's new book is all about her writing practices and healing journey. I was so happy to get an advanced copy from NetGalley for the purpose of this review. I was pleased that Joanna went into so much detail about growing up and her life. I only really knew about her from Magnolia magazine and some tv shows. It was a pleasure as someone who has recently turned towards writing on my own journey to read a book about someone's experience with the same thing!

I enjoyed the tips she provided and how she structured her practice. I've already suggested this to my reading and writing group!

I have the hugest crush on Joanna Gaines and her newest book/memoir only made me love her more. In this book she delves into the way her second act in life has made her reconsider what's most important. She is refreshingly honest about her journey to lean into being vulnerable, taking the time to relish being present in the moment, embracing empathy and learning how to make time for fun.

Excellent on audio read by the author herself. If you were a fan of Fixer Upper you won't want to miss this one!! Much thanks to NetGalley and Librofm for early digital copies of one of my most anticipated 2022 reads!!

**Interesting note, the author refers several times to a picture of her as a child as the cover photo but they must have made a photo change without updating the audio/text of the book. I can totally understand from a marketing perspective that adult Joanna would sell more than child Joanna but it's sad to see the author's wishes lose out in the end in the interest of sales.

5 stars! Joanna Gaines stories are inspiring! I loved how she intertwined her journal entries with advice on how to navigate this world. It was heartfelt, raw and moving. I am happy I was able to read and plan to start Journaling thanks to Joanna! Thank you!

I have been a huge Chip & Joanna fan over the years, I feel like I have grown up with the family watchung them from their early start merging into these huge mega stars.. Full review to come, but so excited to read things from Joanna’s perspective and get to know her story a bit more in depth than the bio she shared with Chip.