I am so sorry but this book was terrible... I dont' review books that dont work for us so no review will appear on our site.

Unfortunately for me this book came across as preachy, and brought religion in to it a bit too much. I was hoping for something more along the lines of a self-help book but this didn't fit the bill for me, so I put it aside fairly early on! Thanks for the opportunity to review, but I guess that this one just wasn't for me!

I followed Melissa on Facebook a couple years ago and requested the ARC of Eat Cake. Be Brave on a whim. I'm so glad I did! She's funny and insightful and imparted wisdom I didn't even know I needed. If you think you already love Melissa Radke, read this book and you will love her even more!

I loved her voice and message. Wasn't sure what to expect from the cover but the book was a mix of humor and sadness and was written with honesty. Don't expect to be able to read in public in parts because you'll either be laughing out loud or openly crying..

I have been following Melissa Radke on Facebook since the Red Ribbon Week video. She makes me laugh regularly and puts into words the feelings I often experience. I also listen to her podcast and was concerned that I had already heard her story. However, this book...is so special. She shares tough stories of love and acceptance and loss and adoption. She shares a Christian message that resonates with me. Radke writes, "I am Christian. Not the kind that protests at your funeral. Not the kind that protests your marriage. I am more the kind that laughs the loudest and jokes the saltiest. I forgive quickly and easily because that was what was done for me. I hate injustice and yet feel powerless against it sometimes. So I pray, because God hates injustice, too." Yes! That's the kind of Christian I want to be and that's the kind of Christian the world needs more of.

Melissa is so real, raw and hilarious! She will make you cry and make you laugh in the same chapter, sometimes in the same sentence. Definitely a must read!

If Goodreads allowed half stars this would definitely be 4.5 for me. The only thing keeping it from a 5 and being shelved on my "need more stars" shelf is the fact that it wasn't what I was expecting. 

Melissa Radke is hilarious. Literally laughed out loud numerous times. And she is so relatable! I was screenshotting passages and texting my sister "this is me" and "so you" with double exclamation marks. Not just the funny/embarrassing high school stories either. But the heart-wrenching moments as well.

While I received an advanced copy of this book free from Netgalley I am adding it to my Amazon to-buy list because I do want to own a physical copy, even though I have the e-book and even though it wasn't a 5 star review this time. Maybe I will reread it in a few years and wonder what I was thinking with my slight negativity.

As a collection of narrative essays this was great. But I was expecting a memoir. The summary lead me to believe that this would start off with the pre-41st birthday introductory chapters, then the rest of the book would be about what and how Melissa chose to be brave that year. Instead, there are over a dozen essays illustrating some moment in time when Melissa wasn't brave, when something unfair or unkind happened and how it affected and shaped those first 40 years. Most of those essays ends on the positive, with the new Melissa pointing out what she should have done or what she hopes readers will do in that same situation or what the takeaway is; because of that I expected the next chapter to be about her taking control etc, but there are only 3 essays I think that actually discuss events after her birthday that year. Maybe what I was expecting was a more linear story I guess.

Melissa Radke did a wonderful job writing this book. She made me feel special by sharing her life with me. I cried, smiled and laughed with her so very much through the whole book. Great read and can’t wait to see what your next adventure will be! Thank you Melissa!!

I’ve been following Melissa Radke ever since the viral video on Red Ribbon Week. Do yourself a favor and go look it up. Right off the bat, I adored her humor, her genuine heart, her lack of pretense, her un-church-lady Faith with a capital F. Where was I? Oh yeah, she’s awesome and go follow all the social media platforms she’s on. All this to say, she is who she displays, and her book brings it all to the page for your life.  If you’ve ever felt not good enough,  this is your book. If you’ve ever felt you are too much, this is your book. If you’ve ever felt your frailest part of you disqualifies you from your dreams, this is your book. 
You will laugh out loud, literally. You will cry, possibly if you’re like me, the ugly way several times. Most of all you will put the book down and pick up encouragement, possibility, bravery, and a slice of hey-girl-you-aren’t-alone-so-quit-acting-like-it.

I absolutely ADORE Melissa Radke!! I found her on Facebook, and have been following her journey since she made a video about Red Ribbon Week. This book has it ALL!! Humor, loss, triumphant times, good times, and not-so-good times. Melissa Radke keeps it REAL, no matter how ugly the truth may be. She’s humble and down to earth. Melissa Radke speaks to the reader like she’s talking to an old friend. This is an all around great book, and a MUST READ!!!

Melisa Radke is everyone's spirit animal.  When she burst on the scene with her Red Ribbon week, I knew that she was a star and someone I wanted to be friends with.  Her book only intensifies that.

What a fun and insightful book!  Melissa Radke is someone I found on Facebook and I truly loved her perspective on life.  Great book!

I am fortunate enough to have been given an opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. This may be the only book that has ever made me laugh out loud and then make me want to dig deep to be the best me. It resonated with me from start to finish. Melissa has a way of making you laugh one minute and feel deeply the next. This book is for anyone who has felt like they were not enough or like they had to shrink who they are to fit in. Melissa doesn't claim to have a quick fix to finding and loving the best you. She is authentic and we can all take a note from her on how to step out of our comfort zones and Eat Cake and Be Brave!

I wasn't sure what to expect from Melissa Radke's first book. Sure, I figured there would be some laughs. Melissa's videos led me to expect that. I also thought there'd be a healthy dose of encouragement. And, of course, she'd talk about Jesus. But what surprised me was the range of reactions elicited by her words. I laughed, cried, nodded my head and said, "Preach," identified with her on multiple levels, and had several moments of self-examination and introspection. This isn't your typical "Christian woman's book." Melissa is unflinchingly honest and candid about her life and her experiences. It seems many popular female Christian authors come off as untouchable, almost perfect. Melissa doesn't even pretend to try to fool us into buying that. She is refreshingly honest, sometimes irreverently so, but that just serves to make you love her more. This is no feel-good, platitude-filled, "Love Jesus and you'll live your best life" book. But she reminds us of our worth, that we were created for abundant life and that it won't just fall into our laps, that we have some heart work to do. And she makes it seem not impossible. She talks to us as if we've always been friends. You'll want to reread it so you don't miss out on her nuggets of wisdom (and to relive some of her funnier moments)..

#EatCakeBeBrave #ECBB #melissaradke #ECBBlaunchteam

Great read! The combination of humor and inspiration in this book make for a successful recipe. I laughed, I cried, and I laughed some more. If you’re looking for a book that will help you recharge the dull areas in your life, Eat Cake Be Brave is your book!!

I LOVED Eat Cake, Be Brave. If I could give it 10 stars I would. Even if you don’t follow Melissa on social media, you will after you read her book!
Melissa is so relatable! She is your neighbor, your best friend, or friend at church.
This book will put you through so many different emotions. You will laugh, cry, and smile. Keep some Kleenex nearby.
It usually takes me several days to get through a book, I read this in 2 nights. It really is refreshing to read a book that is so real....you feel her pain,sadness and joy throughout this read.
She talks about hurt, putting up walls, miscarriages, loss of a child, adoption, parenthood, marriage, her chicken fried women, and the most important of all, how to love yourself through it.
Do yourself a favor, pick up a copy of Eat Cake, Be Brave, get cozy in your favorite spot and dive in.! With a slice of cake of course!!
#ECBB

OMGoodness! The cover drew me to this book, I mean come on a curvy girl with cake? I’m all over it. This book was so funny I was banished from my bedroom because I kept waking up the hubs I was laughing so hard. There were tears as well but that made for a good story. I have preordered this book for my Mom, sister and best friend. This book was genuine, funny, poignant and real. You can’t get any better than that. Thank you for an entertaining night. Oh and I wish I could give more than 5 stars

I have been following Melissa Radke for a while on social media. She now has a podcast, Ordinary People Ordinary Things, which is so so good. So of course when I heard she was coming out with a book I had to read it. I love to read but unfortunately don't make enough time to do it as much as I'd like, but this was something I would make the time for. I am so glad I did. It was so good. So good that I am telling everyone about it and have already bought a couple copies to share with friends. If you don't know who Melissa is, I describe her to people like this: she is you, she is me, she is all of us. She is hilarious for sure but there is so much more to this book than just her being funny. Though I will admit when I read the chapter titled Chicken Fried Women, I was in the bathtub and I was laughing so hard I almost dropped my Kindle in the water! Whether you are 18 or 80, I think every woman can relate to something in her story.

This book y'all. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will make want to hug your mama. Melissa is no holds barred with her pain and her joy. With a personality as big as Texas, she shares her life with you in these pages.  There are times you will laugh out loud, shake your head and think did she just say that?  At other times, you will cry at her pain or feel angry at the actions of people you don’t even know.
Melissa has the ability to make you feel like you are in your living room sitting with a friend as she shares her life with you. You will go away feeling encouraged and cared for. You will feel invested in this woman and her family and will want to know what happens next for them.
Does Melissa use some words or phrases that make me squirm a little? Yes, but I am a later middle aged southern lady so that’s not surprising. If you are a little old southern lady too get over it and read this book. If you aren’t, you won’t notice or will laugh at uptight little old ladies. I’ll say it again. Read this book. 
I received an advanced reading copy of this book for review but would have gladly paid for a copy. It is worth every penny.
#eatcakebebrave #ecbb #melissaradke

Wow! I absolutely LOVED this book.  I have never read a book that had me literally laughing out loud as much as this book.  Melissa has a great way of bringing humor to some of the most difficult situations we have all faced at one time or another.  Melissa shared how she has lived and learned and made it through some terrible situations….so tears? Well of course, but she is the most relatable author I have read.  I love the authenticity she brings to her story, no sugar coating here!  
I am buying this book for all my girlfriends, mom, aunts, and cousins!  We all can take a note from Melissa and learn how to step out of our comfort zones, eat cake, and BE BRAVE!