Reading this book was like talking with an old friend.  If feels informal, in the best sense of the word.  It's a light read and yet still carries quite a bit of weight to speak into real, raw life.  I'm not a middle-aged mother, and yet it hit me right where I'm at--my current messy middle.  I like that the chapters are written as separate stories and lessons so, if needed, you can skip around.  It's the perfect afternoon read while you sit on your porch and sip iced tea!

In this middle season of my own life, this book is the book I had no idea I needed! Through a beautiful collection of essays, Lisa-Jo Baker vulnerably shares the things that have been on her heart and gives us permission to lay down our collective facades and do the same. Her voice rings true for many of us who find ourselves in our middle 40's wondering who we are now, who we'd like to be and how we want to move forward. In her sharing the questions she asking, the peace she's making with things that have troubled her and the things mom, marriage and faith that bring her joy, she encourages us all. Lisa-Jo lets us know that okay to break up with the need for the perfect image and embrace exactly who we are in this moment. And that's something I don't think we can hear enough.

After reading Lisa-Jo’s first two books, this one will be a real treat. It’s like you are sitting on the couch with Lisa-Jo and she is chatting with you. She gives you a glimpse into her childhood and family life then and now.  She also encourages you to keep on keeping on as you struggle through the “middle” of your life. You are not the only one who is going through certain trials and difficulties in life. Lisa-Jo has been there and done that, too. But this isn’t only written for married ladies in their middle. Single people, newly weds, empty nesters, college students, men and women can all benefit from this well written easy to read book. I loved this book from beginning to end and everything in between. Thank you, Lisa-Jo, for writing good clean should-searching books.

Lisa-Jo will feel like your new BFF when you read this book. Her writing and her life are so relatable as well as encouraging. She is funny, real, and not afraid to let you in to her (extra)ordinary life. Her writing takes you through the different phases of her life and motherhood, from her life-changing loss as a teenager to her self-confessed muffin-top middle-age. Lisa-Jo feels like a confidant and fellow sojourner through this ordinary life as she tells her sweet and tender, rib-tickling stories and helps you to see the extra in the ordinary. Lisa-Jo will absolutely help you to recognize the extra in your (extra)ordinary life as well.

My anticipation for this book was high and after receiving an early copy from #Netgalley and being involved with Lisa Jo Baker on her launch team my faith in her honesty and transparency was reaffirmed. This book was not what I expected which made me love it even more. 

Lisa Jo's words flow from her heart as if she is pouring it out to wives and moms all over the world to hear truth and remind them they aren't alone. She has a talent for pulling your deepest hurts and heart broken mom feelings to the surface and guiding us to Jesus and His comfort and His truth. These tough things aren't survived alone and His plan isn't always clear but His love is constant and giving ourselves grace and taking each moment to learn that these ordinary mom/wife situations are THE moments we will hold closest. The mundane aren't just that; they are the priceless gold. I cried, I laughed, if I hadn't been reading in a doctor's office waiting room I would have shouted Amen at the top of my lungs. This book is a warm hug from a friend that the reader will treasure for it's ordinary truth.

If you liked Surprised By Motherhood you'll love The Middle Matters!
The Middle Matters is a continuation of the behind the scenes truth of Lisa-Jo Baker's life. While many are critiquing this book saying it is ONLY for women in mid life (40 something's) I found I was able to relate as someone still in my 20's - as we are all in the middle of something! 
Written as a collection of essays, The Middle Matters is similar to a choose your own adventure book. Readers can start at any one of the sections and move through the book however they like. Lisa-Jo speaks with candor and honesty about the nitty gritty areas of life most often left out of conversations, but the one's we wished we could stop having internally with ourselves. This book is a reminder that we don’t need to wait for that magical moment when our lives feel or seem perfect, there is something to appreciate in each ordinary day. 

I received an advanced digital copy of the book from Waterbrook and Multnomah in return for my honest review.

Hello,

Hopefully you are able to stay cool this week!  We've been having 90's coupled with humidity, so we are staying indoors each afternoon. Since summer came, my reading has certainly slacked off.  I keep seeing these posts about people's summer book lists since they aren't busy with school. Do you read more in the summer or winter? 



Speaking of books, I just finished a delightful book by one of my favorite authors, The Middle Matters. Lisa-Jo Baker wrote this book as a series of essays or love letters for the middle years of raising kiddos. We certainly live in an age where 'more', 'better', 'faster' is pushed, and there's a plethora of information available to us on how to improve our life. I know I'm constantly pinning things or saving them to boards on Instagram. But what if we stepped back and just marveled at the beauty of our current season, instead of rushing to the next one.









This is not a deep read (you know the kind you read with a notebook in hand, which are good but take you a really long time to read), no this is a relaxing read. The kind you can totally read while you rock the baby swing, hold a kid, squeeze into a few free moments between kitchen duties, or relax with an ice tea in the evening.  It was an easy, refreshing read that was like small moments with a dear friend tucked into the busyness of life. :-)



Here's some of the nuggets I loved:



"This throbbing harmony of how loved we are. If only we would listen. If only we would stop listening to our measuring sticks and scales, these voices that we need to quit, and start listening to our promises. For God Himself says, "I will never leave you or abandon you" (Hebrews 13:5, CSB)."



"Forty, I discover, is a new beginning, and my friends hold the door wide open for me. A welcome arrival into a time when we get to choose more of what we love and less of what we used to think mattered. More friendship, less comparison. More generosity, less competition.  More slow, less rush. More savor, less striving. More gathering, less hosting. More casual, less stressed. .....Where you can make room at the table for your sisters coming up behind you, as well as those already further down the road. ...Where you know deep down in your bones that we are better together because we are all part of a body infinitely valuable to the God who names each one of us priceless."



"Compassion leans in and listens. Fear screams and chases us away. Fear is a terrible teacher and an even worse parent."



"We live in a world where the Enemy wants to trick us women into building walls between one another. Walls of comparison and insecurity and jealousy. But we are mentored by a God who builds walls of protection around His friends. A God who willingly walked into the dark to trade His life for the lives of His friends. Those who betrayed Him, denied Him, and abandoned Him. Those who hadn't been born yet and those who don't even know His name. He laid down His life and in so doing raised a fortress of protection with walls thicker than the castle of our fairy tales-solid and unshakable." 









I don't know about you, but most of the posts I save on Pinterest or Instagram are snapshots of the life I want to create with my family. Often dreams can seem far away and difficult to reach. But I've been realizing lately, that truly we have arrived. Our goals for our littles are to love Jesus, care for family and friends, and care for this world around us. When I hear them sing our memory verse songs, see them help me unload the dishwasher, and watch them marvel over ants and butterflies, I realize this is the moment we have dreamed of.  Everything else is a progression from this moment. And as much as I'm excited to see how they grow, I'm celebrating this season of adventure and exploration. :-)



As Lisa-Jo talks about in her book, there is such beauty in friendships proven through time and shared grief and joy. There is inexpressible joy in seeing your child develop in his/her character. There is romance in faithfulness and steadfast serving of one another. There is beauty in the ordinary moments of life lived together. 



Pick up this book if you want an easy light reading that celebrates the beauty of life, children, marriage and friendship.  It reads like notes from a dear friend that you can sneak into quick 15 minute breaks in the busyness of life. 



Celebrating each season with you,

Felicia



This book was given as complementary copy by NetGalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah, in exchange for my honest review.  However all opinions are mine (I have the highlighted sections to prove it!).

While reading this book, I was reminded of these song lyrics "...why don't you just meet me in the middle? I'm losing my mind just a little..." I know the song isn't about midlife, but those particular lyrics definitely fit this stage.

Lisa-Jo Baker has written a meaningful and honest look at what it looks like to be in the middle of life--in the middle of "your muffin top", of marriage, of parenting, of your home, of your failures, of your kids' sports, of your friendships, and of your faith. Baker's vulnerability about her own life will help readers to come alongside rather than just read for entertainment. She gets it, so I felt less alone in my middle, and other reading this book can feel the same.

The parts that rang the most true for me were the ones about marriage, parenting, and failure. I actually liked the parts about failure the most, because it helped me to realize that no one, not even people we admire and think have it all together, is immune to failure. When I can see that no one's life is perfect, and those snapshot social media moments may have been immediately preceded by a rip roaring fight with their spouse, it makes me more willing to dig into and participate in my own life rather than giving up because I think I can never achieve the perfection of others.

There were a few sections that, at 50 with college aged kids, brought back memories but aren't exactly where I am in life. I am probably a bit older than the book's target audience, yet I still found a large amount of content to relate to, so the book was overall a great reading experience for me.

If you feel like you might be losing your mind (just a little, or more, I won't judge) in your middle, The Middle Matters is the ideal book for you. You'll probably shed a few tears along the way (I certainly did) but it will help you to know that you're not alone.

I loved the way LIsa Jo made me feel not alone in the middle times. Every day life matters to those around us and in the years to come. Remember every day is important and a gift.

After seeing a few bloggers write about The Middle Matters, I was excited to receive an ARC from NetGalley. I was expecting something a little more inspirational/spiritual, but the book is really a collection of essays that focus on family. Each chapter reads like a blog post, with anecdotes about parenting fails and childhood wins. Since I am not a parent, I didn't feel like I was the target audience for this book, and would have appreciated stories that were a bit more universal. However, this is a great read for moms who need reminders that parenting is hard and that they are probably doing okay.

Can a book be like a hug? I think so, and Lisa-Jo Baker’s words are a warm embrace that says I see you and can relate to you in the middle of hopes and dreams, friendship and parenting, and so much more. Each essay explores a snippet from Lisa-Jo’s ordinary life and invites the reader into the messy and holy parts of what it is to work through the struggles and mistakes and missteps and do-overs, and what it is to live the celebration and triumphs too. Her reflections invite readers to believe that we are not alone as we live through the beauty and challenge of our own middle spaces.

Oh boy. I'm just going to say that unless you are a 40-something, happily married, mother of boys and girls, woman of faith and belief in God - don't read this book. That's terrible, I know, but this book was written towards such a specific audience that if one doesn't fall into those specific categories, there's really not enough substance to carry you through the whole book. 

And I do mean that you have to be all of those things; because she links them all together so much, I don't think you can appreciate what she is saying from only one or two of those perspectives. As a single woman who loves Jesus, has nieces and nephews and is nearing the 40's ... I just could not relate to 95% of what she was writing, specifically because of the way she wrote and who she was writing to.

This is an amazing book for moms in the middle of life and to know we are not alone. . Each time I sat down to read this book it was like sitting with the author and listening to her stories and nodding my head in agreement.  Well written and enjoyable.

The Middle Matters is an all-encompassing look at what life looks like when we approach the middle of it. It includes unflinching and self-deprecating looks at bodily changes, marriage, parenting, friendships, and faith. The stories are so funny and engaging that you'll find yourself wishing you were a fly on the wall (or minivan) of this family, but you'll also be able to relate to so much of what happens that it becomes personal as well. The Middle Matters normalizes the complexities of this season of life, and steadies you for what may come next. When you finish this book, you'll feel like you just had a great conversation with a funny, wise, and encouraging friend.

My emotions were all over the place during "The Middle Matters," by Lisa Jo Baker. I haven't read her work before, but after this, I am seeking out whatever else is out there. 

Written in essay format, "The Middle Matters: Why That (Extra) Ordinary Life Looks Really Good on You" is a collection of the author's thoughts on multiple issues, from sports with kids, finding true friendships, navigating middle aged marriage (!) to finding our faith in seasons of doubt. 

Every time I thought I had found THE chapter that most applied to my life at the moment, I found another that was even closer to what I was facing. I can't say for sure that Lisa Jo doesn't have spies around, because she hit THAT close to home, but I really felt like this book spoke to me right where I am for this season. 

I would recommend this book for any woman who is approaching the "middle" portion of their lives. To realize this time is not a stopping or slowing down point, but a wonderful place of acceptance and acknowledgement is very freeing. Lisa Jo delivers this message in a thoughtful, supportive way. She writes as if she is that friend who has been where you are and still pushes you to walk with your head held high to be the best YOU for this season of life. 

I don't think you can find an essay in this collection that won't touch your heart, make you laugh, or make you weep. Lisa Jo has her own unique style, rife with honesty and vulnerability. This book will remain nearby, as I have quotes I would love to retain for future reference. Take this title down and order, because I know you will love it as much as I do!

I was excited to be a part of the early readers group, thanks to Penguin Random House. I was not required to leave a review, yet honored to be able to! This book has really spoken into my life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book to review!

Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 3
Pace: 3
Enjoyability: 3
Insightfulness: 2
Ease of Reading: 4

Overall rating: 3 out of 5

I love this book!!!! Honestly this was the book I needed right now. Lisa-Jo Baker has really brought it all together with this book. She fills the pages with stories parents will all find some connection to. 
A great reminder to slow down and savor what life has given us in the moments. I can see myself in so many of these stories Lisa-Jo has shared.

There are absolutely enough words to say how much I loved this book. The words of wisdom. The words of understanding. The words of church.....and friendship....and "ugh! Yes!!"

Read this if you're in "the middle" or near "the middle". If you have little kids or big kids. Read this no matter what your job is in this wild part of life.

Lisa-Jo has done it again! Be prepared to giggle, sigh, snort out loud, and possibly sob deeply while reading this book. Written as sort of a journal or collection of letters, Lisa-Jo touches on virtually every aspect of life for a middle-aged wife and mother. Absolutely relate-able in so many ways; so many deep, pithy, challenging thoughts that make me want to to share it with someone else.

I think it would be a fabulous book for a book discussion, but also for examples on how to set a scene or create a vignette for an aspiring writer. Loved this book! Even in the parts that didn't really apply to me (running track, for instance), I learned something. Excellent and highly recommended!

I received an ARC of the book; this review is purely my unpaid opinion of the book.

“The middle is worth remembering while you are actually living it, because you won’t pass by this way again.” -Lisa-Jo Baker

I can clearly remember my dad’s over-the-hill party like it was yesterday. He turned 40 when I was in middle school. Now, I have a middle school son and I am staring 40 in the face. Lisa-Jo Baker’s new book, The Middle Matters, is the refreshment and encouragement I have needed! It is a reminder that this part of life is sweet, important, and can be just as fantastic as the 20’s felt.

I was first introduced to Lisa-Jo Baker on Instagram from another author’s mention. From there, I began to listen to her Out of the Ordinary podcast that she does with author Christy Purifoy. ( It is such an uplifting, cup-filling podcast! You should listen!) When Lisa-Jo announced she was releasing a book this year, I knew I had to have it! I was so right!

The Middle Matters is a collection of essays by Lisa-Jo about everyday, ordinary life. The book is divided into eight parts. There are essays about marriage, parenthood, faith, failures, body image, and friendship, Reading these essays is like sitting down with one of your closest friends and hearing their heart.  I feel like Lisa-Jo hits on so many things I have been feeling. The ordinary, everyday life stuff matters. Even in the middle.

I requested an advanced copy of this book from the author and publisher. If I had not been selected to receive a copy, I would have bought it!! All opinions are my own and I have not been compensated in any way.