I have been a huge fan of Hilarie Burton Morgan since 2003 when One Tree Hill premiered. When I seen that she wrote a book and it was being offered on Netgalley I immediately put in a request for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. So you can already imagine how over the moon I was with excitement when I got approved to review this title. The Rural Diaries is a sweet, fun and captivating memoir written with love and style. I absolutely loved how raw Hilarie was telling her story from her High School days to her every day life with her husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and her two children, Gus & George. I could relate with her struggles and heartaches and her every day joys so much. She illustrated a path of grief into joy and it was something magical. Finding happiness in pain. Growth and inspiration for everyone can be shown within the pages of her memoir. A beautifully written story of love for her family, her community and herself! One thing for sure I’m ready for a Mischief Farm of my very own. I highly recommend this book. I LOVED it so much I purchased the audiobook this morning and spent the day back in the life of the Morgan family narrated by Hilarie. It was even better than reading the book! Looking forward to making some of the recipes within those pages.

Such a honest, heartfelt book from Hilarie Burton Morgan. Loved reading about her beginning with Jeffery (If ever there was a man to give up Paris for), to her finding a better sense of herself, to her finding that community that her family just clicks with, and to her finding her version of happy. Plus, it was so great to get those gardening/farming tips and recipes that work for her; the book is a good blend of life on the farm and personal soul. She goes into the trials and struggles she's dealt with, but you can't help but feel the strength and hope she has. This woman is so hardworking and generous. I've seen some about their family and farm on social media, so when I saw Hilarie was writing a book about Mischief Farm, I was excited to check it out. Learning more about Hilarie and Jeffery in this book just went to verify my opinion of what kind hearted people they are. Such a touching read.

Hilarie Burton Morgan has penned the perfect love letter that every woman needs, 'The Rural Diaries.' She says it is to a town, to a man, and to a farm but that would be selling it short. As a mother and woman it is a heart-string just for us.

You may remember, Hilarie Burton, from One Tree Hill or lately Hallmark Christmas. You may even wonder what a 37 year-old could possibly have to say. Well, it turns out quite a lot.

Hers is a story of more than an actress turned farmer. It is that of a woman finding her path and her strength. Hilarie shares her agrarian triumphs as well as her tragically relatable story of infertility and being a young woman during a time when women were taught to go along and just be one of the guys. It is about finding strength in the vulnerability of needing others - a partner, a family, a home. About thriving with fierce independence cocooned in the support of your community. A community that you curate and build, become a part of and invest in.

Several things happened as I read, 'The Rural Diaries.' The first is that more than once I was brought to tears. By the halfway point my husband was more than a little concerned that I found so many affordable farms only an hour away. And, lastly, I developed a great appreciation for another woman and mom who is not just raising her kids, running a business and farm, not to mention donating time and money to people who need it, but being the kind of woman that other women need.

Women need to know that other women are having the same experiences. It builds our community. It makes us feel part of something and less that we are doing all these things alone. So, 'The Rural Diaries' is not just a book about an actress and a farm. It is a narrative about love, relationships, risk & reward, infertility, community, and that alpacas have the best poop for manure.

5 Stars!! She really lets you in on her life outside of One Tree Hill. I love how she gives her tips and tricks around the farm that she has learned such as "if you have birds or wild animals digging up your garden, pick up a bunch of cayenne pepper.". I highlighted a LOT in this book to always look back on. This is a must read!

One of the best books of 2020! In a time when our world is looking kind of sad comes a book that reminds us about all the small, and good, things about the world. These small things make up the biggest parts of our lives and provides some pretty wonderful adventure; and Hilary dishes it all. I laughed out loud on a plane reading this. I nearly cried at some parts. Needless to say, it gave me all the feels! I'm not brave enough to move out onto a farm and/or crafty enough to make my own decorations, but if I was I would, wholeheartedly, take advice from her. I absolutely adore this book. I'm hoping she will write many many more!

From the start, Hilarie is able to paint you this picture of her life, that you think you are living it with her. The rich, descriptive tone of her words is like artistry, and you begin to envision her story played out on canvas. It was interesting to see what happens to a girl I long so idolized, from being on a show I fan-girled super hard for, that she is real, she is human, and she wants to live her life on her own terms. You get the feel of the love she has for her family, and for her community. You want to jump right into this Norman Rockwell town, and absorb it all. To read this book makes you evaluate your own life, and what is complicated and beautiful about it. Highly reccommend!

I didn't know much about Hilary Burton before I read this memoir, but decided to pick this title up due to it's focus on settling back into a rural lifestyle. Living in a rural area myself, I was interested in the author's story of building a life in the country after having lived in more urban areas. I found it to be an honest, heartwarming read that left me feeling hopeful about plain old life in general.

The author discusses her life as she started a family and found a salve for her worries on a little farm in New York. As she grew in life and love, so did her farm with a delightful array of animals finding their way onto the homeplace. As Hilary and her family became a part of the local community, she chronicles the care that was poured into a beloved local candy store and the Astor Home for Children. Her story reveals how much a community can become your family and offer support through all of life's ebb and flow.

Not really knowing much about the author starting this book, I can say that I enjoyed this memoir. I rated this four stars. It exceeded my expectations most charmingly. The author has a simple, straightforward, conversational writing style. No grandstanding or fluff here. Just a woman telling you her journey of trials and triumphs however life-changing or sweetly simple they may be. She doesn't mince words, but leaves you finishing the story with a persevering optimism for your own life. Lovely, heartfelt read.

I would like to thank NetGalley for an e-copy of this title.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ebook advanced reader copy for an honest opinion!

I’m going to admit I never read memoirs but I’m trying to branch out of my normal reading genre.

This was not was I was expecting and I mean that in a good, positive way! Honestly, I’m not sure what I was expecting. I don’t really follow the author and know very little of her life. Just a few tidbits here and there.

What I can say I love about this book is that it isn’t a book to shock you or drag people down and spill every little sordid detail of one’s life. I like how the author shares the good and bad throughout her life whether it’s the professional or personal aspect of her life. There heartache and happiness and how she handles it with the people around her. She talks about motherhood and the issues on trying to get pregnant, miscarriages and communicating the fears that come along with that. I feel readers will be able to connect with her. I appreciate her honesty about her success and failures and how she changed the narrative of her life.

Most of all I love how she shared her love for her new town! How the people have come to mean so much to her and her family.

I honestly have never watched anything with Hilarie Burton before; I only recognize her name because of her husband, so I had no idea what to expect from this book.. Burton is warm, engaging and funny - I loved this book!

As a girl from a small farming community, it was refreshing to read that Hilarie embraced and loved the farming life, even the hard parts. Reading about her life in Rhinebeck and on Mischief Farm was like going home in a way, and she writes like you're talking to a good friend - very genuine. By the end of the book I felt like I knew her and so many of the people in her community that she clearly loves. The Morgans are truly active, contributing members of their community and it's obvious that their neighbors love them, not for their celebrity status, but because they are kind, genuinely caring people.

She writes honestly and openly about her struggles with fertility and the ongoing struggle of making a life work with someone else, raising children, and the often humorous anecdotes of adapting to farm life after moving from the city. Her story spoke to my heart and made me laugh. Sprinkled with recipes such as Hilarie's Magic Potion and jam along with gardening tips and tricks, this book is heart-warming and engaging

I don't know if I've ever come away from reading a memoir feeling like I really know the writer, but Hilarie is so down to earth and so honest, I feel like she could just as easily be a friend from my own small farming town. Her book isn't about her celebrity life; it's about real life, real struggles and sadness along with the joys. What a refreshing book!

I loved this book and great love story of the sweet shop. This was also a love story to her husband and the farm that they have created together. I loved meeting their friends from the Rudd's and the owner of that store. This was a love story of her love of the farm life and making things. I loved that this book had mixture of things to make or not. Great book .

I've always adored Hilarie Burton. This was a fun read to be able to get a glimpse inside her life. I grew up on a farm so it was semi relatable.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F14THZT/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
This book was interesting in so many ways. I live in upstate New York and this takes place very close to where I once filmed, something that I cannot discuss as of yet. Non-Disclosure agreements and all. My dear friend from college actually lives in Rhinebeck where most of this book is set. This book is so heartfelt and endearing and not a book by some actor who is superficial talking about how hard it is to have so much money! I wanted to hug Hilarie so many times in this book!
This is a story of a small town girl turned famous turned back to farm girl. Hilarie is not only a celebrity that lives on a farm in upstate NY, but a genuine person who gives back to the community. She is someone who not only does things, but she does things with a purpose-one to help others! This is the kind of story we need right now! A good story about a human that has struggled, overcome and helped others with nothing in return! A Hollywood star who is not afraid of hard work like farm work, getting dirty, failing and learning. I love a good story about stars that make them real and this is a true story, as like I said, my friend lives in Rhinebeck and interacts with the family on occasion. I love the story of how she met Jefffrey! There are so many stories in this book that are just so sweet. In her Epilogue, she states that this is a love letter to a town, a farm and a man and it truly was! I learned a lot about planting, failing, succeeding and more through the eyes of this writer!
If you are looking for an escape, a place where the world is right, and people know each other by name- THIS IS THE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR! This was such a heartfelt story! This was like a HUG after a long, difficult day!

I have been a fan of Hilario Burton for years. I was so excited to get the chance to read this book!!

If you are looking for a book about her career and the shows she was on then this is not for you. While Burton briefly mentions her acting jobs it is not the focus of the book. The focus is on her relationship with now husband, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, and their ups and downs. It is also the story of how they uprooted their lives, bought mischief farm and learned how to balance family, farming and work.

I enjoyed this book so much. I love how honest and open she was in her writing. When she talked about her fertility struggles and miscarriages it hit home for me. The feelings she wrote about were so raw and the same feelings I have felt.

I highly recommend reading this book. It was very well written and I feel like I want the chance to be Hilaries friend now!

Y’all know I’ve been loving a good memoir lately! I have followed Hilarie Burton since her early days on MTV and of course loved her on One Tree Hill, which was filmed right here in Wilmington where I live ... so I was quite excited a few months back when I learned that she was releasing her first book!

The Rural Diaries is a beautiful love letter to her husband (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), children, and farm in Rhinebeck, NY. This slice of Morgan’s life focuses primarily on the time when she left One Tree Hill and met her future husband up to the present, but it is sprinkled with stories from her childhood and younger years. (And a slew of fantastic recipes! From renovations to farming to business there really isn’t anything this woman can’t do!)

Morgan has a magical way with words. She bares a piece of her soul on the page, the soul of a writer. Not only does she convey her pure love for her family here, but she openly shares a number of significant life issues — the difficulties of maintaining a relationship that is often long distance, her struggles with fertility and miscarriage, and the horrors of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

Simply put, you’ll want to add this one to your list! It is a fantastic, multilayered read. Many thanks to @harperonebooks and @netgalley for the advance copy. Look for a full review coming soon over at @thenerdaily. The Rural Diaries will be available next Tuesday, May 5th

This was really well done! You don't see Hilarie Burton looking all glamorous on TV and imagine that deep down she is a passionate gardener/farmer/small town candy shop owner, but she really shares her heart and vulnerabilities in this one. Burton talks about her professional challenges, relationship struggles, and heartbreaking miscarriages and infertility struggles. It's beautifully open, often entertaining, and a refreshing take on the celebrity memoir.

This was such a great memoir. I wanted to read it because I love love love books about farms or making a big life change and moving to a quieter place. Full disclosure: I've never seen One Tree Hill, so my interest in this memoir was purely because of the "rural" aspect.

There are so many great things about reading this story, but the becoming-a-farmer aspect was my favorite. Hilarie begins the story after One Tree Hill, at the beginning of her relationship with Jeffrey Dean Morgan. She talks of their common interests and their shared dream of starting over somewhere else. I could tell that they both wanted (and felt) a connection to their new place in rural New York, not far from New York City, and I could tell they really wanted to build things and put their hands in the dirt.

There is so much nature in here-I loved it so much. There is also a lot of food and renovation. Hilarie shares about projects she took on that were successful and she talks about projects that didn't turn out so well. She talks about finding a small community and really digging into it, and I found that I really like all of her friends. She talks openly about hard things that happened in her life, and she talks about the best things that have happened to her. The entire memoir is threaded with friendships and parenting, and all of it made my heart warm.

Really, this was the perfect read for me during this #stayathome time. This was my "immediately-before-bedtime" book and I was careful to dole it out in small portions over an entire month. I'm here for every story like this, stories where a person makes a goal and achieves it. Especially when it involves home renovation, gardening, and animals. I think that fans of Hilarie and Jeff will love this one, but I was able to connect to it in a huge way even without having seen them in the shows and movies that they are famous for. There is a lot of vulnerability and heart in this book, and it was an immensely enjoyable and uplifting read.

As one of the biggest #OneTreeHill fans I was THRILLED to get my hands on the one and only @hilarieburton aka Peyton Sawyer’s #memoir. I will be the first to tell you that this #book was so refreshing, honest, down to earth, and so full of fun and joy. Go get your copy when it’s released on 05/05/2020!!! •

First off - Did everyone know that Hilarie is married to Denny from Grey’s Anatomy/Negan from The Walking Dead? Her stories of her whirlwind romance and newlywed, long-distance relationship with Jeffrey Dean Morgan were relatable, hilarious, and endearing. Combined with their struggles to have a second child and raising their first, beautiful son amidst Hollywood and moving to rural New York, you will fall in love with this family and some of their bestfriends, including Paul Rudd and his wife. •

Hilarie is super honest about the abuse experienced on the set of One Tree Hill, as well as her family moving to rural New York and quite literally learning the ropes of farm life, as they remodeled a home, brought in alpacas, cows, chickens, and a horde of other pets and cattle, and met lifelong friends and business partners in small town America. •

In an ironic twist, Hilarie’s discussions about the way that Hallmark and its movies allowed her to embrace her feminine power and really be invoked with producing, acting, and her career in a way that was positive, motivating and rewarding, was so refreshing and moving. •

I could not get enough of Hilarie and her stories, and as an added bonus there’s plenty of real-life home advice, remodeling tips, and plenty of her favorite cocktails, recipes, and all natural remedies. •

Peyton Sawyer is the coolest, but Hilarie Burton Morgan is the real romodel and icon. •

Raise your hand if you’re obsessed with music and used to record Total Request Live on MTV (on a VHS tape, gasp!). 🙋🏼‍♀️ Hilarie Burton was one of the hosts of that show so that’s what originally drew me to her book, not to mention the gorgeous cover. 🌈 It was a breath of fresh air from all the thrillers I’ve been reading lately and I’m now patiently waiting for an invite to Mischief Farm. 😉 Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the advanced copy! 📚

Hilarie Burton Morgan’s THE RURAL DIARIES is a beautiful, earthy hug that wraps the reader in memories of days gone by, reminding us of the simpler days. Stories of hard work, perseverance, love and community are the underlying theme. The stories that Hilarie tells about Mischief Farm, remind me of my days in Upstate NY where life was simpler, community was huge and spending time with family, friends and the earth is a way of life. ~ Heather, White Hot Reads

This may be my favorite celebrity memoir of all time. I wasn't familiar with Hilarie before reading this book, so I was able to come to it with a different perspective: the quality of the writing. I loved every bit of it, as Hilarie paints such engaging and immersive pictures of her life on the farm, her challenges and path in falling in love and making a family. I especially loved her sense of community, and being open to all new people, seeing who you really are in their presence. So many layers of wonderful to love here. I'm taking her advice and planning to make her recipes. This is a stellar book. Highly recommended.