I somehow failed to connect with the author as a character/person in this one, which then made it hard to read of her life in this memoir. The narrative felt jumpy and off - starting us in the family home when she's so little threw me off because of what was detailed in it, and I kept reading on wanting to see how this fit with the whole, then her Walmart time with the whole, then her family life imploding... It just jumped along and I couldn't keep track and see a good red thread in here, especially where the message of this book was concerned. Why are you telling me this bit - that's what I was thinking throughout, yet never learning how/why that pertains to the book's title and message until I'd forgotten about said incident and it became relevant in the narrative again.

A sobering, yet touching look at how quickly the foundations of our lives can change. Laila Tarraf survived so much and came out a better person on the other side.

Wow what a thought provoking book! Life is a journey and we encounter hardships along the way as well as many joys. As women we wear many hats in our lives and we grow and change and adapt. Lalia has written a beautiful,, real story of life. It really hit home to me especially from losing my son a few years ago and how it changed me. We are stronger than we realize. A must read!!

Growing up in a household where her parents were mostly mean to each other, Tarraf never believed in having soft vulnerabilities of her heart displayed. Evolving into an effective frontline business leader, the fact that she was lacking the same charisma on her personal side did little to bother her, until losing her husband and her parents in quick succession turned her world upside down. Taking this as an opportunity to rediscover and reconnect with herself, Tarraf figures out how letting the softer side take over at times helps her be a better leader and mother. I found this memoir thoroughly riveting and I am thankful to Tarraf and the publishers, She Writes Press and AuthorBuzz, for gifting me with a copy of this book.

The book encompasses the struggles the author had to face, and the process of healing that helped her sail through. Sadly I couldn't relate with the author, and it was taxing to complete the book.

Strong Like Water: How I Found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in Life
By: Laila Tarraf
Pub Date: April 2021

Laila Tarraf, the CPO of Peet's Coffee and Tea at the time, endures several of the most difficult years of her life - from the death of her recently estranged husband, to the successive deaths of her parents, all while raising a toddler and working a full-time job.

Laila takes you through her emotional and spiritual journey to healing and finding her true (more vulnerable and open) self after loss. The main theme of the book, which I love, is that being vulnerable and in touch with your emotions doesn't make you weak. Just the opposite; it makes you strong

I will warn you that the majority (but not the entirety) of the book is sad and depressing, but that's not a critique of the book. It was just Laila's reality.

What an amazing book! I honestly didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Tarraf shares her life story in alternating time frames. She talks about life lessons, emotional health, business lessons and so much more. I think everyone can learn something from her experiences. Highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! This book was generously provided to me through NetGalley. Highly Recommended!

This memoir/guidebook by Laila Tarraf is interesting to read and draws you into her story of discovery, growth and acceptance. It could be a primer to lead you to the same journey. I found this to be very heartfelt and touching in many ways. This is an excellent book for every business woman, nay every woman, to read and learn from! Thank you to #netgalley for the opportunity to read #stronglikewater in exchange for an honest review.

Laila Tarraf tells the story of her life in alternating timelines between present and past. Her story includes being the daughter of immigrants, growing us as the "fixer" in the family and being disconnected from her emotions. But as she rises to leadership and faces three deaths, she discovers that she needs healing.
This book is heavy on emotional health information and business coaching. As Laila's story unfolds, she shares insights she gains about mindfulness, healing and vulnerability. Through grief, loss and trauma, she discovers resiliency, hope and authenticity. She also shares tidbits about her leadership style and what worked/didn't work.
I appreciated the emotional connection she was able to make in her life. I almost felt like I was sitting in a lecture as I read, though. The book is less memoir and more coaching session. However, it includes plenty of helpful insights that can help readers move toward healing and discover their own authentic selves.

Laila is a strong character that easily connected with me. I could picture her ups and downs, and I loved the bond she shares with Nadia. Although Nadia is a young child, there are instances where she shows maturity and depth that made me feel like I could learn things from her.

The author also does an excellent job of toggling between the past and present. The story is compelling as Laila balances the present and reflects on past experiences that impacted her decisions. I loved the moments where she worries about Daniel and how she reacts to the situation. There are many moments where I could connect with Laila’s emotions, especially in the scenes where she talks to Dr. Okin. I also adored a Daddy Box idea to put your thoughts and feelings for a loved one on a side note.

The author also writes the story in a personal manner where you feel like you are a member of her family. I got emotional reading the scenes between her and George. Similarly, Laila’s moments in Nicaragua were beautiful, and I loved how the experiences gave her a new perspective.

I also loved the author’s minor details about Beirut, like the Lebanese Civil War, the conflicts between Christians and Muslims, and other trivia about the place. Some moments are genuinely profound, like how the author mentions spiritual transformation and the various chakras, Buddhism and Hinduism. I love when stories inspire you to research further on topics that would enlighten you.

Overall, I enjoyed “Strong Like Water” a lot and thought it was a lovely memoir that makes you appreciate your family and friends and motivates you to live life to its fullest.

Laila was an effective businesswoman, and she had a husband, daughter, and parents. Her husband and she were split up, and he died of addiction.
When they had his funeral Laila's mother wanted Laila to comfort her instead of her mother comforting her. That was the first clue that something wasn't right.
Laila decided that she needed to find a good counselor. Laila learned that she was broken by her parents not being there for her when she was young. She also learned that what she thought was weakness was actually her strength. As she started to heal, she was able to break the cycle and be truly there for her daughter. Her daughter lost her father and her grandparents. She put her daughter in counseling and taught her daughter that being a Mommy, she was the one that was supposed to be comforting her. She told her daughter and I love comforting you, and you don't want to take away my job, do you?
I received an ARC from the author, Laila Tarraf, and publisher She Writes Press through NetGalley for an honest review.

PHENOMENAL! I really didn't know what to expect with this book and I was pleasantly surprised. Memoir, life lessons, business lessons, so very much! Tarraf has an excellent way with words. Sharing her thoughts and vulnerabilities, I felt like I met someone who understand me. Or rather, I was better able to understand myself.

STRONG LIKE WATER was an incredible story to read. So many heartbreaking things happened to Laila Tarraf in such a short amount of time! I really enjoyed how she wrote about both her personal life and her professional life, weaving the narratives together to make one cohesive memoir. From early childhood throughout her professional career, Laila would disassociate herself from her emotions and allow herself to be head-centered. Over time and because of the extreme losses she suffered, she learned to transition to a heart-centered person, both at home and at work. Some of my favorite passages were the ones written about Laila's love for her daughter, how they grieved together and separately, and how her daughter ultimately showed her how to let herself feel the weight of emotions she had held back for so long. An incredible memoir for others who are grieving or have suffered loss.

inda’s Book Obsession Reviews “Strong Like Water” by Laila Tarraf, She Writes Press, April 13, 2021, On Tour with Suzy Approved Book Tours

Laila Tarraf, author of “Strong Like Water: How I Found the Courage to Lead with Love in Business and in Life” has written a motivational and intriguing memoir. The genres for this book are also self-help, success in business, and bereavement and grief. The author became extremely successful in business, and when she was working for Peet Coffee, she was a positive force to deal with.

Unfortunately, the author was not as successful in her personal relationships. She did not have the same patience, understanding, and compassion as she did in the workplace. Laila’s immigrant parents were always fighting, and she felt she was not understood or loved by them at times. The author married a man that was immature in many ways and younger than her. They had a daughter that was the love of her life.

After several tragedies in her life, Laila made sure that her very young daughter had therapy, and Laila tried several approaches to a better understanding of what was going on. Through therapy, research, exercises, yoga, and many other things, Laila went on a journey of healing. Laila realized that you had to know who you are and what your goals are.

I appreciate that the author discusses finding a balance and moderation in life and business. Also important is trying to understand family dynamics and relationships, and knowing who you are. I would recommend this helpful and motivational book to other readers.

Strong Like Water is written as a narrative of the life of the author Laila Tarraf.

My favorite quote from the book is in the first chapter. She is told, "The point is not to be right or to be the first one to get there. The point is to bring everyone along and to get their buy-in," (p.16).

She is a very smart, motivated person. She knows the answers and cannot figure out why others are taking so long. It takes a journey of personal and professional growth to learn that being right isn't always the answer. This is further reinforced for her when she loses her husband, and parents in a short span of time and has to learn her true worth and strength.

The book is a quick read, but I will definitely be reading again and again. I think it may be one of
"those books" that the more I read, the more information I can pull out and apply to my connections personally and professionally.

Truly a five star read.

I was given the opportunity to read Strong Like Water, by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Published: April 13, 2021
She Writes Press
I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

Laila Tarraf is a senior human resource executive with over twenty-five years of professional experience. After graduating with her MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California at Berkeley, she became one of the founding team members at Walmart.com. She then served as chief people officer at Peet’s Coffee and Tea, an iconic Bay Area premium coffee company. Currently, Laila works as the head of people and employee experience for AllBirds, is an advisor to entrepreneurs and investors and serves as a guest lecturer at Berkeley Law School.

“Less talk, more action.”

This is a heartfelt and beautifully raw memoir of Laila's journey to discover who she is and what it means to be strong.

Everything within this book is beautiful. Laila grew up in a rather tumultuous home with parents who fought often. At a young age, Laila learned that she is a protector. She was often pushing her personal feelings down or aside to provide security for those she loved.

As this story unfolds and Laila continues to learn about life, she shares her insights professionally and personally. Laila experiences so much loss, and instead of crumbling to pieces- she keeps moving forward.

Laila is strong, she is brilliant, and she has learned what it means to be present. She has tackled many obstacles, and through it all, she has learned what it means to lead.

Laila started her growth journey at a young age when she stepped in to be the strong force for her mother. As she grows, Laila continues to be strong for those she loves. Until one day when she has a realization. It’s time to be strong for herself.

This memoir is filled with heartbreak. It is filled with loss. It is filled with so much hope. Laila has achieved so much in her life, and she has discovered her inner strength. This is a memoir about realizing that there is so much more to life than the mundane work-home-sleep-repeat.

This is a journey of appreciation. A tale of growth and believing in yourself. This is such a raw and hot water account of how we can control our circumstances and grow from any situation. If you are looking for a book filled with humanity, compassion, and the truth- you have found it.

Tarraf grew up in a household where her parents often argued and got,physical with each other. Her husband unexpectedly died and then she lost both parents shortly after. Her book is about coping. She went to therapy, yoga, and focused on improving herself so she could be a better mother to her daughter and cope with all the things life threw her way. She discussed her career quite a bit and how elements in her jobs had impacted her. I think her book will resonate with others because most of us have grappled with loss and how to cope with all the ramifications.

This is a terrific nonfiction book – part memoir, part guidebook for success in business and in life. The author, Laila Tarraf, speaks from the heart without ego or fear – the two qualities that unfortunately rule most of us.

“….she was a strong and effective business leader, the successful daughter of immigrants, and the mother of a toddler; but she was also disconnected from her own feelings and had little patience for the feelings of others.”

After tragedy strikes, she is forced to look at her life honestly. Through being open, and having a really good therapist, she starts to unravel her past and figure out what kind of future she wants to have for herself, her daughter, and all she comes into contact with.

I found the book helpful, uplifting, and a worthwhile read.

Thanks to the publisher, the author, and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

P.S. And, kudos to the author who gave the book a 5 star rank on Goodreads. We should all believe in ourselves!

I expected to love this book and it just didn't completely work for me. I think it was partially that I felt a bit misled by the title. It felt more like a book about grief and relationships and less about evolving as a leader in the business world. I got bored a bit in the middle (yes, that happens to me often) but I did finish it and it is well written.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me this early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.