Cover Image: My Body Is A Big Fat Temple

My Body Is A Big Fat Temple

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Member Reviews

an important and thought-provoking read that has the power to inspire readers to examine their own relationships with their bodies and challenge damaging societal norms.

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I love pregnancy books so I really expected to enjoy this, but I didn't care for it. It was just so much rambling. She seriously spends like 10% of the book talking about her dog, before she is even pregnant. It is very much a memoir that tells her story and I just had a hard time relating to her and her humor. Nothing against her or her experience, but it also really just didn't resonate with me. I'm sure some may enjoy it, especially if they also were nervously expecting their first in their 30s and lived a similar lifestyle. I appreciate her vulnerability and sharing her thoughts in real time though and think it would probably appeal to a certain niche.

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Dillon’s memoir of pregnancy & early motherhood is amazing because it’s more than a memoir—a memoir suggests that this story is specific to Dillon’s experience. But the point she drives home in this book is that her experience is an ordinary one that most women experience

Dillon doesn’t shy away from details here which I appreciated so much. While at times the descriptions felt a little gnarly or graphic, I felt it was so important to read on because these are the details no one tells you

While I don’t have kids yet I like to go into things eyes wide open so this book was so illuminating for me. The experience of pregnancy & early motherhood seems very daunting to me but to have one very detailed account of one woman’s experience makes having a kid feel a little less like a black box

Also, Dillon emphasizes the emotions that follow postpartum which I feel need to be talked about and normalized

The bottom line is that I think everyone should pick up this book because everyone can learn something valuable from Dillon’s story

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A moving, highly relatable memoir about motherhood, loss, parenting small children and trying not to lose yourself along the way. Recommended for fans of books about mental health and the struggles of motherhood! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

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There should be more women like Alena Dillon who is brave enough to share real life experiences that woman do face, but are often never talked about.
Giving birth to a child should never be a taboo subject and bravo for Dillon for sharing the intimate details of that journey into becoming a mother.

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This book is phenomenal! Not from only the perspective of someone who has been pregnant and given birth to 3 children, but also from a medical perspective. Pregnancy and the postpartum period is difficult and Alena made it feel like we were old friends talking about the ups and downs of pregnancy and motherhood.

A must read for all to be mothers or anyone who wants the raw truth of pregnancy & motherhood.

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Reading this right after experiencing my own birth trauma might not have been the best idea, but I did feel seen and validated in the tumultuous hormone crash of 4th tri.

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If you have been following me for a while, you might know that I don’t read a lot of memoirs, but I jumped at the chance to read Alena Dillon's new memoir, My Body is a Big Fat Temple. I knew I would be able to relate.

I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old so I have spent most of the last few years pregnant, postpartum, and caring for a newborn and a toddler. I thought I would really connect with Alena’s story and I was right! My Body is a Big Fat Temple chronicles the author’s progression from pre-baby though pregnancy, labor, and the fourth trimester and beyond.

It is emotional, relatable, and laugh-out-loud funny! I cried emotional tears and laughed until I cried! Alena focuses on the stuff that no one tells you and honors the the fascinating and almost magical adventure women experience to bring a new being into the world. Overall, I loved it and would highly recommend it!

Note: Alena does not shy away from the horrors of pregnancy and labor and you should be aware of a trigger warning for miscarriage. I do think this would be a tough book to read when pregnant, but that’s just my opinion!

Thank you so much to Alena Dillon, Let's Talk Books Promo, and Netgalley for the gifted copies! All opinions are my own.

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An honest opinion of what Dillon's pregnancy was like for her. Obviously every woman's pregnancy is different - some sail through it and some don't. It was a good read - I laughed, felt for her and agreed with her so many times throughout the book.

I think some women are not comfortable talking about different things that happen through pregnancy and after and on reading this they would probably sigh with relief to think it's not just them.

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I loved this book.

The overall theme was inspirational while still keeping to reality.

I wanted to read this one because of the cool cover (ya, its not the way to do it) but it works for me.

The story was touching and incredibly honest from the good to the bad....

Great pacing (which is super important to me) and you can totally relate, this was great

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This is the book I wish existed when my daughter (first child) was born, and I was terrified that I would be broken and miserable forever and would ruin her because I wasn't overjoyed by every second with her. Alena Dillon has written a relatable, hilarious, heartbreakingly honest, perfect memoir of pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood. I laughed. I sobbed. I highlighted so many passages. If you are a mom or know a mom or are thinking about becoming a mom, READ THIS BOOK.

(review posted on IG @leavemetomybooks 10/19/21 for @letstalkbookspromo book tour)

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After I had my first child, I thought about writing a book entitled, “The S*** People Don’t Tell You About Being Pregnant.” Pregnancy was great, don’t get me wrong, but it was also really hard. And then having a kid? Goodness, that was even harder. Never have I doubted myself more than in my son’s first few months of life.

This is the book I wish I had when I was pregnant with my kids. It’s real, it’s frank and it’s not watered down. I related wholeheartedly to so many anecdotes. I went through the same naming conundrum when our first was a boy, instead of the girl I had hoped for (and already definitively had easily named). I remember the tough demands and isolation of breastfeeding, plus the horrific pain of mastitis. I too suffered the silent depths of postpartum depression.

This is the perfect book for a new mom or a newly pregnant friend. If only I had a book like this, I might not have struggled as I did with my first child. I might have felt better about asking for help. And I certainly would not have felt so alone.

Thank you to the author and Let's Talk Books for the gifted copy.

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Honest, raw, and sometimes funny account of pregnancy and the motherhood from desire for kids to baby blues to toddlers. Alena, you read my mind when writing this book! Seriously. You took me back to those early years of motherhood.

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I enjoyed this relatable memoir of pregnancy and childbirth, having been through 3 pregnancies myself - all of which were different from one another. Some moments I laughed alongside Alena’s oh-so-accurate depictions and some moments I felt the acute pain or sadness that she also so precisely described. Alena Dillon’s storytelling of her own experience was beautifully told.

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I cannot describe how much I enjoyed reading My Body Is a Big Fat Temple. I loved reading these glimpses in time throughout the author’s pregnancy and postpartum period.

This memoir essentially spoke to my soul. I had almost the exact same experiences as the author, and to see them written on paper, was such an emotional and validating experience.

I laughed and cried several times while reading. The author does NOT hold back, and I think that’s what I loved most about this book. Trying to get pregnant is hard. Being pregnant is hard. Giving birth is (very, very, very) hard and can be traumatizing. BEING A MOTHER IS SO FREAKING HARD. I think the author said things that many women want to say out loud but are afraid of being judged.

If you like memoirs and want more insight into pregnancy, giving birth, and being a mom to wonderful (but demon-like) toddlers, then I highly recommend this one!

Thank you @letstalkbookspromo, for the #gifted ebook!

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I can’t tell you enough how much I loved this memoir on pregnancy! It was raw, funny, emotional, relatable, and honest. I have said a thousand times “Why does no one talk about this?” (those miserable sides of pregnancy, childbirth, and that newborn period) and finally someone did!

This memoir covers all the wonderful and miserable aspects of becoming a mother. From throwing up, body changes, pain, fear of childbirth, postpartum depression, connecting with you baby. It’s all here in a hilarious and enjoyable book. I laughed and I cried and all things in between. I am so thankful the author shared her story!

I was also that pregnant person. I threw up CONSTANTLY for almost 30 weeks. I then turned in the throwing up for PUPS rash which is an uncontrollable all over body itching that of course the only cure is delivery. Let’s also not forget that having to pee every 5 minutes. I remember vividly at the end of my pregnancy crying in my bed because I had just gotten comfortable after going to the bathroom and I already had to go again. I’m not going to admit how close I came to just peeing in the bed. But heaven forbid if we complain about the joys of pregnancy. Thank you! Thank you SO much for saying it’s ok to say this sucks. But as I watched my little 5 year old walk into Kindergarten today on crazy sock day with knee high unicorn socks on I got a little teary eyed because I would do it all again. Every round of puking, the c-section recovery, all of it. Because she’s my miracle and her light signs SO bright in this world.

Read this book! I have never read a pregnancy memoir like it. Buy it. Share it with your friends. It’s 5 fantastic ⭐️ from me!

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Yes, yes, and yes! Everything I have ever wanted to express about pregnancy and motherhood is this book! Alena Dillon writes her experience and it is so real and true! I absolutely loved this! I have a very similar motherhood experience , so I was able to really relate to everything she says. I laughed out loud, cried along with her, and just felt the same emotions. This book is for every woman (whether you are a mother or not). I will be buying a copy for my home library and gifting this to my friends and family!!

*Thank you @letstalkbookspromo @netgalley @woodhallpress and especially @alena.dillon for the galley in exchange for an honest review.*

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A few months ago I was able to share this cover with you and today I’m so excited to share my thoughts on the book. It’s been several years since my last pregnancy (kids are 10, 13 & 16) yet I still loved this book! I have never read such a real and honest take on pregnancy and those early days of motherhood. This book felt like chatting with a girlfriend without the condescending “hey girl” vibe, if you know what I mean. It was hysterically funny at times but also filled with love. No one but your closest girlfriends are going to tell you about the “secrets” of pregnancy and childbirth. This book challenges the idea that the nitty gritty details of pregnancy should be kept from women. All of the fears and challenges faced by pregnant and new moms are shared here with honesty and often with humor. From conception through the 4th trimester, Alena is perfectly candid in sharing her experiences and as a mom of 3 I could completely relate!

I’m so grateful to @letstalkbookspromo for introducing me to books by @alena.dillon. I’ve now read this one and The Happiest Girl in the World and I recommend them both!

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I loved this book! Let me start by saying, I wish this book existed when I was pregnant with my first child.

The author’s ability to write about so many raw experiences and emotions with such a light and often humorous hand was outstanding. The pacing of the book made it easy to read in one sitting! I don’t have any negatives to offer on this book- as a mom with two young children- this book was a home run for me!

I am already planning on gifting a copy to my sister in law who is pregnant with her first child!

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This book is hilarious in it's realness, rawness and absolute truth! And this may not be everyone's experience through pregnancy, birth and post birth.

I really did appreciate in the beginning the part where she asked the doctor why no one ever told her that birth was like this and she said the doctor said well then women wouldn't have babies or something else callous. Well excuse me what!?! The most traumatic event your body does naturally and you can't at least educate us in a useful way. They romanticize the heck out of it and police the hell out of our bodies but they don't even explain anything about it. I didn't even understand ovulating until my second one. My first one was surprisingly easy to conceive I thought that it would take years within a month of our pregnancy and trying we were good. I'm like oh well years of worrying I was infertile were wasted. What else can I worry about? No fear here comes a billion new things.

This book fills in a gap that What to Expect, a truly horrible parenting book btw leaves. That book does not help in any sort of way it gives you all the worst case scenarios and the agencies to call it's a good resource for that. But no real life physical case studies. And as women we are taught to not speak our our bodies, our cycles, anything to do with our reproductive system. lol ok I don't do that I always talk about it all to everyone. If my husband even began to say i dont want to know about your period (which he never has) i would yell back I never asked to suffer this. HE actually scours the internet for these green pads that they used to have at target that I like. And he always asks if I need a restock lol, he's a great man.
I feel like all women should start a wiki and add in their experiences so when a new mother gets pregnant she can search and then read about what that mom did to cope. Cause you know there is no same experience, some have regular births, emergency births, babies born with birth defects, and the more horrible outcomes which my first was almost one.

"Mother of two tired" yes that is a level. I can't tell you how many times I lol'd and read parts outloud that my husband also laughed at. This book is a gem and I will definitely need recommending to my friends especially my friends wanting to be mom's! 5⭐

✨My 2 pregnancies were almost Emerg C-section and 8 day late vbac. My first taught me that I was not in control. My 2nd I had in a haze of grief as my Dad had passed when I was at 6 months so I don't even remember that pregnancy with joy or anything. But when she came out with her perfect french tips she just stared at me in her little plastic sleeper, side by side with me, like she had knew me my whole life and I knew my Dad had been holding her those 8 days and telling her about me. I always tell my 1st that she was early cause she wanted to meet him. They were best friends, she's still really sad.

Thank you alenadillon letstalkbooks and netgalley for my gifted copy for my honest and voluntary review.

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