Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book.

Embrace Your Almost looks at how we sometimes need to redefine and refocus on what matters most and let go of certain dreams so that God can work in different ways in your life. Jordan gives examples from her life of ways that she had to pivot and grow from disappointment and almosts in her life. When you have gone through disappointment or what you planned didn’t work out those tiny steps forward and reevaluating what matters most will get you going again.

With what has been going on in the last few years, many of us have had to reevaluate what we want and how to accomplish it. I enjoyed this book with what season I am in and took away a few valuable nuggets. As a recovering perfectionist, I appreciate the reminder to reframe those situations in my life that did not go according to plan and allow myself to change direction.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for sending this to me for free to review :)

I feel like I read this at a time when I really needed to. It really taught me that your "failures" aren't really failures after all because of the growth you get from that particular experience. It's also reminding you to not compare your life to others (definitely am guilty of that) because everyone's successes are on their own timeline. Inspiring read and definitely recommend anyone to read this book!

Embrace Your Almost is an encouraging read for anyone who finds themself in a waiting season. Haven't we all been there? I appreciate her vulnerability and the authentic way that she shared her story. It was also very refreshing that this book didn't conclude with the author getting everything that she wanted. More often than not, Christian living authors don't share their story or testimony until things can be tidily wrapped up, which is very discouraging for the average reader. I love how Jordan shows the reader how to embrace the beautiful life they have now, even while they're still waiting on God to fulfill a desire of their heart. Practical and encouraging. 4 stars.

I don’t do a ton of “self-help” books. I usually stick with historical, romance or historical romance 🤣. This was such a pleasant surprise. Where it could be self help, I feel like it was more of an encouragement more than anything. We all fail. We all ALMOST get there. And we can learn and grow from it. It was a book I needed at this stage in life. I’m so beyond grateful I read it!!

The most ridiculous and annoying system for online reading for those who aren't rich enough to own a kindle or have a latest edition Ipad. So frustrating to access this book online, I don't even want to read it (not that I can anyways at this point.) I just spent an hour and the book is so locked up in this app, only available in rich people's products, that it is useless to offer an online version. Ridiculous. I was enthusiastic but am no longer. Very dissatisfied. 0/5 stars.

This review is going to be more personal than most, but I guess that’s why people read self help books, right? I personally am going through something challenging. I ride and show horses competitively (show jumping) and I’ve gone through one setback after another with a mare I bought almost 2 years ago. I have been trying to grit my teeth and keep pushing forward, but it is time to recognize that I need to take a step back. It is a mental struggle to accept this. There are so many aspects to it- so much blood, sweat and tears have gone into this hobby/goal of mine. The hardest part has been coming to terms with what I do next. Part of me says I quit altogether. I tried, I failed. Another part of me says to try again a different way. This book helped me rationalize a lot of thoughts in my brain and work on getting to the root of WHY we do anything- what our motivations are, why something is important. I love how she talks about how the most important thing is to look at life and ask “am I happy in life?” Yesterday, I went for a run and I had a moment of absolute peace. It’s easy to get sucked into disappointments or setbacks, but it is possible to take these and use them to change perspectives.

I also really appreciate the chapter about priorities. She shares that, until the 1400, the word was PRIORITY and then we translated it to priorities. She argues that when we have many priorities, we actually have none. This is so interesting to reflect on, seeing as we live in a world where we are expected to manage everything. She goes on to explain that we need to think about what requires our primary focus in our current season of life, and prioritize that. This is excellent advice- I know I feel like I’m stretched too thin (which is not a fun feeling).

There are a lot of good nuggets in here- how we grow from adversity, how it can provide clarity into who we should spend time with, how life is msssy and how we can’t compare to others… As with any book of this nature, certain pieces will resonate more with others, depending on life experiences and circumstances. Ultimately, what I really took out of this is that hardship teaches us what matters most and what we should consider moving forward. The author gives valuable advice on how to do this, instead of just saving that’s what we “should” do.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love this book and the frank honestly that I have come to expect from Jordan Lee Dooley. Although I am not necessarily her target audience, I still think her message is one that will stick with me. Her section where she discusses faith and logic being at war was valuable to me personally and one I think I will be able to share with family (my own young adults). I think she is honest, real and vulnerable and gives us a look behind the scenes to what real people are struggling with (something we don't always see in today's world). Her different approaches to dealing with events and life situations that don't go according to plan are honest and encouraging. I also love how she discussed how these adverse events are really refining moments--what a great perspective. I love her entrepreneurial spirit. Highly recommend.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. I enjoyed reading this. It was written in a very conversational tone, and was easy to read.

There were som good tidbits that I will be implementing in my life soon. All in all, a good read.

Reading this book feels like sitting down to coffee with Jordan and hearing her story (except it’s a phytonutrient drink, not coffee). Her honesty is both raw and tactful. I sometimes had trouble reading the story of my own mundane middle season into the book, but the lessons from Jordan’s life are valuable for anyone navigating heartache and broken dreams. My Kindle copy is full of highlights that I will be returning to.

Also reviewed on Goodreads.

I was able to read an early release digital copy of Embrace Your Almost, and it appeared in my life at just the right time. We all need to be reminded to release some of the pressures related to the shoulds, coulds, and woulds in our lives. This book felt like a conversational pep talk that everyone can benefit from!

Disclaimer: I have only read half of the book at the time of writing this review, and will update my review if necessary.

This another great read by author Jordan Lee Dooley. This book focuses on being in the middle, where things haven't happened, but could still, which is a place I find myself in often. I found this book to be extremely relatable, and encouraging, yet not preachy which is how some self-help books can be. Jordan shares stories from her own life which, while extremely vulnerable, help show that while she might have a bigger platform, she is not immune from heartache. This was exactly the right book for me to read right now, and I am thankful for its existence.

I liked the intent of this book. Society has a way of pushing us to do more more more, that it makes us seem like failures no matter what. For me personally I didn't feel like this book was really meant for me. As a mom of two balancing life and children and home and work, I could have really used this book 10 years ago.

This book is wonderful! Jordan knows how to tell stories, and she uses that as she shares her own experiences of “almost”.

It’s more than a “self-help” book with themes and practical ideas that points us to the direction of God.

WHAT I LOVED THE MOST

- The title "Embrace Your Almost" is only three words but its impact on me was so powerful that I didn't have second thoughts to read it right away the moment I got my copy. I have several dreams and goals that I have almost achieved in my life. Seeing this title changed the way I felt about my almost. It invites me to embrace it and use it as a guide to becoming a better person.

- The author's bravery in telling her personal stories with all honesty and rawness is laudable. She has to recount hurtful events of her life in order to share the things she learned with her readers. She paves the way to a better process in dealing with failures, which is surprisingly a springboard to a future with a clearly defined purpose.

- The book is not a collection of stories from different people but an account of Dooley's personal struggles which make her relatable. Her tone in the book is sincere, encouraging, and hopeful.

- The steps to take to move forward are concrete and practical.


WHAT I LOVED THE LEAST

I've been trying to find the parts that I didn't love but I couldn't find any. This book hits me hard because I am currently in the middle-- between the time I was full of dreams and the time of creating a life that I want. This book is what I needed to read at this point in my life. I appreciate every story, every wisdom, and every piece of advice Dooley wrote in this book that enlightens the truth that I could still create a life that is meaningful. Where God plants me, there I flourish.

Perhaps, the one thing that must be noted is Dooley also shares her faith in the book. She's a Christian and she's been helping church communities as a volunteer. Nevertheless, with all the things she struggled with and overcame, I learned a lot from her.

SUMMING-UP

Embrace You Almost is a must-read by women who want to navigate the possibilities in life after an unrealized dream. It bares the struggles of women and the consequences they face for not measuring up to the standards of society. With the advent of technology and social media, failure can affect women's self-esteem, making it appear that there's no more hope, only despair. But Dooley thinks otherwise. She was able to show through her personal stories of loss and disappointments that there is still hope; an open mind and a receptive heart are needed to see this. A newfound clarity will also be achieved that makes life even more purposeful.

Although the book also talks about Dooley's faith, women can still find helpful tips that are easy to put into practice. It is evident that Dooley acknowledges the difficulty of moving forward as illustrated in her suggestion to just take a small step and do one small thing at a time. This is just one of the different, important lessons that can be learned from the book.

I am grateful to Jordan Lee Dooley, WaterBrook, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC and to share my honest review.

Jordan’s writing is passionate and encouraging. While the ideas in this book aren’t new, I have no doubt many young people will be inspired after reading this.

I was so excited to read this book! Embrace your almost is a great read for anyone in their twenties trying to figure out that strange in between time. She shares stories and is relatable. Great perspective and highly recommend giving Jordan's book a read!

So far, this book has been an amazing help in my life. I think it comes at the right time and I know for many others. If you have been in a place of limbo or in between and you feel stuck in your situation. I suggest you read this book. Also, I think this is a book for people who have dreams/goals for their life and have had to lose things, or people to press forward to their goals/ dreams. Jordan Dooley has written a book that will leave you, nodding, and feeling that you're not alone.

After reading Jordan's first book, Own Your Everyday, I was thrilled to see she would be releasing another. Imagine my excitement to find it on Net Galley! I can not thank Net Galley, Jordan, and the publisher enough for this opportunity to read and review this inspiring novel. Now lets dive in!

Embrace Your Almost is a book on a mission to remind you that good things can come from hard seasons. The novel begins lightheartedly with an embarrassing track meet story, but becomes deeper throughout the chapters. Jordan opens up about miscarriages and business closures to show readers that those who seem to have it all can deeply struggle behind the scenes too.

No one has a perfect life. We are all bound to be disappointed in something eventually and it can be difficult to grieve the what-ifs and should-haves. Because of this I feel Embrace Your Almost is a book anyone can relate to. The book does refer to God and the bible on multiple occasions, but it did not feel overwhelming or as if religion is being pushed onto the reader. The only aspect of the book I did not enjoy were some of the quotes from Jordan's friends / family, they just seemed too perfect. I would have liked to see the concepts they brought to her life presented in a different way, rather than quoting conversations that likely did not go exactly as they were written.

Life can go astray and leave us on a different path than we planned or dreamed for ourselves. We all have disappointments, struggles,  failures or unmet dreams. Embrace Your Almost is a book on rising up from our disappointments and discovering what is important in our lives. It is a book about learning to see our disappointments, pain, and unexpected path of life as a chance to grow and become who God created us. This book is Jordan's journey through her disappointments and unexpected path. Jordan is open and transparent about her life struggles, thoughts, and feelings. Jordan walks us through steps to change our focus from our struggles to seeing through eyes of hope and possibilities even in the midst of confusion, pain, or longing for something more. Jordan shows us that " achieving stuff is not the pinnacle of success" and that "your job isn't to achieve everything or reach every dream.  it's to become who God made you to be, even if that's through the refining fire of suffering,  and to keep your eyes fixed on eternity."
Embrace Your Almost is practical, easy to read, and full of gold nuggets to pursue and use in examining our lives for what is really important to us. No matter what season of life this book can bring encouragement and speak to you, because we all have some disappointment, broken or unmet dream, or longing for something else at some point during our lives. This book is a tool to, as the subtitle states. Find Clarity and Contentment in the In-Betweens, Not-Quites, and Unknowns. Pickup a copy today and start changing your focus.
I received an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I knew most of Jordan's story from listening to her podcast, but reading it all was a good reminder of how much she's been through and how she keeps pushing toward her goals. She's inspirational and encouraging when things aren't going the way we want, and shares advice on how to keep moving forward despite adversity.