Thank you to Chronicle Books ​and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
This was a beautiful book; the illustrations are lovely. I'd consider giving it to someone struggling through depression or a rough patch (or just needs a bit of a pick-me-up). It's one you could come back to in various seasons of life. She includes many 'things' that I hadn't considered but thought were a beautiful addition: collecting pebbles, looking at maps, making a list. Some of my favorites from the book: coffee, scattering wildflower seeds, rain, a full moon, a drink of water.

This book is a must-have! It offers hope, beauty, and a reminder of enjoying the little things in life. This is one I'll return to again and again. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of the book.

Things to Look Forward To is a splendid book to read for this day and age. In this book, the author lists 52 things to look forward to despite the stress and strain of our everyday lives. I liked that the chapters were short and the illustrations were beautiful. I also liked that the things that author mentions are not exotic but simple things that can be found in our lives, such as having a cup of coffee, looking at the clouds etc. These are the things that are permanent in our impermanent lives.

“If you are in a rut, if you feel overwhelmed by gloom, if you are exhausted and uninspired and out of sorts, you can make a list of Things to Look Forward To.”

Things to Look Forward To is a delightful look into author, Sophie Blackall’s personal life and inner thoughts about everyday/normal things. Little things like growing your own vegetables or reading your favorite book that provide a sense of comfort and accomplishment that may be lacking in the world since the beginning of the Pandemic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this short read! And if I thought I would finish - I am a tragic case of unfinished projects as well! - I would surely make my own list of 52 things to look forward to! Though I may go draw faces on my eggs tomorrow!

This book was a delight and it feels like a warm embrace when thoughts get overwhelming. I can definitely find myself referring back to this at a later date! I recommend this highly for anyone who is a worrier like I am!

Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!

"Things to Look Forward To" by Sophie Blackall is like taking a depth breath and that air is fresh and fortifying. This sweet book is a lovely reminder that those things such as a hot shower should not be taken for granted. I personally feel this book is very timely and exceptionally needed. We need books like this that lift us, remind us of the beauty of living and that yes those things that we take for granted are really daily gifts if we just stop, pause and let that sink in.

I also collect pebbles as Sophie does from where I am. Stone fascinates me, interesting stones that tell a story of their beginning and something that simple can and do remind us to be present in the life we are living.

The book has beautiful watercolors throughout that are soothing and have beautiful soft muted colors and art that Sophie created herself.

I loved this book from the very beginning all the way to the end. One of the wonderful things about this delightful book besides absorbing the wonder around you is that most do not cost on penny to do. I don't think I'll ever let my eggs now ever just not have smiley face looking at me when I open the fridge thank to Sophie. It also made me think of what my list would be and I am about to start one. A list of things I look forward to but make the amount the amount of years I am. This sweet, simple book has inspired me and made me realize I live such a life of gratitude and even then expand that gratitude further! Beauty, wonder and delight Sophie used those words together and I'm embracing that. Also, we're on the same page and a book that makes you feel good is a book that I want to keep on my coffee table and nightstand and give as gifts. Thanks, Sophie if you ever read this for making such an uplifting book. And thank you to Chronicle books, the publisher for publishing this timely book and for the gift of being able to read it now.

When it comes down to it, this book is nothing more than a cute little thing meant to be glanced over here or there. To be honest I was expecting something a little meatier, perhaps something that delved a little more into the art of optimism and how to build things to look forward to. In the end this is basically just someone’s sketchbook prompts that they wrote a few sentences about and then decided to bind them up and call it a book. Don’t get me wrong, it would make a great coffee table book for guests to flip through while they sit awkwardly on your couch waiting for that glass of water you promised 15 minutes ago… if having guests over is even a thing we do anymore.

In a way it also feels a bit… tone-deaf, perhaps? I’m not sure if that’s the right way to put it. In the foreword, the authour goes on to talk about the pandemic and the effect it’s had on us all, and how it might be beneficial to find the joy in these 52 things instead of losing hope… yet the things listed include things like “hugging a friend”, “weddings”, “visiting a museum”, “seeing the ocean”, and “going somewhere”, all things that are either a bit difficult or downright impossible due the aforementioned current pandemic situation.

I don’t know, it just came off as odd to me. From the introduction, I got the vibe that the authour’s goal with this book was to try and give people ideas of things to look forward to (during the current state of things), but it really comes off more so as “here’s 52 random things that sound good and that I can also do a watercolour sketch of”.

On top of the, uh, potential faux-pas mentioned before, the list also consists of banal, pointless, or out-of-context things such as “listening to a song you’ve heard before”, “a flock of birds”, and “doing your taxes”. While all decent things in their own right, it’s hard to grasp why we should be… looking forward to them?

Long story short, I’ll reiterate that I don’t think this is anything more than a cute coffee table or waiting room book for people to flip through for a few minutes and go “oh, cute painting” or “huh, I guess I can look forward to giving this week’s entire salary to the government after I file my taxes next week”, or even “wow, you’re right, I can’t wait to escape this nightmarish waiting room full of kitschy picture books and do laundry tonight!”.

Things to Look Forward To is a collection of nicely illustrated and often touching stories. Some of the titular "things" are obviously very personal to the author, so some of them weren't entirely applicable to everyone in general, but there were still plenty of others that made a connection.

Definitely the type of book made for gifting!

I loved Sophie Blackall's illustrations for the Ivy & Bean books (also published by Chronicle Books) so I was excited to read a NetGalley ARC of this book.

It's a space of calm & reflection, a reminder to hope & to practice small acts of kindness, to ourselves & to those around us. It was inviting & warm & I absolutely adore her illustrations.

I was, however, confused about the demographics? The writing is more simplistic & toned down as though it was written for a younger audience, so I thought is was an older middle grade book, like 12-14, while also easily enjoyable by an older audience, even the cover looks like a middle grade non-fiction book. I think I saw a similar design on a non-fiction book when I was working as a Kid's Lead at Barnes & Noble, but apparently this is aimed at adults? It can absolutely be enjoyed by adults, but it feels like it's aimed younger. Maybe so it can be read with children? Unclear.

BUT it is a delightful book & I'm glad I was able to read it & there are definitely people I will be recommending it to.

A beautiful book of joys to embrace in our daily lives. I like that this book encourages slowing down and appreciating the little things. It provides a good reminder to give ourselves grace and step away from our devices and responsibilities if only for a little while.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Things to Look Forward To is a delightful mix of beautiful images and thoughtfully written moments. You'll learn to see magic in the mundane again after leafing through these pages. You'll be reminded of many things like how transformative a hot shower is and how grounding a spot of tea can be.

I'd recommend keeping this as a coffee table book or even next to your bed. If you do,you'll have a little dose of happy at arms length.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an early look in exchange for my honest review.

A very sweetly illustated book of positivity, stories, and anecdotes about the author's life. I really liked the illustrations, even more so than the text. I liked that some of the items in the list led from one to the next. It's not something I would re-read, but for something to pick up occasionally and skim through or give as a gift, it's a nice little book.

An charming and cozy book that brings to mind the word 'hygge,' Things to Look Forward To reminds us that everyday simple pleasures are not to be taken for granted. Writing from the time and place of a global pandemic and speaking to the uncertainty we still face, Blackall offers comfort in the savoring of small moments that can hold great joy - if only we are present, purposeful, and engaged. I appreciate that this collection goes deeper than many of the 'find your bliss' listicle-turned-book works out there, but Blackall does fall prey to a few clichés (babies, weddings) that may bring more pain than happy anticipation to those navigating grief or processing loss. This isn't your typical "don't worry , be happy" fare, however, and some of the illustrations telegraph more sadness than I'd have liked (the woman in the shower comes to mind). Overall, a lovely book with resonant depth and important message that would make a nice gift.

I received a digital pre-publication copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I'm so glad that I found this book. This was a quick and lovely read with beautiful illustrations. I loved the idea of looking forward to everyday things and moments. It was the perfect pick-me-up for me because I read it on a gloomy day. I think it would be a nice gift.

This book works for giving to a friend who is a having a hard time-- not something you would find in a library. That said, it works better if you read the entries one at a time and not all at once. In my opinion, it should have stayed an Instagram series, but #capitalism.

For a long time I stopped reading picture books. Comics and graphic novels, I read. Art books, yes. But, books that are sparse and whose illustrations hold as much space and meaning as the text? No. That has changed and I'm so happy now when I encounter a book whose content is sophisticated while sparse and whose illustrations are rich and pleasing. All this is true of Things to Look Forward To, a sweet, comforting book to have on hand when reminders are needed. Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for access to the ARC.

I am so happy to have stumbled upon this book! While I was familiar with the author's children's books, I did not really know what to expect from this book, and was delightfully surprised. This book arrived at a perfect time for me - on a gray, February day two years into a pandemic. I expected a trite list of "happy things." What I got instead is a richly descriptive, thoughtful exploration of how to appreciate life and stay grateful, even in hard times. The book contains beautiful artwork which I am sure will look stunning in the actual physical book. I so enjoyed this author's warmth and humor. I would love to see her write more for adults in the future.

This book is, as the title suggests, a list of simple pleasures and things to look forward to. Written during pandemic lockdown, it's a nice reminder to count your blessings. Could make a nice gift. Some of the items are very surface level, and some are more in depth.

Thank you to NetGalley fort this advance reader copy.

This is a sweet little book with lovely illustrations. I remember actually googling this sort of thing in 2020 while our family was going through a number of really hard things like deaths of loved ones, severe illness and loneliness. Sometimes you just want to think of small things that can make the world seem a little brighter when the dark seems so overwhelming.

Blackall's illustrations are really nice and she has some nice thoughts. Some of her list would make my lists, though some of them were pretty big misses. It's going to be hard to come up with a list that's going to check most boxes for most people, but it's a sweet book to flip through or to give a friend who could use a lift.

I read a temporary digital ARC of this book via Net Galley.

Oh how I wish everyone would feel & embrace the beauty in the simplicity of this book the same as the five twinkling & glittering stars 💫💫💫💫💫 I’m giving to it and to the author.

While I read “Things To Look Forward To”, I cried hard with the memories floating in my heart and I smiled bright with the sliver of hope that’s left inside me. That sliver of hope and the smiles were because of this book and the thought of doing these things. When you lose your kids, you lose your entire identity so I forced myself to become numb to everything, yet this little book got inside. That’s a wonderful thing.

so!’ for all the readers who are gifted with youth, not just in number, but in heart………read this treasure of a book. Try to do every “Things To Look Forward To” because they really are very sweet, joy filled and precious things.

Read this book and get out there or stay in the cozy of your home and do them with a joy which will uplift you and have you feelings of self and togetherness. Take the “not yet finished” to finished and accomplished, which this author speaks of. Do them with your kids, a spouse, a parent or by yourself for yourself. Find in these little treasures, any lack of hope turned into motivation and finding a you who will shine inside, as much as you’ll shine outwardly.

These messages are far deeper than just sweet words. They are your guide……or as the author tells us…….your “map” (I hope you’ll love that one, when you get to it, as much as I did reading it), let her words be your “map” to be-ing on your road, your journey of finding joy in the simplicity. To being at peace in a world of chaos, which is the very essence of what this book is teaching or for others, re-teaching us to remember. The “little things” because they are really the biggest things.

Follow uplifting messages, this author writes of with an innocence, too long lost in our world and hearts. Follow another of my favorites in this book, that lost innocence can be found inside this entire book so as the author says “spread the seeds” and I know from experience, in my hopeful years that those seeds spread, literally and figuratively, will plant that sweetness of life which is what we all need.

“Little Things To Look Forward To” are waiting so go……..get doing, lol.

While I may have lost the heart to have these little things change such irreparable damage, I know if this little book can touch my heart and make me smile with the thoughts to actually do these despite my suffering, than we can all do them and this world………this world needs these things more than ever before.

Thank you very much to @Netgalley the publisher @ChronicleBooks and to the author @SophieBlackall for the gift of being able to read this adorable and sweet book for my honest thoughts which these all have been. Frighteningly open and honest. This book is a treasure and I know Chronicle Books always has the books we treasure. I’m glad I got to read it.

Pre-order now: Projected release date is April 19, 2022

Hardcover:
https://www.amazon.com/Things-Look-Fo...

Kindle:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09PZP...

This book felt like it was mostly a collection of random thoughts, however, some were really profound. It’s always a good sign when I am moved enough to highlight passages and that’s exactly what I did with this book. I always struggle with feeling like I have nothing to look forward to and this book was really what I needed to read right now.