"Say One Kind Thing" by Susan Verde was an enjoyable listen (I had the audiobook version). This book is categorized as self-help but I consider it to be more of a memoir. Susan shares lessons learned from her experiences growing up and as a parent, many of which are relatable to the average reader. Although I might not recommend this as a self-help book, I would suggest it to anyone looking about memoirs about hard-won life lessons or parenting.

"Say One Kind Thing" starts off with a dose of vulnerability that immediately had my attention. And, unlike other personal development or self help books, Verde informs the reader that she is aware this is her experience and that she is only sharing in hopes of positively impacting others right from the get go. I often find the self help genre too preachy, so this set the tone in a positive light from the beginning.

This book would be great for readers who are wanting to dip their toes into a more positive self talk lifestyle. I found the content to be entry level, great jumping off points for someone who does not already practice mindfulness, meditation or yoga. "Say One Kind Thing" is a reminder of the little things we can all do to be more present, and the importance of recognizing our inner critics. Verde drives home the fact the even though she is considered a professional in this field, she is far from perfect and mindfulness is, in fact, a practice. She takes us through experiences from her past and present in order to weave in the mantras she uses in her life in a relatable way so that reader may be able to easily integrate them into their own life.

Lastly, this book has a bit of mislabeling. It definitely reads as a memoir. Personally, I enjoyed the multitude of parenting anecdotes focusing on the struggle between dealing with your own past and inner critic while trying to raise well adjusted children. However, it is labeled as self-help and I would say there is not enough content in that respect.. I am more invested in the author after listening and will be checking out her other work and children's books, but this one did not have enough wisdom or tips to be considered self help to me.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to listen to this ARC!

This is a good book, with lots of positives for us all to take away, as it's so important to be kind and loving to ourselves, although I would class this as a memoir rather than a self-help book, so I would suggest only reading / listening if you enjoy memoirs, that's not to say there aren't good take aways from the book, as there are, but they're not spelt out and guided like some may be used to.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and to the author for the ARC!

I thought this book was great. - I don’t know that I felt it was necessarily self-help, though. This was more of a memoir, the author shares her experiences with us, what works, what doesn’t work and what her take away was. Many things here felt very relatable. - I don’t know if this book would help someone, though. There’s not much direction as to what the help would be for (who would be the target audience?) or what the “help” would be, other than the reader being able to relate to her experiences and maybe feel like they too, can overcome.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the narrator and felt that they went good with the story. I hope to read more by this author in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and to the author for the ARC!

You need to like memoirs to appreciate this book. Luckily for me , I do! I love to get a window into another person's worldview through their own experiences, self reflection and growth and that is abounding in "Say One Kind Thing". Sometimes it resonated with me and even when it didn't, there was value in listening to another woman share her struggles and growth.

Examples of where it did resonate: the idea of learning and unlearning, noticing her inner critical voice, getting rid of 'shoulds' to have a more mindful life, her experience of seeking her dad's approval, reflections on 'failed' relationships, childhood conditioning, coming to understand our parents in new ways.

I was envious of how clearly the author could recall her past experiences but this book encouraged me to recall more from my own life. It reminded me of a memoir I read this year called Call It Wonder by Kate Evans and also had a similar energy to Untamed by Glennon Doyle in its reflectiveness and anecdotes about parenting.

As it is more a collection of stories and memories than a practical book, it had quite a scattered approach- perfect for listening to a chapter a night or while out on the go, perhaps less ideal if you want a narrative that flows through the whole book. I think reading this might be harder than listening to it. As an audiobook it was like listening to a friend read a story or a diary.It's not practical or direct advice but it does a great job of sharing Verde's life lessons and leaving it to the reader to decide what to take from it.

I don’t have any positive feedback for this one. My lips are sealed. Not my cup of tea. Thank you NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook.

“Say One Kind Thing” is a brilliant marriage between memoir and self-help, overflowing with personal experiences pierced with self-reflection and growth. Verde dives deep into navigating relationships with her partners, children, and parents, sharing her perspectives on how each dynamic has changed over the years. She shares her struggles reconciling her relationship with her parents as a child to them as grandparents for her children, of becoming a mother herself, feelings of worthlessness, and worries of what life will look like as she approaches being an empty nester. Verde reminds us that life if messy; perfection is unattainable no matter how much we long for it. As a mindfulness expert, she preaches vulnerability and acceptance as she openly shares stories where, even with her best intentions, overthinking and overreacting are inevitable. With mantras, warmth, and transparency, Verde gives a fresh viewpoint on self-love, grit, and how to write our own stories. "I learned I had choices and the strength to make them."